1 Chapter 1

Chapter 1 : Locked Without Rings

APOLLO'S P.O.V

Inis kong pinarada ang sasakyan ko sa parking lot. Naalala ko ang sinabi sa akin ni Warren Ocampo Jr. Nakakainis talaga.

"The girl that you're telling me that you've crossed paths with is the girl you've been searching for this long. Your stupid ass didn't remember her face, Mr. Perillo?"

I didn't know! I didn't care! Kung kailan ba naman kasi nagtatampo ang pinakamamahal kong si Bridget tsaka eeksena 'tong Breelle Montinno.

I just need her to know about the private background of their family. This is the elite life my parents wanted me to have. It's a cycle. Make friends with people, get personal, get their trusts, take notes, bring down their businesses, then you'll get the money out of it.  It's not stealing. Kung hindi nila pinabayaan ang kumpanya nila at mahal nila ang business nila, hindi sila basta-basta magtitiwala.

This world is a mess, a cold hearted world. There's no room for the red strings. Except when you're too intelligent to start with. Kagaya ko, I'm inlove and I'm in a relationship with a wide perspective person. Bridget Montinno.

Yes. The older sister of Breelle Montinno. I don't care if their business falls down, my Bridget will marry me anyway. Alam niyang hindi ko siya pababayaan. Lahat ng matatalinong businessman sa buong mundo ay may plano at hinding hindi ko pababayaan si Bridget sa damuhan. I just need their family's money in order to grow mine, in order to live.

In this world, almost all growing companies and elites are inside of the underground society. Where killings and gamblings are legal, in our own government where the public governing body is not fully aware of our existence.

"Mister Perillo, Miss Breelle Montinno is waiting at your office where you decided to talk to her. Good morning." My secretary said as she checked one of my schedules today. I motioned her to continue doing her work and leave it all to me.

Papunta na sana ako sa opisina para harapin si Breelle nang tumawag ulit si Warren, siya ang bestfriend ko noon pa man. Apat kami pero kaming dalawa palagi ang magkasama.

"I hope you've read the document I sent you yesterday after you ate your dinner." His voice is off. Ano raw? Document?

"You didn't notified me, Ocampo. Hindi ko alam, I'm going to my meeting now. Kung importante 'yan, bilisan mo." My eyebrows arched when I heard his words.

"You're obligated to marry Breelle Montinno the moment she stepped inside your building! It's written on your Daddy's last testament. Dude! This is real, I'm sorry if I didn't notified or messaged you, but I sent it. May emergency lang kagabi kaya nakalimutan kong inotify ka bago ako magsend ng email."

Stunned, I ended the call. What the heck am I supposed to do. Trembling. That's what I am right now.

Binuksan ko ang cellphone ko at tinignan ang email, naroon ang isang official last will at last testament na may nakalagay na kung sino man sa mga Montinno ang pumasok within our premises, the Perillo premises, the person will marry me.

This stupid will! Why would Daddy write this!

Ayos lang sana kung si Bridget, pero hindi pa nga nakakapasok miski sa lobby ng kumpanyang 'to ang girlfriend ko! Kahit Montinno siya, wala akong galit sa kaniya, sa pamilya lang nila. I'm this evil, I'm willing to turn her last name to mine when the right time comes and the Montinno will not leave a mark on this earth.

All I know is that the Montinno are evil. Nabalutan ng pera, at ang anghel kong Bridget ay hindi magagawa ang ginagawa ng pamilya niya.

Tama, Apollo. Tama. Papakasalan ko si Breelle, kukuhain ang tiwala at impormasyon, tapos itutumba ang pamilya niya sa harap niya.

Napangiti ako sa sarili at inayos ko ang suot ko, maya-maya pa ay pumasok na ako sa opisina. Nakita kong may babaeng nakatalikod at nakaharap sa mga salamin ng opisina ko kung saan kita ang buong syudad.

Nawala ang ngiti ko habang tumititig sa kaniya, lumamlam na rin ang mga mata ko noong mapansin ko ang paghinga niya ng malalim. Pero bumalik ang pagkawala ng emosyon ng mukha ko noong humarap ang maamo ngunit napaka-plain at nakakainis na mukha.

This might be childish, pero handa akong patayin ang buong angkan nila para lang maihiganti ang Mommy at Daddy ko. Dahil ang Montinno ang pumatay sa kanila, iyon ang alam ko.

"Hindi mo ba ko papaupuin?" Walang gana niyang tanong.

This woma—

"Great. Make yourself comfortable, Breelle. Mister Apollo, take a seat on your chair please. Let's start this meeting."

"Please wear your manners, Miss Montinno. You're in my office." Pigil ang inis kong sabi.

Napangisi naman ito.

"Chill. I can't wear my manners kasi they are too boring to wear. So what's the deal? Ibebenta raw ako ng Montinno, magkano bigayan niyo?" Nakataas ang dalawa niyang kamay na para bang nag-iinat.

I can't believe this woman. Umupo ako sa upuan ko at nagpangalumbaba.

