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XXI. The Gift
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Kinahapunan ay dumiretso na sila sa bahay nina Abby na kapitbahay nina Jay. Doon sila nagbihis at nag-ayos samantalang si Brix naman ay nauna na kina Jay dala-dala ang kanilang regalong external drive na pinagtulungan nilang bilhin. Panay ang sulyap ni Trisha sa kanyang phone habang nakaupo sa mahabang supa. Hindi pa natatapos sina Abby at Joyce sa pag-aayos.
“So, darating ba si Marsden?” tanong sa kanya ni Analie na katabi niyang nakaupo sa mahabang supa.
“Hindi eh,” pilit siyang ngumiti dito. Ayaw niyang magsinunghaling sa rason kung bakit hindi ito makakapunta kaya naman hindi na niya ipinaliwanag pa ang dahilan.
“Sayang naman, we’re looking forward to meet him. Oy! Pasensya Trish pero nacurious ako eh…ang gwapo pala ng Marsden mo. Celebrity!” kinikilig nitong tapik sa balikat niya.
Hindi nga naman niya naisip na celebrity ito. May kaibigan nga itong artista, negosyante, artist, heiress at modelo pero hindi niya kailan man inisip na sikat rin ang kaibigan. Mas lalong nanlumo si Trisha, ngayon siya tinatablan ng agwat nila ng estado sa buhay kaya naman pinigilan niya ang sariling sulyapan ulit ang cellphone.
Nang matapos ang mga kaibigan sa pag-aayos ay pumunta na sila sa bahay ng may birthday. Absent si Jay dahil may special leave ang mga empleyado kung sino mang may kaarawan.
“Happy Birthday!” sabay nilang bati kay Jay.
“Pretty girls, halika kayo pasok!” malakas na tili nito nang makita sila.
“Bruha, hinaan mo nga ang boses mo. Nakakahiya!” sita ni Abby.
“Hindi ka naman kasali eh, huwag ka ngang assuming!” saad ni Jay habang ikinakabit ang mga braso sa braso ni Abby at Trisha.
Abby pouted and pretended to be hurt samantalang si Trisha naman ay natatawa sa dalawa.
“Ang dami mong bisita ah!” Ani Analie.
“Pansin mo boylet ang marami,” saad naman ni Joyce na sinulyapan ang mga bisita ni Jay.
“Opps! Speaking of boylet, nasaan na ang Marsden ko girl?” tanong nito kay Trisha.
“Busy sa work?” aniyang patanong. “I mean busy sa work!” pag-uulit niya.
Tumaas ang kilay ni Jay pero hindi na siya nito kinulit pa. “Sayang naman, excited pa naman akong makita siya sa personal. Celebrity pala girl! At tsaka may-ari ng Zion?!” kinikilig nitong saad.
Hindi niya kailanman inisip na esearch si Marsden sa internet. Malaking negosyante nga naman ito. Natawa na lamang siya sa mga kaibigan. Pati siya hindi rin naman makapaniwala na magkakaroon siya ng kaibigan na kagaya nito.
“Eh si Chloe nasaan?” ani Jay nang makapasok na sila sa loob ng bahay.
“Papunta na daw, may tinapos lang sandali.”
“Abalang-abala ang lola! Namiss ko ‘yon.”
“Kaya nga eh talagang pupunta ‘yon ngayon, namiss ka rin for sure,” aniyang nakangiti kay Jay.
“Masaya naman ako at finally nakarating ka na rin ng maaga sa birthday ko–“ Hindi na nito natapos ang sasabihin nang pumasok si Chloe sa gate.
“Sister Happy Birthday!” masayang bati ni Chloe nang lumapit sa kanila at may dala-dalang regalo. Nagbeso-beso ito kay Trisha at sa mga kaibigan.
“Hoy lola, bakit naman hindi mo pinapasok ‘yong nagdeliver sayo?” saad ni Jay nang magbeso-beso ang mga ito.
“Parang LBC lang!” anitong natatawa. “’Yong amo ko ‘yon, hinatid ako kasi nagdemand ng extension para matapos ang isang report.”
“Oi! Baka magkalove life ka na Chlo,” ani Joyce.
“Sus! ‘Yon? Over my–“
“’H’wag kang magsalita ng tapos!” saad nilang lahat kay Chloe.
