جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 75

Tyler THE HEAVY SILENCE inside the Capitol office was suffocating. I stared at the polished mahogany table, my hands tightly clenched into fists as the adrenaline from the past few hours slowly began to fade, leaving behind a hollow, lingering numbness. Nasa Kapitolyo ako, pinaliligiran ng mga taong hindi nag-atubiling iwan ang lahat para lang masigurong buhay pa ako. Nang mabalitaan nila ang nangyaring pagsabog ng sasakyan ko, hindi na sila nagdalawang-isip. Lander, Mitchell, Dylan, Helious, Josh, Martin, and Argus—they all rushed straight from Pampanga to the Capitol just to check on me. Every single one of them looked exhausted, their clothes slightly disheveled from the frantic travel, but the relief in their eyes when they saw me unscathed was unmistakable. "Damn it, Tyler," Mitchell breathed out, running a hand through his hair, his voice laced with trapped anxiety. "Nung marinig namin na sumabog ang kotse mo, akala namin kung ano na ang nangyari sa'yo. You could ha

ReginaAng lamig ng aircon sa malawak na sala ng mga Legazpi, pero ramdam ko pa rin ang panginginig ng mga kamay ko. Kahit nakabalot na ako sa makapal na kumot at tapos na ang gulo, parang naririnig ko pa rin ang malulutong na tawa ng magkapatid na Versoza. I was still terrified. Every time I close my eyes, naaalala ko ang takot na naramdaman ko nang pagtangkaan ako ni Samuel.Pero sa tuwing titingin ako sa gilid ko at nakikita ko ang mahigpit na pagkakahawak ni Tyler sa kamay ko, unti-unting kumakalma ang dibdib ko. His thumb was gently brushing against my skin, a silent reminder that the nightmare was over. Ligtas na ako. Nandito na siya."Drink this, my wildflower," malambing na bulong ni Tyler habang inaabot sa akin ang isang tasa ng mainit na tsaa. "Kailangan mong mainitan."Kinuha ko iyon gamit ang isa kong kamay at bahagyang uminom. "Salamat, Tyler."Hindi lang kami ang nasa sala. Halos mapuno ang buong espasyo ng mga taong nagmamahal at nagpoprotekta sa akin. Nakaupo sa t

ReginaEven from a distance, as our car approached the massive gates of the Thompson mansion, ramdam ko na ang mabilis na pagtibok ng puso ko. Even though Tyler was holding my hand and constantly assuring me that everything would be fine, hindi ko pa rin maiwasang kabahan. I knew how fiercely protective my entire family was, lalo na si Dad.Pagkapasok pa lang ng SUV sa malawak na driveway, we were immediately greeted by a crowd waiting near the main entrance. Naroon sina Mom at Dad, along with our family elders and almost all of my childhood friends.Before Tyler's car had even come to a complete stop, bumukas na nang malakas ang pinto ng mansyon at tumakbo palabas ang kapatid kong si Ate Maegan. The moment I stepped down from the vehicle, sinalubong niya na ako ng isang napakahigpit na yakap."Reg! Thank God you're safe!" umiiyak na sabi ni Ate Maegan habang hinahaplos ang buhok ko. "Halos mamatay ako sa pag-aalala sa'yo!""I'm okay, Ate. Ligtas na ako ngayon," bulong ko, tears we