“BOSS, the messenger wanted to meet you.” Imporma ni Mark nang makapasok si Cassiuz sa opisina niya sa Casino Bar.Kumunot ang nuo ni Cassiuz. “The messenger?”Tumango si Mark.“Which one?” Cassiuz asked.There are lots of them in the Underground Organization and they worked for different bosses. But some of them are working alone. Not loyal to any Mafia Bosses. The Leader of the Underground Organization, Evan Del Moran, advised him before that he should get a Messenger but he refused. May mga bodyguard naman na siya. They’re already enough for him.“The Eagle, Boss.” Tugon ni Cassiuz.Natigilan si Cassiuz. “Eagle?” Nagtaka siya.He already heard of him. Eagle… That messenger, may ilang beses na rin niya itong na-meet sa tuwing may sasabihin itong mensahe sa kaniya. Eagle – he’s not belonged to any group and not loyal to any Mafia Boss. He’s working alone. Hindi niya masyadong kilala si Eagle, he tried to investigate him but he never finds any information about him. Hindi niya alam ku
AN OLD MAN wearing a bull cap walked into the Sweet Unique Café. Tinignan ng matandang lalaki ang kabuuan ng café at saka nakapangiti. Umupo ito sa bakanteng pwesto saka hinubad ang suot na sombrero. May lumapit naman na waiter rito at nagtanong ng order. The old man ordered one slice of cake and coffee. Magalang na nagpaalam ang waiter saka kinuha ang order ng matanda.The old man sighed while looking outside the café. “It’s been fifteen years. Ang dami ng nagbago sa lugar na ‘to.” Aniya sa sarili.“Excuse me, Sir. Here’s your order.” Anang waiter na pumukaw sa atensiyon ng matandang lalaki.Ngumiti ang matandang lalaki saka tumango. “Salamat.”Magalang lang na yumukod ang waiter saka umalis upang tignan ang ibang customer.Labinlimang taon na ang nakalipas. Sigurado siya na hanggang ngayon hinahanap pa rin siya ng kaibigan niya at ng taong gustong pumatay sa kaniya. Hinahanap pa kaya siya o nakalimutan na siya?Mahinang natawa ang matandang lalaki sa sarili saka uminom ng kape. Haba
“BOSS is currently in a meeting, Attorney.” Sabi ni Mark kay Rafael nang makita niya ito sa President’s office.Tumango si Rafael. “Kailan matatapos ang meeting ni Kuya Cassiuz?” tanong niya.Tinignan ni Mark ang suot na relo. “Maybe after thirty-minutes, Attorney.”“Okay. I can wait.” Umupo si Rafael sa sofa saka binuksan ang laptop na dala. Lately, he’s not receiving any case. Naka-focus ang attention niya sa pinapagawa sa kaniya ng Kuya Cassiuz niya. Hindi niya pwedeng ipagsawalang-bahala ang tungkol sa pinapagawa ng Kuya Cassiuz niya. Malaki ang utang na loob niya rito kaya hindi niya ito pwedeng talikuran.Makalipas ang isang oras saka lang natapos ang meeting ni Cassiuz.“Boss, nasa opisina niyo si Attorney.” Imporma ni Mark nang makalabas ng meeting hall si Cassiuz.Kumunot ang nuo ni Cassiuz. “Sinong attorney?”“Si Attorney Rafael, Boss.”Mabilis na bumalik si Cassiuz sa opisina at naabutan niya si Rafael na nakaharap sa laptop nito. Hindi talaga alam minsan ni Cassiuz kung ma
“CASSIUZ proposed to me, Dad.” Sabi ni Wynter sa ama nito. Nasa living room sila at nag-uusap.Naibuga ni Ramon ang iniinom na kape matapos marinig ang sinabi ni Wynter. Umuwi ito kahapon at dito ito natulog. Sabi ng anak niya may sasabihin itong importante, hindi niya naman alam na tungkol pala doon ang sasabihin nito. Pinunasan ni Ramon ang bibig saka nagtanong. “Cassiuz proposed to you? Anong sagot mo?”Kinagat ni Wynter ang pang-ibabang labi saka tumingin sa ina na nakaupo sa mahabang sofa. Tumayo siya saka lumipat sa sofa na kinauupuan nito. Humiga si Wynter sa sofa at ginawang unan ang hita ng kaniyang ina. “I didn’t directly answer him but I told him that we will give it a try. I told him that we can fulfill the arrange marriage agreement but I’m not ready to get married yet.”Nagkatinginan ang magulang ni Wynter.“Anak, you told him that?” Ramon asked.Tumango si Wynter.“What did Cassiuz say?” This time, it was Catherine who asked.Nagkibit ng balikat si Wynter. “Sabi niya hi
