The Lure Of Vengeance (Published)

Chapter 1

"I am home."

Hila ang maleta ay matunog akong naglalakad palabas ng airport. I am talking to my best friend on the phone, and she really didn't expect to meet me today. Tumawag ako ng cab para magpahatid sa address ng kaibigan ko. Hindi naman ito gano'n kalayo at pagkarating doon ay naabutan ko na siyang naghihintay sa 'kin. I smirked at her the moment I stepped out of the cab. I removed my sunglasses and let the driver take my luggage out off the cab's trunk. Bonie—my best friend, screamed as she rushed towards me.

"My God! Akala ko nagbibiro ka lang baks! Anong naisipan mo at umuwi ka na lang bigla ha?!" halata talagang gulat siya dahil kahit no'ng humiwalay na siya sa pagkakayakap sa akin ay naroroon pa rin ang gulat na expression niya.

"I wasn't sure about this though, I didn't intend to go home here."

"Hmm, mukhang may something ha? Halika at pag-usapan natin 'yan," Tinulungan niya akong buhatin ang mga dala ko, she even called one of their helper to carry some of my bags. Dumeretso kami sa madalas kong kwarto rito noon, kapag naiisipan kong mag over night. I removed my scarf and long coat. Hinubad ko rin ang gloves na suot ko pati na rin ang boots bago pabagsak na naupo sa kama.

"So! Care to share? What happened? Bakit bigla ka na lang umuwi ng wala sa plano?" That made me sigh in disbelief before I closed my eyes.

"My brother called me last week," I started, and she remained silent, waiting patiently for the whole story.

"He told me to go home, mom's order. I thought they had just missed me. I've been living in Cambodia for almost six years. Of course, they will really miss me. So at first I was really excited. I even bought gifts for them, but not until Kael told me the real deal," Napaayos ng upo si Bonie sa narinig mula sa akin.

"I am getting married to someone I don't even know. Can you imagine that? The guy is a stranger to me. I don't even have an idea about him. What kind of person is he? What is the reason why he accepts that kind of shit? What is his motive? Is he after for what?"

"My God! Uso pa pala ang arrange marriage ngayon? I totally understand your point, baks. Pero anong plano mo? Alam ba nila na nakauwi ka na?" I shook my head.

"Of course I didn't tell them. Kael told me na nag set ang parents namin ng date to meet my fiancée parents. Sinabi ko sa kanila na ayoko umuwi," Nahiga ako at tumabi naman siya sa akin.

"At ano naman ang sagot sa 'yo ni Kuya Kael?" napansin ko ang pagkagat niya sa sariling labi pagbanggit sa pangalan ng kapatid ko. Crush niya kasi.

"Pinipilit niya ako, I don't know what's with his voice that time. Too desperate. Gusto talaga nilang mapauwi ako, pero dahil matigas ang ulo ko, hindi ko sa kanila sinabi na uuwi ako. Sinabi ko na ayoko at hindi ko rin ipapaalam na nandito ako. Hindi ako magpapakita sa kanila.

"Kilala mo ba kung sino ang fiancee mo?" napaisip ako. May nabanggit si Kael, hindi ko masyadong pinagtuunan ng pansin pero natatandaan ko naman.

"Damon? Damon Lucifer Dankworth. Oh 'di ba? Pangalan pa lang demonyo na," Bigla siyang napabangon nang banggitin ko ang pangalan ng fiancé ko, na sinabi sa akin ni Kael.