Chapter 1

"How many times do I have to tell you that you have to hide that nasty attitude of yours whenever we are right in front of your fans and the media?" Ani Lex, ang pinsan at manager ni Maximino, habang nasa loob silang dalawa ng kotse at magkatabing nakaupo. "A hello with a little nod would have been fine!" 

"With or without a hello, I will still survive in this Industry, Lex. Stop acting as if this is the first time." Malamig na tugon ni Maximino sa pinsan.

"But it's not that hard to pretend that you are being appreciative, you know?" Bumuntong-hininga si Lex. "It's been a year but I still can't believe that you chose to enter this industry. But what's even more unbelievable is how you are still gaining lots of fans considering the bad treatment you are giving them---" 

"Hindi ito ang daan papunta sa bahay ko." Biglang sabi ni Maximino, not allowing Lex to finish what she wanted to say. "Where are we going, Lex?"

Lex looked at Maximino na nakatingin lamang sa bintana.

Maximino doesn't looked like he was listening to what she just said. Well, it's not that she was surprised. She has already gotten used of her advices being ignored by her hard-headed cousin.

Muli munang bumuntong-hininga si Lex bago niya sinagot si Maximino. 

"Señor Maximo wants to see you." Said Lex that finally caught Maximino's attention.

Nakakunot ang noo na nilingon ni Maximino ang pinsan. "You should have told me first." Matalim ang boses na sabi ni Maximino saka nito ibinaling ang tingin sa driver. "Sa bahay ko tayo." 

Ngunit mabilis din na nagsalita si Lex. "No. We are going to the main house." 

Ibinalik ni Maximino ang tingin sa pinsan and this time, his eyes were even more sharper, like he's sending death threats to Lex using his eyes.

"You can't scare me with that look, Max. Atleast, not now and not in this situation. Because not bringing you to our grandfather would be even more terrifying. You do know that we can't defy him, don't you?" 

Maximino did not say anything anymore at ibinalik na lamang nito ang tingin sa bintana ng kotse and looked at every scenery they were passing to.

Lex sighed again. 

Lihim niyang ipinagpasalamat na hindi na tumutol pa si Maximino. Not like he can. 

No one in their family can say 'no' to their grandfather and the head of their clan, Señor Maximo Salvador. Señor Maximo's words are absolute and no one could defy him. And even if they try to defy him, hindi pa rin magwawagi ang kung sino man na gustong kalabanin ito.

Power, Money, Control, Brutality and Connections. That's what Señor Maximo Salvador has. Adding to that is his gender. 

Señor Maximo Salvador is a Dominant Alpha just like the rest of the Salvador Clan. 

All of the Salvadors are Dominant Alphas. No omegas and no betas. Isa sa mga patakaran sa kanilang pamilya ay bawal silang makihalubilo o makihalo sa mga omega at beta, lalong-lalo na ang makipagrelasyon sa mga ito. All of the Salvadors were married to female Alphas. Kaya naman hindi na rin kataka-taka why Señor Maximo wants Lex and Maximo to find their suitable Alphas that they could marry. At sigurado si Lex na iyon ang dahilan kung bakit gustong makita at makausap ni Señor Maximo si Maximino.

Ipinagdarasal na lamang ni Lex na sana kahit ngayon lang ay maging maayos ang pag-uusap ng dalawa since the two never had a peaceful conversation when it comes to marriage. At hindi lamang pagdating sa pagpapakasal hindi nagkakasundo ang dalawa. 

Señor Maximo wants Maximino to quit from the showbusiness industry and enter politics instead. Inaapura na rin nito si Maximino na maghanap na ng mapapangasawa and the Señor doesn't want just anybody. Señor Maximo wants Maximino to find a female alpha with the same status as them. Kung minsan ay may inirereto na rin ito sa apo nito but Maximino declined all of those. Maximino wants to stay in the showbusiness industry and he doesn't even want to get married. None of the female Alphas that Señor Maximo has chosen has caught Maximino's eyes. 

Halos kalahating oras din ang kanilang ibinyahe bago nila narating ang mansiyon ni Señor Maximo. 

Pagkababa pa ni Lex at Maximino mula sa sasakyan ay kaagad silang sinalubong ng dalawang tauhan ni Señor Maximo at iginiya sila patungo sa sala kung saan naghihintay ang matandang Salvador.

