NAPABALIKWAS ng bangon si Wynter. Pinagpapawisan siya ng malamig at mahigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa kumot. Deretso ang titig niya sa dilim. Nang medyo kumalma siya, mabilis niyang binuksan ang lamp shade sa may bedside table at lumiwanag ang buong silid. Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Wynter saka muling nahiga sa kama. Deretso lang ang titig niya sa kisame ng kwarto nito.Not again. She thought.Nakailang hinga ng malalim si Wynter bago tuluyan siyang kumalma. Ipinikit ni Wynter ang mata. Lord, please, don’t let fear defeat me.This fear started three years ago. Ito rin ang naging rason kung bakit siya umalis sa serbisyo. May trauma siya mas lalo na sa dilim.Nagmulat ng mata si Wynter saka napatingin sa cellphone nang tumunog ito. Kumunot ang nuo ni Wynter. Nagtaka siya. Sino naman kaya ang tatawag sa kaniya sa ganitong oras…napatingin siya sa orasan na nakapatong sa bedside table. It’s already five in the morning.Kinuha ni Wynter ang cellphone. Kumunot na lang ang nuo niya nang

WYNTER was busy frosting the cake when she heard the door of her office opened. Hindi niya ito pinansin dahil alam niyang si Eliza ang pumasok.“Well, aren’t you gonna greet me ‘good morning’, my love?”Napasinghap si Wynter at mabilis na napatingin sa nagsalita. Napatitig siya sandali kay Cassiuz saka siya napabuntong hininga na lang. “Ano na naman bang ginagawa mo rito?” tanong ni Wynter.“Well…” Ipinakita ni Cassiuz ang dalang bouquet. “For you.”Tinignan lang ni Wynter ang bulaklak. “Kapag ba tinanggap ko ‘yan, aalis ka na?”Ngumiti si Cassiuz. “Yep. I’m just here to give this to you. Baka kasi itapon mo na naman.”“At nakakasiguro ka ba na hindi ko itatapon ‘yan kapag umalis ka?” tanong ni Wynter.Tipid na ngumiti si Cassiuz. “I’m happy if you will accept it.”Ibinaba ni Wynter ang hawak na frosting. She crossed her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrow. “Bakit mo ba ‘to ginagawa?” Seryoso niyang tanong.“Because I like you.” Deretsong sagot ni Cassiuz habang nakatingin sa m

“AS I EXPECTED, Mateo’ s company and his Underground business were merged. Hindi na ako magtataka kung bakit niya tinatarget ang Velasquez Empire gamit ang Underground Organizatoon. He has the gut to target my business because his father is the Leader of the Underground.” Ani Cassiuz. Napailing siya. Binasa niya ang pangalan ng mga Investors ng kumpanya ni Mateo Del Moran. “They are all influential people.” Cassiuz tsked.“Boss, what’s your plan?” tanong ni Mark.Umiling si Mark. “If he targeted my business in the Underground then I’ll deal with him as Darkness. If he targeted my Empire then I will face him as Cassiuz Velasquez. You know that I’m a decent villain, Mark.”Yumuko lang si Mark. His Boss Cassiuz Velasquez is one of the influential people in the business world. No one dared to stand on his way. But even his Boss is influential, he never trampled the weak people especially to his employees. His Boss treats every one of them fairly.“Anyway, any news about Wynter? I haven’t

TAHIMIK na pinagmamasdan ni Cassiuz si Wynter habang abala ito sa counter at isinasalin nito ang mga na-bake nitong pastries. Habang siya ay kumakain ng cake. Siya ang nakaupo sa upuan ng dalaga.“Can you stop staring?” Wynter said with a bit of annoyed voice.Cassiuz just smiled and stared at Wynter.Sumulyap si Wynter kay Cassiuz saka napailing.Nagsubo si Cassiuz ng cake. He couldn’t help thinking, it’s been one week since Wynter become different. He means that nag-iba ang trato nito sa kaniya. Noong mga nakaraang linggo, Wynter was pushing him away and not answering his calls. But now, Wynter let him do what he wants. He can go to her café whenever he wanted. And when he calls her, sinasagot na nito ang tawag niya. Hindi katulad noon na pinapatay ni Wynter ang mga tawag niya. Though may mga time pa rin na hindi sinasagot ni Wynter ang mga tawag niya pero mas marami ang beses na sinasagot na nito ang mga tawag niya. Hindi alam ni Cassiuz kung ano ang nangyari at nag-iba ang trato n

“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.”