Guns and Kisses (Macimilian Series #1)

The names, characters, and businesses are all works of fiction. Some places exist but do not entirely fit in the description. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is entirely coincidental. The opinions expressed are those of the characters and should not be confused with the author's. Hope you support this one!! Prologue Escape Hindi ko na ininda pa ang kakulangan sa hangin pag pasok sa kotse. I immediately got the bag at the back and find some clean clothes. Nang tanggalin ang naunang damit ay noon ko lang napansin may sira din iyon marahil sa daan palabas ng mansyon. I sighed loudly as I tapped my phone to call someone. "Aisa!" she immediately said. Inilagay ko iyon sa speaker at ipinatong sa upuan sa shotgun seat. "I made it to the car Maeve," I said slowly, still catching my breath. "Oh thank God! I was so nervous!" I can imagine her walking back and forth in her room. "Did you, by any chance, encounter your guards?" maingat niyang tanong. I shook my head as if she can see me. "No. Our plan works. I wait for their rotation and breaks before I came out." I heard her sighed. "Anyway, I gotta go. I can't be too long in here," "Yes! Oh right! Go, just go. Call me when you can alright?" "Thank you, Maeve, really..." "Don't thank me yet," she spat annoyed. "Get out of that country first and call me again!" Natawa nalang ako kahit walang nakakatawa sa esatado ko ngayon. I hurriedly started the car drove. Tonight, I did what I've been planning for months. I ran from home. Not because I'm spoiled or brat, and it isn't the usual running from the home act. I ran from home because, well, that place is not really a home. I've been living with my father and stepmother all my life. My dad is a typical businessman and my stepmother... is not as cliché as what stepmothers portray. She's civil with me and I can say that they're good, cause, they let me live. My mom was, unfortunately, fell in love with my dad way back. Kahit mali, at hindi ko naman tinatanggi iyon, nagkaroon sila ng relasyon ni daddy at doon ako nabuo. My biological mom died after she gave birth. Since then, I live with my Dad Oliverio and Celestina, his wife. I was aware even as a child that I'm not Celestina's daughter. Naging bokal siya doon at hindi naman ako nagalit dahil mas mainam nang alam ko ang totoo kaysa nangtatanong ako kung bakit iba ang trato niya sa akin. They both have a son that is years older than me. Giovanni Macimilian, my kuya, is everything that I can ask for, in a family. He's the only person that keeps me from leaving that family sooner than this. I parked the car at the airport in Berlin and got my important things. IDs, passports, and everything that can use to find me were fabricated. I used different papers that Maeve helped me with. While I sat on the airplane, I can't help but think where would this lead me. But then when I remember who that family is, I think I did a good choice. Penrose, my sister, not by blood or anything, is in a very difficult position right now. Penrose and I were the same age. I got to know her when mom and dad bring her home. Saying they adopted her. Hindi naging madali ang pakisamahan siya dahil natural na ata siyang masungit o talagang hindi palakaibigan. Hanggang ngayon, we weren't too close for a sister. But I know deep inside, we care for each other. And I love her. Macimilian, is known to be the number one pharmaceutical company. I should be proud and I am, but things aren't always perfect. The company has been going on since my father's grandfather. It started here in Germany and now, they are known all over the world. But the case is, my dad, is being eaten by his greed. May hinala na ako matagal na pero hindi napapatunayan dahil mas mahalaga sa akin ang pagaaral. Nang natapos ay saka ko pinagtuunan ng pansin ang nangyayari sa negosyo. But nothing came out from my effort to know