LOGINSERENA'S POVJust a blink of an eye, narito na si Sebastian para tulungan ako. Para iligtas ako mula sa sira-sira kong ex, na ilang minuto pa lamang ang nakalipas ay pilit akong hinihila pabalik sa buhay na matagal ko nang tinakasan. His presence alone felt like a wall standing between Eric and me, solid and unshakable. For the first time since Eric appeared, I could finally breathe without feeling like I was being cornered.Imbes na matakot si Eric, o mangamba man lang, ay agad siyang tumawa. A low, almost mocking laugh escaped his lips as he looked at Sebastian, as if the man standing in front of him was nothing more than an inconvenience."You are a fool, Sebastian," sabi nito at tumingin sa kaniya nang malalim. "Paano mo siya magawang iligtas kung wala naman talagang namamagitan sa inyo! Kahit hindi ko pa ito ma-record para magamit ko laban sa'yo, ang mahalaga alam ko na mahal pa rin ako ni Serena."Nakita ko kung paano naging mahigpit ang kamao ni Sebastian. His knuckles turned s
SEBASTIAN'S POVFEW MINUTES AGO"Thank you sa ice cream, papa!" Chloe said while licking the ice cream cone in her right hand.We were sitting on a bench nearby where their closing ceremony had taken place. The area was still filled with a few parents and children who had stayed behind after the ceremony. Some kids were running around with their medals hanging around their necks, while others were happily showing their certificates to their parents. The afternoon air was warm, and the once-crowded venue was slowly becoming quieter."Salamat sa pagbili ng lahat ng ice cream ko, Sir," the seller thanked me. He looked both surprised and grateful as he glanced at the remaining ice cream I had bought from him."It's nothing," I said."But papa, hindi natin mauubos ang lahat ng ice cream na 'yan. Hindi rin naman kayo kumakain ng ice cream.""We will give them to the other children who pass by," I said."Ay, oo nga, no," Chloe agreed. "Bigyan din natin si Moira kapag dadaan siya."Caleb almo
SERENA'S POVDahan-dahan akong naglakad papunta sa likod ng stage. I didn't really want to see Eric anymore. Ang galit ko sa kaniya ay napalitan na ng pagiging walang pakialam. Tapos na ang paghihiganti ko, and there was no reason for me to hold a grudge against him anymore. But I would never forget what he did.Some wounds might stop hurting eventually, but that didn't mean the scars would disappear. I had already accepted what happened between us. I had cried over it, suffered because of it, and eventually learned how to live without him. I didn't need an apology from him to move forward.Sana hindi ito isang patibong. Pero kung isa man itong patibong, I knew that Sebastian would chase after me. He would never just stand by and let something happen to me, especially after everything that had happened lately. The thought somehow gave me a little courage as I continued walking.Nakita ko ang likod ni Eric. Nakatayo lang siya roon, tila matagal na akong hinihintay. Nang marinig niya an
SERENA'S POVMas mabilis na dumating ang sumunod na umaga kaysa sa inaasahan ko.Maaga kaming nagtungo sa paaralan para sa closing ceremony ng kambal. Pagdating namin, agad kong napansin ang dami ng mga magulang, guro, at estudyanteng naroon.Punong-puno ng buhay ang school grounds. May mga magulang na abala sa pagkuha ng litrato kasama ang kanilang mga anak, habang ang iba naman ay masayang nagkukuwentuhan at bumabati sa isa't isa. Makukulay na dekorasyon ang nakapalibot sa entablado, at sa bawat sulok ay maririnig ang masasayang tawanan ng mga estudyante.Nasa tabi ko si Chloe, habang si Caleb naman ay naglalakad sa tabi ni Sebastian.Kung tutuusin, mukha kaming isang ordinaryong pamilya.Isang ama.Isang ina.At dalawang anak.Ngunit walang nakakaalam ng katotohanan.Pinalabas lamang namin na si Sebastian ang ama ng kambal.Sa katunayan, hindi naman niya tunay na anak sina Caleb at Chloe.Ang tanging nag-uugnay sa amin bilang isang pamilya ay ang kontratang pinasok namin.Sa harap
SEBASTIAN'S POV I could only laugh at what Serena had told me. Paano niya naman naisip na mahal ako ni Raven? When that man had hated me for years simply because, according to him, I had taken everything away from him. His opportunities, his achievements, and even the people he believed should have been on his side. Raven had always looked at me as if my very existence was an insult to him. But Serena's assumption was absurd. I looked at Hazel. To me, she had always been nothing more than a friend. Someone I trusted, someone I could talk to without having to pretend—but nothing beyond that. Raven was the one who was in love with Hazel. It was painfully obvious to anyone who bothered to look closely. I had seen the way his eyes followed her whenever she wasn't paying attention. The way his expression softened whenever she smiled. He could deny it all he wanted, but his feelings for Hazel were impossible to hide. A few minutes passed before our food finally arrived. Serena and
SERENA'S POVPumunta kami sa ibabaw ng penthouse, kung saan naroon ang catering. Pagdating namin, agad kong napansin ang mga taong isa-isang pumapasok. Karamihan sa kanila ay nakasuot ng mga elegante at mamahaling damit, mula sa mga gown na kumikislap sa ilalim ng ilaw hanggang sa mga tailored suits na halatang gawa sa mamahaling tela. Mahinhin silang nag-uusap habang may mga waiter na maingat na naglalakad sa paligid, bitbit ang mga tray ng pagkain at champagne.The entire place looked like something straight out of a luxury magazine. The soft golden lights reflected against the glass walls, while the quiet music in the background made the atmosphere feel even more expensive."Sana nagbihis nalang ako..." I mumbled."But you are already beautiful.""Stop praising me where it does not belong," Sabi ko pero halatang kinikiliti ako sa sinabi niya. He's praising me like it's normal. Kahit hindi siya naka-tuxedo, he still looks elegant. His dark suit was simple compared to what the other
SERENA'S POVKinabukasan, nagising ako sa malambot at malawak na kama ng hotel suite. Ang mamahaling puting kumot ay nakabalot pa rin sa aming tatlo habang ang mahinang sikat ng araw ay dahan-dahang sumisilip mula sa malalawak na bintana. Ang ginintuang liwanag nito ay tila marahang humahaplos sa m
SERENA'S POVMatapos kong pirmahan ang kontrata, I noticed Sebastian's satisfied face. Hindi ko akalain na siya ang CEO ng L-Electronics. Kung tutuusin, medyo bata pa siya para pangunahan ang ganoon kalaking kompanya.Maraming clause na inilagay si Sebastian sa kontrata, kabilang ang: Clause 2, act
SERENA'S POVHis deep voice echoed throughout the hallway.Ma'am Hannah, Daniel, and the two guards behind him visibly stiffened. Kahit ako ay napatuwid ng tayo nang marinig iyon. Hindi ko akalaing may isang estranghero—at isa pang VIP ng hotel na ito—ang sasagip sa akin.Sanay na akong maliitin sa
SERENA'S POVNagising ako at nakita ang sarili kong nakahiga sa isang kama sa clinic. Nakaupo si Mama sa gilid, magkasalikop ang mga kamay sa kandungan habang nakatitig sa sahig."Ma, anong nangyari?" tanong ko habang hinahawakan ang ulo ko. Hindi na gaanong umiikot ang paningin ko. "Ma?"Nag-angat







