Artemis’ POV“Hey, Babe, we didn’t had the chance to talk. You went back immediately.” Papasok ako sa trabaho nang makita ko ang lalaking nagngangalang Margus. They are in the table while having breakfast with their family. Agad na kumaway ang babae kahapon kay Zelo. Napatingin naman ako kay Zelo na salubong ang kilay ngayon. “Good morning, hope you are enjoying your stay in Hatty Resort po,” I just greeted them before I continue walking. Kasabay ko lang din naman si Zelo. Agad ko ring nakikita ang titig nito sa akin.“That guy is surely hitting on you,” Zelo said when we went to the table near the shore. Inilapag ko lang din ang mga gamit ko dahil dito lang din naman siya tatambay ngayon. Well, he was really enjoying his stay here in Cebu. Kapag break ko’y nakikita ko siyang nalilibang na subukan ang ikang outdoor activities here in the resort. “Aren’t you going to say something?” tanong niya kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya. “I told you no matter how many people hit on me, I don’t r
Artemis’ POV“You two looks annoying,” ani Ares na napangiwi pa sa amin ni Zelo when he saw that we are smiling from eyes to eyes. “Oh, come on, hindi ko na kasalanan kung ayaw kang makita ni Seb ngayon dahil hindi ka nagsaing,” nakangisi kong sambit. He pouted before sitting on the higj chair in the kitchen. Muntikan na siyang mapalayas ni Seb. Mainit ang ulo nito nang mga nakaraan. May hinuha na ako kung bakit. She’s like that din noong pinagbubuntis niya si Ruiz. Ayaw niyang makita si Ares, walang magawa ang kapatid ko niyon kundi ang tawagan lang siya sa cellphone. Video call na si Seb lang ang kita. “Manood ka kung paano ang tamang pagluluto baka sakaling gusto ka nang makita ni Seb,” pang-aasar ko kay Ares kaya hindi niya mapigilan ang irapan na lang ako. Napatawa ako nang mahina roon. “As if you can cook. I thought you wanted to marry someone who’s good at cooking, Zelo?” tanong ni Ares. Agad akong napasimangot doon. Well, marunong akong magluto ng basic lang.“But I can coo
Artemis’ POV“Napaka-hands on naman pala,” mapang-asar saad ni Ares habang narito na naman sa bahay. He is homeless kaya hinahayaan ko siyang mabatili rito. “Hindi ko alam na kinaka-career mo nga talaga ang pagiging manliligaw, Artemis,” aniya. “Don’t wait for me to kick you out of the house, Ares.” Napanguso siya bago nakiusap na naman na kausap ko ang kaniyang asawa. As if may magagawa ako gayong pagsasama nila ‘yan. Iniwan ko siya sa bahay at nagtungo na ako sa law firm na pinagagawa ni Zelo ngayon. He is already building a new law firm here in Cebu. He is so busy with that. Kausap niya rin sina engineer tungkol doon. He is really hands on with his work kaya hindi ko mapigilan ang magdala ng pagkain para sa kaniya at sa ilang nagtatrabaho roon. Kahit ulam lang ay ayos na. That’s already my routine for how many days. Sometimes nagpapa-deliver lang din kapag busy ako sa resort. It’s either nasa resort kaming dalawa o nasa ginagawang firm. Mayamaya lang ay nakarating na ako roon.
