“UMALIS na ang asawa mo.” Sabi ni Valerie kay Wynter habang nadungaw siya sa bintana at nakita ang pag-alis ng grupo nila Cassiuz.Wynter just sighed and leaned on the sofa. “Mabuti.”Napailing si Valerie. “Ngayon ko lang yata narinig na nag-away kayong dalawa ng asawa mo. Ano ba ang pinag-awayan niyo ng asawa mo? Wait. Huwag mo na palang sagutin dahil alam kong malala ‘yan. Hindi ka aalis ng bahay niyo para magpalamig ng ulo kung hindi ‘yan malala.” Aniya.Wynter didn’t answer her friend and she closed her eyes.Valerie sighed. “Okay. You can stay here as long as you want.”“Thanks.” Wynter answered while her eyes close.Valerie looked at Fernalyn who was just standing at the kitchen door. Itinuro niya ang kaibigan. “Bantayan mo ‘tong ate mo dahil baka bigla na lang gumawa ng kababalaghan.”Wynter suddenly throws the pillow to Valerie.Natatawang inilagan naman ni Valerie ang throw pillow na ibinato ng kaibigan saka napailing.“Fernalyn, thank you for bringing me some clothes here.”
“WHAT is this?” tanong ni Cassiuz sa ama ni Wynter nang may ibigay ito sa kaniyang black book. “Is this…”Tumango si Ramon.Bahagyang nanlaki ang mata ni Cassiuz. “How did you manage to take away this black book from them?” he asked. “Scorpion is not easy to fool.”Ngumisi si Ramon. “I’ve been working in the underground for almost twenty years, Cassiuz. Of course, alam ko na kung ano ang mga dapat kong gawin.”Kinuha ni Cassiuz ang black book saka ito binuklat. He saw everyone in the black book including his name under the pseudonym of ‘Darkness’. Nakita niya rin ang mga pangalan ng mga kaibigan niya na nasa black book.Ramon sighed and took the black book from Cassiuz.Nagulat naman si Cassiuz sa ginawa ng ama ni Wynter.Ramon burned the book. Bigla na lang nitong sinindihan ang libro at binitawan. Bumagsak ang nasusunog na libro sa sahig.Cassiuz looked at his father-in-law.Nagkibit lang naman ng balikat si Ramon. “It’s better in this way to keep you safe.”“How about the others?”
A BEAUTIFUL and sophisticated woman just came out of the airport. Her dress, her bag and everything that in her were all shiny and expensive. She’s wearing a dress above the knee and long blazer. Tinanggal niya ang suot na shade at taas nuo siyang naglakad patungo sa nakaparada na kotse na naghihintay sa kaniya.“Dad!” Excited niyang nilapitan ang ama na naghihintay at niyakap ito. “I miss you, dad.”“I miss you too, my princess. How are you?”Ingrid chuckled. “As you can see, dad. I’m alive and well.”Ngumiti ang ama ni Ingrid. “That’s good to hear. Let’s go home para makapagpahinga ka na.”“Okay, dad.”Pumasok ang mag-ama sa kotse. While on their way, Ingrid asked about Cassiuz.“How’s Cassiuz, dad? Matagal ako sa abroad at naging busy ako. I wanted to know how was he doing now?” Ingrid asked.Ingrid was Cassiuz’ ex-fiancée. After Cassiuz broke up with her, she flew to US and become a famous model and now she’s back. Alam niyang kasalanan niya kung bakit sila naghiwalay pero pinagsi
INSIDE a lavish room, there are many people sitting on the lavish chairs and chatting with each other. Today is the board meeting of the Velasquez Empire. Ang unang board meeting kung saan ay si Wynter ang haharap sa mga ito. The investors and shareholders are also present. Pati na ang mga taong may matataas na katungkulan sa Velasquez Empire ay naroon rin sa loob ng meeting room including the Chief Finance Officer.“We will meet the wife of Mr. Velasquez today.” Said Vina. One of the shareholders.“Hindi ba pupunta si Mr. Velasquez sa board meeting natin ngayon? Bakit kailangan na ang asawa niya ang pumunta?” tanong ng isang board.Ngumiti ang isang board of directors na babae. “Actually, I admire Mr. Velasquez’ wife. Though she is not used to manage a big Empire but she proved herself. She did have some mistakes at first but now, she’s already good in managing the Empire.”“What was Mr. Velasquez thinking? Putting his inexperience wife in the President’s position. What a nonsense id