"Good morning, anyways. This investment that we're going to discuss is about a marriage, this might include—" she stopped me from talking at nakangising tumayo sa upuan sa harap ko.

"'Wag kang masyadong mag-Ingles, Mister Perillo. Baka hindi ko maintindihan, dahil ang tanong ko ay Wikang Filipino, sinagot mo ako ng Ingles. Where's your intelligence, Mister Apollo?"

My eyes widened when I realized her face that is close to mine. "K-Keep distance."

Tumawa naman siya ng malakas, at biglang sumeryoso ang mukha. Sumeryoso rin ang mukha ko.

"Naalala lang kita sa patintero kahapon." She remained serious, "Tell me the real deal, Montinno's are going to sell me to you. What are your intentions?" She said as she seat back.

Intentions? Sa tingin niya ba ay may intensyon ako sa kaniya?

"Where did you get all of this? Hindi 'yan totoo. All I know is that-"

"Pwede mo bang sabihin ng mabilis? Enough with introductions with every damn sentence. Talk to me like a normal person, not a business person." It screams authority more than a request.

Bumuntong hininga ako.

"By this time, you are also obligated to marry me. Apollo Magnus Perillo, because that was the last will of my father. Montinno's knows that too, I assume."

I watched her face, hoping for some change of emotions. But it was blank. The silence was comfortable, I think she's thinking.

Marriage is not a joke. That's true. Pero sa isip ko, ang ironic din. Pag kinasal kami nito, para akong papatay ng asawa ko.

Damn, this thoughts are disturbing.

She stood up, and handed me her hands. Nagtataka man, tinanggap ko 'yon.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin doon?" Tanong ko. Pumikit siya ng mariin at bumuntong hininga, pagmulat ng mata niya... Wala pa ring mababasang emosyon.

"Let's be partners more than lovebirds that accidentally falls inlove with their accidental wife or husband. Itatali ko ang sarili ko sa 'yo para sa last will ng magulang mo, pero sumang-ayon ka sa sasabihin ko." Nagtataka ulit ako, pero this is for my own intentions too. It will be much easier to me now that I'm closer to justice.

"What is it?" I asked.

Binitawan niya ang kamay ko at tinawagan ang isang lawyer. Maya-maya pa naglabas ito ng kontrata at nakalagay roon ang pangalan naming dalawa. Pinirmahan namin iyon at umalis na ang lawyer.

I'm officially a husband now. Why is it so fast? Tsk, connections.

"Breelle. Alam kong mahirap din ito sa side mo, pero—"

She cut me off, "I know what I'm doing, Apollo. I'm now you're wife, and as I was saying earlier, you have to agree to this."

Tumango ako. Para makamit ang hustisya, kailangan kong makuha ang tiwala mo, Breelle.

"We're now partners, right?" I nodded, "Now, tell me your plans on how you'll make more money. I'm not stupid. You're doing this for your father's last will and for your benefit too, transparent thing. Don't worry. Hindi ako magiging hadlang sa pagpapayaman mo, I'm just a cat here. This is also my advantage, hmm? Takas na takas ako sa pamilyang 'yon." I saw something in her eyes, paghihinayang for a second. Then it was gone.

I felt something in me. Bakit gano'n? Tuwing nakikita ko ang kahit anong emosyon sa kaniya ay nagagalit ako. Galit ako sa dugo niya, galit ako sa buong pamilya niya, galit ako.

Pero this is a game of winning and losing. I'm a monster to start with, I'm willing to risk it all to kill them.

Mukha siyang inosente... I cut that thought out of my mind. Lahat ng may dugong Montinno ay mamamatay. Matagal kong ng kinadena sa sarili ko 'yan.

The strong composure of her was suddenly put off. The aftershock of being married to someone you doesn't love. It's heavy if you're a woman, I can see that. Pero I don't care, I shouldn't care. This is for justice.

"'Wag mo akong pahihirapan, Apollo. Ako na ang nagbabanta sa 'yo. Kahit ngayon lang, hindi ko man alam ang buong intensyon mo, sana alam mong itatali ko ang pangalan ko sa 'yo, pero dahil iyon sa obligado ako at sa benepisyo ko rin 'to. Hindi mo na ako makakausap ng ganito kahaba ulit, 'wag ka mag-alala. Let's just say I'm now a Perillo, pero I'm not gonna be with you all the time. We're not normal. We're just here for our obligations and benefits." She cleared.

I sighed. Why does it make me feel like guilty? I shouldn't be, they should! They killed them!

I sighed, "Maghihiwalay rin tayo kapag nakahanap ako ng lusot sa last will na 'to." at kapag napabagsak ko na ang pamilya mo.

She smiled and raised her hand, "Locked without rings." Sighing, she opened the door, waving at me, "Good day, Apollo. See you when I see you. I hope you'll get the full ownership of your company."

And she exits.

I slammed my arms above my table.

Fuck. Why does it feels so heavy? Am I missing something? It feels like the puzzle of the story is now all over and I feel like somthing is missing.

Is there something more that I don't know?