Chapter 2

It has already been six months since Karolina Kordova’s son was diagnosed with lung cancer. Going through cancer is such a painful and life-changing experience. As a single mother, it breaks Karolina’s heart to see her child suffer. He became traumatized by the diagnosis, the endless needles and medications, and even the changes in his appearance because of the treatment. Sometimes, he also carries guilt for surviving while others did not.

The room was quiet, maliban sa tunog ng machines sa tabi ng kama. Outside, may mga footsteps sa hallway, pero sa loob ng kwarto, parang huminto ang oras para sa kanila.

Nakaupo si Karolina sa tabi ng limang taong gulang na anak niya, hawak ang kamay nito. Ramdam niya kung gaano na ito kapayat at pagod, pero hindi niya binibitawan ang kamay niya. Ayaw niyang maramdaman ng anak niya na mag-isa siya.

He looked at her with innocent eyes. “Mama, mabubuhay pa po ba ako ng matagal?”

Biglang sumikip ang dibdib ni Karolina, five years old pa lang siya, pero ganito na agad ang tanong. Hinaplos niya ang pisngi ng anak at hinalikan ito. “Bakit mo naisip ‘yan, baby?”

“Masakit po kasi tusok ng needle, ayoko na,” mahina niyang sagot.

Napapikit si Karolina, pinipigilan ang luha. “Alam ko, anak. Pero ginagawa nila lahat para gumaling ka.”

Tahimik si Jed bago muling nagsalita. “Gusto ko na po umuwi, miss ko na si ate.”

Ngumiti si Karolina kahit mabigat ang dibdib. “Uuwi tayo, pero kailangan muna natin lumaban, okay?”

Jed nodded slowly. “Okay po mama. I’ll fight.”

Pagkalabas ni Karolina sa hospital room, parang nabunutan siya ng tinik sa takot matapos sabihin ng doctor kung gaano kalaki pa ang kailangan nilang bayaran for the next treatments.

She slowly sat down on the cold bench outside the hallway, staring blankly at the billing papers in her hands. Halos maubos na lahat ng ipon niya, at kahit magtrabaho siya gabi-gabi sa club, hindi pa rin sapat ang kikitain niya.

And fortunately, biglang nag-vibrate yung phone niya.

“Mommy Beck” flashed on the screen.

She quickly answered the call.

“Darling K,” excited na sabi ni Mommy Beck sa kabilang linya. “May offer ako para sa’yo. Malaking pera ‘to.”

Napakahigpit yung hawak niya sa phone. “Ano’ng kailangan kong gawin?” she asked quietly.

“Hindi puwedeng sa phone,” Mommy Beck replied. “Just come to the club tonight. We’ll talk there.”

After that the call ended, leaving Karolina staring at her screen. At somehow, the way Mommy Beck said it made her chest tighten, because she knew this wasn’t going to be a normal job. Again.

Time passed, it was already four in the afternoon, and Karolina knew she needed to get ready. Kung totoo man yung sinasabi ni Mommy Beck tungkol sa malaking pera, she couldn’t afford to miss it. Hindi pwedeng hindi, buhay ng anak niya yung nakataya.

She took a quick shower, trying to wash away the exhaustion clinging to her body. Afterward, she fixed her makeup carefully, hiding the stress beneath flawless skin and dark lashes. She slipped into the sexiest dress she owned—tight, black, and just short enough to turn heads—then wore her favorite red high heels for good luck.

Pagdating niya sa club, malakas agad yung tugtog at ilaw, pero wala siyang oras para magpahinga. The moment Mommy Beck saw her, mabilis siya nitong hinila papunta sa isang private room sa second floor.

Mommy beck shut the door behind them before crossing his arms.

“Listen carefully, Karolina,” Mommy Beck started seriously. “One of our biggest clients requested you.”

Nakunot noo ni Karolina. “Requested me?”

Mommy Beck nodded. “He’s not just rich. Powerful din, the governor himself.”

“Who is he?”

“That’s the thing,” Mommy Beck said quietly. “Nobody really sees his face. Private siyang tao. Laging may bodyguards, laging nakatago.”

Karolina stayed silent, listening carefully.

“He offered ten million pesos just for you to go there tonight,” Mommy Beck continued. “And another ten million for the performance.”

