ProposalChapter 17Kumunot ang noo ni Teo nang makita ang gulat kong mukha. I surveyed the office, looking for a space where I can hide.“Hunyo’s here,” sabi ko at papunta na sa isang corner ng kan’yang opisina para sana magtago.Ngunit naramdaman ko nalang ang paghigit ng kamay niya sa akin. He looked confused why I’m acting this way. Ako naman, hindi magets kung bakit parang kalmado lang siya.He should panic because we’re alone together in a room! Pero naalala ko, he really doesn’t care about me.“And? Why do you look flustered?”Napanganga ako.“Ano sa tingin mo ang iisipin niya na tayo lang dalawa dito? Did you plan this?” I accused him.“What? No! You’re the one putting malice in our meeting, Zell.”Napasinghap ako. Somehow, nagets ko ang sinabi niya. I am putting malice to our situation. And how sure am I na masamain ni Hunyo ang pagbisita ko dito kung wala naman talaga kaming ginawang kababalghan?I am overthinking this. And why do I feel like a cheating wife? I sighed heavil
Ruined “W-what do you mean?” napatawa ako sa sinabi niya. I nervously laugh. Alam ko sa loob-loob, nagustuhan ko ang sinabi niya. Pero… it made me alarmed. He would let go of our engagement that easily. Kailangan ko siya para sa mga plano ko. Para sa paghihiganti. But hearing him, mukhang hindi ko pa secured ang engagement. One thing is sure, he has a deep reason. Hindi ko pa alam pero malalaman ko rin. “I’m fine with you choosing Mateo.” “Why?” His lips rose to a small smile. My eyes narrowed, now focusing on him. He had this regretful small for a while until it vanished. “I know how it feels to want someone but can’t have them.” My jaw dropped slightly. Iyon ang rason niya. Does that mean, he likes someone? He looked away from me when he noticed me observing him. “Pero ayaw ko rin naman sa taong hindi ko gusto,” pertaining to Teo. Napaisip pa ako kung tama ba ang sinabi ko. I swallowed the lump on my throat. He chuckled and looked down. Parehong nasa bulsa na ang dalawang k
High Road A voice at the back of my mind told me that I shouldn’t have turned in this direction. But there was also a different voice. A louder one. Mas malakas. Nagsasabi ito na puntahan siya. Na bumigay na. Dahil sa huli, hindi ko rin mapipigilan. Bumangon ako galing sa pagkahiga. I bit my lower lip. Napalingon ako sa bintana. The curtains are slowly revealing the view on the outside as the wind blew harder. The cold breeze of the wind touched my bare skin. I glanced at my shoulder. Then down to my back and then to the sheets covering me. At paunti-unting bumababa ang mata ko sa kan’ya. I looked at Teo. Mahimbing itong natutulog. I yawned and stood up. Umalis na ako sa kama at kinuha na isa-isa ang damit ko na nakakalat sa sahig. I looked for my panties and I couldn’t find it. I looked at every corner pero wala talaga. Hindi ko nalang hinanap pa. I went inside the bathroom and took a bath. Cold bath for the morning. Gustong gusto kong buhusan ang sarili ng malamig na tubig. Hind
UseHindi ko alam kung saan ko nakakuha ang lakas na loob para pagsabayin si Teo at Hunyo. Is it the right thing to do now? Obviously, no. Do I care if ever they get hurt? No. I was raised with different pirniciples and morals. So different from what I am doing right now. I feel guilty committing to do this. But at the same time, I need to do my revenge. I need to be tough. Walang lugar ang pagiging mabait dito. “They killed your father, Zell,” paalala ko sa aking sarili. Iyon palagi ang hinahawakan ko. Kahit nakikita ko lang si Teo, bigla iyon nawawala sa aking isipan. I can’t fathom why a single man could make me forget about my revenge. I sighed heavily as I went inside my room. Umuwi na ako ng La Libertad. Manila was suffacting after my heated conversation with Teo. Pagod akong humiga sa aking kama. Somehow, his touc last night got imprinted in my mind. Unlike before, bawat haplos at halik niya kagabi hindi mawala sa isipan ko. I just snapped back to reality when I heard the
