Villaverde Brothers Series 1: Taming the Ruthless✓

Prologue

The wind breeze hugged my skin when I opened the door of my balcony. I was enthralled by the glow of the city lights and the glint of the stars twinkling in the night sky.

Even if this is my view every night, I just can't help but fall in love with it deeper as I look at it. This is what I have seen for the past six years and I don't know if I can leave this life already.

I miss the Philippines but I became used to life here in New York. Living here taught me to be independent— that, I, as a woman should know how to live alone.

I sighed. Am I ready to go home?

My thoughts faded away when my phone rang. Someone is calling on the messenger and even if I haven't seen who it is, I already know who's calling.

I immediately went to my bed and sat on it. I answered the call of my Mom, her close-up face yet still looking gorgeous greeted me on the screen.

"Darling, I'm glad you answered quickly," she said.

Nilayo niya na ang cellphone sa mukha niya ngunit napansin kong wala yata siya sa bahay dahil hindi ang kuwarto nila ni Daddy ang nakikita ko sa likuran.

"Where are you?" I asked.

"Hulaan mo." Tumawa siya kaya naman mabilis na nangunot ang noo ko. "Your Daddy and I are having dinner with our family friend."

Family friend? Is she talking about the Villaverde family?

"Yes, anak. We're with them," she told me like she knows what I am thinking.

"Then drop the call, Ma. I think it's kinda rude that you're eating with them and you're talking to me over the phone," I told.

"No, they told me to call you, and besides, we are going to say something." She adjusted her arm and moved her phone to Tita Meryll's side.

Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko maiwasang mamangha sa tuwing nakikita ko siya dahil kakaiba talaga ang taglay niyang ganda. Sa kaniya nakuha ni Cai ang ganda ng mga mata niya.

"Hi, hija," she greeted. "How are you? Lalo kang gumaganda, ha."

Pinilit kong ngumiti nang hindi nagmumukhang awkward. "I'm fine... Tita," sagot ko. Nahihiya pa dahil Mommy ang tawag ko sa kaniya dati dahil gusto kong maging asawa ang panganay niyang anak.

"Why Tita? I prefer Mommy." She then laughed. "Hindi ba't iyon naman ang tawag mo sa akin?"

Ramdam ko ang pag-init ng pisngi ko dahil sa sinabi niya.  I bit my lower lip.

"Y-yes, Tita, pero matagal na po 'yon. May hiya na po ako ngayon."

Narinig ko ang tawanan sa kabilang linya. Mas nangibabaw pa ang mga panlalaking tawa. Napapikit ako dahil doon. Nahuhulaan na siguro, ang magkakapatid iyon.

"Can you just... tell me why you called so I can drop this already... po? I still need to fix some files," I said.

Nahihiya na ako, hindi maatim na baka nakikinig si Cai sa akin. Hindi ko pa rin nakakalimutan lahat nang ginawa ko para sa kaniya.

I even courted him and shouted in front of many people that I want him as my husband.

"When will you go home?" Mommy asked. "Less than a month, right? We forgot to tell you that our house is under renovation. Last month lang, hindi rin namin nasabi agad kasi hindi mo naman sinasagot ang tawag namin. Your Dad and I are currently living in our condo but it's far from your business' location so... I think you can't be with us."

"And then? Do I need to look for another condo? May vacant ba riyan sa inyo? Okay lang naman kung malayo, I can manage."

"Wala!" mabilis niyang sagot, nabigla pa.

"Hija," Tita Meryll interfered. "I offered your parents that you can temporarily live with us. I heard your company was built a few kilometers from here. Mas okay siguro na sa amin ka muna para hindi ka mahirapan at saka—"

Naputol ang sasabihin niya nang marinig kong may tumawag sa kaniya mula sa magkakapatid.

"Tita?"

She then looked at me again when I called her. "And Cai misses you already."

Mom moved her phone again, revealing Cairus. He stopped eating and threw a glance on the phone, directly seeing me.

His dark brooding eyes told me that what his Mom said isn't true. It's the first time I saw him again after six years... kahit na sa video call lang, sobrang kaba ang nararamdaman ko sa dibdib ko. Ang mata niyang diretsong nakatingin sa akin ay para bang sinusunog ako.

I used to stalk him on his Facebook account but he's a very private person. He rarely posts his pictures, and when he does, it's a candid one. Whether it was his side profile or his back profile.

Tagged photos of him were blurry. I can't even spot a clear one to stare at.  Hindi ko alam kung sino ba ang dapat kong i-stalk para lang makita ko nang malinaw ang mukha niya.

His lips twitched. "Go home... wife."

I heard coughs from the other line. Mouth agape, I stared at him intently. He just gave me a smirk before removing his sight from me.

Wife?

He doesn't really talk often, he utters every word in a deadpan way. Once he said something, it would amuse you. Paulit-ulit mong maririnig iyon sa isip mo na para bang inaasar ka pero sa kabilang banda, kakaiba ang nagiging dulot nito sa 'yo.

Ganoon ang epekto sa akin ng isang Cairus Mael Villaverde.

"Sa kanila ka muna titira, Mil, anak." Binalik na ni Mommy sa kaniya ang camera. "Is that fine with you?"

Mabilis pa sa alas kuwatrong tumango ako. Hindi maalis na isip na baka madiligan na ako kung sa mga Villaverde ako titira.

I have loved Cairus for years, I even lost count. I didn't get tired of chasing him because that's how I love him.

'Yong kahit nagmumukha na akong tanga ay ayos lang kasi si Cairus naman. Siguro kung hindi ako umalis, habol pa rin ako nang habol sa kaniya. Sumusunod kahit saan siya magpunta, baka nag-apply na rin ako bilang secretary niya.

May girlfriend na kaya siya? Sana wala pa. Kung meron man, handa naman akong manira ng relasyon. S'yempre charot lang!

Kailanman hindi ko'yon pinangarap. If ever he has a girlfriend, I would be happy for him.

But that would be unfair because I didn't get into a relationship because of him. After all, I want him as my first.

Kung hindi kami ang para sa isa't isa, ipipilit ko.

Kung wala pa talagang babae sa buhay niya ngayon, wala naman sigurong masama kung susubukan ko siyang kunin hindi ba?

I will tame him... even if he's a ruthless guy.