"Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor Hell a fury like a woman scorned."

-William Congreve, The Mourning Bride

Manila, Philippines

6 Months Later...

"Sinungaling!" Malakas na sigaw ko in the back of my mind.

Kakabalik ko lang ng Manila, medyo matagal din akong hindi naka uwi. Almost 5 months ako sa Sweden for a Tech Summit and Collab. I'm just excited because I brought with me sa pag uwi ko ang isang new technology that will change our telecommunications, way faster than 5G and 6G mobile networks. And our company will be the first one to use such technology among the companies in the ASEAN region.

Despite my hectic schedule in the company, there were times I still felt awful with how things turned out just like now. A while ago, I was in a good mood, but now it feels like someone has pissed me off. Well, maybe or maybe not.

Crisp sound of footsteps sounded, and I knew it wasn't my secretary because it was the sound of steady men's leather shoes.

"You're too early for that." Bungad ng isang malamig na boses ng lalaki.

I raised an eyebrow. If it happens to be another person, it might be scared to death by now because of my look and aura. No one would dare to irate me, not one or else there's hell to pay for it. But since he is not another person, he just stands there with a mocking expression.

"Good Morning Your Highness to what do I owe you for this early visit?"

"Well, I just want to see you." He said, still sporting his mocking smile.

"Don't bullshit me Alesso! If you're here to annoy me, please don't, I have many things to do."

"Loosen up, Cara! I am not here to pester you, I'm just a little worried given your reputation. Don't let your emotions get too high, let it go, so you can move forward."

"Thanks, dear. I really need that." I give him a hug. "Anyway, what are you doing here in the Philippines?"

He slightly rubbed his jaw. "I am overseeing a project in Hongkong and heard that you came home already so I reckon I'll pay you a visit. How was Sweden?" Pagpapaliwanag niya.

"Sweden's good, we're ready to shake the mobile network industry." I announced.

"That's great! I am proud of you all."

We're busy discussing things over the collaboration and with my stay in Europe, when my intercom sounded.

"Yes, Gia?" I answered my secretary.

"Sorry to interrupt you ma'am. There's just a small problem, one of our cell sites..."

"What about it?" agad kong tanong.

"The landowner has stopped the construction of our cell site because they insist that it was illegal and without proper permit." Nagaalala niyang pahayag seeing the changes in my aura.

"Location, please. I will go over there now." Naiinis kong demand sa kanya.

"Right away. I'll send the GPS coordinates to your phone." Nagmamadali niyang sagot.

"Alex, I've got to go, I'll just attend to this matter." Nagmamadali ko ring paalam kay Alesso.

Agad siyang tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo. "Wait, I'll go with you."

I was surprised by his announcement. "Are you sure? If that's so, hurry up will you?"

We immediately straight ahead to the parking. I looked around for my keys but I can't find it. Shoot! Naiwan ko pa ata sa taas. Babalik na sana ako sa taas ng pigilan ako ni Alex.

"Left your key upstairs? I'll drive you, give me the location." At agad niyang nilabas ang kanyang phone. Namangha ako when suddenly ay may tumunog na sasakyan. Sosyal! He can unlocked his car using the phone.

"Wow! You've got quite a handsome ride." Pagpupuri ko sa kanya when I saw him open the door of a Bentley Continental GT.

Wicked smiles escape from my lips. "You've got a woman to impress, right? That's why you are here and not really because of some business thing."

He laughed off my assumption. "Showbiz!" Then he burst out laughing.

"I'll give Loukas a call later so we will have something to talk about." I teased him.

He threw sight daggers in my direction. "Why don't you guys get a love life of your own so you will stop pestering mine?"

"Really, Alesso? Ikaw nga tong tsismo dito about sa takbo ng buhay ko!" Pagsusungit ko sabay pasok sa sasakyan niya. "Drive, Mr." I commanded like he is my loyal servant.

"Just Wow!" I heard him whisper but enough for me to hear it.

.

.

.

We arrived at the location site at may commotion nga talaga. May isang babaeng nagwawala at animoy pinapagalitan ang mga tauhan namin.

Agad akong bumaba ng sasakyan at tinawag ang pansin nila.

"Stop that! Anong problema dito?" I asked in annoyance, ayaw ko talagang magalit today kaya pinilit kong kumalma."

Tumigil naman sila agad ng marinig nila ako. But sa hindi inaasahang panahon, ang taong pinaka ayaw ko pa ang dadatnan ko.

Imagine my shock, kakabalik ko lang and here she goes again. Hindi na nag sawang bigyan ako ng sakit ng ulo.

"So the news are true, nakabalik kana talaga." Bungad niya sa akin.

"What's your problem, Miss Lobete? As far as I know both of our companies have already agreed that we will have cell sites in every property that your real estate company owns." Pilit kong pag papaintindi sa kanya.

"Alam ko naman yun. I just made this as an excuse to confirm if talagang nakabalik kana. This is just a drama and you really showed up. I am proud of you, myself!" Nakangiti niyang pahayag sabay tapik sa balikat niya.

Bigla akong nakaramdam ng init ng ulo at sobrang inis dahil sa ginawa niya. Nagdrama lang naman siya para magawa niyang magshow up ako right before her very eyes.

