BREE’S POV
Nilapag na ko ni Heath sa kama. Habang inaayos niya ang mga paa ko sa ibabaw ng unan, tinaas ko ang kamay ko. “Wait, wait. Papatayin nila ako AGAD-AGAD dahil lang inasawa kita?”
“Well, not only that, but also because you’re the daughter of the chief of police.”
I curse under my breath. Bakit ba pahirap lang ang mga lalaki sa buhay ko?
“So that settles it then?” tanong ko sa kaniya. “Kailangan nating maging maingat. This has to be a secret marriage until it’s over.”
Tumango si Heath. “We’re going to try to keep it that way, but it won’t be that long bef
BREE’S POVUmaga palang kinukulit ko na si Heath kung anong oras kami aalis. I didn’t think that I would be this excited to get a glimpse on what it’s like to live in a mafia world, but my blood was zinging through my nerves.“What should I wear?” tanong ko sa kaniya. “Kailangan ba naka-leather ako or something? Naka-all black? Or ‘yung parang may spikes?”Heath is busy with his laptop on the dining table. He had made us scrambled eggs and bacon under my instructions for breakfast.He sighs. “Brianna, you can calm down. Nobody cares what you’re going to wear. You’re the wife of their boss. They’re not going to comment on it.”
HEATH’S POVKung ako tatanungin mo, hindi din ako sigurado kung tama ba ‘tong ginagawa ko. Pagsisihan ko ba na dinala ko siya dito para makita ang isang banda ng mafia organization? Masyado ba siyang matatakot?Huli na ang lahat para alisin ko pa siya dito.Mukha naman kasing excited siya kaninang umaga, pero lahat naman ng tao may hangganan din ang imahinasyon. The mafia is not a beautiful thing.The mafia is ugly, full of blood, pain, bones, and death.Brianna settles herself beside me. May nagdala ng ibang boteng beer at makakain sa harap niya. Ayun nga lang, I don’t think she’s in the right state to actually consume anything.
BREE’S POV“Dinaya mo ko, Heath,” sabi ko sa kaniya pagpasok namin ng bahay. He has me in his arms. I am anticipating that creeping feeling in my stomach but I am too annoyed to notice if it’s there.“Anong dinaya?” balik niya sa’kin na parang natatawa. “You’re the one who chose your fighters. Ako nga ang lugi sa’yo eh.”Inirapan ko siya. Hindi ko din alam kung ano bang pinuputok ng butchi ko pero kasi naman… “Ah basta,” sabi ko at iniwas ang mukha ko sa kaniya. “That bet is not counted.”“Aw, come on, Brianna. You’re no fun.”“Hindi ako nagpapa-peer pressure. Pasensya ka na ha.”
BREE’S POVAkalain mo nga namang nadadaan lang pala sa pilit ang mga tauhan ni Heath. Char! Sa katotohanan, halos mapaos na ko sa kakasigaw para sa kanila bago pa nila ako sinilip kung totoo ba ang pagsigaw ko na nasaktan ako.Nang may isang lumapit sa’kin, sinabi kong kailangan niya kong dalhin sa ospital. Nakapwesto pa ko sa sahig ng banyo at pinilit kong magmukhang nakaawa.Nagsisisigaw ako habang binubuhat nila ako pasakay ng kotse, kunwaring nasasaktan at nabalian na naman ako ng buto.Hindi ko alam kung sa sobrang nerbyoso ba nila na nasaktan ako nang wala si Heath kaya ko sila napasunod. Pero ayan na nga, nasa ospital na ko at sa wakas, nagagalaw ko na ang aking binti at bisig.“Is that better?” p
BREE’S POVOne moment the world is tilted, then the next it was upright again. Someone gathers me in their arms and places me back on my stool.“Hey.”Heath’s face sharpened in front of my eyes as his fingers push hair away from my face.“You okay? You need to breathe.”Nang makita ko na nag-aalala ang mga mata niya, biglaan na lang lumabas ang mga luha ko. I can feel pain in my newly healed leg from all the running earlier.“He got hurt because of me,” sabi ko at binaon ang aking mukha sa’king mga palad. “Four times, Heath. He got stabbed. It’s horrible.”
HEATH’S POVIt has been a while since I have felt great about waking up. Simula kasi nang ikasal ako kay Brianna, parati na lang putol-putol ang tulog ko. It’s like the problems keep on trying to wake me up, wanting solutions so they could rest.“I don’t feel so good about this,” sabi ni Brianna habang nag-aagahan kami. “I don’t think this is the right decision.”Umiling ako sa kaniya. “There’s nothing else that we can do about it. A lot of people already knows.” I sip on my coffee. “Besides, wala naman akong reklamong narinig sa daddy mo, so I think he’s on board with this. Tingin ko naman na-gets na niya kung anong plano ko.”Napakamot si Brianna sa kaniyang pisngi. “But I don&r
BREE’S POV Alam mo ‘yun? ‘Yung gusto mo na lang manahimik ta’s biglang maga-appear ‘yung ex mong ayaw mo naman nang makita? “I don’t owe you my time, Aidan,” sabi ko sa kaniya. Sa totoo lang, nanghihina ako. I didn’t expect that I would see him again after he let me leave that place. “Alam ko,” sabi niya sa’kin. “But can I just have a few minutes? I… there’s something that I have to tell you.” Napatingin ako sa bodyguard na umupo sa may cashier at naka-krus lang ang mga braso sa kaniyang dibdib. Ang dalawang guard a
BREE’S POV“Do you actually have experience dating people?” tanong ko kay Heath habang nasa loob kami ng kotse.“Yeah,” sagot niya sa’kin na dapat naging obvious ‘yon. “But I have never dated seriously. I only liked humoring people sometimes.”“What do you mean by that?”“Iyong tipong akala nila may patutunguhan kami pero wala naman talaga?”I snort. “Ah, paasa ka pala.”“It’s not my fault. I’m a busy person. Kapag sila nag-demand na sa’kin ng oras, I draw the line there. There are far more important things than love.”