"Adam Zamora?"

Tamad kong binalingan ang babaeng tumawag sa pangalan ko. Hawak-hawak ang isang basong naglalaman ng paborito kong alak, inisang lagok ko ito habang nakatingin sa bagong dating.

"So, hindi ako namamalik-mata kanina. It was really you!" she exclaimed then smiled sweetly at me.

I know this woman.

Alison Santiago.

A Santiago.

The little princess of the Santiago Clan. My greatest enemy.

"So, you're here, uhmmm, alone?"

"What do you want?" I coldly asked her. I'm not in my best mood right now! Wala akong sasantuhin ngayon kahit babae pa ito. Fvck! This fvcking life of mine is totally screwed up! Damnit!

"Oh, having a bad day, I see," she smirked then ordered a glass of wine. "Let me guess, Black Organization?"

Hindi ko ito kinibo at nagsalin na lamang ng panibagong ininom sa baso ko.

"I can help you to get even, Adam Zamora," natigilan ako sa sinambit nito at napabaling sa babae. "You wanted revenge, right? Then use me."

"Stop talking nonsense, lady. Get lost."

"I'm serious here. I'm tired of my clan's dirty works," anito at uminom na rin. Inubos niya muna ang laman ng baso nito bago ako binalingang muli. "This is what you really want , right? Use me, Adam Zamora. Get your revenge."

Napapikit ako habang hawak-hawak ang sintido. Tangina talaga! Nasobrahan yata ako nang inom kagabi! This is frustrating!

"Adam," mabilis akong napaayos nang upo at binalingan ang tumawag sa pangalan ko.

"Lolo," sambit ko at mabilis na nilapitan ito. Nagmano ako dito at naupo sa tabi niya. "What brings you here, Lo?"

Tinitigan niya muna ako bago prenteng sumandal sa backrest ng upuang kinauupuan.

"Is it true? Alison Santiago?" walang pag-alinlangang tanong nito na siyang ikinangiwi ko. So, nalaman na nila ang tungkol sa pag-uusap namin ng babaeng iyon? Great. News are faster than me rising my middle finger! "What is this, Adam? I thought you're going back to the Philippines, hijo."

"It's just an act, Lolo. Don't worry too much. Alison and I had a deal. That's it."

"What about Belle? Ano na lang ang iisipin niya kung malaman niya ito?"

Natigilan ako sa sinambit niya. I sighed then closed my eyes firmly. Naisandal ko din ang likuran ko at pilit na kinalma ang sistema. Hearing her name makes my heart ached for the nth times.

Belle. My sweet little Belle.

"She doesn't remember a thing about me, Lolo. This will be fine. No need to worry about," ani kong muli

"I think you should stop now, hijo. You need to forget the past for you to live peacefully. Go home and be with your girl."

"I can't, Lolo."

"Adam, you've done so much for our family. Now, go and fix your life, hijo. You can't stay here forever. Someone's waiting for you, remember?" mahinahong sambit nito sa akin.

Someone's waiting for me? Of course, Belle's waiting for me but she doesn't even fcking know that! She doesn't know a thing about me. She forgets everything about us. And that's because of me! Napahamak siya at ang mama niya dahil sa kapabayaan ko. It was all because of me that's why I don't have the guts to face her! And I hate this!

"Her father contacted me recently, Adam. He needs help," napadilat ako sa sinabi ni Lolo. Napaayos ako nang upo at matamang napatingin sa kanya. "Someone's after her life. Looks like the Santiagos are making their move again. She's in danger right now."

"Fvck!" malutong na mura ko at napatayo bigla. This can't be happening!

"Go and protect her, Adam. She's all you have right now, grandson."

Right! Siya na lang ang mayroon ako ngayon. Siya na lamang kaya naman ay ibibigay ko ang lahat na mayroon ako para maging ligtas lamang ito!

Kanina pa ako nakaupo dito sa salas ng mga Del Monte. My hands are sweating so bad. Gusto kong magmura nang paulit-ulit pero matinding pagkokontrol sa sarili ang ginagawa ko ngayon. I can't act like that! I need to be the man who's worth of having her, claiming her as his girl! Damnit!

"Kuya Adam!"

Napatingin ako sa tumatakbong pababa na si Harold mula sa pangalawang palapag ng bahay nila.

"Careful, bud. Baka madapa ka," mahinahong sambit ko dito at sinalubong ito.

"I'm so excited, kuya! Ate is so gorgeous! Ang ganda-ganda niya!" her brother exclaimed and that's made me smiled. I know that. She's my Belle, remember?

"Really?"

"Yes... and oh, there she is!" anito at sabay kaming napabaling sa may hagdan. Napaayos ako nang tayo at pinagmasdan ang kabuuan nito.

Damn, she's beautiful!

"Goodevening, beautiful," bati ko dito sabay lapit sa kanya. Kita ko ang pamumula ng pisngi nito at nginitian ako. Bahagya akong natawa at hinalikan ito sa pisngi. "I love you," I whispered to her ear.

Lalong namula ito kaya naman ay hinawakan ko ito sa bewang niya at niyakap.

"Adam," suway nito sa akin sabay tulak nang mahina sa katawan ko. Kita kong pinandilatan niya ako sabay pasimpleng ininguso ang kapatid nitong nakatingin sa amin.

