Epilogue
THE HEART, as how his mother had told him before, is a traitor, at nagpapasalamat si Tejano na hinayaan niya ang kanyang sariling pusong traydorin siya nito. Because if he kept deceiving his heart, he will never be this happy in his life.
Mula nang makilala niya si Stelle, nagkaroon ng halaga ang bawat paghinga niya. His heartbeat had meaning since then and his world slowly light up as her love conquered the darkness covering him.
Stelle was the ray of sunshine that made him grow from a tiny lifeless seed into a strong tree in a dangerous forest. The problems they faced along the way watered their relationship and now they knew, nothing could ever keep them apart anymore.
Natulala na naman siya sa ganda ng misis niyang malapad ang ngiti sa kanya. Umihip ang hangin at nilipad ang kulot nitong buhok, tila nasa isang eksena sila sa pelikulang gustong-gustong panoorin ni Stelle kasama siya.
Prologue"REMEMBER, Emeraudo. Nobody must be able to reach the most vulnerable part of your body." His mother held his hand tightly while her eyes are staring blankly at his. "A person's heart is a traitor. You must learn to deceive it. Do not let it control your thoughts. Do not let it overrule you."Nilunok ni Emeraudo ang namuong bara sa kanyang lalamunan. Gustong pumatak ng kanyang mga luha, ngunit malinaw na nakaukit sa mukha ng kanyang ina ang pagtutol."Push your tears back, Emeraudo. You are never allowed to shed a tear. What are you?""The Deceiver." Mababa ang tinig niyang tugon.Gumuhit ang ngiti sa mga labi nito. Matipid ngunit totoo. Parang sinuntok ang kanyang dibdib. It was the first time he saw that expression in his mother's face, as if it's the only genuine expression she was able to show him in the entire time they were together.Hinagod nito ng palad ang ka
Kabanata 1TAHIMIK ang kalangitang pinagmamasdan ni Emeraudo mula sa bintana ng silid. Walang ulang paparating at tila nais niyang dumungaw ngunit hindi niya maaaring itulak ang salaming bintana. He needed the reminder that he is trapped here, so he will master controlling his mind even more."Emeraudo, I want to go out. Papa is not home."Napabaling siya sa kapatid na nakatingin din sa bintana at may hawak na hawla ng ibong nahuli niya noong nakaraang linggo. The pigeon seemed lonely and sick, as if it's mourning for its freedom.Inilipat niya ang tingin sa mga mata ng kapatid na kamukhang-kamukha niya. Ang siyang dahilan kung bakit kinailangan niyang patayin ang kanyang ina upang mailigtas ito mula sa kanilang ama.The twins were separated when they were newly born. Nais silang itago ng kanilang ina mula sa kanilang ama ngunit siya lamang ang nagawang itakas. His twin was lef
Kabanata 2INSANITY. Stelle knew getting to the suite with the man is pure insanity but her mind no longer worked when he started kissing her roughly again. Bumigay ang kanyang mga tuhod at nalasing ang kanyang isip nang balutin siya ng kakaibang init sa katawan.She lit that flame, and now he's turning it into a massive wildfire with his touches and sultry trails of kisses.Napasinghap siya nang sa paglapat ng pinto ay diniin nito ang kanyang katawan sa pader. His hands immediately held the thin straps of her dress and pulled it down to her arm. Wala siyang suot na bra dahil sa disenyo ng damit kaya nang malaglag ang damit sa kanyang baywang, nagkaroon ito agad ng layang hagurin ng palad ang kanyang dibdib.She moaned inside his mouth as he ravage her lips, rough and so so wet like a hungry beast. He palmed her mound and gave it a squeeze she knew she'll never forget. Ang gaspang ng palad nito ay nagdala
Kabanata 3"I JUST FUCKED someone. And guess what? She called me Emeraudo." Naniningkit ang mga matang ani ni Emeraudo sa kapatid habang nasa silid sila."Uh, brother, you are Emeraudo." Halatang naguguluhan nitong sagot."Exactly. And you know what's funny? I never met her yet she knows my name." Tumaas ang kanyang kilay. "Are you going around the city sticking your dick in every woman you meet?""Of course not. I ain't like you."He snapped, kinagulat ang tugon ng kapatid. "Oh wow. So I'm the dickhead here? Is that what you're saying?"Natatawang umiling si Tejano. "All I'm saying is I never fucked anyone."Napakurap si Emeraudo. "Y—You never did it with Veronica or anyone else?""Nah. I'm saving myself for someone but I wanna sleep with Veronica once we're married."Nasapo ni Emeraudo ang kanyang noo. "Oh you're hopele
