VALERIA SERRANO: Forbidden Temptation [L.O.D.O S#2]

Chapter 12

VALERIA SERRANO’S POV

Two weeks later....

The road stretched endlessly ahead of us, the hum of the engine steady and almost soothing. Riven drove in silence, one hand resting casually on the steering wheel, eyes alert but calm. Maximilian sat in the passenger seat, unusually quiet for once, scrolling through something on his phone but clearly only half-paying attention.

Ako naman ay nasa backseat, katabi ang bata na nakita ko noong nakaraang linggo sa gubat. Paminsan-minsan ay nahuhuli ko siyang ngumingiti habang tinitingnan ako, at sa t'wing lilingon ako sa kanya ay mas lalong lalaki ang ngiti sa kanyang labi.

Then slowly, sge leaned closer to me, eyes wide with curiosity.

“Ate…” she said softly. “Malayo pa ba?”

And again, i glanced at her and felt something in my chest ease.

“Medyo,” I answered gently. “Pero malapit naman na. Ilang minuto nalang ay nasa harapan na tayo ng bahay niyo," paliwanag ko.

She nodded seriously, as if committing my words to memory, then tilted her head again.

“Are you… a soldier?” she asked again.

Maximilian choked on nothing in the front seat.

I hid my smile and shook my head. “No.”

“A spy?” she tried again.

I laughed quietly this time. “Hindi rin.”

Nakita ko kung paanong lalo pang nagsalubong ang kanyang kilay. Para bang gulong-gulo siya habang kina-kausap ako.

“Then why do you know how to fight?” aniya sa mababa at inosenteng boses.

Mula sa rearview mirror ng kotse ay nakita ko ang naging reaksyon ni Riven. Halata na maging siya ay hindi inaasahan ang tanging na iyon.

I reached up and carefully tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Because sometimes,” I said softly, “you need to know how to protect yourself.”

Her eyes softened at my answer.

“My papa says heroes are scary,” she murmured. “Because they’re not afraid.”

Pagkarinig ko niyon ay napalunok ako. Ngunit hindi ko pa din pimahalata sa kanya na naiilang ako at ngumiti lang.

“Your papa is smart,” I said after a moment. “But heroes get scared too. They just don’t let it stop them.”

She thought about that, swinging her legs slightly.

“Are you scared, Ate?”

I looked out the window, watching the trees blur past.

“Yes,” I said. “All the time.”

Pero hindi iyon ang mga salitang gusto kong sabihin sa kanya. Because the truth? I don't feel scared at all, I no longer feel fear in my chest... but only hatred.

And she's too young to understand those words. Kaya mas mabuting iba ang sabihin ko sa kanya.

She innocently smiled at me then, a small, warm, trusting and she leaned her head against my arm like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I didn’t pull away.

For the rest of the drive, she talked endlessly... Maging ang tungkol sa pagkain na paborito niya, tungkol sa mga magulang niya kung papaano siya nito inaalagaan at kung papaano inaayos ang buhok niya. Halos lahat ay ikinwento niya at hindi niya nakalimutan ang kanyang aso na kasama niya bago siya napadpad sa harapan ng safehouse.

And I listened to every word she said, answering patiently, nodding, laughing when she laughed. To make her even more comfortable.

Maximilian glanced back at me once, his expression unreadable.

Siguro iniisip niya na ibang-iba ang ako sa babae na umuwi sa basement na balot na balot ng maraming d*go. Na ibang-iba ako sa babae na pinat*y ang isang buong grupo ng mga lalaki.

Hindi na din ako nag-reklamo at pinakinggan lang bata sa tabi ko. Hanggang sa matanaw ko na ang bahay sa hindi kalayuan.

“That’s our house!” Mira, the little girl said beside me.

Then, Riven parked the car slowly in front of the house. I opened the door before anyone else could, helping her down gently.

She froze when she saw her parents running toward her, crying, calling her name.

I knelt in front of her. “Go,” I whispered.

She hesitated only a second before throwing her arms around my neck.

“Thank you,” she whispered. "Sana po magkita ulit tayo, Ate..."

My throat tightened.

I hugged her back carefully, briefly. "H'wag kang mag-alala. Ngayon na alam ko na kung saan ang bahay niyo ay dadalawin kita, okay?"

"Yes po. Hihintayin po kita," tugon niya at unti-unting niluwagan ang yakap sa aking leeg.

"Sige na..." usal ko dahil tiningnan niya lang ako.

"Thank you po ulit," pag-ulit niya at tinalikuran na ako.