Wala na masyadong bisita at sila na lamang ang naiwang nagkakantahan sa sala nang may dumating na delivery guy at may dalang regalo with a red ribbon.
“Oi special delivery!” saad ni Chloe nang magkakasama silang lahat na lumabas ng bahay at pumunta sa cute na delivery guy.
“Dito po ba ang bahay ni sir Jay Orbuda?” tanong nito.
Nakakagat labi si Jay na tumango at kinuha ang regalo. Panay ang ngiti nito sa delivery guy. Natatawa na lamang sila nang naiilang nitong ibinigay ang pepermahan ni Jay.
“Thank you!” paseksi nitong saad sa delivery guy na nagmamadaling sumakay ng motor.
“Grabe ka talaga Jay!” natatawang saad ni Analie.
“Ang gwapo eh, hindi ko maiwasang magflirt. Teka! Saan ba ito galing?” Sinuri nito ang card pero Jay at Happy Birthday lang ang nakalagay.
“Oi mysterious! Walang sender,” ani Abby na nasa likuran ni Jay. “Halika buksan na natin.”
Excited naman si Jay na buksan ang regalo nang makarating ito sa sala. Pinalibutan nila ang regalo.
“Teka girl, baka suspense to. Baka naman kamay ng boylet mo ang nand’yan!” panunukso ni Chloe.
“Sira ka talaga Chlo!” natatawang saad ni Trisha sa matalik na kaibigan.
Hinawakan ni Jay ang dibdib at huminga ng malalim. “Whoa! Kinakabahan ako girl”. At tuluyan na nga itong binuksan.
Napanganga ang lahat nang makita ang laman ng regalo. Jay looked immediately at Abby. “My fairy godmother? Totoo ba to? Subra-subra to sa hiniling ko,” sabay yakap kay Abby.
“Ano bang pinagsasabi mo, akala mo ba afford ko yan?” nangingiting saad ni Abby at napasulyap kay Trisha.
Trisha was confused bakit ganoon ang tingin sa kanya ni Abby. Bumalik sa kanya ang ngiting ipinupukol nito sa kanya kanina.
Jay was now crying. She knew it was tears of joy. Matagal na nitong gustong palitan ang tab nito dahil nagloloko na pero wala itong perang pambili. Napakabait naman ng nagregalo sa kanya ng Apple IPad Pro. It definitely worth a lot.
“Eh sino namang magbibigay nito kung hindi ikaw eh ikaw lang naman ang nagtanong sa akin kahapon.”
“Hala girl, parang suspense na nga ito. It’s a bait!” seryosong saad ni Chloe with a look of fright.
Nagtawan ang lahat maliban kay Trisha. She was thinking maybe it was from Marsden and she was very touched. Seeing how happy Jay was, she really wanted him to be here with them.
Tumingin siya kay Abby and she saw the confirmation in her eyes when their eyes met. Napansin ni Chloe na natahimik siya.
“Trish?”
“Hmm?” tanong niya sa kaibigan.
“Natahimik ka ata?”
“I’ll explain to you later,” bulong niya dito.
Bumalik na sa pagkakantahan ang mga kaibigan samantalang si Jay naman ay yakap-yakap pa rin ang regalo habang nakaupo sa mahabang supa katabi ni Abby.
★★★
Hindi makatulog si Trisha. Katabi niya sa kama si Chloe, tulog na ito at siya naman ay nakaupo at nagdadalawang isip kung pasasalamatan si Marsden o hindi. Nakapatong ang kanyang baba sa mga tuhod habang paulit-ulit na nagta-type at nagdedelete sa kanyang cellphone. Paano kung mas pinili ni Marsden na kalimutan ang pagkakaibigan nila? Paano kung napagtanto nitong mas mabuting huwag na silang magkita? Siguro ang pagbibigay nito ng regalo was a sign of closure?
No matter what, she owes Marsden a thank you for what he did. Bago sila umuwi ay kinausap niya si Abby. Sinabi nito na tinawagan siya ng assistant ni Marsden at pinakiusapan siyang alamin kung ano ang gustong regalo ni Jay. Assistant pala ni Marsden ang lalaking naka-eyeglasses na minsang nagbigay sa kanya ng macarons.
“Marsden…Marsden…Marsden. What will I do with you?!” nalilitong bulong ni Trisha.
