-(GELAL THEODEN FRANCISCO POV)-~A week later~“Oh, kaninong anak yan?” Salubong ni Khaleed nang makarating kami sa main residence.“Sa akin.” Sagot ko. “Hindi naman kami magtatagal dito, may kukunin lang akong mga gamit.”Nilagpasan namin ito at pinaunang umakyat si Deanna sa hagdan nang marinig ko muli itong sumagot.“Sigurado ka bang anak mo yan?” Tanong nito. “Kasi, wala naman siyang nakuha sayo.”“Can you please shut your mouth for just 50 minutes? Naririnig ka ni Deanna.” Sagot ko at saka pinantayan ito ng tingin.“So what if that child hears me?” Sagot niya pabalik.“Don't fvcking tempt me to punch you, Maximus.” Giit ko nang hablutin ko ang kanyang kwelyo.“Or what? You're gonna kill me just like what you did to our brothers?” Tanong nito muli sa akin.“Maybe, so don't give me the fvcking idea.” Sagot ko.Pwersahan niyang tinanggal ang aking mga kamay sa kwelyo ng kanyang suot, at base sa galaw nito, siya’y napipikon na.“Fvcking asshole.” Giit nito sa akin. “You really are te
-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~•~Habang ako'y nasa trabaho ay laking gulat ko nang makareceive ako ng mensahe mula kay Gelal, at nagtataka rin ako kung bakit.Theo: I’m dropping Deanna at your place, I need to be somewhere urgent.Tiningnan ko ang oras, seeing it was 10 in the morning. Kaya walang alinlangan akong nagreply rito.Ems: Last week mo lang siya kinuha, why so sudden?Theo: Evolet’s bleeding.Just by seeing his reply, I couldn't help but worry for his wife. And worry for his safety…-(GELAL THEODEN FRANCISCO POV)--♪-“Silas, is everything booked?” Tanong ko habang kami ay papunta sa office.“Yes, Sir.” Sagot nito. “Your flight will be on Wednesday night.”“Sige, cancel my meetings from Thursday to Saturday.” Utos ko rito bago ibaba ang tawag.Hindi ko maiwasan ang hindi kabahan para kay Eve, at pilit kong sinisisi ang aking sarili dahil sa sinapit nito.Kailangan ko na rin ipa-DNA test si Deanna, para bago ako umalis ay panatag ako na akin siya.“Daddy, where
-(GELAL THEODEN FRANCISCO POV)-~•~“Silas.” Tawag ko mula sa intercomm.“Sir?” Tanong naman niya.“Nakapag-book ka na ba?” Tanong ko rito. “Pumunta ka nga dito sa office.”Nang inalis ko ang aking daliri sa intercomm ay sakto rin itong pumasok sa loob, all while holding a cup of coffee and a croissant.“What is it, Sir?” He asked again and took a bite.“Gusto ko lang malaman kung bukas ako aalis, or next week.” Panimula ko at saka inikot ikot ang ballpen.“Next week Wednesday ang flight niyo, Sir.” Sagot niya. “Bakit po?” “Nothing, I just realized I still have a shitload of work to do.” I intoned. “You may go.” Tumango na lamang ito bilang tugon at saka umalis, leaving me alone with my thoughts.(If you don't arrive within a week, I will blow you to bits.)Heaving a sigh, I rubbed my forehead due to frustration. And there was nothing I could do except finish these before leaving.-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~Verdanio Residences~Kasalukuyan kaming nasa main residence
-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~Friday~“Nasaan si Gelal?” Panimula ni Lez nang makarating ito sa hospital.“Parating na yun.” Sagot ko at saka nilagay sa bag ang aking cellphone.“Sana sa kanya nga si Deanna, hindi ako papayag kung ang gagong yun ang ama.” Wika nito at saka tiningnan ang bata sa tabi ko.“I thought you hated each other? Bakit parang nag-iiba na ang ihip ng hangin ngayon?” Biro ko sa kanya.Tumawa na lamang ito bilang tugon at nag-usap muna kami ng ilang minuto habang hinihintay si Gelal, hanggang sa dumating na sina Dad ay wala pa rin ito.“Nasaan na ba ang asawa mo, Emerald?” Tanong ni Dad sa akin habang nakakunot ang noo. “May aasikasuhin pa ako sa opisina.”“Baka po na-stuck lang sa traffic.” Sagot ko. “Tawagan ko na lang po ulit.”Kinuha ko muli sa bag ang aking cellphone at akmang pipindutin ang kanyang numero, nang biglang sumigaw si Deanna at saka umalis.“Deanna!” Tawag ko ngunit nakita ko na sinalubong pala nito si Gelal.Pinanood ko itong buhatin
