Rizalyn's POV . We dance at sunset and make love the way we wanted. Dikit kami sa isa't-isa at parang ayaw ng maghiwalay namin. Ilang araw na kaming nanirahan sa dagat na walang problema. I don't know what happens back on the island. I have no news from my father or the business. But I believe Nestor managed to keep his connection in secret. Kilala ko si Nestor. Hindi niya basta-basta pinapabayaan ang negosyo ng basta-basta na lang. I'm sure may iba siyang plano. "Ilang araw pa ba tayong sa honeymoon natin?" pagbibiro ko. Ngumiti siya at panay haplos sa kamay ko. In a few hours, this yacht will dock in Porta Calibri, a place that's part of Visayas and is closer to Cebu. Pansamantala kaming titigil roon ng iilang araw at mag-ikot-ikot. Pagkakataon na din para punan ang pangangailangan ng yate niya, kasama na ang gasolina. "This will be our last resort, love. And then we will go back to Isla de Carmella." "Talaga? Wala na bang extension?" pagbibiro kong titig sa kanya. "An exte
Rizalyn's POV . "Mag-iingat ka palagi, anak Nestor. Salamat sa pagbisita mo rito." "Mag-iingat din po kayo, Nay. Babalik po kami ni Rizalyn dito ng madalas." "Siya na ba?" Ngumiti si Nestor at tahimik na tumango kay Nanay. Natahimik silang pareho at napangiti akong lalo. Tumikhim ako at saka napalingon sila sa banda ko. "Nay, salamat po sa pagkain. Ang sarap n'yo po magluto." "Masarap talaga magluto si Nanay kahit noon po," si Nestor sa kanya. "Naku, inday Riz, kung alam mo lang kung gaano kakulit si Nestor noon dito. Mabait na bata, kaya huwag mo ng pakakawalan ito. Nanghihinayang nga ako dahil magiging totoong anak ko na sana ang batang ito. Pero sadyang hindi nila tadhana," si Nanay. Nakatitig siya kay Nestor ngayon at ibinalik lang din ang titig sa mga mata ko. "Iba ang nakatadhana kay Nestor, at ikaw iyon," pagpatuloy ni Nanay sa akin. We hugged her for the last goodbye and Nestor gave her something. Ayaw pa nga na tangapin ni Nanay dahil mukhang pera ito sa tingin ko. P
Rizalyn's POV . Walang humpay ang indayog niya at buong puso kong tinangap ito. I kept moaning over and over and calling his name in pleasure. I even lose count of how many times he took me to the brim of madness. Iba ito, iba si Nestor kung may alcohol sa sistema niya. It's like a different beast unleashed inside him whenever he is intoxicated with alcohol in his system. He's a good fucker and there's no doubt about that. Pero ang ganitong uri ng pagkalalaki niya ay nagpapaalala sa akin sa nangyari sa amin sa Mexico. Yes, this was the man I gave my virginity to that night without him knowing who I was. This is how wild he was. It's out of control, above the limits I can no longer handle. "Nestor, Ah!" Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi nang maramdaman ko ang kakaibang sakit at indayog niya. I could no longer respond to his thrust, and so I let him. Lahat na yata ng posisyon na alam niya, ay ginawa na niya at kulang na lang ay masira ang kama na ito. Nagkalat ang mga gamit sa sah
Rizalyn's POV . Tanaw ko na mula rito ang Isla de Carmella at naghalo ang kaba at saya ko sa puso. Naisip ko kung nasa Isla pa ba ang mga taong iniwan ko na walang paalam ng gabing iyon. For sure umalis na si Ate Raquel pabalik sa bahay niya. Hindi ako sigurado. Babalatan yata ako ni Ate kung sakaling magkikita kami. Si Vanny kaya? Umalis na iyon, dahil lilipad na pa Singapore iyon. "Nearly there, love," si Nestor sa tabi ko. Agad niyang kinuha ang kamay ko at hinalikan ito. Ilang segundo rin ang ginawa niyang pagtitig sa engagement ring na bigay niya. "We're engaged, right?" I jokingly asked. Ba't ko pa ba tatanungin eh talagang engage na kami ano! Pero kasi minsan baliw ang utak ko at gusto ko itong marining sa kanya ng paulit-ulit. "We are, Riza. So you better not make a move of leaving me again. It will never work out." "I have no plans of running away, Nestor. Baka ikaw ang tatakbo? Mahilig kang tumakbo eh, sa tuwing nalalapit ang kasala mo." Nguso ko. Nagbibiro lang din
