Collision of Hearts

Chapter 4

Tahimik ang gabi.

Maliban sa mahinang tunog ng mga alon sa labas ng villa, tanging t***k lang ng puso ni Skyra ang naririnig niya. Muling bumalik ang adrenaline habang binubuksan niya ang tablet na palihim niyang nakuha mula sa isang unlocked drawer ng command center—isang device na, kahit lumang model, ay may direct interface sa isang auxiliary terminal ng surveillance hub.

Nakaupo siya sa sahig ng kanyang guest room, ang ilaw ng lampshade ay nakatutok sa pader, para hindi siya mapansin kung may CCTV feed na naka-activate. Nakasuot lang siya ng oversized hoodie, nakatali ang buhok, at nakayapak habang mabilis na nagtatype sa tablet.

Skyra Monteverde was no stranger to secrets.

She grew up around men in suits who smiled too wide, and women in silk who lied too easily. Kaya sanay na siyang maghinala — pero ngayon lang siya kinilabutan.

Dahil sa loob ng tablet… may naka-encrypt na file na may label:

“MH-Alpha // Internal Threat // Red Flag: Monteverde Holdings”

Napalunok siya.

Her own company. Her legacy. Her blood.

Hinawakan niya ang gilid ng screen. The file required two-factor biometric override — something only someone from inside Velasquez Global could access. But Skyra wasn’t ordinary. Hindi siya CEO dahil lang sa apelyido niya.

She tapped into a backdoor encryption protocol she once helped develop during an AI takeover in Zurich. Isang security expert ang binayaran niya noon ng limpak-limpak para ituro ang loophole sa ganitong klaseng system.

Click.

Access granted.

Biglang umilaw ang screen—isang internal threat assessment report, timestamped two weeks before the crash.

Her name.

Her itinerary.

Her financials.

Even her secret meetings with European investors that only her assistant and her brother Elian should’ve known.

“Target is likely unaware of breach. Subject’s movement toward Isla Roja coincides with potential leak in Monteverde Holdings. Surveillance advised. Elevate to ‘Watch’ status. Embedded countermeasures approved.”

Napasinghap si Skyra. Tila sinakal ang dibdib niya sa bigat ng mga salitang iyon.

Embedded countermeasures? Surveillance advised?

At ang mas lalong nagpayanig sa kanya:

“Associated risk: INTERNAL. Possibility of insider sabotage high. Subject’s relation to Monteverde Holdings Board Member E. Monteverde under further review.”

Tumigil ang mundo niya.

E. Monteverde. Elian.

“f**k,” bulong niya, nanginginig ang kamay. “What the hell did you do?”

Tumindig siya mula sa sahig. Nilapag ang tablet sa kama, at ilang beses na lang siyang napabalik-balik sa kwarto, hindi alam kung saan ilalagay ang galit, ang takot, at ang pagsisisi.

Her own brother? Ang kapatid na siya mismo ang nag-angat sa board? Ang taong tinuring niyang kakampi?

“No…” she whispered, voice trembling. “This can’t be real.”

Pero real ang file. Real ang detalye. At real ang protocol.

She scrolled further.

Nakalagay pa roon ang projection ng potential company takeover in case of her death or incapacitation. Ang mga pangalan ng investors na may interest in forcing a board vote. Ang mga companies na quietly buying shares through shell accounts.

Lahat ng galaw… dokumentado.

At hindi lang basta ng Velasquez Group. Pinaghahandaan talaga siya.

Betrayal wasn’t just a possibility anymore.

It was personal.

And premeditated.

Nanatili si Skyra sa gilid ng kama, hawak pa rin ang tablet — malamig na ang screen pero mainit pa rin ang mga palad niya. Humihinga siya nang malalim, pilit pinapakalma ang sarili, pero ang puso niya ay tila may sariling buhay, rumaragasa, nagwawala.

Elian.

She whispered his name like a curse, like a ghost. Her brother. Her blood. Her trusted board ally.

Ang lalaking pinagsabihan niya ng lahat — mula sa confidential acquisitions nila sa Milan, hanggang sa planned merger nila sa New York. He was the one person she thought would never use her.

But the files said otherwise.

Bakit alam ni Damon ang mga galaw ng kumpanya niya weeks before the crash?

Paanong may access ang Velasquez Systems sa private Monteverde Holdings data… kung walang inside leak?

Bumalik sa isipan niya ang mga kilos ni Elian these past months — ang mga missed calls, mga laging dahilan kapag may meeting, ang biglaang interest niya sa handling ng offshore accounts.

“Was it you…?” bulong niya sa kawalan. “Did you sell me out?”

Tumayo siya at lumapit sa bintana, tanaw ang dagat na ngayon ay tila kasabwat sa katahimikan ng gabi. Tahimik ang buong isla. Tahimik ang paligid.

Pero sa loob niya… may sigaw na gustong kumawala.

She clenched her fists.

"Kung totoo man 'to… kung si Elian nga..."