what lies behind the known pharmaceutical company. Dad just let me handle papers and production and all is well in there. Well not until I search under their nose. Aside from legal d**g laboratories, they do have their own illegal drugs laboratory. Hindi ako makapaniwala. I thought I am too fortunate to be living like a princess. Maganda ang lahat, perpekto, pero hindi pala. I don't know what to do with the information I got. Hindi ko alam kung alam ba ito ni Giovanni but if he did, alam kong may gagawin naman siya tungkol dito hindi ba? I never really cared a lot until Penrose told me that she has to do something very bad. And she talked to me as she's not coming back or not sure if she will be coming back! I asked Giovanni for help and he told me to stay still and don't do anything stupid. Siya raw ang bahala doon at ang pinakamahalagang gawin ko ay manahimik at manatiling ligtas. But that was months ago, hindi ko alam kung may ginagawa ba siya o ano but I can't blame him. He's still studying and now graduating from his master's. Isa pa, magulang niya ang mga iyon. Kung may gagawin siyang laban sa illegal nitong gawain, it'll surely affect them and him. Now I escape from them to gather enough information and evidence that will surely lead to them. No, I don't want to be a bad person that after everything they've given to me, ito pa ang isusukli ko. I just want what is right and just. At hindi magandang madungisan ang pangalan ng pamilyang Macimilian nang dahil lang sa droga. Macimilian lineages didn't give their sweat and blood for its empire to end like this by filthy greed for more what money? Power? "Ladies and gentlemen welcome to Ninoy Aquino International Airport, local time is ten-thirty in the morning, and the temperature is varying from twenty-nine to thirty-two degrees celcius." I withdrew from my thoughts as I hear the announcements. "For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened until the Captain turns off the Fasten Seat Belt sign. This will indicate that we have parked at the gate and that it is safe for you to move about." Finally. Philippines. Wala akong sinayang na oras nanag makalabas sa airport kahit kumain ay hindi ako nanatili doon. I just bought some snacks so I can eat while on the road. Nagpahatid ako sa taxi sa bus terminal at nakarating doon sa tamang oras. Everything is going as planned. Apat na beses lang ang diretsong byahe mula Manila to La Union and I got there at the exact time. Anim na oras ang byahe o higit pa kaya bumili ako ng pagkain para hindi magutom. I will go to La Union as Maeve suggested. Mayroon siya bahay doon, it was given to her as a birthday present. It was on a beach and she said I will like it there. Maeve was my friend since high school parehas kami ng escuelahan dito noon sa Pilipinas. Nagkahiwalay nga lang kami ng piliin ni Dad na doon ako mag aral ng kolehiyo sa Germany. Hindi naman naputol ang ugnayan naming ni Maeve dahil madalas siyang bumisita sa akin. Ako lang ang hindi dahil ayaw akong payagan nila Daddy. All of us stayed in Germany for six years now. Giovanni was transferred also kahit na third year college palang siya noon sa bachelor's degree niya. I slept almost half of the time ng byahe. Hindi ko pa matawagan si Maeve dahil tinapon ko na iyong cellphone ko kanina. She's in Japan today with her family for a vacation. Dito namansa Pilipinas ay nanatili sila sa Tagaytay. Malayo sa akin at buti nalang. I'm sure hahanapin ako nila Dad sa kaniya. And there will be no evidence na makukuha. We talked from their maids' phone. Kinokontact din naman namin ang isa't isa sa sariling phone para hindi sila maghinala kung sakali man. But all of it was kept short. Even the messages are purely about ourselves. All of our talks are made on her maid's phone and mine on my other phone. Penrose gave it to me when I graduated but I never got the chance to use it. Ngayon lang. and it's dead