DUMATING ang unang kaarawan ni Devna. Muli ay sa kanilang bahay sa Tagaytay sila nag-celebrate. Triana had decided to have an intimate birthday celebration. Tanging malapit na pamilya at kaibigan lang ang naroon. Dexa had managed to go home despite her busy schedule. At s’yempre, naroon din si Liam na talagang hindi na tinantanan ang babae. Everyone could see they were in love. Pero hindi pa umaamin si Dexa. Pero hindi kaila na kahit sa Milan ay nagkikita ang dalawa. Lara and Austin came with their kids. Hindi magkandaugaga ang mag-asawa sa pag-asikaso sa tatlong anak. The infamous Wright triplets were Ackerley, Adler, and Laurie. They were adorable, and their faces were mixed, coming from their parents. Caleb attended the birthday party as well. Pero kagaya ng dati ay mag-isa ito at hindi kasama si Anya. Hindi naman sila nag-usisa pa nang sabihin nitong abala si Anya sa Canada. Clariz and her husband were there, along with their daughter Cambria. Akhil and Gracia didn’t miss it.
DEVANCE hardly shook his head as Eshvi’s voice kept on reverberating in his mind. He tried to distract himself by reading a business article. But he could not properly concentrate. Devna is Caleb’s child… “No!” he murmured. Kanina pa sila nakabalik sa bahay sa kanilang townhouse. They had a family dinner with their parents earlier at one luxury hotel in the city. Liam was also there. The man was acting like he was already part of their family, and he admired his guts. Ngayon pa lang nakikita na niyang gusto ito ng magulang para kay Dexa. And she prayed for her sister’s happiness as well. “Kanchha, are you all right?” nag-aalalang tanong ni Triana. Napansin nito marahil na balisa siya. They were inside their room sitting on the bed. “Of course, I’m okay, sweetheart. It’s just that Eshvi is inviting us for a family picnic in Benguet. Just us and the kids, a post-birthday celebration of Devna and Eashta. I told her I need to consult you first.” Nagbuga siya ng hangin. He didn’t want
THE Chaudharys drove North for the family picnic organized by Eshvi. Dalawang sasakyan ang gamit nila Triana dahil naroon ang dalawang bodyguard pati ang mga babysitter ng mga anak. Kasama ni Triana sa itim na SUV ang kambal pati ang babysitters nito. While Devance and Devna were in the red pickup truck along with the others. They arrived in Benguet at lunch. The place was extra cold compared in Manila. Kitang-kita mula sa kinaroronan nila ang luntiang mountain ranges ng Cordillera. Sa hindi kalayuan ay mayroong dalawang palapag na gusali na gawa sa kahoy. Agad silang sinalubong ng nakangiting mukha ni Eshvi. Karga nito ang anak at magiliw naman ang naging pakikitungo nito sa kanila. But still, Triana was wary of her. Ayaw niyang basta magtiwala dahil lang nanahimik ito sa nakalipas na taon. “It’s nice to see you here, Triana! I’ve rented this place exclusively for us.” Nakipagbeso sa kanya si Eshvi. Samantalang pilit naman ang ngiting gumuhit sa labi niya. “I see,” tipid na s
ESHVI was relaxing in her bathtub with a glass of red wine in her hand. Eashta was already asleep, and it was the perfect time to pamper herself. Because why not? The first part of her plan was set into motion. She enjoyed the sweet scent of lavender coming from the candles inside the bathroom. Nag-uumapaw ang kasiyahan niya ngayong gabi dahil bukas sigurado siyang sulit ang kanyang paghihintay sa nakalipas na taon at tiyak na siya ang magwawagi. Bye, Triana… Eshvi laughed hysterically. Patience was indeed a virtue. Akala niya wala siya noon, pero wala palang imposible kapag focus sa goal. Ngayon pa lang iniisip na niya ang kanyang magiging papel sa buhay ni Devance kapag tuluyan nang nawala sa kanyang landas ang babae. She would be the new Mrs. Chaudhary. The rightful wife to the only son of the infamous conglomerate. Soon the world would sweep off her feet again. Hindi na siya makapaghintay sa magandang balitang bubungad sa kanya sa mga susunod na araw. “Cheers to a job well d
