"What we had back then... was just a fling."

I uttered those words as I walked away from her. A lie—a lie I'd told myself for years. 

The truth? I couldn't even bring myself to look at her, because in that moment, something I'd been avoiding hit me all at once—I was, and still am, a coward.

I'll never be able to summon the same strength I had that night... noong gabing pinagtabuyan ko siya, noong gabing pinili ko ang takot kaysa sa kaniya.

Each step I took away from her felt like I was sinking deeper into a self-imposed exile. Para akong nahuhulog sa bangin. Malalim. Madilim. Naninikip ang dibdib ko, nanghihina ang mga binti ko, at bumibigat ang mga mata ko.

I thought I was invincible after everything I'd been through. I thought seeing her again—flesh and bone—wouldn't hurt. After all, the past seven years of yearning for her nearly killed me. But this? This pain? It's something else. Something deeper. Something I never saw coming.

***

Ilang beses akong napabuntong-hininga habang nakatulala at nakatingin sa kalsada. Ni hindi ko kayang ipihit ang susi ng sasakyan ko dahil nanlalambot ang mga daliri ko.

I don't even know what possessed me to wake up this early and drive to Café Amor before sunrise. Gusto ko lang sana siyang sulyapan. A quick glance, just to see her again, and then I'd head straight to work. But now, I'm glad I came. I can't stop thinking about what could have happened to her in that alley if I hadn't been there.

Paano kung nasaksak talaga siya ng lalaking 'yon?

My grip tightened on the steering wheel, and I cursed under my breath. "Fuck! I wanted to kill that guy."

I exhaled sharply, trying to calm myself. Then I started the engine and drove off. A wry smile tugged at my lips as her face flashed in my mind.

She made it. Without me.

She has a stable job now. And damn, she's hauntingly gorgeous—even with the black contact lenses and her deep brown hair dyed black. Her Spanish beauty still has the power to haunt me, even after all these years.

She's tougher now. Hindi na siya ang Maggie na ilang beses kong sinalo noon. Hindi na siya ang Maggie na nakilala ko noon sa Sta. Isabel.

She doesn't need a hero anymore.

***

"Eh, 'yong anak ng mga boss mo? Maganda ba 'yon?" biro ko kay Angelito, isa sa mga farmers ng mga Dela Vega. "Mukhang halimaw siguro kaya itinatago!"

"Sino ang mukhang halimaw?"

Her voice from the hut's entrance hit me like a thunderclap—sharp and unapologetic. Her brows furrowed, her eyes wide with a mix of irritation and disbelief. I stood there, frozen, like a damn idiot, staring at her. My mouth hung open, waiting for Kuya Landon to speak.

He always knew what to do in these moments, sa mga panahon na mas gusto ko na lang tamaan ako ng kidlat dahil sa kahihiyan.

Kuya did his magic—small talk, introductions—but everything felt like a blur to me. I couldn't take my eyes off Maggie.

Nang magpaalam na siya sa amin, hindi ko na napigilan pa ang sarili ko.

"M-Maganda ka!" The words slipped out before I could stop them, and I was horrified.

She didn't turn back, but I felt the awkwardness settle in the air. I could've saved myself, kung ang sinabi ko na lang ay 'Sorry, Maggie,' o kaya 'I was just joking' but instead, I repeated it.

"Just so you know... maganda ka." My voice trembled, something I hadn't felt in years. I was exposed... raw. I'm certain that Maggie had bewitched me.

Studies say it takes 88 days for men to fall in love, but for me? Eight hours. That's all it took for Lancelot Xavier Thomas to fall head over heels.

And that night, she fell for me too—literally.

Nahulog siya mula sa balcony ng kuwarto niya pababa sa akin na tahimik na nagyoyosi sa dilim.

Everything happened faster than the blink of the eye. She was lying on top of me, eyes wide open, lips parted. At kagaya ng una naming pagtatagpo... mga maling salita na naman ang nasabi ko.

"Shit! H-Hulog ng langit." Nginitian ko pa siya. Damn it! I looked like a creep.

That scandalous encounter was followed by an uncomfortable welcome dinner hosted by her parents.

Later that night, I saw her standing on the beach, her deep brown eyes watching the waves as though they could somehow answer the questions swirling in her mind. Then she closed her eyes, as if silently praying for something only the ocean could understand.

