Novels by penpenthelarapen

Nang patapos na ang kanta at alam kong pabalik na si Wayne sa upuan kung nasaan ako nakaupo, mabilis akong nagpaalam kina Alexander upang pumuntang banyo. Narinig ko pa nga ang pahabol na sinabi ni Alexander at Fritz na sasamahan na nila ako pero hindi ko na lang ‘yon pinansin. Agad ko silang tinalikuran at naglakad papalayo.Parang wala sa sarili ako na naglalakad sa dagat ng mga taong nadadaanan ko. May ilan akong nakakabungguan pero hindi ko na ‘yon pinapansin pa. Masyadong blangko ang utak ko para pagtuunan pa sila ng pansin.Ngunit, tila’y pumtik ako pabalik sa realidad ng isang mabigat na kamay ang agad na humablot sa braso ko. Para akong natauhan dahil doon at saka awtomatikong lumingon upang makita kung sino ‘yon. Agad na nagsalubong ang aming mga mata na naging dahilan kung bakit ako natigilan. Kunot na kunot ang noo niya habang nakatingin sa akin.“Where are you going? Hindi ba at sinabi ko na ‘wag kang lalayo sa akin?”Napalunok ako ng laway at hindi agad nakap

Hindi ko maiwasan na lihim na mapa-angat ang gilid ng labi ko habang nakikita ko si Wayne sa tabi ko na nakabusangot. Nakaupo siya ngayon sa may passenger’s seat habang ako ang nagmamaneho ng kaniyang kotse. Ayaw niya sana na ako ang magmaneho pero wala naman siyang choice dahil nga may sling siya sa kanan niyang kamay.Biniro pa nga siya ulit kanina ni Hanz at sinabi na kami na lang dalawa ang sabay na pupunta sa bar kasi siya lang naman daw ang mag-isa sa kotse niya. Si Oliver at Vince kasi ang magkasama roon sa isang sasakyan, tapos si Kai at Alexander naman ang magkasama, tapos solo si Fritz at Hanz sa sari-sarili nilang kotse. Pero siyempre, hindi pumayag si Wayne.Ngayon na nakikita ko siyang nakasimangot pa rin, ramdam ko na badtrip pa rin siya dahil sa kalokohan ng mga kaibigan niya.“Galit ka pa rin ba, Wayne? Ano ka ba… inaasar ka lang naman ng mga tropa mo,” medyo natatawa na saad ko. Hindi ko siya magawang batuhan nang tingin dahil diretso lang na nakatuon ang

Mabilis lang lumipas ang mga araw. Linggo na ngayon, at naglalakad lang ako pauwi ng bahay. Alas-singko pa lang naman ng hapon kaya naisipan kong maglakad na lang kaysa ang sumakay pa. Nanghihinayang pa kasi ako na pabaryahan ‘yung mga buo kong pera. Nanghihinayang pa ako na gastusin ‘yong sinahod ko sa loob ng buong linggo.Ito na ang huling sweldo ko sa restaurant kaya kailangan ko ‘tong tipirin. Nakapagpaalam na nga pala ako kay Ma’am Sammie. Kahit nahihiya ako sa kaniya dahil nga hindi man lang ako nagtagal sa pagtatrabaho ko, idagdag pa na nirekomenda lang ako ni Pio, wala naman akong magagawa kung hindi ang tuparin ko ang naipangako ko na kay Wayne.Nakakalungkot lang dahil alam ko naman sa sarili ko na keri ko ‘yung trabaho ko. Nakakapagod, oo... pero wala namang madali na trabaho, hindi ba? Nalungkot din ‘yung mga kasamahan ko sa trabaho sa biglaang pagre-resign ko. Nalungkot din ako kasi naging malapit na sila sa akin, lalo na si Yuki, tinuring ko na ‘yun na p

