✧ADAM MEADOWS✧ “Hihintayin mo munang lumabas mismo sa bibig ni Jake na s’ya ang mastermind sa likod ng nangyari sa pamilya mo bago mo s’ya tapusin? Gano’n ba?” Uncle Win asked. May disappointment sa tono niya. Ako rin. Disappointed din ako sa sarili ko dahil kung tutuusin ay puwede ko na siyang tapusin anomang oras lalo na at nakakasama ko na siya sa araw-araw simula nang maging driver niya ako. I’d labored over my revenge plan for more than a decade, moving and manipulating every piece until I had them where I wanted them. Always play the long game. But even I had to admit I’d gotten . . . distracted these past few months. Jazzlene had swept into my life like a sunrise after dark, awakening creatures within my soul that I thought had died a long time ago: guilt. Conscience. Remorse. Making me question whether the ends justified the means. Around her, my thirst for vengeance slaked, and I almost—almost—gave it up. Nagsimula ‘yon noong nagbigay sa ‘kin ng suhestyon si Uncle Win na
✿♡ JAZZLENE ♡✿ I STOOD AT THE FRONT DESK, my fingers trembling slightly as I tapped on the keyboard, searching desperately for the reservation. The couple in front of us looked increasingly impatient, and the woman’s face was turning a deep shade of red. She was yelling, her voice echoing across the huge lobby and drawing stares from other guests. Hindi lamang ako ang natataranta, pati na rin si Violet dahil kami lamang ang nasa front desk ngayon. Day-off ni Brianna, habang ang isa namang regular receptionist na kasama namin ay nasa restroom. Kanina pa siya pabalik-balik doon dahil first day ng dalaw niya, masakit daw ang puson niya at kailangan niyang magpalit ng napkin maya’t-maya dahil malakas daw ang buga ng kiffy niya. Kaya kami ang natatalakan ngayon ni Violet, at first time namin maka-encounter ng guest na hindi alam ang salitang ‘KALMA’. Ilang beses na kasi siyang pinakakalma ni Violet habang nakikiusap na hintayin ang kasama naming receptionist, pero tila wala itong naririni
✿♡ JAZZLENE ♡✿ “Get in.” I hesitated, glancing back at Violet and Leigh, who were still deep in their argument tungkol sa kung sino ang kasama nila noong gabing nagpunta kami sa Castillano Club at kung saan sila natulog. The idea of spending time with Adam was appealing lalo na at isang linggo na kaming hindi nagkikita, but the suddenness of the invitation and my lack of familiarity with his uncle made me wary. "That’s very kind of you, but I’m not sure," I began. Sumulyap ako sa relo ko at kunwaring tiningnan ang oras. “Papunta na po kasi si daddy. Susunduin na n’ya ako.” “Gano’n ba?” He pursed his lips, seeming to be thinking. “Birthday kasi ngayon ng asawa ko. Auntie Cassandra ni Adam. Wala kaming bisita bukod kay Adam, kaya gusto sana kitang imbitahin para makilala ka ng wife ko. She would be happy to meet you lalo na at nabanggit kita sa kan’ya. Sabi ko, para ka nang kapatid ni Adam,” litanya niya. “Pero sige. Kung pauwi ka na, maybe next time?” Bahagya pa siyang ngumiti
✧ADAM MEADOWS✧ AS I DROVE towards the M-Power Hotel, my mind was racing with worry. Jazz hadn’t answered any of my calls, and I couldn’t locate her using the tracking app I had installed on her phone. It had been a week since we last communicated. Noong nag-abot sila ni Uncle Win sa penthouse ko. After that, hindi na ako nagkaroon ng time para kumustahin man lang siya or umuwi sa apartment para masilip kung okay lang ba siya dahil naging sobrang abala ako sa tinrabaho namin ni Rogel. 'Anong klaseng tagabantay ako?' Just as I was nearing the hotel, my phone buzzed with a message from Uncle Win. He was inviting me to dinner at his house later. At hindi ko na kailangan pang magtanong kung bakit dahil hindi ko naman nakakalimutan kung anong araw ngayon. Aunt Cassandra’s birthday. I sighed, feeling a mix of obligation and affection. Aunt Cassandra, my late father’s sister, was the only close family I had left, and I couldn’t resist his invitation. But first, I needed to find Jazz.