Siguro hindi siya makatulog dahil sa reaksyon ni Kuya kanina sa hapunan. My Mom and her parents were playing cupid, pairing her up with my brother. But I knew it was pointless—may girlfriend si Kuya, and I knew he'd never play along with Mom's little plans.

I lit a cigarette and walked towards her. I could've called out, could've said something normal. But the 25-year-old me had no idea how to start a conversation with someone as stunning as Maggie.

I stared at her for a few seconds, watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest, her eyes still closed, before I finally spoke.

"Can't sleep?"

She scoffed, then she looked at me. "Hindi ka ba nababahuan diyan?"

"Bakit? Susumbong mo ulit ako sa nanay ko?" I teased, trying—and failing—to sound casual.

"Hindi, Lance... hindi kita isusumbong kung tutulungan mo ako..."

What the hell? This beautiful creature knows how to blackmail?

I gulped. "Tutulungan saan?"

"Sa Kuya mo... kay Landon. Tulungan mo akong mapalapit sa kaniya, at hindi kita isusumbong kay Tita Veronica."

My eyes widened. I thought women took longer to figure out their feelings. Maybe it was just a small crush, I convinced myself.

"You like him?" I chuckled, unable to hide my shock.

"S-Siguro..."

"Siguro?" I laughed, finding her more attractive because her hesitation made her blush. I threw my cigarette on the sand.

"You're making a deal with me, Maggie. Tapos hindi ka pala sigurado sa nararamdaman mo kay Kuya?"

"Bakit? May sigurado ba sa pag-ibig?" She shot back, her voice daring me to argue.

"Oo! Ako!" I answered, louder than I intended. "I am sure that I like you..."

And that's how I confessed to her—under a starless sky, with the quiet ocean as our witness. I confessed to her the same day I first saw her.

***

It felt impossible... just a fleeting attraction, I thought. But the more I got to know her, the more I realized that love doesn't follow a timeline. It just happens, no rhyme, no reason. And when it's real, it lingers, even when you try to forget.

Pero hindi naging madali para sa amin ang lahat. As cliché as old tales of love, her parents did everything they could to keep us apart. I get it. I was nothing back then. Walang maipagmamalaki na kahit ano, hindi kagaya ni Kuya Landon.

For two months, we built our own world, stealing moments between lies. Pinalabas namin na sila ni Kuya Landon ang nagliligawan, na sila ang palaging magkasama. Every goodbye tore me apart. Gusto kong ako ang maghatid sa kaniya pauwi sa mansyon tuwing matatapos ang mga date namin, pero hindi puwede dahil mahuhuli kami ng mga magulang niya. We pretended. Until we couldn't pretend anymore.

Habangbuhay tatatak sa isip ko ang huling gabing magkasama kami. Hindi siya umuwi sa mansyon nang gabing 'yon. Magkayakap kaming natulog sa kubo na ako mismo ang nagtayo.

The next morning, I woke up in a panic when I felt her absence beside me. I rushed to wipe my eyes, thinking that I was imagining it. Then I heard the sound of water running from the bathroom. She came out, pale, clutching her stomach. I rushed to her side, she looked sick.

"Are you okay?" My voice was shaky with worry as I helped her sit on the bed.

"Oo naman. Nagugutom lang ako." May kung ano sa sagot niya at sa mga mata niyang umiiwas ng tingin sa akin, but I didn't mind.

"Ah... I'll buy breakfast. What do you want?" I asked softly, as I tenderly brushed some strands of her hair away from her face.

"Sa mansyon na tayo kumain, Lance..."

Napanganga ako sa sinabi niya. "Sa inyo? Maggie, what do you mean? Pupunta tayo sa inyo? Ihahatid kita? Akala ko sasabihin mong kila Flor ka natulog kagabi?"

"Ayoko nang magsinungaling... hindi dapat nagsisinungaling ang pag-ibig, Lance," she answered, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Hindi nagsisinungaling ang pag-ibig.

Those words still haunt me up to this day. Seven years later, nagsisinungaling pa rin ako... para sa pag-ibig.

But we didn't make it to the mansion that day.

Nang umagang 'yon, sumugod sa kubo namin ang mga magulang niya kasama ang dalawang tauhan ng Papá niya. Halos tumalsik ang pinto ng kubo dahil sa marahas na pagsipa roon ng isa mga tauhan ni Senyor Mariano.

