My eyes rounded as soon as I opened the door and saw that someone was out here waiting for me.Shivers ran down into my body as he forced me to step backwards. We are now back inside the ladies room. Without looking back, he locked the door behind him.I gulped. "What are you doing?". Matigas kong tanong.His eyes looked at me eerily, his lips twitching into a dangerous smile. "Making sure na hindi mo na ulit ako matatakasan."I supressed the feeling of tension in my stomach. Tumalim ang tingin ko sa kanya. "Step away"With eyes either lying or saying the truth, he then smiled."Relax honey, I'm here to help you."Umalingawngaw ang pangungusap na iyon sa aking tenga at nang matauhan na ako'y nakita ko siyang nakaupo sa tabi ko sa loob ng isang kotse.His eyes darted on my face. Inaabangan ang bawat ekspresiyon na ipipinta ng mukha ko."What were you thinking?""Nothing" I replied drily at sabay umiwas ng tingin.I heard his subtle scoff. Ibinaling ko ang pansin sa senaryo sa labas ng
"I'm glad the negotation with Mr. Deschamps went well" Saad ni Mr. Devereux ng may ngiti sa kanyang labi. "I'm sorry I had to put that burden on you" He added apologetically."Don't worry about that Uncle, the conversation went pretty smoothly kaya hindi ako nahirapan." Nicole assured him.Nicole Orlov, daughter of Nile Devereux's friend. Bago pa man naging may ari ng Insight si Nile ay kilala niya na ang ama ni Nicole. Magkapitbahay ang kanilang pamilya noon sa Lexington bago lumipat ang pamilya ni Nile sa Noirville—Estria's capital city.Nicole is like a daughter to him. Nicole is known to the public as the only woman who can get close to Zeke. Nicole understands Zeke's personality and can play along pretty well with his occasional capriciousness.They form a pretty good couple, kaya naman nang pilitin ng ama na mag asawa si Zeke ay hindi niya maikakaila na hinangad niyang si Nicole ang pipiliin ng anak. Ngunit hindi ito ang napupusuan ni Zeke and he doesn't want to force his son t
As Zeke stood there, facing Nicole's barrage of questions and emotions, his expression remained stoic, almost unreadable. The air around them felt heavy with tension, each word hanging in the air waiting for a response.Zeke took a moment, his gaze shifting between Nicole and Asteria, as if weighing his words carefully. Finally, he let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping ever so slightly."I... I have made my choice Nicole," he started, his voice soft but firm. "And I asure you that I am not being forced like what you think."Natigilan si Nicole. She felt her heart sink at his words, a sting of disappointment coursing through her. Sa kalooban niya'y inaasahan niyang "hindi" ang isasagot ni Zeke sa kanyang tanong. Nicole felt a lump form in her throat, the weight of Zeke's words bearing down on her. She wanted to protest, to shake some sense into him, but she knew deep down that it was futile. Zeke had made up his mind, and nothing she said could change that."Fine," she replied, her v
"Asteria!"Umalingawngaw ang boses ng isang lalaki sa aking pandinig ngunit hindi ko ito binigyan ng pansin. Nanghihina at nanlulumo ang katawan ko sa eksenang nakatambad sa akin. Duguan at wala ng buhay, mga katawan ng aming kapwa sundalo na nawalan ng buhay matapos magkaroon ng sneak attack ang military forces ng Estria sa kampo na min na naka base malapit sa border. I felt suffocation creeping and swallowing my chest making my breathing rough and painful. From the distance, I could hear the roaring sounds of gunfires, bombings, panicked screams of soldiers, and the desperate cries of my fellow countrymen.I was pulled out of my reverie nang maramdaman ko ang mabigat at mahigpit na hawak ng dalawang kamay sa aking balikat. "Asteria! Pull yourself together!" He sounded angry but I saw concern when I looked into his murky eyes."Oliver..." Mahina kong bulong"Stop daydreaming Asteria!" He shouted at my face, masyadong malakas na parang nabingi ako. "Pick up your gear and gun," his v