Nang nasa harap na sila ni Señor Maximo ay kaagad na yumuko si Lex upang magbigay-galang saka nagsalita. "Good evening, Señor. Just as what you asked me, I brought Maximi---" ngunit hindi na natuloy pa ni Lex ang sinasabi nang biglang magsalita si Maximino na bahagya niyang ikinagulat.

"What is it this time, old man?"

Mabilis na nilingon ni Lex si Maximino and gave her cousin a warning look but Maximino did not even bother to take a glance at her at sa halip ay umupo lamang ito sa sofa na nasa harap ni Señor Maximo. 

Maximino crossed his legs then looked straight into his grandfather's eyes. "Kung pinapunta mo lang ako rito para pilitin na naman akong makipagkilala sa mga anak na babaeng Alpha ng mga kaibigan mo, then you won't have to say anything anymore dahil sasabihin ko na sa'yo, I won't do it." Maximino said without a hint of fear and nervousness.

"Maximino!" Pagsaway ni Lex kay Maximino. 

"How long do you intend to live like this?" Biglang tanong ni Señor Maximo kay Maximino dahilan upang tumuon sa matanda ang atensiyon ni Lex. "You are a Salvador, Maximino. This is not the path that you should be taking! You should be a politician and not a goddamn celebrity!" Ani Señor Maximo habang puno ng kaseryosohan na nakatingin kay Maximino.

"Being a Salvador doesn't mean I have to be like all of you. You are not the one who will decide on which path I will take. This is my life. Therefore, I am the only one who gets to decide on what road I want to take and this, this path where I am right now, I chose this and I won't let you or anyone to tell me otherwise. I won't let you decide for me. I won't let you dictate me." Puno ng tapang na sagot ni Maximino kay Señor Maximo saka siya tumayo. "I hope that this will be the last time that we will have a conversation about this. Have a good night, Señor." Ani Maximino saka nito tinalikuran si Señor Maximo na hindi maipinta ang mukha. 

Lex called Maximino over and over again but Maximino acted as if he didn't hear anything at nagpatuloy lamang ito sa paglalakad hanggang sa tuluyan na itong mawala sa paningin ni Lex at ni Señor Maximo.

"That brat!" Puno ng galit na sabi ni Señor Maximo.

Ibinaling ni Lex ang tingin sa matanda saka siya yumuko upang humingi ng paumanhin sa matanda. 

"I am really sorry, Señor. Huwag po kayong mag-alala. Ako na po ang kakausap kay Maximino." Buong pagpapakumbaba na sabi ni Lex.

Dahan-dahang tumayo si Señor Maximo and leaned on his cane to support himself. "There is no use talking to him. He won't listen to you anyway. Just make sure that he won't do anything reckless that'll tarnish this family or that will ruin our reputation. I'll let him do whatever he wants for now pero oras na maubos na ang pasensiya ko, that's when I'll make a move. If I have to force him to make a pair with an Alpha that I have chosen, I'll do it. Hindi ko hahayaang sayangin niya ang buhay niya sa mga walang kakwenta-kwentang bagay." Ani Señor Maximo saka nito tinalikuran ang tahimik lamang na si Lex. Ngunit bago pa ito tuluyang lumakad ay muli itong nagsalita. "You too, Lex. Find a suitable male Alpha for you and quit playing around with your cousin. I already told you this, showbusiness is a trash and nothing good comes out of a trash. Ayusin ninyong magpinsan ang mga desisyon niyo sa buhay kung ayaw ninyong ako mismo ang umayos ng mga buhay ninyo. I am sure you are fully aware of what I am capable of." Anang matanda saka ito tuluyang lumakad na at iniwan ang hindi parin makapagsalita na si Lex.

Lex let out an exasperated sigh.

"That Maximino! Bakit ba hindi siya marunong makinig? He is not only causing trouble for himself but for me as well!" Naiiritang saad ni Lex as she started marching out of the mansion and headed towards the car where Maximino is waiting calmly.

Marahas na binuksan ni Lex ang pinto ng sasakyan saka siya pumasok sa loob.

Matatalim ang mga mata na tiningnan niya si Maximino. "What the hell was that?" Puno ng pagkadisgusto na tanong ni Lex sa pinsan.