Artemis’ POVZelo: I did. What about you and the kids? Have you eaten? Can I call?Agad kumurba ang ngiti sa mga labi ko nang mabasa ang mensahe mula kay Zelo. Agad akong napaayos sa aking pagkakaupo bago ko binasa ang text nito sa akin. Ako: Tapos na work? Alright…Wala pang ilang segundo’y tumatawag na ito. Para naman akong nalulusaw sa pagkakaupo ko sa sofa. “Are you done with your work?” tanong ko sa kaniya. Nasa Manila si Zelo ngayon. May inaasikaso lang panandalian patungkol sa pinapatayo niyang law firm dito sa Cebu. He’ll start to work again but this time with the job that he really likes. Noon pa man pagiging Judge na ang gusto niya and he’ll start being a lawyer first. I’m just glad that he will pursue what he loves now. “I’m done now... How about you? How’s your work?” he asked. I just told him what happened to my day. Ang ngiti sa aking labi ay hindi na naman mapawi habang nagkukwento. I use to dream for this. Just us talking with each other in phone and just talk about
Artemis’ POV“Good morning, Ms. Artemis,” bati sa akin ni Ms. Brown. She is so pretty with her natural make up. Ang kaniyang maputing kulay ay nangingibabaw sa aming lahat. “Good morning, Ms. Brown.” I greeted her team too. Lumabas din sa sasakyan sina Juan Clud at ang kaniyang asawa habang maligalig na bumabati, binati ko rin sila pabalik. Maski ang nasa likod kong si Zelo’y binati rin nila. We are going with our tour today. We are going to island hop. I just let them go one by one. Tumalong din ako kay Manong Lito, isa sa mga bangkerong nakatrabaho ko na, para alalalayan ang mga ito. When it Zelo’s turn, I smile brightly at him. “I hope you enjoy the trip, Sir…” ani ko habang may ngiti sa labi. Tumaas lang ang kilay nito subalit ang ngiti sa labi’y malapad na rin. Agad napaawang ang labi ko nang walang kahirap-hirap niya akong binuhat at sinakay sa bangka. Mahina pa siyang natawa sa kagaguhan niya nang makita kung paano ako bahagyang nagulat. Napailing na lang ako sa kaniya. Na
Artemis’ POVZelo is really confusing me. He is always hot and cold. I don’t really know what’s with him dahil the rest of the trip, he was already not in the mood. I looked at him but he's not even trying to steal glamces at me. Napatikhim na lang ako habang naglalakad pabalik ng bangka. “You know what I really enjoy that time when we spend the night together for the campaign to love the Philippines,” ani Ms. Brown kaya bahagya akong nahinto sa paglalakad. Spend the night together… It doesn’t mean anything, Artemis. Tigilan mo ang pag-iisip ng kung ano. “I would love to do that again! I hope you have time again, Mr. President!” It was just a friendly exclaimed but why do I feel like something tugged in my heart. “Oh, you two spend the night together? Saan? Sa Bataan ba ‘yan? ‘Yan ba ‘yong article na lumabas na nag-date kayo?” I don’t know why Juan Cloud sound so annoying. Hindi ko mapigilan ang mapasimangot. Hindi ko na rin namamalayan na bumibilis na ang lakad ko at humihina na
Artemis’ POVWe ended up going out the house. Nasa garden na kami ngayon. Isinuot niya sa akin ang cardigan na kinuha sa loob at ibinigay ang gatas na aming tinimpla. “Thank you…” mahinang sambit ko bago napanguso. “You are welcome…” he said before sitting besides me. I just watch him to sip on his glass of milk before talking. “What’s the thing that was upsetting you?” tanong ko habang sinasalubong na ang kaniyang mga mata ngayon. Napanguso siya at napasimangot pa sa akin ngayon. “Ano ba tayo, Artemis? Aren’t we together yet? Am I assuming too much?” he asked. Napalabi pa siya habang nakatingin sa akin ngayon. Unti-unti ring napaawang ang aking labi roon bago ako napanguso. “Is it because of Juan Cloud’s question? I’m sorry. I wanted to talk to you about it first. I don’t want to assume things and decide on my own. To begin with we are the one who will be in relationship together…” “Alright. I had fault there too. I thought you knew when I said that I’m inlove with you.” Pinig
Zelo’s POV“I talk to Umbrielle now, Mr. Tigre. She already agree to the deal. She already created plan. She’ll use the son of the governor to do it,” ani Alfredo, isa sa mga tauhan ko mula sa Tigers. Hindi ko mapigilan ang pagkurba ng ngisi sa aking labi. So she’ll use me? “That’s all for the report, Mr. Tigre,” he said again when he didn’t hear anything from me. “Alright. That’s good to hear. I want this job to be done as soon as possible,” I said. I have a voice changer so Alfredo doesn’t really know my real voice is. He was the acting head of Tigers. Ibinaba ko ang aking telepono bago ako napatingin sa folder na nasa harapan ko. I look at the girl in the photo. This is her portfolio. She really stain her hands killing a lot of dirty politicians. She’s not even serious on her photo. May ngisi sa labi habang hawak-hawak ang kulay gray niyang buhok. Nangingibabaw rin ang ganda ng kaniyang kulay gray na mga mata. No wonder she have use her face a lot. Napakibit na lang ako ng bali
