There was an intense battle of eyes between me and Ruan while Rye was busy checking his hand clock to count the time.“Choose our children,” I mouthed.Napapikit ang lalaki na tila hindi na alam kung ano ang gagawin. He was clenching his jaw while breathing heavily while Rye was just grinning evily while staring at him.Sa isip ko ay ang tunog ng paggalaw ng kamay ng orasan habang ilang nguso ng baril ang nakatutok sa akin.“Thirty seconds.”Sinubukan kong lumingon kayla Sever at Altro ngunit hindi ko magawa dahil sa higpit ng pagkakahawak sa akin ng mga tauhan ni Rye kahit nakatali na ako.When I looked back at Ruan, nakita ko itong nakatitig sa mga anak namin na hindi pa rin tumitigil sa pag-iyak. When he turned his head and our eyes met again, I gave him a nod of assurance. “I'll be fine,” I mouthed him words again. He shall choose them. Bukod sa mukhang seryoso ang kapatid nito sa kondisyon niya ay 'yon na ang pinakamaayos na paraan upang matapos na ito. Hindi papayag si Rye na
Nagising ako na nakahiga sa malambot na kama sa loob ng isang maayos at malamig na silid. I was expecting chains or ropes around my wrists, or a piece of cloth covering my mouth and eyes, hindering me from talking and seeing; I didn't expect that I will wake up lying in a comfortable mattress without feeling any pain around my body.Agad akong bumangon at nakitang suot ko pa rin kung ano ang damit ko kanina bago ako mawalan ng malay. Napag-alaman kong gabi na nang mapalingon ako sa bintana.Hindi na ako nagpaligoy-ligoy pa. Agad kong nilapitan ang pinto na unang nakita ko at binuksan 'yon. Bumungad sa akin ang madilim na hallway. Doon palang, alam ko na agad na wala ako sa isang simpleng bahay lang.Saan naman kaya ako dinala ng lalaking 'yon? Matapos ang ilang segundong paglalakad ay natagpuan ko ang ilang malaking hagdanan pababa kung saan kita ang malawak na sala. Hindi ito tipikal na mansyon sapagkat moderno ito ngunit may halong royal na disensyo. Mula sa mga chandelier na naka
Hindi masamang makinig. Sometimes, the smallest voices you hear around you will lead you to what you are looking for— like trail of breadcrumbs towards the jackpot. However, maaaring ito rin ang maging sanhi para maabot mo ang dulo— ang dulo na malayo mula sa hinahangad mo. Ang dulong tatapos sa mga inaasam mo. Be aware of your surroundings but do not get fooled easily. Blistering footsteps echoed around the hallways. I was on my way back to the room where I woke up earlier when the servants inside the mansion started panicking. “The guards just called. Lady Lemery is on her way here!” It was a whisper from an old lady that walked passed me. She was talking to a younger servant who immediately crumpled her face— I don't know if it's because of annoyance, worry, fear, or nervousness. Who's Lady Lemery? “Señor just left! What shall we do?” Hindi ko na narinig pa ang sumunod na sinabi ng babae dahil nakalayo na sila mula sa puwesto ko kung saan ako napatigil. Malapit na ako sa pin
Halos isang linggong hindi nagpakita si Rye pagkatapos ng gabing iyon. Halos isang linggo na rin akong nabuburo sa loob ng mansyon. Kain at tulog lang ang ginagawa ko at hindi ko alam kung paano ko 'yon nakakayanan lalo na't hindi ako sanay sa gano'n.Isang beses kong sinubukang mag-aksaya ng lakas upang tumakas, ngunit mga sugat sa braso lang ang natamo ko matapos kong labanan ang mga bantay sa labas ng mansyon. However, hindi naman ako nakaramdam ng pagsisisi. I was bored that's why I did that.Hindi lingid sa aking kaalaman na nasa loob lamang ng mansyon si Rye, ngunit hindi ko alam kung saan banda. Hindi naman lahat ng parte ay maaari kong puntahan sa loob ng mansyon. May mga bahagi na hindi ako pinahihintulutang puntahan kaya naman hindi ko mahanap-hanap ang lalaki.Kaya naman suwerte ako nang bumaba ako sa kalagitnaan ng gabi dahil kinailangan kong linisin ang sugat ko na aksidente kong muling napadugo, muli kong nakita si Rye. “I already missed my sons' birthday. Until when d
