Chapter 43ExplosionNagbaba ako ng tingin. Lumabo ang aking mata. No, I can't cry. Ito na ang pagkakataon ko para mapapayag siya. Hindi ko man iyon sinadya pero tama lang siguro."Rigella," he called weakly. Hinawakan niya ang aking baba dahilan ng pagkatuklas ko sa kaniyang umaagos na luha. "You're tired of loving me already?"Hindi ako makasagot noong una. Alam ko naman ang sagot pero ayaw ko munang magsalita. Matapang ko siyang tiningan."H-Hindi na kita matatanggap kahit kailan. Masama kang tao..." nanginig ang aking bosesHe bit his lower lip. Tumango-tango siya. Mas lalong kumulimlim ang kaniyang porma."You don't deserve us, Ivan. You couldn't tell the truth from the start. Magtiis kang mawala kaming lahat sa 'yo dahil ginusto mo namang mag-isa, hindi ba?"Tinatagan ko ang aking hitsura. Pinisil niya ang aking kamay."Learn to give me up, like how you'd always wanted to get rid of me. Dahil ako? Tapos na tapos na akong maging asawa mo. Makita lang kita, mas pipiliin ko pang ma
Chapter 44SaveThat evil laugh terrified me to the core. Halos hindi na 'ko makagalaw sa tinataguan ko sa likod ng mahabang sofa. I covered my mouth to avoid making any noise.I uttered my deepest prayer at that time. Please, save me and my baby. I can’t... just die like this! Ni hindi ko alam kung bakit ako napunta sa ganitong sitwasyon!“Ah, someone’s coming...” the man’s deep voice still sounded as if it was near me, but it also felt like he was still too far away to reach me.I was trembling in fear. Pinipilit kong kumalma pero hindi ko magawa. I was also thinking of Ivan. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan ba siya at kung ano nang kalagayan niya. At kung kasama na ba niya ang anak namin.Oh, please. Save me from this! I don’t want my child to lose me. He doesn’t deserve it. Please, dear Lord!“Ah!” I heard the man moaned in pain.Narinig ko rin ang tunog na tila paghampas ng isang bakal. My eyes blurred but my hearing turned hypersensitive. In the middle of the dark, I wanted to escape b
Chapter 45WorldLumambot ang kaniyang ekspresiyon. “Rigella...”She took a step forward but I took a step backward. I glared at her and pointed a finger at her.“‘Wag kang lalapit sa ‘kin,” I warned her.Namanglaw ang kaniyang mga mata. “Rigella, please—”“Sabi nang ‘wag kang lalapit!” I saw her tear fell. Pero wala akong pakialam. How dare she show up in front of me. Ang kapal ng mukha niya“Rigella, please. Kailangan nating mag-usap...” pakiusap niya.“Mag-usap? After all these years? Yayayain mo ‘kong makipag-usap na parang wala lang? Na parang wala lang nangyari, ha?” Nangilid ang luha ko. Sheer anger boiled within me. Walang mapaglagyan ang galit at sakit na nararamdaman ko. Umiling si Ate Rina. “Please, hayaan mo lang akong magpaliwanag...”“Magpaliwanag? Ano pa bang ipapaliwanag mo? Na siyam na taon kang nawala, ha? Dahil ano? Dahil sinuway mo sina Daddy! Dahil makasarili ka at ang gusto mo, lahat ng ambisyon mo lang ang masusunod! Na ang totoo, wala kang pakialam sa ‘min n
Chapter 46Her Authority“Ma’am, the managers are already waiting for you in the conference room to present the newest collections,” my secretary, Zella, informed while I was busy applying my perfume.My brow arched. I tilted my head to spray the scent on my neck. Pagkatapos kong gumamit ng pabango ay sinilid ko ulit iyon sa handbag ko. I flattened out my cream colored coat and made sure that my black silk blouse inside was tidied. I also made sure my cream skirt didn’t have the tiniest crease.“What do you think of my shoes?” I asked for her opinion while eyeing my red killer stilettos that stood seven inches high.Zella smiled. “Striking, Ma’am.”That put a contented smile on my face. I gave myself a once-over on the mirror in front of me. My hair was in a French twist and I had a sparkling diamond necklace that emphasized my slender neck.Zella handed me my bag. Bitbit naman niya ang mga folders na ako mismo ang nag-asikaso at tumrabaho nitong mga nakaraang linggo. Well, better be
