Rinig ko ang mga bulungan ng mga estudyante paglabas ng classroom. It was my last class for the day, that's why I immediately packed my things. Susunduin kasi ako ni Reilan ngayon. And he said that he'll date me.
Ngunit nang makita kung sino ang nahihintay sa corridor ay napasimangot ako. Bahagyang nadismaya.
"Hi Des!"
Napatingin sa akin ang ibang mga estudyanteng naroon at nagbulungan. Siguro'y iniisip nilang may kung ano sa amin ni Rios dahil nandito siya at pinapansin ako. When the truth is, I don't even want his attention.
I just glanced at him once before walking away. Ayaw kong ma-issue lalo na sa kanya. But like how persistent he was years ago, he followed me as I walked fastly on the stairs.
"What is it this time, Rios?" Patuloy siya sa paglalakad, coping up with my speed.
"Well, I just want to invite you for a snack. You know, a little chitchat. Hindi mo kasi piunlakan ang imbitasyon ko. I thought you will come last night, but
"Kayo na muna ang bahala sa mansiyon, manang. I'll just give you enough money for your needs here. But if someone ask anyone of you, wala kayong kahit anong sasabihin. Understood?"The maids nodded. I was silent the whole time. Too shock and weak to even talk. Tahimik lang akong nakasunod kay mommy hanggang sa makapasok kami sa loob ng kotse. The armed men followed us. Nakasakay sila sa dalawang puting van na parehong nasa unahan at likuran ng kotseng sinasakyan namin.I am bothered with the threat of our lives. Ngunit sa biglaang pangyayari at sa mga nakakagulat na nalaman ay hindi ko magawang makapag-isip ng maayos. I didn't say anything until we reached the airport. I was just in my mother's side, following everything that she says. Dahil alam kong mas nakakapag-isip siya ng matino kung anong dapat gawing aksiyon.Gulong-gulo ang utak ko. I can't think straight and I'm still on the process of absorbing everything on my mind. At hindi iyon ma
Nang muli kong imulat ang mga mata ay siya namang muling pagbukas ng pintuan. Akala ko'y si Rios muli ang pumasok ngunit nagkamali ako.It's a woman.Umangat ang aking mga mata sa kanyang mukha. And my eyes widened in shock.I blinked a few times to make sure that what I'm seeing is real and not just a hallucination. Ngunit nang mapagtantong hindi lang ilusyon ang nakikita ay umawang ang labi ko sa gulat.Elegante siyang naglakad patungo sa akin. The sound of her heels everytime she walks echoes in the whole room.Her black long sleeved dress matched perfectly on her cold pitch black eyes. Her hair is on a classy bun with crimson red lips that makes her look mature, sophisticated and dark. Her aura screams in cruelty and darkness. Making her look savage, almost evil.But what made me bother is her face. Naguguluhan ako at hindi makapagsalita. No... it can't be. Imposible. I don't want to conclude anything yet. Ngunit hindi
Everything was like a whirlwind. Masyadong mabilis ang mga pangyayari. Masyadong marami ang mga nalaman ko. The truth behind all of these was unveiled. Ngunit hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong maging masaya.It's confusing to wake up in unfamiliar room, with a sudden appearance of a woman who exactly looks like me. We were chased by some people who want us dead. Our plane crashed, and I almost died. Ngunit hindi ko man matanggap, alam kong tumutugma ang lahat ng mga sinabi niya.Pero marami pa akong mga tanong. There are still puzzles on my head that I want to solve. I want to meet my father. Gusto kong malaman kung bakit kailangan nilang mamuhay ng kakambal ko na malayo sa amin. At isa pa, bakit nandito si Rios? Anong koneksiyon nila sa isa't isa?Lumipas ang ilang mga araw na nasa loob lang ako ng silid. Hindi na muling nagpakita sa akin si Devon o si Rios. Ngunit pinagsisilbihan naman ako ng maraming serbidora at madalas tinitingnan ng doktor ang kalaga