Rizalyn's POV . "How dare you!" Isang malakas na sampal ang tumama sa kaliwang pisngi ko at galing kay Glorisha ito. Alam kong mangyayari ito. Ano pa ba ang dahilan niya para kausapin ako mag-isa? Ito lang naman 'di ba? Sampal sa mukha! "You ruined my supposed to be a happy ending with Nestor, Riza! How could you!? And you call yourself a saint sister to me!?" Ulit na sampal niya sa kabilang mukha ko. "Akala mo siguro hindi ko alam ang mga pinag-gagawa mo sa Mexico!? Ikaw ang dahilan ng lahat! Jana confessed to me. She wasn't pregnant. It was just for a show. And you! Someone saw you getting inside Nestor's room on his bachelor's party. It was you!" Natulala ako at hinayaan na siya sa sampal sa mukha ko. Lalaban sana ako, pero nanghina lang din ang tuhod ko nang marinig ito sa kanya. I feel her pull my hair, almost pushing me down and throwing a few punches on my chest and shoulders. Imbes na sakit, ay wala akong naramdaman ngayon mula sa sampal at sabunot niya. Takot ako. Takot
Nestor's POV."You don't love her, Nestor! And that's the truth. Can't you see that Rizalyn ruined our supposed to be wedding? You slept with her that night at your bachelor's party! Akala mo ba hindi ko alam iyon!?"Napaigting ang panga ko at napakuyom-kamao ako sa sarili.I have no time to listen to all her bullshit. But dammit. She won't stop, and it's getting nastier each day. She wanted to talk to me, and I refused to meet her. We have nothing to talk about."And so? What's your point, Glorisha? I'm busy. I have to go." Sabay talikod ko, pero mabilis niyang hinawakan ang braso ko. Humarap akong muli sa kanya."Are you serious? Pinaglalaruan lang tayo ni Rizalyn, Nestor! Hindi mo ba nakikita iyon? Sooner or later she will leave you!""That will never happen, Glorisha, kaya tumigil ka na!" My eyes widened as I step back."Huh, you're crazy! Baliw ka na nga!""Ikaw ang balikaw, Glorisha! Can't you see yourself?" My jaw tightened, and I could no longer help myself."Let me make this
Nestor's POV . I checked the list of newly hired employees from my branch at BCG. I know there was a change of management and a transfer of employees from New York. Damn it. My jaw tightened when I read Myla's name. She's the new Manager. Siya ang pumalit kay Elena. Elena asked for maternity leave, which will take a year of absence with pay. Imbes na mag-hire kami ng bago ay sa New York branch ang HR kumuha. I approved this because, temporarily, it will do good for the company, and at the same time, we need to rotate our employee who has the highest performance. Isang paraan na rin ito para iwas sa mga anomalya sa kompanya. Nahinto ako nang may kumatok sa pinto, si Mirah ito. Pinatawag ko kasi siya. "Yes, Sir. Pinatawag n'yo raw ako, Sir?" Pormal na tayo niya. "About the employee abroad. I mean, the new transferee from New York?" "Ah, si Myla Briones, Sir?" I nodded, and she continued. "Yes, Sir. She's here for the training. Although she already knows the company still, she
Rizalyn's POV.Napatakip-bibig ako nang mabasa ang impormasyon niya. Tama nga naman ang inisip ko kahapon. Iba kasi magsalita at panay ang tingin niya kay Nestor. Kahit pa hindi nakatitig si Nestor sa kanya, ay wagas siya kung makatitig kay Nestor na parang hindi niya boss ito.I was just assuming, but I couldn't help myself. Gawain ko ang ugali niya noon sa isang lalaking gustong-gusto ko, kaya kilala ko na ang mga ugali ng babaeng ganito.And now reading her bio profile information gives me a clearer answer. . . She's Nestor's past, Myla Briones, his ex-girlfriend, his young sweetheart."At ano naman ngayon kung young sweetheart niya si Myla, 'te? Past is past na, Ate! Dios ko namang bakla ka, 'te. Ang importante ay sa 'yong- sa 'yo na ang Nestor mo. Huwag kang mag-aalala. Hindi iyan bibitaw si Nestor ng basta-basta. Ngyaon pa ba!" Talak ni Vaninay sa kabilang linya.Kausap ko siya ngayon thru messenger chat. Nakikita ko ang mukha niya, at magulong-magulo ito. Iba na nga talaga ang