Hindi lang ito betrayal. Hindi lang ito pagnanakaw ng kumpanya.

This was murder in motion.

Someone tried to kill her.

And the trail led back to her own bloodline.

❝ “Skyra Monteverde, heir to an empire, betrayed by the very name she carried. ❞

Napapikit siya, pigil ang luha. Hindi siya iyakin. Hindi siya marupok. But this?

This was war.

And she would need a new strategy.

Dahil kung totoo ngang may corporate espionage sa loob ng Monteverde Holdings... then someone else was pulling the strings.

And she would cut them all.

Late afternoon.

Ang araw ay nagsisimula nang lumubog sa gilid ng isla, kulay amber ang langit habang unti-unting lumalamig ang simoy ng hangin. Sa gitna ng clearing sa likod ng villa — isang training field na parang miniature military base — naroon si Skyra, nakasuot ng fitted black tank top at tactical cargo pants na ibinigay ni Damon. Nakapusod ang buhok. Pawis ang batok.

Mainit ang katawan niya — sa init ng araw. Sa inis. Sa lalaking nasa harapan niya.

Damon Velasquez, in full combat mode. Tactical boots, olive shirt, gloves, calm expression.

A predator teaching his prey… how to survive.

“Why am I even doing this?” tanong ni Skyra, nakakunot ang noo. “You’re teaching me how to run, fight, shoot… when what I need is a plane out of here.”

“You want to leave?” sabi ni Damon habang humakbang palapit, dala ang practice knife na may rubber blade. “Then prove you can survive the next ambush.”

Hinagis niya ang training blade sa lupa. Tumalbog ito sa paanan ni Skyra.

“I don’t need to play war games to survive,” she snapped.

Damon’s eyes darkened. “No, Skyra. You don’t play. You bleed.”

Tahimik. Mabigat. Tila bawat salita niya ay may bigat ng nakaraan, ng trauma, ng reyalidad.

Lumapit si Damon, halos magkadikit na ang katawan nila. Tumingala si Skyra, hindi nagpatalo sa titig.

“You think this is about control?” bulong niya. “This is about you not dying the next time someone decides you’re a threat.”

Skyra didn’t blink. “Maybe I am a threat.”

Damon smirked. “Then act like one.”

---

First lesson: hand-to-hand defense.

Damon stood behind her, guiding her arms. Ang bawat galaw, sinasalo niya. Ang bawat liko ng baywang, sinisigurong aligned. He was close. Too close.

His breath touched the side of her neck. His hand slid over hers, correcting her grip.

“Loosen your shoulder,” he murmured. “Don’t fight the tension. Use it.”

“Easy for you to say,” sagot niya, matigas ang tono, kahit na nagri-react na ang katawan niya sa proximity nila.

“Don’t think,” bulong ni Damon. “React.”

He moved — fast.

Inatake siya ng bigla, parang ambush. Nahulog si Skyra sa damuhan, pero bago siya tumama, sinalo siya ni Damon. Ang mukha niya, halos dikit sa leeg nito.

She could feel his heartbeat.

Fast. Heavy.

Like hers.

“You hesitated,” he said, still holding her waist. “That’s how you die.”

Skyra stared at him. Her chest heaving. His hands still on her.

“I didn’t hesitate,” she whispered.

“No?”

And then she did it — a clean reversal.

Binalibag niya si Damon sa damuhan gamit ang hip throw na natutunan niya sa martial arts class noon pa. Sumubsob si Damon sa likod, pero natawa lang siya — rough, surprised.

Skyra stood over him, panting, flushed, wild-eyed.

“I learn fast,” she said smugly.

Damon sat up, brushing the dirt from his elbow, eyes gleaming. “Not bad.”

She extended her hand.

He took it — but instead of standing, he pulled her down.

Napahiga si Skyra sa tabi niya, halos magdikit ang katawan nila.

Sandali silang parehong tahimik. Ang damuhan, amoy araw at pawis. Ang hangin, puno ng hindi masabi.

Damon turned his head, eyes on her. “You want to leave?”

She nodded.

“Then you need to stop thinking like a CEO… and start thinking like a soldier.”

Skyra swallowed hard. “And what if I already feel like I’ve been at war my whole life?”

Tahimik si Damon. Then—

“Then you fight smarter.”

Second lesson: weapons training.

Sa gilid ng clearing, may improvised firing range. May setup ng dummies, mga target boards, at isang gun case na parang galing sa black ops.

Damon handed her a Glock.

Skyra raised an eyebrow. “You’re letting me hold a gun now?”

“Loaded with rubber rounds,” Damon said. “But still enough to bruise.”

She took the weapon. Weighed it. Her hands were steady.

Damon positioned her from behind, guiding her stance. Arms wrapped around her. Palms over her hands.

Every inch of her body — nakadikit sa kanya.

“Pull steady,” he whispered against her ear. “Aim not with fear… but intent.”

Skyra exhaled.

Then fired.

Bullseye.

Damon smirked behind her. “Told you. Dangerous.”

