LOGINCALEB The exact second Drew left the safehouse, hindi na rin ako nagsayang ng oras. Ramdam ko sa bawat galaw ni Seline na kumikilos na rin ang utak niya. She’s calculated, furious, and sharp as a blade. Pero habang inihahanda niya ang sarili niyang mga hakbang para sa sarili niyang ina, kailangan ko ring tuparin ang parte ko sa blueprint. Umakyat ako sa rooftop garden ng safehouse. Cold night breeze swept through the glass railings, carrying the faint scent of rain and night-blooming jasmine. Umupo ako sa rattan lounge chair habang nakalapag sa mababang glass table sa harap ko ang plato ng dessert na inihanda ni Seline kanina. A quiet contrast to the storm we were about to unleash. I pulled out my encrypted phone and called Tasha via FaceTime. First move. Tatlong ring lang. Sumagot agad ang impakta. "Caleb?" Tasha’s face popped up on the screen. She looked slightly flushed, holding a glass of sparkling water, background looking suspiciously like a private lounge. I kept m
DREWI stared at Seline one last time before stepping out sa resthouse ni Caleb. Tangina, ang sakit! Super sakit sa dibdib na makitang nakatayo ang babaeng mahal ko sa mismong tabi ng bestfriend ko. Yung protektado siya sa puder ng lalaking minsang naging dahilan ng trauma niya. Pero kailangang isantabi ang pride. I have to swallowing my own ego right now, because playing hero blindly will only get us killed. "I can't stay longer," pambabasag ko sa katahimikan habang inaayos ang coat ko. "I have to go."Caleb just gave me a subtle, brief nod. "Keep your phone encrypted. We stick to the blueprint." "Mag-iingat ka, Drew," bulong ni Seline, giving me a genuine look that almost made me double-think leaving her there. "I will. You stay safe here," I replied softly before turning my back on them. I didn't head home. Fvck! Ayoko munang umuwi just to deal with my father's corporate drama. Ayokong magsayang ng oras. Instead, I slammed my foot on the accelerator, driving straight ba
SELINENapatigil ako. Literally! Shit talaga! Putangina! Parang naputol ang lahat ng ugat sa utak ko dahil sa mabilis na pangyayari. Si Mama? No. Wait. Hold on! Tangina, anong kabobohan ito? Si Mama? Ang mismong nagluwal kayJoana? Totoong kasabwat nina Veronica at Tasha?"Seline calm down," rinig kong pakiusap ni Drew, pero sobrang layo ng boses niya. Parang nanggagaling sa ilalim ng tubig. Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Mabilis kong inagaw ang cellphone mula sa kamay niya, pati na rin ang phone na nakalapag sa harap ni Caleb sa mesa. Nanlalabo ang mga mata ko pero pilit kong tinitigan ang screen. Doon sa high-definition surveillance photo na kuha sa VIP lounge ng restaurant, tumambad na rin ang totoo. Si Veronica na may hawak na wine glass. Si Tasha na mukhang desperadang aso. At sa tabi nila, nakaupo nang napaka-impeccable, nagtatanggal ng oversized sunglasses habang nakangiti nang palihim ay si Mama. Sa isang iglap, parang mga ligaw na live wires na biglang nagdikit-dikit sa loo
DREWHoly shit! Peaceful moments like this are practically a myth in our world! Tinitigan ko ang mesa sa harap ko. A spread of piping hot home-cooked dishes, aromatic steam rising into the air, filling the dining room of the safehouse. For the first time in what felt like absolute forever, walang sigawan. Walang batuhan ng glass vases. Walang mga security breach warnings o sigaw ng bala.Magkakasama kaming tatlo sa iisang hapagkainan, na hindi nagbabangayan. As usual, Seline showed off her insane cooking skills again. Centralized sa gitna ang specialty niyang tender, savory beef steak na amoy pa lang ay nakakamamatay na sa sarap."Fvck, I missed this," Caleb muttered, his cold demeanor softening for a rare second as he took a huge portion of the beef steak onto his plate.I chuckled softly, reaching for my glass of water. But before I could even touch my fork, Seline stepped beside my chair. She gently placed a steaming bowl right in front of me. My absolute favorite dish, prepar
"Seryoso ka ba sa mga pinagsasabi mo, Veronica?" tanong ni Tasha, halos lumuwa ang mga mata sa sobrang gulat habang nakatitig kay Mrs. Patterson papalapit sa mesa namin. Mrs. Patterson pulled out a chair with immaculate poise, completely ignoring the tension radiating off Tasha. Umupo siya sa tabi ko, removing her shades with a single fluid motion. "Tasha, meet Mrs. Patterson. Joana and Seline’s dearest mother," pakilala ko, leaning back as I casually swirled my Cabernet Sauvignon. "Mrs. Patterson, this is Tasha. Drew’s desperate little shadow." Tasha blinked rapidly, utterly confused. "Wait lang. Veronica, are you out of your fvcking mind? Bakit siya ang nandito? Paano ako matutulungan ng nanay ng mismong target nating pabagsakin?" Humarap agad sa akin si Mrs. Patterson, zero small talk, completely ignoring Tasha’s outburst. "Veronica, we need to move. Right fucking now. You need to talk to your little billionaire friend. Convince him to talk to Seline. Kailangan na nilan
VERONICA What the shit! Kanina ko pa pinaglalaruan ang silver spoon sa gilid ng wine glass ko habang nakatitig sa entrance nitong Michelin-starred restaurant. The ambiance was sophisticated, very upper class and super aesthetic. I took a sip from my Cabernet Sauvignon, letting the rich flavor settle on my tongue. Pero sa totoo lang? Masaya ako ngayon. In fact, sobrang saya ng pakiramdam ko. Dahil finally, unti-unti nang nababagsak ang buhay ni Seline. Everything was falling right into place. Joana is rotting in the ICU. Seline is drowning in pure anxiety, panic, at walang katapusang trauma. At ang pinakamasarap sa lahat? Drew and Caleb are completely destroying each other trying to play hero. They are so consumed by their own ego, pride, and toxic obsession na hindi na nila napapansin ang mga pasimpleng galaw ko sa dilim. Seline thought she was invincible. Akala niya porke't nakuha niya ang atensyon ng dalawang makapangyarihang billionaire, ligtas na siya. Huh! Poor, naive







