Maingat na bumaba ng taxi si Lauren. It was just a few minutes past midnight and she just spent the whole day hiding in some cheap motel in the city. Hindi siya tumuloy sa San Ildefonso. Nang malaman niya ang tungkol sa viral video niya at ni Kiel, she stepped out of the plane immediately.
People were angry. She heard them talking inside the plane. They called her names—awful names. She deserved it… for being so careless and weak. Besides, Jerome also has a following for he listed as one of the most eligible bachelors in the country. And no, she cannot endure almost an hour flight inside a plane with people angry at her in it.That's why she unboarded the plane and spent the rest of the day crying and hiding. Kusa rin niyang ini-off ang cellphone niya. But even then, her anxious thoughts just won’t stop inside her head. Alam niya, kahit na nagtatago siya at wala siyang balita sa mga nangyayari, pinagpipiyestahan ng mga tao ang video nila ni Kiel. That and she also had to deal with a heartbreak. Her boyfriend was cheating with her friend—or with what she thought her friend.How her life went spiraling down in just a night, she doesn’t know. But she knew, she cannot keep hiding forever. Besides, she really needs to go home—to her townhouse. She felt safer there. Kaya naman hinintay niyang gumabi—o magmadaling-araw, bago umuwi.Tahimik siya nagpalasamat nang makitang walang mga reporter ang nagkakampo sa bahay niya. She heard that some showbiz reporters are that persistent, even invading one’s privacy just to get the information they wanted.Maingat niyang pinindot ang number code lock subalit nag-error ang electronic lock. She didn’t know what happened but suddenly, the door opened. After that, she felt a stinging pain on her left cheek as soon she stepped inside her house.She gasped and held her hurting cheek. Kasabay niyon ang mabilis na pagliwanag ng buong kabahayan. Agad siyang umayos ng tayo. And there she saw the one standing in front of her, it was her Tita Lileth with her eyes fuming in anger. She trembled instantly.“Bakit ngayon ka lang? Saan ka nanggaling na gaga ka?!” singhal nito bago kinamal ang buhok niya at hinila siya papunta sa sala.Agad siyang napahikbi. Sanay siyang sinasaktan ng Tita Lileth niya mula pa noong manirahan siya sa poder nito, subalit mula nang magdalaga siya at pilit siya nitong isinasabak sa mga beauty pagaents at castings sa mga commercials, the beatings had gradually stopped. Sayang daw ang mukha niya kung hindi nito mapapanginabangan. Akala niya, hindi na nito iyon magagawa sa kanya but then… when was she right when it comes to her Tita Lileth.“Hindi ka na talaga magtanda! Wala ka ring ipinag-iba sa nanay mong tatanga-tanga!” gigil na dugtong ng tiyahin niya bago siya marahas na itinulak patungo sa sofa.Humahagulgol na siya, dahan-dahang umayos ng upo at pasimpleng minasahe ang nasaktang anit. Her eyes hurt from crying the whole day and yet her tears can’t help but fall from the beating she took from her aunt.“Tumigil ka nga sa pag-iyak-iyak mo, Lauren. Alam mo ba kung ilang beses akong tinawagan ni Madam Emily? Higit sa sampung beses! And everytime, I had to endure the old woman’s harsh words and curses. Ha! Akala mo kung sinong, maganda mukha namang hukluban kung naging mahirap! But I had to endure, kasi ikaw… ikaw na kiring pamangkin ko ang may kasalanan!” Dinuro nito sentido niya. “She threatened to sue you, us! At paano tayo magbabayad sa abogado? Mangungutang na naman ako gayong hindi ka pa bayad sa mga ginastos sa ‘yo habang lumalaki kang palamunin! At ‘wag mo na ring ipagmalaki ‘yang trabaho mo sa NTS. Si Madam Emily na mismo ang nagsabi, they will kill your character on the teleserye!” anang tiyahin niya bago nagsimulang magparoo’t parito sa sala.She swallowed a sob. Her aunt is too angry to give her another chance to compose herself.