Saphire slowly opened her eyes as she gained her consciousness while the morning breeze coming from the open window is gently touching her skin making her slightly shiver.

Her head is still spinning as she sat from the soft and comfortable bed.

"There's no chains or handcuffs?"

Taas kilay niyang saad saka napayakap sa sarili.

Tahimik niyang iginala ang paningin sa paligid at nagulat ng sandali ngunit napanatili parin ang kaniyang kalmadong postura.

'Infairness ang ganda ng kwartong ito'

She managed to compliment the room while nodding her head. Napangiti pa sya nang makita ang magandang view ng dagat mula sa bintana.

"I was kidnapped huh?"

Napakibit balikat nalamang isyang napahiga muli sa malambot na kama dahil inaantok pa sya.

"You're awake."

A voice from the door said, making her heartbeat race like crazy but she chose not to show any emotions then opened her eyes as she look at him.

"I'm still sleepy, mamaya mo na ako kausapin kapag gising na ang diwa ko."

She said as if nothing surprising happened then again closed her eyes.

She doesn't know if she should be relieved that it's Matteo that took her and not their enemy. Sangayon kasi ay nagwawala nanaman ang buo niyang sistema nang malamang si Matteo ang tumangay sakaniya.

"You're acting like you're not bothered at all"

The man again said,

'I wonder why this man took me? Why would he do this? I really can't understand him.'

Matapos kasi nitong siyang iwan kahit mabigat sakaniyang dibdib ay hindi niya akalaing makikita niya ito muli.

"Kinda used to it, good thing you didn't chained me or beat me up on an old building. Medyo may class ka mangidnap ha."

Saphire tried to make a joke while her eyes were still closed feeling the comfy bed.

Kunot noong napatitig naman si Matteo kay Saphire na mukang kalmado parin at ni walang pakielam sa katotohanang nakidnap siya. He's starting to get jealous from the soft pillow Saphire is right now hugging comfortably.

"You're used to it?"

Kunot noong tanong ni matteo, saka naikuyom ang mga kamao. But saphire just ignored his question.

He doesn't know what Emerald has been through and she's still a mystery to him, but he will risk everything, just for her to say those words.

"Why did you take me here?"

Saphire asked, nag iwas ng tingin doon si Matteo.

"Do you want to eat breakfast? Nagluluto ako."

Pag iwas niya sa usapang ikinataas ng isang kilay ni Saphire saka umirap dito. She wants to confront him but she's still sleepy.

"Sige, maghanda ka na ng almusal kasi nagugutom na ako. Gisingin mo nalang ako pagka tapos na, mamaya nalang tayo mag usap."

Utos nito.

Napakamot ulo nalamang si Matteo saka napangiting humalik sa labi nito, saka umalis na at napagdesisyunang pumunta sa kusina para ituloy ang nilulutong makakain ng bihag niya.

Marahas nalamang siyang napailing, nag expect pa naman siyang makitaan man lang ito ng panicked expression. Pero ayun at kalmado parin ang babaeng dahilan kaya ginawa niya ngayon ang isang bagay na hindi niya akalaing magagawa niya sa buong buhay niya.

He don't do kidnapping or even imagined himself wanting to kill a friend for just a mere woman---no Emerald is not a mere woman to him, she's someone who makes him do crazy things and he continuously craves for.

He wanted her to look at him and only him, he wanted to feel the same way as him and it frustrates him. Hindi niya maintindihan ang sarili.

He's never been this way, ladies begs for his love before.

 But look at him now, willing to do anything for that woman. That the ruthless jerk, Matteo Imperial wouldn't do in the first place. 

Look's like lucifer is right, he's really isa lovesick psycho. His mind and heart just couldn't work just like before anymore. Ni wala nga siyang susunod na plano sa isip nya, matapos tangayin ang babaeng napupusuan.

But one thing is for sure... Hindi masasayang ang pandurukot niya rito nang hindi niya ito napapaibig sakaniya.

He will make her love him, he will make her fall for him really deep just like he fell for her that she wouldn't be able to leave him anymore.

I will make her mine at all cost. 

***

"What?! How is that even possible?"

Kunot noong saad ni Kristine kay Ruby. Lahat sila ay nag aalala na dahil sa kagabi pa nawawala si Saphire.

"How about Emerald? nakita mo na ba?"

Lucas asked.

"Oo, Ayun tinangay nung asawa niyang abnoy kasama ng Z's. Hayaan mo ang haliparot na iyon. For now, our main problem is Saphire. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit kahit anong gawin ako ay hindi ko matrack ang location niya. And I don't really think those people is the culprit here."

Kunot noong saad ni Ruby habang nakatutok parin ang mata sa laptop niya.

"Then who is the culprit if not those people?"

Kunot noong tanong ni Kristine na nagpabuntong hininga lang kay Ruby.

"Imposibleng ang kalaban namin ang may gawa nito dahil nakabantay ang mga tao ko sa bawat kilos nila kaya malalaman ko agad ang galaw nila, but now? I don't think so."

Nailing ito roon.

