Kabanata 50: Necklace

RENESE FELT heavy as she entered her husband’s car, which had been waiting for her for a while. She’s overwhelmed and heartbroken by her father’s words, which are much more painful than the ones she receives from social media. “How was it, wife?” Zoren smiled but instantly vanished when he saw her distress. “What’s wrong? May nangyari ba?” nag-aalalang tanong nito sa kaniya. She bit her lower lip and threw herself on Zoren’s arms. Nabigla naman ang asawa dahil sa ginawa niya ngunit ‘di nagtagal ay niyakap din nito ang babae na humihikbi. “What’s happened, baby?” Zoren muttered. Renese spoke, sobbing, “He... he blames me, too. My dad. He said... terrible things and it hurts...” Zoren rubbed her back to calm her down. Panay ang halik nito sa tuktok ng ulo niya na para bang sinasabing nandito lang ito. “Shh, don’t listen to him. He’s wrong. I’m here for you always, ‘kay? He’s blinded by his feelings for Lilithas,” he hushed. Nang kumalma na siya ay sinalaysay niya kay Zoren ang la

Last Updated : 2025-12-05

Kabanata 51: A Mother's Plea

“RENESE, DARLING! You look tired. Manila life is wearing you down, I see. Come in, come in! I have so many pasalubong to show you fresh from Europe!” excited na bunga sa kaniya ng ina niyang si Roxanne nang makapasok siya sa mansion nila.Bumungad sa kaniya ang sala na punong-puno ng mga paper bag na may tatak na mamahaling brands. Well, iyan lang naman ang luho ng ina niya—ang mag-shopping hanggang sa maubos na ang dala nitong pera.Kakagaling lang kasi nito mula sa isang buwang bakasyon sa Europe, specifically from Switzerland, France, and Italy.“Ang dami naman nito, Mommy,” puna niya at saka kumuha ng isang paper bag bago sinilip ang laman. It was the limited edition Fall-Winter Collection of Chanel.Roxanne chuckled. “Paris, Milan, Rome—I raided them all, darling! Chanel, Prada, Gucci—well, you name it, I bought it.”“You shouldn’t have, Mom. I have a lot of this in my condo. Wala nang space,” aniya.“Nonsense. A little luxury never hurt anyone. Besides,” Roxanne’s eyes twinkled,

Last Updated : 2025-12-06

Kabanata 52: Accident

TAHIMIK LANG si Renese habang nakatitig sa labas ng bintana papunta sa restaurant kung saan niya kikitain ang boyfriend ni Ravisse. It’s been two weeks since they started to investigate Ravisse’s past, and it’s harder than they ever imagined. Hindi naging madali para sa kanilang kumbinsihin ang boyfriend ng kapatid niyang makipagkita sa kaniya. They tried to talk to him many times ever since they found his address, but they got rejected many times as well. So she didn’t expect him to call her last night and tell her that he wanted to meet and talk. Hindi niya kasama si Zoren ngayon dahil nagkaroon ng malaking problema sa kumpanya nito na hindi maaaring ipagpabukas. Gustuhin man nitong samahan siya, pero pinigilan niya ito. She can handle herself. Tsaka sigurado naman siyang hindi siya mapapahamak kagaya ng pinag-aalala nito dahil dalawang sasakyan ba naman ang ibinigay nito sa kanya na puro guards. Naputol ang malalim na iniisip ni Renese nang binalot ng malakas na ringtone ng phon

Last Updated : 2025-12-15

Kabanata 53: Life and Death

HINGAL NA HINGAL at tagaktak ang pawis si Zoren nang makarating sa St. Raphael Medical Center na pinakamalapit na hospital sa pinangyarihan ng aksidente. May mga humarang na sa kanyang media upang makibalita ngunit hindi niya ang mga ito pinaunlakan. He needs his wife and nothing else! Nang makarating siya sa emergency room na naka-pula pa rin ang ilaw ay nakita niya roon sina Vilmie, na sekretarya ng asawa niya, at ang kaibigan nitong si Shoelie, na parehong namumutla at bakas ang pag-aalala sa mukha. “What happened?!” he asked immediately. “M-Mr. Voss…” Vilmie muttered. “I said, what happened?!” he roared, starting to lose control because of anxiety. Shoelie stood up. “Mr. Voss, can you please calm down? We’re in front of the emergency room, and Renese is inside. Baka makaistorbo tayo sa loob,” seryosong saway sa kanya ni Shoelie. Zoren took a deep breath and massaged the bridge of his nose. He put his hand on his waist in a manly way, trying to calm himself first while walki

Last Updated : 2025-12-20

Kabanata 54: Who is the mole?

DAHAN-DAHANG hinimas ni Zoren ang kamay ni Renese na may nakatusok na IV line. He’s sitting next to his wife’s hospital bed, staring at her unconscious form. The only sound inside the room is the machines’ soft beep. Zoren studies her face—bruises faint under the bandage, lashes resting too still. He gently brushes a stray strand of hair away from her forehead. “I’m sorry for not being able to protect you enough, wife. I’m sorry for not being there when you needed me. Please fight. Don’t leave me… not now. Not like this,” Zoren susurrated, pleading. He leans forward, resting his forehead lightly against her knuckles. Tatlong oras na ang nakalipas simula nang ilipat si Renese sa private room nito para doon i-monitor. Kahit na nakikita naman ito ni Zoren ay hindi niya pa rin magawang mapanatag hangga’t hindi niya ito nakikitang magising. He’s not the type of man who prays. He didn’t even know if he knew God—but tonight, he found himself praying. A soft knock breaks the stillness. Su

Last Updated : 2025-12-21

Kabanata 55: Awake

UNTI-UNTING binuksan ni Renese ang kanyang mga mata. Unang tumama ang kanyang paningin sa puting kisame ng silid—everything feels heavy, blurry, and distant. The scent of a familiar medicine comes inside her nostrils, a sign that she’s in the hospital.Her head throbbed. She tried to open her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. Her body feels numb and weak; the pain lingers, but it’s dulled.How did I get here? What happened?Nang subukan niyang ilibot ang kaniyang paningin ay bumagsak ito sa asawa niyang naimtim na natutulog sa gilid ng kama niya habang hawak ang kanyang kamay.Renese didn’t make a sound upon seeing that. A soft smile forms on her lips as she watches him asleep. She noticed his tired face—the dark circles under his eyes and his unshaved, clenched, perfect jaw.He looks so stressed.Renese bit her lower lip upon realizing what happened.Shattered glass. Car overspeeding. Blood.Yeah, she had an accident, and she’s in the hospital. She’s alive. Gosh, she thought she

Last Updated : 2025-12-26