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CHLOE I heard voices, and that disturbed me from my slumber. Iminulat ko ang mga mata ko at ang buhok ni Trace na mas magulo ngayon ang unang napansin ko. And why is Trace here? My eyes grew more prominent as the realization of what happened made me wanna rose to bed, but the pain in my tummy stopped me. The anesthesia was no more working on me. Napatingin ako sa mga nakakabit sa akin. IV fluid is normal, but why am I into blood transfusion? "H-Hey…" I said in my sleepy voice. That stopped Trace and Zeno from talking. Both of them looked at me. Trace immediately gets into me and holds my hand. He held my hand tightly, but I pulled it from his grasp. "Chloe…" Trace kissed my forehead and held my hand again. "I'm sorry, roxo…" Sorry? Is that all he thinks that can fix everything? “Where’s my baby, Zeno?” I asked. I don’t wanna talk to Trace. I can’t. Ang nasa isip ko ay ang naabutan ko sa hotel room. Ang panloloko niya sa akin. Ang mga hubȃd na katawan nila ng mga babae niya. Na
TRACE Five days had passed. Sa limang araw na lumipas ay wala na yata akong ginawa kung hindi ang pumunta ng ospital at silipin ang asawa ko at tingnan ang lagay ni Prime. Sa tatlong araw ay pride na lang ang pinapairal ko para hindi lapitan si Chloe at kausapin. Hindi pa kami nagpapang-abot ni Alguien dahil sinasadya ko na pumunta roon kapag kakaalis niya lang. Hindi ko gustong magkagulo kami sa loob ng ospital at sa kalagayan ko ngayon ay si Alguien ang papanigan ni Chloe. Kahit hindi ko ugali ang umatras sa gulo ay para kay Chloe gagawin ko. Napabuga na lang ako ng hangin sa asar habang patuloy na nagmaneho patungo sa pupuntahan ko. Sa ngayon ay si Zeno lang ang naniniwala sa akin at tumutulong na rin para makapunta ako ng ospital kapag umalis na roon si Alguien. At kagabi ay may sinabi si Zeno sa akin, gusto na raw akong makausap ni Alguien, at puntahan ko sa Sacre Bleu ngayong umaga. Sacre Bleu. Ang hotel ni Matthias Ivanov, na ginawa ring kuta ni Alguien ang ilang palapag.
CHLOE It was a perfect sunny day. I am ecstatic because Prime and I will go home today. Home? Sadness enveloped me as I realized that home is a word I don’t have right now. Wala akong sariling tahanan. Uuwi kami ni Prime sa bahay ni Alguien. Makikibahay lang muna kami. Trace gave me a home on the island, but he let me feel betrayed and cheated, and now though I believe he was framed, I still can’t go home with him. “Hi!” Willow greeted me as she approached me while I looked at Prime in his crib. Since Prime was big and weighed seven and a half pounds when I gave birth, he was out of the incubator after a week. I smiled at my cousin, who looked so pretty today and said ‘hi’ to her too. “Uuwi na tayo mamaya,” Willow excitedly said. “The triplets and the boys are all excited to see Prime.” Her eyes darted to Prime, who was sleeping and touched my son’s small right foot. “Yeah, I’m a bit nervous going home to Bulacan, but I trust Alguien this time.” “It’s fine. Everything will be oka
TRACE Last week of July 2022. Deversorium, Agrianthropos City. Family. I only want a family. Ni minsan hindi ko inisip noon na bubuo ako ng pamilya dahil tama na sa akin sina Lev, Logan, at Paige. Tama na sa akin na gago ako pero may tatlong tao na nagpapahalaga sa akin. Pero nabuo ang Foedus, ang tatlo ay naging pito. Hindi lang sa pitong tao na importante sa akin nahinto. Dumagdag na kami ng dumagdag sa grupo. And Foedus became my family more than an organization. The prosperity of Foedus made me think I could do whatever I wanted. Ang sirain si Papa. Ang unti-unting mapabagsak si Louisianna. But what the hell happened to me? I should not pursue Chloe. I should remain as wasted as I was. Love makes me weak, and now I am broken. My emotion was shattered into pieces while watching the only one who gave me hope. The only one who finds the goodness in me. In her videos on my phone, Chloe was so vibrant and full of life, but now… now I don’t know where she is. And that’s killing me…