TULALANG nakatitig si Eshvi sa museleo ng pamilya Allende sa hindi kalayuan. Naroon halos ang buong mag-anak pati ang mga Chaudhary dahil sa libing ni Devna. Nasa loob siya ng kanyang sasakyan habang nakamasid sa malayo. Biglang tumigas ang kanyang ekspresyon at pinunas ang kanyang luha. She wore her dark sunglasses and let out a sigh. That is not Eashta…aniya sa sarili. Kaya hindi dapat siya makaramdam ng lungkot. That was Devna. She tried to convince herself. Walang anumang nagmaneho siya palayo. Parang bigla siyang nahimasmasan kung anong ginagawa niya sa lugar na ito. She immediately flew to Bicol upon learning about the child’s burial. Nalaman din niya na inilipat na rin sina Triana at Devance sa kilalang private hospital sa Manila dahil hanggang ngayon comatose pa ang dalawa. Inuwi niya rin si Eashta kasama ang babysitter nito. For a moment, she thought of visiting her family and introduced Eashta. But she changed her mind. Matagal na niyang kinalimutan ang kanyang pinagmu
CALEB could not believe what he was seeing. Kalunos-lunos ang sinapit ng mag-asawa. Nakakaawang tingnan habang maraming aparatong nakakabit sa katawan ng dalawa. Just as he knew, they were comatose. “Kuya Caleb…” Naramdaman niya ang paghawak ni Tristan sa kanyang balikat. Maraming taon na nga talaga ang dumaan. The Allende twins were almost the same height as him. They grew up fine teenagers and slowly made their names in the business world as young millionaires. Malungkot na umiling si Caleb sa harap ng kambal. “I was on a hike the other day with Anya. I have proposed to her along our trek to the Saint Elias Mountains. I was about to tell your sister about the good news… and this greeted me.” “Ate Ria will be fine. She’s a fighter.” Tristan was optimistic. “They had to fight for Ravi and Rini. Poor kids, they are unaware of what is going on.” Bakas ang lungkot sa boses ni Travis. “And our little angel went ahead of them. I can’t believe Devna would be gone too soon.” Itinuon niy
MAKALIPAS ang dalawang linggo nabuhayan ang lahat nang unti-unting iminulat ni Devance ang mata. Gracia and Akhil were ecstatic to see their son regained his consciousness at last. Kabaliktaran ni Triana na hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring improvement sa lagay nito. “Kanchha!” maluha-luhang saad ni Gracia. “Can you see us?” Iwinagayway ni Akhil ang kamay sa harap ng anak. But Devance merely moved his eyeballs. Para lang itong nakatitig sa kawalan. Nanatiling walang ekspresyon ang mukha nito. The doctors rushed in and checked his vital signs. Nakahinga nang maluwag ang mag-asawa nang sabihin ng doktor na stable na ang lagay nito. But it would take time for his full recovery considering his severe leg injury. Lalong naiyak si Gracia nang makita ang bunsong anak na hindi makapagsalita nang maayos at bumalon ang luha sa mata. “Kanchha, please. Hold on, you can do this…” Gracia sobbed as she held Devance’s hand. Katabi niya si Akhil na pilit siyang pinakakalma. It was not long when
Three months later PARA sa pamilya ni Triana ay isang normal na araw na lang ito. It was past lunchtime. Mabilis na dumaan ang mga buwan na wala pa ring pagbabago sa kalagayan nito. Pero hindi nila inaasahan na sa araw na ito biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ni Triana dahilan para mataranta si Lucia lalo na at may pagmamadali sa mga kilos ng doktor na naroon. The equipment around Triana was beeping non-stop. “She’s suffering tachycardia. Give me the defibrillator!” utos ng doctor. Hindi napigilan ni Lucia ang mapahikbi. Mag-isa lang siyang bumabantay ngayon sa anak dahil out of the country sina Travis at Tristan. They had to attend an important business meeting that they could not let it pass. Wala naman kasi silang pagpipilian kundi ang magpatuloy sa buhay kahit na patuloy na nakikipaglaban sa kamatayan ang nakatatandang kapatid. “Save her…” Nanghihinang muling naupo si Lucia sa sofa habang panay ang kanyang dasal. Wala sa isip niya na isuko ang anak kahit nakikita niyang n