“SO…” Valerie trailed. “You and Cassiuz Velasquez are dating?” she asked Wynter as she sipped her coffee. Tinaasan niya ng kilay ang kaibigan. “Come on, Wynter. Spill the bean.”Tumango si Wynter. “Yes.”“I knew it!” Nahampas ni Valerie ang lamesa. “I saw it from the very first time. I saw how he look at you.” Ngumiti si Valerie. “So, you like him?”Wynter rolled her eyes. “No.” Umiling siya.Napatanga si Valerie. “You two are dating and yet you don’t like him?”Nagkibit lang naman ng balikat si Wynter. “Pwede naman ‘yon hindi ba?”Valerie sighed. “Hindi ko alam sa ‘yo, Wyn. Ano bang balak mo? And don’t lie to me. You’re dating Cassiuz Velasquez. And I’m telling you, he’s a billionaire. You’re lucky.”Umismid si Wynter. “Malas kamo.”Kumunot ang nuo ni Valerie. “Bakit naman malas?” tanong niya.Wynter sighed. You never knew. Umiling na lang siya saka kumain ng cake. She looked at Valerie. “Do I like him?”Valerie looked at her friend. “Wynter, you should know the answer by yourself.”
CASSIUZ was sitting in the living room while Jerome was standing beside him. He was playing at his phone while waiting for his subordinates. Napatingin lang siya sa center table nang may naglapag ng isang baso ng tubig. Kumunot ang nuo niya nang makita si Kiel habang nasa likuran nito si Fernalyn.Cassiuz turned off his phone. “Since when did you become a butler?” he asked.“I’m afraid that Fernalyn might mess it up so I take it instead, Boss.” Kiel said.Jerome cleared his throat. “Are you sure?”“Shut up.” Kiel glared at Jerome.“I’m already grown up. I’m not that careless.” Sabi ni Fernalyn kay Kiel.“Okay. That’s enough.” Kinuha ni Cassiuz ang baso saka ininom ang laman nitong tubig. Tinignan niya si Fernalyn. “Take a seat.”Naglakad si Fernalyn patungo sa sofa saka umupo.“How’s your study?” tanong ni Cassiuz.“Maayos naman po.” Tugon ni Fernalyn.Cassiuz asked again, “is there anyone making fun of you or bullying you?”It’s Kiel who answered Cassiuz. “No one, Boss.”Tumikhim si
CASSIUZ could feel that Wynter didn’t have feelings for him. Those words… those words that Wynter told him is like a broken record. Napabuga ng hangin si Cassiuz. Does she really not like me? Or she’s just pretending? She agreed to date me.“Mukhang ang laki ng problema mo, Cassiuz.” Ani Roman. Ang ama ni Wynter.Cassiuz wanted to think so he went out. Hindi niya naman namalayan na dito siya sa bahay nila Wynter pumunta. Hindi niya kasama ang mga bodyguard niya. Nagpadala na lang siya ng mensahe kay Mark na ligtas siya.“Tito…”“Soda?”“Thank you, Tito.” Kinuha ni Cassiuz ang soda na ibinibigay ni Tito Roman. Binuksan niya ito at uminom.Umupo si Roman sa mahabang sofa, sa tapat ni Cassiuz. “Bakit ka pala napadalaw rito? Wala rito si Wynter.”Cassiuz sighed. “I’m just here to talk, Tito.”Kumunot ang nuo ni Roman at uminom ng soda. “Anong gusto mong pag-usapan natin?”“Ahmm…” Hindi masabi ni Cassiuz ang gusto niyang sabihin.Napansin ni Roman na nagdadalawang isip si Cassiuz kung sasa
BAGO lumabas si Cassiuz ng van, isinuot niya ang itim na maskara. Nakamaskara din ang mga tauhan niya. Paglabas niya ng van, agad niyang nakita si Ranger o si Maverick na nakatayo sa wooden path. They’re partners in illegal arms trade. Maverick informed him that there will be a shipment coming tonight. So, he’s here to check the guns.“Boss, the shipment will arrive before eight.” Imporma ni Mark.Tumango si Cassiuz saka tinignan ang suot na relo. There are still fifteen minutes before the shipment arrives. Namulsa si Cassiuz saka naglakad palapit sa kaibigan.“What are you thinking?” Cassiuz asked.Maverick looked at Cassiuz. “Bago mo tanungin ang tungkol sa akin, kumustahin mo muna kaya kung kumusta na kayo ng fiancée mo.”Kumunot ang nuo ni Cassiuz. “Fiancée ko?” Kapagkuwan narealize niya ang sinabi ni Maverick. “You’re right. She is my fiancée.” He tsked. “Why? You met someone? Or was it still her?”Maverick just sighed. “Don’t mention it. The girl doesn’t like shady business.”Ku
