“I HATE YOU!” mariing saad ni Ysabella sabay talikod kay Axel at binalot ang kanyang sarili ng kumot. Hindi nagsalita si Axel at napabuntong-hininga na lamang habang pinagmamasdan ang kanyang asawa na nakatalikod sa kanya at galit na galit. Humiga siya nang tagilid at itinukod niya ang kanyang siko sa higaan saka niya ipinatong ang kanyang ulo sa kanyang kamay. “It seems to that your body does not fully understand everything that has caused you to continue to despise me, do you?” saad ni Axel habang nakatingin sa kanyang asawang nakatalikod. “My body has nothing to understand about what you're saying because there is nothing to understand in the first place!” mariing saad ni Ysabella na bakas pa rin ang galit sa tono ng pananalita nito. “Do you really believe you haven't forgotten anything, Ysabella?” makahulugang tanong ni Axel. “If there is something I should remember, I can remember it no matter how long it has passed. And I have no recolle

“YOUR HONOR and ladies and gentlemen of the jury: the defendant has been charged with the crime of illegal trading under Republic Act No. 5455, copyright infringement, and theft of trades and secrets under Republic Act No. 8293 “Copyright Law”, Republic No. 8792 “Electronic Commerce Act of 2000”, estafa by means of deceit under Article 315 (2)(a) of the Revised Penal Code, and tariff evasion under Republic Act No. 9135. At midnight of March 14th, the defendant was caught having a transaction of illegal items that came from Papua New Guinea with Mr. Fulong at Manila Port, Pier 12. The defendant was arrested in an entrapment operation at the tip of Mr. Francisco. The presence of the defendant at the crime scene will prove that he is guilty as charged,” saad ng prosecutor.Matapos na magsalita ni Prosecutor Del Mundo ay tumayo naman ang lawyer ni Jacque—si Allan Cabalquinto at sinabi ang kanyang opening statement.&ldqu

“YOUR HONOR, and ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you have heard some nonsensical denials, ostensibly under oath. Consider, instead, the obviously more credible testimony of Amando Fulong and Rushian Rupert Francisco, witnesses—we have established beyond a reasonable doubt the following facts: 1) that the defendant did intentionally talk to the stevedore—Amando Fulong—on the evening of March 14th, 2) that the cargo ship arrived with an illicit product from Papua New Guinea, and 3) that the defendant was the owner of illegal products. Jacque was running out of items to sell to his customers, so he is accused of importing a large number of counterfeit goods from Papua New Guinea.”“The prosecution alleges that Jacque used the alias Jason Manson to purchase items from a supplier in Papua New Guinea in order to conceal his identity. Lemuel Vasquez, the prosecution's investigator, claims that Jacque is a fencer who would buy from a supplier kno

HINDI MAUNAWAAN ni Ysabella ang kanyang nararamdaman. Nababanas at hindi siya mapalagay simula nang makapasok siya sa loob ng kanilang k’warto ni Axel.“What the hell is wrong with me?” naiinis niyang tanong sa kanyang sarili.Muli, nanariwa sa kanyang isipan ang larawan ng kanyang asawa at ng babaeng kasama nito. Hindi niya maintindihan pero nang makita niya ito nang sandaling iyon biglang nawala siya sa kanyang ulirat at naging blangko ang kanyang isipan. Hindi niya matukoy pero may kung anong kakaibang koneksyon ang dalawa na siyang nagpapalito ng nararamdaman.Napaungol si Ysabella sa labis na pagkasiphayo. “Damn it! Ano bang nangyayari sa akin?” gulong tanong niya sa kanyang sarili sabay gulo ng kanyang buhok.Nasa kalagitnaan ng pag-iinarte nang bigla niya marinig ang pagpihit ng doorknob dahilan para mabilis niyang inayos ang kanyang sarili at nagpanggap na tulog. Hindi niya kayang harapin ang kanyang asawa kaya magpapanggap na lamang siyang tulog nang makaiwas na rin sa mga ka

At muli, sa pangatlong pagkakataon ay hinalikan ni Axel ang kanyang asawa sa marahan at mapanuyong paraan. Gustong umangal at itigil ni Ysabella ang nangyayaring iyon pero hindi niya magawa dahil mismong kanyang katawan ay tumatangging pigilan ang nangyayari. Ramdam niyang unti-unti na ring tumataas ang temperatura ng kanyang katawan dahil sa panunuksong ginagawa ng kanyang asawa.“Axel, stop,” pakiusap ni Ysabella sa pagitan ng kanyang munting halinghing.“I told you, Ysabella. We're just getting started.”Hindi na nagawang makapagsalita si Ysabella nang ipagpatuloy na ng kanyang asawa ang pag-angkin sa kanyang katawan na siyang lalong nagpasilab sa kumukulo niyang libido. Nagpatuloy si Axel sa kanyang ginagawa hanggang sa tuluyan nang bumigay si Ysabella at nagawa niya nang makuha ang kanyang regalo mula sa kanyang asawa.Nabalot ng ungol at nang nagsasalpukang mga laman na nabalot na ng pawis at ang pinaghalong katas nilang dalawa na siyang nagbigay lalo sa kanilang katawan ng kaka