I’m not sure what time Zachary left, but by the time I woke up. He was already gone. I felt him kiss the top of my head, though. And I felt him leaving the room but I was too tired and too sore to even get up or wake up. We had a rough night. We made love until we’re both exhausted.I sat down and stared at the door. After a while, I decided to get up already because I still need to work. I took a bath and did my morning routine. Then I went downstairs and ate the breakfast Zachary made for me before he left. I was smiling the whole time I was eating.Maaga akong nakarating sa office ko. I immediately started all the paper works left on my table. I also read a lot of proposals for a new project the company is planning. Not a single one fit my plans so I rejected all of it.“Jade, Lolo told me to invite your for dinner later sa bahay niya...” Gil appeared by the door of my office. Nakahilig siya roon habang nakatingin sa akin nang seryoso.“Hindi pa rin siya umuuwi ng States?” I asked
Pagkababa namin sa parking lot ay hila hila niya akong pinapasok sa kotse niya. “What do you mean by us, Gil?” I asked him as he put his seatbelt on. His jaw was clenched hard and he didn’t answer me so I called him again. “Gil, please. I can’t let anyone know more about this. They might kill Klaus. I don’t want people dying on me anymore.” “And I can’t have you dying on us, Jade!” he exclaimed. “We’re gonna figure this out, together.” I sighed and covered my face with my hands. I was still trembling but I was lucky enough that I wasn’t having a panic attack right now. I couldn’t have myself losing my sanity right now. I need to save Klaus. We arrived at the place. It wasn’t a restaurant, though. It was my grandfather’s private property. Agad akong lumabas ng sasakyan ni Gil pagka-park niya nito. He was behind me when I was about to call for him. “What are we doing here?” I asked him. Malalim ang kaniyang buntong hininga at mariing tumingin sa akin. “I told you, we’re going t
I love my parents dearly. That’s why I don’t understand why I didn’t cry when I heard the news about the accident that caused their death. Kahit noong burol ay wala ni isang luha ang pumatak mula sa mga mata ko.Maybe it’s because I am trained by my own parents to always be strong-hearted. And I am. But I never expect myself to not cry when my beloved parents died.My parents are famous because of their name and their business in jewelry line. Marami silang ka-kompetensya. Kaya malabo na mangyayari sa kanila ang ganoon ng basta aksidente lang. That’s why I refuse to believe that no one is behind the accident. I know… my parents were killed. And I am going to find whoever is or are responsible for their death.Pinagmasdan ko ang listahan ng board of directors ng SLZR-JLC.Zachariah Ricaforte is the biggest shareholder of SLZR-JLC. Kilalang kilala ko siya. He is my parents’ closest friend. But we never rea
Today is the day.Inaayusan ako ng mga makeup artist na galing pang France but they are all Filipinos. My relatives, particularly my aunts, insisted that I should have the best makeup artists because my wedding is special.The wedding of the Salazar business prodigy is special. I laugh at the thought.As if I and Zachary genuinely want to marry each other! Kaya ko lang naman siya pakakasalan ay dahil iyon ang gusto ng mga magulang ko at mga magulang niya! I also plan to use him against his fool of a father. The one I know who killed my parents!At hindi niya rin naman ako gustong pakasalan! Kaya nga umabot ng isang taon bago natuloy ‘tong kasal na ‘to!Well… the truth is, he doesn’t want to marry me immediately that’s why we both insisted to date for a while. Sinakyan ko lang ang trip niya. At hindi ko naman inaakala na aabot iyon ng isang taon dahil lagi niyang sinasabi kapag binabanggit ko sa kaniya ang kasal na mas
Tahimik kong pinagmasdan si Dr. Ricaforte na ilagay ang mga maleta namin sa SUV niya. He’s about to take my large body bag but I move it away from his reach. Tumitig siya sa akin at marahang tumango. Pagkatapos ay pinagbuksan niya na ako ng pinto ng passenger seat.Sumakay ako at pumuwesto sa kabilang dulo sa may tabi ng bintana. Sumakay na rin siya at tumabi sa akin. The driver in front maneuvered the car and starts driving.Tahimik kaming dalawa buong byahe. Nakatulog na rin naman ako kaya hindi naman naging awkward. Mas mabuti na ‘yon kaysa naman buong byahe papuntang airport akong gising tapos siya ay tahimik lang na nagbabasa ng case studies niya.Hello? Isn’t he excited? This is Maldives we are talking about!I am on a vacation so I’m going to spend the most out of it. Kung ayaw niyang mag-enjoy ay bahala siya. Basta ako… I’ll make myself happy for the rest of the trip.But then again… I remember th
I never should have done that! Kung alam ko lang na ganito ang mangyayari ay hindi ko na sana siya inasar pa. Sana ay sinabi ko na lang agad na pinsan ko ang tumawag sa akin 3 days ago! Now, he doesn’t take his eyes off of me for 3 days! Kung saan ako magpunta ay naroon din siya. Well except, of course, in the bathroom! But still… hindi niya inaalis ang tingin niya sa akin. I’m getting so conscious already. Was he really jealous? Talaga bang nagugustuhan niya na ‘ko? Because that would be a good thing, right? Mas mapapadali noon ang mission kong gamitin siya laban sa ama niya! But still… this is frustrating me! Huminga ako nang malalim at ngumiti nang bahagya para itago ang inis ko. Humarap ako sa kaniya at mas ngumiti pa. “Are you seriously going to watch my every move, babe?” Even though I’m smiling, the irritation didn’t escape my tone. Tumitig siya sa akin bago bumuntong hininga at umiiwas ng tingin. Lumayo siya sa akin at bumalik sa sofa
Our honeymoon trip ends and we’re back home. Naiinis pa rin ako sa nangyari last time kaya hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pinapansin si Dr. Ricaforte. Though, I always notice how attentive he has become when I’m around.Pansin ko ang madalas niyang pag-sulyap sa akin kapag magkakasalubong kami sa bahay; kapag nasa dining room siya at kukuha ako ng tubig, at kapag nasa living area ako at pupunta siya ng kitchen. Ganoon ang naging setup naming dalawa for the past few days after we came back from our honeymoon.But I know na hindi dapat ganito. Alam kong inis ako but I should prioritize my mission.Bumuntong hininga ako nang hindi na talaga mapakali. Kaya naman nang matapos ang lahat ng meetings ko for the morning schedule, mabilis akong umalis at nag-drive papunta sa FUMC.I smile at everyone as I walk inside the hospital. May dala pa akong healthy sandwiches for my husband’s fellow residents and seniors. I talk to some of them as I give them
“Apologize for what?” wala sa sarili kong tanong.But then I remember that he made me leave his office... in a cold and indifferent way. Mukha ngang sobra siyang na-guilty sa sinabi niya.Tinikom ko ang aking bibig para pigilan ang pagngisi. He’s cute. Kitang kita ko mula sa kinatatayuan ko ang sobrang pamumula ng kaniyang tenga at leeg.I sigh as I step toward him, nearing him more.“It was my fault, Dr. Ricaforte,” pormal kong sambit na siyang nagpabalik ng kaniyang tingin sa akin. “I was disturbing your work just as you said. Clearly, I was a nuisance...” dagdag ko pa.I am guilt-tripping him, alright. Kanina, wala naman iyon sa akin. Natawa pa nga ako. Pero ngayon... ibang iba na ang nararamdaman ko. It seems that my pointing it out loud has some kind of effect on me as well.I suddenly feel... disappointed.Umalis siya sa pagkakahilig sa hood ng sasakyan niya at bahagyang lumapit sa akin.