Zelo’s POV“Fuck it!” malutong kong mura habang mahigpit na mahigpit ang hawak sa manibela. Hindi ko lubos na maintindihan kung bakit laging kontra sa akin ang pagkakataon. When I’m finally living my best life with my family, fate will make a move to do something harsh. I almost got into the twins room subalit agad nilang nailipat ang mga bata at naisama pa si Artemis. I don’t know what I’ll do if I lost any of them. I won’t be able to forgive myself. It's my fault fucking weak. Why can’t I fight those people easily? Dapat noon pa’y nadala ko na sa kulungan ang mga taong ‘yon. Sobrang bilis ng paharurot ko sa sasakyan. I can’t even calm myself anymore knowing that if ever come there late, there’s chance that I won’t be able to see any of them anymore. Parang winasak ang puso ko nang makita ang dalawang bata na sumisigaw na tulungan ang ina nila. Ramdam ko ang pamumuo ng luha nang makita ang sugat mula sa katawan ng mga ito. How can people be this monsterous. They don’t have any
Zelo’s POV“Fuck! I told you that I’ll fire everyone who’ll scratch her!” malakas kong sigaw sa hilera ng guards na kung walang sugat ay bali naman ang katawan. They are being treated by the residence nurses and doctor here in Palais. Agad silang napayuko roon at hindi rin alam ang sasabihin dahil hindi rin naman nila kilala kung sino si Artemis. “Mr. President, calm down,” bulong sa akin ni Junio. “If they don’t try to restrain her, she’ll ended up in run. Isa pa, look at these people. She almost kill everyone. You are forgetting that she’s a monster in a human form.” Tumalim lang ang mata ko sa kaniya. Propesiyonal niya namang pinagsabihan ang PSG na under his wing. Iritado na akong lumabas doon. I went where Artemis is. Hindi nagsasawang saktan ang kaniyang sarili just to get out of here. Kumuyom ang kamao ko nang makita ang bubog na bumaon sa kaniyang balat. Damn it. As if she’s already use in pain. Ni wala akong narinig na reklamo mula sa kaniya. “Where’s my son, Zelo?” galit
Zelo’s POVI’m not really sure when it all started. Hindi ko sigurado kung kailan ako nagkagusto kay Umbrielle. I just knew that she already become my safe place in just short period of time. “Artemis… That’s my real name,” she said one night when we are having a drink at her apartment. I don’t know how we ended up drinking. We just got brought things in the grocery and she took a lot of beer. Kaya ngayon, ito kaming dalawa trying to play games while drinking. “You have a pretty name…” mahinang sambit ko habang nakatitig sa namumungay niyang mga mata. “I know right.” She even laughed a little before rolling the bottle. Tumapat ulit sa kaniya kaya hindi ko mapigilan ang matawa nang mahina roon. Agad siyang napasimangot. “One truth again,” I said. Maybe I’m too thirsty on knowing her na tuwing tumatapat ang bote sa kaniya’y I’ll ask her to tell one truth about her. “Hmm, I’m not good as you think I am,” aniya na iniwas ang tingin sa akin at napatungga sa kaniyang baso. “People are
Zelo’s POV“What are you still doing here? I thought I asked you that you shouldn’t be here once I’m already awake?” tanong niya habang nakahilata pa rin sa lapag ng kaniyang sala. Ni walang magawa rito dahil wala man lang siyang television. “I’m hungry. I didn’t eat since lunch yesterday,” ani ko na nilingon siya. Napatingin siya sa akin doon bago unti-unting napaawang ang labi. “Ano? Are you stupid? Bakit hindi ka nagsasabi? Engot ka ba?” I was always genuis in the eyes of other people but this girl never forgets to tell me how stupid I am. Hindi ko na lang mapigilan bago niligpit ang aking pinaghigaan. “Wala akong pagkain dito. Mag-oorder pa. Instant noodles lang ang mayroon ako,” aniya na nag-dial ng pagkain. She looks like she wasn’t fully awake kaya lumapit ako sa kaniya sa kaniyang kusina. She was looking for a food to eat kaya lang ang puno nga ng instant food ang apartment niya. “I’ll cook,” ani ko kaya napataas lang ang kaniyang kilay at hinayaan na rin ako. Mayroon nama