Rizalyn's POV . "And I can't believe you did that. Tsk, iba talaga ang nag-iisang Rizalyn Joy Borres Dela Merced - Ferrante ano?" Belinda looked at me with amusement, and I shook my head. "Oh well, nagmana lang naman ng ugaling baliw sa ama natin," lihim na sagot ni Glorisha sa gilid. Ininom niya agad ang wine niya. "Ang sabihin mo nagmana sa kabaliwan mo," si Belinda kay Glorisha. "Para kang si maleficent," dugtong niya. "Excuse me? Are you talking to me?" Taas ng kilay ni Glorisha kay Belinda. Pinaikot ko na ang mga mata ko at napabuntonghininga na ako sa sarili. "Excuse me girls. Pupuntahan ko muna ang mga anak ko." "Sama ako! May anak din kasi ako!" Tingin ni Belinda kay Glorisha. Sabay kaming napatingin ni Belinda sa tiyan ni Glorisha at napakurap ako sa sarili. Umiwas agad si Belinda ng titig sa amin dalawa at saka nagkukunwaring walang nangyayari. "Give me that! You supposed not to drink wine!" Awat ni Belinda. Kinuha niya ang baso sa kamay ni Glorisha. "Non alcoholi
Rizalyn's POV.Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa lahat. Nestor was born here in France, down the countryside where his mother business started. I know that Nestor mother is businesswoman and she worked hard in everything.Bata palang daw si Nestor ay tanging sina Nanay Neneta at Tatay Prestino took care of him. Hindi sinunod ng ina ni Nestor ang apelyedo niya sa ama dahil simula't sapul palang noon ay iba na ang relasyon ng mga magulang niya.He already accepted fate as early as when he was born. Kaya pala pagdating sa dalawang anak namin, ay iba siya. Nakikita ko ito, at alam ko na sa kabila ng abala niyang mundo sa negosyo ay hindi niya nakakalimutan ang dalawang bata.He doesn't mind it if he forgets about me, but not the kids. He can sleep on their room overnight without thinking of me. Mas gusto niyang maka-bonding ang mga bata sa gabi, bago sila matulog at madalas ay natutulog siya sa tabi ng dalawa.Ito lang din ang pamamaraan niya bilang isang ama.He told m
Nestor's POV."Saan pa talaga tayo papunta, Nestor?"Kanina pa siya mapilit at tahimik ako sa sarili. Every now and then I gave her my comfort smile while holding her hand.I know things are rough between us as I got busy because of attending to the business needs. But what's the point of everything if I have an unhappy wife beside me?The things that had happened enlightened me to work hard for my family's happiness, not mine.Napagtanto ko na unti-unti na pala akong lumalayo sa asawa ko, at hindi ko na siya nabibigyan ng panahon sa sarili. Simula kasi nang maisilang si Lovella ay binigay ko na ang espasyo at oras ni Rizalyn sa kanya.I stopped asking her to go out with me for a dinner date because she started to become busy with the kids.I always got home late because of work. And during weekends, I seldom attend our family gatherings. However, I spent a good quality time with the kids. We still ended up sitting in different positions.Wala nga naman talaga kaming quality para sa
Rizalyn's POV . "Come here and do more of these." Pilya ang ngiti ko habang hawak ang bola. Akala niya siguro totoong mangingisda kami. Hindi ano! Maglalaro lang kami sa toy world digital game rito. It has the same as what we had inside the timezone. Iyon nga lang, medyo malaki rito at marami kang pagpipilian. Naalala ko pa noon noong una akong naglaro sa time zone noon dahil bumagsak ako sa Mathematics na subject. Math 101 lang naman iyon at pinakasimpli sa lahat. Hindi kasi ako magaling sa numero, pero kalaunan ay nagustuhan ko na. Lalo na kapag negosyo na nag pinag-uusapan. 'If you can't play with numbers, you should know how to play your enemy's mind.' Ito ang katagang iniwan ni Papa bago silang dalawa bumalik ni Mama sa Pransya. Kalahating taon na yata na wala na akong balita sa kanila. Pinutol kasi nila ang bawat komunikasyon sa aming tatlo, ako, si Belinda at si Glorisha. Napagod si Papa sa buhay at gusto na niyang gawin ang lahat ng gusto niya kasama si Mama Irene. Kaya
Nestor's POV . "I want to clear up everything, Nestor. This is only plain business. You can trust me. I will be good to you." My jaw tightened while reading the last page of the document. I don't have any legal person with me, but Cathy has Atty Jammerson behind her. Kilala ko siya, siya ang isa sa mga personal na Atty ng kompanya ng Papa niya. I used to play golf with Cathy's father long time ago. Sumasama ako noon sa bawat linggo ng pagtitipon ng mga malalaking negosyante sa Pilipinas. My father was member of it, and most of the time, I joined him. And that's how I know most of them in the background. "Once you seal the deal, Nestor, I will seal everything I promise immediately." The excitement on her face was visible. She couldn't wait for me to sign it. I gritted my teeth, feeling uneasy about it. I told Rizalyn about this last night but didn't tell her the exact reason. She knows I will be working with Cathy but does not know the time frame. Gusto ko sanang sabihin lahat sa
