Nahigit ni Lara ang hininga nang sa pader sa likuran nila ni Chester tumama ang kamao ni Miguel. Sa wall kasi kumuha ng suporta sa pagtayo ang kaibigan niya kanina. Nang humarang siya ay huli na para pigilin ang momentum ng suntok. Sa halip na sa kanya tumama iyon, Miguel chose the wall behind her. Hindi humihinga at malalaki ang mga mata ni Lara habang nakatingin sa nagbabagang mga mata ng asawa niya. If looks could kill, baka hilahin na lang silang dalawa ni Chester palabas ng booth na iyon habang parehong wala ng buhay na nakahandusay sa sahig. Gano'n kasama at kanakakatakot ang tingin ni Miguel. Kaya kahit alam niyang nasaktan ito, natakot siyang lumingon para tingnan ang kamao nito. Miguel didn't flinch, but she was sure he was hurt. "Move, Lara," mababa ang tinig pero mariin at may warning na sabi ni Miguel. "P-please," napahikbi siya. "Don't hurt him.""Move away, d*mn it!" sigaw nito na halos ikatalon niya. Nagulat na lang siya nang bigla siyang itulak palayo ni Cheste
"This is not the way home," hindi na niya napigilang magsalita nang mapansing hindi naman pauwi ang daang tinatahak nila. "I badly wanted to rest. Please just take me home!" Hindi tumugon si Miguel. Bagkus ay tila babaliin nito ang manibela sa higpit ng pagkakahawak nito roon.Naiinis at naiiyak na si Lara. Pagod na siya sa lahat ng drama sa araw na iyon. "Where are we going?" tanong niya makalipas pa ang ilang sandali na hindi pamilyar sa kanya ang dinadaanan nila. Para pa ngang papalabas na sila ng lungsod. "Just shut up and quit asking, Lara!" Tila ubos din ang pasensya na sagot nito. "Bakit? Wala na rin ba akong karapatang malaman kung saan mo ako dadalhin? I am tired of obeying your orders, Miguel!" puno ng sama ng loob ang tinig na sabi niya. "Obeying my orders? Kailan ka ba sumunod? Since this day started, wala ka nang ginawa kundi kumontra at ipagpilitan ang gusto mo!" Galit nitong sagot. "You never listened to me!""Dahil ayoko na! Stop treating me like I don't have my o
Papalubog na ang araw pero wala pa rin si Miguel. Nakaupo sa buhanginan sa tuyong parte ng dalampasigan si Lara at pinapanood ang napakagandang kulay ng kalangitan habang unti-unting nawawala ang liwanag ng araw. Growing up as a city girl and neglecting travel opportunities, she was awed by nature's magnificence. Siguro kung noon pa niya nalaman na may bahay si Miguel na malapit sa dagat, baka lagi siyang naroon. Kwento kanina ni Mommy Mabel, ina ni Miguel, ipinagawa umano iyon ng asawa niya para rito. Pero maganda man ang lugar at hindi ito nagkulang sa alin mang materyal na bagay, malungkot ito dahil bibihira raw na nagpupunta roon ang anak nito. "Matagal ko nang sinasabi na dalhin ka niya rito," lumabi pa ang ginang. "Pero lagi niyang sinasagot na hindi pa tamang oras. Masaya akong makilala ka sa wakas, Lara."Kahit siya man ay masayang alam nito ang tungkol sa kanya. Marami sana siyang gusto pang itanong. Tulad ng kung nasaan ang ama nito o kung may mga kapatid ba ito. Pero pin
"Why would you be?" she asked. Hindi siya naniniwala. Bakit naman ito magseselos? May nararamdaman ba ito para sa kanya? Wala naman, hindi ba? Then hindi pagseselos ang nararamdaman nito. It must just be his ego being bruised by her closeness with Chester. Bumalatay ang sakit sa kanyang mga mata nang mag-iwas ng tingin si Miguel. Sinasabi na nga ba niya."Stop being rude to Chester and I'll let you and your friend do your thing. I just hope that you'd get a good night's rest whenever you remember my sister," she walked away after that. Hindi naman na ito humabol. Kaya lalong nawasak ang puso ni Lara. For a moment she thought there was hope for them. Had he answered her and not looked away, she shouldn't have been feeling hurt now.Miguel was not sure of his feelings. He loved Lena. He was protective of Meredith. And he claimed he was jealous of Chester's closeness to her. Yet, he couldn't confirm when asked. He couldn't give her a reason why. Ano, trip lang? Mainit lang sa mata ni
