"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 cut class whenever you want to, I didn't come up with my rules just to be violated..." Authoritative as they say, his deep baritone voice alone can make someone shiver plus that ruthless stare that used to arrest her heart. "In the field where I am working, dangers were like monsters lurking around for their chance to get me and kill. There are plenty of them that I don't have a single idea of which is which, and I can't control their minds to find out when they are planning to attack or who they are planning to attack."
Slowly, he turned his body towards her, and just like the old times, Blythe only shivered with the way he looked at her... t'was mysteriously dark and ice cold!
"Just to remind you, Blythe. You are part of my life now, so you should expect more dangers and threats to come along our way..." There was something in his eyes as he looked at her. "That's why I'm keeping you out of their sight. But if you will continue being careless and impulsive towards your decisions, then I don't think you would finish the contract. . .alive."
Damn! Profanities showered her mind, this is what she's talking about! This ruthless man in front of her is one hell of a great lawyer, he's at the pinnacle of his career and when you are at that surely many will envy you and will try to bring you down. Lalo sa kaso ni Attorney Vizmanos na ang karamihan sa mga pinababagsak nitong kalaban ay iyong mga higante, mga kayang manakit at pumatay. And he's very right about that, maaari siyang idamay ng mga kalaban nito kung sakali mang hindi siya mag-iingat... Nagpatuloy ang dalawa patungo sa loob ng tanggapan. Nagsihinto ang abalang mga kasambahay nang malingunan nila ang binatang parating, nagsiyukod ang mga ito at wala ni isa ang nangahas na tumingin sa magaganda nitong mga mata. Should she do that as well? Wala naman iyon sa kontrata nila pero kung ganito ang tamang asal sa harapan ni Attorney Vizmanos ay iyon ang masusunod. "Señorito," anang isang tinig mula sa kanilang likuran. Kapwa natigil sa paglalakad ang dalawa at sabay na hinarap ang noo'y naka-yukod nang si Valentino. Ilang segundo itong nasa ganoong posisyon hangga't hindi siya pinatutuwid ni Attorney Zandro. "Narito na po siya," anito at sabay na inilahad ang bulwagan kung saan mula roon ay hila-hila ng dalawang lalaking naka-itim ang driver na siyang naghatid kay Blythe kanina sa hospital. "Huwag po, maawa kayo sa akin," he keeps on begging but the two men holding him were pretty much like their boss— they are like stones. "Señorito, patawarin mo ako!" Namilog ang mga mata ni Blythe nang bigla ay walang kahirap-hirap itong sinikmuraan ni Valentino nang hindi ito nililingon o sinisilip man lang. "Huwag kang magtataas ng boses kay señorito, pangahas!" wika nito sa mababa ngunit striktong boses. "My apology for that, señorito. This guy right here is a newly hired driver, he was enlightened of the rules but he still broke them." Pinanood lang ni attorney Zandro ang pag-iyak ng binata sa kaniyang harapan, hindi ito gumalaw maski na kumurap. Kapagkuwan ay namulsa itong muli sabay tumalikod na para bang wala itong pagmamakaawang naririnig. "If that's the case, then I'm sure he's aware of the punishment as well. Go and do what he deserves, Val." "Of course, señorito." Kasunod nang panghihila ng mga ito sa binata ay ang pagpalahaw pa nitong lalo. Balisang pinanood ni Blythe ang kaganapan, nais niyang habulin ang mga kalalakihang may dala sa