“Can you believe it? I was dumped! That bastard! Who did he think he is?! And Bi? Such a thick face!” Arianna blabbered. “How could they take me for a fool?!”
“Wait, I’m really a fool, right? I did not notice until I saw the worst… I’m so pathetic.”
Nagagawa niyang maglitanya kahit na alam niyang buhat-buhat siya sa likod nang kung sinong sumagip sa kanya kanina. She was a total mess now. But she didn’t care. Wala nga rin siyang pakialam na tila hindi mabalanse ng may buhat sa kanya ang lakad nito.
She trusted him already that she thought even if she fell on the floor, he would tend to her.
“I can’t believe it myself! Akala ko napakaswerte ko kasi may boyfriend ako at may best friend ako na lagi kong kasama… I made them live in my house! All this while, I’m keeping snakes unaware!”
Arianna didn’t know what else she blabbered about. But the man was being patient with her. Kahit nang makarating sila sa isang silid, inalalayan siya nito nang magsuka siya ng wala naman. He tended to her even when she thought he was drunk himself. Lagi kasi itong napapahawak sa ulo nito tapos tila ito matutumba.
“How could they not think of what I might feel? I trusted them,” she sobbed. “I trusted them with my life.”
“Rest now,” she heard him say as he lifted her up and took her to bed. He struggled but he was finally able to put her down.
“Nah,” she refused to let go of him, causing him to fall on top of her. Even in the spirit of alcohol, Arianna thought the world disappeared as she looked at the man in that proximity. They were too close.
She and Dominic were never like that. Was that why he cheated on her? Kasi kahit anong pilit nito, mas may bigat pa rin sa kanya ang pangako niya sa kanyang ama to keep herself until her wedding night?
Dominic couldn’t do it with her so he did it with Bianca? If she had given in to his temptations, would he have stayed loyal to her?
“Dom, I think I’m ready now…”
Unable to think of anything else but the pain that the man she was saving herself for had betrayed her, Arianna closed hers and the man’s dangerous distance with a kiss. He was taken aback at first but that was his first and last attempt to pull away.
Everything that happened next was a haze of memory for Arianna when she woke up the following morning. She was alone on a king sized bed. But with her naked body under the sheet, she was sure of one thing, she lost something precious the previous night.
Napahawak siya sa ulo niya.
What did she just allow to happen? She also cheated on Dominic! Wala na rin siyang ipinagkaiba sa lalaki. How could she face him now and hold her chin high? Wala na. She was just like him…
Dala ng kahihiyan, she covered her face when she left the place that ruined her innocence. She hailed a cab dahil hindi siya gumamit ng sasakyan nang tumakas siya kahapon. Right, kahapon na gusto lang naman niyang pansamantalang burahin ang sakit pero natapos sa isang mas matinding pagkakamali ang lahat.
Worse, wala man lang siyang maalala sa mga nangyari nang nagdaang gabi. There were bits of vague memories, but she couldn’t make out the face of the man who took her precious first.
Not that it still mattered. Hindi naman niya maibabalik kung sakali. Isa pa, baka nga mas mabuting wala siyang maalala. It was not a good thing to remember anyway. It was shameful! Disgraceful for someone like her!
“Arianna, you’re here!” Sinalubong siya ng kanyang amang si Samuel. Hindi nakaligtas sa kanya nang mapalitan ng saya ang naunang matinding pag-aalala sa mukha nito.
“Dad?” Confused pang react niya nang mahigpit siya nitong yakapin.
“Where did you go? We’re all worried about you. Dominic and Bianca were still looking for you.” Samuel cupped her face.
Sa mga pangalang narinig ay bigla siyang nahimasmasan. But being aware of her father’s eyes on her, she managed a neutral face.
“I met with a friend. Hindi namin namalayan ang oras. I’m sorry for making you worry, Daddy.”
“Say sorry to your fiance. Halos baliktarin niya ang buong syudad para mahanap ka.”
Gusto niyang umismid. Did he really? Baka nga natuwa pa ito that he did not need to endure a night of pretense on their anniversary. Pero iningatan ni Arianna ang reaksyon niya at sa halip ay ngumiti sa ama.
“I will, dad. Why are you not at work?” Pag-iiba niya ng usapan.
“My daughter is missing, how can I go to work?”
“Who said I am? I just went out. Your daughter is a big girl, dad. You should not worry so much about me,” malambing na yumakap siya sa isang bisig ng ama.
“Hindi ka nagpaalam kahit kina Bianca at Dominic. We all thought something happened to you.”