Heaven in HellBinaba ko ang monitor nang marinig ang pagpasok ni Gracy sa aking office. She saw the monitor on my table. Napataas ang kilay nito. “Still watching the Valleros?” I’ve been monitoring the Valleros for a few days now and so far, wala naman akong suspicious moves na napapansin. Thanks to the painting I placed there. Tinanggal ko nalang ang earphones bago sinagot si Gracy. “None.”“I know we have concrete evidences that they are involved with Tito’s death pero paano kung si Mateo lang talaga ang may pakana?” Hindi ko iyon kailan man naisip. Maybe my mind refuses to think that Teo is the only one involved. I sighed heavily. Binalik ko nalang ang mata sa aking laptop at sinimulan ang trabaho. “Sa tingin mo, inosente ang mga Vallero? Sa tingin mo wala silang nagawang mali?” “I’m just saying na huwag sana mapuno ng galit at hinanakit ang puso mo. Lately, you’ve been very different.” “I’ll have my revenge and that’s it, Gracy.” “That’s it? Paano si Mateo?” Napataas ang
Goodbye Inubos ko kaagad ang isang baso ng tequila. Napatingin ako sa aking paligid. Everybody is dancing to the flow of the music. I have not seen anyone who isn’t wasted here. Gusto ko rin sumayaw at magpakalasing but I just received a text from Gracy. May lead na raw sila. They have a lead, a suspect in my father’s death. Dalawang taon na ang lumipas at akala ko wala nang pag-asa. I smirked. Kaya hindi ko magawang magpakalasing ngayong gabi dahil sa wakas, pwede ko na matupad ang pangarap ko, pangarap ng pamilya ko. Ang hustisya para sa aking ama. But there’s one thing I won’t miss this night. Lumabas na ako sa club at dumiretso sa harap nitong hotel. Kinapa ko ang cellphone sa aking purse at tinext na si Teo. I sighed as I put back my phone in my purse. I booked a room and immediately headed there. I want it fast tonight. Dahil pagkatapos nito, mukhang hindi ko na ‘to magagawa ng ilang buwan o sa mahabang panahon. Binabad ko ang aking katawan sa bathtub. I looked at the
Revenge Hindi na ako nagtagal sa hotel. Una kong iniwan si Teo. He has some businesses to tend to and I have mine. I have a weird feeling leaving. Hindi siguro ako sanay. I let out a sigh as I arrived in La Libertad. Our private jet was a bit late but I’m able to arrive here early. I will miss Cebu and its hustle. Or I just miss something else. “Saan tayo, ma’am?” tanong sa’kin ng aking driver. He opened the door of the car for me as I went inside. I rested my back and just felt the tiring flight I had. “Sa Manor.”Hindi mawala sa isip ko ang tinext ni Gracy. She has some lead. Finally, after two years. Pero… baka katulad na naman ito sa mga ilang pagkakataon na akala ko na makakamit na namin ang hustisya. I’ve grown tired of hoping. Sana lang iba ito. Pagkadating namin sa Manor, tahimik ang paligid. It’s almost sunrise pero hindi man lang ako nakaramdam ng antok. This isn’t the first time. May mga pagkakataon na ganito. But eventually it wouldn’t lead us to anything. I
Surprise My soft palms touched the letter the Valleros sent me. This was sent a week ago after their arrival from the States. I just heard rumors about the heirs looking for a suitable wife. I guess they want me now. Parang hiindi nila pinatay ang ama ko, ah.I smirked as I fixed the hem of my fitted dress. I just sent a reply to them yesterday. And they have contacted me for a family dinner. They’re so formal. Hindi man lang nila personal na isinabi sa’kin na invited ako sa family dinner at secretary pa talaga pinasabi sa akin. They are, after all, busy people. I’ve been handling my family business well but not as good as my father. May araw din na busy ako pero sa ganitong mga matters, iba ang prinsipyo ko sa kanila. Being the CEO is manageable. It’s stressful at times but it’s something I have been trained on since birth. Hindi ko pa nasabi kay Mommy ang plano ko. I won’t kill them, that’s the most painless torture. I’ll just have to make them suffer slowly until they won’t