Huminga siya ng malalim at pinagpasyahang pupuntahan ito sa office bukas.
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Be Officially Mine XXVII. The Green-Eyed Monster
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Be Officially Mine XXVIII. The Pretense
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Be Officially Mine XXIX. I Understand
“Ahmm…have a drink with me?” tanong ni Marsden sa kanya. “Please!” agad naman niyang sagot at isinirado ang car door. She was relieved dahil tama ito nang sabihing she was still in shock about what happened the previous night. Hindi niya mapigilan ang pagtaas ng kanyang mga balahibo sa batok nang masilayan ang madilim na apartment. Chloe will be here tomorrow for a sleep over. Galit na galit ito nang malaman ang nangyari at nagdesisyon na sa kanya muna matutulog for a week pagkagaling nito ng Cebu. Nahihiya siyang maging dependent kay Marsden dahil napakarami na nitong naitulong sa kanya. Mabuti na lamang at inalok siya nito ng alak. Makakatulong ito upang makalimutan ang paninikip ng kanyang dibdib sa tuwing maaalala na napakaimportante ni Vivien para kay Marsden, that maybe he felt something for her deeper than meets the eye. Napagkasunduan nilang sa condo ni Marsden na lamang mag-inuman. Dumaan sila ng convenienc
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After a while, she raised her head, blew her nose with her handkerchief and looked at him. He wiped a drop of tear upon her lip. “What happened?”“It’s because of me…it’s my fault, I killed an innocent child Mars.”“What are you talking about?”She retold Chelsea’s accusations and it angered him.“Nothing happened that night, I just let him kiss me to show him I don’t feel anything anymore, to have a closure, for him to leave me alone.”“Hey, hey, listen to me,” gently palming her cheeks with both hands. “It’s not your fault, it was an accident.”“I know, yet I’m so afraid…what if karma befell me. I know I shouldn’t because God won’t be that cruel pero kasalanan pa rin ‘yun. She lost her child because of me, because I let Ash kissed me that night. I have the choice to stop it but I didn’t–““And what are you afraid of? That someday it will also happen to you?” Napansin niyang natigilan ito. “We all have our sins Trish and what you think you’ve done is not even your fault at all.
Be Officially Mine LVII. Inescapable Guilt
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Be Officially Mine LVI. Hatred Justified?
Weeks passed and Marsden and Trisha enjoyed every moment spent with each other. They read books together, do joggings together at the park Marsden usually do joggings. Marsden stayed with her in her apartment, together they went to the office and when Marsden needed to extend his time at work, he always asked Gareth, one of his trusted employees to drive her home using Marsden’s car.Trisha knew her friends noticed the change in their relationship but she always denies it. They both agreed to keep it secret and asked Chloe and Rudy to do the same. In the eyes of the others who knew them both they were just friends. Wala rin namang malaking pagbabago dahil sanay narin ang mga kaibigan na palagi siyang hinahatid at sinusundo ni Marsden pero siguro dahil na rin sa effort nitong mahatid siya araw-araw, at sa mga chocolates na dumarating, pati na rin sa mga pagkain kapag nag-oovertime sila kaya naman minsan iba ang ngiti ni Jay sa kanya.Everyday, waking up with Marsden was like livin
Be Officially Mine LV. Lovers
When Trisha woke up the next morning, she felt like someone who had finally woken up from sleeping for years. She just lay there and closed her eyes again to thanks God for this another day. Last night she thought it would be her last or if not, Arnel would definitely left her devastated and surely ruined. She wanted to cry again, not of fear this time but thankful and relieved to have her guardian angels. “Marsden,” she whispered as his face appeared on her consciousness. She can’t stop the blush traveling over her face as she remembered something else that happened last night. Naitakip niya ang mga palad sa mukha as the events played before her eyes. Feeling giddy for the words he’d uttered and guilty, definitely guilty for sleeping on him. When finally she decided to clean up and went down to the kitchen, her stomach growled with the delicious smell coming from there. Trisha thought him gone but she heard his voice singing along with the music on his phone. Nakita niyang b
