WATCHING the luminous Luna up in the night sky used to be Alezzandro's pastime when he was looking for something to blame for the troubles coming into his life. The thick clouds around her seemed like protecting their muse from the dagger look that his eyes have been throwing since he leaned on the railing of the balcony outside his penthouse while drinking his favorite red wine.
To escape the sudden rise of hell in his mansion was his plan, only to be ruined by the memories that happened hours ago that keep on flashing inside his head. What he feels towards that damn monster is something beyond fury, that's too shallow to describe the fire blazing hotter in his chest for a decade now. It didn't just burn him alive but it ruined everything around him that Zandro actually lived in the dark for the rest of his life.
The wrath he's been keeping through the years intensifies every time he sees her pretty face, the damn sweet smile owned by Blythe, or would it be more proper to call as his wife now?
Sa kabila ng nagbabagang pagkasuklam at galit na ilang taon nang nananahan sa kaniyang dibdib ay nakuha pa rin niyang ngumisi sa huling ideyang pumasok sa kaniyang isio. Zandro is halfway towards his plan, he just needs to pull more strings to get closer until victory showers in him this time. That sounds good and surely feels good too.
Zandro is in the middle of exploring every way he has of executing his next plan when his phone from the round table next to him suddenly interrupts his reverie. Bumaling siya roon para sumilip sa kung sinong pangahas ang dumidistorbo sa kaniya nang ganoong oras. The dawn is currently breaking and the nerves of this caller must burst if his reason is not important as his plans.
But on second thought, he realized that he doesn't need to hope for it anymore because Zandro is certain that this guy's nerves already exploded more than he wants. . .that if he really has nerves.
Mas lumawak pa ang ngisi ng binata habang itinatapat niya ang cellphone sa kaniyang tainga. Hindi pa siya nakaka-balik sa kaniyang pagkakahilig ay nagputukan na ang sari-saring mura ng kaniyang nakatatandang kapatid sa kabilang linya, it sounded like missile bombs.
"Geez! What a nice greeting from my brother," panunuya niya habang dinig na dinig ang mga hangos ng kaniyang kapatid dala ng labis na galit. "I appreciate it a lot.""You're nothing but a bastard, Zandro! You dirty player, you better keep your face away from me because I will really slash that until you can smile no more!" sunod-sunod nitong singhal. "I've warned you not to associate yourself with my business anymore. Pero heto kana namang lintik ka!"
Imbes na matakot sa mga angil ng kaniyang kapatid ay mas natuwa pa si Zandro, his curses are music to his ear and his anger is somewhat made his night more. Kung ganito ba namang pikon ang kapatid mo, sinong hindi matutuwa?
"Can you calm down first, my brother? You're raving like a lunatic animal— oh, wait! Don't tell me you are—"
"Shut up, bastard! Hayop ka, you never really learn your lesson! You keep on wanting to experience death, huh?"
Sa pagkakataong iyon ay napahalakhak na si Zandro, mas tumataas pa ang galit ng kaniyang kapatid at mas natutuwa siyang pakinggan ang tono ng bawat kabiguan nito. As what their father used to say, this guy is a walking shit!
Ipinikit niya ang kaniyang pagod na mga mata at bahagyang pinaamo ang tinig para sa nagliligalig niyang kapatid. "So, tell me what made you call? Ano na naman sa mga tagumpay ko ang ikina-uulol mo?"
Although he already has a hint he still wants to hear it from his brother's frustrated voice. He wanted to hear how his victory affects him to call this early and made him the happiest as of the moment.
"Come on, brother dear! Don't be shy and tell me."Subalit ang mga mararahas na paghinga lamang nito ang naging sagot ng kaniyang tanong. The most awaited answer from his brother never came. Of course, Dimas will never speak about Alezzandro's victory because he's too jealous to recognize it... Pero bago pa nito putulin ang linya ay muli itong nagbaba ng babala gaya ng madalas nitong gawin."Stop testing my patience, Zandro. Alam mo kung ano ang kaya kong gawin at alam mo rin kung ano ka lang sa pamilyang ito, I could kill you without blinking if that would it takes to permanently shut your goddamn mouth," naroon ang diin sa bawat pagbigkas nito ng mga kataga. "I'm a man of my word."
