ADRIOUS CAESAR’S POV 13 YEARS BEFORE“Ano bang kailangan mo?” sumilip ako sa may pinto nang marinig ko ang malamig na boses ng dad ko. May kausap siya na hindi ko kilala kung sino at mukhang kaaway siya ni Dad.“Sinira mo ako sa mga business partners ko kaya’t nagsilipatan sila sa ‘yo! Dahil sa nangyari ay bumagsak pababa ang negosyo ko!” rinig kong pagalit na sambit ng taong kausap ni Dad. I was holding the door while my hands were shaking.“Hindi ko na problema kung nagsilipat sila sa akin at lalo nang hindi ko sinira ang negosyo mo! I’m not that kind of businessman to do such dirty acts! I’m not like you. Sino kaya ang nagpadala ng mga pekeng papeles na nakapaloob doon ang kontrata na ipinapasara ko ang negosyo ko? Hindi ba’t ikaw?” balik na sagot ni Dad. May humawak sa balikat ko at napagtanto kong si Mom ‘yon na halatang nag-aalala para kay Dad.“Aba, tarant*do ka ah?” nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang biglang suntukin si Dad. “Bakit ako ang pinagbibintangan mo roon, huh? Kaya sa ak
Pumasok muli ako sa kwarto nang matapos kong kuhanan ng tubig si Adri. Ubos na kasi ‘yung water namin sa room. Kawawa naman siya kung hindi siya iinom ng tubig. Pag-upo ko sa kama ay kaagad kong inilahad sa kanya ang isang baso ng tubig. Katatapos niya lang umiyak.“Sorry for disturbing you, wife,” pangalawang beses na niya itong paumanhin.“Adri, okay lang,” sagot ko at niyakap ang katawan niya. “Hindi mo naman mapipigilan ang panaginip e.” At saka ano pa bang kwenta ko kung hindi ko siya tutulungan? Ayoko namang magmukhang walang kwentang asawa.“Do you know why I don't want other people to call me Adrious?” tanong niya at inakbayan ako. Kinuha ko ang baso na ginamit niya at binitawan iyon sa side table at saka bumalik ulit sa pagkakayakap sa kanya. Hangga’t hindi ako nagiging kampante na okay siya ay mananatili ako rito sa tabi niya.“Hmm?”“Because that was the last thing I heard from my mother before she passed away. Every time I hear my first name, I remember her. Nagagalit ako
Sa conference hall kung saan tinipon ni Adrious ang mga tauhan niya at siyempre kasama ako pero katabi ko lang si Clyde na mukhang antok pa. Ang pangit niya e. May kape pa siya ng hawak ganun din kami, pati sina Adri. Yeah, kahit ang init-init ay nagkakape kami, pero dito sa isla niya? Ang presko! Dami kasing mga halaman e.Buti na lang may coffee maker si Adri kundi kawawa ang magtitimpla. Siyempre ako na ang magtitimpla kay husband.“Sasama ka raw sa hunting?” tanong ni Clyde at inamoy pa ‘yung kape ko. “Sarap ng sa ‘yo, palit tayo.” Inilayo ko ang kape ko at sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.“Yeah, sasama ako,” sagot ko at humigop ng kape ko pagkatapos ay binalingan si Adri.“Next week is already the competition and Trox talked to me that only ten people per group can join. In those ten, they will be the only ones entering the forest, but this is the plan. Of course, we will break the rules. We will finish all the obstacles that are blocking our way. Yes, there will be a war between my g
He has his own ways, own rules, own world, own island. A man who was born poor but his anger and thirst for revenge are what made him wealthy. He was born with a soft heart but only his enemies can harden it.He doesn't care if he's alone in his life as long as he can take care of his wealth, his island, and the woman he desires.He is the Mafia King, the strongest who cannot be defeated by his enemies. However, he still has a weakness, which is to bring back his memories of how he witnessed the death of his father and mother.He is the man who would immediately retaliate if you provoke him. But there is only one woman who can silence him, Apple Gale Fernandez, a woman who craves attention from her parents.A Mafia King bought a simple girl, her. He was obsessed and in love with that woman. No matter how much she hates him, he remains unfazed.Adrious Caesar Tuazon is his name and no one can tame him except his beautiful and sexy Mafia Queen, Apple Gale Fernandez.***“Please, Mr. Tuaz