“So, are you damn saying na nag-deliver ka ng pagkain sa ganoong klase ng lugar?” singhal ni Wayne sa akin nang makapasok na ako ngayon sa bahay niya. Actually, ramdam ko naman kanina na i-o-open niya talaga ang topic tungkol doon, hindi niya lang magawa dahil nga hindi naman kami sabay na umuwi. Dumaan pa kasi ako sa restaurant para ibalik ‘yung motor habang siya naman ay binalikan ‘yung kotse niya kung saan niya naiwan.Pagkapasok ko pa lang ay tinanong niya na agad sa akin kung anong ginagawa ko sa lugar na ‘yon, at sinagot ko lang naman ang tanong niya. Ngayon ay kitang-kita ko ang galit sa ekspresyon ng mukha niya habang diretsong nakatingin sa akin.“Oo, dahil trabaho ko ‘yon,” seryosong sagot ko sa kaniya. Hindi ko alam kung anong ikinakagalit niya ngayon, samantalang siya itong may problema sa aming dalawa.“Naghatid ka ng pagkain sa isang pasugalan!” pag-uulit niya pa. “Sinabi ko na nga ba at hindi ligtas ‘yang trabaho mo!” Napatayo na rin siya mula sa pagkaka-upo niya sa sof

Napuno nang inis ang umaga ko nang maaga akong magising habang naghahanda na sa pagpasok ko sa restaurant. Halos ibato ko na sa vanity table ang suklay na ginagamit ko ngayon. Dala-dala ko pa rin ‘yung inis na nakatulugan ko kagabi. Naiinis ako, hindi dahil sa hindi natuloy ang nangyari sa aming dalawa ni Wayne, kundi dahil napagtanto ko na, kagabi pa lang, kung sino ba ‘yung tumawag sa kaniya.Kaya pala pamilyar sa akin ang pangalan na ‘yun. Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali, siya ‘yung matapobreng babae sa charity ball. Siya ‘yung sinamahan ni Wayne noong gabi na naging dahilan kung bakit dineny niya ako.“Argh! Nakakainis! Kung nalaman ko lang kaagad na ‘yun pala ‘yung babaeng ‘yon… eh di sana pala, gumawa ako ng paraan para pigilan si Wayne,” saad ko sa sarili ko.Bumuga na lang ako nang isang malalim na hininga at nagpasya na nga na tuluyan nang lumabas ng kwarto ko. Baka ma-late na ako sa restaurant kung uunahin ko pa ang inis na nararamdaman ko.Pagkababa ko, awtomatikong

Walang lingon-lingon akong bumaba ng sasakyan ni Wayne nang makapag-park na siya ng kotse niya. Yakap-yakap ko ng mahigpit ang sarili kong sling bag nang dumiretso ako sa pagpasok ng bahay niya. Ramdam ko ang bawat kabog ng puso ko. Gusto ko sanang lingunin siya upang makumpirma kung sinusundan niya ba ako, o hindi… pero mas pinili ko na lang na ‘wag nang gawin ‘yun at mas lalong bilisan na lang ang paglalakad.“Kailangan kong makapasok agad sa kwarto ko,” bulong ko pa sa aking sarili.Katulad nang inaasahan, wala na si Manang Fracia nang makapasok na ako sa may sala. Mas lalong dumoble ang kaba na nararamdaman ko ng dahil doon. Mabilis na akong umakyat ng hagdan, kung pwede ko nga lang na hakbangin ng tig-tatlo ang baitang, baka ginawa ko na, para lang makaakyat ako agad.Napangiti ako ng lihim nang marating ko na ang harapan ng pinto ng kwarto ko. Hindi na ako nagdalawang-isip at agad ko nang inabot ang doorknob noon, pipihitin ko na sana upang mabuksan, kaya lang may i

I bit my lower lip, taking a deep breath to compose myself before turning around to face him. He was barely a few feet away.“There’s nothing to talk about, Wayne,” I said as calmly as I could. “I just… had a little too much to drink. I need to rest.”His sharp gaze locked onto mine, scrutinizing me as if he were trying to read every thought running through my head. And before I could even remind myself that he was a lawyer—skilled at detecting lies—his next words shattered my attempt at deception.“You’re lying.”Panic surged through me, but I forced out a small, breathy laugh. “Just because I said I want to rest, I’m suddenly lying?”Wayne’s jaw clenched, his expression darkening. His eyes burned into me, and each deliberate step he took toward me sent my heart pounding.“You… are… lying to me.” His voice dripped with certainty, as if he had already unraveled the truth. My breath hitched as the space between us disappeared, leaving only a mere step between our bodies. “I know you, L