Chapter 47Her GriefFLASHBACK“Dad?” mahina kong bulong nang mabasa sa lapida ang pangalan ni Daddy.Ricardo A. Crisostomo1960 - 2015 My knees weakened. Bumigay ang mga tuhod ko. I covered my mouth with my hands as I saw another tomb beside my father’s.“M-Mommy...” halos wala nang lumabas na boses sa akin.Ariana Lopez — Crisostomo1963 - 2015I sobbed hard the moment I realized it. Hindi ako makapaniwala. Pabalik-balik ang tingin ko sa mga puntod habang nasa gitna ako niyon. It was a vacant land area with bright green grasses.Ganito ang... Dito ang... gusto nilang paglibingan sa kanila.“Oh my God!” impit na sigaw ko. “Mommy! Daddy...” Naaalarma kong hinaplos ang mga puntod. My chest tightened more. Halos makulong ang mga hikbi ko dahil sa bikig sa aking lalamunan. Halos hindi na rin ako makaiyak nang maayos.I felt my sister behind me. Hinawakan niya ako sa balikat. I cried harder as it repeatedly echoed in my head.Wala na ang mga magulang ko.They’re gone. They’re dead.Pina
Chapter 48Her GainNapapikit ako nang dumaan ang alaalang iyon sa akin. I wore my ear muffs and my tactical glasses. On the table in front of me were the different types of guns that I specifically like. From revolvers, pistols, and other handguns to rifles and shotguns. I picked up a semi-automatic pistol and loaded its magazine with ammunition. Kinasa ko ang baril na hawak habang sine-sentro ang tingin sa target. I narrowed my eyes for better vision. Without further ado, I fired my shots continuously. Tanging putok lang ng baril ang maririnig sa paligid. When I was satisfied, I removed my ear muffs and my glasses. I picked up my binoculars. Sinilip ko roon kung naging accurate ba ang pagtama ko ng mga bala.A smirk made its way to my lips when I saw that one, single dot in the center. I guess, I’m really just a sharp shooter now, huh? Inangat ko ang baril at umuusok pa ang dulo niyon. I smirked while looking at the gun’s mouth. Sino kaya ang masuwerteng tatamaan ng bala nito?It
Chapter 49Her ChildI carefully placed the basket of flowers on top of their graves.Nagsindi ako ng dalawang magkahiwalay na kandila. I put one on each of the tomb. I removed my dark colored sunglasses. Nag-squat ako sa harapan ng mga puntod. I read each of their names. My face darkened.I caressed the names of the people I love. A bitter smile crept on my lips. “Your death won’t be the end of this. I promised you that I will do everything to avenge you. And in no time... I’ll get back at them.”I expcted to myself to cry in front of them, but I didn’t. Hinaplos ko ang aking tiyan. I closed my eyes as I remembered how exactly I’ve got to this point. How I became the strong and powerful Andrea Steinfields.FLASHBACKWhen I found out that I lost my baby, it was as if my world had met its end. I wasn’t able to eat, take a bath, nor lift myself from the bed for what it seem like days already. Para akong patay na humihinga lang para masabing buhay. As days went by, I came to underst
Chapter 50Her MotivationFLASHBACKMaagap akong napamulat nang makarinig ako ng putok ng baril. My hand that held the gun weakened and shook. Nabitiwan ko ang baril. Slowly, I looked at Ivan in front of me.He’s... unconscious and bloody. Nakahiga siya sa semento habang naliligo sa sarili niyang dugo.Napatakip ako sa bibig ko. Imposible...My gun didn’t fire a shot! I pulled the trigger but no bullet came out! Taranta akong napabaling sa likod ko.Then I saw my brother smirking while holding his gun. Suminghap ako nang mapagtanto ang lahat.He... He shot him! Siya ang bumaril kay Ivan!Hindi ako makapagsalita. Lalo pa nang sumunod niyang itutok sa ‘kin ang baril. “Hah! Feels good!” he said while smirking.Nagsimula siyang humakbang palapit kaya napaatras ako. My eyes hurt because of the tears. Awang ang labi ko habang nakatingin sa kaniya.Hindi ako makapaniwala. Did he... plan this? At nagpauto ako sa kaniya?“It’s your turn, Rigella. Do you really think that I want your forgive