PROLOGO

TININGNAN ni Alessandra ang repleksiyon sa salamin. Hindi malaman ang dahilan kung bakit nagtagal siya kanina sa pag-aayos sa sarili at pagpili ng damit na isusuot.

Maybe because you want to look beautiful in front of Nicholas Villarama? tudyo ng isang bahagi ng kanyang isipan.

No! I just wanted to show him what he lost! And that I am not the old naïve Alessandra, she reasoned out.

Inayos niya ang sarili at lumabas ng banyo kapagkuwan. Gulat ang lumarawan sa mukha ni Alessandra nang makita ang isang pamilyar na bulto na nakasandal sa dingding at tila ba may inaabangan. Bumuntung-hininga siya upang kalmahin ang sarili, hindi niya gustong mapahiya sa harapan ng isang Nicholas Villarama. Hindi na siya kagaya ng dati na ginawa itong sentro ng kanyang mundo.

She held her head high, tried to ignore him, and walked past him, but Nick grabbed her arm. She stopped herself from wincing when his strong hand gripped her own. She turned to him coldly and met his piercing eyes.

"How are you, Ally? You look different from what I remembered five years ago," Nick stated and eyed her from head to toe. "You look expensive," he added in sarcasm.

"Well, thank you, Mr. Villarama," sarkastikong turan ni Alessandra, lihim niyang ipinagpasalamat na hindi nanginig ang kanyang boses.

Hinila niya ang kanyang brasong hawak ni Nick ngunit hindi ito nagpatinag, ang kislap sa mga mata ay nanghahamon.

"Don't act as if we don't know each other. As far as I remember, we used to be lovers. I was even the one who took your alleged... innocence!" Nick exclaimed with gritted teeth. Contempt was written in his eyes.

Gustong kalmutin ni Alessandra ang mukha ni Nick dahil ito pa ang may ganang magalit sa kanya. "I initiated your first time," patuya nitong dagdag.

"Used to! It's all in the past now and I have long forgotten it," she countered. "At puwede ba, bitiwan mo ang braso ko baka makita tayo ni Ashton!"

Lalong naging mabalasik ang mukha ni Nick nang banggitin niya si Ashton. Ang mga kamay nito ay halos durugin na ang kanyang braso, nasisiguro ni Alessandra na magmamarka iyon.

"Are you happy that you are part of the Sanfords now? One of the most wealthy and influential families in the Philippines. Why it suits you perfectly!" Nick exclaimed, his eyes spit fire in contempt that it almost melted Alessandra's knees.

She doesn't understand why he was angry at her. Kung tutuusin ay siya dapat ang magalit dito dahil sa ginawa nito sa kanya limang taon na ang nakakaraan. He broke her.

"Wala kang pakialam kung parte na ako ng pamilyang Sanford ngayon, Villarama! And yes, I am happy with my family and it was my right to be a Sanford!" I hate you, Nick!

Sa galit ay isinadlak ni Nick si Alessandra sa dingding na ikinangiwi ng huli nang maramdaman ang sakit sa likuran. "Why, does your husband performed well than I did?!" mariin at pagalit na tanong ni Nick. Halos lamunin na ng buo ang dalagang napapagitnaan ng kanyang katawan at ng malamig na pader.

"Husband?" Alessandra asked in confusion and anger. Anong asawa ang pinagsasabi ni Nick? Si Ashton ba ang tinutukoy nito?

"I will break your marriage with him! Hindi kita hahayaang maging masaya!" Nick spat before claiming her lips in a savage kiss.

Nararamdaman niya ang hapdi sa mapagparusa nitong halik. Ngunit bakit ganoon nalang ang reaksiyon ng kanyang katawan? Tingling sensation were travelling from her belly to the tip of her toes.

Nang makahuma ay akmang itutulak ni Alessandra si Nick nang bigla siya nitong pakawalan, sabay talikod at malalaki ang hakbang paalis. Kamuntikan na siyang mapasalampak sa sahig, mabuti nalang at nabalanse niya ang sarili.

Habang pinagmamasdan ang papalayo nitong bulto ay tumulo ang luha sa kanyang mga mata. She doesn't know what she did wrong for him to get mad at her, she doesn't deserve his animosity. Subalit sa kabila ng lahat ay naroon ang matinding puwersa na nag-uudyok sa kanya na takbuhin ang binata at yakapin ng mahigpit. After all these years, she believed that she was over him, but seeing him again proved how foolish she was.

And Nick thought she was married! Gusto niyang matawa sa paniniwala nito, kung alam lang nito ang tunay niyang kalagayan siguradong kamumuhian nito ang sarili.

Kung ang paniniwala ni Nick na may asawa na siya ang maglalayo rito sa kanya ay hahayaan niyang bulagin ito ng huwad na paniniwalang iyon. Sarili lang niya ang niloloko nang sabihing nakalimutan na niya ito. Kailanman ay hindi nawaglit si Nick sa kanyang puso't isipan. She was grieving for her lost love and if wasn't for her twins, she would've lost her mind when he left her.

Her foolish heart still loves Nick after he shattered her to pieces five years ago, but she won't let him break her even more until she becomes nothing but a speck of dust.

Gaano man niya mapatunayan sa sarili na may nararamdaman pa siya para rito ay hindi niya ipipilit ang sarili sa isang taong ayaw sa kanya. She was happy with her life, with her family, the twins. Nicholas Villarama was out of the picture.