Chapter 1

"baby Aja... Bahave ka dapat sa kasal mo a? Pogi yung magiging asawa mo, it's enough for us to be reassured at your safety and solid future... For sure magiging masaya ka sa piling ni Erwood" 

My mom said while brushing my hair at the back. My eyes twinkled as I look at her in the refection of the mirror where we're both facing. "Talaga po mommy? Pano po kung bad guy sya? Or is he older than me po ba? May beard ba sya or is he look scary enough for me?" I asked while pouting.

Ngayon kasi ang araw ng kasal ko, yet I haven't seen my soon to be husband yet. My mom said that this is the family tradition of surprise fixed marriage. I'm not against this idea kasi bata pa lang ako sabi ni mommy ikakasal daw ako sa hindi ko kilalang lalaki, but it'll be worth it naman daw.

"I'll keep it a secret for now... Basta mamaya ang gusto ni mama ang isasagot mo sa pare ay 'I do' alam mo naman na ang ceremony ng kasal baby Aja e, kaya for sure malulusotan mo yun"

I happily nodded as I mesmerized myself in the mirror. Wearing my white dress and thin set of make-up. I'm already ready to my wedding. Sana naman pogi yung papakasalan ko, pag sya matanda at ubanin or panot tatakbo talaga ako ng simbahan at itatakwil sila mom and dad!

But we'll see. sana lang walang beard yung soon to be husband ko... Cause if he has, I'll make sure na tatanggalin nya yun for me or else ako gagawa non habang tulog sya.

"Tara na baby Aja, you're 26 na... So be a good girl ha?"

I smiled and kissed my mom's cheek. Yup I'm already 26 but my mom keeps on calling me baby, well I like it naman e.

"Yes mommy... Basta sabi mo po pogi yung groom ko a? If not..."

"Of course he's gorgeous. Enough talk na baby Aja, pasok ka na sa sasakyan baka malate tayo sa kasal mo. Masamang pinag-hihintay ang mga bisita."

Habang nasa byahe papuntang church which is pwede namang lakarin, iniisip ko kong anong face nong magiging husband ko... is he willing to be with me like I do?

Single kaya sya like me... Or may girlfriend sya na kailangan nyang hiwalayan for the sake of this planned wedding? Hays... Okay na nga to. Basta ang sabi ni mommy behave lang daw and everything's going to be alright.

When the car stop. Everyone place on their assigned position, while I stood right next at the receptionist who'll tell me when to go.

Nang maka-pasok na lahat ng bisita at maka-lakad na patungong aisle. Pan-samantalang sinara ang pinto ng simbahan para sa magiging grand entrance ko.

"Ayos na po lahat miss loob, just remember to smile while heading your way to your groom. Focus your eyes on his po a?"

I nod at her, nang mag-bukas ang pinto para saakin, my dad is already there to fetch me. I smiled at him as I cling my hands on his arm, right after that we started walking with a smile plastered on my lips.

"Dad... Are you sure about this..." I whisper at him while walking down to the aisle. "I mean I don't regret any of this... But will this be okay with you... Aren't this tradition broke relationship of others."

"Shh... This is exactly what we dream for you my little cheeky, ang maikasal ka sa lalaking para sayo..." 

Hindi na lang ako sumagot kay daddy at nanatiling naka-ngiti hanggang maka-rating kami sa altar. When I we got there, daddy handed me to a handsome guy standing like a statue.

I smiled at him but he ignore me so I pouted. Kinuha naman nya ang kamay ko bago sinukbit sa braso nya. "Don't do anything stupid or else—"

"Shh! Wag kang maingay! Nag-dadaldal si father e, mamaya hindi ko marinig yung itatanong nya pag-sasagot na ako ng I do e" I said cutting him off.

Kasi naman e, kung kailan nag-sisimula ng mag-salita si father saka nya ako dadaldalin?hmmp! But to tell you honestly... Gwapo nga naman sya like how my mother told me.

But he doesn't cought my interest. Yup he's gorgeous enough for me, yet something is missing. Love? Maybe cause I don't know... Nag-karoon na ako ng madaming ex pero parang wala lang sila saaking lahat.

Hindi ko pa na-fefeel yung tunay na love, maybe that's why my parents arrange my marriage first before my kuya and ate. I'm the youngest yet I'm the one who first got tied in the loveless marriage. But I don't mine, as long as I obey my parents. That's all what matters for me.

