Binibining Hiraya의 작품

EMERALD'S POV Hindi na maalis-alis sa labi ko ang mga ngiti ko habang pinagmamasdan ang mga gamit ni Trevor dito sa kwarto kung saan siya nag-propose sa akin. Anim na buwan na ang nakakaraan simula noon kaya anim na buwan na rin ang anak namin. Paminsan minsan ay tumatakas ako para makapuslit dito at balikan ang nakaraan namin noong high school pa lamang kami. Hindi ako makapaniwala na halos lahat ng gamit ay naitago pa niya, mula sa mga sulat na ibinigay ko sa kaniya, sa mga litratong sa studio pa namin kinuha, at pati mga resibo ng 7-11 kung saan madalas kaming mag-ice cream noon. Halos hindi na nga mabasa ang nakasulat sa mga resibo dahil nabubura na ang mga naka-imprenta dito. "Nandito ka lang pala." "Ay kabayo!" Napatawa si Trevor dahil sa naging reaksyon ko nang bigla siyang magsalita. Sinamaan ko naman siya ng tingin kaya mabilis siyang lumapit at hinalikan ako sa noo. "Ang cute mo talaga kapag nagugulat, Baby," sabi pa niya. "Paano mo nalaman na nandito ako?" pag-

EMERALD'S POV FLASHBACK (9 years ago) "Hoy, Emerald, sasama ka rin sa field trip natin, hindi ba? Kasi excited na ako!" Napatingin ako kay Chloe nakaupo na sa tabi ko. Lunch break namin ngayon at nakatambay lang kami sa loob ng classroom. Kakatapos lang din kasi naming kumain at mas pinili naming hindi na lumabas. Nag-aalala kasi siya na baka makasalubong namin sa labas si Brenna at maisipan na naman ng kapatid ko na bully-hin ako. "Oo. Nagsabi na ako kay Papa. Kasama si Brenna kaya kasama rin ako," seryosong sagot ko naman. "So, kapag pala hindi sumama si Brenna, hindi ka rin sasama? Hay naku, para ka namang anino ng bruha mong kapatid," nakangusong sabi naman niya sa akin. Mahina ko siyang hinampas sa braso. "Huwag ka ngang maingay diyan. Baka may makarinig sa 'yo. Makakarating 'yan panigurado kay Brenna," sabi ko naman. Napairap naman sa akin si Chloe. "Ewan ko ba sa 'yo. Pumapayag ka na ganyanin ka ng kapatid mo. Masyado ka nang naaapi," dismayadong sabi pa sa akin ng

EMERALD'S POV Hindi ko na napigilan ang mga luha ko nang makita ko ang kabuuan ng kwarto. Punong puno ito ng mga stolen pictures ko simula noong highschool pa lamang ako hanggang sa nagtatrabaho na ako. Napakarami nito na halos mapuno na ang buong kwarto. Sa kisame naman ay may mga maliliit na ilaw na siyang nagbibigay liwanag sa buong kwarto. At sa sahig naman ay punong puno ito ng mga petals ng iba't ibang klase ng bulaklak. At nang mapunta ang tingin ko sa lalaking nakaluhod sa may gitna ng kwarto ay napatakip na lamang ako sa aking bibig. Lumuluha na rin siya habang may hawak siyang isang maliit na kulay pulang box at kapag tinatamaan ng ilaw ang laman niyon ay kumikinang ito. "Hi, Baby," nakangiting sambit niya kahit patuloy ang pagpatak ng luha niya. "Trev," ang tanging nasabi ko na lamang. "Hindi ba't sinabi ko sa 'yo na itatama ko ang lahat sa oras na maging maayos na ang mga gulo. And this is the right time to do it. Emerald, please marry me again." Sasagot na sana ako n

