"Tawagin mo nga si Hipolito." Inis na sigaw ni Mr. Alfred Young, CEO ng Young-Rivas Inc., ang matinding kalaban ng kompanya ng Y & G Holdings nila Mr. Park.

"Yes, Sir." His bodyguard, Simon Nuevo, said and bowed down before leaving the room.

The guy sitting in front of him smirked and crossed his legs.

"Mukhang humihina ka na. Hindi na ganoon kalakas ang kapit mo sa taas ah." Pangungutya ng lalaking kausap nya.

Napakuyom na lamang ng kamao si Alfred habang pinipigilan ang sarili.
Matagal niya ng gustong bilhin at kuhanin ang Happy Smiles Orphanage dahil ang lupang kinatatayuan nito ay plano nyang gawing branch ng kanilang kompanya. Malaki ang lote ng nasabing orphanage kaya naman ganoon na lamang ang kagustuhan nito na maangkin ang lupa.

Dumating si Arnold Hipolito na may mga pasa at sugat sa braso, balikat maging sa mukha. Halatang tinorture muna ito bago hinarap sa kanya.

"Iupo nyo nga yan dito." Alfred ordered and his bodyguards did so and quickly stayed beside Arnold whose face was exhausted and with blood oozing out of the wounds and bruises.

"Ano na nangyare sa plano! Bakit hindi mo nagawang kunin si Catalin! Akala ko ba, maganda ang plano mo? Bakit pumalya? Pano nakatakas?" Alfred yelled and kicked Arnold's shin which the latter tried to dodge but couldn't.

"Hindi ko alam!" Arnold tried his best to answer but he could only whisper from exhaustion and burnout. "Nasa kwarto lang sila ng anak ko! Nagtutor lang sya! Ni hindi ko pa nga natitikman yun! Nakatakas na lang sa paningin ko bigla!"

"Putragis! Inuna mo pa libog mo kesa pinapagawa ko?" Alfred hollered and gave Arnold a punch on his face. "Demonyo ka! Kung hindi nakawala sayo, nakaiskor ka sana! Hayup! Tanga!"

"Alisin nyo na nga sa harap ko to. Nagdidilim paningin ko! Nanggigil ako sa kagaguhan ng lintek na to!" Alfred commanded grabbing his glass of wine to drink.

His bodyguards scampered to obey his command and took Arnold out.

"Tekaaa! Meron pa akong mga bata sa loob ng kompanya!" Arnold complained as he was being dragged out.

"Wait." Alfred halted his bodyguards and turned to face them. "Ano yang isinasuggest mo?"

"Pakinggan nyo muna ako! May dalawa pa akong kasama sa kumpanya na nasa loob. Payagan nyo akong kausapin sila at maisagawa ang plano." Arnold begged and almost kneeled down.

"Siguruduhin mong tatalab yan kundi hindi mo na masisinagan ang araw." Alfred said firmly and watched Arnold be seated down across him. "Spill it out."

--

"Baks!" Olivia squealed in happiness when she visited Amanda at her house one Saturday morning.

"Omg, bakla!" Leni jumped into Amanda's bed at the same time Olivia greeted her.

Amanda lazily opened her eyes to be welcomed by the ladies' excited hugs.

She smiled trying her absolute best to hide the pain in her head. She lately has trouble remembering names and faces.

"Hi." Amanda said in a small voice.

Olivia and Leni looked at each other obviously noticing Amanda wasn't her usual self.

"Wow. Pabebe!" Leni commented and gave her a quick hug.

Usually, Amanda would greet them with equal or higher enthusiasm especially during the weekends. But this time, it seems as if the comatose experience recently went off.

Olivia laughed and made herself cozy on Amanda's loveseat beside Amanda's bed.

"Want some snacks? We bought our favorite!" Olivia asked and wiggled her eyebrows hoping to get a reaction.

Amanda stood up and pulled out a comfortable top and dolphin shorts.

"Great!" Amanda said cheerfully and tied her hair in a ponytail. " 'san na? Tara baba na tayo!" She said not looking back and went out her bedroom.

"Don't tell me, you don't notice that there's nothing wrong with Amanda.", Leni whispered to Olivia as they went downstairs.

"I know. Let's talk about it later." Olivia nodded at her and smiled at Aling Delia and Mang Enrico who were busy watching a telenovela at the living room.

"Wow! Donuts!" Amanda exclaimed happily and got her Bavarian.

Olivia settled at the dining table while Leni brought out a coke from Amanda's refrigerator. She also brought out three glasses and ice.

Leni tapped Olivia's hand and pointed out Amanda who was licking off the filling of the donut off her fingers.

One thing that is so not Amanda is that she hates bavarian. She loves everything chocolate. That's the reason why in every half a dozen, they always order two of everything for equal privileges. Two bavarian for Leni, two choco honey dipped for Amanda and two strawberry donuts for Olivia.

Olivia's jaw dropped when she realized that Amanda seemed to totally ignore those two choco dipped donuts in front of her.

"Baka gusto mo pa, baks o." Leni offered the remaining Bavarian on the box and was even more surprised when Amanda gratefully took it.

"Choco dipped oh, baks." Olivia commented.

"Oks na ako dito, baks." Amanda smiled, some crumbs left on the side of her mouth. She drank her coke and continued munching on the donut.

Olivia shrugged and started to eat her strawberry donut. Leni has no choice but to eat the choco donuts left in the box. They brought a half roll of ube cake for Amanda's parents since they requested for some earlier.

Olivia's phone buzzed and she pulled it out to read.

To: Olivia
Need to talk later. ASAP

Olivia nodded and Leni started a topic to relieve the dead air which never happens with the three of them.