“Hindi kita pinag-aral sa maayos na eskwelahan para lang maging isang kabit, Lauren. Kung ganyan lang pala ang buhay na gusto mo, sana matagal na kitang ibinugaw sa mga politiko! E di sana, hindi nagkakanda-leche-leche ang buhay natin ngayon! ‘Yan ba ang pinagkaka-abalahan mo habang nandito ka sa townhouse mo? Magsabi ka nga ng totoo, escort ka na ba ha? Kasi kung kumikita ka sa ibang paraan na hindi ko alam, aba dapat lang na may porsiyento rin ako r’yan!” Namaywang ang tiyahin, naniningkit pa rin ang mga mata. “So, ano? Escort ka ba?”She bit her lower lip as more tears fell from her eyes. “H-Hindi po,” sagot niya sa hirap na tinig.Nagbuga ng marahas na hininga ang kanyang tiyahin. “Dapat lang! Mahiya ka naman kung kumikita ng hindi ko alam at wala akong porsiyento. Uulitin ko sa ‘yo, Lauren, ni wala pa sa kalahati ang naibabalik mong pera sa akin mula nang kupkupin kita. At hinding-hindi ako titigil hanggang hindi mo ko nababayaran sa lahat-lahat! Tapos ‘eto ngayon, mawawalan ka pa ng trabaho dahil sa kakatihan mo.” Napapalatak ito, naglakad sa may coffee table kung saan naroon ang purse nito. Mabilis itong naglabas ng stick ng sigarilyo at lighter. Maya-maya pa, umupo ito sa single-seat na nasa tapat niya.Makailang ulit itong naghithit-buga sa sigarilyo habang matamang nakatingin sa kanya, filling her house with the same foul smoke she had hated growing up.“Ito ang gagawin mo,” walang emosyong umpisa nito. “Pupunta ka kay Jerome, ipapaliwanag mo na nagkamali ka lang at magmamakaawa ka na tanggapin ka niya ulit.”Agad niyang naikuyom ang kanyang kamay, muling napuno ng galit ang dibdib niya. She’d rather endure her aunt’s beatings than get back with Jerome. Magsama silang dalawa ni Steffie sa impyerno kung saan nababagay ang mga sinungaling!“H-Hindi k-ko na po b-babalikan si Jerome, T-Tita,” paliwanag niya sa mababang tinig.Muling nalukot ang mukha ng tiyahin niya. “Ano? Hindi ko alam kung talagang tanga o bingi ka na, Lauren. Hindi mo ba narinig ang sinabi ko, tatanggalin ka nila sa trabaho at ihahabla nila tayo! Was I not clear enough, stupid girl!” muling singhal nito, pinatay pa ang upos ng sigarilyo sa coffee table niya.Humikbi siya ulit. She knew it would be hard to tell her aunt, but at least she had to try. “J-Jerome was cheating on me. Nakita ko sila ni Steffie. They were… they were—““So what? Ganyan talaga ang mga makuwarta, kayang-kaya nilang gawin ang lahat. So, tumikim lang ng ibang putahe si Jerome, inayawan mo na tapos nagpatikim ka rin sa ibang lalaki! ‘Yang utak mo rin talaga, hindi nakatuon sa progreso, gaya rin sa ama mong probinsiyano!” dire-diretsong putol sa kanya ng tiyahin, muling nagsindi ng stick ng sigarilyo. “Hindi mo puwedeng pakawalan si Jerome, Lauren. Nasa kanya ang kayamanan na gusto ko. Pero kung ayaw talaga, ipagpatuloy mo na lang ‘yang sa lalaki mo. Nabasa ko, mas maalwan ang pamilya ng mga Samaniego,” anito bago tumayo at umakyat sa hagdan. “Dahil ginalit mo ko at pinagastos mo pa ko para lang mapalitan ang code ng pinto, d’yan ka sa sofa matulog. Doon ako sa kwarto mo. Paano, tambakan pa rin pa rin pala ‘yong isang silid sa taas. Talagang ayaw mo akong patirahin dito, `no? Pwes magdusa ka,” anito bago nagtuloy-tuloy sa pag-akyat.Hindi sumagot si Lauren. She watched her aunt as she disappeared from her sight bago siya nanghihinang sumandal sa couch. She watched the ceiling for a while, na para bang naroon ang sagot kung paano siya makakatakas sa sitwasyon niya. Subalit, hindi pa rin dumarating ang anumang sagot sa mga katanungan sa kanyang isipan.Her mind is blank. She felt stuck.She gently reached for her bag and fished her phone out of it. Muli niya iyong in-on. Ilang sandali pa, nagsunod-sunod ang pasok ng mga mensahe. Mula sa mga kakilala niya sa industriya, kay Jerome, sa nanay nito, kay Micha at sa tiyahin niya. She even saw some news update about her and how unlucky Jerome was for being cheated on by her. Then she suddenly remembered Kiel’s full name, thanks to her aunt, and made a quick search about him.Kiel is one of the Samaniego brothers of SSL, one of the biggest shipping companies in Southeast Asia. No wonder the video went really viral. She really messed with two big business families in the country.She sighed. Pagod siya at nanakit ang pisngi at anit. She needs to call it a night. Hindi niya alam kung hanggang kailan siya babantayan ng Tita Lileth niya. Siguro bukas, may kasunod pa ang pananakit nito sa kanya until she gives in to her demands.She was about to delete all of her messages when a new text message entered. It was from an unknown number.