binata ngunit tiyak siyang mas pakikinggan ng mga ito si Attorney Zandro, kaya naman ito ang sinundan niya para pakiusapan. "What is it, Mi Esposa?" he asked in furrowed brows when Blythe blocked his way towards the grandiose staircase. What he just said stiffened her for a brief moment. Blythe isn't that fluent in speaking Spanish language but one of her subjects in college required them to at least research about the country before and that includes their language. According to her little knowledge, Attorney Zandro called her "my wife", did he? "Is anything bothering you?" he asked further. Despite her surprise, Blythe pushed herself to speak for the young boy she just pushed into danger. Na-iintimida pa rin siya sa kahanga-hangang berde nitong mga mata ngunit pinaglabanan ni Blythe ang kaniyang nararamdaman, binuo niya ang kaniyang loob at maski na ang boses niya."A-ano kasi, s-si Luiz..." "Luiz?" "Oo, iyong driver." Sabay turo sa nilabasan ng mga ito kanina.Tumango-tango ang binata at mariing pumikit na tila siya naiirita sa kanilang pag-uusap na dalawa. The view of his bow-like-red lips makes swallowing her own saliva hard like there's a lump on it. Ano ba ang iniisip niya? Disbelief crossed his eyes. "You are calling him on a first-name basis, yet you can't call your husband by his name? Should we make another rule about that, Mi Esposa?" Disbelief froze Blyth that it left her staring into his handsome face for a little while, it bewitches her like a witch casted a spell on her and her thought fled away, including her reason for calling him."Ano ba ang gusto mong itawag ko sa'yo?" nahihiya niyang tanong dito. Hindi niya magawang tingnan ang mata ng binata. "Hindi kasi ako sanay sa ganito, e. Pasensiya na." "Paano..." he corrected her. Gulat na nag-angat ng mukha si Blythe sa binata. "Paanong 'paano'?" "Mi Amor..." he said without leaving her eyes. "In a sweeter and more realistic way. Can you call me that, Mi Esposa?" Mahigpit na na-palunok si Blythe sa intensidad ng mga titig nito. Sinubukan niyang ibuka ang kaniyang bibig subalit kinikilabutan siyang tawagin sa gano'ng paraan ang binata. "M-mi A-amor," it came out broken. "Say it again. Clearer this time, would you?" "Mi Amor," she repeated, getting smoother than the first one. "Mi Amor."A smirk flashed from his lips. "Great! Now, train your tongue to call me that way. I don't want other people to find my wife weird because she's too formal with her husband... And sooner, the judge I was talking about will have his vacation in my house. I don't want him to build any doubt about my relationship with you...""SA TINGIN mo ba ay matutuwa siyang makilala ako, hija?" Inilapag ni Blythe ang pastang hawak niya sa lamesa, muli niyang ini-ayos ang mga pagkain doon bago niya binalingan ang kaniyang mama sa gilid ng lamesa. Kanina pa ito hindi mapakali at halos maya't maya kung tanungin siya. Lumapit siya rito para ayusin ang namumuti na nitong buhok, ginagap niya rin ang nanlalamig na mga kamay ng ginang at marahan niya itong pinisil. "Mama, relax lang po. Malapit na raw si Zandro." But she did the opposite, her shaking worsened and her breathing became rapid. "Sigurado ka ba rito, hija? Paano kung ayawan niya ako? Lalo at hindi ko lang siya pinahirapan noon, maski ngayon habang nasa gitna siya ng isang misyon." "Mama, mahal ka po ni Zandro at alam kong ma-uunawaan niya kung ano man ang nagawa ninyo... Kung hindi ka niya gustong makilala, bakit siya pumayag sa date ninyo ngayong gabi?"