ADRIOUS CAESAR’S POV “Mr. Handsome, may I know why you summoned me? At saka why me? Ngayon lang kita nakita ah. Do you know me?” she asked with a smile as she tasted her coffee. I chuckled a bit when she suddenly winced as the hot liquid grazed the corner of her lips. Tiningnan ko ang wristwatch ko. Bawat minuto ng oras ko ay mahalaga but I am not considering this situation as an important matter. Well, ‘yung taong kailangan ko ay mahalaga. “You have a daughter, right? Will you tell me about her?” I asked straightforwardly. That was my intention all along. I couldn’t feel the comfortable atmosphere with her company. I feel like I’m in a world of cringe. The way she looked at me, It was like she was undressing me. This old woman gives me goosebumps. This meeting needs to end as soon as possible so I can achieve my goal abruptly. Once na makuha ko ang kailangan ko, wala na akong pakialam sa matandang ‘to. Oh, well, is not that she’s old. Nanay lang siya ng taong pakay ko. I hope I
“What now?” I snapped impatiently. “Give me the money first.” I rolled my eyes. I took out my check from the pocket of my suit. I grabbed the pen and signed it without hesitation, then placed it in front of her. I also wrote down the amount of money on the check. Her heart seemed to skip a beat as she took the check and quickly signed the contract. “Your daughter is mine?” I grinned and bit my lip as I fantasized about Apple in my vast imagination. Apple’s skin, Apple’s body. Damn! I want to touch her. I want to destroy her inside. I would love to see her in a see-through dress with a crown. I shook my head. Enough of this obsession, Adrious Caesar Tuazon. “My daughter is all yours, Mr. Handsome.” She kissed the check that contained five billion pesos. “Please, take care of her. Don’t let others touch her. If ever magkababy kayo, papasyalan ko siya.” “I guess I’ll be leaving now. I won’t thank you for selling me your daughter,” I remarked and left the restaurant where we had our
APPLE GALES’S POV Until now, malungkot pa rin ako because Daddy and Mommy didn’t attend my graduation celebration and my actual graduation in my school. Many people congratulated me online, but still, I am not happy. I want my parents’ attention, especially my daddy’s. Ni online nga hindi nila ako kinong-gratulate. Hindi nila alam kung gaano ako hiyang-hiya sa sarili ko at sa mga tao. Kung pwede nga lang na humagulgol ngayon, ginawa ko na. Nakakahiya lang sa mga bisita kung makikita nila akong umiiyak sa special day ko because I was supposed to be happy and delighted. Nahihiya rin ako sa mga bisita dahil hindi man lang nila nasisilayan ang mga magulang kong sinasaluhan ako sa selebrasyon ng graduation ko. This might be the saddest moment I have ever experienced. Kanina pa ako nagbubuntong-hininga. Marami nang nakakapansin sa bad mood ko na hitsura kaya’t siguro hindi nila ako kinakausap. Patingin-tingin ang ibang bisita sa akin ngunit nginingitian ko lang sila. “Congrats, beh!”
After taking a shower, I just put on light makeup and let my black wavy hair down to my waist. I smiled widely and kissed myself in the mirror. There was still lipstick left on it so I chuckled while wiping it using the paper towel. I hummed a tune as I descended the stairs gently because I was wearing my heels. Clumsy pa naman ako at palaging nadadapa. Maganda nga pero napaka-clumsy naman! At ako lang yata ‘yung ganito kalala ang saya ng mood without knowing saan ako pupunta ba’t ako nagpaganda. Inirapan ko si Aileen nang madaanan ko siya habang nakayuko sa akin. “Ang ganda mo po, ma’am,” pansin niya. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. “Well, thanks.” But I appreciate it. Siya lang ang palaging pumupuri sa akin ng ganun. Malawak ang ngiti niya sa akin hanggang sa masundan niya ako ng tingin. Tsk. She’s weird. Napansin ko si Mommy na kakababa niya ang phone bago humarap sa akin. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay habang pinagmamasdan ang buong suot ko. “Mommy, saan tayo pupunta?” tanong ko. Na