BidNapabuntong hininga na lamang ako nang nakapasok na kami sa venue. Halos hindi ako makahinga nang nasa red carpet kami. Everybody’s suspicious eyes were on me and Teo. Gulat silang lahat. Pati ako. Agad ding napalitan ang mga tanong tungkol sa amin ni Hunyo nang mga tanong na tungkol sa amin ni Teo.Nainis ako na ginawa pa niya iyon kanina. I wish he just minded his own business. He just caused a scene earlier. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mararamdaman ng mga Valleros.Pagkapasok ko palang kanina sa venue, umiwas ako kaagad kay Teo. He tried to pull me back to him pero dinumog agad siya ng mga kilalang negosyante. I was immediately entertained by possible business partners too.And I thought the questions would wonder around business and about this charity program. Pero mali ako. Dahil lagi nilang tinatanong ang tungkol sa eksena kanina. Now, I don’t know how to answer their questions.Kapag may relevant sa trabaho at negosyo sinasagot ko. Pero kapag tungkol na sa’min ni Teo, iniiwa
PaintingHis hand settled on my small waist while he held my other hand. I swallowed hard as I placed my hand on his shoulder. It’s been a long time since we haven’t been this close. Napalingon ako sa aming paligid. All eyes are on me and Teo.Nasa labas ang media pero hindi imposibleng walang nakalusot dito. They might be talking about me and Teo. They might be curious if who really is my fiancé now. Or who I’m dating.“Relax,” wika niya.Hindi ko napansin na medyo wala ako sa sarili. I unconsciously tighten my hold on his shoulder.“We shouldn’t be dancing with each other.” I heard his small chuckle and a smirk formed on his lips. Umiwas na lang ako ng tingin. I can feel my heart going wild inside its fragile cage.“I like the rumors going around,”Kumunot ang noo ko.“What rumors?” I asked slowly.“That we’re dating.”“At gusto mo ‘yon?”“I like it better than you fooling my brother.”Biglang pumait ang timpla ng mood ko. He really has to say that. This man in front of me was once
Waste“Hija, I’m really sorry.” Iyon ang bungad sa akin ng ginang. Ngumiti na lamang ako. Napalingon siya sa dala ng driver ko. Nasa likuran ko, dala-dala ng driver ko ang painting ni Daddy. Kumunot ang noo ni Tita Riona pero agad ding lumiwanag nang tiitigan nito ng mabuti ang painting. “Hija…”“It’s okay, Tita. Bumawi naman si Mateo by giving me Dad’s painting.” Alam ko ang ibig sabihin ni Tita Riona. She called me earlier when I was in the hotel. Naghihinga ng pasensya dahil sa nangyari kagabi. She said sorry for Hunyo’s absence pero hindi pa ako nakatanggap ng kahit ano kay Hunyo. She also said sorry for Mateo’s actions last night. She then looked at me with questioning eyes. Hindi ata niya ito inasahan. I flew back here to La Libertad. Because my first move for revenge is happening now. I smirked at Tita Riona. “Hija, it’s so beautiful but… why is it here?” Napatingin din ako sa painting. “Mateo won the bidding, not me. Plus, since I’m getting married to Hunyo, it would b
SufferChapter 13Biglang humagalpak ng tawa si Teo habang kami ni Tita Riona tulalang nakatingin sa kan’ya. Napakurap-kurap ako habang umiiwas ng tingin sa kan’ya. What the hell did he just said?I glanced at Tita Riona. She’s shaking her head in disbelief and later on, smiles at Teo. Napailing ako sa sarili. Though I know Teo is just joking and I know I shouldn’t be having any reaction but I feel my stomach having the flutters.I licked my lips and tried to smile at Teo but it turned out sarcastically.“Malayong mangyari. From the looks of you, you’re bad news, Mateo.”Tumawa ang ginang at umiiling. She doesn’t agree with me, eh?“Hija, trust me. Mateo just likes to joke.”I saw him stop for a moment and looked at me intently. Napalunok ako. May kung ano sa paraan ng kan’yang pagtitig sa akin. Hindi ko mawari. There’s something in his eyes so mysterious and wanting. We stayed like that, looking at each other’s eyes. Na para bang wala si Tita Riona.Na para bang meron kaming sariling
