"I CAN'T believe that you two was into Mathis shits." Wika ni Venus habang nagpalipat lipat ng tingin sa dalawa niyang kaibigan.Mahigit dalawang buwan na ang nakakaraan matapos ang kanyang surprisang kaarawan. Malaki na rin ang tiyan ni Venus at ilang araw na lang ang bibilangin, manganganak na siya sa pangalawang anak nila ni Mathis."Dapat nagpapasalamat ka sa amin, baliw." Napairap naman si Carina at kinaway nito ang waiter. Umorder ito ng panibagong coffee nang makalapit ang lalaki. "If we didn't trick you with signing that marriage contract, what's the worst that can happen?"Napagbugtong hininga naman si Venus nang marinig niya iyon mula kay Carina. Kasalukuyang nasa Café sila ngayon na katapat lang ng flower shop niya habang pinag-uusapan nila ang mga bagay na nakalipas nitong nakaraang mga buwan.Noong gabi pala na naglasing siya kasama ng kanyang mga kaibigan bago siya madukot. May pinapirmahan na kontrata sa kanya si Karla, sinabi nito na demolition contract iyon para hindi
"OHHH God..." Mathis mumbled. Ito na yata ang pang-limang beses na bumangon siya. Talagang nauudlot ang kanyang gising. "Come here, little buddy." Kinarga naman niya ang kanyang mumunting anak gamit ang kanyang matitipunong mga bisig.His cries are torment for him. Making a baby was fun but taking care of it is the worst! Nagigising kasi siya sa tuwing umiiyak ito sa kalagitnaan ng gabi."Hey..." Narinig niya ang malambing na boses ni Venus. Naalimpungatan ito sa ingay ng kanilang anak. "Let me handle him." Bumangon ito upang kunin sa kanya ang sanggol.He insisted. "I can handle it, no pressure. Just go back to sleep because you need it." He can see visible eyebags on Venus eyes. Naaawa siya sa kanyang asawa na kapapanganak pa lamang. Ayaw niyang madagdagan ang stress nito. Gusto niyang alagaaan ang kanilang sanggol."Let me do this, Vee." He kisses her on the forehead. Pumikit naman si Venus at dinama ang kanyang halik. A kiss on the forehead is the best kiss of all."Thank you..."
"MATHIS?" Ang matipunong likod ng lalaki ang una niyang nakita nang magising siya."You, okay?" Nang humarap ito sa kanya ay bahagyang naawa si Venus. He looks like a corpse and he's lacking of sleep. He even has dark circles on his eyes."Good morning, mi Corazón." At hinalikan naman niya sa noo ang babae. Kaagad siyang nagbihis dahil pupunta pa siya sa base. "Pupunta ako sa headquarters. There's an emergency. Nawawala si Leona at mukhang may dumukot sa kanya. We have to make sure that it's the Black Assassins Cluster who took her.""Oh no..." Bigla naman nakaramdam ng kaba si Venus. Akala niya tapos na ang lahat."How's Idris?" Tanong niya sa asawa. Alam niyang maaapektuhan ng eksenang ito ang kanyang kapatid. She feels that Idris is still into Leona."Can you take care of Clydie and Giselle for me?" Niyakap siya ni Mathis. His manly scent soothes her nostrils. "I'll be back before sundown. Tsaka pupunta dito yung wedding planner.""What wedding planner?" Tanong niya."I want to hav
VENUS immediately answer a videocall as soon as she receives it. Katatapos pa lamang niya sa unang session niya kasama ang isang psychologist."Hey, Sunshine!" Ang maaliwalas na mukha ni Mathis ang kaagad na bumungad sa kanya.She smiles at him and wave her hands. "Hey, you. Katatapos pa lang ng session ko. No cellphones allowed in there. Sorry to keep you waiting.""I understand. How are you feeling?" Concern is written all over his face. Mathis advice literally helps her to cope up with her anxiety, depression, and trauma.She had a heart-to-heart talk with her doctor earlier regarding about her nightmares. Naging vocal rin naman si Venus sa doktor sapagkat isa rin itong agent rin na nagtatrabaho sa NSGASP. The doctor will surely understand her situation. Mathis and her friends—Karla and Carina recommended the doctor themselves in order to have exclusivity and protection too."I'm good." She answered."Well, see you soon. Ingat sa biyahe. I love you, Vee." Then Mathis gave her a vir