"A week?" Nasorpresang tanong ni Lara. Migo had just told her na mag-i-stay sila sa bahay ng ina ng isang linggo. "But aren't you busy with work?" Dagdag niya nang pangunutan siya nito ng noo. Nag-aalmusal sila at sinabi nga nito ang plano nitong bakasyon. "Ako ang boss, hindi ba ako pwedeng magpahinga?" Miguel asked back. "Hija, you both deserve a break. Gamitin n'yo ang panahon para mas makilala ninyo ang isa't isa," sabi naman ni Mabel. "Hindi naman po sa ayaw ko, Aunt—, mommy," mabilis niyang itinama ang tawag dito dahil pinandilatan siya ng biyenan. "Ang totoo po, nabigla lang po ako. I've always known Migo as a very busy man." "Don't you want to know my not very busy side?" Pinataas-baba nito ang mga kilay nito. 'Ah, he was cute doing that!'"Marami kayong pwedeng gawin dito. Kung naiilang kayo sa presensya ko, pwede akong umalis para mapagsolo kayo," Mabel said."Mom, kaya nga dito ko dinala si Lara. Gusto kong magkaroon din kayo ng bonding. Tapos aalis ka?" "Hindi nam
"What are you doing?" tanong ni Lara na hindi naman masupil ang ngiti habang nakatingin sa asawang de-apron sa kusina. "I'm cooking, can't you see?" Tinaas-babaan pa siya nito ng kilay nang lingunin siya.Pangatlong araw pa lang nila roon. Pero pakiramdam ni Lara, nasasanay na siya sa side nito na hindi seryoso. He was sweet and caring.Sometimes, she was thinking if he was beginning to be like the man he used to be before he lost Lena. Lara could still remember how she adored him back then. But it was the unadulterated kind. She loved him because Lena loved him. Because she thought he was going to be her brother-in-law."You can cook?" Lumapit siya at inusisa ang niluluto nitong pang-lunch nila. "Sinigang?" "Uh-huh," he answered, switching the temperature to low. "This will be done in a minute. Are you already hungry?" She shook her head. "Hindi naman. I didn't know that you can cook—""Don't be fooled," singit ni Mabel na may dalang hinugasang siling haba. "Pinabantayan ko lang
That one week by the sea was like a dream for Lara that she wished to return to given a chance. Pakiramdam niya, ibang Miguel ang kasama niya sa loob nang maiksing panahon na iyon. She really felt special. Naramdaman niya talagang asawa siya nito. That time, she was the apple of his eyes. Wala itong ibang nakikita kundi siya. Ilang beses ba nila pinagsaluhan ang mga maiinit na gabi? Minsan mainit na umaga, tanghali, hapon, madaling araw. Since that first they shared by the sea, they already slept in the same room. Lara was happy. She loved him. Kaya naman wala siyang reklamo. Kahit lagi silang tinutukso ni Mabel, si Migo naman ay sige sa PDA. Now, that was just a memory. Nakabalik na sila sa syudad. Dahil matagal na nawala si Migo, he had to catch up with work. Pero sinisikap nitong uwian siya. Sometimes, he would arrive very late. Magigisingan na lang niya ang mga haplos nito. Kaya bawal na sa silid niya magpalipas ng gabi si Nurse Beth. Baka ma-eskandalo ito.Minsan kapag mada
Except for sorting and answering some emails for the boss, tunganga na si Lara maghapon sa opisina.Kapag walang kausap si Miguel, pinapapasok siya nito at ang trabaho niyang personal umano rito ang atupagin niya. She would massage his temples with her free hand, ang balikat nito, ang likod nito at kung saan man nito hingiin ang 'masahe'. Minsan he would demand a kiss almost from time to time kaya sa tabi na lang siya nito nakaupo. Madalas, sa kandungan nito habang naglilikot ang mga kamay nitong pasaway. And more often than not, natatapos iyon sa ilang beses nitong pag-angkin sa kanya sa kung saan-saang parte ng opisina nito. Then she would spend forever cleaning to at least clean up the air from the lustful smell, kung mayroon bang gano'n, before his next visitor would enter the room. Miguel would just laugh at how conscious she was. Adding that whatever they do, no one has the right to question them. O kahit sitahin man lang sila. He had also instructed Jaxen and the rest of the
