Date Bumaba agad ako sa sasakyan nang makarating sa manor. I just felt suffocated inside. It feels awkward and uncomfortable. Sa entrance palang ng manor nandoon na si Gracy. I saw her surprised face when she saw Teo. Then her eyes went to me and went back to Teo. Nagtataka na ito kung bakit si Teo ang kasama ko at bakit ako nakabangungut ngayon. Her half-opened mouth closed when I cut her off from speaking. "Prepare him breakfast. I'll meet you in the office." Hindi ko na hinintay pa ang sasabihin ni Gracy. I saw her nodding slowly as her eyes only drifted to Teo. Diretso ang lakad ko papunta sa office. Hindi ko na inabala ang sarili na asikasuhin si Teo. He wants breakfast? He'll have it. But not with me. Hinintay ko nalang si Gracy sa office. It took fifteen minutes for her to come over the office. Pansin ko ang pagdududa sa mata niya nang natanaw akong nakaupo sa swivel chair. Umiwas na lamang ako ng titig. I shifted from my seat and swallowed hard. "Is he part of your pla
SomethingHindi ko man lang napagtanto na nakauwi na pala si Teo. When I got home, nakalimutan ko na nasa bahay din pala siya. I guess I was really trying to take him out of my mind. I succeeded but here I am, thinking of him again. This time, with a woman. "Hey, you okay?" narinig ko si Hunyo. I snapped back to reality. Napatingin ako sa aking pagkain. Hindi pa ako nakalahati at si Hunyo, mukhang patapos na. Tumango ako at nagpatuloy nalang na kumain. "Yeah. Please, continue."Bumuntung hininga ito at nagpatuloy. "Mom wants us to do more public exposure." Tumango ako kahit labag sa loob ko. I don't want to get too public. Nang lumingon na ako kay Hunyo, mukhang ganoon rin siya. He looks so unpleasant with his mother's orders. "You hate it, too?" He chuckled making me remember someone. "A bit. I'm not used to public exposure.""Tita must've wanted the world to know that you will get married," I said while I sipped on the wine glass. The other side of his lips rose."She's b
BadI immediately went outside of the building. Who cares if he owns the building after all?! For him to think I came there for another reason is absurd! I saw Hunyo heading towards me as I called for my driver. Kanina pa pala siya nakikipag-usap sa mga matatanda doon. Hindi man lang niya napansin na wala na pala ako sa paningin niya. This family is the worst! "Did something happen?" Mukhang napansin niya ang busangot sa mukha ko. I calmed myself down and smiled at him. There was no reason to lie to him. But because I'm not sure with how this family runs, maybe I'll lie for the meantime. "My company called for me. I'm really sorry but I need to go."Bumuntung hininga ito at tumango sa akin. "I'm a bit busy too. Do you mind driving you to your hotel?" "No need, Hunyo. I'll call when I get there."I did call him when I got back. I roamed around my hotel room thinking about Teo. I said to myself that I'll spare him. But he's been annoying me since we found out about each others tru
BidNapabuntong hininga na lamang ako nang nakapasok na kami sa venue. Halos hindi ako makahinga nang nasa red carpet kami. Everybody’s suspicious eyes were on me and Teo. Gulat silang lahat. Pati ako. Agad ding napalitan ang mga tanong tungkol sa amin ni Hunyo nang mga tanong na tungkol sa amin ni Teo.Nainis ako na ginawa pa niya iyon kanina. I wish he just minded his own business. He just caused a scene earlier. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mararamdaman ng mga Valleros.Pagkapasok ko palang kanina sa venue, umiwas ako kaagad kay Teo. He tried to pull me back to him pero dinumog agad siya ng mga kilalang negosyante. I was immediately entertained by possible business partners too.And I thought the questions would wonder around business and about this charity program. Pero mali ako. Dahil lagi nilang tinatanong ang tungkol sa eksena kanina. Now, I don’t know how to answer their questions.Kapag may relevant sa trabaho at negosyo sinasagot ko. Pero kapag tungkol na sa’min ni Teo, iniiwa