Nestor's POV . I wake up with sharp pain in my head. I opened my eyes, and I smelled a wonderful scent all over me. What the. . . Napabagon ako at nilingon ang paligid ko. Malinis na malinis at halatang pati hangin ay nilinis niya. Umandar na naman yata ang pagiging perpeksyonista niya. 'wear me after you shower yourself!' Nagtagpo ang kilay ko nang mabasa ito. But then, after a few seconds, I smiled when I realized my wife was doing everything for me. I am proud of her. She's the best that happened to me. Bumaba ako pagkatapos maligo at magpalit ng damit. I wore the clothes that she prepared and even the slippers. I felt better after the warm shower. It helped me think a lot better now compared to how I was with myself last night. Ang malakas na tawa ni Nathaniel ang narinig mula sa kusina at nagtapo ang kilay ko. I rememered that the lunatic slept here last night. He dropped me off, but then again, he was too drunk to drive back to his residence. Kaya rito na siya pinagtulog n
Nestor's POV."I don't want a secretive type of relationship, Nestor. May as well tell your wife, as I don't want any conflict. My demands are hectic at times, and it requires your full attention. I want you to know that your focus should only be mine if I want you. I want nothing else, and I don't want anything in the background. So, to avoid trouble, please get your wife's approval. Then, straight away, I will settle all your debt at once."My jaw tightened as we stared. Cathy is not an ordinary woman. I know her. She's precise in all her works, as we were acquainted once. Alam ko kung bakit ako ang gusto niya at alam kung interesado siya sa akin noon pa. She can make a rule which will turn everything upside down. I doubt it if I could control her, but then, it will be the other way around. . . She will be my boss."Ayaw kong magkagulo, Nestor. Kilala mo ako. At kapag sinabi ko na dalawang linggo kitang gustong kasama ay wala kang magagawa rito. Of course, you can call your kids an
Rizalyn's POV."Are you both behaving? Don't give your Tita Vanny and your Nanay a headache, okay? Be good kids!""We will, Mommy! I love you!" si Ezequiel sa akin."And I love you too, Daddy!" si Lovella kay Nestor."Daddy buy me a big teddy bear, okay? Iyong life size, please." At talagang humirit pa si Lovella sa ama niya."I will, darling baby. Don't worry," si Nestor kay Lovella."And what about me? I want a toy too. A toy gun to be precise please," si Ezequil sa Ama niya. Ngumiwi ako. Iba talaga ang gusto ng batang ito. Taliwas sa santong pangalan niya."No guns for you.""It's not even real, Mommy. Ang KJ mo naman, Mommy.""Okay, okay. I will buy one for you, Eze, just look after your sister, okay? Promise me," si Nestor sa kanya."I will, Daddy. Ang kulit nga kanina. Gusto pumunta sa bandang ilog.""Lovella!" I cut of my son Ezequiel when I heard it. Tutubuan yata ako ng nerbyos nito dahil sa anak ko."Where's the yaya's? I want to talk to them now!" inis sa boses ko.Natahim
Nestor's POV."I'm sorry, Nestor. This is the only solution I can offer for you. I know it sounds ugly, but you must choose, and it's all up to you, bro."I gritted my teeth and released a slight air out. Talaga bang wala ng ibang paraan?"I will respect your decision, Nestor. I know what it feels like to lose something you built from scratch. But it's all up to you, bro. You know better than me. You have your wife and kids to think about. And if you tell this all to Rizalyn, I'm sure she will understand everything. It's just that you have no option at the moment."I looked at Bryce's eyes, and it damn hurt my pride. I know I will lose the company, and saving it for the last time with someone's offer never came to mind. But. . . Dammit."Cathy wants you for a cover, and I don't know why it has to be you. The contract is solid. Reread it and think about it, Nestor."My eyes were fixated on the document in front of me. Dalawang kompanya na ang nawala sa akin, at ang huling ito ang pina