"Maari na kayong mag-palitan ng sing-sing" the priest whispered, I amusingly look at the man infront of me, waiting him to the the first move.

But he just raise an eyebrow. Napaka-atittude nya hayst... I just rolled my eyes hoping this thing would end already.

Then the ring bearer come across us with a boredom expression. I like this kid, parehas kami ng nararamdaman.

"I, Azurite Erwood Winston Herbert... Take thee, Amaranth Jaica McGoughlin to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for sickness and in health, to love and fo cherish, til death do us part. According to God's holy ordinance; and their to I pledge thee my faith."

Woah, inferno—ay nasa simbahan pala kami gosh. But really, he seems to memories his line. Nakakatamad yun e, I better sleep all day than to memories such.

"Wear this ring as our symbol of our faith, loyalty, grace—" my groom haven't finished his line when I yawn.

Ang dami pa kasing sasabihin, he could just put the ring on my finger. Hindi naman kami mag-kakilala e, so why bother say those thing? He's started to get boring in my eyes.

"Sorry" I said casually. He just sighed frustratedly with a clenching jaw, that's where I pouted. Mamaya nyan sampalin nya ako e. 

When he finally slit the ring on my finger, the Priest smiled at me, motioning to do the same as what this shit man did. But I'm too lazy say those words he said.

Kahit labag sa loob, I tried my best to act politely. Gently took the ring on a tiny pillow that the cute boy's holding. Then I turn to my pakining husband with a fake smile.

"Ayan, suot mo yang sing-sing na yan a? Kasi pag-nawala yan susumbong kita kay mommy!" I said rolling my eyes in boredom.

Nag-tawanan naman yung ibang guess sa sinabi ko, is that even funny? 

"You may now kiss the—"

"Wait lang naman father... Bride ba sasabihin mo?" The priest nodded hesitantly. "Pwede bang ibahin? Can you say 'you may now kiss the groom' para maiba naman? Baka kasi ayaw nya ako i-kiss e—"

My eyes widened in disbelief when the man holding my hands just kiss me without a word. I was left speechless with wide eyes open, looking directly to this man.

Our kissed lasted for about a minute I guess? And all I could ever hear was some gasp and applaud. When he finally pulled back, I felt my cheeks burn and averted his gaze.

Looking back to the Priest, I saw how he hold his smile with head's up. D-did this actually happened... 

Napa-hawak ako sa labi ko at tinignan ang lalaki sa harap ko... This is the first time in my life... That someone initiated to kissed me right before my eyes...

O' God... Don't tell me this is the new beginning. "I told you not to do something stupid, young lady..." He sexily whispered—fvck! Did i just said he's sexy? 

I'm sure I'll hate this man for the fvcking rest of my life! "Don't just stared at me, young woman."

"I-I'm not..." I hastily said with a pout. How can he even look this good... He reminds me of my last ex boyfriend. Sya lang yung naka-paghandle saakin ng matagal, It lasted for about 2 months... Sya na yung pinaka-matagal kong nakarelasyon... But unluckily we broke up, after knowing his balls are too small. Not literally though, but he's a fvcking coward.

"What's with the sudden sadness dear? I thought you're enjoying my company?"

I weakly smiled at him. The picture taking started, but I'm already not in the mood for it. My mom's keep reminding me to smile, but whenever I do... The image of my ex boyfriend are showing.

Hanggang sa matapos ang lahat sa simbahan, I keep my silence. Even when we got to our vehicle that we'll use to go to our wedding reception. I stayed quiet and unattended.

"Are you alright?" I look at my groom and just nodded. Kung kanina nasa mood akong makipag-gagvhan sa kanya, ngayong parang nawala na ako ng gana...

"Starting to regret this shit?" He coldly said as his hand grips the car wheel tighter.

I chuckled, "why? Did you planned this shit too?"

"What are you talking about huh bitch?"

"Well nothing much dickhead"

And that's how our conversation will work for the rest of our lives...

Everything ended with a snap. Masaya lahat ng naki-dalo, the event organizer did well. Even Erwood behave as I do too. Ngayon nasa iisang kwarto kami.

Erwood is taking a bath, while I'm lying haft naked in my bed. Will this night be excited for the both of us? Or we'll just simply take a rest and job well done.

"Tired already? Wala pa nga tayong ginagawa" I nearly rolled my eyes, staring the haft naked man with disgust.

