Zella"Mommy! Zella is crying!" papungas-pungas akong bumangon at lumapit sa crib. Zenith was the one who looked after his sister. Hapon na pero antok na antok pa rin ako kaya pinabantay ko muna sa kanya para umidlip.Lumapit ako sa crib at hinalikan ang noo ni Zenith bago binuhat si Zella. My daughter was now 1 year and 2 months old, and breastfeeding ko pa rin siya until now dahil sabi ng doctor ay healty raw 'yon."Very good, Kuya Zenith. Thank you for taking care of your baby sister," I said and caressed his hair. Zenith giggled and hugged me by my waist. Sobrang responsable niya tuwing siya ang naiiwan sa kapatid, unlike other children who get jealous when they have siblings.Buhay ko si Zella at tumahan na nang makita ako. I kissed her chubby cheeks, and she just cried again, obviously getting impatient because she's hungry. Binaba ko ang strap ng bra ko at pinadede siya. Zenith playfully covered his face and turned his back."Anak, you don't have to do that. Dito ka rin kaya du
Wedding Day"Hindi ka iiyak! Hindi ka talaga iiyak, sinasabi ko sa 'yo baka matanggal ang makeup mo mamaya," bulong ko sa sarili habang pinapaypayan ang mukha. Styx and I decided to hold the wedding at his private resort in Zambales. Naging mabilis ang lahat ng preparasyon dahil may mga koneksyon siya.I was wearing my wedding gown and my makeup today. Simple lang ang gown na napili namin dahil beach wedding naman ang theme nito. Nauna na sina Styx sa lugar kung saan pagdadausan at mamaya pa ako susunod dahil kakatapos ko pa lang mag-ayos.My makeup artist entered my room after knocking. She smiled at me. Pinilit niya akong pakalmahin dahil paulit-ulit na namamasa ang mata ko sa sobrang kaba. Paano kapag hindi sumipot si Styx?! I swear, I'm going to make him pay if that happens.Matapos ang ilang minuto ay dinala na nila ako sa labas, malapit sa dalampasigan ang venue, at nakahanda na ang lahat nang makarating ako. I was wearing my veil while still standing outside the venue. Ngunit n
"Daddy, can I play with Kerrin after school?" Zella, my seven-year-old daughter, asked. I put down my paper and glanced at her. She was peeking at the door of my room, pouting, and her hands were clasped. I motioned for her to come closer, which she did, but her mouth pouted more."Did I say that you should call him Kuya Kerrin because he's five years older than you?" I said softly. Zella snaked her arms around my waist and looked up at me."I told you, Daddy. I like Kuya Kerrin," she shyly said. I chuckled lightly, carried her, and made her sit on my lap. I removed my eyeglasses and started combing her hair using my slender fingers. I stared at my daughter's eyes and smiled as I saw that some of her features mirrored her mother's."But your mom won't like it when she hears it; you're too young for that kind of stuff, my princess." Zella bit her lower lip, trying to restrain herself from crying, but she couldn't. Umalpas ang luha sa mata niya at nahihiya siyang nagtago ng mukha sa dib
PROLOGUE"His family recently notified us via email that he passed away this morning after being paralyzed for more than two months."A man wearing a black tuxedo smiled slightly as he heard what his secretary had said.He was watching what was happening below the building through the glass wall, as if everything were just a toy he could control with his hand."Call Attorney Vaugh, and tell him that he needs to do the papers so Mr. Xendler's half would be transferred-" His secretary interrupted him, she looked embarrassed as she proceeded.A deathglare can be seen in his black eyes as his brows furrow. Nobody could risk breaking the enveloping tension, "His lawyer claimed he would not transfer his shares from you. His daughter will takeover his position."His secretary shivered in fear as she was unable to respond to the man's indignant inquiry, "How come? He has no child!"When someone had the audacity to open the door, he quickly glanced that way. His mouth dropped open as soon as
