LOGINTHE CONSEQUENCE OF being discharged from the hospital and engaging in strenuous activity was that Felicity had a headache the next day, and Jago was no longer in the room. A lingering, indescribable smell filled the air, making her involuntarily cover her head, feeling even worse. Adhering to the principle of ‘health first,’ Fae skipped breakfast and had the driver take her to the hospital for a check-up. Coincidentally, it was Stephan's appointment again.
“Kukunan kita ng bloodNAGPATULOY SILA SA paglakad. Nang may makitang upuan ay inaya ni Ryan si Fae doon. Hindi naman tinanggihan ng babae ang alok. Nagpatuloy silang mag-kwentuhan hanggang sa may bulto na tumigil na sa kanilang tapat.Si Stephan. Bigla na lang sumulpot ang doctor na parang multo. Napakurap na ng mata doon si Felicity. “Stephan, anong ginagawa mo dito?”Hindi siya sinagot ng lalaki na mula sa kanya ay lumipat na ang mga mata sa katabi niya. “Kasama mo na naman ang ex-boyfriend ni Odessa.” malamig at seryoso nitong pahayag. Ryan's expression also changed slightly. He looked at Stephan with hostile eyes. Young people are more proud and can't stand sarcastic remarks. Masyado silang mainit pa. “Anong masama kung magkasama kami? Magkaibigan kaming dalawa, Stephan. He’s been broken up with Odessa for a while now, you don’t need to call him that. Hmm?” “Bakit? Hiwalay na ba kayo
JAGO GOT OUT of the car, glanced up at the building, and radiated anger. Odessa was his prey; now she dared to bring another man home to meet his parents—undoubtedly, she had touched a nerve. Biglang naintindihan na ito ni Felicity. A clever tactic of playing hard to get. Iyon ang ginagawa ngayon ni Odessa dito. Malamang ay naramdaman ni Odessa na nagsisimula nang magmalasakit si Jago sa kanyang asawa, kaya nakaisip ito ng plano para pilitin itong kilalanin ang sarili nitong puso at kung sino ang tunay nitong minamahal na sa paniniwala ni Odessa ay siya.Nang marinig ang mga sinabi ni Felicity, agad na tumalikod si Jago para umakyat sa hagdan. Dahil alam ni Fae ang kanyang ugali, malamang aamin na ito kay Manang Evee at sa asawa nito ngayon, at tanggapin man nila siya o hindi, hindi nila si Jago mapipigilan dito.“Santiago!”A surge of anger welled up inside Felicity. “Have you thought this through? Going up to
PATULOY PA SILANG nag-usap doon ngunit wala sa topic nila ang isipan ni Fae. Felicity was paying attention to the sounds outside the door. After a while, they heard footsteps approaching, sinundan iyon ng pagbukas ng pinto. Malamang ay ang hinihintay na nila ito. “Anak, mabuti naman at narito na kayo!” it was Odessa’s father that seemed pleased, showing no sign of objection to her age.Halos lumundag palabas ng kanyang lalamunan ang puso ni Felicity nang marinig iyon, her eyes fixed on the slowly opening door. But when Odessa and the others appeared, Felicity was stunned.A man, about thirty years old, followed behind her. He dressed maturely and steadily, and was about seven out of ten handsome. Hindi iyon ang kanyang asawa na inaakala niyang si Jago. “Ate Fae? Anong ginagawa mo dito?”Kung nagulat si Felicity, mas nagulat din si Odessa na makikita siya sa loob ng bahay nila. “Hi…” taas ng isang
FELICITY HAD NEVER seen such a harmonious atmosphere before, but she still felt quite good about it. Bandang tanghalian ng makatanggap siyl Fae ng tawag mula kay Manang Evee. “Madam, sabi ng kamag-anak ko na isang doktor na may tradisyunal na alam sa medisina, mayroon siyang ibang reseta na mabisa para sa pagpapaunlad ng fertility. Maraming mag-asawa na ang natulungan niyang makabuo. Kailangan mo pa, Madam?”Manang Evee was indeed very enthusiastic. Felicity glanced at Jago; he was looking down, replying to a message, unsure who to reply to.“Sige, paano kung ganito? Kunan mo ako ng ilan. Kukunin ko na lang sa bahay niyo kapag may time na ako. Busy pa kasi ako ngayon.”“Walang problema, Madam. Ise-send ko na lang ang address ng bahay namin sa’yo.”“Sige, Manang Evee. Salamat.”Felicity quickly got the address where Odessa’s family lived. Fae exited the message in the inbox, remaining calm. Pagkatapo
FELICITY STARED AT the phone that had been hung up, a headache churning within her. After hesitating for a few minutes, Felicity dialed Jago's number again. The phone rang a few times before he answered, but it was noisy on the other end, with the sounds of men playing drinking games—probably at a dinner party.“Busy ka? Kung busy ka, magte-text na lang ako.”“No, go ahead,” Jago's voice was clear through the noise.“Are you free tomorrow?” Fae asked, confirming his schedule first.Panandaliang natigilan si Santiago. “Pupunta ako sa chemical plant.”Jago was indeed busy. After a few seconds of silence, Felicity gave up. “I understand. I'm free too, just asking.”Hindi niya pwedeng abalahin ang asawa doon.“Okay,” sagot ni Jago, binaba na ang tawag. Bumuntong-hininga si Felicity. Given the awkward relationship between Jago and her, inviting hi
THE CONSEQUENCE OF being discharged from the hospital and engaging in strenuous activity was that Felicity had a headache the next day, and Jago was no longer in the room. A lingering, indescribable smell filled the air, making her involuntarily cover her head, feeling even worse. Adhering to the principle of ‘health first,’ Fae skipped breakfast and had the driver take her to the hospital for a check-up. Coincidentally, it was Stephan's appointment again.“Kukunan kita ng blood pressure, roll up your sleeves.” mahinang utos nito, his voice indifferent, as if they weren't familiar.Felicity hesitated, then took off her thick coat, inadvertently pulling off her scarf as well. She quickly grabbed the scarf and put it back on, but Stephan's gaze had clearly changed, his eyes fixed on her neck. There were various bite marks Jago had left last night, a gruesome sight. Felicity rolled up the sleeves of her undershirt, placed her arms on the table.
BAGO PA MAN makahuma si Maya, Fae turned and went to the bar, ordered a cocktail drink, downed most of it in one gulp, and then, fueled by the restless energy in her chest, walked towards the stage. “Ahh, kaibigan ko iyan!” malakas na palakpak ni Maya na para bang maririnig ang boses niya sa maing
LIA QUICKLY COVERED covered her mouth. Mayroon ng napagtanto. “Well, if there's anything I can help you with, feel free to ask.” sambit ni Ryan na nakabaling na ang tingin kay Fae. Tumango lang si Fae na sumenyas ng makakaalis na doon ang lalaki. “Sure, sige na bumalik ka na sa pwesto mo. Alam k
AFTER THE DRIVER sent her mother away, Felicity sat alone in the living room in a daze. Fae didn't know what Manang Evee was doing now. Masasabi niyang medyo napalapit na siya sa matanda na kada dating niya ng villa, sasalubong na ito agad. Naninibago siya na sa araw na iyon, walang Manang Evee na
KUNG MAGPAPATULOY IYON, sa palagay ni Fae the media will soon be reporting that the CEO of El Gueco Group has retired from his life of crime and returned to his family. Tinitigan ni Jago ang asawa, matalim na ang mga tingin nito sa kanya. Nagkunwari naman si Fae na hindi ito nakita at yumuko para t