"You shut up dickhead! Hindi pa nga ako maka-move on dito sa kagaguhang pinasok ko. Now I'm thinking... Will this shit work?"

I don't know why, but I saw how his face darkened as he averted my gaze and turn on his luggage to get something to wear. I just stared at him, watching his every move. I can see how he felt conscious, but I wanna read him clearly. May mga galaw syang hindi ko maintindihan.

"Papanoorin mo ba akong mag-bihis?" I shrugged with a pout.

"Why? Is it bad... Makikita ko din naman yan wag ka ng mahiya" I snore. "And please make it faster, marami tayong dapat pag-usapan."

Nang matapos sya mag-bihis, ngayon ay nag-papatuyo ng buhok habang naka-upo kami parehas sa kama. "Now what?"

I slid out two pieces of paper and place it between us. The other piece has 'Truth' written and 'trust' at the back while the other once is 'Lie' and at the back of it has 'die'

"We'll play a game, that simple. This is to know about each other. We're already couple right? And as you can see we're a complete strangers, kanina nga lang tayo nag-kita e"

"Can't we just sleep—"

"No! You sleep, you lose your pet!" I hissed, gritting my teeth. Aba! Nag-effort ako sa larong ito tapos gaganitohin nya lang ako? Fvck you!

"Alright, alright! Let's just get through this. Pagod ako"

"Wala akong pake, mas pagod ako. Didn't you know how much time I waste to put on my fvcking make-up? How long it takes to curl my hair and how hard it is to wear my fvcked up wedding shit dress!"

Akala nya ba papatalo ako? Sya nga maliligo lang, mag aayos na buhok kunting pabango ang huwala, okay na!

He massage his nose bridge, maybe because he's losing his temper over me. "Sige na... Sige na, pero pwede bang umpisahan na na'tin tong walang kwenta mong laro?"

I smiled "okay." I also wink at him but he just groaned. "The mechanics is very easy, mag-tatanong ako sayo, sasagutin mo. You can either answer my question with a truth or a lie. For example, I asked you what's your name and you replied Tally, while you're real name is actually Azurite or Erwood. Then you must raise this shit paper with a 'lie' encrypted on it, nakuha mo?"

"Yeah... Whatever. I'll go first then, why did you agree on marrying me"

"A very easy question dickhead, it's because I don't know you... you're a stranger, and ever since I was young... My mother use to tell me about this shitty tradition." I smiled at him, but he didn't seems interested at all. Then I took the 'truth' paper and raise it. "Now my turn, anong trabaho mo?"

From being an not interested, I seems to take his attention by my stupid question. "Yan talaga ang naisip mo?"

"Oo naman, malay ko ba kung killer ka, mag-nanakaw, rapist, illegal transactor, or a drug lord?" I said looking directly to his eyes.

Mukhang naintindihan naman nya point ko, so he gently nodded without cutting our stares. "I'm a businessman—"

"Make it specific please???"

"That's it, I'm a business man. All I could tell you" tsk, ang kuripot naman nito. Ako nga ang daming dinaldal e.

"Is it a truth or a lie? Ayos lang naman kung Lie sya, that only means you don't wanna talk about it so I can let it go"

He snore. "Fine! It's a lie then, my turn. What do you do for living"

"Ang baho ng trip mo. Of course I'm the bratty one who doesn't work for my needs. I simply waste my parents money without a dept as long as I follow their request. And that's a truth."

"You mean you don't work at all?" He said frowning, with a parted lips in disbelief.

"Why would I? If they can do it for me. Pero wag mo'ko maiitin lintik ka, nag-mamanage din naman ako ng ibang family branch namin, Like I sometimes visit our first Class Restaurant in Bohol."

Well it's kinda true... But the real case is I only visit there to see my ex. I already tried countless times to poison him but it all fails. Ewan ko ba, I wanna kill him for what he did to me.

"Ako na ba mag-tatanong?" I asked.

"You choose, but I'm going to sleep already. I'm really tired Amaranth—"

"You can call me Aja, that's my nickname" I politely said with a smile. Pagod na rin ako, gusto ko pa sana maki-pag chikahan sa kanya. Pero sya itong ayaw.

"Erwood, that's what everybody use to call me"

"Ok, I'll call you Azi then" I said in declaration and before he could ever protest, I turn my back on him and went to the bathroom. I have taken an evening bath yet.