EMERALD'S POVMabilis na lumipas ang mga buwan. Nanalo kami sa mga kasong isinampa namin kina Tita Haidee at Tita Anna at nahatulan sila ng habambuhay na pagkakabilanggo. Si Brenna naman ay tuluyan nang nawala sa tamang pag-iisip kaya nasa isang mental institution na siya upang doon ay magpagaling. Marami na ring nagbago simula nang matapos ang mga gulo.Ako na ulit ang nagma-manage ng kumpanya ni Papa. Si Papa naman ay nagpapahinga na lamang sa bahay dahil ipinamana na niya ng tuluyan sa akin ang kumpanya. Si Audrey ay bumalik na ulit sa US kasama si Lola Mirasol upang tapusin ang pag-aaral doon. Kami naman ni Trevor ay sa mansion ng mga Carter pansamantalang tumutuloy habang pinapagawa pa namin ang bahay namin. Mas malapit kasi ang bahay nila sa mga trabaho namin kaya doon na rin kami nagpasyang pansamantalang mag-stay.Si Trevor na ang namamahala sa TAC dahil nag-retired na rin si Papa Carlo. Pabalik balik na lamang siya sa US at Pilipinas upang aliwin ang sarili. Malaki na rin an

EMERALD'S POVNapaiwas ako ng tingin nang makita si Brenna na nakatayo malapit sa amin. Nakaposas pa rin ang mga kamay niya at may dalawang pulis ang nakabantay sa kaniya. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay dadalhin na siya sa isang Psychiatrist upang ipa-check up."Brenna, anak," umiiyak na sambit ni Papa habang papalapit ito sa kapatid ko."Anak? Itinuturing niyo pa po ba akong anak? Ni hindi niyo sinabi sa akin na magaling na kayo. Pinaniwala niyo ako na hindi pa kayo nakaka-recover," umiiyak na sabi naman ni Brenna.Naramdaman ko ang paghawak ni Trevor sa kamay ko. Tumingin ako sa kaniya at binigyan niya ako ng isang tipid na ngiti. Alam kong pinapalakas niya lamang ang loob ko ngayon."Ginawa ko iyon para sa ikabubuti ng lahat, Brenna.""Ikabubuti ng lahat o ikabubuti ng anak niyong si Emerald? Sabagay, hindi na ako magtataka dahil siya naman ang paborito niyo.""Hindi totoo 'yan. Pareho ko kayong anak. Kung tutuusin nga ay mas binigyan kita ng pansin noon dahil ayokong maramdaman mo

EMERALD'S POV"Kuya!" Napalingon kami sa kapatid ni Gino nang dumating ito sa ospital. Siya kasi ang piniling tawagan ni Trevor upang ibalita ang mga nangyari. Ang alam din kasi ni Trevor ay nasa ibang bansa ang kanilang mga magulang."Huwag kang OA. Daplis lang 'to," pagpapakalma naman ni Gino sa kapatid."Kahit na! Sabihin mo, sino sa mga tauhan ko ang bumaril sa 'yo?" natatarantang tanong pa ni Charlene."Enough, Charlene. Hindi ako ang biktima dito. It's Emerald."Dahang dahang tumingin naman sa akin si Charlene. Hindi siya makatingin ng deretso sa akin at nilalaro laro pa niya ang mga daliri niya."Sorry. Ang sabi kasi sa akin ni Brenna ay ibibigay ka niya kay Kuya. Akala ko ay tama ang desisyon ko," mahinang sabi niya sa akin."No worries, Charlene. Alam kong si Kuya mo lang ang iniisip mo. But everything is fine now," seryosong sabi ko naman.Wala naman na kasi akong balak na idamay pa ang kapatid ni Gino. Oo't tauhan niya ang ginamit ni Brenna ngunit masyado nang magulo para

LEXI’S POVI couldn’t stop smiling as I stared at Chase’s things here in the room where he had proposed to me. It had been six months since that day—six months since our baby was born. Now and then, I sneak away just to come back here and revisit the past, back when we were still in high school.I still can’t believe he managed to keep almost everything—from the letters I gave him, to the photos we had taken in that old studio, even the receipts from the convenience store where we used to get ice cream all the time. Most of the writing on the receipts had faded, almost unreadable now.“So this is where you’ve been hiding.”“Goodness, you startled me!”Chase laughed at my reaction when he suddenly spoke. I glared at him, but he quickly stepped closer and kissed me on the forehead.“You’re so cute when you’re startled, Baby,” he said.“How’d you know I was here?” I asked, steering the conversation.“I heard that you always sneak in here whenever Baby Trem is napping,” he replied serious