CASSIUZ’ phone chimed twice causing Wynter to wake up. Then his phone suddenly rang but it also stopped. Nagtaka naman si Wynter kung sino ang tatawag kay Cassiuz ng ganito kaaga. Tinignan niya ang asawa at nakitang mahimbing ang tulog nito dahil na rin siguro sa pagod. Not wanting her husband to be awake by the noisy phone, she got her husband’s phone and put it on a silent mode.Ibabalik niya sana ang phone nito sa beside table pero nakita niya ang unread message. Hindi niya ugaling makialam sa cellphone ng asawa kahit pa saan-saan nito nilalagay. Cassiuz’ phone has no even password because he already removed it and she could access it if she wants. Pero pinapakialaman niya lang ito kapag pinagpaalam niya ito sa asawa niya.Wynter accidentally didn’t opened the unread messages but it popped out and she accidentally read it. Natigilan siya nang mabasa ito. ‘Cassiuz, it’s me… Ingrid. I would like to invite you for dinner. Please.’Napatingin si Wynter sa asawa na mahimbing na natutulo
PAGDATING ni Mateo sa kanilang mansyon, naabutan niya ang ama na kasalukuyang umiinom. Nilapitan niya ang ama. “Dad.”Evan looked at his son. “Maupo ka.”Umupo naman si Mateo sa tapat ng kinauupuan ng ama.Nagsalin si Evan ng alak sa baso saka ibinigay sa anak. Kinuha naman ito ni Mateo. They clinked their glass.Ibinaba ni Mateo ang hawak na baso. “Dad, why are you drinking?”Umiling si Evan. “Gusto ko lang na mawala ang iba kong iniisip.”“Somethings bothers you, dad?”Evan sighed. “As you know from Jessica, Cassiuz is Darkness. That explains that he could always get out from our trap because he is not ordinary. Maliban sa atin, si Darkness ang isa sa pinakakatakutan na Mafia Boss sa underground. Not because of his name but because of what he is capable of.“What’s your plan, dad?” tanong ni Mateo. Sa totoo lang hindi niya inaasahan na ang isang Cassiuz Velasquez ay kasapi sa Underground Organization. He really never thought of it.“Since we already know that Cassiuz Velasquez is pa
CASSIUZ woke up still feeling dizzy. Napahawak siya sa kaniyang ulo saka pinilit ang sarili na bumangon pero sumakit lang ang ulo niya kaya bumalik siya sa pagkakahiga. What happened to me?He tried to remember what happened but he couldn’t really remember. Parang mas lalo lang na sumakit ang ulo niya kaya hindi na niya pinilit ang sarili.“Wynter?” he called his wife hoping that she was near him.“My love?”No one responded him so Cassiuz thought that his wife was not beside him anymore. Nagmulat siya ng mata at tinignan ang kama at pati na sa loob ng silid. Hindi niya nakita si Wynter. Where could she be?Cassiuz saw the glass of water at the bedside table. Beside the glass of water, there was a medicine for headache. Agad siyang bumangon at kinuha ang gamot saka ininom. Pagkatapos niyang uminom ng gamot saka lang niya napansin ang suot niyang damit. He was wearing long sleeve polo and trousers. Alam niya sa sarili na bago siya hihiga sa kama, nagpapalit siya ng damit. Bakit siya na
NIYAKAP ni Wynter ang kaniyang magulang. Hinatid niya ang mga ito sa airport. Ngayong araw ang alis nila papunta sa Italy.“Have a safe trip, mom, dad.”“Hindi ka ba talaga sasama sa amin, anak?” tanong ni Catherine.Umiling si Wynter. “Kailangan ko pong samahan si Cassiuz dito, mommy. He’s my husband so I needed to stay by his side. Pasensiya na po kayo pero hindi ko pwedeng iwan mag-isa ang asawa ko.”Hinaplos ni Catherine ang mukha ng anak. “Naiintindihan ka namin, ‘nak. Maiingat kayong dalawa ni Cassiuz.”Tumango si Wynter. “Maraming salamat po, mommy.”Ngumiti ang kaniyang ina habang niyakap naman siya ng ama.“Tell Cassiuz to take care of himself and don’t act recklessly.”Wynter nodded. “I will, dad.”“Okay. We’re leaving.” Kinuha ni Ramon ang maleta na hawak ng asawa. Hinalikan niya sa nuo si Wynter bago sila umalis.Wynter waved at her parents as they entered the airport. She sighed and turned her back. Bumalik siya sa kinaroroonan ni Nate at Dan.“Let’s go.”Yumukod si Nate