‘This is Kiel, Ms. Ortega. We need to talk.”Isang marahas na tapik sa balikat ang nagpagising kay Lauren kinabukasan. Her head was pounding from lack of sleep and her eyes were throbbing from crying too much. “Mabuti naman at gising ka na, Lauren. Bumangon ka na riyan at ipagtimpla mo ko ng kape,” utos agad sa kanya ni Tita Lileth. Nakaayos na ang kanyang tiyahin, bagong ligo rin. Ipinagala niya ang kanyang tingin sa may dingding. It’s just eight in the morning. Last time she checked the time, it was 5:30 A.M. Meaning, she just had two and half hours of sleep. Pero heto na naman ang tiyahin niya at inuutusan siyang magtimpla ng kape nito. “Bilisan mo na riyan. Pupuntahan ko ngayon ang mga kakilala ko. Susubukan kong ayusin ‘yang gulong pinasok mo. Pero hindi ibig sabihin na gumagawa ako ng paraan, hindi mo na gagawin ang pinagapagawa ko sa 'yo. Makikiusap ka pa rin kay Jerome sa ayaw o sa gusto mo,” anito, mabilis na humithit sa sigarilyo at naglakad patungo sa kitchen. She released a slow breath. She really can’t have a bre
Lauren’s breathing hitched. She got easily distracted by his minty breath fanning her face. Not to mention his presence screams authority, as if forcing her to make a full surrender. But she refused to back down. Sa Tita Lileth lang niya siya takot, hindi sa ibang tao. And so she composed herself, lifted her head a fraction and spoke. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking a-about,” she said in a half-shaky voice. “And how did you get inside my house? Don’t you know I can sue you for trespassing?” dugtong pa niya, pag-iiba sa usapan. Kiel grinned, amused, taking a few steps away from her. “You left me no choice. I had to use my connections to get to you.” Agad na nagsalubong ang kilay niya. He must have sensed her confusion, that’s why he continued. “I told you last night, we need to talk. You did not reply. There are things that I need to discuss with you. Urgent.”He spoke the word urgent in a dark tone, making her tremble a little. Kakasuhan din ba siya nito for dragging him into th
Jerome downed the whole glass of brandy in one go. It tasted bitter yet even that doesn't distract him from the anger washing over him since this morning. Lauren, that whore just gave herself away to that Samaniego. Gigil niyang inilapag ang baso ng alak sa counter. Nawala lahat ng pinagpaguran niya sa loob ng isang taon, ang panunuyo, pag-uunawa at pagtitiis niya rito. All of those because his mother wanted Lauren to be his wife. Not that he doesn't want Lauren to be his, she is beautiful, young , and smart. He likes her, any virile man would like the embodiment of a bombshell named Lauren Ortega. But ever since his mother saw Lauren win an international beauty contest 2 years ago, she had become fond of her-- even became persistent that he should marry Lauren for she is just perfect for him. And so he pursued her, patiently. Knowing full well that she'd give in to his needs, sooner or later. But Lauren is one prude woman. She just won't surrender to him fully, given his appetite for
"Mom, why did you that?" dire-diretsong tanong ni Kiel sa ina, as soon as he arrived at his brother Joshua's house. He was informed that his mother went there as soon as she was finished addressing the press about his "marriage" with Lauren.His mother glanced at him before gently taking the cup of tea to her mouth. His mother took a slow and steady sip of tea, ipinikit pa ang mga mata upang namnamin ang lasa ng tsaa. She was relaxed and somewhat content, malayong malayo sa hitsura niyang balisa at hindi mapakali.Why, he should be! Biglang siyang ikinasal sa babaeng hindi niya kilala!He huffed, trying to keep his anger at bay."Mom, I'm asking--""Shh. I will keep my mouth shut if I were you," mabilis na putol sa kanya ni Joshua, na kasalukyang kasama nilang mag-ina sa library ng bahay nito. "Can't you see she's trying to find her center, calming her nerves. Those media people are vicious. I should've punched that persistent one who keeps calling Aaron gay.""Leave me and Kiel, Josh
