TRACE DIMAGIBA (Wild Men Series 1)

S3: LIES

CHLOE

"Ready for the party?" Willow asked me as soon as she appeared in my room.

"Yes, but... but I don't know, Willow. I do feel kinda hesitant. Like... Oh, God!" I exclaimed. "The truth is..." I trailed off, as I am nervous, and I am stuttering, kanina pa.

I am excited to see Trace, which is true, especially since Willow said he would surely come. Even so... I am beginning to fear what may be the devil's plan Alguien is preparing for him.

"Truth is... what?" with a broad smile, Willow asked me, which made me feel I wanna think positive thoughts, too.

Willow has a beautiful disposition as always, as she's looking for the brighter side for every situation. She influences me, but Alguien's grimness always disturbs my mind.

"That I am... becoming pessimistic, Willow. God! It's just that I know Alguien is planning bad things for Trace and... and—"

"Stop those thoughts, Chloe. Isipin mong hindi basta-basta si Trace. Your man will not be easily bullied by Alguien."

Yeah, Willow is right about that... Though Alguien is as deadly as Trace, sure naman na hindi basta papayag si Trace na matalo. Yep, hindi nga siguro mabu-bully si Trace but they will surely both oppose each other.

Trace will indeed fight for me, but Alguien will make sure he wants to see how he defeated Trace by using me. Kaya sure ako na gagawin ni Alguien ang lahat para sirain ang ano mang plano ni Trace para mabawi ako.

"Lash is the one I invited. That brat cousin of Trace has been pestering me since I met him." Willow giggled. "And I used his flirtations towards me to make sure Trace would come to the party."

"Does... Trace knows I am here?"

"Yes. Lash said na alam na ni Trace na nandito ka kay Alguien. So better stop being paranoid. Hindi sumusugod si Trace kahit alam na niya. For sure may plano din siya para mabawi ka."

"Does Trace know that I am... an Esposito?"

"Probably. Might be. Baka alam na niya kaya kalmado pa siya ngayon. Sabi ko naman kasi sa 'yo ay sabihin ko na kay Tio Raymundo ang kalokohan ni Alguien para matapos na ito."

"No. I am not ready to see Don Raymundo and ask him what—" I stopped myself from saying anything. Ang totoo ay hindi ako handang malaman paanong nagawa ni Tita Mela ipagbuntis kami ni Harriet na magkaiba ang ama.

And that thought made me remember the last talk I had with Alguien, when he disturbed Willow and me, from talking, in the study, while checking the old photos of our grandmother Doña Elisa Esposito.


"Why?" tanong ko kay Willlow. Hindi ko maunawaan paanong naghiwalay sina Alguien at ang dating asawa nito. I am getting more curious.

Mukhang mas misteryoso pa pala ang buhay ni Alguien kaysa sa akin. Alguien has an ex-wife that is now a princess, but Freya was poor before, according to Willow, too. Now, I am interested instantly to know more about Heres' mother.

"Because Fre—" Willow cut her words as the study room's door opened. She immediately put her phone back inside her jeans pocket.

Alguien's doubting eyes daggered at Willow and me.

"Are you two planning against me?" Pinaglipat-lipat ni Alguien ang tingin sa amin ni Willow at pumasok na sa study.

"And why would we?" Willow smiled widely.

"Or are you planning to make a way to see Dimagiba?" Sa akin na lang nakatingin si Alguien kaya alam kong sa akin siya nagdududa at para sa akin ang tanong.

Hindi naman ako nagsalita. Wala siyang makukuhang sagot from me kahit anong gawin niya.

Questions in my brain are now making a vague impact on me. Naguluhan akong lalo sa galit ni Alguien kaya ayaw niya kay Trace. Kasi... kung galit si Alguien sa FSO ay bakit si Trace ang pinag-iinitan niya? At ano ang kinalaman ng FSO sa paghihiwalay nila ng asawa niya?

"Stop being paranoid, Alguien. You know how I always adore you." Tumayo si Willow at lumapit kay Alguien. I thanked her, in my mind, for taking the question intended for me.

Willow crossed her right arm to Alguien's left arm and stood beside Alguien while winking at me. I just made a small smile as a reply.

"Kahit crush ko pa man dati si Trace ay syempre mas importante sa akin ang favor mo at ang pagiging Esposito ko," malambing na sabi pa ni Willow. "Besides... I know you are only doing your best for Chloe kaya normal na hindi ko ito-tolerate ang kahit na anong possible request ni Chloe to see Trace."

