"Manong Roman, pakihinto mo po."

Mula sa rearview mirror ng kinalululanang sasakyan ay nagtatakang tumingin ang singkwenta'y anyos na driver kay Holly na tila'y daig pa ang may arrhythmia sa tindi ng bilis ng tibok ng puso.

"M- Manong, please!" Holly desperately demanded and the driver drove the car at the side and stepped on the break.

Nagmamadaling bumaba ng sasakyan si Holly at nagaalalang mabilis siyang sinundan ng personal driver slash bodyguard. Holly just asked her driver to stop the car in the middle of a fly over and it was starting to create a discomfort for all the other motorists. But she can't just ignore the huge billboard she saw. She needed confirmation. She needed to know if that was real.

"Senyorita, bawal po ang huminto dito. Mahuhuli po tayo." Pakamot- kamot pa sa ulong anang driver, but Holly chose to tune him out as her widened eyes were looking at the huge billboard that proudly towered the whole city, shaming all the other billboards that stood around. The very billboard was more stunning than the hundred city lights.

The man in the picture was so enigmatic; his hypnotic russet brown eyes seemed to steal the very soul of anyone who dared to stare at it. The impassive expression of his glorious face was paradoxically suggesting so much emotion for the onlooker.

Her body started to shake as she read the letters inscribed on the billboard.

Men in Colors... The Hands that Calmed the Beast...

"K- Kalish Russet..." She shakily voiced out, guilt and fear burning her throat.

At ang may- ari ng pangalang iyon ay hindi maipagkakailang ang lalaking nakita niya sa kagubatan ng Mt. Guiting- Guiting sa Romblon isang buwan na ang nakararaan.Ang napakagwapong nilalang na pinangahasan niyang halikan!

"I- I thought he's an angel..." Tila wala sa sariling bulong niya sa hangin habang nakatingin pa rin sa kagandahang nakaimprinta sa malaking billboard.

"Mukha naman po talaga siyang arkanghel, senyorita." Anang driver na nakalapit na sa kanya. "Grabeng pagiipon nga po ang ginagawa ng dalaga ko para mabili ang magazine na 'yan."

Nagsimulang paligiran ng luha ang kanyang mga mata ng tingnan ang driver na halos buong buhay niya ng nagsisilbi sa kanya.

"P- Pero akala ko po... a- akala ko..." She trailed off.

Malinaw pa sa ala- ala niya ang gabing iyon. Kaya't malaki ang paniwala niyang maaaring anghel nga ito dahil bigla na lamang itong nawala. Matapos niyang halikan ito'y nanatili itong nakatingin sa kanya gamit ang tinging hindi niya kayang arukin ang ibig sabihin. Nang bigla'y may tumawag sa pangalan niya. Saglit niyang nilingon ang pinanggalingan niyon ngunit ng muli siyang humarap sa misteryosong lalaki ay wala na ito.

"Senyorita, pasensya na kayo pero nagkakatraffic na dahil sa atin. Sumakay na kayo sa kotse. Mahuhuli na rin kayo sa pupuntahan niyo."

Holly reluctantly entered the car, still looking at the billboard 'til it faded out from the distance.

Holly was still disoriented as the car entered the exclusive Dasmariñas Village in Makati. Nang dumating sila ni Manong Roman sa White Plains kaninang umaga mula sa Pampanga ay dumiretso na siya sa Monasterio de Santa Clara sa Katipunan upang kausapin si Sister Sofia tungkol sa magiging pinakamalaking benefactor ng gagawing housing project ng Religious community nila sa Pampanga. Pagkatapos niyon at sumali na rin siya sa 12 pm at 3 pm prayer ng mga madre sa monastery.

Holly grew to a conservative Catholic family in Pampanga. At a very young age, her grandmother had involved her into numerous charitable services for the poor and the homeless. At bata pa lamang siya'y bukambibig na ng kanyang lola sa mga kamag- anak nilang makatapos lamang siya ng kolehiyo ay magmamadre na siya. So, after graduating a course in Music at St. Scholastica's College Manila, an exclusive all- girls Catholic school, she had volunteered herself to a Catholic community in their province that supported the poor and the homeless. Right now she was in her pre- candidacy stage, the second stage out of the four stages in becoming a nun.

At ngayon nga'y malaking suliranin ng Religious community nila ang karagdagang pondo para sa isang maliit na housing project para sa mga Aetas sa Pampanga. Balak din ng community nilang maiuwi sana ang ilan mula sa indigenous group na nakipagsapalaran sa Manila ngunit sa huli'y naging palaboy lamang sa mga lansangan. Kaya nga siya naroon ngayon upang personal na makausap ang pinakamalaking benefactor nila sa project.

She was willing to offer all her life for God and she promised to forget all her earthly desires. Pagkatapos ng pagkawala niya sa madilim na kakahuyang iyon at pagkakita niya sa misteryosong lalaking pinaniwalaan niyang isang anghel ay naging buo na ang loob niyang ituloy ang pagmamadre. Pero bakit gumuguhit sa dibdib niya ngayon ang guilt? Ang takot? Bakit nakadama siya ng estrangherong pakiramdam sa pagkakaalam na isang buhay na nilalang ang lalaking hinalikan niya sa kakahuyan?

