When she heard the doors sound her heart automatically beat wild. Even the bed slightly swamp when he jumped on the bed to lay beside her.
Dumaloy ang taksil na luha sa kanyang mga mata habang inaalala ang sinseridad sa mga mata ni Malik. How he kissed her passionately. Naidilat niya ang mga mata noong maramdaman ang braso ni Malik na unti-unting pumapalupot sa kanyang baywang. His chest warmly pressing her back too.
"Do you remember us before?" he whispered in her ears.
Her tears fueled by his warmth touch. How could she possibly forget him? Being with him was the safest place she could ever be. Being with him, she felt she's the most precious woman in the world. Being with him, she will never feel alone. He is her home.
"We slept in one bed. I always hug you from the back so you won't feel scared."
She bit her lower lip. Her emotions was boiling and she have to keep them all inside of her. Hindi niya hahayaang iligtas ulit ni Malik. Kailangan niyang harapan ang nakaraan ng siya lang. Hindi niya alam ang puwedeng mangyari sa hinaharapa, baka sa susunod ay mapahamak na ito dahil sa pagligtas sa kanya.
Humigpit ang yakap nito sa kanya, ibinabaon ang mukha sa kanyang leeg. "I will never let you go, baby. Never."
ANG BIGAT ng mata niya nang siya'y papa-akyat sa hagdan. Hindi niya alam kung bakit dito siya dumiretso sa mansion nila. The maids got surprised even the guards disturbed by her early disturbance.
Hindi siya nakatulog kagabi kakaiyak. When Malik started to snore she knows he was in his deep sleep already. Kilala niyang mabilis makatulog ito, at ang senyales ay kapag humihilik na.
She stayed in the sauna to take a nap. This is her punishment to herself, her eyes got swollen because of crying all night. Tiyak na magbubunga na naman ang pagpupuyat niya.
"Ma'am, phone po!"
She got awaken when the maid knocked on the door. "Come in."
Pumasok ito upang iabot ang wireless telephone. Nanghihina pa siya nang mahawakan iyon. Paglabas ng maid ay saka siya nagsalita. "Hello?" she lazily said.
"It's me. Where are you? Let's meet at the Nightingale Palace."
Napatuwid siya nang pagkakasandal dahil sa pamilyar na boses. Kumurap-kurap pa siya dahil hindi niya alam kung ano ang sasabihin. Handa na ba siyang harapin ito? Aaminin na ba niya kay Shawn ang lahat?
"Alright. Give me half an hour."
The call ended and she was still unmoved. She's ready to tell him everything but she's not ready for his feelings. Kung malalaman ni Shawn na siya si Vika, ano ang maaari nitong gawin?
She looked up when she remembered how Shawn and Malik's brotherhood treatment was firm and bold. What if because of her their friendship will be ruin?
She let out a long sighed. Marahas din niyang ipinikit ang mga mata. Ano itong mga bagong problema niya?
Mula sa BMW ay bumaba siya. Kanina pa tunog nang tunog ang cellphone niya dahil sa tawag ni Malik, pero hindi niya sinasagot. Masyado siyang kinakabahan sa paghaharap nila ni Shawn.
Umalis na ang BMW sa tapat niya pero nananatili pa rin siyang nakadungaw sa entrance ng Nightingale Palace. Hindi niya maikilos ang mga paa dahil sa takot na maaaring mangyari kapag sinabi niya na ang totoo.
Humugot siya nang pagkalalim-lalim na hininga bago humakbang. Napakabigat ng kalooban niya sa gagawin. Para bang itutulak niya ang dalawang magkaibigan sa bingit nang kamatayan. Tama ba itong gagawin niya? Puwede naman siyang hindi magpakita pero may parte sa puso niya ang nagsasabing aminin na ang totoo.
Only the truth can set your free. Release you from your heavy chains and burden. Even if it hurts you or someone involved, no one can be escaped from the dare of the truth.
When she passed through the elegant rotating door, she'd almost jump out of nervousness when someone called her name.
"Don't tell me nakalimutan mo na ako?" anito sa kanya, umaktong nagtatampo.
"Palawan, right?" she asked to confuse.
Inikutan siya nito ng mata. "Lily, from Mr. Chen's team." He said while eyeing her get-up. He even removed her exaggerated sunglasses to view her clearly. "You look stunning as always. Ano nakapag-decide ka na ba?"
"Lily!"
Sabay silang lumingon ni Lily sa intsik sa likuran. Her eyes widen when she recognized him. Na-conscious siya bigla sa sarili at nagpahatak sa paghila ni Lily sa kanya palapit dito.
"Mr. Chen, do you remember the beautiful lady on Palawan?" anito rito bago lumingon sa kanya, "Magpakilala ka na girl."
Agad niyang inilahad ang kamay rito bilang paggalang. "Jyra Keith Aldrich, Sir," she sweetly said.
The man nodded his head. "I remember you. The rare beauty who possessed an innocent but fiery aura," he meticulously said, his eyes obviously scanning her from head to toe. Before he took her hand and shook it. "Call me, Mr. Chen, dear. Lily, why not invite her to come with us." He said before releasing her hand.
