Exception [ Quintero Series #2 ]

Simula

Simula

I was once a good girl.

Innocent.

Naïve.

Ignorant.

Kung babalikan ko kung anong klaseng tao ako bago nawala ang lahat sa akin, masasabi ko talaga na isa akong mabuting tao.

Good enough to get bullied.

Good enough to get stepped on.

Good enough to get her mother killed.

What doesn't kill us indeed makes us stronger, it doesn't kill us because it gives us time to recover.

A time to plot our revenge, or should I say our justice.

Kung tatanungin ang dating ako, I'll say that revenge is for the weak. Para kasi sa akin, mas malakas ang taong kayang maging mabuti sa kabila ng mga kasamaan sa kanyang paligid.

But that girl is gone now.

She's gone because they killed her too.

"Tangina!" nalaglag ang panga ni Timo pagkatapos mapanuod ang press conference ni Adilane Quintero.

Ilang saglit pa siyang natulala bago niya ako tuluyang nilingon.

I smirked.

Tumayo ako sa couch at kinuha na ang bag ko.

"Pucha naman, Irish! Hindi ka ba talaga nag – iisip?" singhal niya.

Mas lumaki ang ngisi ko.

Inayos ko muna ang nagusot na dress bago ako nag angat ng tingin sa kababata ko.

“C'mon, Timo!" lumapit ako para tapikin ang kanyang balikat. “You need to give me some credit right there...” kinindatan ko siya.

Mas pumula ang mukha niya sa galit at nakita ko ang paulit – ulit na pag igting ng kanyang panga.

"Sinabi ko na sa'yo na delikado ang mga Quintero!" sigaw niya.

Umirap ako sa kawalan.

"Sa tingin mo hindi nila malalaman na sa'yo galing lahat ng impormasyon na nakuha ni Adi? Tangina!" inihilamos niya ang kamay niya sa kanyang mukha bago ako tinalikuran.

Napailing ako sa reaksyon niya.

He's still not getting it.

"You think ganon ako katanga?" tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "I know Adi and Sebastian well, they won't tolerate their parents," depensa ko.

Matalim akong nilingon ni Timo.

"Paano si Nathan?" he mocked.

At dahil hindi ako agad nakasagot, mapakla siyang tumawa.

He probably thinks that my silence means that he's winning this argument.

Inirapan ko siyang muli.

"I told you already, you can't stop me," seryoso at pinal kong sabi bago ako tuluyang umalis.

Narinig ko pa ang pagpigil niya sa akin pero hindi na ako lumingon.

Naiintindihan ko na nag – aalala lang siya sa akin pero dapat niya rin maintindihan na alam na alam ko ang ginagawa ko.

This moment can make or break my plans.

Ngayong mahina ang mga kalaban ko, mas dapat lang na kumilos na ako dahil kung maghihintay pa ako ay baka tuluyang walang kahinatnan ang mga plano ko.

I know it's dangerous but I needed to get myself out there kung talagang gusto ko na malaman kung sino sa mag – asawang Quintero ang pumatay kay Mama.

I will do whatever it takes even if it's hard, even if it means coming back here, even if it means that I have to see him again one way or another.

Huminga ako nang malalim.

The air is thick with the scent of coffee and people are already lining up to get their afternoon booster.

Tinanaw ko ang menu ng kape sa harapan even though it's useless because the only coffee that I'm allowed to drink is just black, considering the nature of my job.

It sucks I know, but my physical appearance is equivalent to my sense of security when it comes to modeling.

Growing up, I’ve always loved fashion. I enjoyed dressing up, and the first time I experienced a photoshoot, I've never felt so alive.

Considering every bad thing that happened in my life for the past years, my only consolation is that I love what I do for a living even if it takes all the sacrifices that come with it.

Just in time after I ordered, tumunog ang cellphone ko.

"Irish," bungad ni Aina — my friend, and also my manager.

"Yes?" ani ko habang ginagala ang mga mata sa cakes na imposible ko naman makain.

"I just want to congratulate you because you got the Marituzini job!" she gushed.

Napangiti ako.

It’s a high-profile clothing brand.

"But should we accept this one?" Alangan niyang tanong. "Hanggang kailan ba talaga tayo dito?"

Napakagat ako sa pang ibaba kong labi.
Honestly, hindi ko rin alam.

"Remember that aside from the Gucci fragrance campaign in Paris two months from now, you are also booked for four more runway shows in the upcoming fashion week," paalala niya.

I sighed.

"Miss Irish!" narinig kong tawag sa akin ng barista.

Lumapit na ako agad.

"Let's just talk later," pinal kong sabi kay Aina bago pinatay ang tawag.

"Miss Irish?" kumpirma ng barista.

Ngumiti ako at tumango.

I was about to get my coffee when a hard hand stopped my arm.

Umawang ang labi ko and before I could say anything...

He immediately pulled me around until we were facing each other and his tall frame bowed over me.

I gulped, hard.

Standing this close to him was like a strange assault on my senses.

One thing is for sure though, his proximity still had an effect on my body. 

Pakiramdam ko ay natutunaw ako.

His powerful frame radiated heat and intensity that I felt down to my bones. 

“Irish,” he drawled, his head angling and lowering to my face.

I know that I've said this before...

I will do everything, whatever it takes.

"Nathan," I said with mock astonishment.

And at that moment, while looking at his desperate and longing eyes.

I could resist everything, except my feelings for him.