And so is he... Kaya nga nang mangako siya sa mga magsasaka sa kanilang bayan na gagawan niya ng paraan ang tungkol sa malawak na taniman ng kaniyang kapatid ng ipinagbabawal na mga halaman ay hindi siya tumalikod doon. He immediately filed an investigation about the said farm and filed the appropriate lawsuit for their violations and all.
Wala pang dalawang linggo ay lumabas na ang resulta—nabawi ng mga magsasaka ang kanilang lupa at bonus pa dahil ang imbestigasyong isinagawa nila tungkol sa mga ipinagbabawal na halaman ay tumuro sa isang pabrika kung saan pinoproseso ang mga ipinagbabawal na gamot na sigurado siyang pag-aari rin ni Dimas at ito ang malinaw na dahilan ng pagpupuyos nito.
"Well, looks like someone is popping a champagne's cork here."
Napalingon si Zandro sa glass door ng kaniyang silid, bahagyang tumaas ang kilay niya nang matagpuan niya mula roon si Antonette— ang secretary niya at isa ring matalik na kaibigan.
Tumuwid siya sa pagkakatayo bago itapong muli sa lamesa ang kaniyang cellphone. "Nah! It's my favorite wine not a bottle of champagne."
"Oh, yeah! So funny..." Umirap ito pagka-lapit at nagsalin din si Antonette ng wine sa isa pang wine glass bago humilig sa tabi ni Zandro. "I thought you are very much frustrated right now that's why I came, tapos a-abutan kitang naka-ngiti lang? Have you gone nuts, Zandro?"
"Nope, but Dimas is making me so damn high."
"I heard about you winning the case against his illegal farm and such... Sa nangyaring ito, I would bet your brother is as livid as an erupting volcano again. Dimas won't let this slide like that."
"Yeah, but I don't care whatever he's feeling as of the moment. Die in a heart attack if he wants..." He was sipping more from his glass when his shining golden green eyes once again found Luna above. "Anyway, I haven't seen you at the ceremony earlier. Seryoso ka talaga nang sabihin mong ayaw mo akong makitang ma-kasal sa kaniya?"
Antonette's pink lips twitched a bit. "Well, that's part of the factor. Of all the bullsh*t you have done so far, ito ang pinakamalala. Why marry if we can just kill the evil?"
Ibinaba na nang tuluyan ni Zandro ang hawak niyang wine glass, he felt like he had too much of his comfort liquid tonight. Huminga siya nang malalim at mariing pinisil ang barandilya sa kaniyang harapan, halos ma-baluktot iyon sa intensidad ng kaniyang pagkaka-pisil.
"Look, Zandro, the victory is waving at us. All that we need to do is slash her neck with—"
"Antonette..." he silently growled her name. "We already talked about it. Killing without any suffering is not my thing. That is gonna be really easy and I don't want the easy way for her… her highness surely won't enjoy it."
Nabinbin na sa ere ang baso ng dalaga, may pagtataka nitong tinitigan si Zandro na noo'y naka-tingala sa kalangitan ngunit pikit ang magaganda nitong mga mata.
"So, what will be the next plan?"
Slowly, he opened his eyes and they shimmered together with the light coming from the bright and perfectly round moon.
"Gonna be a blast," he said in his husky whisper.
"It's still for Cassidy, right?"
"All for my dearest..."