CHLOE December 10, 2022. Pasadena, California, USA. Chloe, kain na tayo,” tawag ni Mommy sa akin. Bumaba na rin ako agad at pumunta sa dining. Nandoon na ang mga bata. I smiled at Mommy and Daddy, kissed my boys at naupo na. “Wow… sisig again. My favorite.” We ate. I know that there is something in sisig that Mommy keeps on cooking for me. Sinasadya niya kasi favorite ni… I sighed—no need to go there. “Darating ang Papa mo mamaya,” Mommy said na ikinatingin ko sa kaniya at kay Daddy, na ngumiti naman sa akin. Ngiti na pilit. “That’s fine, Mom. I… I miss Papa. I’m—I’m glad that he will visit me.” Fine. Yeah. Okay naman ang lahat talaga, but I need to be sure. Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali sa ngayon. Ang kailangan ay manatili ako rito sa California para lang sa katahimikan ng lahat. Wala na rin kaming iba pang pinag-usapan. Nang matapos kami sa lunchtime ay inintindi ko lang ang dalawang bata. We were building their blocks in the veranda when I heard voices. Louisianna. I sig
TRACE For the last four months ay para na lang akong nabubuhay para huminga-hinga na lang. I know where my wife is but I can’t get in touch with her. For unknown reason ay hindi niya ako maalala. Sina Catarina at Jonas ay nakikiusap sa akin na huwag akong manggulo pa. Na tapusin ko ang problema para kay Chloe bago ko siya bawiin. The two devils are using Chloe’s memory loss para mauto nila ang asawa ko. They are good, damn good. And like what Mommy Cathy and Daddy Joe ask me to do… Yes, I proudly said that I am destroying Zentro of those two devils slowly. Habang hindi ko pinipilit mabawi si Chloe ay pagkakataon kong masira muna ang mga dapat sirain. Sa apat na buwan na lumipas ay alam kong malaki na ang pinsala na nagagawa ko sa panggugulo sa mga transaksyon nila kahit saang lupalop pa ng mundo nila gawin iyon. Kyle is dead but he gave Ice all the information needed para malaman namin kung saan ang mga lokasyon ng teritoryo ng Zentro. Nalaman din ang mga tao at grupo na konektado s
CHLOE It was a cloudy day on December 8, 2022. "Gunner, come here, sweetie." The boy ran towards me. We were in the park, and I was doing my best for the two boys to be good. My eyes glance at Killian standing beside me. I was holding his hand. "We're going home," I informed them. "Yes, Mommy…" Gunner replied, pulled, and held my other hand. Lumakad na kami palayo sa park. Alam kong nakasunod sa amin ang mga tao ni Papa. I am free here in California, but the fact that Papa's men were stalking me, made me sick. I know why Papa and Loui are doing this to me; they are just securing my safety from Trace. I sighed. One week to go, and I will be back in the Philippines. I am sure that the bodyguards tailing me here will be doubled or tripled once I'm back in the Philippines. “Mommy, mit ko na ti Tito Alguien,” Killian spoke. “Mit ko na rin ti mama ko. Tapot mit ko pa ti… ti Daddy Tulot Talot.” "Shhh…" Gunner covered Killian's mouth with his hands. "Kill, stop babbling! Mommy doesn't
TRACE “Status?” tanong ko kay Franco pagpasok ko pa lang sa opisina niya. “Boss…” mabilis na tumayo ang babaeng naabutan kong nakapatong sa kaniya at kahalikan. They were kissing, and I didn't give a fuck even if they were fucking when I got in. Ang kailangan ko lang ay kumustahin ang status ng Forte Konztrakt. Technically, this company is no more under my name. This is Chloe's. But because of her absence and not signing the documents for the company transfer to her name, I am still the one who is acting as the president of my wife's company. I am still the CEO of FK, but its presidency belongs to the owner, and that's my Chloe. "Status, Franco? I'm here to know the status of the company." I went to his swivel chair and took it from him. Nanatili naman siyang nakatayo na nakatingin sa akin. I lifted my feet to the table. "Report, Franco." "The status of the company is progressive, boss." "I am still the CEO, Franco. Just to remind you." "I know, boss." “Alam mo pala ay bakit wa