PROLOGUE

Mahina akong napadaing ng maramdaman na diniinan ni Oceanus ang sugat sa aking tuhod. Mabilis kong kinuha ang telepono na nakapatong sa maliit na table sa gilid ko at binato sa kanya pero agad niya 'yong naiwasan kahit na hindi nakatingin sa 'kin.

Ang atensyon nito ay nasa tuhod ko lang at nang makita ang mukha nito ay tumaas ang gilid ng kanyang labi. Nagusot ang aking mukha sa sobrang inis. He's just teasing me!

"That's hurts! Siraulo ka ba!?" galit kong sambit.

Imbis na sagutin ay tinawanan niya lang ako. Umalingawngaw sa buong living area ang boses nitong malalim na akala mo ay kagigising lang.

"Ayusin mo naman 'yang ginagawa mo. I thought you were going to treat my wound? Ikaw ang may kasalanan kung bakit ako nasugatan, tapos aasarin mo lang ako?"

Tumaas ang dalawa niyang kamay na akala mo ay sumusuko. May hawak siyang cotton ball na may betadine sa kanan nitong kamay.

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry," he replied with a laugh and resumed treating my wound.

Hindi pa rin maalis ang iritasyon sa aking mukha habang pinagmamasdan siyang gamutin ang sugat ko sa tuhod. I was seated on the sofa, at siya naman ay nakaupo sa carpet. Hawak-hawak niya ang maputi at makinis kong binti dahil nagagalaw ko 'yon sa tuwing nasasaktan ako. I'm already wondering how many laser treatment sessions I'll need to get rid of this scar!

"I can feel like you're murdering me in your mind," he whispered.

Napairap na lang ako sa ere. "Mabuti at alam mo."

He was done in a flash. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako nang maupo siya sa 'king tabi. Nang lingunin ko siya ay may pilyong ngiti ito sa kanyang labi na akala mo ay nagpipigil ng tawa. He gently reached up to my hair and tucked the strand behind my ear.

"Even you had a scar. You know that you're beautiful, Valentina."

Ngayong nakamit ko na ang gusto ko, sobra na ang pag-aalaga ko sa 'king sarili para ma-maintain 'yon. Alam kong ang baliw pakinggan, pero gusto kong maging flawless ang katawan ko maski ang hitsura dahil hindi ko naman 'yon naranasan noon. If I had been beautiful back then, I might not have thought about changing myself.

I rolled my eyes and was still annoyed at him. Nang bumaba ang tingin ko sa 'king tuhod, may nakabalot na roon na bandage. I can't hide the bandage because I was only wearing denim shorts and a simple oversized black shirt and paired it with white sneakers.

Tumayo na ako at dinampot ang hoodie na nakasampay sa sandalan ng sofa. Pinatong ko 'yon sa handle ng aking suitcase at hinila para makaalis na. Habang naglalakad ay naririnig ko pa rin ang tawa ni Oceanus na mas lalo kong ikinairita.

I'd already gone out the door, waiting for him because he had the huge suitcase. I left the two doors open so he could take everything out.

Fortunately, we're going to use Atlas' private plane, kaya ang travel namin na from Mexico hanggang Philippines ay hindi hassle. Hindi pa rin namin nakikita si Atlas, maski communication sa kanya ay wala. Kahit naman na gano'n ay puwede pa rin namin magamit ang mga pagmamay-ari niyang transportasyon.

I'm his assistant, after all, and Oceanus is his right-hand man. Ang rason lang naman kung bakit ako nagmamadali ay dahil nakakahiya na paghintayin ang piloto ng sasakyan naming private plane.

Ang vase na hawak-hawak ni Oceanus kanina ay aksidenteng nadulas sa kanyang kamay. Sasaluhin ko na sana 'yon pero ang tubig sa vase ay natapon. Kaya ang nangyari ay parehas kaming nadulas at hindi nasalo ang vase kaya nabasag. I ended up with glass cuts and a scraped knee.

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

"Are you going to get laser treatment for your scar there?" Oceanus asked as he settled comfortably into his seat.

I nodded and slumped into my seat, tinuon ko na lang ang aking paningin sa mga magagandang ulap na nadadaanan namin. There was something so calming about them.

