Kinabukasan, maaga kaming gumising. Anton immediately went to have a shower, and while he was inside the bathroom, umidlip ako sandali. Saka pa lang ako nagising nang makalabas siya ng banyo.“Go take a bath now. I'll just call someone and I'll get your white dress,” gising niya sa akin. Naka-towel lang siya at tumutulo pa ang tubig sa katawan niya.“Anong oras ang kasal?” tanong ko, namumungay ang mata.He chuckled at my question.“Kung kailan ka matatapos, Andrea…magpapakasal tayo. If you're excited, go take a bath now.”I giggled.Inaantok pa ako pero napilitan akong gumising. Dumiretso ako sa bathroom para maligo na rin. I took my time, sinigurado ko na mabango at maganda ako. Matapos sa shower ay nag-morning routine pa ako.Paglabas ko, may white dress na sa kama — with all the accessories and heels. Anton was still talking to someone on his phone, pero naka-white button-down shirt na siya at black slacks.Kinuha ko ang dala kong purse at nilabas ang makeup ko doon. I'll just hav
Andreana Steff VelazquezNakayakap ako kay Anton habang may tinatawagan siya. Pinapaayos ang mga papeles kasi magpapakasal na kami bukas!Napikot ko rin. Bukas, he will be officially mine. Bound by the law. Wala na siyang kawala.Nasa rooftop pa rin kami. Baka nga dito na kami buong gabi dahil may nagsara ng pintuan.Tahimik ako habang may inuutusan siyang tauhan niya na ihanda ang mga papeles. He was urging his men to finish it by tomorrow.Ngumuso ako. Pwede namang i-extend. Sinabi ko lang na bukas na para ma-pressure siya at hindi na makapag-isip. That's how it works. When you want to pressure someone, you don’t give them time to think properly.Pero dahil naka-oo na siya, pwedeng i-extend na. But it’s okay na din na bukas na. I'm so done with people twisting things. At least kung maikasal na kami, kahit ano pang gawin ng ibang tao na paninira, it will never change the fact that he's my husband.Isa pa, I'm not sure with his family kung matatanggap nila ako. Lalo pa’t alam na ni Ys
Umuwi ako sa penthouse nang tumawag ang isang investigator ko. He wanted to meet me up. He found a lead. After months of looking for her!Sa loob ng study room ko, nagkalat ang mga folders. It contains details, names, sightings, dead ends. All that to find Andrea.Pinagbuksan ko si Delgado, may dala siyang isang folder. Halata sa mukha niya na may nahanap siyang lead.“Sir,” he called.Tumango lang ako. “Anong meron?”Nilapag niya ang folder sa harap ko. “We might have found something.”I clenched my jaw. If this is another misleading lead, I will lose my patience.Binuksan ko ang folder. May mga old documents doon—medical records, at property registry. At naka-highlight ang isang pangalan.Don Faustino Velazquez.“Lolo niya,” sabi ni Delgado. “Bedridden. May estate sa Iligan City. Matagal na naming hindi na-trace kasi walang connection sa Manila records. But I dug deeper. Turns out, this guy is still alive.”Napatingin ako sa address. Iligan? Ang layo. Kung hindi siya mahanap dito sa
Anton Eros VergaraMedyo natagalan ang cooperation ng telco para sa pag-trace ng location ng number ni Andrea. I had to step up and use my influence for them to cooperate.Doon lang nagka-progress. Pinahanap ko rin kung kaninong account ‘yong pinadalhan ko ng pera.Sa una pa lang, may kutob na ako. Something was wrong. Hindi sa account ni Andrea pinadala ang perang hiningi niya. She used a third party. May problema daw sa account niya. She refused to call. Gusto niya, text lang kami mag-uusap.I was on a mission. I had to focus on what I was doing. Hindi ko na tinanong kung anong nangyari sa account niya at para saan ang perang hiningi niya. It's not even one percent of my wealth. Kung hindi ko pa ‘yon binigay at nagtampo siya, I’d be the worst boyfriend.“Opo sir. Kilala ko si Andrea Velasquez pero ang kamag-anak niya po ang kumuha ng pera. Inutos daw po sa kanila ni Andrea,” sagot ng may-ari ng account na pinaghulugan ng pera. “Nasa bahay daw nila si Andrea at may ginagawa kaya ‘yon
Kita ko ang pag-awang ng labi ni Anton. ‘Yong nambabadyang galit niya, biglang nawala. I saw him lick his lips.“You want a husband?” ulit niya sa gusto ko.Mas lalo siyang lumapit sa akin. Nakadungaw siya dahil sa height difference namin. I looked at him. Challenging him.“Yes! I don't want a boyfriend. I want a husband!” I demanded.“Hmm… at sino naman ang gusto mong maging asawa? You moved on from me,” he whispered huskily.Suminghap ako. Bakit ganito? Dapat sinasabi niya na sige, papakasalan kita! Gago ba ‘to?Kumunot ang noo ko.“Bakit galit ka noong sinabi kong naka-move on na ako?” naiinis kong sinabi.“Because you didn’t. Now tell me, who do you want to be your husband?” tanong niya.Ugh! Nakakinis! “Stefan!” I said out of frustration.He smirked. “How about me? I need you. I haven't moved on,” he whispered. He doesn't sound mad now. Parang nanunuya pa ang boses niya.Ngumuso ako. “Pwede naman na ikaw. I just hope you know what you're doing. I need a husband. Means no more An
Umalis ako sa bandang pintuan at lumapit sa railing, kung saan ang dulo ng building. My tears kept on streaming. I don't know what to feel now. I miss him… I know that. But I also hate him for playing me. I hate him because he was involved with Angela.I'm conflicted.He looks so good. I hate that he looks so hot in his uniform. Dapat ay akin siya! Bakit kay Angela pa?Ilang minuto niyang tinitigan ang billboard ko. Nang matapos siya, saka pa siya biglang tumayo ng tuwid. And then he faced me.Unti-unti siyang naglakad palapit sa akin. I watched him walk towards me, until I couldn't. Bumaba ang mata ko sa baba.Is he going to kill me? Kaya ba siya naka-uniform? Is he armed?I sobbed when he stopped in front of me. Kita ko na ang paa niya. And he didn't stop until he was so close to me.Kita kong nilagay niya ang dalawang kamay niya sa gilid ko, cornering me. I smelled his perfume. It's still the same. There was heat radiating to his body and it warmed mine. It's comforting. “Why are y