batt so... Pagkababa ko ng terminal ay sumakay pa ako ng trike to get to Canaoay. When I asked if he knows the Luvena property he smiled and said yes. Nang makarating naman ako doon ay hindi ko naiwasang mamangha. It was surrounded on three sides by a property wall. It is nestled against coconut and date palms. Tinulak ko ang malaking gate at mas namangha ako sa loob. A bungalow house design on a diagonal axis and a kitchen storage structure at the rear of the property facing the road. The house is so big. Also, the whole property. Tila ba planadong magtatayo ba ng ibang bahay o establishment. The white fine sand is like a massage to my feet. Ang b****a ng bahay ay nakaharap sa dalampasigan. There were sun loungers in the front. As I mage it to the porch mas lalo kong nakita ang structure ng bahay. Maeve was so lucky to have this! The whole house is mostly structured by wood and glass, classic and modern. Hindi pa ako tapos sa pagkamangha ay may lumabas galing sa loob. I was already in my defense stance when I saw someone. Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag nang maalala nab aka si Manang Tessie iyon. "Oh! Aisa? Ikaw ba iyon?" nakangiting tanong nito sa akin. Her wrinkles smile with her eyes. Agad naman akong tumango at ngumiti pabalik. "Opo, nasabi ho ba ni Maeve na dito ako mananatili?" tanong ko kahit pa alam ko naming naayos na ng kaibigan ko ito. "Ah oo! Nalinisan ko na itong bahay at tiningnan ko lang ulit kung sakaling may kailangan ayusin," agad niya akong nilapitan at kinuha ang aking bag. "Halika at ituturo ko sa iyo ang kwarto." Mula sa porch ay tinungo naming ang glass wall sa kanan at binuksan iyon. Tumambad sa akin ang napakalaking kwarto. It has its king-size bed, its own living room, and another two doors that I think are the bathroom and walk-in closet. "Ito hija, ang magiging kwarto mo. Wala pa namang tumira ditto simula noong ginawa pero laging nililinisan para mapanatili ang ganda." Kwento niya sa akin habang nilalagay ang gamit ko sa sofa. Tumango naman ako. "Ang living room at kitchen ay nasa kabilang bahagi ng pasyo." Dagdag niya at nanatili naman akong tahimik. "Nga pala, hindi nasabi sa akin ni Maeve pero magtatagal ka ba rito?" malumanay na tanong niya sa akin. Tumawa siya at sinundan adag ang sinabi, "Kung oo, ay ipapakilala kita sa iba pang tao dito, mababait sila at talagang natutuwa sila kapag may mga dayo ang bumibisita..." I smiled and nodded, "Mukha hong magtatagal ako, one month or so..." She returns the smile and walks towards the door. "May pagkain sa dining kung nagugutom ka, inihanda ko iyon kanina." "Salamat po," sagot ko at nagpaalam na din naman siya. Una kong hinanap sa gamit ay yung charger ko at phone. Agaran ko itong sinaksak. I need to call Maeve at baka mahimatay na iyon sa pagaalala. But first I need to buy sim card. Pero hindi ko alam kung saan iyon at mukhang matatagalan ako. I sighed and lie on my bed, it's been a very long day! Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog ako at nagising dahil sa sinag ng araw. The sun is setting and it's so wonderful to watch it from my room. Pero dahil medyo masakit siya sa mata ay isinara ko muna ang makapal na kurtina at naisipang maligo. Buti nalang ay nakahanap ako ng matinong sun dress sa mga dala kong gamit. Humarap ako sa salamin sa walk in closet at pinatuyo ang buhok ko. Thankfully, kumpleto ang gamit ni Maeve dito. Nang matuyo ang itim kong buhok ay hinayaan ko lang ito sa aking balikat. Its length is to my shoulder blades. Pantay at medyo may kulot ang dulo. Napansin ko rin ang mata ko na halata ata ang pagod. The color of my eyes is dark brown and you would mistake it for black if you just won't look closely. I have a fair white skin na namana ko ata sa Mommy ko dahil si Dad ay likas na yata ang pagka tan. My nose is pointed and my lips is fine in size. Hindi manipis at hindi rin naman makapal. It's more of a pouty