BegChapter 14Sa gabing iyon, sa mansyon ng mga Vallero ako nakatulog. Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog pala ako sa tabi ni Veronica. I watched her sleep deeply. Bakas parin sa mukha nito ang sakit. I saw her flinched and groaned.Doon ko lang napansin na pinapawisan na pala ito. In her airconditioned room, I touched her cold sweats. I sighed when my hand came in contact with her skin. Ang init niya. Babangon na ako nang narinig ko ang pagbukas ng pintuan.There, Teo went inside. Dala nito ang bed table. Sunod na pumasok ay ang kasambahay nila dala rin ang isang bed table. Diretso ang lakad nito papunta kay Veronica. Nakita ko ang gamot at agahan sa bed table.Binigyan din ako ng katulong ng bed table. Puno ito ng pagkain para agahan.“She’s sick,” wika ko.Nakita kong pinunasan ito ni Teo ng lampin sa noo at ibat-ibang parte ng katawan. Kukunin ko na sana ang bimpo mula kay Teo nang iniwas niya ito sa direksyon ko.“I know what you’re going to do. Eat breakfast first, Zell.”Hindi na
MeetingChapter 15I took my hand from him. It dropped. At tinignan lang niya iyon. He looked so weak with every step I take away from him.Nababaliw na ba ako? Why did I even let him do that? I breathed in heavily. Ramdam ko parin ang kalabog ng aking puso. I feel the trembling of my knees even if I stand straight and strong in front of him.“Nandito si Hunyo. Hindi na nakakatuwa ang pinagsasbai mo, Mateo.”He glanced at me weakly. Nakasandal na ito sa dingding. Parehong kamay ay nasa bulsa at nakayuko na ang ulo. Mas mabuti iyon. I don’t think I would have the strength to reject him over and over again if I look straight into his eyes.“I knew you would disagree.”I gritted my teeth. Hinding hindi ko talaga siya maintindihan.“What the hell are you planning, Mateo?”“I’m supposed to ask you that,” his eyes bore on me coldly.Napalunok ako. Natigilan ako habang iniintindi ang sinabi niya. He’s supposed to ask me that? May alam ba siya? I was in the verge to breakdown to my thoughts w
BeginI slowly adjusted my earrings as I finished my make-up. Napatingin ako sa aking maliit na mukha. Nanginit ang pisngi ko nang mapagtanto kung ano ang ginagawa.Nang marinig ko ang pagbukas ng pintuan ng aking office, agad kong niligpit ang aking make-up. Pumasok si Gracy at tinignan akong mabilis na nagligpit ng gamit.“May lakad ka ba mamaya?” nagtataka nitong tanong.I pouted.“Just a meeting.”“Emergency meeting? Wala sa schedule mo, ah?”Nagkibit-balikat lang ako at inayos din ang buhok. Gracy gave me a wary look. Napataas ang kilay nito at mukhang hinuhula pa ang ginagawa ko.“May date na naman kayo ni Hunyo? Why do you look so dolled up?”I bit my lower lip. Halata ba? I sighed and sat back in my swivel chair. Tiningnan ko ang wrist watch. Goodness! I’m two hours early para sa meeting namin ni Teo! I must be crazy!“Is my make-up too much?”Tumawa ito at umupo sa harapan ko.“You have a full eyeshadow on! You usually settle for natural make-up when it comes to office work.
ProposalChapter 17Kumunot ang noo ni Teo nang makita ang gulat kong mukha. I surveyed the office, looking for a space where I can hide.“Hunyo’s here,” sabi ko at papunta na sa isang corner ng kan’yang opisina para sana magtago.Ngunit naramdaman ko nalang ang paghigit ng kamay niya sa akin. He looked confused why I’m acting this way. Ako naman, hindi magets kung bakit parang kalmado lang siya.He should panic because we’re alone together in a room! Pero naalala ko, he really doesn’t care about me.“And? Why do you look flustered?”Napanganga ako.“Ano sa tingin mo ang iisipin niya na tayo lang dalawa dito? Did you plan this?” I accused him.“What? No! You’re the one putting malice in our meeting, Zell.”Napasinghap ako. Somehow, nagets ko ang sinabi niya. I am putting malice to our situation. And how sure am I na masamain ni Hunyo ang pagbisita ko dito kung wala naman talaga kaming ginawang kababalghan?I am overthinking this. And why do I feel like a cheating wife? I sighed heavil