Seventeen years ago, Lara did not understand why she survived a massacre and her family didn’t. Even when her mind was etched with the face of their killer, all she ever thought was giving justice to their deaths. She knew she would see him again. And she was not wrong. Almost two decades passed, their paths crossed again. Now that she stood at the witness stand and she could see the horror in Stefano’s eyes, Lara was convinced that God allowed her to live for that very purpose. To make Stefano pay for the crimes he committed. Kanina, nang makita siya ng lalaki, labis ang gulat nito. Siguro nga, talagang inisip nito na patay na siya. Well, hindi niya ito masisisi. Nakita nito ang kalagayan niya noon dahil ito ang may kagagawan kaya siya tinamaan ng bala. Pero sorry na lang ito, hindi pa niya oras. Lara swore an oath to tell only the truth. At iyon din naman ang ginawa niya. But she was surprised by her own composure. She didn’t break down even when she recalled everything that happ
“Stop crying, I’m not dead yet.” Hindi malaman ni Lara kung matatawa siya o madadamay sa pag-iyak ng dalawa niyang emosyonal na mga kaibigan. After a week and a half since she almost died, Miguel finally allowed her friends to know about what happened to her and visit her.“Shut up!” nagkukusot pa ng mga matang ani Tasya. “You always do this to us! I’m scared the next time, we’ll just be mourning over your dead body!”“Lara, how could you not tell us? We get it that we might not be able to protect you like your husband could, but aren’t we your friends? At least let us know about what’s going on with you,” seryoso na dagdag ni Chester. His eyes were red from tears earlier. “I’m sorry,” aniya. “Hindi ko naman sadya na hindi talaga sabihin—”“I asked you!” agaw ni Tasya. “You didn’t tell me! Kung alam ko lang na delikado ang gagawin mo no’n, I should have never agreed to help you! Nagsisisi ako na hinayaan ko na hindi ko alam ang plano mo!”“Tash, sorry na… I didn’t want to tell you
“I think our baby is moving…”Lara laughed softly at what Miguel said. Nasa tiyan niya ang kamay nito at dinadama iyon kahit hindi pa umuumbok. “Is that so?” Alam naman niyang imposible iyon dahil ilang linggo pa lang naman ang sanggol sa sinapupunan niya. But she didn’t have the heart to correct him. Migo was just excited. “Then get ready, Migo. I’m sure paglabas niya ay isa siyang makulit at malikot na bata!”“Maganda rin, mabait, matalino, matapang at mana sa mama…” Miguel smiled gently at her. That warmed her heart. Lara was happy, so happy. “You want a daughter?” “Kahit son o daughter, ayos lang. Ang importante, pareho kayong maging maayos ng anak natin.” Umusod ito para masuyo siyang hawakan sa kanyang pisngi. “I love you, sweetheart…”“I love you too, Miguel…” Miguel bent to kiss her lips softly. Gustong maiyak ni Lara. She could feel her husband’s love for her and she was ashamed that she caused him to worry too much then. Pero sa kabila nang padalos-dalos na pagpayag n
“Sometimes I wonder why I am still alive. Is it for you to spoil me with visits like this?” Meredith rolled her eyes at him. Nakasandal lang ito sa headboard ng hospital bed nito nang abutan niya. “Araw-araw kang narito, Migo.”“It’s for you to realize that there’s someone who is not yet ready to lose you,” Miguel answered, lightly pinching his friend’s cheek. “As if!”Hindi fatal ang mga gunshot wounds nito dahil nakasuot naman ito ng bulletproof vest. Pero tinamaan kasi ito sa braso at balikat. She was just recovering now from her wounds. Pero ang sakit nito, patuloy na lumalala. “Have you made up your mind yet?”Meredith sighed. “Matagal na akong nakapagdesisyon, you know it. So, I don’t understand why you’re still trying to convince me every day.”“Mer, until you’ve tried everything, it’s not yet over. Besides, do you really want to leave me now?” pangongonsensya niya.“Cut it out,” natatawa nitong saway. “Hindi mo ako madadala sa ganyan. Alam ko na masaya ka na. Hindi mo na ako
“You should’ve just killed me,” mapait pero unremorseful na sabi ni Stefano.“We’re not the same, Stefano. I am not a killer,” tugon niya. Kalalabas lang sa ospital ng pinsan niya, pero sa kulungan ito idiniretso. Stefano’s arms were both gone. Gayunpaman, hindi kakikitaan ng pagsisisi ang lalaki sa lahat ng ginawa nito.“You are so full of yourself, Miguel. Darating din ang araw mo!” “Ang mahalaga, dumating na ang sa ‘yo. Show even a little remorse, Stefano. You killed not only the woman you claim to love, but also your own blood!”His cousin laughed bitterly. “You killed them.”“I didn’t. It was your selfishness and love for money that killed them. You killed them, Stefano.”“I’m the bad guy now?” Tila naiimposiblehan pa ito.“You’ve always been,” sagot niya. “Even before we met, you already ruined Lolo’s trust in you. Wala akong kinalaman sa lahat ng sinasabi mo na naging pagbabago. You made all the changes yourself.”Tumawa ulit ito. “Pwede kang tumanggi, Miguel. You didn’t. You