"Oh, I apologize I will meet someone. Maybe next time, Mr. Chen." An awkward smile crept across her lips while trying to tell to Lily to say something or save her from this unexpected meeting.
Tumawa si Lily bago tinuro kung saan dapat sila patungo. "Mr. Chen I will scribble your schedule-"
Mr. Chen hand over to her his personal calling card. "Give me a call once you are free."
Nang mahawakan niya iyon ay agad lumakad ito upang lagpasan siya. Lily even give her a peck before he left.
Napakurap siya sa nangyari. Sa saglit na interaction kay Lily at Mr. Chen panandalian siyang nakalimot sa reyalidad ng kanyang buhay. When her eyes landed on the restaurant she's going through, a bucket of neurotic filled her chest. Pakiwari nga niya ay lumulutang siya sa paglalakad dahil sa sobrang kaba.
Nahanap agad niya si Shawn nang magtama ang kanilang paningin. Kung noon ay palaging nakangiti ito sa kanya, ngayon ay para isinusumpa nito ang bawat bahagi ng kanyang katawan.
"Hi," she greeted when she sat on the chair across him.
The waiter serve her an orange juice. Nagulat siya dahil doon. Saglit niyang tiningnan iyon bago bumaling kay Shawn. She caught him looking at her.
"Kumain ka na?" she said. She's trying her best to broke the awkward silence between them but she can't make it. Shawn looks not please and he looks unbreakable on his stand.
"Who are you?"
Natulala siya dahil dito. Hindi na ba sila magkakabati nito? Hindi niya gustong ganito ang trato nito sa kanya. Maybe she has to tell him her feelings too? But she doesn't want him to get hurt. But, then again, he will be hurt if she kept it all.
Nagpakawala siya nang malalim na hininga bago nagsalita, "I am Jyra Keith Aldrich."
Shawn just blinked his eyes. There is no any emotion showed on his face. He was truly unreadable right now. And she can't help but struggle deeply. Sa paanong paraan niya ba sasabihin na siya si Vika?
"I and the real Winona switched our identity. She is" - she locked her eyes with him before she swallowed the lump in her throat- "Vika, right now. And I am-" She got interrupted when someone yelled her name. Nang lingunin niya kung sino ito'y agad siyang napatayo.
"Frank?" she asked confused.
Frank is with his corporate team. All of them looks professional and well respect with their synchronize appeal. But, Frank stand out because of being the youngest and grumpy facial features. He's so Malik because of that.
Nilingon niya ang lalaking tinitingnan ni Frank. He is looking at Shawn. And what makes her confuse more is when Frank pulled her and act defending her from Shawn.
"Ano ba, Frank? Bitiwan mo nga ako," she hissed but in her surprised, Shawn holds her other arm too. Naguguluhan niyang tiningnan ito.
"Bitawan mo siya," Frank roared angrily.
"How dare you act like that in front of me, Asshole. Don't touch my woman." Shawn leveled him.
Naguguluhan niya tiningnan ang dalawa. How these two met and why they look enemy?
Frank laughed mockingly, "Your woman?" he probed, he laughed more as if Shawn was the most disgusting human living in this world. "Suck my dick, mother fucker. I will not allow you to my sister. Dream on her 'till you die." Hinila siya nito paalis, ngunit nanglaban si Shawn na hinarangan naman agad ng bodyguard para hindi makalapit sa kanila.
"Frank, ano ba!" Hinila niya ng buong puwersa ang braso para makabitaw kay Frank. "Ano bang problema mo kay Shawn?"
"Jesus, ate. Kilala mo ba ang fucker na 'yon?"
Lalong kumunot ang noo niya at napasulyap kung saan naroon si Shawn na nananatiling nakatingin sa kanya.
"He is Shawn Friis. Ano bang problema mo sa kanya?"
"He fucked my woman. Will that satisfy your curiosity?"
"Watched your word, Frank!"
"And you are raising your voice? And wait... are you on his side? Ate, nasaan na ang metikolosa kong kapatid?" He acted so disappointedly with her.
"I am not, okay. Parehas kayong mahalaga sa akin dahil kapatid ko rin siya." She revealed, she's trying to understand him and to Shawn. Pero paano niya gagawin iyon kung hindi niya alam ang totoong nangyari sa dalawa. "S-sino nga ulit 'yung babae mo kamo?"
"Bridgette. You know her. She's my long-term girlfriend."
Sumingkit ang mata niya nang mabakas ang pagkahiya sa mukha ni Frank. Nag-walk out din ito na parang bata sa harapan niya. Naiiling niyang binalingan si Shawn na iniwan na ng body guard.
She picked up her phone to give him a call. "Let's talk some other day. You just bump my real brother." She ended the call without breaking their sight. She even gave her a waved.
Shawn, what's this news? Are you really a playboy? But, you said you are not like what Colin always tells me so. I am confused but somehow, I want you and Frank to be okay.
She followed Frank on the elevator while thinking for Bridgette.
Bitching around, huh, Bridgette!