We were just a product of a mistake. Isang malaking kasalanan na sumira sa inaasahang buhay ni mommy. He hated my father so much that's why she didn't gave me any detail about him. Nabuhay akong walang alam sa katauhan ng sariling ama. Ni hindi ko nga alam na may kapatid ako. All this time I didn't know I am living in the dark, away from the truth.But now that I know my mother's reasons, I feel sad for her. Kung hindi dahil sa amin ay hindi niya kinailangang talikuran ang lalaking mahal. Hindi niya kinailangan masaktan ng sobra-sobra.Yet despite everything she had done, I'm still thankful to her. Ni minsan hindi niya pinaramdam sa akin na bunga lang ako ng isang kasalanan. Minahal niya ako ng buong-buo kahit siya mismo ay nasasaktan. Yes, she's flawed. Pero sa kabila ng kasalanang nagawa niya ay alam kong mabuti siyang tao. Marami man siyang mga pagkukulang ay naging mabuti siyang ina sa akin sa nakalipas na labingwalong taon.My father hugged me, whispering h
"What are your plans now?" Rios asked. I closed the book I'm reading. I sighed and glanced at him who's standing in front of my room's glass window."What do you think?"Ngayo'y humarap siya sa akin. Puno ng pag-aalala ang mga mata. I know that he knows what I want. Siguro'y ang gusto niyang malaman ay ang mga hakbang na aking gagawin."I'm always here to help. Sabihin mo lang kung anong gusto mong gawin ko. I'll do whatever you please."I smirked. I slowly tapped the cover of the book with my fingers."Really?" I asked playfully. "Even if I ask you... to kill someone? You'll do it?"Bumuntong-hininga siya."Not that way, Desire.""Oh," I sound disappointed. "Akala ko ba gagawin mo lahat ng gusto ko? That's what I want, Rios. I want them to pay for what they've done. I want them to pay through their blood. Through their... life."Hindi siya nagsalita. Nanatili lang siyang nakatitig sa akin, tila ba naguguluhan sa kung an
Napasinghap ako nang muling makita ang kabuuan ng aming mansiyon. Kahit masakit ang huling alaala ko dito, kahit paano'y nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang muling makabalik. It feels so good to be back... in my home."Men, secure the area," utos ni Cavi sa mga tauhan na agad sinunod ng ibang mga bodyguards. Sila lang ni Toru ang bumuntot sa akin sa pagpasok sa mansiyon."Lola! Ano po ang nangyayari?" rinig ko ang di-pamilyar na boses ng isang babae pagpasok. My forehead creased when I saw a woman. I don't know her but I think we are just in the same age.Nagtataka siyang lumapit sa amin."Anong kailangan niyo? Bakit kayo pumasok ng walang paalam?"My brow shot up on her words. Sa tono kasi ng pananalita niya ay parang siya itong may-ari. But that's impossible. Nilinaw sa akin ni dad na wala siyang ginalaw sa mga assets ni mommy at mas lalong hindi niya ipagbibili ang mansiyon. He knows how much I treasure it."Who are you?" I as
The news of my sudden appearance in the public was spread in the whole country after I held a presscon. My office was bombarded with many calls from different people. Siguro'y galing sa mga kakilala noon. Ngunit ni isa ay wala akong pinaunlakan. I'm sure they'll just ask me so many questions about how I live for the past years, and I don't have time for those nonsense."Ma'am, nandito po sa labas si Mr. Ramirez," rinig kong saad ni Rian sa intercom."Let him in."Nang bumukas ang pinto ng opisina ay nanatili ang tingin ko sa nakatambak na papel sa mesa. I'm reviewing some of the projects we had and also the on-going ones. And based on the financial reports I have read yesterday, the company is doing well for the past three years.Magandang balita iyon sa akin. Hindi ito naghihirap kaya hindi ko kailangan gumawa ng maraming adjustments.Nag-angat ako ng tingin nang pumasok si Mr. Ramirez. He's in his suit, looking so formal. Tumingin siya sa p
Hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan ko kayang tagalan ang pag-aaktong mabait sa harap niya. I'm very mad, and I don't think I can last long looking at this shameless criminal."I'm here as a client, Miss Da Vinci."The way he uttered my surename was unfamiliar to my ears. Isang beses akong napalunok bago muling ngumiti."Oh, that's good. Having you as our client is such an honor.""I want you company to supply furnitures on our newly built hotel. So, I guess we need to see each other often."I almost gritted my teeth on his last words. Hindi ko alam kung anong eksaktong binabalak niya. But I'm sure he just wants me gone. Ano ito? Paglalaruan niya ako uli kagaya noon? Damn him!If he wants to play fire with me, then yes! I'll give him a good play and gladly burn him with his own fire."No problem. You are a big client, so I'll willingly assist you with anything you need. We have good architects as furniture designers, and on our next me