After training

Gabing-gabi na nang matapos sila. Nakatayo pa rin si Skyra sa may gilid ng beach, basang-basa sa pawis, may putik sa tuhod. Damon walked up beside her, arms crossed.

She didn’t look at him. “Why are you really training me?”

“Because the next person who wants you dead… might not fail,” he said plainly.

“And you?”

Damon didn’t answer right away. Then—

“I want you alive.”

Skyra turned. “To use me?”

“No. Because I’m not done watching you burn.”

Her eyes darkened. “I’m not some fire you can contain, Velasquez.”

“I know.”

They stood in silence. Moonlight casting silver over her skin. His shadow beside her, quiet and unreadable.

Then Skyra asked, her voice cracking just a little—

“What if someone close to me wants me dead?”

Damon’s jaw clenched.

“Then prove,” he said, stepping closer, “that you’re not just a target.”

He reached for her wrist, held it up, palm open.

“Prove you can survive.”

Pagkapasok ni Skyra sa loob ng kwarto, hindi na niya kinaya.

Hinubad niya ang pawis na pawis na tank top at itinapon sa sahig. Nanginginig ang mga kamay niya. Hindi sa pagod. Hindi sa sakit.

Sa takot.

At sa galit.

Dahil hindi siya sanay matakot.

She looked at herself in the mirror. May putik sa pisngi, may marka ng rubber bullet sa tagiliran. But her eyes…

Bloodshot. Wild. Lost.

“f**k,” she whispered, voice cracking.

Tumayo siya roon, naka-bra lang at combat pants, parang isang sundalong iniwan sa gera na walang armas.

Who would want her dead?

Monteverde Holdings was a billion-dollar empire. Ilang taon niya itong pinaghirapan. Every deal, every board takeover, every contract — she won with her own teeth and claws.

Pero ngayong iniisip niyang may gustong pumatay sa kanya?

Sino?

Isang kakumpitensya?

O isang taong malapit?

Elian?

Kapatid niya. Kasama niya sa negosyo. Pinagkakatiwalaan niya ng buhay niya. Pero lately… hindi na ito lumalapit. May mga meeting na nilalampasan. May mga desisyon na hindi niya alam.

And what about her board?

Her so-called allies?

Biglang lumamig ang kwarto. O baka siya lang ang nilalamig sa paranoia.

---

Then — a knock.

Three slow knocks.

Tumigil siya sa paghinga.

Pagbukas ng pinto — si Damon.

Hindi siya nagsalita. Hindi rin siya agad pumasok. Tumingin lang ito sa kanya — sa pawisan at gulong-gulo niyang anyo.

Skyra turned away. “If you came here to gloat—don’t.”

Damon’s voice was low. Calm. “I came here because you’re breaking.”

“I don’t break.”

“You’re shaking.”

Hindi siya sumagot.

He stepped inside, slowly, parang alam niyang bawat hakbang niya ay may kasamang panganib. Tumigil siya ilang talampakan sa likod niya.

“You’re thinking about them,” sabi niya. “The people close to you. Wondering if one of them sent you to die.”

“Shut up.”

“You’re thinking about Elian.”

Skyra spun around. “I said shut up!”

Damon didn’t flinch. “You want the truth or comfort? Because I only offer one.”

Her voice cracked. “I don’t need you to offer me anything!”

Her fists clenched. Her body trembled. Tila kinukuryente ng emosyong pilit niyang kinokontrol.

Then—bumigay siya.

“Do you know what it’s like,” bulong niya, “to look at someone you grew up with… and wonder if they want you dead?”

Tahimik si Damon. Tumitig lang siya. Sa wakas, nakita niya — hindi si Skyra Monteverde the CEO. The untouchable woman. But Skyra, the sister. The daughter. The hunted.

Lumapit siya. Hindi biglaan. Parang bagyong dahan-dahang sumasakop.

She didn’t stop him.

“I built everything,” she whispered. “Everything. Alone. Without shortcuts, without favors. And now—”

Tumigil siya. Napatingin sa kisame.

“Now I don’t even know if my family wants me alive.”

Her voice shattered at the edges.

Damon reached for her.

At first, akala niya’y aayusin lang ang buhok niya. Pero hindi.

He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, pulled her gently forward, at idinikit ang noo niya sa kanya.

They stood like that. Nose to nose. Breath to breath.

“You’re not weak,” bulong niya. “You’re just tired of fighting alone.”

Tears pricked her eyes. Pero hindi siya iiyak.

“Let me help you,” he said softly.

“Why?” tanong niya. “Why are you doing this? What’s in it for you?”

Damon didn’t answer right away. Then he whispered—

“Because I see you, Skyra. Not the heiress. Not the ice queen. Just… you.”

She closed her eyes.

For one second — one breath — she leaned in.

Then, she pulled away.

Straightened.

“Don’t fall for me, Commander,” she said, recovering her edge. “I’m the kind of woman who bites back.”

Damon gave a faint smile.

“And I’m the kind of man who likes the pain.”