LEXI'S POVFLASHBACK (9 years ago)"Hey, Lexi, you're going with us on the field trip, right? I'm so excited!"I looked at Savina, who was already sitting beside me. It was our lunch break, and we decided to hang out inside the classroom instead of going outside. We had just finished eating, and Savina was worried that we might run into Shiela if we stepped out—my sister tended to bully me whenever the opportunity presented itself."Yeah. I have already told Papa. Since Shiela's going, I have to go too," I replied seriously."So, if Shiela decides not to go, you're not going either? Gosh, you're like your witch sister's shadow," she said, pouting.I gave her a light smack on the arm. "Keep your voice down. Someone might hear you."Savina rolled her eyes at me. "I don’t get you sometimes. You let your sister treat you like that. You’re being way too much of a pushover," she said, clearly disappointed.I gave her a small smile. We’d had this conversation so many times, but I never got t

LEXI’S POVI couldn’t hold back my tears as I took in the entire room. It was filled with stolen pictures of me, from as far back as high school, all the way through my working years. There were so many that they nearly covered the entire space. Tiny lights hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow across the room. The floor was blanketed in petals from different kinds of flowers.And when my gaze landed on the man kneeling in the center of the room, I instinctively covered my mouth. He was crying too, holding a small red box. The moment the light hit what was inside, it sparkled."Hi, Baby," he said with a smile, despite his tears still falling."Grey..." was all I managed to say."Didn’t I tell you I would make things right once the chaos was over? And this is the right time to do it. Lexi, please... marry me again."I was about to answer when a sudden sharp pain hit my lower back. I instinctively clutched my belly."Baby, are you coming out now?" I whispered, gently rubbing my ver

LEXI'S POVThe months passed quickly. We won the cases we filed against Aunt Minda and Aunt Anna, and they were both sentenced to life imprisonment. As for Shiela, she has completely lost her sanity and is now confined to a mental institution to recover. A lot has changed since the chaos ended.I’m once again managing my father's company. Papa is now resting at home, having fully passed on the business to me. Chelsea returned to the U.S. with Grandma Mirasol to finish her studies there. Chase and I are temporarily staying at the Sandoval mansion while our own house is under construction. Their home is much closer to our workplaces, so we decided it would be more convenient to stay there for now.Chase is now running TAC, as Papa Carlo has retired. He just travels back and forth between the U.S. and the Philippines now, enjoying his free time.My belly is huge now—in fact, I'm due any moment. Chase no longer allows me to go to the office, so my secretary comes to the house to bring doc

LEXI'S POVI looked away the moment I saw Shiela standing near us. Her hands were still in handcuffs, and two police officers were keeping close watch over her. If I wasn’t mistaken, she was about to be taken to a psychiatrist for evaluation.“Shiela, my child,” Papa said through tears as he approached my sister.“Child? Do you still consider me your child? You didn’t even tell me you had recovered. You made me believe you hadn’t yet,” Shiela said, crying.I felt Chase hold my hand. I looked at him, and he gave me a small, reassuring smile. I knew he was just trying to give me strength at that moment.“I did that for everyone’s sake, Shiela.”“For everyone’s sake or for your precious daughter Lexi’s sake? Well, I shouldn’t be surprised. She’s always been your favorite.”“That’s not true. You are both my children. In fact, I gave you more attention before because I didn’t want you to feel like you had to compete with your sister,” Papa explained gently.“Why does it feel like I owe you

LEXI’S POV"Gino!"We turned to look at Gino's sister as she arrived at the hospital. Chase had chosen to call her to inform her of what had happened. He believed their parents were abroad."Don’t be so dramatic. It’s just a scratch," Gino said, trying to calm his sister."Still! Tell me, which of my men shot you?" Charlene asked frantically."Enough, Charlene. I’m not the victim here. It’s Lexi."Charlene slowly turned to look at me. She couldn’t meet my eyes and kept fiddling with her fingers."Sorry. Shiela told me she would hand you over to Gino. I thought I was making the right decision," she said softly."No worries, Charlene. I know you were just thinking of your brother. But everything’s fine now," I said seriously.I really had no intention of dragging Gino’s sister into this any further. Yes, Shiela used one of her men, but everything was already too messy to involve Charlene. Besides, Chase had already told me that even before Shiela called him, Gino had already informed hi