PaintingHis hand settled on my small waist while he held my other hand. I swallowed hard as I placed my hand on his shoulder. It’s been a long time since we haven’t been this close. Napalingon ako sa aming paligid. All eyes are on me and Teo.Nasa labas ang media pero hindi imposibleng walang nakalusot dito. They might be talking about me and Teo. They might be curious if who really is my fiancé now. Or who I’m dating.“Relax,” wika niya.Hindi ko napansin na medyo wala ako sa sarili. I unconsciously tighten my hold on his shoulder.“We shouldn’t be dancing with each other.” I heard his small chuckle and a smirk formed on his lips. Umiwas na lang ako ng tingin. I can feel my heart going wild inside its fragile cage.“I like the rumors going around,”Kumunot ang noo ko.“What rumors?” I asked slowly.“That we’re dating.”“At gusto mo ‘yon?”“I like it better than you fooling my brother.”Biglang pumait ang timpla ng mood ko. He really has to say that. This man in front of me was once
Waste“Hija, I’m really sorry.” Iyon ang bungad sa akin ng ginang. Ngumiti na lamang ako. Napalingon siya sa dala ng driver ko. Nasa likuran ko, dala-dala ng driver ko ang painting ni Daddy. Kumunot ang noo ni Tita Riona pero agad ding lumiwanag nang tiitigan nito ng mabuti ang painting. “Hija…”“It’s okay, Tita. Bumawi naman si Mateo by giving me Dad’s painting.” Alam ko ang ibig sabihin ni Tita Riona. She called me earlier when I was in the hotel. Naghihinga ng pasensya dahil sa nangyari kagabi. She said sorry for Hunyo’s absence pero hindi pa ako nakatanggap ng kahit ano kay Hunyo. She also said sorry for Mateo’s actions last night. She then looked at me with questioning eyes. Hindi ata niya ito inasahan. I flew back here to La Libertad. Because my first move for revenge is happening now. I smirked at Tita Riona. “Hija, it’s so beautiful but… why is it here?” Napatingin din ako sa painting. “Mateo won the bidding, not me. Plus, since I’m getting married to Hunyo, it would b
SufferChapter 13Biglang humagalpak ng tawa si Teo habang kami ni Tita Riona tulalang nakatingin sa kan’ya. Napakurap-kurap ako habang umiiwas ng tingin sa kan’ya. What the hell did he just said?I glanced at Tita Riona. She’s shaking her head in disbelief and later on, smiles at Teo. Napailing ako sa sarili. Though I know Teo is just joking and I know I shouldn’t be having any reaction but I feel my stomach having the flutters.I licked my lips and tried to smile at Teo but it turned out sarcastically.“Malayong mangyari. From the looks of you, you’re bad news, Mateo.”Tumawa ang ginang at umiiling. She doesn’t agree with me, eh?“Hija, trust me. Mateo just likes to joke.”I saw him stop for a moment and looked at me intently. Napalunok ako. May kung ano sa paraan ng kan’yang pagtitig sa akin. Hindi ko mawari. There’s something in his eyes so mysterious and wanting. We stayed like that, looking at each other’s eyes. Na para bang wala si Tita Riona.Na para bang meron kaming sariling
BegChapter 14Sa gabing iyon, sa mansyon ng mga Vallero ako nakatulog. Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog pala ako sa tabi ni Veronica. I watched her sleep deeply. Bakas parin sa mukha nito ang sakit. I saw her flinched and groaned.Doon ko lang napansin na pinapawisan na pala ito. In her airconditioned room, I touched her cold sweats. I sighed when my hand came in contact with her skin. Ang init niya. Babangon na ako nang narinig ko ang pagbukas ng pintuan.There, Teo went inside. Dala nito ang bed table. Sunod na pumasok ay ang kasambahay nila dala rin ang isang bed table. Diretso ang lakad nito papunta kay Veronica. Nakita ko ang gamot at agahan sa bed table.Binigyan din ako ng katulong ng bed table. Puno ito ng pagkain para agahan.“She’s sick,” wika ko.Nakita kong pinunasan ito ni Teo ng lampin sa noo at ibat-ibang parte ng katawan. Kukunin ko na sana ang bimpo mula kay Teo nang iniwas niya ito sa direksyon ko.“I know what you’re going to do. Eat breakfast first, Zell.”Hindi na