"SA TINGIN mo ba ay matutuwa siyang makilala ako, hija?" Inilapag ni Blythe ang pastang hawak niya sa lamesa, muli niyang ini-ayos ang mga pagkain doon bago niya binalingan ang kaniyang mama sa gilid ng lamesa. Kanina pa ito hindi mapakali at halos maya't maya kung tanungin siya. Lumapit siya rito para ayusin ang namumuti na nitong buhok, ginagap niya rin ang nanlalamig na mga kamay ng ginang at marahan niya itong pinisil. "Mama, relax lang po. Malapit na raw si Zandro." But she did the opposite, her shaking worsened and her breathing became rapid. "Sigurado ka ba rito, hija? Paano kung ayawan niya ako? Lalo at hindi ko lang siya pinahirapan noon, maski ngayon habang nasa gitna siya ng isang misyon." "Mama, mahal ka po ni Zandro at alam kong ma-uunawaan niya kung ano man ang nagawa ninyo... Kung hindi ka niya gustong makilala, bakit siya pumayag sa date ninyo ngayong gabi?"
"HUSBAND AND WIFE" LOVE IS like the luminous full-phase moon glowing from the night sky; it doesn't usually appear every single night but when it does, everyone makes sure to cherish it a lot... Gaya sa paniniwala ng dalagang si Blythe— ang prinsipyo ng dalaga pagdating sa pag-ibig at kasal ay sinsagrado ng altar sa bawat simbahan. Hindi man siya pinalad na lumaki sa piling ng kaniyang tunay na ama't ina, wala mang kabiyak ang itinuturing niyang ikalawang ina ay ni minsan hindi nawala sa isip niya ang kahalagahan ng pag-ibig sa pagitan ng dalawang taong magpapakasal o magsasama. Para sa dalawampung taong gulang na dalaga, isa sa pinakamahalagang sangkap ng kasal ay ang pag-ibig.But with her case right now, their needs; and her unending problems it seems that her principles and beliefs have no part to take in her life at the moment. Her Mama Celia has been hovering between life and death; sa tindi ng dinanas nito sa kaniyang aksidente ay kinakailangan ng ginang na ma-operahan sa lalo
"ALL FOR MY DEAREST"WATCHING the luminous Luna up in the night sky used to be Alezzandro's pastime when he was looking for something to blame for the troubles coming into his life. The thick clouds around her seemed like protecting their muse from the dagger look that his eyes have been throwing since he leaned on the railing of the balcony outside his penthouse while drinking his favorite red wine. To escape the sudden rise of hell in his mansion was his plan, only to be ruined by the memories that happened hours ago that keep on flashing inside his head. What he feels towards that damn monster is something beyond fury, that's too shallow to describe the fire blazing hotter in his chest for a decade now. It didn't just burn him alive but it ruined everything around him that Zandro actually lived in the dark for the rest of his life. The wrath he's been keeping through the years intensifies every time he sees her pretty face, the damn sweet smile owned by Blythe, or would it be more
"MAGIC LOTION"FREEZING IN terror— no! She's actually dying in horror. The tiny flame of courage blazing in her chest died down in a splash of fear as Blythe found her now-conscious body lying on the dirty ground of the dark playhouse soaking in this fishy, creamy; and thick maroon liquid. The smell is making her wanna puke! Why she is lying out there is still a question for Blythe, but the biggest question that's making her head haywire is the blood flowing out of her ripped skin all the way through her veins. God! Imagine the dread clawing around her body as if there's a giant and cold hand that's gripping her to death, making her breathless. What really happened? Nanghihina siyang bumangon at mabilis na tumakbo patungo kina Mother Superior para ipakita ang nagdurugo niyang braso at dibdib. Habol-habol niya ang kaniyang numinipis na hininga nang pumasok siya sa bulwagan ng bahay ampunan. Hindi pa siya nakaka-bawi sa kilabot na yumayapos sa kaniya ay muli na namang natulos ang mali
