Downfall of Arabella

Prologue

Love is deceitful...vicious.

All of our memories flash back as soon as our eyes met. A pair of green eyes that haunted me for years.

"You always amaze me..."

"One look at you and I'm lost...."

"I'm here, baby, always will be"

"I will stand with you through everything...."

"All this years...ikaw lang"

"I didn't know that all this time...I'm nourishing a feeling that I didn't know----is love"

"I love you...."

"Mahal din kita...."

"You saved me, Hera more than you'll ever know"

"You fill this hole...."

"Ikaw lang, baby"

"To have and to hold.....in sickness and health...to love and to cherish"

"Putangina, Alejandro....binigay ko lahat sayo, lahat lahat!"

"Plinano mo lahat...."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry parang-awa mo na. Mahal kita, maniwala ka"

"Buong buhay ko hindi ako nilagay sa pedestal ng pamilya ko para lang gaguhin mo, bakit?!"

"Bakit ako?!, wala akong kasalanan, bakit?! Nagmahal lang naman ako"

"Anung kasalanan ko?!"

"Hindi kita kayang pakawalan..,, please.....wag mong gawin to"

"Parang awa mo na...."

"Hindi ko alam gagawin Lola, ang sakit, ang sakit, sakit please Lola, take this pain away, please, pleasseee"

My scream shattered the silent stillness of the night, I woke up in pain only to find out that I've lost something...again....because of him...

"Are you alright, Hera?" tanung ni Andrei

My whole body went rigid, I can't breathe.

Napansin agad yun ni Andrei "What's wrong Hera?" nag-alalang tanung niya.

"He's here" Bulong ko, lowering down my head. Agad nakuha ni Andrei ang ibig kog sabihin.

We're having dinner in one of the five star hotels here in Makati with some Director Heads of our company nang napagdesisyunan ni Andrei isayaw ako.

"Let's go home" Hila hila ang kamay ko bumalik kami sa lamesa at nagpaalam na muna bago umalis. While waiting for the elevator Andrei put his coat over my dress.

After I went back here in the Philippines a year ago akala ko magtatagpo na ang aming landas ngunit mga ilang buwan na ang nakalipas ni anino niya hindi ko lang man nakita kaya bakit ngayon? I almost lost my composure a while ago, he caught me off guard buti na lang Andrei's with me.

Pagkapasok naming sa elevator nagulat ako ng bigla din siyang  pumasok dahilan ng pagkakahigpit ng hawak ko kay Andrei. I stood my ground, holding my head high, I'm not going to let him affect me again.

I'm no longer the Hera years ago, the one who foolishly head over heels with this vicious man.

But the pain still lives.

He was just in front of us but I know he could see us by the elevator door's reflection.

Hindi ako nagsalita the whole elevator journey ganun din si Andrei. Bakit naman kasi sadyang inembentong mabagal ang elevator.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag ng bumakas na iyon at lumabas siya.

Andrei exhaled exaggerately "That was intense" May paakto pa siyang hihimatyin habang naglalakad kami pa concierge. Pabiro kong tinapik ang dibdib niya.

"Sira"

"Pinauwi mo na ang driver and bodyguard mo, I'll drive you home Hera, papakuha na lang natin ang sasakyan mo" Andrei insist while waiting for our cars

"Ako na ang mag-uuwi sa kanya"

Napalunok ako ng marinig ko ang boses niya kahit hindi ako lumingon sa likod alam kong siya iyon.

Andrei never adverted his gaze away from me, tinatansya niya kung okay ako.

Smiling at him first as I finally found the courage to face Alejandro.

Looking straight into his eyes "No need" sabi ko.

"I am your husband, it's my responsi—" 

"Sa papel lang" Marahas kong sabi.

Husband? Ngayon siya magpapaka-asawa

What games are you up to this time again, Alejandro Mikaelson?

'Cause whatever it is, pagod na ako. Gusto ko na kumawala sayo.