Gaynell
"Kung hindi ka masaya, layuan mo na. Ano bang klaseng omega ang halos magmakaawa na ng pansin sa alphang wala namang pakialam? Oh my goodness, anak. Saan ang pride mo?" galit na sabi sa akin ni Mama noong malaman niya ang aking kalagayan matapos nilang malaman na fated pair ay si Sebastian ang susunod na Duke ng Aster.
"It's your fault! Kayo na papa," pagalit na sagot ko sa kanya. "If you didn't imprinted in my head that Fated Pairs are the most blessed pair, at kung gaano kaganda ang magkaroon ng kaprehas, hindi sana ako nangarap na sana balang araw ay meron din akong alpha na kagaya ni Papa! You didn't tell me that some fated pairs end up not being happy! That they also suffer like the freaking me! Whenever you and Papa showed your love to each other, I feel like I wanna die of envy!" hindi ko napigilan ang hindi umiyak.
Naramdaman ko ang biglang pagyakap ng mama sa akin at inalo-alo ang aking likuran.
"I'm sorry, anak. I'm sorry," mahinang sabi ni Mama.
"Come home. Hindi mo na kailangang magstay sa bahay ng young master. Stay here and move on. Alam kong mahirap but you'll get over eventually. Don't worry narito lang kami ng papa mo para tulungan ka every step of the way," sabi pa niya sa akin.
"What?" tanong sa akin ni Sebastian habang inaayos ko ang aking gamit sa loob ng master's bedroom. Ito rin ang kwarto kung saan ay naging kwarto rin ni Avery.
"I said, I'm leaving," sagot ko sa kanya.
"Leaving? Are you stupid?" balewalang tanong niya habang nakatingin sa kanyang smartphone.
"I'm done being stupid. I want to live on my own away from you," sagot ko pa.
"Then go. I'm not stopping you. Just don't come back begging me to take you in," sabi niya. "Well, you'll eventually come back again I'm sure of it," sagot niya.
Hindi na ako nagsalita. Dahil lahat ng mga salitang namumutawi sa bibig ni Sebastian, sinasadya man niya o hindi ay nakakasakit na.
He changed. He isn't the Sebastian I used to know. He became so obsessed with Avery again when he learned that he is pregnant with his child, something that I cannot do. I don't know what scheme he is planning but I know it's about having them both by crook or hook. Nitong mga nagdaang araw, lagi na itong may kausap sa phone o hindi kaya ay nakikipag-meeting sa taong wala naman sa list of agenda niya. Minsan nga ay pumupunta ang taong ito sa office. At first, nakikita ko ng mga kakaiba sa lalaking iyon. He's bad news. Something about him screams danger that Sebastian shouldn't mingle with him even if they were old friends. There's this one time that I accidentally heard what they were talking about.
"..this will work. All you need to do is wait for your Dad to step down and you take the title and then the plan will begin. Kailangan lang natin ng magandang timing. We are going against big sharks here at kailangan ng mabusising plano,"
I knew they were up to something. I need to find it out kung gusto kong iligtas si Sebastian sa lalaking mukhang manipulative. Nararamdaman kong ginagamit niya si Sebastian sa pansarili nitong kapakanan. At itong Sebastian na ito ay madaling nabilog ang ulo.
Pagkatapos kong ilock ang aking suitcase at hinila ko na ito palabas ng silid without turning back. I'm leaving him for good but not without knowing what this guy is up to. Napakalakas ng aking kutob na ikakapahamak ito ng Aster.
"Hey," nakangiting bati sa akin ni Cole paglabas ko ng gate ng bahay ni Sebastian. "Are you leaving him again?" tanong pa niya.
I feel like my feet were nailed when I saw him leaning on his car habang naka-cross arm pa on his chest. The last time I saw him was when he was crying and begging me to choose him.
"I heard you parents talking about you coming home today so I volunteered to fetch you. Kakauwi ko lang from Bree at free ako kaya uhmm, let's go home?" nanantiyang nitong tanong sa akin.
Christ! Why did I neglect this alpha? Why did I choose someone over him when he was with me all the way until now?
"Let's go," hindi ko naman napigilan ang mga luhang mula sa aking mga mata.
Ngumiti ito sa akin bago ako nilapitan at pinunasan ang aking mga luha.
"I'm so stupid," sabi ko sa kanya.
"Hmm?" tanong niya habang nagda-drive.
"I was too blind to see your sincerity towards me, Cole and yet I chose some bastard over you. I'm so sorry," mahina kong sabi sa kanya.
Naramdaman kong inihinto nito ang sasakyan sa tabi. At walang sabi-sabing kinabig niya ako at hinalikan sa mga labi. Napapikit ako at saka hinayaang umagos ang aming mga luha.
Fate is cruel. It has its own way to make us suffer. Too much damn suffering. But at the end of the tunnel, someone is waiting for you there that will love you and be willing to heal the damage that fate had bestowed upon you.
"It wasn't sincerity. It is love," sagot niya sa akin matapos. "You already knew I loved you since," sabi pa niya.
