Novels by Aura

They bought two airline tickets to Chicago the next day after having their rather emotional encounter. Since their flight was scheduled for tomorrow, Annabelle was currently in the SSA, inside the young man's private room. Anton was with Miguel in the office. Both of them were busy doing some endorsements of the company's activities. Anton would temporarily manage the SSA, while Miguel was gone. She was having fun observing the room's interior. It was a total opposite of the SSA office. If the latter were sophisticated and very manly in style, the room was cozier. It didn't seem to be part of the office.

MIGUEL'S phone conversation was cut off,when he heard a dispute happened right outside his office. He was about to stood up to check the conflict when unexpectedly the front door opened.“Sir! You're not allowed to talk with Mr. Saavedra at the moment,” the security guard told the uninvited visitor, while trying to block its way. “This is very important. I need to talk to him right now!” the man reasoned out, rather impatiently. He could see it on his face, that it won't stop without having to face him.“It's okay, Jay,” he interrupted. “Let him in.” The guard freed the male's arm and allowed him in a

It was five in the morning that Fred awoke from a phone call. He answered the call rather groggily, obviously still half asleep.“Hello, Anna? Good morning.”“Fred . . .” the voice trembled on the other line, which completely dissolved his drowsiness.“What happened? Are you crying?”“Please, pick me up from here.”“Hey, Anna, what happened?”“I'll explain it to you later. Just

FLOATING on the shallow part of the water in a supine position, Annabelle fixated her eyes directly up at the night sky. After Jenny and her eventually got out from the place, they paced.The woman remembered her friend's word."I can't believe he did that!" Jenny growled out. "That song was supposed to be special. I've always believed he still had those feelings for you. But after what he did tonight? Argh! He's gonna get it!” She seethed with anger.“Jenny, please don't. Let's not force the person if they don't want it. Anyway, I already expected this would've happened before I even came back."'But I never knew it would hurt like this,' she inwardly added to herself.It was almost eleven in the evening when they departed. She wasn't sleepy so she decided to spend her time literally on the sea. There were not too many people in the area. She closed her eyes, trying to feel her surroundings. Only her lone breath and the movement

Morning came by, commencing their day two at the beach. Annabelle was already wide awakeat somewhere five in the morning. She went to bed barely three hours ago and despite of it,she woke up earlier than expected.To start the day, she stretched her body, brushed her teeth and cleaned her face. At thisparticular time of day, she was sure the sun had barely risen from its sleep. She went out.Annabelle was right. As soon as she opened the door, the morning breeze grazed against herskin, her hair flew freely in the fresh wind. The corners of her lips curled upwards seeing thesun peeking through the blue dawn sky. She rushed towards the shore.There weren't many people in the area, although she saw two people—probably a coupleenjoying themselves from afar.She took her slippers and went her way to the sea. She stopped near the shoreline, feeling thecold water dipping her feet. She was like a chi

"GOOD Afternoon, Ma'am. What item would you like?" Annabelle greeted cheerfully at the female customer. She had sent her mother home to get rest, so she took over the hardware for the time being.“So you’re Annabelle,” it mentioned, instead of answering the question.She furrowed her eyebrows, confused. “Yes, I am. And you are?”“I’m Nancy Alcantara, daughter of Counselor Alcantara,” the said woman arched a brow. Sheremembered Jenny's word. So, this was Nancy. She was beautiful, tall, and a bit of a Morena. Honestly, she was getting that one Barbie movie vibe. Was it Princess Charms school? A hint of bitchiness there though. Jenny had previously mentioned that.“How may I help you, Miss Alcantara?” she inquired dubiously.“Nothing, I just want to . . .” she paused, pondering her next choice of words, “check if you’refine n

KUMUHA sila ng airline tickets for two to Chicago the next day pagkatapos ng madamdamin nilang tagpo. At dahil flight na nila kinabukasan, nandoon si Annabelle ngayon sa SSA, sa private room ng binata. Kasama ni Miguel si Anton sa opisina at abala ang mga ito sa endorsements ng mga gawain sa kompanya. Si Anton na muna ang mamamahala ng SSA habang wala si Miguel.Naaliw siyang pagmasdan ang mga interior ng kuwarto. It was a total opposite of the SSA office. Kung sophisticated and very manly ang dating niyon, ang kuwarto naman ay cozy. Tila hindi iyon parte ng opisina.She got a glimpse of a familiar thing sa isang glass shelf. Napasinghap ang dalaga nang masiguro kung ano ang bagay na iyon.“Mon-Mon . . .” Maingat itong nakalagay sa isang plastic transparent box. Hindi niya inakalang matatagpuan ang laruang iyon sa kuwarto. Katabi niyon ay isang red velvet box.