SERENITY'S POVHindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin pa kay Ethan dahil nagpatuloy siya sa pagmamaneho. Wala na akong nagawa kun'di ang laruin na lamang ang mga daliri ko dahil sa kaba. Hindi naman siguro ako papagalitan nina Lolo at Lola dahil nagpahatid ako sa isang lalaki. Ipapaliwanag ko na lamang sa kanila ang lahat at sana ay paniwalaan nila ako."Dito ka ba nakatira?" walang emosyong tanong sa akin ni Ethan nang huminto siya sa tapat ng bahay nina Lolo Armando."Dito nga," mahinang sambit ko.Bumisina si Ethan at nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang bumukas ang malaking gate. Pumasok ang sasakyan at binati pa ng guard si Ethan."A-anong?" hindi ko maituloy ang itatanong ko.Hindi nagsalita si Ethan. Bumaba siya ng sasakyan habang ako ay nakasunod lang ng tingin sa kaniya. At nanlamig ang buong katawan ko nang salubungin siya ng mag-asawa. Nagmano pa si Ethan sa mga ito. Agad akong bumaba ng sasakyan."Buti naman at tinupad mo ang pangakong uuwi ka pagkatapos ng concert mo," narinig kong s

SERENITY'S POVTila tumigil na naman ang mundo ko nang makita kong muli ng malapitan si Ethan. Hindi ko magawang igalaw ang buong katawan ko at wala akong ibang magawa kun'di ang mapatitig na lamang sa kaniya. Nabablangko ako at napakabilis ng tibok ng puso ko."So, nasaan ang boyfriend mo?" tanong pa niya sa akin na siyang nagpabalik sa ulirat ko."A ano, kasi, ano."Gusto ko na lamang magpalamon sa lupa dahil hindi ko alam ang isasagot sa kaniya. Wala naman kasi talaga akong boyfriend. Ang mayroon ako ay asawa na hindi ko pa nakikilala."Malayo-layo pa ang bayan dito. Sumabay ka na sa akin," walang emosyong sambit pa niya."A. Hindi na. Ayos lang ako," pagtanggi ko naman kahit ang totoo ay gustong gusto ko nang sumakay sa kotse niya. Isang pambihirang pagkakataon iyon na hindi ko dapat pinalalampas ngunit hindi ko alam kung bakit may pumipigil sa akin na i-grab ang pagkakataong ito."Okay."Mabilis akong napalingon kay Ethan dahil muli niyang ini-start ang kotse niya. Agad naman ako

SERENITY’S POV“Hello, guys,” masayang bati ni Ethan sa amin nang matapos niyang kantahin ang song na nagpasikat sa kaniya.Napuno naman ng tilian at sigawan ang buong venue habang ako ay nakangiting nakatitig lang kay Ethan kahit na hindi ko siya gaanong maaninag dahil nga malayo kami sa stage.“I have an announcement to make. Bago pa man ang concert na ito ay maraming bali-balita na ang kumakalat tungkol sa akin,” seryosong sabi niya.Napatango ako. Alam ko ang tinutukoy niya dahil may isang litrato siyang nag-viral. Ang litratong ito ay isang kuha ng hindi kilalang tao. Sa litratong ito ay may kasama siyang isang babae, si Camila Ceres, isa sa mga pinakasikat na mga artista. Malaking balita ito sa lahat sapagkat iyon ang kauna-unahang beses na may na-link na babae kay Ethan. Kaya marami na ang nag-conclude na baka magkarelasyon na ang dalawa. Iyon din kasi ang kauna-unahang beses na makita siyang may kasamang babae.Naalala ko pa ang isang interview noon ni Ethan. Tinanong siya kun

