ANNIE“SEAN!” I was horrified to see my fiancé suddenly jump into the water when Hiraya was dragged down. Kahit halos magkasabay na nag-dive sa tubig sina Hugo at Vito.‘What the heck?!’ I silently cursed.“Oh, my goodness! Hiraya!” Shasta Walton exclaimed beside me. Bakas ang pagkabahala sa mukha nito.I gritted my teeth in silence. Ano bang mayroon kay Hiraya at halos lahat ng taong gusto kong mapalapit ay malapit din sa kanya? She must be an expert in manipulating people.Hindi bale, ngayong pormal na kami engaged ni Sean. Kampante na ako. Sean even rushed the announcement of our formal engagement right after their family banquet. The Blaquier’s must really like me.Nakita kong iniahon ni Hugo si Hiraya sa tubig. Maya-maya pa ay umahon na rin sina Sean at Vito. I glared at Sean. Hindi ko talaga gusto ang ginawa niya pero hindi ko naman siya masita. But I’d surely talk to him about it. Nakakairita kasi. And even now, I could see Sean’s face in distress as Hugo checked Hiraya’s pul
“IT’S a done deal na, Hiraya. You'll be the cupid between Hugo and I. Tell me his preferences in everything,” ani Shasta habang naglalakad kami pabalik sa kinaroroonan ni Hugo.“N-No problem,” I faked a smile. Lagi kong ipinapaalala sa sarili ko na ang loyalty ko ay kay Hugo lang. Kung sa ibang pagkakataon sana, talagang mag-effort akong tulungan siya. Kaso paano ko gagawin iyon, legal akong pinakasalan ni Hugo, kahit sabihin pang contract marriage lang iyon. It would be a great insult to Shasta and her family. Ano kaya kung sabihin ko kay Shasta na maghintay siya ng dalawang taon? ‘No way!’ Kinilabutan ako sa naisip ko. I could never betray Hugo. Pero mabigat talaga sa loob ko na sa kabila ng kabutihang ipinapakita sa akin ni Shasta, pagtatraydor ang isusukli ko balang araw. ‘Stop torturing yourself with these nonsense, Hiraya! You knew the consequences of marrying Hugo. Huwag kang umastang talunan. You benefit more compared to him. Bakit ka nag-iinarte?’ Lihim kong pinagalitan a
ANGAT na ang araw nang magising kami ni Hugo kinabukasan. He was looking at me when I opened my eyes. Hugo looked fresh, it seemed he was just waiting for me to wake up. Nakasandal ito sa headboard ng kama habang may hawak na tablet na pawang nagche-check ng stock market. “Good morning, sweetheart! Let me prepare your tea.” Akma itong tatayo pero pinigilan ko siya. “Huwag na. I'm getting up.” Bumangon ako at humikab. “Your family schedule is surely hectic. Kayanin kaya ng katawan ng lola mo?” “Oo naman. Well, were supposed to stay last night in the ancestral house. But considering what happened to you, I decided to go home. I can't compromise your peace of mind.” “How considerate of you.” Ngumiti ako. But I tried not to show how touched I was with his gesture. Actually, matagal ko nang napapansin ang katangian niyang ito. Napapaisip tuloy ako kung totoo ang ipinapakita niyang pag-alaga sa akin o dahil lang pinaninindigan niya ang pagiging mabuting asawa. Hugo was clear wit
NAKAHINGA ako nang maluwag nang makita ko si Bryan na papalapit sa kinaroroonan namin.“Miss Alcaraz, it’s time to go,” wika ni Bryan.Dali-dali naman akong tumayo. “Okay!”Pero pinigilan ni Shasta ang braso ko. She was already tipsy.“Wait, she can sleep in the guest room. It’s getting late,” ani Shasta.I looked at Bryan as if asking for help. Mukhang nahumaling sa akin si Shasta magkwento. At habang marami akong nalalaman tungkol sa kanya, lalo naman akong nagi-guilty at nakokonsensya.“Miss Walton, she needs to go,” sabi pa ni Bryan.Shasta frowned. “Sige na nga!”I excused myself and slowly walked out the banquet hall. Nagulat pa ako nang makita ang nakaparadang itim ma SUV ni Hugo.Bryan went inside the driver’s seat after he opened the passenger door for me. I was surprised to see Hugo sitting there.“What are you waiting for? Hurry up!” He gently grabbed my hand, and I sat beside him.“This is risky. What if one of your family members saw us?”“So what? Can’t I send my secreta
HIRAYAWALA akong nagawa nang isama ako ni Shasta sa mismong banquet hall. Lihim na lang akong nagdasal na sana ay maging mabilis ang takbo ng oras. I sat beside her, and Vito approached us.“Hey, Raya! I heard what happened earlier,” there was a hint of concern on Vito’s voice.“Who told you about the incident? It’s supposed to be secret since it concerns Hiraya’s dignity,” wika ni Shasta sa mahinang boses.Vito glared at Shasta. “I’m not talking to you, brat. You’re not a Blaquier, you shouldn’t be here in the first place.”Shasta rolled her eyes. “Oh? But I will be. My marriage with Hugo is approaching. I will not invite you.”Bakas naman ang disgusto sa mukha ni Vito. “Stop assuming. You’re just a brat and I know Hugo’s type—it’s not you.”Tumikhim ako para sawayin ang dalawa. I couldn’t believe two grown adults would bicker like kids.Itinuon sa akin ang atensyon ni Shasta. “Ignore him, Hiraya. He’s not worth our time.”Alanganin akong ngumiti. Bakit ba ako naiipit sa alitan ng d
SEAN“AMARA, go with your dad.” Uncle Hugo dismissed the little girl along with her father.“Your secretary is surely something, brother.” Marahang napailing si Uncle Andro.“And that’s not your concern,” ani Uncle Hugo sa malamig na tono. I could feel the animosity between them.“Fleur, let’s go.” Uncle Andro fixed the frame of his eyeglasses, then he left carrying his daughter while Fleur was behind them.Samantalang ako, hindi ko magawang tumingin nang deretso sa tiyuhin ko.“Uncle Hugo, let me explain…” I said calmly.Uncle Hugo may look calm, but everyone in the family knew that the calmer he looked, the more dangerous he was. I couldn’t even read his expression. Pero dapat ako ang kampihan niya dahil kami ang magkadugo. But it seemed it wasn’t the case.Uncle Hugo waited for us to be alone before he spoke.“Great, now explain,” tipid na wika nito.“Well, I admit, I lied. Hiraya saved the kid; I was blinded with anger that I told Uncle Andro she pushed Amara—” I couldn’t even fin