Nakangiti ako habang pinupunasan ang aming mga luha.
"Then, I'm positive that your love can heal me," sagot ko sa kanya.
"I will," sabi niya bago muling pinaandar ang kanyang sasakyan. "This time, our wedding will go on," sabi niya. "No running away from me. No going back to that jackass."
"No more," nakangiti kong sabi. "And I'll be with you," sagot ko sa kanya.
My parents and his parents agreed once again. This time totohanan na. I've decided, I can also fight fate. Hindi pwedeng mananatili na lang akong bilanggo sa kapalarang itinadhana sa akin. I needed to fight my way back to where I used to be. Back when I didn't meet Sebastian. Back when I was happy And content living my life the way it used to be. And the engagement ring finally took my ring finger completely this time, for good until the day of my wedding with Cole.
"Do you know who this guy is?" tanong ko kay Cole habang nasa opisina niya kami.
"Who's guy?" tanong niya bago lumapit sa kinauupuan ko.
"This," sagot ko sabay turo sa lalaking nakita kong pabalik-balik sa opisina ni Sebastian.
Nangunot ang noo ni Cole.
"That's Haize Mcrow. You know him?" takang tanong nito.
"This guy is always visiting Sebastian's office. Hindi ko alam kung anong sadya niya dito but I wasn't allowed to enter kapag naroon ito kasama ni Sebastian," sagot ko sa kanya.
"No way," gulat na sabi ni Cole.
"What? Sino ba talaga itong lalaking ito?" naguguluhang tanong ko.
"He's the firstborn prince in Asturia. He was supposed to be the next in line king but he decided to pass the crown to the second son.. After that, he just vanished away. Rumors say that the prince was associated with the rebellious group named Haze. The group of bandits aimed to take down all the monarchy leadership including Asturia. But no evidence confirming that he is one of them. He appeared again after five years as a legible businessman since he is alpha as well. No one actually saw that group since its existence is a mystery. I heard he also travels country to country so do business partnerships. He's a mysterious alpha," sagot niya sa akin.
Maybe I'm wrong. Kung rumored lang pala ang lahat tungkol sa lalaki ay baka nga hindi ito masamang tao at baka business related lang ako pinag-uusapan nila ni Sebastian at ang big sharks ay ang prominenteng businessman around the world na gustong nitong i-target to move their business ahead or am I wrong? I still have this gut feeling that something ain't right.
"Is this guy's bothering you?" tanong niya sa akin.
"Yeah. I have this gut feeling that he's not doing business with Sebastian. Since I know that he's still obsessed with his child with Avery," sagot ko sa kanya. "Maybe I should pay him a visit to Bree. What do you think?" tanong ko pa.
"Do you want to come with me? I'll have some business matters to attend to next week," sagot niya. "And if your guts are true, then you can talk to Marius. I heard that he's also aware of Haze. I think he'll listen to you," sabi pa niya. "But be careful. We don't know who we can trust."
Ngumiti ako sa kanya.
"I know you'll be there to protect me," sagot ko sa kanya.
"Oh, I will, babe. Don't worry," sabi niya before giving me a kiss on the lips.
Kakalapag lang ng jet ni Cole sa jetport ng Bree ay sinalubong na kami ng kanyang secretary.
"Joshue, this is my fiance, his name is Gaynell. He's the one who wanted to meet his grace. Did you set up the meet up?" tanong ni Cole habang nakasakay kami sa SUV na pag-aari ng kumpanya niya.
Ayon kay Cole, isang Beta si Joshue at happily married sa isa ring Beta na kagaya niya na isa sa mga body guard ng Duke. Ito mismo ang nakiusap sa Duke tungkol sa meetup namin.
"Yes, sir. My husband confirmed it. By ten in the morning, the Duke will be free and he will expect you to be there ASAP," sagot niya dito.
Tumingin ako sa aking wrist watch. May thirty minutes pa kami bago makarating sa House of the Duke kung saan pumapasok si Marius as Bree's Duke.
"Sir, code Red," narinig kong sabi ng driver kay Cole habang patingin-tingin ito da rear mirror ng SUV.
Nakita kong lumingon si Cole sa likuran.
"That car has been following us since we left the port, sir," sabi pa nito.
"You know what to do, Bren," sagot nito bago ikinabit ang seat belt sa akin.
Bigla na lang akong naalog sa biglaang pagbabago ng pagda-drive ni Bren.
"Hold your breath, Babe. We are being followed by a car," sagot niya sa akin. "This is the shortest way to the Duke House's," sabi pa niya.
Omg! I think I wanna throw up lalo na noong paulit-ulit ang pagdi-drift ni Bren maiwala lang ang sasakyan na sumusunod sa amin. Maya-maya ay parang may narinig kong tumatama sa aming sasakyan at noong lingunin ko ang likod, nakita ko ang isang lalaking nakasuot ng mask na nakalabas ang kalahati ng katawan nito sa bintana ng sasakyang kasunod at may hawak na baril aiming at us!
What the hell is happening!?