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KABANATA 14
Huling Na-update:
2024-10-28 15:08:06
Kaugnay na kabanata
To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss KABANATA 15
RIGHT AFTER AYI FINISHED TELLING ME STORIES, I IMMEDIATELY FELT A SURGE OF EMOTIONS COMING THROUGH ME.Naiinis ako, nagagalit, nagulat… nasaktan?"The day you said you left, I believe that was also the very day your father looked for you. Sa maniwala ka man o sa hindi, hinanap ka n'ya, Cali. He was so worried sick. He went through everywhere searching for you. He went through everything. I even remembered na ilang beses s'yang nabiktima ng mga scammers. Those person who claimed to see and know your whereabouts. Pero in the end, wala pala. They were all just after his money. Anyway, fast forward to your graduation day, nando'n s'ya. I don't know if you see him but he went there. Alam ko dahil sinundan ko s'ya. Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin maintindihan kung bakit hindi ka n'ya nilapitan at kinausap that very same day. I mean, he already spent a lot looking for you. He was nearly going crazy. Pero no'ng nasa harapan ka na n'ya, hindi man lang s'ya gumawa ng paraan to take you home. B
Huling Na-update : 2024-10-28To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss KABANATA 16
CALISTA'S P. O. VMy heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the silence of my apartment.The grainy image on my phone screen—a feed from my portable CCTV—showed him. The intruder. He was tall, impossibly so, filling the frame of that tiny space in my massive home. Italian, I thought, or maybe Spanish. Dark hair, thick and slightly wavy, fell across a high forehead. His features were sharp, sculpted, the kind that graced the covers of fashion magazines. Drop-dead gorgeous wasn’t even close. He was breathtaking. And he was in my house.Pero paano s'ya posibleng nakapasok? He wasn’t rummaging through drawers or frantically searching for valuables. Hindi gaya ng mga tipikal na magnanakaw. He was… calm. Parang nagre-relax lang s'ya sa sarili n'yang bahay. But the thing is, this isn't his house. It's mine!He was running his fingers along the spines of my books, pausing occasionally to pick one up and examine the cover. He was dressed impeccably. Not just well-dressed, b
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-27To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss KABANATA 17
CALISTA'S P. O. VThe next day was a blur of nervous energy and stolen glances at my phone. Mula no'ng nakita ko 'yung itsura ng lalaking nag iikot sa bahay ko ay kumakain ng mga pagkain ko nang walang paalam, parang nag-crave na ako na makita s'ya buong araw. I spent most of my time glued to the CCTV feed, my eyes never leaving the screen. He was still there, moving around my apartment with the same unnerving calm he’d displayed the previous night. He was making himself at home, pouring himself a cup of coffee from my machine, humming a tuneless melody under his breath. Mukhang aware s'ya na wala ako sa bahay ngayon.My heart hammered a frantic rhythm against my ribs, a constant, throbbing reminder of the bizarre situation I found myself in. He was a burglar, probably a criminal, an intruder—and yet, I couldn't tear my eyes away. It was like watching a captivating train wreck, a mesmerizing disaster unfolding in slow motion.He wandered through my apartment, pausing to examine my art
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-27To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss KABANATA 18
CALISTA'S P. O. VExhaustion clung to me like a second skin.Magho-host kasi ako ng runway para sa fashion week na darating. This is my first time doing it here in the Philippines. Kaya medyo hectic at stressful. After a brutal day at the office, all I wanted was to collapse onto my sofa and melt into oblivion. The last thing on my mind was the impossibly handsome burglar who was, technically, still residing in my apartment.I fumbled with my keys, kicking off my shoes with a sigh of relief. The dim light of the hallway cast long, dancing shadows, creating an eerie, almost theatrical ambiance. I hadn't bothered to turn on the main lights; the soft glow from the lamps was enough. Mas prefer ko naman kasi ang malamlam lang na liwanag.My stomach rumbled, a primal urge overriding my fatigue."Shocks, hindi pa nga pala ako nagla-lunch o kahit light snack man lang,” usal ko sa sariliI headed straight for the kitchen, my movements automatic, my mind still replaying the day's stressful event
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-27To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss KABANATA 19