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Jade was calling Arnel for the hundredth time but it’s always out of coverage. She was anxious to know what happened and even excited to hear her enemy’s downfall. A sly grin slowly appeared over her face. Finally, if Trisha get devastated and change her positivity, Jade’s beloved Ash wouldn’t like the bitch anymore, and she will have him for good. Finally! Finally! But the bastard Arnel can’t be reached and it’s disturbing her nerves. She was about to leave and go to the bar where Arnel wasn’t banned when someone knocked on her bedroom door repeatedly. Her dad is in congress and her mom visited her friends. Who could it be? “I’m coming, I’m coming,” aniyang naiinis at padabog na binuksan ang pinto. “A-Ash!” Jade was a little bit shocked to see him and a sudden burst of anxiety dwells in her rapidly beating heart. What if Ash realized what she’d done? But he looked calm, maybe he is here to ask her out. She pasted her sweetest smile. “Hey, come in.” She led him to her sof
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“We should terminate the contract to avoid being caught up with his illegal deeds,” Marsden said in anger. “But sir–“ “Your department is the one whose responsibility is to check the credibility of the people we get into contract with. How come, that this problem is here now taunting our patience.” He looked at their eyes one by one. “Don’t make me caught you receiving commissions from our clientele just for their papers to pass the screening.” They just looked down and received his scolding. This is a serious matter. These men are in the company even when his grandfather was still the chairman. He trusted their loyalties but someone is surely having his loyalty bought. “Sir!” bulong ni Hans sa kanya. “Nasa office mo si Trisha at Drew.” Napangiti siya nang marinig ang pangalan ni Trisha pero nagulat siya ng marinig na kasama nito si Drew. Worriedly, he excused himself at pumunta sa kanyang opisina. He saw Drew outside of his office. He was angry and worried while Drew re
Be Officially Mine LII. A Savior From Hell
“Mag-oovertime ako ngayon, I have a deadline which I think, is impossible to meet.” Kausap ni Trisha sa cellphone si Rudy nang tumawag ito habang papasok siya ng rest room sa kanilang floor. “I already explained it to her, pero hindi siya nakikinig and after the meeting she just left. I’m so sorry Ruds, pati ikaw nadadamay sa mga kalokohan ko.” “Ano ka ba, sumabay ka na sa boyfriend mo…ako na ang bahala sa sarili ko at tsaka minsan lang nga kayo magkatime, aayaw ka pa.” After assuring him she’s okay kahit na hindi siya masusundo nito mamaya, in.off na niya ang cellphone at ibinulsa sa kanyang blazer. Habang naghuhugas ng kamay, naisip ni Trisha ang meeting kanina. Thankfully, hindi siya late dahil every detail ng meeting ay importante. To start, Chelsea was having an indefinite leave. Unfortunately, as Chelsea is leaving, the staff are required to finish monthly reports this week and other necesarry reports for their new boss. Trisha handles four large branches and it’s defin
Be Officially Mine LI. Violently Jealous
“God! She’s killing me!” Marsden whispered to himself when he got inside his car. It’s getting harder to control himself around her. He wanted to give in, he wanted to feel her, embraced her, wrapped himself with her heat. But his mind, the one who keeps on reminding him of his promise not to let his heart rule again over his head, waking him like a drench of cold water. He snorted with the thought that she wanted to learn flirting. She’s already a killer and he’s not sure if he can survive the next time. He tried to keep it cool, everytime this crazy attraction pulls him like a magnet and every day gets harder and harder to resist. Tomorrow, he should tell Trisha to stop what she feels because he doesn’t feel the same, such a big lie. He should stop this and if being far from her is the only solution then he had no other choice. ‘*** “Teka, ang aga pa ata nangangapitbahay ka na?” aniya
Be Officially Mine L. My New Neighbor
Days passed and Trisha and Marsden renewed their friendship. Eating together at breakfast and sometimes at dinner. But one thing that change is that he never sleepover anymore. Even when the rain never stop pouring, he always had reasons to go. Sometimes it makes Trisha laugh to think he was afraid that she would lose into temptation and ravish him at night. But then, reality also makes her sad that even though their friendship was returned, he was still careful and maybe just trying to spare her feelings…he might not have directly told her to stop but she felt how much he avoided her failed flirtations. It was not easy really, because Trisha don’t know how to flirt. With her previous relationships, she wasn’t actually into flirting, was not motivated or doesn’t have the chance or maybe theirs were different with how she felt with Marsden. However, she is quiet enjoying it. Everytime he looked at her in a way that to