"HER MAMA IS THE BEST" WALANG NAGAWA si Blythe nang araw na iyon kun'di bumalik na lang sa kaniyang silid at doon magtampisaw sa kabagutan at pag-aalala. May ilang pagkakataong na-aaliw siya sa pagbabasa ng mga dala niyang libro at notes galing sa kaniyang klase— and speaking of that thing— aside from her work which she sets aside since she lived with Attorney Vizmanos mansion, hindi na rin siya nakaka-pasok sa kaniyang klase mga ilang araw na rin ang nakakalipas. Ang sabi naman ni Attorney Vizmanos ay gagawan nito ng paraan ang tungkol doon, maybe home school?Even her best friend Claudia was inviting her for a dinner with her newfound family last time. Napa-ngiwi si Blythe nang maalalang hindi niya rin ito nagawang pagbigyan. Nagkasunod-sunod na kasi ang mga problema at kaguluhan sa kaniyang isip kaya't nalimutan na ni Blythe ang tungkol sa mga iyon.Ang balita pa naman niya kay Addi ay may mayamang dine-date ang kanilang kaibigan ngayon. Blythe actually saw her ring with an elegant
"MI AMOR"THE DEAFENING silence that's roaring between the newlyweds since they went home from the hospital is starting to make Blythe crazy, as well as the anger breaking in his face earlier was enough cue that he's mad of what she has done. Truly that what she did is a violation of their agreement, and violation means punishment or chastise. Blythe would understand it but as to what Attorney Vizmanos doing— he was just calmly walking ahead of her, both hands were inside his pocket and his head was up as if he's boasting over someone. Wala ba itong pakialam sa nagawa niya? Ayos lang ba ritong tumakas si Blythe at lumabag sa utos nito? If so, what were the rules for? "Attorney," she called out after an audible sigh. Her chest can't hold it back anymore. "Pasensiya na po sa nagawa ko, hindi ko naman gustong labagin ang rules mo pero hindi ko lang kasi mapigilan, e. Miss na miss ko na si mama at—" "But I'm also telling you that my house isn't like your university where you could just
"THE DEATH OF HER"NOW THAT Zandro has mentioned that, nagbalik muli sa ala-ala ni Blythe ang dahilan kung bakit siya naroon sa bahay ng binata at kung saan nagsimula ang kanilang kasunduan. Para iyon sa mas mataas na posisyong nais nito at makukuha lamang niya iyon kapag napa-tunayan na nito sa matandang judge ang kaniyang sarili at siya ang pinili nito mula sa linya ng mga pinakamagagaling na mga abogado sa bansa."Gagawin ko," pagsang-ayon ni Blythe. "Great... Now, what is it that you need for that idiot?" "May pangalan siya, siya si Luiz," matapang niyang saad. "At wala siyang kasalanan sa nangyari. Ako ang pumilit sa kaniyang ilabas ako. Tutol naman talaga siya sa ideya ko, pero—" "Stop beating around the bust..." He gave her an icy-cold stare. "Go straight to the point now." "Ako na lang ang parusahan mo," she claimed without having a second thought. Kinagat ni Blythe ang pang-ibaba niyang labi, natatakot siya ngunit kailangan niyang harapin ang bunga ng kaniyang kapangahasan
"CASSIDY CORREA VILLALOBOS"THE PRIVATE meeting continues inside the huge office of the Monroe's mansion, Zandro's eyes keep on sticking around the people that his family has been serving for how many decades now. The Monroes and his respectable parents were good friends which actually started with the late Don Honoracio Inocencio Monroe who has been nothing but a charitable and great leader dating back to the early 1940s. The different charity events he founded were what gives his father— retired Lt. Col. Arquero Augusto Vizmanos— the chance to attain an education which led him to the successful life he has today.Utang na loob at pagkakaibigan, sa madaling salita— iyon ang nagkukulong sa kanilang pamilya para manatiling naka-bigkis sa lahing minsan sa kasaysayan ay mortal nilang kalaban. At ang utang na loob ding iyon ang sumasakal sa leeg ni Zandro para sundin ang lahat ng nais ng kaniyang butihing ama na siyang kumupkop dito at bumuhay simula nang ma-iligtas siya nito mula sa kamay