CALISTA'S P. O. VThe silence hung heavy between us, broken only by the hum of the refrigerator. He finally spoke, his voice low and hesitant."My name is Lewis," he began, his gaze meeting mine. "Lewis Rossi."I nodded."Lewis Rossi? What a nice name. Italian?” I asked. Naghihintay ako sa mga susunod n'ya pang sasabihin.S'ya naman ang tumango.He took a deep breath. "It’s…a long story," he said, running a hand through his hair. "And yeag, I’m Italian, half-Filipino. My mother…she’s from here." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "I came here two years ago… looking for… something.""Something? Saan? Dito sa bahay ko?" I prompted gently.He looked down at his hands. "No. Not at first. I met someone online. A woman. Filipina rin s'ya. I met her on Finder.”Finder? The dating app?Oh, wait. Yeah, I know that dating app but it doesn't mean I am into it. Hindi pa naman ako gano'n ka-hopeless romantic. It's just… Okay, alright. I am into Finder. Tsk! "That woman, she… she seemed perfe
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-27To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss KABANATA 20
CALISTA'S P. O. VThat evening, after a particularly delicious pasta dinner—Lewis's creation, of course—we were curled up on my sofa, sipping wine."Ang sarap mo palang magluto,” nakangiting puri ko sa kanya. "I haven't eaten such perfect pasta cooked at home for the longest time. So, thank you.”"That's not a big deal. Just a basic knowledge every Italian has to have, I guess,” sabi n'ya sa toning nagbibiro. "Anyway, thanks. I'm glad, you appreciate my effort.”Hindi na ako sumagot at ngumiti na lang."You know,” he said once again, leaning back against the cushions, "I never thought I'd find myself having a civilized dinner with the woman who technically caught me robbing her mansion."I laughed. "And I never thought I'd be friends with a burglar, let alone one who cooks better than I do."He grinned. "It’s a unique situation, to say the least.""It is," I agreed. "But I'm glad it happened this way. Mukhang mapapadalas na ang kain ko ng masarap nang hindi gumagastos ng masyadong maha
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-27To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss KABANATA 21
CALISTA'S P. O. VIlang buwan na rin mula nang magsama kami ni Lewis. And from now, masasabi ko na hindi na lang basta pagkakaibigan ang namamagitan sa amin. It's weirder, yes. But I like this more. One lazy Sunday morning, we were making breakfast together. Lewis was humming a tuneless melody as he flipped pancakes, his movements fluid and graceful."You know," I said, leaning against the counter, watching him, "this is…nice."He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "It is, isn't it?""I never thought I'd find myself living with a burglar," I added, laughing softly."And I never thought I'd be living with someone who makes such amazing pancakes," he retorted, flipping another one perfectly."They're not that amazing," I demurred, though a smile played on my lips. "Pancakes lang 'yan. Walang wala sa mga niluluto mo.”"They are amazing," he insisted, placing a perfectly browned pancake onto my plate. "Especially when shared with someone I enjoy spending time with."His gaze linge
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-27To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss KABANATA 22
CALISTA'S P. O. VThe morning after was… different. The air between Lewis and me was charged, thick with a new kind of intimacy, a new kind of understanding. The unspoken words of the previous night hung in the air, a silent testament to the depth of our feelings, the intensity of our connection. We were no longer just sharing a space; we were sharing a life, a future, a love that had blossomed from the most unlikely of beginnings.There were no grand pronouncements, no dramatic declarations. It wasn't a sudden, explosive realization; it was a slow, organic evolution, a gradual unfolding of emotions that had been simmering beneath the surface for weeks. It was a quiet understanding, a shared acknowledgment of the undeniable truth that had been simmering between us.We made breakfast together, our movements synchronized, our conversation easy and effortless. There was a comfortable silence between us, a comfortable intimacy that spoke volumes about the depth of our connection. We talke
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-27
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To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss EPILOGO
