Thank you so much po sa lahat ng matiyagang nagbasa nito hanggang sa dulo. I also apologize for keeping you hanging for so long. I got stuck near the end. But thank you for all those who encouraged me to continue. Salamat sa mga comments nyo. Until our next story. Hoping to see you once again by then. Maraming salamat po. Miguel and Lara now signing off... God bless us all.
"Ate, ang ganda-ganda mo!!! Para kang princess!"Hangang-hanga at kumikislap pa ang mga matang bulalas ng seven years old na batang babae na si Lara.Ang ate niya na si Lena ay kasalukuyang nag-ga-gown fitting para sa nalalapit nitong kasal."Talaga, Lara?" Yumuko sa kanya si Lena at pinisil ang magkabila niyang pisngi. "Ikaw talaga ang number one fan ko!"Malaking ngiti ang tugon niya sa ate niya, showing off her missing front tooth.Kakalabing walong taong gulang pa lamang ni Lena pero sa isang buwan ay nakatakda na itong ikasal sa kababata nitong si Migo.
Eleven years later…"Ang aga-aga pa pero 'yang mukha mo, hindi na agad maipinta."Napaangat ng tingin ang nakasimangot na si Lara sa nagsalita. Si Chester Salas, isa sa dalawang best friends niya.Matangkad, maputi, gwapo at may playboy na aura sa unang tingin pa lang."So?" Isang pulgada ang itinaas ng isa niyang kilay."May pakialam ako, Señorita. Kasi kapag nakasimangot ka, apektado ang mundo!" Napatampal ito sa noo nito bago siya tinabihan sa bleachers na kinauupuan niya."Lumayas ka sa harapan ko, Chester! Baka hindi kita matant'ya!" Asik niya.
"Annulment?" Ulit ni Atty. Baltazar sa sinabi niya na parang isang kalokohan iyon."Yes, Atty. Annulment," ulit din niyang kumpirma."Mrs. Villareal," sumandal ito sa upuan nito at mataman siyang tiningnan. Wari ba ay inaarok nito ang kanyang isipan.Sinalubong naman niya ang tingin ng matandang abogado. Kailangan niyang ipakita na seryoso siya. Ilang buwan niyang pinag-isipan iyon at nagawa niyang kumbinsihin ang sarili niyang iyon ang pinakatama niyang gawin.Alam niyang makukumbinsi rin niya si Atty. Baltazar kapag nakita nito ang determinasyon sa mga mata niya."Mrs. Villareal," muli nitong sabi. Pinagsalikop nito ang mga k
"Lara," ulit ni Migo nang wala na itong narinig mula sa kanya. "Are you still there?"Hindi na halos maalala ni Lara ang mukha ni Migo, pero nang mga sandaling iyon, base sa tono ng napakaganda nitong boses, parang nakikita niya itong nakapangunot-noo.His voice… It was no longer the same as how she remembered he sounded. Parang mas gumanda? Tunog misteryoso at malamig pero parang may haplos sa puso.Ah, basta, 'yon na 'yon! Ang hirap e-explain!"Lara," Miguel started to sound annoyed. "Look, if you don't want to talk, ibalik mo na kay George ang telepono—""I'm here," putol niyang halos mabingi sa sariling tibok ng puso niya.
Hindi makapaniwala si Lara.She graduated Summa Cum Laude tapos ay Assistant to the Assistant ang trabaho niya? Clerical!Gustong mag-walk out ng dalaga. Anong tingin sa kanya ng magaling niyang asawa? Wala siyang kayang gawin? Sige, given nang fresh graduate siya. Tanggap pa niya ang Assistant eh.Pero iyong maging Assistant siya ng Assistant, aba, masyado atang minamaliit ni Migo ang kakayahan niya?Ang isa pang nakakainsulto, kaya raw 'yon ang posisyon na in-offer sa kanya ay dahil wala naman daw talagang bakante. Kung hindi lang daw malakas ang backer niya, hindi raw siya tatanggapin doon.Yes! The HR Manager was that straight fo
"Nakita mo na ba ang CEO?" Lara randomly asked Kylene one boring day while she was photocopying memos to be distributed to the company's various departments. "Si Mr. Villareal? Hindi pa. Kapag may meeting naman kasi, hanggang Manager level lang ang kasama. Saka may sariling elevator si Sir na diretso lang sa floor niya," sagot ni Kylene na kaunti lang ang tanda sa kanya. Pansin niya rin na introvert ito. Hindi ito nakikisali sa mga ibang kasama nila sa department. Sa katunayan, binu-bully ito. Tinatambakan ng paper works na kung tutuusin, hindi na sana nito trabaho. "Misteryoso rin pala siya kahit dito," bulong niya."Ano 'yon, Lara?" "Wala," she said, shaking her head. Inilipat niya sa mesa ang mga papel at inumpisahang mag-sort. "Heto pa. Kailangan ito in thirty minutes!"Nagliparan ang mga inaayos ni Lara dahil pabagsak na inilapag ni Lizzie sa mesa niya ang isang makapal na folder. Kung hindi tumalikod
Napangisi si Lara habang sinisingit sa photocopied files para sa CEO ang annulment papers na pirmado na niya. She knew that annulment doesn't work like divorce but at least, the papers that she signed would let him know that she was dead serious about it. Enough is enough. She was so done. If Miguel wouldn't take her seriously, then he should just let her on her own. Hindi na niya ito kailangan dahil malaki na siya. 'That sounds so ungrateful, Lara,' maagap na banat ng isip niya. Oo na. Utang niya kay Miguel lahat ng mayro'n siya ngayon. Pero hindi ba pwedeng hanggang doon na lang? Pabayaan na siya nito so she could live her own life away from him. Tutal naman, wala itong balak magpakita sa kanya!Para saan ba ang pakasalan siya kung ni dulo ng buhok nito, hindi niya masilayan? Ni hindi ba sila pwedeng maging magkaibigan? What was Migo's reason for being so mysterious? Aanuhin niya ba ito? Lara was tired. She didn'
Napatingala si Lara nang tumigil sa harapan niya si Migo. She could still remember how he was a tall guy when she was just little. Pero bakit gano’n? Parang hindi siya lumaki? Hanggang ngayon ay kailangan pa rin niyang baliin ang leeg niya para tingnan ito sa mukha. Lara realized na matangkad na lalaki si Miguel Villareal. He exuded an intimidating aura. And power, naghuhumiyaw iyon sa tayo pa lang nito. Sa mga tingin nitong parang nagmula pa sa North Pole, and yet despite the coldness, hindi rin maikakaila ang matinding galit sa mga iyon.What did she do that offended him? ‘Duh, Lara, nagtanong ka pa? Look at yourself! You’re a mess! Nahuli ka sa aktong nakikipag-away! Nakakahiya ka. I’m sure, mas lalong hindi papayag si Migo na malaman ng lahat na asawa ka niya!’ “What are you doing?” he asked.Pakiramdam ni Lara, nagkabikig ang lalamunan niya. When she opened her mouth to speak, walang lumabas na boses sa mga labi niya. O talaga lan
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