“About that,” nakangiti siyang tumingin dito. “I was always told to save some mystery—”
Samuel rolled his eyes. “I know, I know I told you that. But this is not what I mean.”
“Then I’m really sorry, daddy,” aniyang ginamitan na ito ng puppy eyes.
“Alright, alright. I’ll let you go this time. But remember to apologize to Dominic, okay?”
Nakangiti pa ring tumango siya.
But inside her, she was hurting. She was lying to the only family she had left. Hindi niya pa kasi kayang i-disappoint ito sa ngayon. He thought so highly of Dominic. And though alam niyang mas importante siya sa ama, ayaw niya ring mag-alala ito sa kanya.
At the least, she must find a way to deal with Dominic and Bianca first.
Arianna thought she could handle the pain. But a few days later, she felt depressed as everything started to sink in.
She could no longer bear seeing Dominic and Bianca. She was having sudden urges to lash out at them.
So Arianna decided to leave. Hindi nagpapaalam na bigla siyang lumabas ng bansa. She just left a note for her dad saying she’ll be away for some time.
Five years later…“It is lolo’s wake, why am I not allowed to see him for the last time?” Pwedeng pagsabitan ng kaldero sa haba ng nguso na maktol ng anak niya kay Arianna.“Because you are Mommy and Lolo’s secret. Did you already forget that?” malumanay na niyuko niya ito dahil tumigil na ito sa paglalakad. Naka-cross arms ito at naka-pout. “Maliah, listen to me. You promised to be a good girl if I take you home with me.”“But Mommy…” hindi umubra ang pagmamaldita kaya luha naman yata ang susubukan nito sa biglang pamamasa ng mga mata nito. “He’s my Lolo. I want to see him…”“I understand how you feel, anak. But right now is not the right time for everyone to see you.”Maliah smiled sadly.“How about we video call and I’ll let you see him?” Arianna offered, hoping it would work. “Then you will do it secretly too?” She nodded. Wala siyang pagpipilian sa ngayon. She cannot reveal Maliah’s existence yet. “Would you want that?”“I guess…” Natawa siya nang mahina. Tumayo siya at inaya
“Arianna, why don’t you rest first?” Si Bianca naman ang sunod na lumapit sa kanya makalipas ang ilang sandali. She even said exactly the same words as Dominic. “Hindi ako pagod,” sagot niya. Hindi naman talaga. Pero ang alam kasi ng mga ito, dumiretso siya ro’n galing airport. She did give them a wrong schedule of her arrival. Kaya hindi alam ng mga ito na dumating na siya kahapon pa. “I’m so sorry for what happened to Tito, Arianna,” sabi pa ni Bianca na ginagap ang mga palad niya. “We did our best. Pero hindi siya umabot sa ospital.” Anong sasabihin niya ro’n? Na hindi siya naniniwala na biglaan ang lahat? In any case, Arianna did not want to raise their suspicion.Sasagot sana siya kay Bianca, pero naagaw ng bagong dating ang atensyon nilang dalawa. If her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her, the man who arrived was the man from the airport yesterday. He was wearing white long sleeves and black slacks, and of course, sunglasses. Even so, his simple attire did not hide his obviou
“Atty., are you sure you read that right? Is there any chance you’re mistaken?”Dominic appeared to be so surprised upon hearing that Samuel Lucero left the company's thirty percent of shares to him. "There's no way Tito would give that much shares to me. It's bigger than Arianna's! Atty, you must have read it wrong!" "I only read what's in the will," sagot naman ng matandang abogado.Arianna remained silent. One way or another, in-expect niyang may maririnig siyang hindi niya magugustuhan. Kaya kahit nagulat siya sa nilalaman ng will ng ama ay kaagad niyang nakolekta ang sarili niya. Her face remained calm kahit pa magdrama sina Dominic at Bianca na hindi makapaniwalang pinamanahan ni Samuel. Yes, including Bianca who got the house and the cars. "Arianna, I'm sorry. Can we do anything to give it back to her, Atty.?" hirit pa ni Dominic."Yes, Atty., kahit ako ay hindi komportable na maiiwan sa akin ang malaking bahay na ito. I mean, who am I? I'm not family! Ang pagpapatira pa l
