ESHVI was relaxing in her bathtub with a glass of red wine in her hand. Eashta was already asleep, and it was the perfect time to pamper herself. Because why not? The first part of her plan was set into motion. She enjoyed the sweet scent of lavender coming from the candles inside the bathroom. Nag-uumapaw ang kasiyahan niya ngayong gabi dahil bukas sigurado siyang sulit ang kanyang paghihintay sa nakalipas na taon at tiyak na siya ang magwawagi. Bye, Triana… Eshvi laughed hysterically. Patience was indeed a virtue. Akala niya wala siya noon, pero wala palang imposible kapag focus sa goal. Ngayon pa lang iniisip na niya ang kanyang magiging papel sa buhay ni Devance kapag tuluyan nang nawala sa kanyang landas ang babae. She would be the new Mrs. Chaudhary. The rightful wife to the only son of the infamous conglomerate. Soon the world would sweep off her feet again. Hindi na siya makapaghintay sa magandang balitang bubungad sa kanya sa mga susunod na araw. “Cheers to a job well d

CALEB could not believe what he was seeing. Kalunos-lunos ang sinapit ng mag-asawa. Nakakaawang tingnan habang maraming aparatong nakakabit sa katawan ng dalawa. Just as he knew, they were comatose. “Kuya Caleb…” Naramdaman niya ang paghawak ni Tristan sa kanyang balikat. Maraming taon na nga talaga ang dumaan. The Allende twins were almost the same height as him. They grew up fine teenagers and slowly made their names in the business world as young millionaires. Malungkot na umiling si Caleb sa harap ng kambal. “I was on a hike the other day with Anya. I have proposed to her along our trek to the Saint Elias Mountains. I was about to tell your sister about the good news… and this greeted me.” “Ate Ria will be fine. She’s a fighter.” Tristan was optimistic. “They had to fight for Ravi and Rini. Poor kids, they are unaware of what is going on.” Bakas ang lungkot sa boses ni Travis. “And our little angel went ahead of them. I can’t believe Devna would be gone too soon.” Itinuon niy

Three months later PARA sa pamilya ni Triana ay isang normal na araw na lang ito. It was past lunchtime. Mabilis na dumaan ang mga buwan na wala pa ring pagbabago sa kalagayan nito. Pero hindi nila inaasahan na sa araw na ito biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ni Triana dahilan para mataranta si Lucia lalo na at may pagmamadali sa mga kilos ng doktor na naroon. The equipment around Triana was beeping non-stop. “She’s suffering tachycardia. Give me the defibrillator!” utos ng doctor. Hindi napigilan ni Lucia ang mapahikbi. Mag-isa lang siyang bumabantay ngayon sa anak dahil out of the country sina Travis at Tristan. They had to attend an important business meeting that they could not let it pass. Wala naman kasi silang pagpipilian kundi ang magpatuloy sa buhay kahit na patuloy na nakikipaglaban sa kamatayan ang nakatatandang kapatid. “Save her…” Nanghihinang muling naupo si Lucia sa sofa habang panay ang kanyang dasal. Wala sa isip niya na isuko ang anak kahit nakikita niyang n

TRIANA was on her way to recovery—physically. But the psychological trauma still lingered that she could not properly sleep without the help of medicine. Wala rin siyang ganang kumain pero pinipilit niyang magpalakas para sa mga anak niya. Ang nakakalungkot lang dahil habang tumatagal ay wala siyang balita sa asawa. She tried to contact Devance countless times, but he was always out of reach. At nang minsang tawagan niya si Dexa ay sinabi nitong hindi maganda ang lagay ng kapatid at kailangan rin muna niyang magpagaling kung gugustuhin niyang makita ang asawa. Although she never mentioned where her brother was. Lagi itong umiiwas. Her sister-in-law was back in Milan, and Triana hadn’t seen her from the moment she woke up. Hindi naman siya nagtatampo dahil nalaman niyang halos hindi siya nito iniwan nang mga panahong nag-aagaw buhay siya. Nagpumilit siyang puntahan ang asawa kung nasa townhouse nila ito naglalagi. But she could not move freely without the help of somebody. Hindi pa n

DALI-DALING nag-ayos si Triana nang marinig ang sinabi ng ama. He gave her instructions on what to do. Pinadadala siya nito ng ilang pirasong damit dahil medyo may kalayuan ang kanilang pupuntahan. She ate an early dinner first. Kaharap niya sa hapag sina Gracia at Akhil. Triana asked lots of questions about her husband’s condition, but the couple seemed to be very careful in answering. Hindi na lang siya nangulit pa tutal naman makikita na niya si Devance maya-maya lang. “You’re going there with Vijay, Kanchhi,” wika ni Akhil matapos nilang kumain. “What about you?” Papalit-palit ang tingin niya sa mag-asawa. Akhil shook his head. “We’re not going. We have decided to give you privacy there. If something happens, call us.” “But…” she protested. Pero naisip rin niyang mas mabuti na ngang silang dalawa lang ang naroon. They could resolve their family issues alone. “Be careful, Kanchhi.” Gracia smiled. “Thanks, Mom and Dad. I’m going now.” Tinungo niya ang kuwarto at kinuha ang da