-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~That night~“Babe, ayos ka lang ba?” Tanong ni Callum habang ako'y nakatingin sa may bintana.Nasa kwarto ako ngayon at pakiramdam ko wala akong ganang kumain, and to be honest, I want to be alone with my thoughts for a while.“Hey, what's wrong?” Tanong ulit nito, at ramdam kong lumubog ang isang parte ng kama.“Nothing.” Sagot ko na lang. “I want to be alone for a while.”“But Deanna is looking for you.” Sambit nito, forcing me to look at him as I felt his thumb and finger on my chin.Even though he said something, I didn't feel the need to answer him, and just looked away once again.“Can you please tell me what's wrong, Emy?” Tanong nito sa huling pagkakataon, ngunit hindi pa rin ako sumagot.Silence enveloped us and there was nothing I could think of an answer for him, all I could do was stare and remember the scene where-“Are you thinking about him?” He asked again.“Who?” I asked and looked at him.“Gelal.” Sagot niya, and there was s
-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-~2:00~Patuloy akong naghihintay kay Gelal habang nasa harap kami ng bahay nito, at kahit ayokong umalis sa puder ni Callum ay mapipilitan ako.“Momma, why are we here?” Deanna asked as she yawned.“We're just waiting for Daddy Lal, okay? Kaunting tiis na lang.” Sagot ko at saka ito niyakap.“But I want to sleep na, Ma.” She yawned once again.Ngumiti na lamang ako nang bahagya at saka ito binuhat, letting her sleep in my arms as we waited.“Pasensya ka na kung nadamay ka sa gulo namin, nak.” Bulong ko rito at saka hinalikan ang kanyang noo.The cool breeze kept blowing as I waited, and I couldn't help but feel sleepy.A few minutes passed by, but there were still no headlights heading towards this direction, which caused me to sigh and close my eyes for a bit.-♪-“Emy.” Someone murmured my name, and all of which seems to be a blur.“Emy.” It called once again. “Emy, wake up.”As I came to my senses, with my vision getting clear once again, I
-(GELAL THEODEN FRANCISCO POV)-~Tuesday~“Sir, I have postponed every meeting you have including with your meeting with Mr. Ameer.” Panimula nito nang makapasok siya sa opisina.Tumango na lamang ako bilang tugon at saka ipinagpatuloy ang ginagawa, ngunit hindi ko pa rin makalimutan ang sinabi ni Emy sa akin nung nakaraan.(Tatanggapin ko kahit may kahati ako.)“Damn it, Ems.” I mumbled to myself and rubbed my forehead.“Sir, is everything alright?” Sambit ni Silas na naging dahilan upang mag angat ako ng tingin rito.“You're still here.” Sagot ko.“Akala ko po kasi may sasabihin pa kayo.” Sagot niya pabalik.“Wala, you may leave.” Utos ko rito na naging dahilan upang tumango ito at lumabas.Heaving a sigh, sumandal ako sa backrest ng swivel chair ko at tiningnan ang oras, seeing it was 4:40 in the afternoon.Sakto rin na tumunog ang aking cellphone, kaya kinuha ko ito at upang tingnan iyon.Eve: When are you arriving?She texted, yet I wasn't ready to reply. At least not yet.-(EMER
-(GELAL THEODEN FRANCISCO POV)-~•~Nang makapasok ako sa bahay ay inexcuse muna ni Mr. Luxembourg ang sarili dahil may aasikasuhin daw ito, at bago kami makasagot ay nagtungo na ito sa taas.“Eve-” Tawag ko ngunit nagtungo ito sa hallway.Sumunod naman ako rito bitbit ang aking mga bagahe, kahit pagod at puyat ako ay kinaya ko iyon.“This will be your room for now.” She stated.“How are you?” Panimula ko nang maituro niya sa akin ang guest bedroom.Kaming dalawa lang ang naroon, kung kaya’t inipon ko ang makakaya upang makausap siya.But even so, she didn't answer and just opened the door for me with the words “Dinner will be ready in 20.”And before I could say anything, she left. With no choice and due to exhaustion, I entered the guest room to settle my things.Patuloy kong minumura ang aking sarili habang inaayos ko ang mga gamit ko sa closet, at alam kong sinira ko ang kanyang tiwala– Big time.-(JEAN EVOLET LUXEMBOURG POV)-~•~As I was making some food for Gelal to eat, numer