SA KATANUNGANG iyon tuluyang natahimik si Zandro. Wala naman sa hinagap niyang ang mama ni Blythe ang tunay niyang ina kaya't hindi alam ni Zandro kung paano siya magpapakilala rito. Isama pang hindi pa siya maaaring magpakilala bilang siya sa kahit sino... therefore he can't do any move for now. But his biological mother seems like she knows their connection by now and she's the one who's making moves... only for Zack. Whenever he's with Blythe, she used to push him away and let Zack have his way. Na-iinis si Zandro sa tuwing nangyayari iyon ngunit kalaunan ay natatawa na lang siyang parang baliw. Why feel bad when it's him, and his marriage with Blythe she's protecting? Goddammit! Life is truly a roller coaster, it's filled with thrill and fun... "So, shall we pop the champagne's cork now?" Don Vico came and visited his office after he found out about his proposal to Blythe. Zandro was clueless about how he learned about it
EIGHT years had been a roller coaster ride for Zandro's journey, it was heaven in hell, his rainbow on the storm and his happiness amidst his heartaches. Living inside somebody else's identity has never been easy, bukod sa ibang tao ang tingin sa kaniya ni Blythe ay hindi niya rin magawang alamin kung ano ba talaga ang laman ng isip nito. Sa lumipas na ilang taon ay halos tone-toneladang pasensiya, pang-unawa, tapang, katatagan at pagmamahal ang binaon ni Zandro sa kaniyang sarili nang sa gano'n ay hindi siya pumalpak sa pinaka-mabigat na pagsubok sa kaniyang buhay. Maraming laban na ang napagtagumpayan niya, mga kasong kaniyang na-ipanalo. But this one is the most precious one, the result will dictate what kind of life is he going to live for the next years to come. So, he has to win this game without breaking any rule! Sumugal siya sa kabila ng takot at pangamba, tinanggap niya ang lahat ng mga pagsu
"F*CK YOU, Zandro. Talagang papatayin kita kapag hindi mo pa tinuldukan ang buhay ng demonyong iyan!" Dimas screamed despite the struggle. "You see, he's the root of all of this. He's been deceiving us for so long now and he put our tribe in danger, he put Blythe in danger. So, once you let him live, I will be the one to cut your head!" Muling inangat ni Zandro ang dambuhalang bato sa kaniyang kamay, handa na siyang itapon iyon kay Lord Howard nang subukan siya nitong muling paglaruan. "Will you really let your brother die? His son saves your wife and what? Won't give justice—" "You, as*hole! Just kill him!" Umiling si Zandro sabay itinapon sa malayo ang hawak niyang bato, tumalikod siya sa kalaban na ikinangiti ni Lord Howard. Bago siya gumawa ng unang hakbang palayo ay misan pa siyang pumihit at kasabay no'n ay ang paghagis niya sa napulot niyang punyal na kaagad tumarak sa d
THE BLOODY WAR between Zandro and Lord Howard didn't end up just because they fell down from the tall building of the Villalobos' mansion, it wasn't extinguished that fast instead it started to ignite higher and hotter as if a drum of fuel leak around the whole place making a hell for the next five consecutive days. Kapangyarihan sa kapangyarihan, lakas sa lakas. Walang kawala ang kahit isa sa kanila dahil isa lang ang maaaring lumabas nang buhay, bagay na siyang nagpapahina sa loob ni Zandro. The latter can feel the losing of his breathe, nagliliyab pa rin ang kaniyang katawan dala ng sakit sa hindi matapos-tapos na proseso roon. Pareho na silang naliligo ni Lord Howard sa kani-kanilang mga dugo at pawis na naghahalo sa madurungis nilang mga katawan. Nasa bingit man ng kamatayan ay nagagawa pa rin nitong ngumiti para lalong insultuin ang binata, itinaas nito ang kaniyang kamay at gamit ang hintuturo nitong puno ng singsing ay inayayahan niyang muling lumapit si Zandro. Bumuwelo si