"Right," I chuckled then turn to his brother. "Anyways, aalis na kami Harold. Tell Papa that I'll bring the princess back before midnight strikes the clock."

Ngumisi sa akin si Harold at nagthumbs up na lamang. Nagpaalam na si Belle sa kapatid nito at magkahawak kamay kaming lumabas sa bahay nila.

"Your hands are cold, Adam. Ayos ka lang?" napangiwi ako noong napuna nito ang panlalamig ng kamay ko. Hindi ko na lang ito sinagot at inalalayan na lamang makapasok sa kotse ko. Mabilis akong umikot sa driver's seat at walang imik na pinaandar ang makina.

"Hey," tawag pansin ni Belle sa akin.

"Hmmm?" I answered as I focused my eyes on the road. Damnit! I can't even looked at her straight to her eyes right now! God! Why she's so beautiful right now? I can't even think straight at this fvcking moment!

"May problema ba, Adam?" ramdam ko ang pag-aalala sa tinig nito. Mabilis akong umiling at hindi na nagsalita pa. Hindi ko alam na ganito pala kahirap magpigil! Fvck this!

"Stop the car, Adam," napakunot ang noo ko noong bigla itong mag-utos na itabi ko ang sasakyan. She sounded pissed. Her voice seems dangerous to my ears now. Oh, great!

"What?" tanging nasambit ko kahit narinig ko naman ang sinabi nito kanina. Damn! What is this? The great Adam Zamora, tiklop pala sa girlfriend niya. This is so uncool.

"I said, stop this fvcking car!" mariing sambit nito. I sighed then do whatever she asked me to do so. Itinabi ko ang sasakyan at itinigil ito.

Katahimikan.

Hindi kumibo si Belle kaya naman ay napabuntong hininga na lamang ako at hinarap ito.

"I'm sorry," basag ko sa katahimikan naming dalawa.

"Sorry for what?" humarap ito sa akin at nagtaas ng isang kilay. Gusto kong ngumiti dahil tiyak kong iba na naman ang nasa isip nito ngayon. I knew her well. Iba na naman ang tumatakbo sa isipan nito. Sigurado ako riyan.

"For acting like this?"

"Damnit, Adam Zamora. Stop fooling around!" galit na bulalas nito na siyang ikinangisi ko na. "Oh, fvck you! Don't you fvcking smirked at me!"

"Oh, baby, stop cursing please," ani ko at tinakpan ang bibig nito gamit ang kanang kamay ko. Mabilis nito tinapik ang kamay ko at inalis roon sa bibig niya. Natawa na ako.

"Don't laugh!" anito at masama akong tiningnan.

"Baby..."

"Don't baby me!"

"I love you," nakangiting sambit ko na siyang nagpatigil sa kanya. Lalo akong napangiti at mabilis na tinanggal ang suot na seatbelt. Agad kong inilapit ang katawan dito at mahigpit na niyakap. "I'm sorry, okay? I forgot that you overthink too much. Nawala sa isip ko na baka iba na naman ang laman niyang utak mo dahil sa ikinilos ko. I'm sorry, Belle. You can't blame me on this one. You look so good tonight and all I wanted to do right now is to kiss you."

"Adam!" anito at inihiwalay ako sa kanya. Natawa akong muli sa naging reaksiyon nito kaya naman ay muli kong inilapit ang katawan sa kanya. Mabilis kong kinalas ang suot nitong seatbelt at pinaharap ito nang maayos sa akin.

"I was thinking about how beautiful you are tonight, baby. And it's bothering me, so much, kaya naman ay itinuon ko na lamang ang atensiyon ko sa pagmamaneho," I explained.

Napakunot ang noo nito at mayamaya pa'y nanlaki ang mga mata nito at mabilis na pinalo nito ang braso ko.

"My God, Adam Zamora!" she exclaimed then push me away from her. Ngunit bago niya pa ako tuluyang mailayo sa kanya ay napigilan ko na ito mabilis na hinawakan ang bewang nito.

"Not so fast, baby," I whispered under my breathe and claimed her lips.

I always wanted to have my own happy ending. I was always dreaming about me and my little princess to have this kind of sweet moments together.

No complications, no family wars.

Just the two of us. Sharing sweet kisses. Forgetting everything outside our little paradise.

I admit, I once became a beast. I only wanted was a human's flesh. Blood, the blood of my enemies. But everything changes whenever I closed my eyes, everytime I saw her face on my dreams, slowly, the demon inside of me was fading away.

She saved me from becoming a ruthless beast. She saved my soul as she saved my wounded heart.

"I love you, Adam," she said while caressing my face. I smiled as she hold my hand and place it on her chest where her heart's beating so damn fast. "With or without memories. I love you still. Forever. Always."

"You are my dream, Belle. My only dream," I whispered then claimed her lips again.

Happily ever after?

No.

This is just our beginning.

A/N

End na talaga! Tapos na siya! Adam and Belle just got their happily ever after, but nah, beginning palang pala. Happy lang, walang ending. Chos!

Congratulations sa ating lahat! 🎉

Thank you for reading, lovies.

Iloveyouuuu.

Love,
Lady Aries