Nanlaki mata ni Karolina.

“Twenty freaking million?” she whispered.

Mommy Beck slowly nodded. “And if he likes what he sees…” he paused, looking straight at her, “he said he’s willing to double it.”

For a moment, Karolina forgot how to breathe. That amount of money could save Jed. But deep inside, something about the offer felt dangerous.

Nagbago ang ekspresyon ni Karolina. Ilang segundo siyang natahimik, halatang nagdadalawang-isip na siya. Mahigpit niyang hinawakan yung strap ng bag niya habang nakatingin sa sahig, parang kinakabahan yung sariling isip.

Napansin agad iyon ni Mommy Beck. Napabuntong-hininga ito at lumambot ang boses.

“Karolina,” mahinahon niyang sabi. “It’s okay if you want to say no.”

Napatingin si Karolina sa kanya, naguguluhan. “Ha?”

Tumango si Mommy Beck, nakatingin diretso sa kanya. “Kung sa tingin mo delikado, you can decline it. Walang pilitan.”

Sandali siyang huminto, saka mas naging blunt ang tono niya.

“Pero maging honest tayo, kung hindi mo ito tatanggapin, alam mo kung anong ibig sabihin. Yung anak mo… his treatment, his chances… mawawala rin.”

Biglang nanlamig si Karolina.

“Mommy Beck—my God!” she gasped, her voice shaking. “Bakit mo naman sasabihin ‘yan?”

Napailing si Mommy Beck, pero hindi siya umiwas. “I’m just telling you the reality, Darling K. This world is not kind. You know that.”

Tahimik si Karolina, nanginginig ang kamay. Halos maghalo na yung takot at galit sa dibdib niya.

After a long pause, she swallowed hard.

“…I’ll do it,” she said quietly.

Nanlaki ang mata ni Mommy Beck. “Are you sure?”

Tumango si Karolina, kahit mabigat sa loob niya. “I don’t have a choice.”

Unti-unting lumambot ang expression ni Mommy Beck at nilapitan siya, bahagyang hinawakan ang braso niya in reassurance.

“Okay,” he said softly. “If that’s your decision… I’ll make sure your kids are taken care of while you’re gone. Hindi ko sila pababayaan. I promise you that.”

Pagkatapos, humakbang ito pabalik at tinitigan siya mula ulo hanggang paa, parang binabalik siya sa realidad ng club.

“Now,” dagdag nito, may bahagyang ngiti, “go pack your sexiest shit, put the fuck-me pump heels in your luggage, and do your mother-fucking-thing.”

Mabilis na sinunod ni Karolina si Mommy Beck at nag-impake ng konting gamit at best clothes para sa biglaang biyahe na hindi niya alam ang kahihinatnan. Bago umalis, mahinahon niyang kinausap si Ely na agad nakaintindi, habang si Jed ay si Mommy Beck na ang bahalang magpaliwanag. Pagkatapos, huminga siya nang malalim, itinago ang bigat sa dibdib, at tuluyang umalis bitbit ang takot, pag-asa, at mga saloobin hindi niya masabi.

A private Range Rover picked her up, arranged by the client, and brought her to the airport. From there, she endured a four-hour drive to the island port, then another 1 hour and 30 minutes by boat.

Karolina sat silently the whole time, staring out as familiar places faded away. Exhausted and anxious, she didn’t know what awaited her, but she held on to the idea that Puerto Rosario, said to be an exclusive paradise, might somehow make it worth the trip.

But unlucky for her, the moment she stepped foot on the island, a familiar face was already waiting, the one she thought she would never see again. A face she could never forget.

“Welcome to Puerto Rosario,” a deep voice said, calm but dangerously familiar. “Karolina.”

She froze. Not because he knew her government name, but because she was seeing him again, the man who fucked her so good that she could never forget. But this time, it felt different, heavier, colder, like something between them had shifted into something she couldn’t escape.

The wind brushed past them as realization hit her. This wasn’t a reunion. It was the beginning of something she should’ve never walked into.

She was about to speak when the man suddenly signaled someone behind her. Before she could react, a cloth was pressed against her nose and mouth.

Her vision blurred, strength fading as she struggled against it.

The last thing she saw was his calm expression, and that cold, deadly smirk before everything went dark.