"This is Kiel's house," anang Mommy ni Kiel as the car was pulling over in front of a house that is twice as big as her townhouse. The house is located inside a posh subdivision within the metro. Doon sila dumiretso pagkalapag na pagkalapag nila sa airport. Hindi sila nagtagal sa HongKong. Matapos siyang iwan ni Kiel at magpunta ito sa kung saan, nag-aya na rin pauwi ng Pilipinas si Madam Liza. The old woman took it to herself to tell her a thing or two about her new husband. Dahil hanggang sa mga oras na iyon, hindi pa rin nagpapakita si Kiel. "He got this about two years ago after he finished his masters in London and decided to build his own company, Ace Logistics," patuloy pa ng matandang babae bago nito tinulak pabukas ang pinto. The house was spacious and clean, adorned with fine things only people with money can afford. Marahan siyang siniko ng tiyahin niya na ipinilit ang pagsama sa kanya hanggang doon."Pwedeng-pwede akong tumira dito, Lauren. This place would be big for t
"I... I w-was just g-going to get my t-things," kandautal na paliwanag ni Lauren. Lalong naningkit ang mga mata ni Kiel."Things? What the hell are your things doing in my room?" mataas ang boses na tanong nito bago siya marahas na hinawi sa daraanan nito. Lihim siyang napaaray nang bumangga siya sa dahon ng pinto. "Sinong nagsabi sa 'yong pwede ka dito sa kuwarto? And who the fck even gave you the permission to even step foot inside my house?!" tuloy-tuloy na tanong nito, hinablot ang maliit na suitcase niya na nasa gilid ng isang pinto bago iyon hinagis sa paanan niya. "Leave! I don't want you here!" he commanded, his voice shaking the four walls of the room. Anger instantly coursed through her veins. Sumosobra na talaga ito! Alam niya kung gaano kahirap ang sitwasyon nilang dalawa-- ang matali sila sa isa't -isa pansamantala, but that doesn't give him any right to mistreat her in any way. Again, sa kanyang Tita Lileth lang siya takot. Every one else would get her anger should they
"I see you came back to work without even saying 'hi' to your boss," ani Jerome nang hindi agad umimik si Lauren. Sandali nitong ipinaikot ang tingin sa tent na nagsisilbing dressing room niya tuwing nasa shooting siya. And while she knew that the tent was enough for five people and more, she finds it impossibly cramped up now that Jerome was in it with her."Are you just going to stare at me, Lauren? Not even a sorry for what you did?" Agad na bumangon ang galit sa dibdib ni Lauren sa sinabi ni Jerome. How dare he show up in front of her and put all the blame on her!"I'm just here to finish my job. Nothing significant which requires me to pay you a visit or even apologize. Besides, why would I say sorry to you? I wasn't the who cheated," matigas ang boses na sagot niya. She wanted to yell at him, to hurl insults on his lying face. Kaya lang maaring may mga tao sa labas ng tent, members of the show's production team who seemed to be walking on eggshells the minute she walked to the
"I would need two more men from your team," narinig ni Lauren na sabi ni Kiel sa kausap nito sa cellphone. Nasa daan na sila patungo sa siyudad mula sa location ng teleserye niya. After the almost-scandal they just got out of, they travelled in silence for a while. She knew the tension was still high kahit na malayo na sila sa mata ng publiko. And so, she remained still and quiet as she sat on the passenger's seat of his car while he drove. Maya-maya pa, tinawagan na nito ang kausap nito ngayon. "No. Not for me but for my wife," dugtong nito, mabilis na sumulyap sa kanya bago ibinalik ang tingin sa daan."Yeah. No, she had an encounter with Nacionales , again. No, nothing big, I hope. But I know he'd make a scene once he has a chance. That's what I am trying to avoid. I know. Don't tell Mom nor Aaron. This deal is just between us, Eric. Right, we're on our way to her townhouse. Meet me there," ani Kiel bago pinutol ang tawag."W-who's that?" lakas-loob na tanong niya maya-maya."Eric