type. Inggit na inggit nga si Maeve dito dahil hindi ko na daw kailangan ng effort na i'pout ang labi ko. I shook my head, why do you need an effort to pout your lips? Do girls do it always nowadays? Pagkatapos kong mag ayos ay lumabas ako para pumunta sa dining. Ang unang bumungad sa akin pagkabukas ng glass door ay ang malaking living room. It has two sets of sofas; one is facing the view of the sea and the others one in facing the television on the wall. Sa dulong bahagi naman ay ang dining at kitchen. Isang mahabang lamesa. A twelve sitters table. Nakita ko naman ang nakahandang pagkain doon at halos malula ako. Ako lang magisa at tingin ko ay aabot hanggang next week ang pagkain na ito. Hindi pa ako nakaramdam ng gutom kaya pinili kong lumabas. Hindi na masakit ang sinag ng araw dahil halos kalahati nito ay nakalubog na. I walk at the beach front at agad kong natanaw sa kanang bahagi at iilang bahay malayo dito. Unti unti ay naglakad ako at nakita ko ang mukhang isa ding private property dahil may mga dingding din itong nakapaligid. It's a modern house, like a typical house in the states. It is a two-story, huge, house with its porch. The type that has a basement. It is more modernized too. Its color is black and white and has its minimalistic design that I think its owner is a man. Isang beses ko pa itong sinulyapan at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Nakarating ako sa tabi tabing bahay doon at napansin ko rin naman ang tingin nila sa akin. Buti nalang ay namataan ko si Manang Tessie at agad akong lumapit. Nang makita akong papalapit ay agad itong ngumiti sa akin. May kausap siyang dalawang babae na tingin ko ay kasing edad ko lang. "Aisa, hija. May kailangan ka ba?" malumanay nitong tanong. I smiled awkwardly, tinigil niya ang pakikipag usap upang harapin ako. "Uhm, itatanong ko lang po sana kung saan ako makakabili ng sim card dito?" Natawa naman ito at agad tumango, "Kapag nilakad mo iyan sa dulo ay may maliit na palengke, doon ay may mabibilhan ka. Kailangan mo na ba ngayon dahil maari ko nalang ipautos?" I shook my head immediately, "Hindi na po, ako nalang po ang bibili at ayaw kong maka abala..." Agad naman itong tumingin sa akin na paraang imposible ang sinabi ko, "Hindi ka nakakaabala, o siya sige, pasasamahan nalang kita sa dalawang ito." She said and look at those girls who are already staring at me. "Aisa, ito si Lisa at Jennie mga apo ko ito at tingin ko ay hindi naman kayo nagkakalayo ng edad." "Aisa? Buti naman at may bagong dayo ditto, nagsasawa na ako dito kay Lisa e!" sabi noong Jennie and I can help but smile. Lisa just rolled her eyes. "Tara na at samahan na natin siya dahil mag gagabi na." And that what we did. Naglakad kami papuntang palengke at habang naglalakad ay nagtatanong sila sa akin. "Aisa Luna is my name," I said ng itanong nila ang talagang pangalan ko. I used my mother's surname, Luna. "Matagal na ba kayo dito?" "Since birth!" sabay nilang sabi, "We're both teachers here. Doon kami sa bayan nagtuturo," Jennie continued. "Oh, that's a good profession," I said as a matter of fact. "Eh ikaw? Saan ka nagt'trabaho? Are we in the same age?" Lisa curiously asked. Alam ko na may magtatanong at magtatanong kaya hindi naman ako nahirapan sumagot. Ang pagsisinungaling ko lang namanay ang pangalan ko at pamilya. "I'm a graduate of business administration. I studied and work abroad and now I planned to be here for good," "Wow! Everyone wants to work abroad, ba't ikaw?" I smiled at Lisa's statement. I just cannot answer that truthfully. I shrugged, "Namiss ko ang Pilipinas. And I guess it's more fun in here?" I joked and they both shook their heads at me but eventually laughed. Agad ko naming hinanap ang bibilhin ng makarating doon. I invited Jen and Lisa to dine with me dahil bukod sa napakadaming pagkain, it's sad to eat alone. Sa paglakad pabalik ay madami silang kwento sa akin. "Shocks! Madadaanan natin iyong