"Mamá?! P-Paano niyo—"

Maggie failed to finish her question. Her mother grabbed her away.

Kinaladkad siya ni Senyora Criselda palabas ng kubo. Halos bumaon ang kuko nito sa braso ng sariling anak. Bawat paghila niya ay nilalabanan ni Maggie pero wala siyang magawa. Wala kaming magawa.

One of the henchmen landed a brutal punch to my gut when I tried to follow them. I winced in pain. Another blow struck, and then my knees gave in. Napaluhod ako sa kawayang sahig ng kubo, pinapanood ang kasintahan kong kaladkarin ng nanay niya.

"Tita... please! Dahan-dahan lang! You're hurting her!" My voice trembled, barely rising above the chaos, but it felt like shouting into a void. Hindi ako pinapakinggan ni Senyora.

Parang huminto ang tibok ng puso ko nang maramdaman ko sa sentido ko ang malamig na nguso ng baril. Huminga ako nang malamim. Hindi ko inaalis ang tingin kay Maggie. Panay ang hagulgol niya habang gumagasgas ang mga paa niya sa magaspang na buhangin.

"Senyora, please, nasasaktan po si Maggie..."

The man violently pressed the gun on my temple.

"Papá! Huwag! Pakiusap, huwag niyo pong saktan si Lance!" Maggie's pleas were followed by heart-wrenching sobs, each one a dagger to my heart.

Then, with a sickening crack, her mother's palm met her cheek. "Shut up, Maggie!"

Napatayo ako, gustong-gusto ko siyang bawiin. Pero isang malakas na sipa sa mga binti ko ang muling nagpaluhod sa akin.

I felt the pain, but it was nothing compared to the way Maggie looked. Her deep brown eyes were wide with fear. She stepped forward, desperately trying to reach me.

"Sige subukan mo lang lumapit kay Lance, Maggie!" Itinaas ni Senyora ang kanang palad niya, sasampalin ulit si Maggie...

"Criselda! Tama na 'yan! Sumakay na kayo sa kotse!" sigaw ni Senyor Mariano.

Rinig na rinig ko pa rin ang pagtangis ni Maggie kahit na papalayo na sila sa kubo. Wala akong magawa kundi ang gumanti ng matalim na tingin kay Senyor Mariano.

"Lance... you're smart," he sneered, stepping closer. Bakas ko sa mukha niya ang pagkadismaya, nakakunot ang noo niya.

"Pero hindi kagaya mo ang gusto kong makatuluyan ng anak ko. You're nothing compared to your brother. You're just a boy! You're not even man enough to court her properly!" Each word was a sharpened blade, cutting deeper into my already fragile self-worth.

In that moment, I felt every ounce of my youth pressing down on me. Even at mid-twenties, I was still living without my own choices, without my own life. I just followed everything my brother did, believing it was the only way our mother would love me. Kaya tama ang Papá ni Maggie—I was just a boy back then.

That was the last time I saw Maggie before the nightmare unfolded. Before everything spiraled into a deep dark abyss of lies. Before she... before she murdered my brother.

***

It was 7:00 AM when I arrived at the office. Wala pang ibang tao maliban sa secretary ko at kay Kath who was already waiting in the conference room, taking her coffee with a bored air.

"Kanina pa ba si Atty. Villanueva?" tanong ko kay Rose, my secretary.

"Ah, yes po, Attorney!" she answered cheerfully.

Behind the laminated glass walls, I saw Kath take a sip from her mug, then yawned, stretching her arms above her head. 

Huminga ako nang malalim bago ko binuksan ang pinto ng conference room. Napatayo siya mula sa swivel chair niya. Her eyes widened as she flashed her warm smile at me.

"How was she?" Iyon agad ang bungad niya.

I remained silent. I sat down across from her, the chair creaking under my weight and then I heaved out a sigh. She settled back into her seat, her fingers combing through her short hair.

"Lance, galing ka sa café, 'di ba?" she asked, her eyes bright with curiosity. She leaned in slightly, eager for news. "How's Maggie? Pinuntahan mo siya, right?"

"Mad... but feisty," I muttered. "Malayong-malayo na sa Maggie na nakilala ko noon..."

Tinawanan ni Kath ang sagot ko. A light, teasing laugh that almost bordered on mockery. She tilted her head with a playful smirk. "What did you expect, Lance? Salubungin ka niya ng confetti? Have you forgotten what you did?"