Her plansWho knows that this is how it feels to see your enemy almost turning pale while wearing their shocked face. It is kinda satisfying as well as my favorite moment so far."How's the meeting with the board? Hindi ka naman hinarang sa labas ng opisina 'di ba?" I rolled my eyes and began smoothly shaking the glass of my wine while a small yet sarcastic grinned plastered on my lips."Zy, you have no permission to interrupt their meeting yet you did," he added."As far as I know I am now the chairman of the board after Dad passed away. What's wrong with that?" Tinaliman ko ng tingin si Duex na biglang napaayos ng upo sa couch ko at patagong natawa.Huminga ako ng malalim at pinagkrus ang binti habang pinaglalaruan ang yelo sa inumin. Saglit pa akong napataray nang maalala ang reaksyon ni Styx. Looks like he saw a ghost but maybe I am . . . the ghost of his past."Tsk. I'm just concerned about you, babe. Anong sabi ng pinakamamahal mong asawa?" Muntik ko nang madura ang iniinom ko sa
Business ProposalBumuntong hininanga ako matapos ang limampung minutong pagtitig sa puti kong kisame. Hindi ko mabilang kung ilang beses akong nagpakawala ng malalim ng buntong hininga dahil hindi maalis sa isipan ko ang nangyari kagabi sa party.Styx said kept on running and appearing on my mind. The way he uttered 'I miss you' was so realistic that I almost believed it. Sarkastiko akong napangisi at naikuyom ang kamay na nakalagay sa ibabaw ng dibdib. Nakasuot pa rin ako pantulog at gulo-gulo pa rin ang buhok dahil wala akong lakas na bumangon ngayon araw. Ilang beses ko ring narinig ang pagtunog ng telepono hanggang sa inis akong bumangon at sinagot 'yon."Good morning," masayang bati ng nasa kabilang linya pero wala ako sa mood para sumagot."Tsk, tsk. Ano't nakasimangot ka na naman, aga-aga, ah?" Pumunta ako sa loob ng cr at humarap sa salamin, napasimangot ako nang makita ang itsura ko. B'wiset. Para akong walang buhay."Sabagay lagi ka namang nakasimangot," dagdag niya at huma
The Kiss "I suggest, we expand the casino so we'd attract more tourist since our target are foreigners and businessmen. What do you think Mr. Syruis?" Nanlaki ang mata niya at napaayos ng upo matapos marinig ang sinabi ko. Tsk, tsk. Sabi na at hindi siya nakikinig dahil kanina pa siya nakatitig sa 'kin habang pinaglalaruan ang kanyang ballpen. Ngumiti siya ng alanganin bago ilibot ang paningin sa mga taong nakaupo sa mahabang lamesa na ngayon ay inaantay ang sasabihin niya. Lahat sila ay nasa kanya ang atensyon kaya hindi ko maiwasang mapangisi."I agree with uhm, Ms. Xedler. That's nice suggestion." Tumango ako bago nagpatuloy. I need to earn their trust as soon as possible. Lahat sila ay nagdadalawang-isip pa sa kakayahan ko pero hindi ko hahayaang maging gano'n lang ang tingin nila sa 'kin sa paglipas ng panahon.Umupo ako sa swivel chair habang pumipirma ng mga papel na inabot ng secretary ko, hindi pa rin ako kumakain kaya ramdam ko ang pagkalam ng sikmura ko pero hindi ko 'yon p
Reunion"Sasusunod na gawin mo 'yon walang kaibi-kaibigan ah?!" sigaw ko kay Duex habang kinakabit ang hikaw sa tenga ko. Inis akong sumulyap sa kanya na ngayon ay tawa-tawang nakamasid sa 'kin habang nakadantay ang dalawang braso sa sofa.Nakapasok siya sa bahay ko habang tulog ako dahil may sarili siyang susi rito sa bahay. Madalas siyang tumambay dito kaya hinayaan kong may susi siya pero hindi para gisingin ako ng maaga! Late na ako nakatulog kagabi, hindi pa rin mawala sa isip ko kung paano ako titigan ni Styx kagabi. He looked at me like he is really in love with me. Nakakatawa dahil habang masayang-masaya siyang kinukuha ang loob ko ay palihim ko siyang tinatawanan.Nag-uumpisa pa lang ako sa plano but everything was going smoothly according to our plans. Hindi kami nahihirapan dahil si Styx na mismo ang lumalapit sa 'kin at halos lumuhod sa harapan ko para mapatawad siya.In-expect ko nang mangyayari 'to but hindi gano'n kabilis. Kinailangan ko pang tiisin ang mga halik niya p