"Good to know that, Willow." Alguien gazes still locked at me.

Alguien is definitely good-looking but very creepy. Kapatid ko nga talaga siya dahil habang tumatagal na nakikita ko siya ay nakikita ko ang mukha ko kung naging lalaki ako. Yeah, magkamukha nga kami. Definitely.

"Of course. Believe me." Willow gets back beside me and holds my hand. "I like Chloe instantly," she said, talking to Alguien, "thanks for bringing her to us, for she belongs with us. Chloe is Esposito through and through."

"She is," Alguien agreed. "Heard that?" Alguien asked me. "You are an Esposito, Chloe," he seriously stated like he was telling me na bilang Esposito ay dapat makinig ako sa kaniya. "And about your twin na sinasabi mo... Harriet is not one of us. Kung paano mo siya naging kakambal ay duda pa rin ako pero isa lang ang sigurado. Ikaw lang ang kapatid ko."

Napalunok ako. Kung gano'n ay baka... no! Not 'baka,' it is possible na ang reason kaya magkaiba ang ama namin ni Harriet ay dahil... dahil dalawa ang lalaki ni Tita Mela noon. Not only Trace's father but Alguien's father as well.

"Let's change our topic..." Willow's sunny smile was full of promises at nakakahawa. "I think we should throw a party for Chloe. Don't you think so, Alguien?"

Willow's bubbly tone of voice removed any thoughts I was thinking and replaced them with anticipation for the party. Baka... baka may chance na magkita na kami ni Trace.

"Party?" nagdududang tanong ni Alguien. Na naman. Nagdududa na naman siya.

"Yes, to announce that Chloe is part of our amazing family. That she is your sister. Nice plan, right?"

Matagal na walang imik si Alguien at tinitingnan lang kami ni Willow. I hope... I hope na pumayag siya. I am beginning to like Willow so much.

"Okay. Organized a party, Willow. I like that," he then said and smiled devilishly.

Abruptly, nawala ang excitement ko para sa party. I know he was planning something to ruin my mood.

"Let's have a party, for I like to announce that Chloe is an Esposito, and I need to make everyone know that she is off limits lalo na sa mga taga-FSO at Foedus.

"Why are you... doing this to me?" masama ang loob na tanong ko. "Why do you hate Trace?"

"I am doing you a favor. Mas okay na alam agad ng tatay ng anak mo na hindi ka na niya mababawi. Ipakakasal kita sa kaibigan ko, Chloe. Hindi ka na babalik kay Dimagiba."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa narinig. Alguien's idea is vindictive. Stupid. Dirty schemes, and... and I hate him now...

"No..." hindi ko na mapigilan ang pagluha ko. I held my tummy. I need to be calm at baka mapaano ang anak namin ni Trace. "You can't do that to me."

"I can."

"You helped me from my dilemma by thinking Trace is my brother. You helped me get over that. But now you're making me hate you more and more..." I sobbed. Willow caressed my back. Hushing me.

"That won't do anything, Chloe. Nakaplano na ang kasal mo at walang problema sa akin kahit umiyak ka pa hanggang magsawa ka."

"You make me your prisoner here in your mansion!" I yelled. "I am your sister. I am an Esposito, as you always say, but why..." my voice broke, "why are you doing this to me?"

"Your life will be better if you end up with Zeno."

"Zeno? Are you referring to Zeno Scotto?!" Willow reacted instead of me. So she knows the man Alguien wanted me to marry.

"Stop overreacting, Willow. Zeno is an associate of mine, and I send him Chloe's pictures, and he likes her. I told him about my sister's situation as being pregnant with Dimagiba's child, and he's okay with it. He also wanted to marry Chloe and give his name to Chloe's child."

"No! I won't marry that man!" galit kong sabi. "Kill me first, Alguien! I have no intention of being part of this 'amazing' family of yours! I don't like to be your sister! Let me live my life peacefully!"

"But your life will never be peaceful anymore, Chloe. When Dimagiba shows you in public, you are every organization's target. And marrying you to Zeno could save you."

"Making me go back to Trace could save me!"

"You could marry any man as long as that man isn't part of FSO and Foedus!"

"What's your... problem?! Why do you hate them so much?!"

