LOGINHi readers! Apologies na hindi ako nagpaparamdam nitong mga nakaraang linggo. Mas priority ko ang work ko ngayon since candidate ako sa promotion. And I did it! Sisikapin ko na lang na matapos ang kwentong ito. Thank you sa support and unconditional love niyo.
Alonzo“Take a shot, bro. Bago ka tuluyang mamatay sa nerbiyos,” Winston said, sliding a crystal glass filled with a twenty-year-old single malt Scotch across the polished mahogany bar top.I grabbed the glass and downed the amber liquid in one sharp, burning gulp. We were currently sitting at the exclusive open-air lounge of the Orient Pearl Resort, a stunning ultra-luxury sanctuary tucked away in a private cove.It was owned by none other than my first cousin, Ethan. This resort had always been our primary sanctuary, ang natatanging tambayan naming magkakaibigan kung saan hindi kami pwedeng maabot ng gulo ng aming mga corporate empires at underground duties. The steady, calming rhythm of the ocean waves crashing against the white sand should have calmed my nerves, pero kanina pa talaga pabalik-balik ang lakad ko sa tabi ng infinity pool.“Look at him, Ethan,” Winston laughed loudly, pointing his glass at me with an insufferable smirk. “The terrifying Alonzo, the man who practically
BeaAng simoy ng hangin sa Valenzuela ngayong hapon ay may dalang kakaibang kapayapaan, isang bagay na akala ko noong nakaraang taon ay hindi ko na muling mararamdaman.It was a beautiful, sprawling colonial-style mansion surrounded by manicured green lawns and vibrant gardens. Isang napakagandang regalo mula kay Alonzo para sa aking pamilya. Looking out from the wide second-floor balcony of our new home, I watched my mother happily watering the white roses, habang sina Arman at Cheska naman ay nagtatawanan habang nag-aaway sa kung sino ang gagamit ng bagong mountain bike sa malawak na driveway. Si Lilibeth naman ay prenteng nakaupo sa gazebo, busy sa kaniyang laptop para sa kaniyang nalalapit na graduation.We had finally moved on, mula sa madilim at nakatatakot na trauma ng Pier 4. The ghosts of Leonardo’s greed and Brandon’s ultimate sacrifice were deeply honored, pero pinili naming huwag nang magpaalipin sa nakaraan.Sa mga buwang sumunod, akala ko ay mababago ang buong pagkatao k
BeaAng unang naramdaman ko ay ang unti-unting pagbabalik ng bigat sa aking katawan, kasunod ng isang pamilyar at matapang na amoy ng antiseptiko at gamot, an high-end private hospital room. I could tell by the quiet hum of the advanced medical monitors and the soft, premium linen against my skin.Slowly, with immense effort, iminulat ko ang aking mga mata. The harsh white light from the ceiling made me wince momentarily, forcing me to blink several times before my vision finally came into focus.My gaze drifted to the side of the bed, and there he was. Alonzo was sitting on a leather armchair pressed tightly against my mattress. His head was resting on his hand, his eyes closed, but his face looked incredibly gaunt and exhausted.He was still wearing the same shirt from that horrible night, pero gusot-gusot na ito ngayon at wala na ang kaniyang karaniwang kisig. Shadows darkened the skin beneath his eyes, at may manipis na tuod ng balbas na tumubo sa kaniyang panga. He looked like a