BLYTHE WALKED out of her car like a zombie dancing on the music of melancholy, time passed has dried her tears away but her heart remains bleeding inside her chest. The last time she felt this way was when she lost Zandro... Well, guess what? She also lost Venedict and so she has a reason to act this way again. The sharp pain cutting inside her has been numbing her whole body that Blythe can't feel anything anymore, like a sheet of paper being blown by a harsh wind everywhere. Hindi dapat siya umalis doon dahil tiyak na hahanapin si ng binata, pero kung ikakasira naman nila ng ina nito ay tiyak na hindi iyon magiging maganda. Ngayon pa lang nakikilala ng binata ang kaniyang ina, ngayon pa lang sila bumabawi sa mga taong hindi sila nagkasama kaya naman sino si Blythe para pahirapan si Venedict at muling ilayo sa ina nito? Speaking of parent, aligagang tinuyo ni Blythe ang ilang bakas ng mga luha sa kaniyang mata nang matanaw niya sa harapan ng kanilang bahay ang papa niyang naka-tay
THE VIILLALOBOS was long gone now yet, she still can't find the happiness or the peace of mind she's been dreaming ever since. Lahat naman ay ginagawa ni Blythe para ayusin ang ubod ng gulo niyang buhay, marami na rin siyang isinakripisyo at pinagdaanan. Ngunit ano't sadyang walang tamang paraan para umayos na ang lahat sa kaniyang mundo?Ang lahat na lang ng kasiyahan niya'y may katumbas na kalungkutan, ang bawat tagumpay ay may kaakibat na pagkatalo at ang masakit pa'y nagmumula iyon madalas sa mga taong malapit sa kaniya; sa mga taong labis niyang pinahahalagahan.Three days passed since that unexpected argument she had with her family, up until now the cold war stayed in their house. Hindi na siya muli pang kinausap ng kaniyang pamilya matapos ang masasakit na mga salitang binitiwan ni Blythe, maski ang Mama Celia niya ay hindi na muli pang kumibo sa kaniya. Na-uunawaan naman ni Blythe ang reaksyon ng mga ito at hindi niya sila pipiliting patawarin siya gaya ng kagustuhan niyang h
SUMUNOD SI Blythe kay Addi papasok sa loob, nang makarating siya roon ay mabilis na dumikit sa kaniya ang seryosong mga mata na animo'y sibat na tutugis sa kaniya sa isang maling kilos lang.Natigilan si Blythe nang matagpuan din niya si Elaine sa tabi ng kaniyang lola, naka-yakap ito sa matanda habang umiiyak."Lola, lolo, ano po ang problema?" aniya habang naguguluhan niyang pinasasadahan ng tingin ang bawat isa."Nagtatanong ka pa talaga? Mang-aagaw!" Elaine exclaimed her accusation very much that Blythe felt her ears deafened. "Lola, please, scold her and tell her to stop with her flirtiness.""Elaine, your mouth," saway ni Tamarra rito. "Hindi makakatulong na ganiyan ka. Kumalma kana—""Paano ako kakalma?" Asik nito pabalik, nanggigigil nitong dinuro si Blythe. "That girl is stealing what's mine. Akin si Venedict!"Blythe watched her in disbelief. "Elaine, nasisiraan kana ba ng bait? Hindi kailanman naging sa'yo si Venedict at malinaw iyon sa'yo at sa kaniya.""No! Akin siya," pa
THE NEXT days came more terrible than expected, the small gap she had with her Mama Celia grew wider and Blythe was left taking extra dose of patience and understanding the following days. And Zandro being around didn't help at all, he used to worsen the situation like Blythe sometimes forgot courtesy for her ex-husband especially when he's pulling some stunts that will annoy Venedict.Kasama na roon ang pagdalo nito sa family day ng school nina Dame kahit pa wala namang nagsabi rito ng tungkol doon lalo at si Venedict ang pinili ni Dame na sasama sa kanila... Kaya naman ang naging ending ay apat sila sa grupo at madalas pang nagtatalo ang dalawa kung sino ang sasama sa mga games."I'm way more gorgeous than you," pagmamalaki ni Zandro. "Ako dapat ang sasama sa anak ko. Hindi ba, Dame? Grupo ito ng mga guwapo.""But you are done with your part," Venedict said in a complaint. "You joined the first two and you both lost them. Now, it's my time. Hayaan mo namang maglaro ang magagaling, w