"Wala lang. Somehow, you became a collateral damage, dear sister. At gusto ko lang magiba nang tuluyan si Dimagiba."

Realization hits me. Hindi niya ako kailangan bilang kapatid. Kailangan niya lang ako para may reason siya sa gulo nila ni Trace.

"You... you can't do that, Alguien!"

"Again. I can. You can ask Willow how I can do that. Ask Willow what I could do to make you oblige."

"Why are you making me hate you? I wish... I wish I never knew you at all. I wish I never trusted you..."

Alguien went still. A slight sadness flashed in his eyes. I can see that. And I hope it lingered there. But it wasn't. The moment it appeared, it vanished the next second. Ilang segundong nagtitigan lang kami hanggang sa iwan na niya kami ni Willow.

I let my cry out. I was loudly crying. Willow cuddled me at pinapatigil ako pero ayokong tumigil umiyak. Ang akala kong tagapagligtas ko sa inakalang kasalanan kong pagmamahal kay Trace ay mas lalong nagpahamak pa pala sa akin.

"Hush, Chloe."

"Why Alguien is doing this to me?" masama ang loob na tanong ko.

"Zeno Scotto is a good man."

"Who is he?"

"An heir of Don Mauricio Scotto. They are Italians. But Zeno's mother is Filipina, a slave turned queen of the Scotto family."

"I won't marry that man."

"Just play along to save Trace."

Napatitig ako kay Willow. "Wha–what do you mean?"

"Scottos are an alliance of the Espositos and Ivanovs, but an enemy of Pellegrinis. This enemy of Scottos, Pellegrini's organization, is an alliance of FSO or... the Ferreiras and Silvas."

Hindi ko maunawaan ang pinapaliwanag ni Willow. Isa lang ang alam ko, sinisira ni Alguien ang buhay ko.

"This is no more about you and Trace, Chloe. This is no more about your love story. Alguien is starting a war and the only way you and Trace could survive is when you know how to play the game discreetly."

"What... what game?"

"Game of lies. You need to act like you are letting your brute brother have control of your life."

"No... I can't hurt Trace anymore. I did too much damage."

"In war, Chloe. It is better to be a participant rather than a casualty."

Umiling ako at naguguluhan na ako masyado.

"Listen... this is our plan. Let Alguien do his evil ways. Let him habang gumagawa ako ng paraan na makausap mo si Trace. You will explain to Trace everything and let him play along as well." Willow sighed.

My forehead furrowed from what she suggested.

"Oh boy!" Willow exclaimed while staring at me. "This is not just war, Chloe. We are remaking a Romeo-Juliet love story it seems." She giggled.

I rolled my eyes. Napailing ako dahil parang kinikilig pa siya ay problemado na ako.

"Nevertheless... I won't let you end like Romeo and Juliet. We will make way for you and Trace could have a happy ending—Ugh! Forget the fairy tale ending, I am saying. We are all living in a beyond-normal society, so it is not just a happy ending supposed to be. I mean... sisiguraduhin ko ang happy kahit dangerous life na ending niyo ni Trace. I will do my best to help you two."

"Why... why are you helping me?" biglang naitanong ko. Gusto ko na kasing magduda na rin sa kaniya. Paano kung niloloko niya lang pala ako at kay Alguien din siya kakampi?

"Because I know the feeling, Chloe. I had... I had someone else when I was your age. We love each other so much but... but Alguien killed him."

"Oh, God!"

"My brothers, Matthias and Nikias, left me here in Alguien's house that time. Alguien caught me... slightly making out with my man. That was the first time I was willing to go to bed with a man but... but Alguien shot him in his head before we—never mind! That's traumatic for me to remember."

"Why he was killed?"

"Matthias and Nikias asked for favors and Alguien just helped the two. I don't hate them actually. But what happened to me and Dom is the reason why I wanna help you and Trace. I am sorry for what Alguien is doing to you. At ayokong magaya kayo ni Trace sa amin ni Dom. He's Italian at nataon na espiya ng kalaban ng pamilya kaya gano'n ang ending namin." Willow shrugged her shoulders. "Such a sad love story of mine."

Napatitig na lang ako kay Willow. She lost the man she love pero balewala na ngayon. Thus, being an Esposito worth all those tears?

I don't know... but that thought begins to make me think about the sad future ahead of me being an Esposito.


An Esposito. Indeed.