Hi, readers! Meron pang 2-3 chapters bago magstart na ang present time nila Maia at Rafael. Sana kasama ko pa rin kayo hanggang doon. The present days will be kinda...wild. You'll know why soon. Happy New Year, everyone!
Kabanata 53 “Miss, your mother called to say that all your things are now delivered to Mr. Valiente’s condo.” Napatigil ako sa paglalakad at halos mabali ang leeg ko sa marahas na paglingon sa aking sekretarya dahil sa binalita nito. “Ano?!” iritadong sambit ko. Napakurap-kurap naman siya dahil sa pagtaas ng boses ko. Some employees even glanced at us. Nang sipatin ko sila ng tingin ay dali-dali silang umalis. Minabuti kong ipagpatuloy ang paglalakad pabalik sa aking office. Mabibigat na hakbang ang binitawan ko. Sumunod naman si Rio at sinara ang pinto. “Habang nasa meeting kayo, tumawag si Mrs. Asuncion para ibalita na naipadala na ang lahat ng gamit niyo sa condo ni Mr. Valiente. Pinapaayos na rin sa mga tauhan ngayon. Pinapasabi na nakausap na daw po niya si Mr. Valiente kaya doon ka na lang daw dumiretso sa pag-uwi.” I scoffed as I sat at my swivel chair after hearing that. The party was just last night and they already shipped all my things to Rafael’s condo whil
Kabanata 52 After that, we left Mr. Encinas so he could have time to entertain other guests. We also ate at nagsimula na rin kalaunan ang program. It was short at bumalik ulit ang lahat sa kasiyahan. Some chose to dance. Some chose to start conversation with other guests. Rafael then introduced me to other businessmen and clients he knew. Same cycle din ang nangyari. Nakangiti akong sinagot sila. Mr. Encinas did not find anything suspicious about us earlier, so that means, this is working. Sa kalagitnaan ng pag-uusap, I felt Rafael’s hand grip my waist to grab my attention. “Hmm?” I probed without glancing at him. Abala sa pakikinig sa usapan. He moved and leaned his mouth to my ear so he could whisper. “Stay here. I will just go to Perez's. You can follow me after you're done here.” Nakita ko kung paano natitigilan ang nagsasalita sa harap namin at ang ilang mata pa ay sinisipat kami ng tingin dahil sa ginawang paglapit ni Rafael sa akin. “Alright,” I replied. Isang hapl
Kabanata 51 We stepped outside the salon. Nauna siyang maglakad. I followed him until I saw a sleek, black beast of a car that matched his aura perfectly. Umarko ang kilay ko. This was a different car from before. This is not usually the type he used whenever we got out to eat dinner. That means he got lots of cars, huh? Ibang-iba na talaga siya. Far from the old Rafael who only owned an old model of motor. We got in, and the silence stretched between us for a moment. The scent of his cologne, a clean, masculine scent, filled the car. We drove in silence for a few minutes. The city lights blurred outside the window. The tension in the car was thick. Hindi pa ako kinakabahan para mamaya pero baka pagdating namin ay maramdaman ko na. I want this act to be perfect. I want to play this part right because one wrong move, we are screwed. We pulled up to the hotel where the party was being held. Rafael parked the car while I started checking my make up again through the mirr
Kabanata 50 “Alam kong napag-usapan na natin ito sa call, Maia but I'm just really surprised that you and Rafael are now dating.” Nasa condo nila ako ngayon at pinagmamasdan ko ang anak niya na nasa lapag at naglalaro. Wala ang asawa ng kapatid ko dahil nasa trabaho. And ngayon lang ako nagkaoras para bumisita sa kanila. My sister is sitting on the sofa across where I am sitting. She is wearing her floral dress, crossing her arms while watching me curiously. "I mean, it's too sudden. It never occurred to me that you two…can happen. Considering the past,” she uttered. “I guess fate has plans for us,” I just said, sounding very reserved. I don't want to talk about it more because I knew I might give away the truth. Hindi naman siya umimik agad at sa gilid ng mata ko, alam kong pinapanood niya akong pinagmamasdan ang anak niya. I heard her sighed. “I have a hunch pero sana mali ako, Maia,” anito maya-maya. Saglit na natigilan ako bago ako huminga ng malalim. Alam ko
Kabanata 49 After we talked that night, binalikan ko ng maigi ang mga napag-usapan namin. Inisip ko kung tama ba ang desisyon kong tanggapin ang deal na iyon. Pero sa huli, naisip ko na kung hindi ko naman tatanggapin iyon, mauuwi ako sa paghingi ng tulong kay Mr. De Vera. I heave a sigh. With that, we immediately started the plan. Tama na rin iyon dahil I am running out of time. "Is this really necessary?" I whispered when we entered. Halos magkasabay lang kami dumating kaya nagkasabay kami papasok ng restaurant. May ilang mga customer ang lumingon sa banda namin. "To make this set up work, we will need to go out,” he whispered back. May agad na lumapit na server sa amin. Kilala si Rafael kaya nahinuha ko na madalas siya dito. "VIP, please." Umangat ang isang kilay ko. Bago pa kami igiya ng server sa VIP room, inagaw ko na ang pansin ni Rafael. "Bakit VIP? If we want to be seen going out together, we should not choose the VIP room," bulong ko. Bukod doon, ayoko
Kabanata 48 "...and marry me." Umawang ang labi ko at mabilis na nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya. Laglag ang pangang tiningnan ko siya. "What?!" Ngayon, hindi ko na napigilan, tumaas na ang tono ko. I get it, okay. I need his help. But really? In this way? Umigting ang panga niya nang nakita ang bayolenteng reaksyon ko. He pursed his lips. Gamit ang dalawang kamay niya sa mesa ay tinulak niya ang sarili para makaahon. Hinila niya ang upuan at preskong umupo na roon na para bang hindi siya nagbitaw ng nakakalokong salita. "Did I hear it right? You want me to marry you?" ulit ko dahil baka nagkamali lang ako ng rinig. He sat there and looked at me. His face is now all serious. He is watching how surprised and bothered I am. "Yes," he replied firmly. Huminga ako ng malalim. I can't help but scoff at that idea. Anong kalokohan ito? Maiintindihan ko ang una niyang kondisyon dahil totoong malaking tulong iyon sa kumpanya. Pero ito? Ano? Gusto niya ako? Imposible iyon