"D-deal", nangangatal kong salita na nagpalingon sa ulo ni Zeke na sinusundan pa rin ng tingin ang paalis nang si Oliver.His green eyes widened as he looked at me. Hindi na niya kailangan pang magsalita at magtanong dahil kitang kita ko na sa mga mata niya ang hindi makapaniwalang ekspresiyon sa sinabi ko."Fine, p–payag na ako sa kasunduan mo." Inulit ko ang nais kong sabihin sa kanya ngunit parang hindi yata siya natuwa rito at nakita ko ang bahagyang pagtaas ng kaniyang kilay. "Aren't you satisfied?", tanong ko sa kanya nang hindi pa ito nagsalita, "Isn't this what you want?"He took steps to near me and gave me a look as if deciphering every inch of me. I stood still, waiting for our faces to come close."Why the sudden change of heart?" A grin worked on his lips and his emerald eyes sparkled under the sun's rays."Tell me, which sane person will let the chance to get a hundred million Solaries slip away?" Iniangat ko ang tingin sa kanya, I didn't looked away. Dapat niyang maram
In the bustling city of Noirville, the capital city of Estria, people from the higher society have gathered in one place to fill their obscene desires and to covet the innocence of the ladies that will be put in front of them to acquire.In the desolate alley of the city's so called red light street, a building stood ten stories high. Sa unang palapag ay matatagpuan ang mga agency ng illegal brokers na smugglers ng kahit ano—even people.Walang nakakaalam kung ano ang mayroon sa natitira pang siyam na palapag ng gusali. No one dares and no one's interested, for anyone who comes in this street are people with certain agendas and are busy taking care if theirselves to even notice what's on their surroundings."15 million from VIP 7" Narinig kong sabi ng emcee kasabay ng mga hindi makapaniwalang usal ng mga taong naroon din sa pagtitipon na 'yon.I can't even recall how the hell I came here. But now I find myself standing in front of a masked crowd while under the limelight.Nakuha na an
"You should get married soon, Zeke." Marahang sabi ni Mr. Devereaux while his hazy eyes inspected every strand of hair on his son who is sitting on the sofa across him.Zeke Devereaux—ang nag-iisang anak at tagapagmana ng Insight Company. A mystery-shrouded insurance company who only accepts the top 1% of people from the society. "There's no need to be afraid of those rumors Dad, hindi nila tayo kayang galawin." Zeke lowered his tea cup as he leaned his back on the couch."It's better to avoid getting suspected Zeke." Zeke scoffed at his father's words."The government can't touch us Dad, 'yan ay kung gusto nilang mawala ang biggest conglomerate na sumusuporta sa funding ng armory nila." He said proudly."You don't know how far the government can go in terms of rooting out all the Westarian spies lurking here in Estria." May tono ng pagbabanta sa kanyang boses habang hindi tinatanggal ang mariing titig sa anak.Zeke inhaled deeply as irritation began growing on his chest."Siguro'y hi
Akala ko'y magiging madali lang at matatapos na ang lahat pagkatapos ng mga dalawa o tatlo kong pagtaas ng paddle. Pero sa hindi ko inaasahan, may tarantado pang makikikumpetensya sa 'kin.I looked at the direction of the one who have been raising the bid higher and higher after me. Kinilatis kong mabuti ang pagmumukha nito and I rolled my eyes after realizing who he is. Walang iba kundi si Flavio who's seated on a row lower than mine in this stadium seating.I raised my paddle. "Seventy million", I shouted.Paglingon ko ay nakatingin din sa 'kin ang gago. He smiled, isang ngiting pang-aasar na para bang nagsasabi na hindi siya titigil sa pakikipag-agawan.Flavio Devereaux–Aubert, in short, Flavio. He's the first son of my mom's older brother, and that being said, he is my first cousin. Dahil magka-edad lang kami, my mom and uncle brought us together since we were kids para maging malapit kami sa isa't isa. But contrary to what they initially intended, we ended up being each other's ne