NAPUTOL ang pakikipag-usap ni Miguel sa telepononang maulinigan ang tila pagtatalo sa labas ng opisina niya. Tatayo na sana siya para silipin iyon nang biglang bumukas ang pinto.“Sir! Hindi po talaga puwedeng makausap si Mr. Saavedra sa ngayon,” saad ng guwardiya habang pinipigilang pumasok ang lalaking bisita.“This is very important. I need to talk to him right now!” paggigiit ng lalaki. He could see in his face na hindi ito titigil hangga’t hindi siya nakakaharap.“Its okay, Jay,” he interrupted. “Papasukin mo siya.”Binitiwan ng guwardiya ang braso ng lalaki at hinayaang pumasok sa loob. The man stretched his back and fixed his clothes in a smug way.“And you are?” tanong niya rito.“Huh! So hindi mo na ako nakilala?” panimula nito.

ALAS-singko ng umaga, nagising si Fred sa ring ng cellphone niya. Pupungas-pungas niyang sinagot ang tawag.“Hello, Anna? Good morning.”“Fred . . .” Garalgal ang boses ng nasa kabilang linya kaya tuluyan na siyang nagising.“What happened? Umiiyak ka ba?”“Please, sunduin mo ’ko.”“Hey, Anna, what happened?”“Saka ko na ipapaliwanag sa iyo. Just please, come here.” Binigay nito ang eksaktong address ng resort. Hindi na siya nagdalawang-isip pa at pinuntahan ang babae.“I SWEAR I’m gonna kill that bastard!” Galit na naisuntok ni Fred ang kamao sa manibela.“Fred, it’s fine. I’m fine.”“No, Annabelle! It’s definitely not okay! Pagkatapos ng

NAKALUTANG si Annabelle sa mababaw na bahagi ng beach in a supine position. Ang pares ng kaniyang mga mata ay diretsong nakatanaw sa madilim na kalangitan. Pagkatapos nilang umalis ni Jenny sa restobar ay naglakad-lakad na lamang sila. Naalala niya ang sabi nito.“Hindi ako makapaniwalang nagawa niya ’yon!” inis na sabi ni Jenny. “Napakaespesyal ng kantang ’yon. Lagi kong pinaniniwalaang may feelings pa siya sa iyo. But after what he did tonight? Argh! Malilintikan talaga sa akin ang lalaking ’yon!” nanggigigil na sabi nito.“Jenny, huwag na nating pilitin ang ayaw na. Anyway, before ako nagbalik, alam kong mangyayari na ito.” ‘Pero hindi ko inakalang ganito pala kasakit,’ dagdag niya pero hindi na isinatinig.Mag-aalas-onse na ng gabi nang maghiwalay sila. Hindi pa siya inaantok kaya napagpasyahan niyang magtampisaw muna sa dagat. Iilan na lang ang nakik

UMAGA ng pangalawang araw nila sa beach. Alas-singko pa lang ay dilat na ang mga mata ni Annabelle. Madaling araw na siya nakatulog pero hindi niya alam kung bakit maaga rin siyang nagising. Nag-inat siya, nag-toothbrush, at naghilamos. Lalabas siya, siguradong kasisikat pa lang ng araw.Hindi nga nabigo ang dalaga. Paglabas niya ng cottage, sumalubong sa kaniya ang pang-umagang ihip ng hangin. Napangiti siya nang makita ang araw na kasisilip pa lang. Patakbo niyang pinuntahan ang dalampasigan.Wala pa masyadong tao roon pero may nakikita siyang magkapareha na naliligo sa unahan.Naghubad siya ng tsinelas at pumunta sa dagat. Huminto siya kung saan naaabot ng alon ang mga paa, dinama niya iyon. Para siyang batang nilaro-laro ang mga alon.Ang sarap bumalik sa pagkabata. Kung kaya niyang ikutin ang panahon, hindi siya magdadalawang-i

“GOOD afternoon, Ma’am. Anong item po ang hanap n’yo?” magiliw na bati ni Annabelle sa babaeng pumasok sa hardware nila. Pinauwi niya ang kaniyang ina para makapagpahinga kaya siya muna ang nakatoka roon.“So you’re Annabelle,” sabi nito sa halip na sagutin siya.Napakunot-noo siya. “Yes, I am. And you are?”“I’m Nancy Alcantara, daughter of Counselor Alcantara,” taas-noo nitong pakilala. Naalala niya ang sinabi ni Jenny. Ito pala iyon. Maganda ito, matangkad, medyo morena pero pantay. Gaya ng sabi ni Jenny, may hint ng pagka-bitch.“How may I help you, Miss Alcantara?” she asked.“Nothing, I just want to . . .” tila nag-iisip pa ito ng maidadahilan, “check if you’re fine now. I was with Miguel noong sinugod ka sa hospital.”“I am well now, thank you.” Parang hindi nama