CHAPTER 18
1372 Words
“KUYA, naman, bakit mo ako pinatayan ng tawag?” ani Neriah. She was about to call again, but her brother called back.
“Sorry about that, lil’ sis,” wika ni Evron. “I was just… never mind. What happened?” tanong niya.
Neriah leaned against the balcony railing. “Someone wants to hurt Lucien.”
Sabi ko na nga ba. Evron’s thought. It’s not that she’s in trouble. It was someone.
“Kuya, there were two assassins earlier.”
Parang nawala ang antok ni Evron at umayos siya ng upo sa kaniyang swivel chair. “Are you hurt?”
Neriah smiled softly. “No, Kuya. I’m fine,” she answered. She glanced through the glass door toward the sleeping Lucien. “We’re fine, Kuya.”
Agad namang sumagot si Evron. “I’m not asking about him.”
Neriah couldn’t help laughing. “Alam ko.”
“So?”
“He protected me, Kuya.” Lumawak ang ngiti ni Neriah nang maalala kung paano siya pinrotektahan ni Lucien kanina. “He took them down effortlessly.”
“As if you couldn’t fight to protect yourself,” Evron said. Then he clicked his tongue. “At halatang proud ka pa.”
“Siyempre naman, Kuya.”
“You’re smiling, aren’t you?”
“…maybe,” tugon ni Neriah.
“Kahit hindi ko nakikita, alam ko.” Wika ni Evron.
Neriah laughed again. “I told you, Kuya. He was amazing.”
Evron sighed dramatically. Napailing na lamang siya. “My little sister is hopeless.”
“I’m just appreciating talent.”
Evron rolled his eyes. He knew what Neriah meant by appreciating talent. “So, bakit ka nga tumawag?”
“Kuya, I need a favor from you,” seryosong wika ni Neriah. “I want you to investigate.”
“You already know who?”
“I have a suspicion.”
“Sino?”
“The Verdan Family,” tugon ni Neriah saka bumuntong-hininga. “He didn’t tell me about his family’s situation, but I know it was complicated.”
Bumuntong-hininga rin si Evron. “Neriah, you knew what was going on when family was involved. Lucien might be fighting for inheritance.”
“Then I will help him to achieve it,” seryosong wika ni Neriah.
Natahimik saglit si Evron dahil hindi niya inaasahan ang sasabihin na ‘yon ni Neriah. His little sister was not interested in business. Kaya nga photography ang kinuha nito. He knew how much Neriah hates paperwork. Kaya nga sapat na lamang ang shares na hawak nito sa Laurent at Rios Empire.
But now… for that man… he could see she was willing to step into the corporate world where schemes are like casual words, and smiles hide devious plans. At sa ugali ni Neriah, alam niyang hindi niya mapipigilan si Neriah.
Kung may gusto itong gawin, gagawin ni Neriah ang lahat para makuha ang gusto niya.
And Neriah wants… Lucien Hale Verdan.
There’s no way you can stop her.
As Neriah’s eldest brother, all he could do was protect his troublesome sister.
“So, what do you want to know?” Evron asked.
Gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ni Neriah. Her brother agreed. “Kuya, I want to know who’s pulling the strings.”
“Okay. You’ll have an answer.”
“Thank you, Kuya.”
“Don’t mention it. We’re family.” Then Evron cleared his throat. “Pero anong gagawin mo kapag malaman mo kung sino ang gustong pumatay sa kaniya?”
Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Neriah. “I’ll send a letter, or much better if I visit them when I go back to the Philippines.”
Evron let out a sigh. “Just don’t make it bloody when you visit them.”
Neriah chuckled. “Can’t promise, Kuya.”
Napailing na lamang si Evron.
Kapagkuwan naalala ni Neriah ang tungkol sa kaniyang kapatid. “I heard you’re pursuing someone, Kuya.”
“Kanino mo nalaman?”
“Kuya, kapatid mo ako, remember?”
“Whatever.”