I knew I was fucked up real hard when all I could see whenever I was closing my eyes is her; her delicate lips and her pair of dark sultry eyes. The electricity that her touch sent me that night together with her sweet moans even bugged my system for I don't know how fucking long.“The woman you met that night is not the daughter of Articus Severino you have chosen as your fiancée.”I knew it.From the moment she turned off the lights first before taking off her mask, I fucking knew it. The Astean Severino I was talking with told me she prefer it lights on.Fuck. What now?Sino ang babaeng 'yon, kung gano'n? Hindi niya ba ako paninindigan? “I don't know who is she.”Nakakunot ang noo ko nang balingan ko ng tingin ang kanang-kamay ko na si Ervo. “How did you know it wasn't her then?”“According to Altroin, Astean Severino is currently under medication for her illness. The Severinos are hiding it.”Napapikit na lamang ako at napamasahe sa aking sintido. “Articus used another woman. Does
After having a nice talk with him, I got Sever Hareon as my right hand. He was easy to talk with. Hindi ko naman siya binantaan. I just gave him reminders as his boss.“What did you do? Bakit may pasa sa mukha 'yon?” Ervo was so worried when he got into my office. Napataas ako ng isang kilay sa kaniya. “You know him?”“I am the one who trained him before he became the head of Derrivy in the Philippines.”Nagkibit-balikat ako. “Nice. He's my right hand now. Pinapayagan na kitang umalis.”Napahinga nang malalim ang lalaki bago itinaas ang gilid ng mga labi. “Alright, then. Sa wakas. Malaya na ako. Goodbye, boss. See you when I—”“Sinabi ko ba na ngayon? He will start his work as my right hand right once my children are born.”Ervo muttered a curse. “Five months pa.”I asked Sever to be with Zalaria while she's carrying our twins in exchange for a billion dollars. However, the man told me that it was really his plan to do so, even if I did not ask him.If only I was able to do my duties a
I was quiet as a predator aiming for a prey. Maingat ang aking mga hakbang habang sinisiguro ko na walang ibang nakakakita sa akin. Padilim nang padilim ang hallway na aking tinatahak habang tumatagal, ngunit hindi ko magawang huminto. Hindi ako dapat na huminto. Kailangan kong sundan ang lalaki. He was heading to the basement. I was holding my breath while tying the mask tightly behind my head. I didn't have a hard time entering this masquerade party, pero mukhang mahihirapan akong makalabas dito ngayon. If I would follow the man to the basement, I would get into a trap. Or maybe I am already in one? Hindi lingid sa kaalaman ko na hindi biro ang seguridad sa lugar na ito. I was lucky that my backers did what they have to do to get me in here peacefully. However, I didn't enter the party as an alluring lady in a hot long gown. Nandito ako bilang isang taga-silbi. This is a party of elites. Lahat ng nandito ngayon ay may malalaking pangalan hindi lamang sa loob kundi pati na rin
An unknown number was calling me. Noong una ay wala akong balak sagutin ito. Malay ko ba kung scammer ito na maniningil ng utang na hindi ko naman inutang, o 'di kaya naman ay death threats mula sa mga kaaway ko. Ngunit matapos ang ilang segundo, kusang gumalaw ang aking daliri upang sagutin ito. “Sino 'to?” bungad ko sa kabilang linya. “Zalaria, it's me.”Napangiwi ako kasabay ng paglaylay ng aking balikat matapos marinig ang pamilyar na boses. Hindi ko na pala dapat ito sinagot. “Why did you call?” diretsong tanong ko sa pakay ng aking magaling na ama. Hindi ko alam kung papaano niya nakuha ang numero ko dahil sa pagkakatanda ko ay hindi ko naman ito kailan man ibinigay sa kaniya. “I want to offer you something,” he answered straightforwardly. Wala manlang kumusta o simpleng pagbati. The side of my lip rose into a smirk. “Paano kung ayaw kong tanggapin?” “Five million pesos.”Napatanga ako. Ano raw?“I will give you five million pesos if you accept my offer.”Five million pes