“KUYA CASSIUZ, I have done what you have asked me to do,” Rafael said as soon as he entered Cassiuz’ room. “I’m sorry that it was delayed because I had important case in the court to attend. Though I wonder, Mark said that you’ve been sleeping in your fiancée’s condo but why are you sleeping in your room, right now? Got kicked out?” Rafael teased and laughed.“You’re so noisy, Raf.” Cassiuz groaned.“Come on, Kuya. Get up. Makikikain ako.”Cassiuz sighed. “Raf, pwede bang sabihin mo na lang ngayon? I still don’t want to get up.”Rafael sighed. “Kuya, this is about Eagle. Now I’m not telling you unless you get up. I found something interesting about that Messenger. If you’re interested then get up now but if not, then I’ll still eat before I left.”Cassiuz yawned. Napailing na lang siya kay Rafael. Kung hindi niya lang ito tinuturing na kapatid baka inutusan na niya si Mark na sipain ito palabas ng bahay niya. “Give me fifteen minutes and I’ll be out.”Nagkibit ng balikat si Rafael. “O
CASSIUZ was yawning as soon as he entered the kitchen. “Good morning, my love.” Niyakap niya si Wynter na nakaharap sa kalan at nagluluto ng agahan nila.Pinatay ni Wynter ang kalan saka umikot paharap kay Cassiuz. Iniyakap niya ang braso sa leeg nito. “Still sleepy?”Tumango si Cassiuz saka humigpit ang yakap kay Wynter. “Ang bango mo.”Umiling si Wynter. “Hindi pa ako nakakaligo.”“Then can we shower together to save water?” Ngumisi si Cassiuz dahil may kapilyuhang pumasok sa isipan niya pero pinitik ni Wynter ang nuo niya. Napahawak si Cassiuz sa nuong pinitik ni Wynter. “Ouch, my love.”“What did I tell you before, no sex before the wedding. Wait for our honeymoon.” Si Wynter naman ang ngumisi ngayon. “Hmm…”Cassiuz sighed. “Why did I even agree to your term?”Ngumiti ng matamis si Wynter. “Because when you disagree, there’s no wedding.”Cassiuz blew a loud breath. He looks devastated. “I can wait until our honeymoon,” he said firmly.Wynter smiled. “Let’s see.”Cassiuz groaned an
“THIS is the Master’s bedroom.” Cassiuz opened the door and smiled at Wynter. “Come on in. You’re suit case was already inside.”Pumasok naman si Wynter sa loob ng silid. She looked around the room and her eyes stopped on the dresser. Nilapitan niya ito at nakita ang mga pamilyar na brand ng mga products na ginagamit niya. Kinuha niya ang naroon na pabango. “Really?” she showed it to Cassiuz. “You’re using this?” Natatawang tanong ni Wynter. Nakita niya rin ang mga ilang feminine objects such as make up kit, lipstick and many other things. Nasa dresser ang mga ito.Umiling si Cassiuz saka lumapit kay Wynter. Niyakap niya ito mula sa likuran. “It’s all for you. I bought it last week.”The bedroom was really a man’s room. The full-length curtains color is all brown that covers the French windows, there’s a king size bed, two couch at the corner, a bedroom bench at the edge of the bed, a brown like stripe rug at the center of the room. There’s also painting hanging on the wall. Two chand
JESSICA entered Velasquez Residence without being invited. Mabilis namang humarang ang isang bodyguard ni Cassiuz sa kaniya…si Nate.“Miss Jessica, Boss is not here so, please, go back.” Ani Nate.“He’s not here? I don’t believe you.” Mataray na sabi ni Jessica kay Nate.Hindi nagustuhan ni Nate ang tono ng pananalita ng babae pero kailangan niyang pakiusapan ito ng maayos. After all, Miss Jessica is his Boss’ colleague so even he didn’t want to treat her well, he needed to. “Miss, I’m telling the truth. Wala dito si Boss.”Hindi pinansin ni Jessica ang sinabi ng bodyguard ni Cassiuz at nilagpasan ito pero hinabol siya ng bodyguard at muling hinarangan.“Miss Jessica, don’t provoke Boss Cassiuz. Pinalampas na niya ang ginawa mo noong una kay Madam Wynter. Kapag may ginawa ka ulit, sigurado akong hindi na niya palalampasin pa. And you don’t want to see him angry, Miss Jessica. Iba siya kapag galit. Kaya kung ako sa inyo, aalis na lang ako.” Seryosong sabi ni Nate.But Jessica didn’t li