"You think he's really still there?" he asked again.

"I'm sure of it. Ang warehouse na lang ang hindi pa natin napupuntahan. Nagpatulong na rin ako kay Pallas na itrack si Atlas, pero maski siya ay hindi niya magawa 'yon. So, there's a possibility that he's already back at the warehouse."

"Hindi malaki ang Pilipinas, Oceanus. And besides, hindi niya puwedeng iwan si Ria at pabayaan na siya lang ang mag-handle ng drug operation at production. The warehouse needs its owner, and I'm one hundred percent sure that Atlas is there."

I really have no idea why Atlas left me with Oceanus and never got back to us. Bigla na lang siyang naglaho ng wala man lang iniwan na kahit ano. He hasn't been in touch with us after anything that happened in Mexico. Si Atlas ang palagi kong kasama sa buong training ko at paminsan-minsan ay iniiwan kay Oceanus hanggang sa maging Valentina Imara Meadows ako.

Ang dating Sarah ay matagal nang wala dahil kay Atlas. Matagal ko na 'yon kinalimutan at binaon sa nakaraan.

But there's one thing I found out that I thought was the real reason I grew up the way I did, but it turns out it wasn't. Ngayong hinahanap namin si Atlas, kailangan ko na talaga siyang makausap dahil may gusto akong ikumpirma sa kanya sa nakita kong printed files sa lumang folders nito kung totoo iyon o hindi.

Bumaba ang tingin ko nang maramdaman na nanginginig ang aking kamay sa galit. Atlas was making my chest flame with anger. Marami akong gustong gawin sa kanya, gusto kong ipaghiganti ang taong alam kong hindi niya deserve na maranasan 'yon.

I blinked numerous times to try and hold back the tears, not wanting Oceanus to see me cry.
Atlas taught me not to show or let others know about my emotions because that's how they see your weaknesses. I need to be strong and make sure they see that I am strong.

"Are you okay, Val?" Oceanus asked.

I unconsciously looked at Oceanus' seat. He was sitting across from me in the window seat, which is where he always likes to sit.

This man... He's Russian and very handsome, to be honest. Ang taong magsasabi na hindi siya guwapo ay baliw na siguro. Since Oceanus wasn't too busy in Mexico, he was able to come with me.

"It's Hexia, Oceanus. Don't call me that when we're around other people," I replied, quickly glancing at a flight attendant at the end of the plane.

"Are you okay, Hexia?" tanong niya ulit.

I scoffed and leaned back in my seat. Crossing my arms and lowering my sunglasses.

"Yes, I'm just thinking about something. I'll just take a nap," mabilis kong sagot at may pinindot na button sa armrest para ma-recline ang kinuupuan ko. 

Before I could fully fall asleep, I unconsciously clutched my chest as I felt a tightness. I'm going back to the country where I came from. Ang naiwan kong pamilya ay nandoon, pero alam kong hindi na sila puwede pang uwian pa. I can't risk them getting involved in my work.

My position in The Abyss Order isn't high enough to protect them. But thanks to Atlas, sila Mama at ang iba ko pang mga kapatid ay may proteksyon kung sakaling madawit sila. Pero hindi ko 'yon hahayaan na mangyari.

I wonder how they are doing.

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

We arrived in the Philippines after a 16- to 18-hour flight. Nakakapagod ang byahe kahit na puro kain at tulog lang ang ginawa namin. Nag-book lang ako ng executive suite sa isang hotel na may dalawang kuwarto sa Austria City.

"Pumayag ka na lang kasi!"

He shook his head and took a sip of his drink. Nakangiting tinaas niya ang kanyang kamay na may hawak na baso na naglalaman ng alak. His smile almost reached to his ears. Namumula ang kanyang mukha dahil sa pag-inom ng alak, at ang gulo na ng buhok nito. 

"Huzzah!" he muttered.

Naiinis na napasuklay na lang ako sa 'king buhok bago magsalita.

"I'm independent, Oceanus! Don't treat me like a baby. Gosh!" I replied, irritated.

He looked me up and down. He rolled his eyes and gestured for me to leave.

"Fine. Go where you're happy. Just call me immediately if something bad happens to you," he said quickly.