"MAGIC LOTION"FREEZING IN terror— no! She's actually dying in horror. The tiny flame of courage blazing in her chest died down in a splash of fear as Blythe found her now-conscious body lying on the dirty ground of the dark playhouse soaking in this fishy, creamy; and thick maroon liquid. The smell is making her wanna puke! Why she is lying out there is still a question for Blythe, but the biggest question that's making her head haywire is the blood flowing out of her ripped skin all the way through her veins. God! Imagine the dread clawing around her body as if there's a giant and cold hand that's gripping her to death, making her breathless. What really happened? Nanghihina siyang bumangon at mabilis na tumakbo patungo kina Mother Superior para ipakita ang nagdurugo niyang braso at dibdib. Habol-habol niya ang kaniyang numinipis na hininga nang pumasok siya sa bulwagan ng bahay ampunan. Hindi pa siya nakaka-bawi sa kilabot na yumayapos sa kaniya ay muli na namang natulos ang mali
"HER MAMA IS THE BEST" WALANG NAGAWA si Blythe nang araw na iyon kun'di bumalik na lang sa kaniyang silid at doon magtampisaw sa kabagutan at pag-aalala. May ilang pagkakataong na-aaliw siya sa pagbabasa ng mga dala niyang libro at notes galing sa kaniyang klase— and speaking of that thing— aside from her work which she sets aside since she lived with Attorney Vizmanos mansion, hindi na rin siya nakaka-pasok sa kaniyang klase mga ilang araw na rin ang nakakalipas. Ang sabi naman ni Attorney Vizmanos ay gagawan nito ng paraan ang tungkol doon, maybe home school?Even her best friend Claudia was inviting her for a dinner with her newfound family last time. Napa-ngiwi si Blythe nang maalalang hindi niya rin ito nagawang pagbigyan. Nagkasunod-sunod na kasi ang mga problema at kaguluhan sa kaniyang isip kaya't nalimutan na ni Blythe ang tungkol sa mga iyon.Ang balita pa naman niya kay Addi ay may mayamang dine-date ang kanilang kaibigan ngayon. Blythe actually saw her ring with an elegant
"MI AMOR"THE DEAFENING silence that's roaring between the newlyweds since they went home from the hospital is starting to make Blythe crazy, as well as the anger breaking in his face earlier was enough cue that he's mad of what she has done. Truly that what she did is a violation of their agreement, and violation means punishment or chastise. Blythe would understand it but as to what Attorney Vizmanos doing— he was just calmly walking ahead of her, both hands were inside his pocket and his head was up as if he's boasting over someone. Wala ba itong pakialam sa nagawa niya? Ayos lang ba ritong tumakas si Blythe at lumabag sa utos nito? If so, what were the rules for? "Attorney," she called out after an audible sigh. Her chest can't hold it back anymore. "Pasensiya na po sa nagawa ko, hindi ko naman gustong labagin ang rules mo pero hindi ko lang kasi mapigilan, e. Miss na miss ko na si mama at—" "But I'm also telling you that my house isn't like your university where you could just
"THE DEATH OF HER"NOW THAT Zandro has mentioned that, nagbalik muli sa ala-ala ni Blythe ang dahilan kung bakit siya naroon sa bahay ng binata at kung saan nagsimula ang kanilang kasunduan. Para iyon sa mas mataas na posisyong nais nito at makukuha lamang niya iyon kapag napa-tunayan na nito sa matandang judge ang kaniyang sarili at siya ang pinili nito mula sa linya ng mga pinakamagagaling na mga abogado sa bansa."Gagawin ko," pagsang-ayon ni Blythe. "Great... Now, what is it that you need for that idiot?" "May pangalan siya, siya si Luiz," matapang niyang saad. "At wala siyang kasalanan sa nangyari. Ako ang pumilit sa kaniyang ilabas ako. Tutol naman talaga siya sa ideya ko, pero—" "Stop beating around the bust..." He gave her an icy-cold stare. "Go straight to the point now." "Ako na lang ang parusahan mo," she claimed without having a second thought. Kinagat ni Blythe ang pang-ibaba niyang labi, natatakot siya ngunit kailangan niyang harapin ang bunga ng kaniyang kapangahasan