“Mommy, can we go out now?” ungot ni Maliah pagkagising na pagkagising pa lang nito.Arianna was back in their hotel. Kaya naman sinusulit niyang makasama ulit ang anak na ilang araw niyang tiniis na hindi makita nang personal.“You can always go out with Tita Daisy, Maliah,” sagot niyang hinahaplos ang ulo nito. Maliah will be okay as long as she was not seen with her by either Dominic or Bianca. Hindi naman kasi niya kamukha ang anak. Pero syempre kapag nakita ito na kasama niya, it would easily be guessed na anak niya ito. Lalo na nga at limang taon siyang nawala. “But I want to be with you,” ngumuso ang anak niya.“We can’t be seen together yet, anak. But I promise you, once Mommy is done with the bad guys, we’ll go around together before we go back to the States.”“You are not changing your mind?” malungkot nitong tanong.“I’m sorry, Maliah. Babawi si mommy, okay? It’s just that now, it’s dangerous for you to be seen with me.”There was really no threat to her life for now. Bu
Alistair Miller’s profile shocked Arianna. He wasn’t just some shareholder in AL Jewels, he was the brilliant mind behind Asia’s biggest, and currently expanding worldwide, jewelry brand– Exquisite. A multi-billion company! Arianna couldn’t believe it. It made sense to her now kung bakit may pagka-OA umistima sina Bianca at Dominic noon sa lalaki. Hindi pala ito basta-bastang tao lang. Kung gano’n ay bakit nag-aaksaya ito ng panahon sa AL Jewels? The company only ranked third in the country, Exquisite being the first. Although it was quite big, hindi ito maikukumpara sa Exquisite. Nagkaroon ng pag-asa ang dalaga. Baka hindi siya mahirapan na mapapayag ang lalaki na ibenta ang shares nito sa kanya. “Robert, did you already get a hold of Mr. Miller?” “He is currently out of the country, Ms. Lucero. And according to his secretary, may engagement siya pagdating na pagdating niya bukas.” “The day after?” “Wala siyang free time sa susunod na isang buwan.” Arianna sighed. Hindi siya
“A charity gala?” ulit ni Arianna sa imbitasyon ni Dominic sa kanya. Nasa opisina niya ang binata. “Yes, Arianna. Will you come with me?” Nag-isip siya habang tumitipa ng mensahe sa nakaopen niyang laptop para kay Robert. If it were only to come as Dominic’s date, then she’d pass. But if it could serve another purpose, she would surely take advantage of it.‘Find out if Mr. Miller will be at the charity event happening tomorrow evening.’“Do you mind if I give you my answer after I talk to my secretary about my schedules?” nakangiting tanong niya kay Dominic.“I don’t. Just give me your answer before noon tomorrow. Kapag hindi ka makakasama, Bianca is interested in going. The event will showcase unique jewels and art pieces. So I prefer my fiancee to be with me in the event.” “Okay,” aniya. He could bring Bianca instead and she wouldn’t give a damn. Wala na siyang pakialam sa dalawa. Bagay ang mga ito, parehong mga ahas.Tumayo na si Dominic pero hindi naman ito kumilos para umalis
“You don’t seem to be waiting for somebody’s arrival. Did you really dare to come without a date, Mr. Miller?” sabi ni Arianna na bahagyang tumabi sa kakabakante lang sa kausap na si Alistair. May dala-dala siyang maliit na platito na may maliit din na serving ng sliced cake. She was trying to look like she just happened to be there by the buffet table and it was convenient to strike up a conversation with him since they knew each other. Nangunot ang noo niya nang imbes na humarap ito at kausapin siya, inuna nitong pansinin ang isang babae na kakalapit lang. The lady was wearing a mermaid cut tube gown, highlighting her curves and exposing half of her boastful chest. “Rude,” she remarked, low enough for him to hear bago siya nagretreat pabalik sa mesa ng mga pagkain. She lost the chance to talk to him. Pangit yata ang bungad niya. Feeling close masyado. Sa inis ay kumuha siya ng wine at inisang lagok iyon habang dinudurog ng tinidor ang cake kanina sa platito. Kukuha pa sana siya
Three days later, the auction items were still delivered to Arianna’s office. Pero nainis lang siya nang makita ang mga iyon. “Robert, send them back to Mr. Miller,” aniya sa assistant.“Ms. Lucero, have you given up on your plans?” Sa halip na tumalima sa utos niya ay usisa pa ni Robert. He even sighed like he was disappointed in her.“There must be some other way,” sagot niya. “How is it going with the acquisition of the smaller shares?”Umiling ito. By that, alam niya na walang progress ang backup plan niya. She had initially assigned someone to come to the other minority shareholders to buy their shares on her behalf. Well, hindi iyon pangalan niya sa ngayon, because like Alistair said, they did not trust her. Nainis siya lalo nang maalala ang lalaki. That night, they didn’t part well. Okay lang iyon dahil hindi na niya ito hahabulin para kumbinsihin na tulungan siya. He had made it as clear as day that just like the other shareholders, he also had doubts about her abilities.