MasukSEBASTIAN'S POVThe waitress stepped forward and politely asked for her order. Hazel answered with quiet confidence, her movements graceful and refined as she scanned the menu before handing it back. Every motion she made was elegant, as though years of discipline had molded her into someone who always carried herself with dignity.Her face was still the same as I remembered. The same sharp eyes, the same delicate features, and the same calm expression that rarely betrayed her emotions. But the way she carried herself now was different. She had become more composed, more intimidating in silence alone. The timid woman I used to know was nowhere to be found."Sir, what's your order?" the waitress asked while holding her notepad and ballpen."I'm not in the mood to eat," I said. "Just give me warm water.""Copy, Sir."She gave us a courteous smile before quietly walking away, her footsteps fading into the soft music that echoed throughout the café. The silence she left behind suddenly fe
SEBASTIAN'S POV I walked slowly towards her. Every step I took was calm and measured, matching the emotions I had long forced myself to bury. My face remained unreadable, yet beneath that composed exterior was a storm that refused to settle. Even though I had already chosen to forget about the past, it kept coming back every time my eyes met Hazel's. It was as if those memories had never truly left. I knew they had always been there, buried somewhere deep inside me. I simply chose to ignore them for the sake of my ambition. The ambition that wasn't for me, but for my parents. I really hoped Hazel would bring me important information about my aunt. I was also curious about how she had managed to obtain the information she has now. I really hoped it would make sense because coming here just to meet another woman was already troublesome for me. I pulled the chair back and sat down like the dominant man I had become. My posture was firm, my expression cold, and my presence alone comma
SEBASTIAN'S POVI woke up to the steady hum of the air conditioner. As expected, I found myself lying on the bed.I noticed that Serena wasn't beside me anymore. Then I heard the shower running. She must be taking a bath.I should've slept on the sofa last night. She might be startled after waking up and seeing me beside her on the bed.Last night, after she had fallen asleep, I couldn't stop staring at her face after putting medicine on her feet. Her face resembled cherry blossoms touched by the warmth of the morning sun. Even though it was already nighttime, there was something warm and peaceful about her features. The soft rhythm of her breathing while she slept somehow eased the noise inside my head.And somehow...I found myself sleeping beside her.I only lay down next to her, but she suddenly wrapped her arms around me in her sleep. That's when I truly realized how exhausted she had been that day. I was tired too, but compared to her, she was completely drained. I know she's no
SERENA'S POVAgad akong natunawan ng loob nang mapagtanto ang sitwasyon. Halata namang nakikinig sila sa labas. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kailangan pa nilang gawin iyon, pero alam ko ang pakay nila."Hayst, nakakahiya," bulong ko habang napahilamos sa mukha."I'm asking," sabi pa ni Sebastian. "What are the two of you doing here?""Naku, Sebastian. Dumaan lang naman kami," sabi pa ng tiyahin niya."But it doesn't look like so.""Sebastian, huwag ka namang masyadong tense. Dumaan lang talaga kami.""At this hour?""Alam mo naman ang lola mo. Minsan bumabalik ang insomnia.""Geez."Napahilamos si Sebastian sa mukha habang mariing ipinikit ang mga mata niya. Bahagya siyang napabuntong hininga na para bang pilit niyang kinokontrol ang inis na unti unting umaakyat sa kaniya. Pinisil niya ang pagitan ng mga kilay niya bago muling tumingin sa dalawa, kalmado ang mukha ngunit halatang nagtitimpi."Nga pala, apo. Bakit ka lalabas?" tanong pa ng lola niya."Serena is in pain. Her feet are swolle
SERENA'S POVMaaliwalas ang espasyong nakayakap sa amin. Nakaupo ako sa gilid ng kama habang siya naman ay nakaupo sa sahig sa harap ko, maingat na nilalagyan ng dressing ang sugat sa paa ko.Ngayon ko lang tuluyang naramdaman ang sakit nito.Ang sakit na kanina ko pa pala dinadala ngunit hindi ko man lang napansin."Aray!"Agad akong napasigaw nang bahagya niyang madiinan ang sugat. Napapikit ako habang kusang napakapit ang mga daliri ko sa bedsheet. Parang biglang sumiklab ang hapdi na kanina ay nananahimik lang."Oops.""Dahan-dahan lang, please?" sabi ko."I'm trying, okay?""Ang trying mo parang first time kang manggamot ng katawan ng iba ah."Agad siyang napatahimik.Parang may kung anong nagbago sa presensya niya. Nawala ang bahagyang biro sa mukha niya at napalitan iyon ng katahimikan. Saglit na huminto ang kamay niyang may hawak na bulak bago muling gumalaw, ngunit mas mabagal na ngayon. Para bang may alaalang biglang bumalik at hindi niya inaasahang maaabutan siya nito."Too
SERENA'S POV Hindi ko agad maibuka ang bibig ko. Para akong napahinto. Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang sasabihin. Para bang may kung anong humarang sa lalamunan ko. Tila pinigilan ako ng hangin na magsalita habang unti-unting bumibigat ang katahimikan sa pagitan naming dalawa. Inaasahan ko na ito. Alam kong posible talagang may mangyaring ganito. Na darating ang panahon na haharap kami sa usapin tungkol sa kapangyarihan at sa mga taong handang gawin ang lahat para lamang mapanatili iyon. Kahit sinabi na sa akin ni Sebastian ang mga nangyari. Kahit naintindihan ko ang paliwanag niya, may bahagi pa rin ng isip ko na hindi lubos na kampante. Para bang may mga salitang hindi pa niya sinasabi. Mga katotohanang itinago niya hindi dahil gusto niya akong lokohin, kundi dahil masyado iyong mabigat para basta na lang ilahad. Pero parang may kulang. Parang may isa pa akong gustong malaman. Isang katanungan na ayaw tumigil sa pag-ikot sa isip ko. Kahit ilang beses kong pilitin na balewalain iyo
SERENA'S POVMakalipas ang dalawang oras na paglalakad ay nakarating na ako sa labas ng bahay namin. Nanginginig ang katawan ko sa lamig dahil basang-basa ako sa ulan.I pressed my purse against my chest, silently praying that everything would be alright.Ngunit nang makita ko ang tanawin sa harap
SERENA'S POV"Ahh!!!"I screamed my lungs out nang makita ko ang sarili kong hubad at nakahiga sa isang malaking kama. Ang mas malala pa, may katabi akong hindi kilalang lalaki na nakahubad at nakatalikod habang natutulog.I covered my mouth as my eyes widened in shock. Lumingon-lingon ako sa palig
SERENA'S POVHis deep voice echoed throughout the hallway.Ma'am Hannah, Daniel, and the two guards behind him visibly stiffened. Kahit ako ay napatuwid ng tayo nang marinig iyon. Hindi ko akalaing may isang estranghero—at isa pang VIP ng hotel na ito—ang sasagip sa akin.Sanay na akong maliitin sa
SERENA'S POVNagising ako at nakita ang sarili kong nakahiga sa isang kama sa clinic. Nakaupo si Mama sa gilid, magkasalikop ang mga kamay sa kandungan habang nakatitig sa sahig."Ma, anong nangyari?" tanong ko habang hinahawakan ang ulo ko. Hindi na gaanong umiikot ang paningin ko. "Ma?"Nag-angat