"CASSIDY CORREA VILLALOBOS"THE PRIVATE meeting continues inside the huge office of the Monroe's mansion, Zandro's eyes keep on sticking around the people that his family has been serving for how many decades now. The Monroes and his respectable parents were good friends which actually started with the late Don Honoracio Inocencio Monroe who has been nothing but a charitable and great leader dating back to the early 1940s. The different charity events he founded were what gives his father— retired Lt. Col. Arquero Augusto Vizmanos— the chance to attain an education which led him to the successful life he has today.Utang na loob at pagkakaibigan, sa madaling salita— iyon ang nagkukulong sa kanilang pamilya para manatiling naka-bigkis sa lahing minsan sa kasaysayan ay mortal nilang kalaban. At ang utang na loob ding iyon ang sumasakal sa leeg ni Zandro para sundin ang lahat ng nais ng kaniyang butihing ama na siyang kumupkop dito at bumuhay simula nang ma-iligtas siya nito mula sa kamay
"THE FORBIDDEN ROOM""HUWAG, PAKIUSAP..." pagmamakaawa ni Blythe habang ang butil ng mga pawis ay mas dumadagsa pa sa kaniyang malinis na noo. "Hindi. Wala akong ginagawang masama, pakiusap!!"Blythe rose from the bed feeling the shortness of her breathing, the way she clutched her blanket looked as if she was going to ruin it. God, another nightmare struck her peaceful sleep again, and just like what happened after her mother's accident, nobody is there to comfort her and give her a glass of water. In her throat were embers that were drying it so much. Probably she gets it from crying and screaming once in a while. Huhamahangos niyang nilingon ang larawang naka-tayo sa kalapit na mesa ng kaniyang kama. Bahagya pang nanghina si Blythe nang maalala ang kalagayan ng kaniyang Mama Celia sa hospital ngayon. To survive and ive, she'll be needing the operation sooner and Blythe has to go for extra measures for that to happen.Kalaunan ay bumaba siya sa may kusina para uminom ng tubig, haban
"I'M NOT PAYING YOU TO ACT THIS WAY"MARIIN ANG pagkakatiim ng bagang ni Zandro habang paulit-ulit na idinarampi ni Antonette ang bulak na mayroong alkohol sa kaniyang basag na nguso. Masyadong naging ma-init si Dimas kagabi para manuntok ito nang gano'n kalakas kay Zandro at kung sinusuwerte pa siya ay sa takot niyang mahuli siya ni Blythe kagabi sa silid nito ay masyado siyang nataranta sa pagtakbo na halos bumangga ang kaniyang mukha sa may pinto. Damn his poor handsome face!"I don't really know what's going on with you, Zandro. The other day, I caught you having your sweet time with her. Then, what now? Watching her sleeping in her room for goodness sake?"Bahagyang iniwas ng binata ang mukha niya mula sa kaibigan niyang kanina pa siya sinesermonan. Lukot ang noo niya itong tiningnan."What sweet time are you talking about?"Ibinaba ni Antonette ang hawak nitong bulak at bahagya itong humilig kay Zandro para tingnan siya nang diretso sa kaniyang mga mata."Mi amor," anito na halos
"SHE'S ALIVE AND VERY HAPPY"IT'S BEEN five years now since Claudia learned about the tragedy that happened to her loving sister— the death of Cassidy at the hands of the man she trusted and loved so much. Out of the molten fury that wrapped her heart, she accepted the agreement of alliance from Dimas Vizmanos against his younger brother who is also the one who murdered her sister.Paulit-ulit niyang ini-itsa ang maliit na garapon sa ere kung saan naroon ang mahiwagang mga bagay na tiyak siyang ikina-uulol ni Zandro matapos niya iyong nakawin at itago simula nang gabing iyon. Gaya ng naka-paloob sa plano nila ng nakaka-tandang Vizmanos ay kinuha niya ang loob ng binata habang nagpapanggap siyang anak ng isa sa kanilang mga kasambahay at nangangailangan siya ng tulong laban sa kasintahan niyang huma-harass umano sa kaniya. The brilliant attorney had never been easy to tame nor to fool, the way he asked questions and he investigate gives Claudia a frequent heart attack. Kaya naman sa ta