LOGINHindi na nakatiis si Gavinn. The sight of her breaking down shattered the last of his restraint. He then closed the distance between them, at hinila niya si Shelly into a crushing, desperate embrace.It was a hug that felt like a homecoming. Ramdam ni Gavinn ang bawat hikbi ni Shelly sa dibdib niya. Sa pagkakataong iyon, what he felt was pure connection he never felt, not even once, sa lahat ng taon nila ni Luna."Damn it! This is real," he thought. "Bakit sa kanya ko lang naramdaman ang isang pagmamahal na never ko pang natagbuan before?"Shelly froze, then let out a self-deprecating laugh as she leaned into his touch. "Wow," she choked out, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand while shaking her head at herself. "Ang galing mo, 'no? Stranger ka lang, pero heto ako, naglalabas ng lahat ng sama ng loob sa'yo. Para akong tanga."Gavinn didn't speak. He couldn't. Instead, he took the initiative. He gently took her hand and pulled her up from the bed. Then, dinala niya si Shelly s
Pagbukas ng pinto ng suite, bumungad kay Gavinn ang amoy ng mamahaling pabango na humalo sa excitement ng mga girls. Nagsimula namang tumugtog ang napaka-heavy at very sensual na hip-hop beat, making everyone cheer na abot hanggang lobby. Nakaupo lang si Shelly sa gitna ng couch, halatang pilit na nakikisabay. Her eyes were glazed from discomfort. Hindi naman kasi niya ginusto ito in the first place, pero since naisip na rin ng friends niya to explore nang bonggang-bongga before magiging official na misis, pumayag nalang siya. "Wait, lima lang ang binook natin, 'di ba?" Ito ang tanong ng isa nilang kasamahan the moment na anim na lalaki ang pumasok. Pero dahil sa tama ng alak at sa init ng paligid, nagkibit-balikat na lang sila. Kasi nga, the more the merrier. Well, lahat naman ng hired strippers ay naka-mask din, pero iba pa rin talaga ang dating at aura ng isang Lucero. "Damn it, Gabriel!" mura sa isip ni Gavinn sa gitna ng nakakahiyang sitwasyon. "Paano mo ba ito naisip? At
Ang ingay ng bass sa loob ng Azure Lounge ay sobrang fast, magulo, at nakakabingi. Shelly was at the center of it all, suot ang isang classy white silk dress na sumasabay talaga sa bawat galaw niya sa dance floor. Her friends were cheering too, holding shots of tequila, while she was just laughing and kept trying to enjoy the freedom na meron siya.Sa labas ng bar, ang blacked-out SUV ay huminto sa tapat ng entrance. Gabriel sighed, checking his watch. "Dad, nandito na tayo. Bawal ako pumasok. Don't be a caveman, just be cool. Please i-update mo ako, ha?"Gavinn didn’t answer. He stepped out of the vehicle just as his presence shifting the atmosphere immediately. He looked lethal in his charcoal suit, his eyes scanning the crowd with a predator’s focus. Pagpasok niya, sinalubong siya ng usok at malakas na musika. He navigated through the crowd like a shark in shallow water. Then, he saw her.Shelly was leaning against the couch, smiling at something her friend whispered. Then, isa
Ang malamig na hangin sa garden ng mansion ay walang epekto sa mainit na kape na hawak ni Gavinn. He was scrolling through his iPad, eyes glued to the volatile stock market charts, trying to drown out the lingering memory of that 'family hug' in the shop. Biglang may lumipad na makapal na folder sa mesa niya. Dahil dun, muntik niyang maitapon ang iniinum na kape. "What the!" sigaw niya. "Gabriel naman!" "Read it, Dad. Itinerary 'yan. Packed and ready," wika ni Gabriel, na ngayon ay nakatayo sa harap ni Gavinn na parang isang seryosong executive. Sinamaan lang ng tingin ni Gavinn ang anak. "Gabriel, ano 'to? Anong trip 'to? Busy ako, may mga pending meetings ako na mas importante pa sa kung anong naisip mong excursion." "Important? Dad, please. This is the business move. I personally talked to Mr. Delgado. Yes, him. As in the 'Mr. Delgado' himself. The guy who keeps ghosting your emails and declining your invites like he’s some high-maintenance influencer." Napatigil
"Mommy Shelly, ito na po ang cookies!" masayang sigaw ni Gabriel habang bitbit ang isang box na mukhang ginamitan ng buong pwersa ng kusina. "It's still the premium quality we used to eat. Enjoy your 'freedom' there Mom." Richard chuckled, though it sounded a bit forced. Inakbayan niya si Shelly, dropping his hand on her shoulder with an air of casual possessiveness. "Thanks, kid. She definitely will. Right, babe?" Shelly stiffened under Richard’s touch, her eyes instinctively darting to where Gavinn stood. Gavinn was leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest. Sa paningin niya, ang eksena sa harap niya ay para bang isang high-budget film na gustong-gusto niyang walk-outan. "They were perfect." Gavinn thought, his chest feeling like it was being squeezed by a giant, invisible hand. "They looked like a real family. Why am I still standing here? Stop being a clown, Gavinn. Give them space!" "Mommy," tawag ni Gabriel, pulling Shelly from Richard’s side. "
"Island getaway." ulit ni Gavinn, looking up at the ceiling like he was inspecting the structural integrity of the shop. "Must be nice. Escaping to paradise just when things are getting complicated." Shelly felt the air leave her lungs. "Well, it's just foe a bachelorette party, dahil ikakasal na ako this following weeks. Just like you, having bachelor party three days before your wedding." Gavinn finally lowered his gaze, his eyes pinning her to the spot. "But I still don't get it, Shelly. Bakit mo tinago si Gabriel sa akin? Why did you deny me the right to know about him for so long? Bakit mo piniling solohin ang lahat?" Shelly stiffened. Humarap siya sa counter, pretending to reorganize a stack of recipe cards para lang hindi niya makita ang intensity ng mga mata nito. Her hands were shaking. "Look at your life, Gavinn. It’s perfect. It’s polished. You have the name, the power, the legacy. Bakit ko pa sisirain ang lahat ng yun dahil lang sa isang pagkakamali?" Silence.
Pagkalabas na pagkalabas ng huling executive, bumagsak ang tension sa loob ng boardroom. Tumingin agad si Gavinn kay Gabriel, ang batang nag-crash sa career niya nang wala man lang babala. "Look at what you’ve done, kid," pagbabanta niya, his voice trembling with a mix of fury and disbelief. "You
"Explain yourselves! We lost the regional account because someone couldn't double-check the logistics! Should we celebrate this incompetence?" Matindi ang tensyon sa Glass Boardroom sa mga oras na yun. Lahat ng board members ay nanginginig, na halos walang gustong gumalaw o huminga man lan
Sa kusina naman ng Shelly’s Cake Corner, hindi lang oven ang naglalabas ng init. Mas mainit pa ang tension sa pagitan nina Richard at Shelly. Busy si Shelly sa pagpi-pipe ng frosting sa isang batch ng cupcakes, todo-focus na parang may deadline na hinahabol. Pero bago pa niya matapos ang ginagawa
Ang atmosphere sa reception area ng Lucero Prime Holdings ay parang isang bombang nakatakdang sumabog. Ramdam kasi ang mabigat na tension sa paligid, maging ang mga staff ay nakatigil sa kani-kanilang mga cubicle, pabulong na nag-uusap habang nakatingin kay Gabriel na nakatayo nang prente sa harap