"THE WEDDING planner is here!" Ang maingay na bunganga kaagad ni Karla ang umalingawngaw sa buong mansyon nang pumasok ang personang tinutukoy nito."I'm so excited for you, Vee!" Tumili naman si Carina habang kinakaladkad sa malaking sala si Venus."Good morning, Ms. Ellington." Binati naman ni Venus ang natukoy na wedding planner."Oh, please! Just call me Shelby." And they both shake their hands together. "Ms. Venus, I'm your wedding planner, Shelby.""Oh my God! Your name is so cute!" Papuri ni Karla. Ito talaga si Karla ay walang paawat sa kanyang enerhiya. Nagmumukha siyang pinakamasayang tao sa buong mundo."Thank you so much." Tugon naman pabalik ni Shelby. Balingkinitan ang katawan ni Shelby at mukhang mas bata ito sa kanila ng dalawang taon. "I'm perfect for this field. I'm a big fan of your father, Ms. Venus.""Just call me Venus " Wika ni Venus. Dinala niya si Shelby papalapit sa couch. "Please have a seat, Shelby.""You're really getting married for real!?" Hindi makapani
IT is a beautiful day in the town of West Carolina. The sun is up, the birds are singing, the people in the town are healthy and smiling, the children are playing; the clouds are clear while the skies are blue, and everything is perfect and peaceful.Another normal day for the people of West Carolina but they are all looking forward with this moment to come.Payapa ang lahat ng bagay gaya ng inaasahan. Ito rin ang pinakamahalaga at pinakamasayang araw para sa isang babaeng may pangalan na Venus Navaeh MonteVillamor, ang anak ng pinakamayamang tao sa lugar na ito. Wala na siyang ibang mahihiling pa kundi ang mangyari ang araw na ito.This is the day she has been waiting for, the day that they have all been waiting for. The day of her most awaited wedding.Hindi lang siya ang masaya sa araw na ito kundi ang lahat ng tao sa West Carolina ay masaya at naghihintay sa araw ng pag-iisang dibdib nila ng mapapangasawa niya.Like who would not be happy on her wedding day? No woman never dreams
VENUS felt the anger inside her chest when someone entered the flower shop. She can't be wrong or mistaken. She knows the way he stands, the way he walks, she knows all of his motion. Masyado niyang kilala ang taong nakita niya kaya hindi pweding nagkakamali lang siya o di kaya'y namamalik-mata. Kaswal lang na lumapit ang lalaki sa counter at hinarap siya. She froze when their eyes met. His features are still the same but he's more manly now. He still has those long eyelashes, thick eyebrows, his aquiline nose, adequate cheekbones, well-crafted jawline, and his red sensual lips. Then she breath heavily when she glances at his eyes again. It is beautiful and still purple. A rare and magical eye that can send thousands of shivers into her spine years ago. "Welcome to Giselle's Flower Shop, Sir." She greets him with a fake smile and a fake casual welcome. Then she scans him from head to toe, it's been a decade but he still hasn’t changed a bit. He's still into leather jackets and den
MATHIS can't help himself not to stare at her face over and over again. She's still beautiful as ever. She’s a still the most beautiful woman his eyes ever laid on. Too bad, she's not happy seeing him again after a decade. Lumapit ang waiter ng café at kinuha ang mga order nila. He paid for their order and after that, the silence claimed them. Walang nagsalita sa kanilang dalawa at halatang ayaw siyang makausap ng babae. Mukhang hindi nga ito komportable na nakikita siya subalit nagtataka siya kung bakit pumayag pa itong mag-coffee sila. "Here's your coffee ma'am, Sir..." The waitress is the only one who broke the silence between them. Kuntento na kasi si Mathis na makita lang niya ang babae at makasama ito ulit ng ganito. "Thank you..." Venus said and then the waiter left them. He cleared his throat. Trying to avoid the awkwardness that filled the air between them. "Uhm, anak mo ba yung bata kanina?" Halatang natigilan si Venus sa tanong. Dumapo ang mga mata nito sa labas ng caf