CALI'S P. O. VThe scent of freshly baked bread and cinnamon filled the air, a comforting aroma that mingled with the laughter of my son, Lewis, as he toddled around the kitchen, his chubby hands reaching for the colorful toys scattered on the floor. It was a scene of domestic bliss, a far cry from the sterile white walls of the Hong Kong hospital waiting room five years ago. Five years. Five years since Niccolo had walked back into my life, his eyes filled with regret and a desperate hope for a second chance. Five years since I had taken a leap of faith, a chance on a love that had once been shattered. Five years since we had built a life together, a life filled with laughter, love, and the sweet chaos of family. We were married now, our vows whispered under a canopy of blooming cherry blossoms, a symbol of new beginnings. Our wedding was small, intimate, a testament to the journey we had taken, the scars we had overcome. Hana was our maid of honor, her eyes sparkling with joy as s
To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss KABANATA 112
CALISTA'S P. O. VThe air in the hospital waiting room crackled with tension. Mabilis lang natapos ang operasyon kay Ayi Hana and it was successful. Mabilis lang at walang naging kahit anong aberya kaya hindi ko na kinailangang mamroblema. Kung may pinoproblema man ako ngayon, 'yun ay si Niccolo at si Calvin na bigla ring lumitaw dito sa ospital. I could have understand kung sa ospital sa Pilipinas lang sila biglang sumulpot nang halos sabay. But no! It was Hong Kong, for crying out loud! And since they met each other, I could already sense a silent storm brewing between them. I stood between them, a fragile bridge over a chasm of hurt and unspoken words. Niccolo, his face etched with regret and a desperate hope, looked at me, his eyes pleading for a chance, a second chance. But Calvin, his face a mask of icy resolve, stood firm, his gaze unwavering."Niccolo," Calvin said, his voice low and dangerous, "You think you can just waltz back into her life, after all this time and expect
To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss KABANATA 111
CALISTA'S P. O. VThe sterile white walls of the hospital waiting room seemed to amplify the silence between us, a silence thick with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. Niccolo stood before me, his face a canvas of regret and longing, his eyes pleading for a chance, a second chance. But the chasm between us, carved by years of silence and the bitter sting of betrayal, seemed insurmountable.Ilang beses ko na s'yang pinaalis pero mukhang wala s'yang balak na makinig. Lalabas at papasok na lang ulit ako sa hospital room ni Ayi Hana ay nandoon pa rin s'ya sa labas—naghihintay. Kaya para matigil na s'ya sa ginagawa n'ya, naisip ko nang harapin s'ya for once and for all. "Cali," he began, his voice husky with emotion, "I know I messed up. I know I hurt you. But I've changed. I've spent years regretting my choices, wishing I could turn back time." His words washed over me, a tidal wave of regret and longing. I knew he was sincere, I could see it in his eyes, in the way his shoulders
To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss KABANATA 110
CALISTA'S P. O. VThe whirring of the airplane engine was a constant hum, a lullaby against the backdrop of my anxiety. Beside me, Ayi Hana slept, her hand clutching my own. Her face was peaceful, oblivious to the turmoil swirling within me. It was a journey I’d never imagined taking, a pilgrimage fueled by guilt and a desperate hope. I was taking her to Hong Kong, not for a holiday, but for a miracle. I had arranged everything for Ayi Hana’s surgery, a chance for her to see the world again after years of darkness. Dahil oo, nabulag s'ya. It was an accident—pero aksidente na alam kong sinadya ni Margaret ng anak n'yang demonyita na si Monica.The flight was long, filled with a mix of anticipation and dread. Finally, Hong Kong. The air was thick with humidity, the city a symphony of honking taxis and bustling crowds. I felt a strange sense of displacement, a feeling of being both a stranger and a strong, independent woman who is willing to do everything for the woman who stood as her
To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss KABANATA 109
CALISTA'S P. O. VThe air hung heavy with the scent of jasmine and the soft murmur of prayers. I stood at the threshold of Ayi Hana's room, my heart pounding against my ribs like a trapped bird. It had been months since I last saw her, years since the scandal that had ripped our family apart. Months since I had last called her "Ayi."She sat by the window, her frail hands clasped in her lap, her face etched with a weariness that spoke of years of sorrow. Her eyes, once bright and welcoming, were now clouded with a milky film, the light of life dimmed. "Ayi Hana," I whispered, my voice trembling.She turned, her head moving slowly, her lips curving into a faint, sad smile. "Cali," she said, her voice a raspy whisper. "You've come."I stepped into the room, the worn, familiar scent of sandalwood and incense washing over me. I knelt beside her, my hand reaching out to touch hers. It was cold, frail, a stark contrast to the warmth I remembered."I'm so sorry, Ayi," I said, my voice choke