I gulped, nodding slowly. Kath was right. How could I have been so arrogant to think that Maggie would forgive me so easily after everything I said to her that night? After I tore her apart with my words while she was begging for me to believe her?

I absentmindedly rubbed my temple as memories of that night flooded back in a rush. The pain shot through me again—sharp, like the sting of her cries. It wasn't just in my head; it was deep in my chest.

"Lance!" Kath snapped her fingers in front of me, pulling me back to reality. "So, what happened?"

"She... she was also attacked this morning by a man. H-Hindi ko alam kung random lang o may kinalaman sa—"

"Did you take his picture?"

Napapikit ako. Damn it! I didn't! I was too consumed by the moment.

Napasandal si Kath sa upuan niya. Her shoulders rising and falling with a deep sigh. "You didn't, did you? Hindi mo nakuhaan ng picture 'yong lalaki?"

"I-I'm sorry, Kath... things happened too fast."

She rolled her eyes. "Too fast? Or were you just too focused on Maggie?" Her sarcasm was unmistakable.

Nakatikom lang ang bibig ko. Naglalaro sa isip ko ang itsura ni Maggie kanina. How her eyes brimmed with tears as she laughed and cried. How she told me that she survived without me.

"Now that you saw her again... should we still proceed with the plan?"

Her question hung in the air for a few seconds before I straightened in my seat and met her gaze. "I have no other option, Kath..."

She offered a faltering smile before pushing the white folder resting on the table toward me. I immediately opened it, flipping through the cover with urgency.

A photo clipped to the top caught my attention. Si Henry Saldivar. Siya ang defendant sa huling kasong hinawakan ni Kuya Landon.

I felt a pang in my chest. I knew, without a doubt, that he and his family were part of the puzzle. But how? I couldn't figure it out.

"Yesterday, Henry Saldivar filed his COC." Kath said slowly, almost whispering. "Tatakbo siyang Mayor ng Calapan..."

He was acquitted of the attempted murder charge from years ago, and now he's back. An attempt to thrust the Saldivars back into the political limelight.

Kath cleared her throat. "You should also see this, Lance." She pointed to the photo clipped at the bottom right corner of the first page.

I felt a lump on my throat. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Halos lumuwa ang mga mata ko habang tinititigan ang picture—si Senyora Criselda, Maggie's mother. She's sipping her orange juice at a lounge chair by the beach. Behind her, the luxurious view of 'Saldivar Shores', one of the most renowned resorts in Puerto Galera.

"Kath, when was this taken?" My voice came out strained.

"Last weekend," she replied.

"Siya lang ba ang nakita ro'n? What about her husband or her sister?" I asked, my pulse quickening.

This didn't make sense. Magkaaway sa pulitika ang mga Dela Vega at ang mga Saldivar. Why would she be there?

Kath moistened her lips. "Angelito confirmed that she was by herself."

I closed the folder with a snap, gripping the edges so tightly my knuckles turned white.

Why would Criselda Dela Vega stay in a resort owned by the Saldivars?

"She was gone for seven years... tapos bigla siyang susulpot sa Galera... basking in the sun, getting tan lines, and sipping her orange juice. Habang 'yong anak niya nagpapakahirap dito sa Manila," Kath said, her sharp tone filled with frustration as she raised an eyebrow.

Pareho kaming natahimik. Mukhang pareho rin kaming hindi makahanap ng mabilis na sagot sa mga tanong.

After a brief pause, Kath shifted her attention, rummaging through her leather tote bag. Her face remained unreadable as she pulled something out... another photo.

"Here..." Her voice cracked as she handed it to me.

I stared at it for a while. It was a picture of Landon's bloody phone, the screen displaying the last message he'd probably read before the incident.

"Nalaman niya, Lance... nabasa ni Landon." She chuckled bitterly.

"Kath..." I reached across the table, my hand covering hers. "I've already told you, you should have let Flor handle this."

"I can't just sit here, Lance..." She swallowed hard, a single tear escaping her eye. She wiped it away quickly, taking in a deep breath. "I want to bring him justice."

I smiled at her as I withdrew my hand.

She took her mug and gulped down the rest of her coffee before straightening up. "That's my update, Lance. Now it's up to you... shall we commence with the plan?"

"Yes. Let's put Maggie behind bars," I said, my voice firm and steady.

***

MsLynLuna ☽