Or was she only haunted by her guilt? Angel or not, she should have not kissed the man. She should not have felt such an Earthly desire for a stranger!

Lost in her own thoughts, she wasn't aware that the car had entered a large grand gate of one of the village's grandest mansions. Nakaahon lamang siya sa pagkalunod sa sariling isipan ng pagbuksan siya ni Mang Roman at tawagin nito ang pangalan niya na ikinasinghap niya.

"Senyorita, masama ba ang pakiramdam niyo? Kaya niyo pa po bang bumaba?" Tanong ni Mang Roman sa kanya na bakas ang pagaalala sa tinig. Isang nanghihinang ngiti ang itinugon niya sa matandang lalaki.

"Ayos lang po ako, Manong Roman." Aniya rito sa nanghihinang tinig. "At manong, huwag niyo nap o akong tawaging senyorita. Wala naman po dito si lola."

Nginitian siya ng matandang lalaki at tumabi upang makalabas siya ng sasakya.

Mula pagkabata'y naninilbihan na si Mang Roman sa lolo't lola niya. At kabilin bilinan ng lola niyang tawagin siyang senyorita ng lahat ng mga katiwala ng pamilya. Gayunpaman ay hindi niya gusto ang titulong iyon. Sa mata ng Diyos ay pantay- pantay ang lahat ng tao.

Pagkalabas ng kotse'y tumambad kay Holly ang malaking mansyon na tila nagsusumigaw ng milyones. The mansion was grand, in all sense of the word. It was a mixture of modern and western design. Saang anggulo mang tingnan, the mansion was a picture of superiority and elegance.

Isang dalagang kasambahay ang agad na sumalubong sa kanila at iginiya sila papasok ng malawak na bahay. A very beautiful pregnant woman appeared from the porch wearing a tender smile.

"Sister Holly, I'm so happy to finally meet you in person." The woman was clearly delighted to see her. Lumapit ito sa kanya at iniabot ang kaliwang kamay. She smiled and eagerly shook the hand of the kind woman.

"The Lord has blessed me so much to finally meet you in person, Ms. Kali." She smiled, feeling genuine fondness over the woman.

Kali Heinna Miranda Alcor was the overly beautiful wife of the person who was given the title the King who slayed a Hundred Empire, Onyx Alcor. Inako na ng kumpanya ng asawa ng batang ginang ang construction ng housing project. Ibig sabihin ay hindi na sila kokontrata ng Construction company at napakalaking tulong niyon sa kanila. Isa pa'y magdodonate din ang mag- asawa ng mga raw materials. Ms. Kali even promised to work with the college scholarships with the support of the Alcor Foundation. The woman was truly beautiful, inside and out.

"You're so pretty, Sister Holly." Bakas ang geuine na paghanga sa mga mata ng batang ginang.

Not knowing how to react with the complement, she just smiled shyly at the woman. Kung may tunay mang maganda, sa pananaw niya ay ang babaeng kaharap niya iyon. Despite the little bump in her tummy, the woman still looked like a model in her maternity dress. Natural ang mamula- mula nitong kutis at bumagay sa hugis ng maganda nitong mukha ang mahaba't itim na buhok. At kahit alam niyang kasalanan ang makaramdam ng inggit ay n'di niya maiwasang mainggit sa kulay ng buhok nito.

Holly's long hair were curls of natural golden blonde and her eyes were electric blue, both features she got from his Argentinian father. At ang mga features ding niyang iyon ang nagpapaalala ng malaking kasalanan ng kanyang ina sa grandparents niya. So she always gathers her hair in a tight bun and covered her eyes with her old- fashioned eye- glasses. Ang matangos niyang ilong at mamula- mulang mga labi'y nakuha niya naman sa kanyang ina. Her complexion was in a proud shade of pale and honey, another feature from her father.

"Y- You're prettier, Ms. Kali."

"Please just call me, Kali, Sister Holly." Sabi nito at iginiya sila papasok sa malawak na sala. "Pasensya na, Sister, at naabala ka pa sa pagpunta dito. I hope you weren't stuck on the heavy traffic. Rush hour pa naman ngayon." Paghingi ng dispensa nito, halata sa tinig ang hiya.

"Oh, please don't say that, Ms. Kali." Nahihiyang aniya rito. The kindness of the woman was helpful to slightly ease down her discomfort.

Even when her grandmother involved her to numerous charity works, she really wasn't used to deal with other people without her lola to guide her. Likas siyang mahiyain. Isa ring rason iyon kung bakit naniniwala siyang nababagay sa kanya ang pagmamadre. Ito ang pinakaunang pagkakataong makikipagusap siya sa mga taong 'di niya masyadong kakilala ng wala ang abuela. Pero pinagkatiwalaan siya nito. Sa pinakaunang pagkakataon, ay pinagkatiwalaan siya nitong lumakad ng hindi ito kasama. She should make this one worthy of her lola's trust.