She ran into her parents’ arms, sobs and laughter colliding, relief spilling everywhere.

I stood back, hands tucked into my jacket, watching them quietly.

Maximilian came up beside me. “You’re terrifying,” he muttered. “You know that, right?”

I didn’t look at him. “Get in the car, Max.”

Tumawal siya. At ginawa din naman ang sinabi ko at sumunod na ako sa kanya.

Riven already had the engine running.

As we drove away, I let myself look back one last time at the house growing smaller behind us.

For a moment, I let myself believe that this was enough.

That saving one life balanced the scales.

But deep down, I knew better.

Because softness like this…

Was exactly what would get me killed someday.

~~~~~

The room was dim, circular, and sealed, no windows, no unnecessary light. Just one long table carved from dark wood, polished to a mirror sheen.

Nakapaligid sa mahabang lamesa ang doseng silya, pero dahil nabawasan na kami ng isa ay nanatiling blangko ang isang upuan.

Lahat kami ay nakatingin sa harapan kung nasaan si Sovrano.

He sat relaxed, one arm resting on the chair’s armrest, fingers tapping slowly, thoughtfully. Kalmado ang postura nito, pero alam naming lahat na sa t'wing umaakto siya ng ganito ay kailangan naming ihanda ang ang mga sarili para sa susunod na mangyayari.

Ilang segundo ay yumuko ako. Pero nang marinig ko ang mahinang galaw ng sovrano ay agad kong ibinalik ang aking tingin sa kanya.

“The eyes on us are… hot now,” Malrik said casually, his voice smooth, almost amused. “Very hot.”

Wala ni isang sumubok na magsalita sa aking lahat. Para kaming mga pipi at nakatingin lamang sa kanya para makinig.

He leaned back slightly, gaze sweeping across the table, lingering on each face for a second too long.

“Our enemies are restless,” dugtong niya. “NBI. Private task forces. Old rivals. New opportunists.” A faint smile curved his lips. “They’re circling. Asking questions. Connecting dots that would lead to us."

His eyes finally settled on me.

Pero hindi iyon ang tingin na iginagawad nito sa akin kapag pinapagalitan niya ako. Isang normal na tingin lamang iyon, hindi para manghusga, kundi para ituro ako.

“And all because a trafficking ring disappeared overnight.”

A few of the men exchanged glances.

Someone exhaled slowly.

Sovrano tilted his head. “Relax. I’m not here to scold anyone.”

His gaze never left mine.

“In fact,” he added calmly, “I understand exactly why it happened.”

My spine straightened, but I didn’t speak.

“I know you saw something familiar,” he said, as if narrating a fact, not a guess. “Something personal.”

Sandali siyang huminto at ngayon ay isa-isa kaming tiningnan. Para bang sinasabi ng tingin niya na ang mga susunod na salita na kanyang bibitawan ay para sa aming lahat.

“And I gave you... all of you the permission long before you even asked.”

Then, the room stayed silent.

“You did clean work,” he went on. Now his eyes darted on me. “Efficient. Surgical. No witnesses. No trail.” A faint chuckle. “You even left the victims untouched. That detail matters the most."

“But,” pagpatuloy niya. Nakataas ang isang daliri at ngayon ay mas tutok na tutok na sa akin. "Actions like that ripple. Power attracts attention. Fear attracts obsession.”

Then, turned his gaze to the others now for the second time.

“From this point forward, you move smarter. And more quiet. Let them think it was internal. A rival syndicate of our group.” His lips curved slightly. “Let them fight ghosts.”

Suddenly, Leandro spoke. “And what about Valeria?”

Mio Sovrano didn’t even blink. “She continues exactly as she has been.”

I felt the weight of that statement settle heavily on my shoulders.

“She knows her limits,” he said. “And I trust her judgment. She’s earned that.”

The room seemed to exhale all at once.

Sovrano rose slowly to his feet, hands resting on the table.

His eyes darkened, something dangerous flickering beneath the calm.

He turned slightly toward me one last time.

“Just remember this, Valeria,” he said evenly. “When you choose to burn something down… make sure you’re ready for the heat.”

I inclined my head in acknowledgment. Then he finally turned his back on us. Finally leaving this place.

Kahit tuluyan na itong nawala sa paningin ko at hindi pa din naalis ang aking tingin sa pintuang kanyang nilabasan.

Tahimik at tulala. At muling naalala ang gabing 'yun. Ang gabi na siyang dahilan at nagtulak sa akin kung bakit ko pinasok ang buhay na meron ako ngayon.

TO BE CONTINUED…