✧ADAM MEADOWS✧ "Hi, Auntie," I greeted her nang pagbuksan niya ako ng pinto. Bitbit ko ang medyo malaking shopping bag na may tatak ng isang signature brand. A slight smile on my face. I had promised her last night I'd send a gift today, but because of Jazz mentioning the vault and the photo album, I thought I'd have to check it out myself. Uncle Win wasn’t home; he was at the company. Only Auntie Cass was here. "Hello, Adam!" Aunt Cassandra responded warmly, her eyes lighting up when she saw me. “Come in, come in." I stepped inside, feeling a mix of determination and anxiety. As much as I appreciated Auntie Cass’s hospitality, I couldn’t shake off the urgency of finding out the truth about those pictures. Pero kailangan ko muna siyang libangin dahil hindi naman niya alam ang totoong pakay ko sa pagpunta ngayon dito. “Here’s my gift.” Inabot ko sa kaniya ang bitbit kong shopping bag noong nasa living area na kami. “Goodness, Adam . . .” Para siyang nawala sa sarili habang inaaral
✧ADAM MEADOWS✧ I COULDN’T let my parents' true killers escape justice, but I had to be smart about it now. I needed Jake's testimony to bring the mastermind down. But first, I had to ensure Jake and his family were safe from any further harm. Kaya matapos nilang mag-dinner, maayos ko silang inihatid sa bahay nila. Silang mag-asawa lang ang inihatid ko dahil nag-taxi mag-isa ang anak nila pauwi sa apartment nito na siyang naging pabor sa akin para hindi ako nito makilala. Matapos ko silang ihatid at nang mai-park ko na ang sasakyan sa maluwang na garahe sa mansyon nila ay nagpaalam na ako. Nagpasundo ako sa secretary ko, kay Ezra. Busy pa kasi si Rogel dahil sa naging pagbabago ng plano. Kailangan niyang asikasuhin ang ibang tauhan ko at ang bakanteng warehouse na pagdadalhan sana namin sa pamilya ni Jake. Taking a deep breath, I knew what I had to do next. Kahit dis-oras na ng gabi, nagpahatid pa rin ako kay Ezra sa bahay nila Uncle Win. Pero habang papunta kami, I sent him a text
✿♡ JAZZLENE ♡✿NOONG sinabi ni Adam na uuwi siya ngayon sa apartment niya, I felt a surge of excitement. I imagined us spending time together, talking, and maybe annoying each other. Pero noong dinagdag niya na kailangan niya ako sa kama, my heart sank with disappointment. I couldn't pinpoint why I felt this way; after all, I knew from the beginning that this was our setup, our arrangement. I was just a bed warmer to him, his powerless sex slave.Lumabas ako sa kuwarto ko, suot ang pantulog kong pajama set na floral ang design, kulay light pink. Tumungo ako sa kitchen at pumuslit ng isang beer ni daddy sa refrigerator ‘tsaka ako lumabas sa bahay. Sa porch ako pumuwesto at bago ako naupo sa rocking chair na naroon ay sinadya ko munang patayin ang ilaw sa porch para hindi ako makita ni Adam kapag dumating na siya. The only light came from the solar lamp on the fence, casting a soft, dim glow that barely reached me. It was almost time for Adam to get home, and my emotions were a tangled
✿♡ JAZZLENE ♡✿ NANG imulat ko ang mga mata ko, wala na si Adam sa tabi ko. Hindi ko alam kung gaano katagal akong nakaidlip, pero ang alam ko ay magkatabi kami kanina dahil matapos ang nangyari sa amin ay hindi muna ako bumangon sa kama niya. Pareho kaming nanatiling nakahiga, magkatabi habang magkayakap. Sinabihan niya ako na umidlip muna at maya-maya na lamang daw lumipat sa amin dahil alam niyang pagod ako. Pabor din ako roon kaya naman sinunod ko siya. Umidlip ako sa bisig niya. Pero ngayon, wala na siya rito sa kuwarto. 'Nasaan siya?' I sat up, feeling the lingering warmth of where Adam had been lying next to me. I glanced around the room, my eyes lingering on the door. Maybe he was just outside, doing something important. I threw off the covers and got out of bed, feeling the coolness of the wooden floor beneath my feet. I quickly grabbed the robe hanging on the chair and slipped it on. Taking a deep breath, I walked to the door and slowly opened it, peeking into the hallwa