Kabanata 4"EMERAUDO Romani, one of the secret agents assigned to take down Cinco Mortales, died in his last assignment." Paliwanag ng babaeng agent habang nasa isang silid sila kasama ang matandang lalakeng nagngangalang Manuel.Kumuyom ang mga kamao ni Emeraudo nang matitigan ang itsura ng kapatid sa projector. He was badly wounded by multiple gun shots but what killed him was the gunshot in his chest."Gresso Lindstrom, the leader of Albana syndicate who's on the top list of human traffickers in the world, is behind your brother's death. Lindstrom has been a candidate for the Cinco Mortales leaders' circle for two years now but we don't know why he was refusing the offer."Nagflash sa screen ang mukha ng lalakeng nagpautos ng pagpatay ng kanyang kapatid. Dumilim ang mukha ni Emeraudo. Tinandaan niya ang bawat detalye ng mukha nito, sinisigurong sa oras na makaharap niya ay makikilala niya.
Kabanata 5NAAALIW si Agent Romani na pagmasdan kung papaanong namungay ang mga mata ng babae. Ni hindi nito magawang alisin ang titig sa kanya na para bang hinihigop niya ang lakas nito.To be honest, the feeling is mutual. It's being hard for him to step back already and keep his hands off her body as if his palm just got glued on her back. Her sweet perfume filled his nose, and now he's being tempted to bury his face on her neck to sniff all her scent."T—Tejano?" She asked, her voice a little shaky.Parang nagbunyi ang kanyang puso. So she remembers him pretty well? Hindi niya alam kung magandang senyales ba iyon, considering who he is now.Suminghap ito at hindi napigilang mapakapit sa kanyang coat nang humagod pataas ng batok nito ang kanyang palad. Lalong bumigat ang mga talukap nito at sa paraan ng pag-awang ng mga labi, alam niyang nabuhay niya ang parehong init sa kat
Kabanata 6MATAPOS maidala ni Ramirez si Veronica sa banyo at nasigurong wala nang ibang papasok, doon lamang pumunta si Agent Romani. Ayaw na ayaw niya sa lahat ay iyong biglang sumusulpot si Veronica kapag nasa ganitong sitwasyon siya lalo at dalawang lider ang naririto.Who knows if Chrome is inside the place, too? Malilintikan sila ni Ramirez. Idagdag pang may mga Wildflower agents na maaaring nakakakilala kay Veronica. They'd be in big trouble! Kahit naman sabihing sinisisi niya ito sa pagdedesisyon ni Tejano na sumapi sa MI6, hindi niya ito pwedeng hayaan na lamang na mapahamak.He made a promise to his brother's grave that he will keep her safe as much as he can, kaya lang minsan ay matigas ang ulo at nais talaga siyang puntahan. Gumagamit ito ng koneksyon para malaman kung nasaang lupalop siya ng mundo.Pinuno niya ng hangin ang kanyang dibdib. He needs to deceive her. Of all people, s
Kabanata 7NAKASARA ang mga mata ni Stelle habang ang kanyang mga daliri ay tinitipa ang mga nota ng piano. She's playing the Supreme's favorite classic song, while the Supreme is seated on her throne, her face covered with a thick red veil that's preventing everyone from seeing her.Sampung taon na rin mula nang mapunta siya sa poder ng Suprema. She was taken from a foster home by a couple, only to find out she'll be sold to the Supreme. Ilang taon din muna siyang nagpalipat-lipat ng tinitirahang pamilya hanggang sa mapunta siya sa Suprema na siyang naging permanenteng kumupkop sa kanya.She was spoiled by the Supreme with all the luxury in life every woman would envy, except for a mother-daughter bonding. Malamyos ang tinig ng Suprema ngunit tila laging may hagod ng pagbabanta sa boses nito tuwing nagsasalita. Tila ba isang maling galaw, magagalit ito. Iyon ang iniiwasan ni Stelle. Her journey of finding her new home was rough, an