SERENITY'S POV"Paalis ka na ba, Hija?" magiliw na tanong sa akin ni Lola Amanda."Opo, Lola Amanda."Simula kasi kagabi noong nagpaalam ako sa kanila na manonood ako ng concert ni Ethan ay sinabihan na nila akong tawagin ko na lamang silang lolo at lola. Buong akala ko nga ay hindi pa nila ako papayagan na umalis ngayon dahil mukhang bad mood sila kagabi. Ngunit laking gulat ko na wala silang pagdadalawang isip na pinayagan ako. Nakakapagtaka pa nga na parang mas natuwa pa sila na manonood ako ng concern. Ngunit gayunpaman ay hindi na ako nagtanong o nangulit pa dahil baka maiba na naman ang mood nila.Mamaya pa namang 7pm ang simula ng concert ngunit sinabi sa akin ni Cindy na dapat ay maaga pa lang ay nasa venue na kami. Sold out kasi ang tickets kaya paniguradong maraming tao mamaya. Kaya kahit alas kwatro pa lamang ng hapon ay nakagayak na ako. "O siya, mag-iingat ka ha. Sigurado ka bang hindi ka na magpapahatid sa driver mo?" tanong pa sa akin ni Lola.Marahan naman akong umili

SERENITY'S POVPagkarating namin sa loob ng classroom ay pinagtitinginan ako ng mga kaklase namin. Ang iba ay nagbubulungan pa kaya hindi na nakatiis pa si Cindy. Pumunta siya sa harap at malakas na hinampas ang table."Pwede ba? Tigilan niyo na nga 'yan. Bakit hindi na lang kayo mag-aral para may magawa kayong maganda?" mataray na sigaw niya sa buong klase."Bakit pa kami mag-aaral kung pwede naman palang magpakasal sa matandang mayaman para umangat sa buhay?" pasaring naman ni Chloe, ang isa sa mga maldita naming kaklase."Kung umangat nga talaga ang buhay ko, edi sana hindi na ako pumasok ngayon?" sarkastikong sabi ko naman.Hindi ko ugaling pumatol sa mga sinasabi nila sa akin noon. Ngunit hindi ko na napigilan pa ang sarili ko lalo na at pati ang kaibigan ko ay nadadamay. Lumapit ako kay Cindy at marahan siyang hinila paupo sa upuan namin."Huwag mo na silang patulan, Cindy. Hayaan mo na lang," bulong ko pa sa kaniya."So, totoo ngang magpapakasal ka sa isang matanda?" hindi maka

SERENITY’S POV Dahil sa mga rebelasyon kagabi ay wala akong sapat na tulog. Hindi ako masyadong nakatulog dahil sa napakalaking twist sa buhay ko. FLASHBACK “Hija, alam kong nalilito ka sa mga kaganapan. Ngunit kasal ako at buhay pa ang asawa kong si Amanda kaya imposibleng sa akin ka ikakasal. At isa pa, mahal na mahal ko itong si Amanda at wala na akong balak na maghanap pa ng iba.” “Ano na namang kapilyuhan ang sinabi mo at bakit iniisip ng bata na ikaw ang papakasalan niya?” singit ni Donya Amanda. “Hindi ko kasi sinabi sa mag-asawa na sa apo natin ipapakasal ang anak nila.” “Ibig sabihin ay sinadya niyo pong hindi sabihin kina Papa Julio na sa inyong apo dapat magpapakasal si Samantha?” gulat kong tanong. Ngingiti-ngiting tumango si Don Armando. “Hindi naman kasi sila nagtanong, at isa pa, sila na mismo ang nag-isip na sa akin magpapakasal ang anak nila.” May punto naman si Don Armando doon dahil kaya ko lang din naman inakala na sa kaniya ako ikakasal ay dahil iy

Sierra's POVI couldn't sleep. It was already 1:00 in the morning. I am just looking outside the window of my room. The moon still shines bright and how I wish I could shift right now. But unfortunately, I can't feel my wolf.I was about to lie in my bed but I saw Asher. He was standing beside a big tree, and he was looking at me. I felt my heart beating fast. I missed him so much, and supposedly, we should be celebrating now. But it didn't happen. I am not his mate and it is breaking my heart into pieces. How can I see him marrying my best friend? How can I continue my life living in this kind of irony?Asher wears a pleading eye as if he's saying to me that we need to talk. I didn't want to talk to him but my heart said I should. This might be the last time we would talk about ourselves.So, I quickly grabbed my jacket and put my hair in a ponytail. I silently walk outside the house. My parents should be sleeping right now and I don't want them to wake up. As soon as I walked out of