To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss KABANATA 108
CALISTA'S P. O. VThe reconciliation with my father was a fragile thing, a delicate balance of forgiveness, understanding, and a shared grief. After years of estrangement, of resentment, of unspoken accusations, we finally stood together, embracing, our bodies trembling, our emotions raw. The weight of the past, the burden of the years, the pain of the separation— it all seemed to lift, to dissolve, to fade.“Calista,” my father whispered, his voice thick with emotion, his arms wrapped tightly around me. “My Calista. Anak ko, I’m so sorry.”“I know, Dad,” I replied, my voice barely a whisper, my own tears streaming down my face. “I know.”“I was wrong,” he continued, his voice laced with a genuine remorse. “I was blinded by Margaret, by her lies, by her manipulations. I didn’t see what she was doing. I didn’t protect you. Kayo ng mommy mo. I failed you. I failed our family.”“It’s okay, Dad,” I said, my voice soft, my tone reassuring. “It’s over now. We’re together again. And promis
To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss KABANATA 107
CALISTA'S P. O. VThe courtroom was a pressure cooker, the air thick with tension, the atmosphere charged with anticipation. Margaret’s trial had been swift, the evidence overwhelming, the verdict inevitable. Multiple charges, multiple convictions— she was facing a lifetime behind bars, a fitting punishment for her crimes. Monica, her accomplice, her equally culpable daughter, was also being sought, her complicity in Margaret’s schemes now undeniable.The inquest was a formality, a mere procedural step in the larger process of justice. But the tension in the courtroom was palpable, the atmosphere charged with a volatile energy. And then, chaos erupted. Men, their faces masked, their weapons drawn, stormed the courtroom, gunfire shattering the tense silence, sending the room into pandemonium. Margaret’s new boyfriend’s men, I realized with a chilling certainty. Their objective was clear— to make Margaret be able to escape.The scene unfolded in a blur of motion, a chaotic ballet of
To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss KABANATA 106
CALISTA'S P. O. VTwo days. It had only taken two days. Two days since I’d sent the evidence to Calvin, two days since I’d confronted Margaret, two days since I’d resolved to channel my anger into action. And now, the call came, Calvin’s voice crisp, his tone controlled. Margaret had a warrant. Her arrest had been swift, almost too easy, facilitated by her very presence in my home. The irony was not lost on me.The details of her interrogation were chilling, the confession even more so. It had been Margaret, my stepmother, the woman who had pretended to care for my father, who had orchestrated my mother’s death. And she’d confessed, not out of remorse, not out of guilt, but out of a chilling, almost gleeful sense of triumph.Her voice, cold and devoid of emotion, echoed in my ears, her words a venomous sting that pierced my heart, ignited my fury. “You’re so clever! Hindi ko naisip na magagawa mo 'to. In fact, hindi ko inisip na ikaw pala ang makaka discover ng mga ginawa ko,” she
To Keep a Homeless Mafia Boss KABANATA 105
CALISTA'S P. O. VKinabukasan. Sa office. May mga dumating pang bagong ebidensya galing kay Rexia. The digital copies of the evidence arrived as promised, a weighty collection of documents that confirmed Rexia’s account, solidified my suspicions, and fueled my anger. The photographs, the financial records, the communication logs— they were all damning, all irrefutable. Margaret’s treachery, her greed, her ruthlessness— it was all laid bare, exposed, undeniable.Without hesitation, I made copies of everything, ensuring I had a backup before sending the originals to Calvin. He’d promised to review the evidence and take appropriate action, his assurance a reassuring balm to my simmering anger. The weight of responsibility, the burden of expectation— it was heavy, but I carried it with a newfound resolve, a steeled determination.Returning home, I found Margaret and Monica waiting, their presence a stark reminder of the simmering conflict that lay beneath the surface of our uneasy truce.