“Lena… It’s you… Lena!”Lara was utterly confused. Mistulang baliw na biglang naging maamong tupa si Stefano na nakaluhod pa habang gagap ang mga kamay niya. He was calling her by her sister’s name repeatedly. “Lena, I’m sorry. I’m sorry!” Kinalagan nito ang posas niya at pinaghahalikan ang mga kamay niya. “Are you hurt?” Diring-diri si Lara, but she was too afraid to do anything that might trigger Stefano to do something dangerous to her. “I knew that you’re alive!” He stood up and hugged her. “They all lied to me, Lena!” Nang yakapin siya nito at bahagyang mahila ang buhok niya, that was when it dawned to Lara. Her hair was down. Hindi niya namalayan ang paghulagpos no’n sa pagkakatali niya kanina. At kapag nakalugay ang buhok niya ay kamukhang-kamukha niya ang ate niya. Stefano was not able to differentiate her from her sister for a reason unknown to Lara. What was going on with him?“Alam ko na babalik ka!” Ikinulong nito sa mga palad nito ang mukha niya. Lara couldn’t say
“Stefano!!! Leave my wife alone!!!!!!!!!!”Tawa lang ang naging sagot sa kanya ni Stefano.“Do not hurt her!” “I’ll say it again, Miguel. From this time on, susundin mo lahat ng sasabihin ko. I’ll call you again.”Tapos ay tinapos nito ang tawag. Napasuntok siya sa manibela. Hawak ni Stefano si Lara. It was his fault! Dapat ay sa kinaroroonan ng asawa niya siya sumama. He could have protected her! “Location, Jaxen?” baling niya sa kasama na nasa backseat. His assistant was monitoring their distance from Lara’s last known location. Pagdating nila sa safehouse, mga tauhan niyang paisa-isa na lang ang hininga ang inabutan nila. The traitor knew where to shoot to kill. But what he was not aware of was that one of his comrades was able to plant a tracking device on him. Iyon ang sinusundan nila ngayon hoping na hindi pa nito iyon napapansin at inalis na para iligaw sila. Stationary ito sa kasalukuyan which meant that they were no longer moving. Kung base sa tawag ni Stefano na kasama
Lara was beginning to feel uncomfortable that she was too comfortable. She was being treated nicely and there was still no sign of Stefano even after arriving for several minutes already. Lima ang bantay niya sa loob ng isang may kaluwagang silid ng isang safe house. Ang dalawa ay nasa may pintuan, nagbabantay. Ang isa na mukhang lider ng mga ito ay nasa may bintana at panaka-nakang tsini-check ang paligid sa pamamagitan ng binocular. Ang dalawa naman ay nasa sulok, naglalaro ng cards. Habang siya ay tahimik lang na nakaupo sa sofa at pinaglilipat-lipat ang tingin sa mga ito na wari ba’y nalilito.Hindi iyon ang address na pinadala ni Stefano sa kanya. Nevertheless, it could just mean that he was trying to confuse her. After all, wala namang may alam ng lakad niya kundi silang dalawa lamang. But then the question was, where the heck was Stefano? Bakit siya nito pinaghihintay?She was calm a while ago, pero nang magsimulang maglabas ng baril ang nasa bintana at sipat-sipatin nito iyon
“Are you sure you are going to do this?” “Ngayon ka pa mag-aalala? Please, Miguel, I’m not a child.” Parang nakita pa niyang nagroll eyes si Meredith kahit na boses lang nito ang naririnig niya. She was not a child indeed. Pero hindi niya maiwasang mag-alala. She was going to do a dangerous mission for him and Lara. “Remember to prioritize your safety, Mer.”“You know that I have nothing to lose anymore. This might just give meaning to my life…” “I want you back safe and sound,” tugon naman niya. Alam niya kung ano ang tinutukoy ni Meredith. A few days ago, she confessed everything to him. And he was saddened a great deal. He was losing a friend to a terminal disease. Not that Meredith didn’t fight it. She did. Alone. She didn’t tell anyone until doctors already gave up on her. “If i’ll be back, I want you for myself, Migo. So, don’t ask for it,” biro nito. He let out a low chuckle. Pero totoong malungkot siya. When she told him about her condition, he was shattered. Meredith