Sierra's POVAfter the incident, my parents and I went home. They didn't give me a chance to talk to Asher. They said that it is for the better. They didn't want to cause any scene since Asher had accepted my best friend, Shelly, as his mate. "How are you feeling, dear?" my mother asked me the moment we entered the house.I gave her a weak smile. "I didn't shift and my boyfriend is mated to my best friend. I don't know what to feel.""Sierra, you know that some of us had the incident of not shifting the moment we turned 18," my father said.I shook my head. "It was just written in the books. I haven't met one."I thought Shifting was only written in the books. I thought it was only fiction. In my 18 years of existence in this world, I never met any wolf who didn't shift at the right age. So, I don't know what to believe. I can't explain my feelings right now."Sierra, can we go to your room?" my mother pleaded.I just nodded and we headed to my room. The moment I opened the door, I s

Sierra's POVI didn't shift. I quickly looked up at the sky and closed my eyes. I need to shift. This can't be happening to me right now.'Moon Goddess, please let me meet my wolf. Please.'"Sierra, I think you need to go to your parents," I heard Alpha Julius.I opened my eyes and saw the Alpha and Luna sadly looking at me. I can't do anything but cry. When I turned my gaze to my parents, they were intently looking at me. Just like me, they were also confused."Why didn't Beta's daughter shift?""We expect that she will be our future Luna.""She's one of the strongest in their generation, but she doesn't have a wolf."All the people witnessed that I didn't shift. And now they were talking about me. I can't move my feet because all of them are now looking at me. I want to explain myself but how? How can I answer their questions if I don't even know what is really happening to me?"Please be quiet. It's not fair to judge quickly. We know some of our people who shifted days after their

SIERRA'S POVIt's already 6:30 in the evening when we arrive at the front yard of the pack house. I just sent a text message to Asher informing him that my family and I were already here."Seems like everybody is excited for the future Alpha," my mother commented as she looked around the front yard."Of course. Everybody is looking forward to seeing how great Asher would be once he shifted," my father said wearing a big smile on his face.I just nodded. It's true. This might be one of the greatest events in a pack. Alpha Julius is a great leader and he maintained the peace and harmony within our group. He also built a group of great warriors that protects us from rogues. That's why sometimes, Asher felt pressured as everybody was expecting that he would become a great leader also. As for me, I do not doubt that he will become successful also. He was trained and born to be a great Alpha.I took a glance at my phone when it started ringing. I smiled when I saw the name of Asher on my sc

SIERRA'S POVI am almost ready for Asher's birthday party. Since he is the Alpha's son, all of us in the pack need to be there to witness his shift. And since it is my birthday also, Alpha and Luna are willing to share the celebration with me.It's already 5:30 in the afternoon. The party will start at 6 pm, and the moon will light the sky at 7:00 in the evening. Once the moon shines, Asher and I will shift into our wolf form.I quickly grabbed my phone when it suddenly rang. I frowned when I saw the name of Shelly on the screen. I wasn't expecting a call from her since we decided to meet at the packhouse later."Shelly," I said as I answered her call."Sierra, I am really sorry. I think I can't make it in time. I have a lot of things that I need to finish here," she answered in a disappointed tone.Shelly is working part-time in a restaurant in the city. She said that she needed to go somewhere from time to time, so she could meet her mate. And doing part-time in different restaurant

SIERRA’S POV“Are you ready for your birthday?”I took a glance at my friend, Shelly, who was more excited than I was. My eighteenth birthday will be held in 2 days' time. And I am a bit nervous about what will happen that time. I will shift to a werewolf form and I will be able to meet my wolf. That time also, I might be able to meet my mate. In which I hope there will be Asher, my boyfriend of two years already. He is my first love, and, of course, he is the Alpha’s son, and me, Sierra Marie Finnegan, the Beta’s only daughter. Since it was obvious that Asher and I had a romantic relationship, everyone was expecting that we would be mates. Everyone believes that we are perfect future leaders of this pack.Asher and I have the same birthday also. We were born on the same day that makes our parents believe that we are really meant for each other.“I am ready, as always, but a little bit nervous,” I answered Shelly.Shelly has been my friend since grade school. She was one year older an