Mahina akong natawa at tumango. Mas madali siyang kausap kapag lasing. Umalis na agad ako at baka magbago pa ang kanyang isip.

The hotel Oceanus and I are staying at is also close to the beach. There's a beach party happening, and one of my friends invited me to join since they found out I was here. Alam ko naman na hindi pagpaparty ang rason kung bakit pumunta kami rito, pero wala namang masama kung gawin ko muna 'yon pansamantala para mawala ang stress. Higit sa lahat, ay invited ako, kaya sino ba naman ako para tumanggi, hindi ba?

Pumasok muna ako sa ladies' room para tignan ang sarili kung mukha ba akong presentable. I gathered my long, straight, chocolate-brown hair behind me. My light brown eyes appeared even more vivid as they caught the sunlight streaming through the bathroom window. I was wearing a fitted, sleeveless brown dress that accentuated my hourglass figure.

I smiled when I saw that my appearance was presentable. "You're so pretty, Val," I said to myself.

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

"Omg! Hexia, nice to meet you again!"

I chuckled softly and hugged her. She jumped up and down with joy when she saw me. Well, it's been a year since our last party. Nakilala ko siya dahil dinala ako ni Atlas sa birthday party ng nag-iisang pamangkin ni Ismael.

"Nice to meet you too!"

We chatted about various things in their cottage before going up to the yacht. One of her friends owns it. The yacht is big, and there are already quite a few people on board.

"Gusto mo bang magswimming later?" she asked me while I watched her rummage through her bag as we entered a cabin. "I have a new two-piece and a one-piece swimsuit in my bag. Sabihan mo lang ako kung gusto mong mag-swimming para mapilian kita ng sosoutin mong two-piece or one-piece."

"Sure. I'll let you know," I replied simply.

Nagpaalam lang ako sa kanya na pupunta lang ako sa top deck ng yacht para makalanghap ng sariwang hangin. It was already moving, and the wind was stronger. I leaned against the railings and closed my eyes, enjoying the powerful breeze on my face.

Mukhang kailangan ko nang sulitin ito dahil alam kong hindi na 'to mauulit pa. My friend works in business and real estate. I expect there are other business owners and people like that here.

"Hi, I saw you were alone, so I came over. Do you want me to accompany you?"

Awtomatiko kong minulat ang aking mga mata at tinignan kung sino ang nagsalita. I didn't even know him and had only just seen him now. I gazed at him emotionlessly, as if my stare could pierce through his body.

"No. If you don't mind, please leave me alone."

He froze at the moment. Mukhang naintindihan niya ang aking sinabi kaya maya-maya ay umalis na agad siya. From the tone of my voice alone, he could tell I wasn't pleased with him. I sighed and refocused my attention on the beautiful blue sea in front of me, but my view was interrupted when something caught my eye.

I recognized him by his body even from behind. Napaka-pamilyar no'n para sa akin, though we had only met face-to-face once. His broad frame was so expansive that you could almost hide behind his wide chest and his body that it's like he can tower over you.

It was Amadeus Alejandro Zevallos, also known for his codename 'Helios,' The person Atlas ordered me to kill.

Hindi ko inaasahan ang sunod nitong ginawa. Nililibot niya ang kanyang paningin sa top deck nitong yacht na akala mo ay may hinahanap hanggang sa tumigil 'yon sa aking gawi. My face remained emotionless, but my chest was in turmoil.

Why am I feeling this way?

None of us broke our gaze. Kahit na may kalayuan ang aming distansya sa isa't isa ay alam kong siya 'yon. His beautiful gray eyes, handsome face, and dominant aura—who could forget those? That night, we almost did it if I hadn't passed out. I know him, but he doesn't remember me anymore.

I was the first to look away and leave my spot. I started to head down and was about to enter the hallway where the cabins are when someone grabbed me.

Hinila niya ako hanggang sa makapunta sa pinakamadilim na parte nitong hallway ng mga kabina. Just as I was about to reach for the pocketknife in my leg holster, he stopped me.

I felt a chill run through my body when I heard his voice. I knew him well, and I could never forget that.

"I didn't know that you're here. You're supposed to be in Mexico focusing on your training, Valentina, or should I say Sarah Dayanghirang?"

It was Atlas.

SHANGPU