bagong bahay na ang gwapo ng may ari!" Jennie squeal and I immediately rolled my eyes. "Iyong magandang bahay malapit sa akin?" tanong ko. "Oo iyon nga! Kailan lang natapos iyong bahay at may isang lingo narin atang nanatili jan iyong may ari," sagot naman ni Lisa. "Halos lahat ata ng babae rito at type iyon! Hindi ko naman kasi maitatanggi gwapo pero masungit! Nakakatakot din parang laging galit!" dugtong pa niya. "That's what you call charisma Lisa!" I can't help but to laugh at Jennie's. Charisma? Oh my God! Maeve will surely enjoy the company of this two, they all share the same attitude towards boys. I was busy laughing with them na nakalimutan kong nasa tapat na kami ng bahay na sinasabi nila. Agad nawala ang ngiti ko nang makita ang lalaking nakatayo sa porch doon. His eyebrows are tied in a knot and he is looking at us intently. Agad akong umiwas ng tingin dahil baka akalain niya ay tinititigan ko siya. But in fairness he got the looks and also, mukha ngang masungit. "He looks like a mad boyfriend!" Lisa whispered and I can't help but curve my lips up. "He has a girlfriend?" I casually asked and they both looked at me with their squirm eyes. "What? I'm just asking!" malakas kong sabi at agad silang natawa. Binilisan ko naman ang lakad ko at mas naunang nakarating sa bahay. "Aisa!" they both shouted and I rolled my eyes. Nang makapasok sa loob ay puro pagkamangha lang din ang nasabi nila. I fixed the things we need to eat at agad nila akong pinigilan. Sila nalang daw dahil nakakahiya naman at niyaya ko na sila. Hindi ba't baligtad naman? Dapat talagang ako ng kumilos dahil bisita sila pero hinayaan ko na. "You are too humble for people like you..." bigla sabi ni Jennie habang kumakain. Agad naman napakunot ang noo ko doon. "People like me? What do you mean?" "Alam mo iyon, yung mayayaman. Halata naman sa'yo na mayaman ka pero kung makitungo ka sa iba parang isa ka lang normal na tao." Agad akong umiling sa kanila. "Normal naman akong tao. And I'm not rich... yet. Siguro iyong magulang ko. But that money is theirs. I need to find a job here first and get my own money bago ako magmataas," natatawa kong sabi sa huling salita. They both smiled and giggled at me. Well, totoo naman iyong sinabi ko. I lived thinking that all the things I have are because of my father. Anak ako sa labas kaya inilagay ko iyon sa isip ko at hindi hinayaan na lumaki ang ulo. If it wasn't for my Dad hindi ko naman makukuha ito. I should be thankful and yes, I am. Pero hindi naman niya ginawang madali ang buhay ko sa puder niya. He treats me like I'm just somebody who's not related to them in their house. He even hit me if I don't follow his rules. He decides for me, took choices for me and I can't say no. He lets me live, he feeds me, clothes me so would my words matter? I don't actually like business administration. I love designing, fashion. But it isn't related to our business so what am I gonna do? I even tried to talk and begged him to give it to me but he just answers me with his harsh words. Celestina, well she doesn't care about me or how his husband handles things. Hindi rin alam ni Giovanni iyon. One time Giovan caught me while I have my cut lips. He asked who did that and he was very mad. But I can't tell him it's his Dad. I just can't ruin it for him. Ayos nang alam niyang may illegal na gawain ang magulang niya. "Ikaw lang mag isa dito? I mean, wala kabang boyfriend?" Lisa asked habang nagliligpit kami ng pinagkainan. Umiling ako, "Wala, and yes I'll stay here alone. But a friend of mine will come, hindi ko lang alam kung kalian..." "Lalaki?" Jennie asks. "Babae!" sigaw ko naman at parehas silang tumawa sa akin. I wanted them to stay the night but that will be selfish of me. Ang laki naman kasi ng bahay na to at magisa lang ako. But at least I do have friends on my first day. Maybe, it wouldn't be so hard leaving here alone. At last, the freedom I desire.