She tried to steady her unstable voice as she continued. "Ako nga dapat ang mahiya dahil naabala pa namin ang oras ng pahinga ninyong mag- asawa. I hope we didn't confuse the Chairman's schedule."

"No, Sister Kali. Please don't think it that way. Besides, I really want you to meet my husband." Huminto sa paglalakad si Kali at humarap sa kanya. They were standing behind the French door leading to the pool area of the mansion. "I think the project would be more successful if you will meet her personally. Siya ang mas nakakaalam tungkol sa mga construction works." Then the beautiful woman smiled coyly at her and started to blush. And Holly can see that they have something in common. "Honestly, Sister Holly, as the other people know, my husband is rather reserved. And he has this huge trust issue. Bukod sa akin at sa brother- in- law ko ay wala na siyang itinuturing na kaibigan. And you see, my brother- in- law is also reserved, too. Kaya nga tuwang- tuwa talaga ako ng pumayag siyang i- meet ka personally. At nadoble ang tuwa ko ng pumayag ang brother- in- law ko na sumali sa dinner natin. He could help with the project, too, Sister Holly." Excited na anito na humawak pa sa mga kamay niya.

"R- Really?" She smiled, half- delighted, half- anxious. Ibig sabihin ay may iba pang tao siyang makakaharap bukod sa mag- asawa? Can she make it?

Dear Lord, help me.

Lumawak ang pagkakangiti ni Kali at hinila siya patungo sa pool area kung nasaan mayroong pabilog na mesa at nakapalibot na apat na upuan sa tabi ng hugis bean na swimming pool. The whole place was whole- lighted that she could see the glorious plants and flowers on the nearby garden.

"Sister Holly, is it okay if you stay here while we prepare the dining are? Presko kasi ang hangin dito. Ot will make you feel like you're in the province." Kali offered thoughtfully.

She smiled fondly at her. "T- Thanks, Kali."

"I'll ask someone to bring you drinks here. What would you like Sister Holly?"

"Anything is fine. Thank you, Mi- Kali."

Nginitian siya ng batang ginang bago muling pumasok sa loob ng mansyon. Ng maiwan siyang mag- isa'y naaaliw na naglakad siya sa gilid ng pool.

Even with the serenity of the place, her chest was still banging loudly anxiety. Nagpalakad- lakad siya sa gilid ng pool sap ag- asang makatulong iyon upang maibsan man lamang ang kaba. Kapagkuwa'y huminto siya, pumikit at huminga ng malalim. Kailangan niya iyon ngayon lalo pa't wala siyang tiwala sa self confidence niya.

Kakayanin niya kaya ito? Bukod sa pagiging CEO ng napakalaking kumpanya sa batang edad at ang pagkakaroon nito ng maybahay na maganda at mabait ay wala ng alam si Holly tungkol kay Onyx Alcor. Tanging bible, religious novels at magazines lamang kasi ang binabasa niya. Isa pa'y nilalaan niya sa pagdadasal kasama ng mga madre sa monasteryo ang oras niya sa probinsya. So this is a very critical day for her.

Umusal siya ng isang maikling panalangin. The cold night breeze kissed her face and she felt serenity all over. Napangiti siya. Wala talagang tatalo sa isang panalangin.

So, she opened her eyes and turned around only to be surprised with the figure that was blocking her way. Labis ang gulat na napaangat siya ng tingin at ganoon na lamang ang panlalaki ng kanyang mga mata ng tumambad sa kanya ang mukha ng katawang sa sobrang lapit ay maski hangin ay mahihiyang dumaan sa pagitan nilang dalawa.

Oh my God!

Nahigit niya ang kanyang hininga ng tumambad sa kanya ang napakagwapong mukha ng lalaking tila nabuhay mula sa billboard na tinatanaw niya lamang kanina. He was looking at her with so much intensity that it burned some parts of her so she stepped back to grasp some air but the man snaked one arm around her waist and pulled her closer that even air had no way of passing in between them.

His brown eyes grew a shade darker as he showed an emotion she couldn't translate. It was as if it spoke an alien language there's no way she could decipher.

Her insides knotted in extreme tension that even her breathing failed to cooperate. The glorious man caging her was no other than the angel she kissed in that dark forest. The same man she saw at the billboard. And he was so real... so alive!

Without words, the man pulled out the rubber from her bun and her long caramel curly hair cascaded down her back and shoulders and her mouth opened as she hitched her breath. Kapagkuwa'y iniangat nito ang isang kamay na siyang humila paalis sa rubber ng kanyang bun at pinindot ang button ng hawak na maliit na remote control. And she froze, as still as his billboard in EDSA when the sprinkler around the garden and pool area started showering with water.

And it was as if that moment in the woods flashed back her very eyes. The only difference was that the pictures flashing back were real... breathing.

And when he leaned down, his lips brushing her slightly opened lips, it was as if the world faded all the colors leaving only russet brown behind.