Dulling Glisters of the Diamond (Casa Fuego Series #5)

Chapter 1

Princess in the Run

Everything was so strange. Nagising ako dahil sa mga boses sa paligid. My eyes didn't open but my mind was already awake. The low voices of men made me shiver. Nanginig ang aking kamay sa takot at mariin akong pumikit. I don't know if I am ready to open my eyes. I braced myself for what's to come.

But like I said, it was so strange. Unti-unting nagmulat ang aking mga mata nang nakaamoy ako ng bagong luto na umagahan. Kunot-noo akong nagdilat dahil agad tumama ang sinag ng araw sa aking mga mata, isang bagay na ikinagulat ko.

"What the..." I whispered when my eyes adjusted.

I thought I was going to wake up inside an abandoned room, a dark storage room, or some kind of a dirty place but it shocked me to death when I woke up in a completely neat and luxrious room! Agad akong napabangon dahil sa matinding pagtataka. I surveyed my eyes on myself, checking if there are bruises or signs of struggles but there was none!

Nakasuot ako ng kulay puting lacey dress. Is this the type of clothes kidnappers let you wear? Who changed my clothes? Did they touch me anywhere? Did they do something to me? Suminghap ako at niyakap ang sarili habang pinapasadahan ng tingin ang maaliwalas na kwarto.

What's more strange is that... I heard the sound of the waves crashing on the sand. And with this kind of bright room that I have seen on hotels, the white curtains being blown by the wind, sunlight passing through the windows... Oh my goodness, am I in an island? Are they going to throw me to the Pacific ocean or something?

For sure, I am in an island! Sa muwebles pa lang, mga halaman sa loob ng kwarto, at mga perlas na nakadisplay sa bedside table, may napagtanto na ako. Slowly, my feet met the cold floor as I walked towards the window. Maaliwalas ang lugar at dinig ko ang marahang hampas ng dagat. The sunlight hit my skin and I narrowed my eyes as I slowly held the curtains. Hinawi ko iyon at napasinghap na lamang ako nang makumpirmang may dagat nga!

But then, there are small umbrellas in front of the sea. Am I not in the Pacific ocean? This is a beach, right?!

"What in the world..." hindi makapaniwalang bulong ko.

I was kidnapped, right? From my last memory, the man who was tailing me around intoxicated me using his handkerchief! I just really thought that I would wake up in a dark abandoned room, crying from pain or struggles. Ni hindi ko inasahang mahimbing pa ang tulog ko sa malambot na kama!

Napatalon ako nang marinig na gumalaw ang door knob. My eyes widened and I almost jumped on the window to escape. Humakbang ako paatras habang mabigat ang paghinga hanggang sa tuluyan nang bumukas ang pinto.

My brows furrowed when I saw a househelp carrying a tray of breakfast! Nalaglag ang panga ko sa sobrang gulat. Nagulat din ang kasambahay na gising na ako.

"Gising na po pala kayo. Magandang umaga po-"

"Who are you?! Where am I? Itatapon ba ako ng boss mo sa dagat?!" I screamed, stepping backwards until I hit the window.

"Naku, hindi po-"

"Magkano ang ibinayad nila sa 'yo? Just let me contact my family so I can pay you tenfold!"

Napakamot sa ulo ang babae. Ngumuso siya at itinuro ang itim na telepono sa pandak na cabinet. My jaw dropped more.

"May telepono po. Tawagan niyo na lang po ang pamilya niyo, Ma'am..."

"What the fuck?!" gulantang ako.

May telephone pa! Is this some kind of a joke? They are tricking me so I'll let my guards down and believe that I am safe? They can never outsmart me!