Panay ang kabog ng dibdib ni Belle habang binabaybay niya ang hagdan patungo sa rooftop ng hospital. She took the stairs because the elevator on the floor were Zyrone’s hospital suite was in, suddenly was not working. And so she took the stairs instead. She’s actually quite thankful that the lift was not working because she had more time to think things through. She wanted to buy some time to think. She wanted to take careful steps on how she would handle the situation all by herself.Yes, by herself. Dahil apparently, wala siyang makontak sa mga kaanak niya—not Miranda nor Richard. Not even Eliseo! She had tried countless times to call their phones but her calls just won’t go through. Mukhang sabay-sabay na nag-off ng cellphones ang mga ito. Which is just so freakin' weird! Maging sina Marco at Leon, hindi rin niya matawagan. Not even Willa and Marie!At first she was having second thoughts about the note. Why wouldn’t she? She had just survived a kidnapping incident two-weeks ago. A
Marahang naglakad sa aisle si Belle kasama sina Eliseo at Lillie. She still cannot wrap her head around what’s happening because she still thinks it’s impossible to happen at that very day when she received an answered prayer and a gift, but then again … it’s really happening!She’s really getting married to Zyrone… again!She looked up at the night sky peppered with stars, blessing them with their dazzle and beauty—a perfect background for their wedding ceremony. The air smelled soft and delicate, coming from the flowers surrounding them. And the music, sweet—full of promises.She quickly surveyed their guests. They were the same people who came and visited Zyrone today, people who had shared with their joy that finally the storm had passed and her little family is complete again. Their guests were just a handful compared to the number of people included in their original guests list. But she’s fine with it. They are the most important people in her and Zyrone’s life anyway. And she
“Jax Dominic!” nag-aalalang tawag ni Belle sa magtatatlong taong gulang na anak nang bigla itong kumawala sa kamay bago nagtatakbo sa direksyon ni Zyrone.She tried to hasten her walk kahit na alam niyang kahit na anong gawin niya hindi niya mahahabol ang anak dahil kabuwanan na niya sa ikatlong anak nila ni Zyrone. And according to her last prenatal check up with Doc Angel, she’s due to give birth any moment. And running is not just prohibited, it’s nearly impossible!She sighed and turned to Willa na siyang yaya na ngayon ni Jax. Nanikwas ang nguso nito bago nagmamadaling hinabol ang alaga nito. Natawa na lang sila ni Marco na siyang kasama nila ni Lillie na naglalakad patungo sa loob ng Prime Mall.Jax, just like Lillie, is really a handful. More active than Lillie was, actually. Her little boy loves to explore and discover new things like any kids his age. And he particularly has interest in cars and buildings. He has endless questions too with just about anything under the sun. E
Thank you for sticking with me up to the very end of this book. This story is a witness to the many silent battles I had to face while writing it. And I'm still glad that despite the struggles, I can say that I have given Belle and Zyrone a beautiful ending they deserve. And just like Belle, we may enocunter a rough patch on our journey, but that doesn't mean we will have to remain in there. May we all find the courage to stand up after a fall, give forgiveness after getting hurt, and restore our faith in love after the pain. Thank you once again my beautiful readers. On to the next story! Keep dazzling!
“Do you, Isabelle Denise Nolasco, accept Zyrone Alexander Craig as your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, for sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, as long as you both shall live?” ani Judge Rafanan, ang matandang judge na may-ari ng bahay kung saan sila naroon ngayon.Lumunok si Belle, bahagyang inirapan ang lalaking kaharap niya at kasalukuyang may hawak-hawak ng kanyang kamay.Five days ago, kung hahawakan siya nang gano’n ni Zyrone baka nasampal na niya ito. Elista ito e, mayaman, larger than life. Idagdag pa na suplado ito at antipatiko. In short, allergic siya rito.At kung paanong five days ago ganoon ang nararamdaman niya para dito at kung bakit ngayon naman ay ikinakasal siya rito, hindi niya alam. Baka nabaliw na siya habang nagtatago silang dalawa sa Sitio Teppang. Malayo roon e, liblib. Wala ring signal. Baka hindi kinaya ng braincells niya ang ilang araw nilang pananatili roon kaya ngayon pumay
Five days ago“Kim, Mimi, Gigi!” mahinang tawag ni Belle sa mga pusang gala na laging nakatambay sa tapat ng inuupahan niyang bahay sa Brgy. Happy Village.Sumilip siya sa maliit na gate ng bahay niya at nakita niya ang sabay-sabay na paglingon ng mga pusa sa kanya. Unang ngumiyaw ang kulay orange na pusa, si Kim, ang bibong lider ng grupo na madalas niyang makitang nakatambay din sa harap ng karinderya ni Aling Mona sa kanto. Si Mimi naman, ang kulat puti, ngumiyaw rin. At si Gigi na kulay gray, hindi na nagpatumpik-tumpik pa at nagmadaling tumakbo palapit sa kanya nang makita ang brown bag ng pandesal na hawak niya.Ilang sandali pa, nag-uunahang lumusot ang mga ito sa pabilog na design ng gate ng bahay niya bago tumambay sa paanan niya—pawang naghihintay sa pa-ayuda niyang araw-araw na pandesal sa mga ito.Nakangiti niyang binigyan ng tig-iisang pandesal ang bawat pusa at masaya niyang pinagmasdan ang mga ito habang nag-aagah
Hindi mapakali si Belle sa upuan niya sa simbahan. Paano, halos isang oras nang late ang model/actress na si Audrey Enriquez, ang bride ni Zyrone. At ewan niya kung hanggang kailan siya makakatagal doon. Malapit na siyang ma-suffocate sa dami nang mayayaman na naroon. Even with her perfect dress and make-up, she can still feel the fact that she doesn’t belong to that crowd. At lalo lang siyang naiirita sa isiping iyon.Hanggang ngayon talaga hindi niya pa rin naiintindihan ang mga social classes. Bakit kailangang may social classes e wala naman talagang pagkakaiba ang bawat tao? And when did damn wealth become the damn basis of human worth?She rolled her eyes, took a deep breath and tried to fill her lungs with air. For now, that’s the only thing she can do to calm herself down. Iniisip na lang niya na ang lahat ng pagtitiis niyang iyon ay para kay Lee Ann, her bestfriend.Maya-maya pa, tumindi ang bulung-bulungan sa loob ng simbahan,
Zyrone angrily took a swig of brandy on the glass he was holding. He was facing the glass wall of his house, looking at the sunset.His chest was burning in anger and disappointment. And his veins were pulsating with so much hate. Why wouldn’t he? Audrey just ditched him on their wedding day!Should he had known Audrey would do this to him, he would’ve chosen another woman for him to marry. It’s not that he forced her to marry him. She agreed… willingly!Kung nagsabi sana ito na hindi na nito gustong magpakasal, baka nagawan pa niya ng paraan. Hindi ‘yong ganito. Na bigla na lang itong naglahong parang bula.He took the glass of brandy to his mouth again. This time he finished its content in one gulp. He wanted to punch something or beat the shit out of someone! He’s sure should someone bother him right now that he’s on his penthouse in Gold Hotel-Manila, will be in so much trouble.