I rubbed my temple because of a sudden headache. "You just remind me why I hated you." Galit kong singhal sa kanya.

I looked over sa mga taong nakatingin sa amin. "Gentlemen, could you please leave us alone. I will just settle this." Pakiusap ko sa kanila and they immediately went off.

"Sarah!" she said as she grabbed my hand.

"Get your hands off me." Galit kong sabi sa kanya, sabay tapon ng kamay niya.

She released a heavy sigh. "Ano bang nangyari sa ating dalawa? Bigla ka nalang nawala and you never contacted me again after our blissful holiday in Italy."

I held my hands up to stop her. "Don't remind me of your betrayal. You know what, that holiday is a mistake. No, all of them are mistakes. Pinagsisihan kong nakilala kita."

"Babe!" Halos maiyak niyang sambit sa endearment namin.

"Stop calling me that!" Halos maiyak ko naring sagot pero pilit kong pinipigilan ang mga luhang nagbabadyang pumatak. Toughen up Sarah! Hindi ka pwedeng manghina sa harapan niya. Sigaw ng isip ko.

"Babe!" Hinawakan niya na naman ako ulit. "We can talk about this." Pamimilit niya sa akin.

"Save your speech Ms. Lobete, I don't have time for your lies. I already had enough of it."

"Sarah! Nakakasakit kana!" Singhal niya sa akin.

Sa binitawan niyang yun, doon ako sumabog. Hindi ko napigilan ang aking sarili na magalit ng tuluyan.

"Bakit Miss Lobete? Ikaw hindi ka nakakasakit? I trusted you. I am even willing to risk everything for you, pero ano ang ginawa mo? You played me for a fool! Pinaniwala mong mahal mo and yet meron ka palang iba! Ako naman tong tanga paning paniwalang sa mga pinakita at sa binitawan mong salita."

"Huh? Meron akong iba?" Nagtataka niyang tanong sa akin. Ang galing talaga ng babaeng to. Pwede ng bigyan ng Oscar Awards sa sobrang galing mag drama actress.

"Bullshit! Save your lies, I don't want to hear it. Sapat ng nagpaloko ako ng minsan. Can you just leave, ayaw na kitang makita." Naiiyak kong pakiusap sa kanya.

"Sarah, please." She almost begged.

We heard someone blow a horn. Alesso's car stopped just right before us at agad naman itong lumabas sa sasakyan. "Mia Cara, Are you done? We need to go, I have a meeting to catch."

I wiped the tears from my cheeks. "Yes, we are done. Let's go." Sagot ko kay Alesso. Hindi ko na siya nilingon at dali dali akong pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan na at agad naman itong pinaharorot ng takbo ni Alesso. Nang medyo makalayo na kami, ay bigla nyang pinulled off sa gilid ang sasakyan at humarap sa akin.

"Cry if you must, be true to what you really feel, I would never judge or say a thing about it." Seryoso niyang sabi.

Humagolgol ako ng iyak. "Thank you, Alex. You just saved me there. Promise ito na ang huli kung iyak ng dahil sa kanya."

He give me a hug at hinayaan lang akong umiiyak hanggang sa mawala lahat ng kadramahan ko.

Naiwan akong nakatulala dito at luhaan. Umalis na si Sarah and she made it clear to me na ayaw niya pa akong makita ulit.

Wala na Tanch! Ano ba kasi ang nagawa mo?

Narinig ko pang tiniwag siya ng lalaki sa isang Italian endearment! Wala ka na talaga Tanch! Pinalitan ka na yata! Ano ba kasing nangyari?! Sigaw ng utak ko.

Honestly, hindi ko talaga alam ang nangyari. Masaya naman kami bago umalis ng Sardinia, nauna akong umuwi ng Manila sa kanya kasi may meeting pa daw siya with her brother-in-law sa Tuscany. After that, I never heard anything from her, naglaho siya ng parang bula. Nabalitaan ko nalang that she took an indefinite study leave when I decided na bisitahin siya sa office niya, pero wala akong Sarah na nadatnan. According to her brother who was the acting CEO at that time, ay hindi niya pa alam kung kailan ang uwi ni Sarah kasi biglaan lang daw itong nagdesisyon na mag indefinite leave.

Tapos ngayong nakabalik na pala siya, she didn't even bother na magpakita sa akin kaya I made way para makita ko siya ulit but it seems like the Sarah that I've known has changed to a cold and ruthless person.

Hindi ko na alam talaga. Our love story has gone straight to hell! Halos kakasimula palang but it went to disaster agad.

"You screwed up again Tanch! Wala kana talagang tamang ginawa!" Sigaw ko.

"Screw it!" Sigaw ko ulit, sabay pagbagsak ng malakas na ulan... Kasabay ng pagdaloy ng mga luha kong kanina pa gustong kumawala...

[Lost Without your Love now Playing]

*Paki pindot para ramdam yung sakit.

I'm so sorry. Madami dami pang mapanakit na chapters na susunod. But we will see how they'll find their ways back to each other's arms.

Pero ano kaya talaga ang nangyari? What really went wrong after their Italian Escapade?

Abangan.

*Much Love