When I finished my night routine, I saw no trace of Azi on our bed. I bitterly smiled as I lay on my bed to simply take a rest, bwesit yung hayuf na yun.

I was about to sleep when I heard someone's screaming. I cuss before stepping out of our room. Sa kabilang kwarto, the door was open so I walk in.

Only to see a young lady, getting strangle into somebody's mascular hands. "Speak! Now!" A man on his back said.

"How could she? If you're blocking her airway, tsk" I whispered.

I nearly rolled my eyes, boredomly watching their stupid scene, I also cought the young woman's attention, she has it's pleading eyes that the killer also noticed that's why the man turn around and look at me in disbelief.

"Hi Mr. Just wanna tell you how boring you are in terms of killer an innocent girl"  I said with a yawn. Playing with my nails. 

"Fvck!—"

"Just continue, don't bother mind me here" I politely said. With that, the girl and her eyes turned hopeless.

Pero ano namang pake ko sa kanya? I'm here to watch their live show, not to save her from death. What am I? An angel?

"Go away!" The man hissed. 

"What? No! Bored ako e... Just do your thing, I'll stay here. After you kill her I promise to move away, I swear"

"Fine!" A little sigh in relief. At last, for over 2 years makakakita na ulit ako ng babaeng mamatay through seeing it live.

He turn his head on the girl he's strangle to death. Then he let go of it. When I was about to react, he kneeled at the woman's chest before twisting it's head.

"Woah!!! Ang galing!!! Do it again, do it again!" I said while clapping my both hands in excitement.

He blushed, but right after that moment he groaned standing up and place the woman in her own bed. "Hey! She's not yet dead!" I complained.

"How did you know?" He amusingly ask. 

"I can still hear his pulse?" I said more like an questioning tone. "But that's not the main—"

"Why do you care" he whispered. Honestly... He's voice seems familiar to me, I just can't clearly recall.

"Well you got a point. But the way you killed is such a disappointed... You could atleast make her suffer first? Hearing someone's screaming in helplessness is emulously satisfying."

"Just shut up! Umalis ka na, bago pa mag-bago ang isip ko at isunod ka?"

I pout and didn't listen to him. "Then killed that woman first before I leave" I suggested.

"Fvck it! Who the are you to command me!"

"I'm a McGoughlin—uhm no erase that... In underground society everyone calls me Treasure. And you are?"

"Treasure—Treasure is a woman?! Svck it, I'm Hunter. That's my name, now to move away" Hunter is it... I'll definitely going to encrypt his name on my head then. 

I bit my lips in excitement seeing him walking near the woman. "Who's her?"

"Mariposa... My beloved ex"

"Why? I mean why you wanna kill her, did she cheated on you?"

"No. My queen ask me to do it. That's why, and please keep your mouth shut."

"Do I know your queen?"

"No, no body must know her real Identity."

"Alright, I won't ask for more... But can I do the honor?" I ask holding a sharp knife under my sleeves.

He smirked before nodding. He stood and make a way for me... Finally... My desire has shown again...

A smirk never leave my face when I stab the woman countless times, even her bloods are spitting in my body, I didn't care. As long as I have a strength to torture her body I'll gladly do it with a smile.

When I get tired of stabbing her, I look at to Hunter with my devilish smile, and he did the same. "I didn't know you were this brutal Treasure... Hindi na ako nag-tataka kung bakit ang daming nag-hahanap sayo, ngayong ilang dekana na ang naka-lipas lahat ng sumubok at lasog lasog ang katawan."

"Maliit na bagay, now help me bring this shitty woman in the bathtub so she can clean herself alone... And I'll do the cleaning, leaving no trace of what we just done.

"Do your things. I don't have fingerprints since I was born, kaya wala akong problema sa pag-lilinis"

A glimpse of surprise when he said that "really? O God! How couldn't I meet you before? I got no finger prints too... Akala ko ako lang" I pouted that makes him chuckled. "I feel less special about it, by the way wala naman pala tayong problems e, basta lagay mo na lang sya sa bathtub tas alis ka na huh? I'll call the cops para kunwari ako yung witness"

"What? No! Mapahamak ka!—"

"Who told you I will allow my self in danger? I'm sure you blocked all the CCTV near this unit kaya walang problema."

"Whatever, I'll leave you now then—and before I forgot, remember that I'll make sure to see you again some times..."

"I'll gladly wait for you then, Hunter..."