CHAPTER 1

Tumingin si Cooper sa kawalan. Sari-saring emosyon ang mababanaag sa kanyang malamlam na mga mata. His face is clouded with unfathomable emotions that even he can’t comprehend. Sakit, panghihinayang at lungkot. He may seem happy outside but God knows he is dying inside.

Lumipas man ang limang taon pero walang nagbago sa lalim ng sugat na nilikha ng nakaraan. Sugat na inukit ng nag-iisang babae na minahal niya ng lubusan. Si Zyon. Sa tuwing maalala ang babae, ang malamlam na mga mata nito, ang nangungusap na mga labi na palaging may nakahandang mga ngiti para lang sa kanya, ay bumabalik ang mapait na kahapon na pilit niyang binabaon sa limot. Masakit man sa kanya ang nakaraan pero wala siyang maaaring sisihin kundi ang kanyang sarili dahil isa siyang duwag! Yes, he was a coward for he was not able to protect his sole happiness!

“Pare, have you heard the current news?” wika ng kararating pa lang na si Jason. Kaibigan niya ito mula college and is working under him as vice president of the company.

Graduate ng Business Administration si Cooper in one of the most expensive and prestigious universities in the country. Though he majored in Business Administration, it wasn’t his passion. He is more inclined and passionate about making designs particularly jewelries. He just agreed to his profession because that was what his parents want and he also understood that he needs it as he was the only heir to their shipping business.

Aside from their shipping business to which his father currently managed, he also put up his own business, a jewelry empire. He started with his own savings and put up a small jewelry shop. He rejected his father’s offer to help him into the industry. Since it is his passion, he designed his own products and used only materials that are exquisite, elegant and expensive. Of course, it wasn’t easy as his items are not for average people. He needed to market his products strategically. It was hard at first as he was just a neophyte in the field of business and his competitors have been in the market for ages.

His name came to light when his parents gifted his works to the vice president of the country when she held her birthday party three years ago. She loved the set of jewelries his parents gave her and immediately called them and asked for the company that sold those jewelries. Not long after, his name traveled on the lips of those rich ladies, eventually putting him into where he is right now. From a mere shop, he rented spaces on big malls, hired employees, bought his own building, and eventually put up his own empire. He did it solely and he is so proud of it.

“What is it about?” sagot niya sa kaibigan na hindi man lang tumataas ng tingin. Patuloy siya sa pagguhit ng disenyo ng alahas para sa summer collection nila. Though he has a bunch of designers, he sometimes took matters with his own hands.

“Si Congressman Mercado tinambangan. It was an ambush. Good thing he survived but he is in the hospital right now, comatosed. They are looking into this as a political rivalry. Alam mo na, malapit na ang election.” pahayag ni Jason habang naninimbang ang mga tingin.

Natigilan siya ng marinig ang pangalan na binanggit ni Jason. Is he not sensitive enough? Bakit kailangan pang ipaalala sa kanya ang bahagi ng kanyang nakaraan.

“Ooops, sorry Pare! My bad.” At ngingiti-ngiti pa ito habang sumisipol.

Napabuntung hininga siya at itinigil ang ginagawa. Napasandal siya sa kanyang upuan.

“Hope he gets better soon. He is a good man. A really good one.” sinserong komento din niya.

Oo. Alam niyang mabuting tao si Congressman Mercado at kilalang-kilala niya ito. Dahil ama ito ng babaeng minahal niya. Ama ito ni Zyon. Despite what happened between him and her, hindi nabawasan ang respeto niya sa ama nito.

Biglang sumikdo ang dibdib niya pagkaalala sa babae. Damn it Cooper! It’s been five years!

“Yeah I agree. He is a good man and an honest public servant. At ganun din ang anak niya.” May himig pasaring na dugtong ni Jason.

Dead air. Silence occupied the whole place for about 30 seconds.

“I’m sorry pare.” Paghingi ng paumanhin ng kaibigan

“Sus! Antagal na nun. Tapos na sa akin ang chapter na yun pare. Look at me now! I got Elise!” Maluwag ang mga ngiti na sagot niya sa kaibigan. Elise is the hottest actress as of the moment. Maganda at sexy.

“Oo na, ikaw na ang gwapo. You got Elise now. And who will you get tomorrow, and the next week, next month?” Halakhak ng kaibigan.

Humalakhak din siya sa biro ng kaibigan. Kasabay ng kunwaring pagmo-move on niya, ay ang pagbabalik ng dating bisyo niya. Babae! Pero siya lang ang nakakaalam na walang pagmamahal na involved sa kahit kanino sa mga babae na nakarelasyon niya kaya hindi tumatagal ang mga ito. Dati naman siyang ganun di ba? Not until he met Zyon.