Novels by Marissalicious

Inis kong tinampal ang noo ko. Ano na naman bang kagagahan 'tong ginawa ko?Hindi lang basta kasal ang nasira ko, kasal ng isang artista at businessman. Artista at businessman yun!Bakit ba kasi padalos-dalos ang naging desisyon ko?Malakas akong nagbuntong-hininga at nagpangalumbaba. Nakuwento ni Mama na ibinalita kagabi sa TV ang hindi pagsipot ni Dylan sa kasal niya. Pero tikom daw ang bibig nito at hindi nagbigay ng pahayag kung bakit hindi siya nakasipot sa mismong kasal. Dito naman sa buong Barangay ay kalat na kalat ang usaping ‘kinidnap’ ko ito.Hinimas ko ang rehas na bakal na nasa harapan ko. Mag-iisang araw na ako dito sa loob ng presinto mamayang hapon pero hindi pa rin ako nakakalabas dahil kulang pa ang pera na pang piyansa para sa akin. Kaonti na lang at tropa ko na ang mga nasa loob rito.“Ate!” Mabilis kong inangat ang tingin ko. Nakita ko si Fatima naglalakad paakyat sa hagdan kasunod si Tisoy.“Si Mama?” tanong ko agad nang makalapit siya.“Nasa baba,” turo niya. “

Hindi ako makakapayag na basta-basta na lang iiwan ng lalaking yun ang kapatid ko. Ang kapal ng mukha niya mang-buntis pa, ikakasal na pala siya? Kailangan niya panagutan si Fatima. Hindi ako papayag na lumaking walang tatay ang pamangkin ko. Bumaba ako sa van na hiniram ko kay Angel kagabi para gamitin ngayon papunta dito sa Maynila. Si kuya Notnot, ang driver ni Angel na rin ang nagdrive para sa akin. Mabuti na lamang at pumayag si Mayor isama ko si kuya Notnot basta bumalik raw kami mamayang hapon dahil ipagma-maneho pa sila nito. Isinama ko rin sina kuya Pako at kuya Kiboy, mga pinsan ko, para may backup ako dahil sabi ni Fatima na huwag na ako umasa na sasama sakin ang lalaking nakabuntis sa kanya, lalo na kung ako lang mag-isa ang makikipag-usap. Kita ko ang isa-isang pagsidatingan ng mga tao na dadalo sa kasal. Halos lahat ay nakasakay sa magagarang sasakyan. Nanlaki pa ang mga mata ko ng makita si Senadora Rhea Alcaraz, ang isang senador na inindorso siya ng Papa ni Gabbi no

“Kuya, ano sayo?” tanong ko sa lalaking nasa harapan ko. Ngumiti siya kaya ngumiti rin ako, ganoon ang tinatawag na costumer service. Kailangan maging magiliw at mabait ka sa mga mamimili para sayo bumili parati at balik-balikan ka. “May bangus, lapu-lapu, hito, dalagang bukid, maya-maya, tulingan—pili ka lang,” aniko. “Sariwang-sariwa yan kadadating lang galing aplaya,” dagdag ko pa habang nakaturo sa mga isda. “Etong galunggong..." Dinampot ko ang galunggong at ipinakita sa kaniya. “Masarap 'to i-prito at sabawan tapos lahukan ng talbos kamote.”Kumuha akong plastik bag at plastik labo saka inayos na ang timbangan. Itinama ko ito sa bilang dahil bahagyang umusog sa isang guhit.“Sayo ate, ano sayo?” tanong ko naman sa babaeng kadarating lang na tumitingin ng mga gulay. “Bagong pitas lahat yan.”“Isang kilong talong nga.”Hinayaan ko siya na pumili ng mga gusto niyang talong. Habang inilalagay niya ang mga napili niya sa timbangan ay tinitingnan ko ito kung sakto na ba sa isang kilo

"I'd ask you to stay for coffee or something, but I have a lot of unpacking to do," Melody subtly tried to tell Mehmet to leave; his presence was suffocating.He somehow managed to make her feel feverish and anxious as the confinements of the living room suddenly seemed stifling."I can see that," he replied, observing the scattered brown boxes.Melody shivered. His tone was masked by a chilling calmness that unsettled her."Perhaps another time then." He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes."Certainly," she forced a smile; the faux politeness she had to assemble during their walk was leaving a foul, bitter taste in her mouth and cheeks sore.All she had discovered was that he has lived in Tensers his whole life and he knew everything about the place.Melody led him out to the door and hastily opened it."See you soon, Melody." With her name being the last word, Mehmet left her home. His powerful strides crunched the hard layer of snow and undergrowth beneath his boots as he slowly fa

It was beyond freezing.The glacial winds made the temperature feel sub-zero and even though it was typical conditions, it did not subdue the grumpiness that followed from getting numb feet and blue lips.To keep her mind off the relentless weather, she chose to admire the scenery. It was oddly enchanting—in a kind of deadly way.Melody cast her eyes to her right, staring at the Tensers' forest.The tall pine branches swayed in the wind, the dark leaves and weaving vines entangled the tree trunks. She could see the dense, green undergrowth, the narrow and twisting animal trails and the darkness oozing from the depths of the forest.She made a promise to herself, right there and then, that she would never enter that forest and its lurking inhabitants.Melody shivered before glancing to her left.There were rows of dull, gloomy houses with unopened curtains and lifeless front yards. Not a single noise emitted from the homes and no light illuminated inside or out. Melody vaguely wondered

Melody woke up to the sound of light rain hitting the large frosty window. A familiar coldness seeped into the room as the dim light began to rise. She wiped away the lingering locks of hair away from her face before letting out a long yawn.Grabbing her usual morning attire—which consisted of a thick jumper and slipper boots, she drifted out of her room and navigated herself to the kitchen.Melody's nose scrunched up at the strong smell of the bitter brew as she passed Mino. She greeted him before pouring water in the kettle and flicking on the switch to let it boil. She glanced around the small but practical kitchen that had brown cupboards and a weathered island bench.Mini chewed on slightly burnt toast with a placid expression, he spoke up, "Did you manage to get some sleep?" He washed his food down with the black coffee.She shrugged indifferently, not really answering the question verbally. "Did you hear the wolves howling early this morning?"The continuous sounds had woke her

White hot, forked and jagged lightning flashed through the blackening sky.The contrast was striking.Thunder shattered the quiet; the deafening noise echoed in the dense forest and eerie length of the road. Rain relentlessly fell in thick sheets of grey droplets. The wind's force stripped branches clean from the trees and swirled around the debris in a frenetic heap. The darkness of the night obscured the nocturnal animals prowling towards their dens.Delicate fingers traced the edge of the frosted window, the coolness seeped through the wool of her gloves.Another clap of thunder jolted the girl's body in fright. Her hand disconnected from the glass and retreated to her lap.The girl, Melody LaCroix sighed uneasily at the ferocious weather. These kinds of nights always unsettled her. The constant whirlpools of storms reminded her all too much of her past.She tore her gaze away from the frightening scene outside and instead focused on what laid before her.Her new home.The headligh