Zelo’s POV“We meet again, Nerd!” nakangising saad sa akin ng isang lalaking nagyoyosi sa isang eskinita malapit sa library. I don’t have my car with me right now. Hindi na rin ako nagtawag ng magsusundo dahil may mga cab naman na dumadaan dito. Napatingin ako sa lalaki. Napakunot ang noo ko nang mapagtanto na sila ‘yong mga lalaki sa library who’s trying to hit on Umbrielle. “You think you are all that? Let see if uubra ‘yang tapang mo,” nakangisi nitong sambit. Kids these days are really funny. They intend to do things that they won’t have any improvement with. Hindi ko mapigilan ang mapailing at lalagpasan na lang sana ang mga ito subalit agad nila akong naharang. “I’m true to my words kaya sparring tayo! Huwag kang tatanga-tanga!” sambit niya pa na hinila ako patungo sa eskinita. This is just waste of time. I probably got a lot of things to learn right now. I was about to call my bodyguards when the guy talk again. “Isa pa, may atraso sa akin ang tatay mo! Pinakulong lang nam
Zelo’s POV“Wala bang mas madaling paraan para makuha ang loob niyan? Ang hirap naman nito! Ang hirap magpatay ng oras! Papasok pa lang ako sa library’y gusto ko na agad umuwi. Isa pa! Ang sama ng ugali ng lalaking ‘yon! Mana nga ata sa kaniyang ama,” pabulong niyang saad sa kaniyang kausap mula sa kabilang linya. Pabulong na dinig na dinig ko naman.Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad na wari ba’y hindi ko alam na ang CCTV dito’y na-hack na rin nila. Agad siyang tumayo nang maayos at mukhang nasabihan nang nasa likod niya lang ako. Agad huminahon ang kaniyang tinig. “Osiya, sige na. Ibaba ko na. I’ll give you money once for your studies. Mag-aral ka nang mabuti.” Gusto kong matawa sa pag-arte nito subalit pinigilan ko lang din ang sarili. I just walk staight subalit agad niya akong nasabayan. “Hi, I always see you around the library. Ikaw ‘yon, ‘di ba? Library ka ulit?” she said nang harangin ako bago niya inilagay sa likod ng kaniyang tainga ang takas na buhok. Malamig ko lang siyang ti
Zelo’s POV“I talk to Umbrielle now, Mr. Tigre. She already agree to the deal. She already created plan. She’ll use the son of the governor to do it,” ani Alfredo, isa sa mga tauhan ko mula sa Tigers. Hindi ko mapigilan ang pagkurba ng ngisi sa aking labi. So she’ll use me? “That’s all for the report, Mr. Tigre,” he said again when he didn’t hear anything from me. “Alright. That’s good to hear. I want this job to be done as soon as possible,” I said. I have a voice changer so Alfredo doesn’t really know my real voice is. He was the acting head of Tigers. Ibinaba ko ang aking telepono bago ako napatingin sa folder na nasa harapan ko. I look at the girl in the photo. This is her portfolio. She really stain her hands killing a lot of dirty politicians. She’s not even serious on her photo. May ngisi sa labi habang hawak-hawak ang kulay gray niyang buhok. Nangingibabaw rin ang ganda ng kaniyang kulay gray na mga mata. No wonder she have use her face a lot. Napakibit na lang ako ng bali
Artemis’ POVWe ended up going out the house. Nasa garden na kami ngayon. Isinuot niya sa akin ang cardigan na kinuha sa loob at ibinigay ang gatas na aming tinimpla. “Thank you…” mahinang sambit ko bago napanguso. “You are welcome…” he said before sitting besides me. I just watch him to sip on his glass of milk before talking. “What’s the thing that was upsetting you?” tanong ko habang sinasalubong na ang kaniyang mga mata ngayon. Napanguso siya at napasimangot pa sa akin ngayon. “Ano ba tayo, Artemis? Aren’t we together yet? Am I assuming too much?” he asked. Napalabi pa siya habang nakatingin sa akin ngayon. Unti-unti ring napaawang ang aking labi roon bago ako napanguso. “Is it because of Juan Cloud’s question? I’m sorry. I wanted to talk to you about it first. I don’t want to assume things and decide on my own. To begin with we are the one who will be in relationship together…” “Alright. I had fault there too. I thought you knew when I said that I’m inlove with you.” Pinig
Artemis’ POVZelo is really confusing me. He is always hot and cold. I don’t really know what’s with him dahil the rest of the trip, he was already not in the mood. I looked at him but he's not even trying to steal glamces at me. Napatikhim na lang ako habang naglalakad pabalik ng bangka. “You know what I really enjoy that time when we spend the night together for the campaign to love the Philippines,” ani Ms. Brown kaya bahagya akong nahinto sa paglalakad. Spend the night together… It doesn’t mean anything, Artemis. Tigilan mo ang pag-iisip ng kung ano. “I would love to do that again! I hope you have time again, Mr. President!” It was just a friendly exclaimed but why do I feel like something tugged in my heart. “Oh, you two spend the night together? Saan? Sa Bataan ba ‘yan? ‘Yan ba ‘yong article na lumabas na nag-date kayo?” I don’t know why Juan Cloud sound so annoying. Hindi ko mapigilan ang mapasimangot. Hindi ko na rin namamalayan na bumibilis na ang lakad ko at humihina na