“I’M GOING to a seminar the next day. Please lang, Cass. Huwag mo na namang ipasunod sa akin si Dan at Nate.” Ani Wynter. Kausap nito si Cassiuz sa phone.“My love, it’s for your safety.” Giit ni Cassiuz.“No.” May diing sabi ni Wynter. “This time kapag ipasunod mo sila sa akin, makikita mo. Hindi na talaga kita papansinin.”“Are you serious?”“Kailan ba ako nagbiro sa ‘yo?” seryosong sabi ni Wynter.Napabuntong hininga na lang si Cassiuz at wala ng nagawa kung hindi ang sundin si Wynter. “Okay. Okay. Fine. I will tell them not to follow you.”Ngumiti si Wynter na nasa kabilang linya. “Thanks, but no thanks.” Then she ended the call.Cassiuz sighed and then he shook his head. He called Dan.“Boss.”“Dan, tomorrow, may pupuntahang seminar si Wynter. Don’t follow her inside the seminar hall. Just wait for her outside.” Aniya.“Noted, Boss.”As Cassiuz ended the call, someone knocked on his office door.“Come in. It’s open.” Ani Cassiuz.Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Rafael.“Raf?”Raf
“AKO ng bahala kay Cassiuz,” sabi ni Wynter sa mga bodyguard ni Cassiuz. “Iwan niyo na kami.”“Sige, Madam.” Tugon ni Mark at Anthony.Lumabas ang dalawa.“Wait!” Pigil ni Wynter sa dalawa.“Madam?” humarap si Mark.“Pwede bang kumuha kayo ng maaligamgam na tubig. Kailangan kong banyusan ni Cassiuz.”Tumango si Mark saka isinara ang pinto.Ibinaba naman ni Wynter ang sling bag sa bench na nasa dulo ng kama ni Cassiuz. Tinignan niya ang binata. Napailing siya saka umupo sa gilid ng kama. “Cass, I like you too.” She confessed. “I’m sorry, I don’t any courage to confess to you. To tell you honestly, I am afraid.” Napabuntong hininga siya saka hinawakan ang kamay ni Cassiuz. “I won’t promise you anything but I can be by your side whenever you needed me.” She smiled.Napatingin si Wynter sa pinto nang may kumatok. “Come in.”Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Mark na may dalang maliit na palanggana at si Jerome na may hawak na isang baso ng tubig. Inilapag ng dalawa nila sa bedside table.“M
HINDI na nagulat si Wynter nang bumukas ang pinto ng opisina niya at pumasok si Cassiuz. Nakangiti ang binata at hindi na ito bago kay Wynter. Patamad niya itong tinignan. “Nandito ka na naman.” Aniya.Cassiuz just smiled and walked towards Wynter. “I’m taking you out for dinner.”Napabuntong hininga si Wynter. “What for?”“May sasabihin sana ako.”“Pwede mo namang sabihin ngayon,” sabi ni Wynter. Sumandal siya sa kinauupuang swivel chair at tinaasan ng kilay si Cassiuz. “Bakit pa kailangan nating lumabas?”“Well…” Nag-iwas ng tingin si Cassiuz. “Hindi basta-basta ang sasabihin ko.”Kumunot ang nuo ni Wynter habang nakatingin kay Cassiuz. Naalala niya ang mga sinabi nito nang lasing ito. Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga saka nag-iwas ng tingin. “Naalala mo ba ang mga pinagsasabi mo sa akin noong nalasing ka?”Napakurap si Cassiuz at nakaramdam ng kaba. “Did I say something inappropriate?” Cassiuz asked.Umiling si Wynter. “Hindi naman pero ang dami mo lang kasing sinasabi.” Nagkibit
“BOSS, bad news. One of our warehouses got burned.” Imporma ni Mark kay Cassiuz. “One of the warehouses of the Velasquez Empire. Also, Mateo damaged our shipment in the Underground going to Australia.” Dagdag pa ni Mark.Napatigil si Cassiuz sa pagbabasa ng report nang marinig ang sinabi ni Mark. Ibinagsak niya ang hawak na folder. Kumuyom ang kamay niya saka tumingin kay Mark. Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Cassiuz. “Burn his warehouse. I heard that his company will launch a new product next week. Sabotage it but don’t kill anyone.”Tumango si Mark. “Copy, Boss.”“About our business in the Underground.” An evil grin appeared on Cassiuz’ lips. “Destroy their hideout and make sure that he will lose a lot of his fortune. Deal with it. I’ll deal with the police.”Yumukod si Mark. “Yes, Boss.”Sinenyasan ni Cassiuz si Mark na umalis na.Nang makaalis si Mark, nagpadala siya ng mensahe kay Mateo Del Moran using his identity as Darkness. Dapat lang na malaman nito na hindi siya dapat nito kala