Neriah shook her head. “I can see you’re already smiling just mentioning her.”
Evron chuckled. “She’s an amazing woman.”
Finally, it was Neriah’s turn to sigh dramatically. “Finally, alam na ng kuya ko kung paano pumuri sa ibang tao.”
“She’s an exemption,” Evron tried to defend himself.
“Whatever you say, Kuya.”
“Enough about me,” Evron said. “Ang gusto ko lang malaman ngayon ay kung gaano na kalalim?”
Napakurap si Neriah. “Ang alin, Kuya?”
“Your feelings.”
She looked back through the glass doors. Lucien had unconsciously shifted on the couch, with his one arm hanging over the edge.
He looked… peaceful.
Lumambot ang ekspresyon ng mukha ni Neriah. “Hindi ko alam.”
“Liar.”
Ngumiti siya. “I think… I’m already in too deep.”
Evron chuckled. “I figured.”
“You don’t mind, Kuya?”
Evron let out a small but blissful sigh. “If he keeps looking at you the way he did when he shielded you… Then I have no reason to stop you.”
“Love you, Kuya. You’re the best brother.”
“But if he ever makes you cry…”
Alam ni Neriah ang sasabihin ng kaniyang kapatid.
“You’ll kill him?”
“I wasn’t going to say kill.” Evron paused. “…at first.”
“Kuya!”
“I’m just joking.”
Napailing na lamang si Neriah habang may nakapaskil na ngiti sa kaniyang labi.
“Oh, by the way, use protection when you are doing it.” Seryosong sabi ni Evron.
Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ni Neriah dahil hindi niya masyadong naintindihan ang sinabi ng kaniyang kapatid.
Then her eyes widened. “Kuya, that’s private!”
“Alam ko, pinapaalala ko lang.”
Neriah was blushing and ended the call quickly.
She remained on the balcony for another minute before returning inside. And she quietly covered Lucien with a blanket that had slipped onto the floor.
Lucien stirred but didn’t wake.
Neriah brushed a few strands of hair away from his forehead and smiled.
“Lucien, don’t worry, from now on, I’ll always be there to protect you,” she whispered. “Maghihintay ako hanggang sa magtiwala ka sa akin nang buo.”
Lucien was guarded and wary of the people getting close to him.
So, Neriah had no choice but to flirt to get close, and it was working.
“Since I set my eyes on you and you’re already mine, then I will do everything to help you achieve your goal. I’ll be your anchor.”
Hinaplos ni Neriah ang mukha ni Lucien. “Rest well, Lucien.”
Neriah Autumn Laurent-Rios had just entered the game.
For the people plotting against Lucien… that was the worst possible news.
Tumuwid nang tayo si Neriah at umalis.
She went to her own room, leaving Lucien in the living room.
Nang sumara ang pinto ng kwarto ni Neriah, doon nagmulat ng mata si Lucien.
He had been awake since Neriah covered him with a blanket, and he heard everything she said.
“Neriah, who really are you?” he asked as he stared at her door. “Your braveness was really different from others.”
Pero kakaibang saya sa pakiramdam ang kaniyang naramdaman nang marinig niyang poprotektahan siya nito.
Neriah, you don’t have to wait because I already fell for you. I trust you, just like how you trust me.
But his family…
The corner of Lucien’s lips lifted.
Verdan Group was his from the very beginning.
Neriah came from a wealthy and powerful background. Now, he needs something to back him up to be worthy of her.
Verdan Group was his backup, and not his family.
Since his stepmother wants him dead.
Siguro panahon na rin para gumalaw siya.
He needs to retaliate.
Ayaw niyang masaktan si Neriah dahil sa kaniya.
Tumayo si Lucien at naglakad patungo sa kwarto ni Neriah. He knocked on her door, and Neriah answered it after a few seconds.
“Lucien—”
Lucien gently pulled Neriah, wrapped his left arm around her waist, while the other held her nape.
And then he crashed his lips against hers.
- Writer
