The Secrets We Keep (Completed)

Chapter Eighteen

Stefan never saw it coming. He was a fucking trained investigator, and a lawyer at that, before he started this whole operation and yet he never even had a clue. He dared not question how he was decieved, or why. It was pointless.

Hindi lang niya maintindihan kung paano niya nagawang pagkatiwalaan ng lubos si JC.

Wala siyang naramdaman o nakitang anumang kaduda-duda rito. He was usually quite sensitive about these things. He believed her story and everything else she told him. He kissed her and felt his heart, his entire world give in the moment she kissed him back.

He made love to her and knew that despite their circumstances, they shared a universe. He loved her, like he never loved anyone else in his life.

Pero heto siya ngayon, ilang minuto an lang ang layo sa kamatayan sa kamay ng mismong babaeng minahal niya at hindi pa rin iyon lubusang mapaniwalaan.

Gusto niyang itanong kung bakit nito iyon nagawa. Alam niyang darating ang pagkakataong may gagawin ang mga Melloni para sirain ang tiwala nila sa isa't isa.

Pero napag-usapan na nila iyon, at sa tingin niya ay napaghandaan nila. They will only trust each other. The group can do and say all they want but nothing could break them apart.

Para siyang naparalisa sa sandaling marinig niyang tinawag ni Franco Melloni ang pangalan nito at pinapasok sa library. Tahimik lang si JC, maging nang lumapit ito sa kanya at iposas siya. Dama niyang pinapanood sila ng lahat ng nasa kuwartong iyon. They knew, they had to.

They were just in this room the other night, their limbs tangled on the floor as they promised never to let anything get in the way again.

Was everything just a dream?

No, not a dream. A big fucking lie.

Ipinikit niya ang mga mata sa sandaling maramdaman ang pagla-lock ng posas. Narinig niyang inutusan din ni Franco si JC na lagyan siya ng piring.

He didn't want to even look at her anymore. Ayaw na niyang makita pa nito kung gaano siyang nasasaktan. He already gave too much away when she entered the room. His pride was all he have left to take with him before he dies.

Napasinghap siya nang maramdaman ang marahang pagtapik ni JC sa kanyang braso. Narating na nila ang abandonadong ranch.

Hindi siya dapat kinakabahan dahil pinaplano pa lang niya ang pagkompronta sa mga Melloni ay alam na niyang maaring ito ang kahinatnan niya.

Handa na siya. He thought it was going to be worth it. After he has exposed his dad and sister's murderers, he thought he'd at least die happy. Iiwan niya ang ina pero nakamit naman nila ang hustisya kahit papaano.

Sana lang naihanda niya ang sarili, at nakita ang posibilidad ng isang gaya ni JC. Love was never in his plans, was never even a possibility, but he was nearly helpless when she burst into King's Lair in a rain soaked jacket and spiky hair that first night they met.

Fuck. He felt a stinging sensation in his eyes. Alam niyang hindi naman makikita ng dalawang kasama kung umiyak man siya pero ayaw na din niyang hayaan ang sariling masaktan dahil sa anangyari.

A rough hand held steadily on his left arm, a light touch on his back. He felt gun nuzzles poking his side and lower back occasionally as they walked.

Tahimik lang si JC, habang panay naman ang daldal ng kasama nito. He knew Lopez was probably itching to find an excuse to kill her as well that's why he's been taunting her, but she won't have any of it.

He should be proud. JC was doing great. Hindi ito nagpapadala sa init ng ulo. Nai-imagine na niyang poker faced ito at kilay lang siguro ang gumagalw. God, she must look so beautiful, and so dangerous.