As the song was coming to an end and I knew Wayne was making his way back to our table, I quickly excused myself from Alexander and headed toward the restroom. I barely acknowledged Alexander and Fritz when they offered to accompany me, simply turning away and walking off without a second thought.I moved absentmindedly through the sea of people, barely noticing the occasional bump against my shoulder. My mind was too clouded to care.But just as I was slipping further into my thoughts, a firm grip suddenly latched onto my arm, yanking me back to reality. Instinctively, I turned to see who it was, only to find myself locking eyes with him. His gaze was sharp, his brows furrowed in frustration."Where are you going? Didn't I tell you not to wander off?"I swallowed hard, my voice failing me for a moment. I wanted to tell him I was just heading to the restroom, but even I wasn’t sure where I was anymore—or where the restroom in this bar even was."Wait. Are you already drunk

The days passed swiftly. It's Sunday now, and I'm just walking home. It's only five in the afternoon, so I decided to walk instead of taking a ride. I wanted to save my hard-earned money. I didn't want to spend the entirety of my week's salary so carelessly.This is my last paycheck from the restaurant, so I need to be frugal. I've already bid farewell to Ma'am Sammie. I felt a bit embarrassed because I didn't last long at my job, and Pio only recommended me, but I have no choice but to fulfill the promise I made to Wayne.It's just sad because I know deep down that I'm capable of my job. It's tiring, yes, but isn't every job demanding in its own way? I also felt bad about suddenly resigning and leaving my co-workers. I had become close to them, especially Yuki, whom I considered like a younger sibling.But, as I mentioned, there's nothing more I can do. I've said yes to Wayne. Here I am, following what he wants.Speaking of Wayne... the past days between us have been quite pleasant.

"So, are you really saying that you delivered food to that kind of place?" Wayne exclaimed as I entered his house. Actually, I felt earlier that he was definitely going to bring up the topic, but he couldn't because we didn't go home together. I had to swing by the restaurant to return the motorbike, while he went back to retrieve his car, which he had left behind.As soon as I entered, he immediately asked me what I was doing in that place, and I simply answered his question. Now, I could clearly see the anger in his expression as he stared directly at me."Yes, because it's my job," I replied seriously. I didn't know what he was so angry about now, especially when he's the one with an issue between the two of us."You delivered food to a gambling den!" he repeated. "I knew it, your job isn't safe!" He even stood up from his seat on the sofa because of his frustration with me.My ears were ringing now, and my patience was running thin too. Like I said, he's the one with an issue, so

My morning began with a surge of irritation as I woke up early, preparing for my day at the restaurant. I practically tossed the comb I was using onto my vanity table. The annoyance from last night still lingered within me. It wasn't because things didn't go as planned between Wayne and me, but rather, it was because I had come to realize who called him last night.No wonder that name seemed so familiar. I couldn't afford to be mistaken; she was the snobbish woman from the charity ball. She was the one accompanying Wayne on the night that became the reason why Wayne denied me."Argh! This is infuriating! If only I had known sooner that it was her... then maybe I would have found a way to stop Wayne from leaving last night," I muttered to myself.I sighed deeply and decided it was time to leave my room. I couldn't afford to be late for the restaurant, not with all this anger simmering inside me.As I descended the stairs, I automatically stopped in my tracks upon seeing Ya

I got out of Wayne's car without looking back, clutching my sling bag tightly as he parked his car. I headed straight for the entrance of his house, not turning around. I could feel my heart pounding with every step. I wanted to turn around to confirm if he was following me or not, but I decided against it and chose to walk faster instead."I need to get to my room as soon as possible," I whispered to myself.As expected, Yaya Susan was nowhere to be seen when I entered the house. My nervousness intensified even more because of that.I hurriedly climbed the stairs, wishing I could take three steps at a time just to get to my room faster.I secretly smiled when I reached the front of my bedroom door. I didn't hesitate and immediately reached for the doorknob, about to twist it open. However, a hand suddenly rested on top of mine, as if helping me turn it. I didn't look back to see who it was, but I recognized him instantly from the scent of his perfume.I was about to pull