"Exactly what you saw. I told him to stop trying to dictate me and manipulate me." Kalmado namang sagot ni Maximino nang hindi man lamang binibigyan ng tingin si Lex. Nakatutok lamang ang mga mata nito sa unahan ng kotse. "Let's go. I want to rest." Maximino told the driver, not even caring at Lex's reaction.

Mabilis naman na tumalima ang driver at pinaandar na nito ang kotse.

Lex scoffs. "I can't believe you. How long do you intend to do this? Hanggang kailan mo balak na ubusin ang pasensiya ni Señor? You know what he is capable of! Just one word from him and we might lose everything, even your career as a celebrity!" Galit parin na saad ni Lex.

"So he threatened you again? What is it this time? Did he told you he's going to destroy my career? Did he told you that he's not going to make it easy for me?" Maximino scoffed. "I've already heard that countless of times before, Lex. But look at me now. Look at us now. I am still here, alive and kicking, doing whatever the hell I want." 

"Pero paano kung totohanin na niya ngayon ang mga banta niya? What if---"

"Then so be it." Mabilis na putol ni Maximino sa sasabihin ni Lex.

"What?" Hindi makapaniwalang saad ni Lex habang nakatingin kay Maximino na nasa unahan parin ng kotse nakatingin.

"I said let him be. If he wants to destroy my career, then he's free to do so. I'd like to see him try." Maximino answered and finally, he looked at Lex. "I am not afraid of him, Lex. You know that better than anybody else." Anito saka ibinalik ang tingin sa unahan ng kotse. "He can do anything he wants and I'll do the same thing. I am not like my father who acts like a dog, following his orders without even asking." 

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang si Lex sa tinuran ni Maximino. 

"Ah, whatever! Bahala ka na! Bahala kang harapin ang galit niya kapag tuluyan mo ng nasagad ang pasensiya niya and don't expect me to help you if that time happens!" May bahid pa rin ng inis na sabi ni Lex.

"Yeah, right. You won't give me a helping hand? I highly doubt that, Lex." Nakangisi namang sagot ni Maximino.

Hindi na lamang sumagot pa si Lex lalo na at tama naman ang sinabi ni Maximino.

Not helping Maximino? As if she could do that. It's easy for her to say that she won't help him anymore but whenever Maximino is in trouble, she is always ready to give him a hand. And that has happened for a lot of times already, including the time when Maximino decided to enter the showbusiness industry.

Maximino might be as stubborn as hell but Lex couldn't just leave him alone. 

Out of all her cousins, Maximino was the closest one to her. He may act cold towards her but Lex knew that deep inside, Maximino cares for her. Kaya naman kahit gaano pa siya naiinis sa ugali nito ay hindi niya parin ito kayang talikuran at iwanan. Maximino is like a brother to her and she will always save him and help him sa oras na kailanganin siya nito, tho she won't say that out loud. 

Ipinapanalangin na lamang niya na sana ay huwag gumawa ng hakbang si Señor Maximo that will cause trouble and pain to Maximino at sana ay ganoon rin ang pinsan niya.

She's getting sick and tired of being the two's referee sa tuwing nagtatalo ang mga ito.

"What about iyong ipinapagawa ko sa'yo? Any updates?" Biglang tanong ni Maximino dahilan upang bumaling muli ang atensiyon ni Lex rito.

"Oh, about that. I have booked him already and you are set to go there tomorrow night. He's quite expensive which is not surprising since he is quite popular." Sandali munang tumahimik si Lex bago siya muling nagsalita. "Are you really sure about this, Max? You know that this is against the rule of our clan, right? At kapag nalaman ito ni Señor, baka mapahamak pa siya."

"That won't happen. I won't let that happen. I will protect him from anyone that will harm him, even from our own clan. I won't let anyone hurt my fated pair. Not again." Puno ng kaseryosohan na sabi ni Maximino.

Lex looked at the car's window and looked at every scenery na nadadaanan nila. "Fated pair, huh?" Pabulong na saad ni Lex.

Maximino didn't say anything. Tahimik na lamang ito nakatingin sa unahan ng kotse habang si Lex ay nakatingin lamang rito.

Lex never thought that fated pair is real. She thought that it's only urban legend. And it looks like Maximino has already found his and tomorrow, Maximino will go and meet him and make his fated one his pair.

"I hope everything turns out alright." Muli ay pabulong na sabi ni Lex but Maximino remained silent dahilan upang tumahimik na rin si Lex until they were finally surrounded with silence.