"Tinignan ko narin ang mga cctv sa buong mall pero mukang nadelete ang ilang footages nito. But you know what I saw at the parking lot right after Lucas parked his car? I saw two men with Zenon. And one of those two is a possible high rank agent from our rival organization. Sigurado ako doon dahil nakita ko ang tattoo niya kanina mula sa footage. But what really bothers me is why would they kidnap my sister? nagkasundo ang dalawang organization na walang pakielamanan."

Nakakunot noong pagkukwento ni Ruby sakanila.

"I researched about the two of them, pero isa lang ang nakuhaan ko ng impormasyon. But the other guy? I can't find anything. The other guy with Zenon is actually Kristine's brother, Matteo Imperial. At sa research ko ay madalas na magpunta ang lalaking kasama nila sa opisina ng kuya mo. I just wanted to ask you if you somewhat know him?"

Ruby explained then handed Kristine a picture from the cctv footage, kunot noong napatitig naman doon si Kristine.

"My brother said that this guy is his business partner Lucien Cross San Diego, he owns famous resorts. Bukod doon ay wala na akong alam, saka bakit naman niya kikidnapin si Saph? Mas kahina hinala pa tabas ng pagmumuka ng kuya ko ehh, did you even know na nakasama ni Saph si kuya sa vacation house ko?"

Kunot noong saad ni Kristine na nagpangisi lang kay Ruby.

"Of course I know that, but I just need his name to track him down, kailangan natin siya para ituro kung nasaan ang kapatid ko at kung kinakailangang daanin ko sa dahas ay gagawin ko. And your brother is right now the culprit I am thinking of."

Ruby said with an intinimidating tone.

"Woy mukang rapist at adik sa kantong di gagawa ng maganda yang kuya ko, pero di naman niya siguro sasaktan si Saphire."

Kunot noong saad ni Kristine na nagpailing lang kay Ruby.

"I just wanted to know where my sister is para mapanatag ako." Napahilot nalamang ito sakanyang sintido saka marahas na napabuga ng hangin. "Tatanda akong maaga sa mga kakambal kong yan, kaya ayokong mainlove ehh."

"Hay naku ewan ko sainyo, basta balitaan mo ako ha? Saka teka, asaan ba si Zaffiro? Miss ko na si Walking yelo."

Nakangusong saad ni Kristine.

"Nasa hide out, binabantayan ni Scarlet at Violet."

Lucas shrugs while eating, napasimangot nalamang tuloy si Kristine.

***

"Emerald."

Matteo called her, while eating their breakfast.

"Yes?"

Saphire asked calmly.

"You said earlier that you're used to being kidnapped, I'm sorry but can you tell me why?"

Matteo blurted out while looking at her intently.

"Why would I? Why did you kidnapme anyway? nababaliw ka na ba?"

She asked.

"Are you really like that? Always calm? Just who the heck is Emerald beneath those thick walls surrounding you? Who really are you Emerald?"

Mariing tanong nito na nagpatawa lang kay Saphire saka napangising tumingin sakaniya.

"Stop" she paused for a momment. "Calling me Emerald." Saphire sighed in frustration. "That's not my name" she said then stood up.

"What do you mean you're not emerald?"

Matteo asked behind her, making her heaved a sigh.

"Why would I even tell you? Give me a reason, on why should I tell you? Bakit ba gusto mong malaman? It's not your damn business anymore Matteo"

Malamig na saad nito saka dumiretso sa kwarto at inilock iyon.

"I wanted to know cause I always felt like just a mere stranger to you, I wanted to know cause I care and I felt like I need to know you more."

He sighed.

" I know, I don't have the rights, but I just realized how hard it hits me, that I couldn't take it any longer. Masyadong mabilis ang mga pangyayari na hindi ko na namalayang nahulog na pala ako, hulog na hulog na ako. I fell so deep that I couldn't stop this anymore."

Patuloy niya.

" Okay fine, if you don't want to tell me, I understand but please...Please just let me love you, I'm sick of being just a mere stranger in you and Zaffiro. I just want to be someone in your lives. I know you feel the same way Emerald, hindi ko alam kung ano bang pumipigil saiyong magpakatotoo."

Saad nito mula sa labas ng pintuan. 

Si saphire naman ay tahimik lamang na nakikinig. She felt the guilt of not telling him the truth which he deserves, karapatan nitong malaman ang totoo tungkol kay Zaffiro.

He is not just a mere stranger, Saphire knows that fact, but is  too afraid to tell him the lies protecting her, she's indeed a good liar. Ni hindi nga niya alam kung saan siya lulugar kapag inamin niya ang lahat ng kasinungalingang sinabi niya. 

Matteo has the rights, so maybe it's time for him to know the truth. 

She wants to give Zaffiro a father, and she knows that Matteo will be a good one. It wouldn't be bad if she would atleast take a risk. Zaffiro may not be bringing that topic up but she knows deep inside that Zaffiro does needs a father and craves for that feeling.

Hindi pwedeng habang buhay ay si Lucas ang tatayong ama nito, dahil darating ang panahon na magkakaroon din ito ng sarili niyang pamilya. 

She wants his son to be happy.

Bahala na kung anong maging sagot ni Matteo, ang kailangan lang niya sa ngayon ay harapin ang takot niya. 

For her son she will do everything.

Mapait nalamang siyang napangiti at tinanggal ang contact lenses niya, saka binuksan ang pinto....