AlonzoThe stinging cold of the rain did nothing to numb the absolute fury raging beneath my skin. Standing in the middle of Pier 4, surrounded by rusted, towering shipping containers, I felt the heavy weight of the Vitale estate folder in my left hand. My right hand remained dangerously close to my inner jacket holster. I looked at Brandon, my supposed head of tactical intelligence, standing comfortably next to Leonardo.You son of a bitch. I had built my empire on trust, precision, at wagas na katapatan. To see Brandon stand there sa kaniyang full tactical gear, holding an assault rifle na binili gamit ang aking pera, was a very bitter pill to swallow. Pero hindi ko pwedeng hayaang malunod ako sa emosyon.I still had an ace up my sleeve. Bago kami umalis sa penthouse, I explicitly ordered Winston na humiwalay sa aming pangunahing tactical grid. It was our ultimate fallback protocol. Kung magkakaleche-leche ang lahat, Winston was my invisible ghost. Brandon only hacked into my compan
The rain was pouring hard against the glass of my office window, mirroring the chaotic storm brewing inside my chest. Multi-billion-dollar conglomerates, sprawling real estate empires, and underground territories—I had managed all of them without breaking a sweat. But right now, looking at Bea, who was pale, trembling, and clutching her womb on my leather sofa, I felt an unfamiliar, terrifying vulnerability.My phone buzzed on the mahogany desk. It was an untraceable, encrypted satellite call. I didn’t even need to look at the screen to know who was calling. I picked it up, my voice dropping into a dangerous, icy register. “Leonardo…” mahinang sambit ko.“Alonzo, my dear son-in-law,” Leonardo’s voice echoed, dripping with a sickeningly smug confidence. “I assume you received my little souvenir from the garden? I hope my daughter isn’t crying too much. It is terribly bad for the baby.”Ang tinutukoy ni Leonardo ay ang pagdukot sa mga kapatid ni Bea sa garden ng condo. Nagtataka rin ako
BeaNagtatampo pa rin ako kay Alonzo, given the fact na nasigawan niya ang pamilya ko. Kahit na sinabi niyang nagsisisi sa parte na iyon at humihingi ng kapatawaran sa ginawa niya, still, may bagyo pa rin na darating.Nakapag-almusal na kami pero sadyang sinasapian ako ng mga kakaibang cravings. Sa lahat ng oras, ngayon pa ako naglihi. At sa lahat ng pwede kong hanapin, hilaw na mangga ang tumatakbo sa isip ko pero hindi kung saan-saan—manggang galing Guimaras na kapipitas lang.Nakatitig ako kay Alonzo na abala sa pag-aayos ng mga papeles sa mesa. Mula kaninang umaga ay abala na siya sa kung anong pinaplano niya. Malakas ang kutob ko na may gagawin siya o sila ng mga kasamahan niya tungkol kay Leonardo—tungkol sa tatay ko. Kaya lang ay isinantabi ko muna kung ano ang mga plano niya dahil na rin bigat ng nararamdaman ko at itong mga cravings ko. “Alonzo…” malambing kong tawag.He turned, one brow raised. “What is it, Bea?”“I want mango. Hindi basta manga ha…hilaw na manggang galing
Bea“Samahan mo akong mag-shopping,” wika ko sa pinsan kong si Lizzie. Katatapos lang naming mag-almusal at nakabihis na rin naman kami pareho.“Shopping? Window shopping?” gulat niyang sabi. “Sis, kung window shopping lang, huwag na. Maiinggit lang tayo sa mga tao sa mall na may dala-dalang mga pa
AlonzoAfter our break-up with Pauline, I thought and decided something different. I didn’t want her to be happy with someone else, so I suffered. She never talked to me anymore, and the worst thing was that I saw her with her new one named Wilson.I planned everything to take her back in my arms,
Bea“Nasaan na ba iyon?” Hinalughog ko na ang buong back pack ko upang mahanap lang ang passport ko.Nakaupo ako sa maliit naming sala habang nakabalandra na sa center table ang lahat ng gamit ko. Kanina ko pa hinahanap ang passport ko at ngayon na kinakabahan na ako. Ang totoo niyan ay TNT na ako
Alonzo“Let’s break up.”“What?!” Kumunot ang noo ko at nagsalubong ang aking mga kilay nang marinig ko sa nobya kong nakikipaghiwalay na siya. “That’s ridiculous, Pauline! Are you going to break up with me for no such reason?”We are in the restaurant having dinner. It’s been two weeks since we la







