(WARNING: THIS CHAPTER MAY TRIGGER YOUR ANXIETY/DEPRESSION/PANIC DISORDER)"Thank God you're stupider than me. I thought I was the most dimwitted person on earth." I laughed mockingly and wiped my tears. "Do you really think you can shove that lie at me? You did me wrong and you still had the fvcking audacity to turn the tables to put the blame on me? Cut that shit and, for once, act like a man!" I screamed and pushed him hard on his chest.Para naman siyang walang lakas na nagpadala sa tulak ko. He looked lost. Nakayuko lang siya at tila nawalan ng planong magsalita pa."Ang kapal ng mukha mo para ipagpilitang nagloko ako! Ang kapal ng mukha mo para gumawa ng k'wento kahit pa alam nating lahat ang totoo! Putangina, anong klaseng tao ka? Tao ka pa nga ba?" Nakagat ko ang ibaba kong labi dahil gusto na namang kumawala ng mga hikbi ko. "Ganiyan ka na ba talaga? Ganiyan na ba talaga kayo? Lahat na lang ng kagaguhan niyo pipilitin niyong ipalunok sa akin. Putangina, anak ko ang pinatay ni
I felt someone brushing my hair as I awoke. Gently and sweetly, as though lulling me back to sleep. It was cold all around me, and there's also a strange, familiar smell that stings my nose."Baby, I'm always here for you. We will get through this," I heard someone mutter, and then felt something touch my forehead.Marahan akong nagmulat at bumungad sa akin ang namumungay na mga mata ni Zachary. Bakas ang pag-aalala at pamomroblema sa kaniyang mukha. Gulo-gulo ang kaniyang buhok at halos nangingitim din ang ilalim ng kaniyang mga mata, tila ba ilang araw siyang hindi nakatulog. Blangko lang naman ang ekspresyon ko, binalewala ko ang kaniyang presensya at inilibot ang paningin ko sa paligid. Puro puti ang pintura ng silid, nakahiga ako sa isang hospital bed habang may nakakabit na dextrose sa akin. Hindi rin nakatakas sa paningin ko ang benda sa aking pupulsuhan. Sa mga sandaling iyon ay unti-unting bumalik ang mga alaala ko bago pa man ako mawalan ng malay. Muli akong pumikit at pagod
It's been two weeks since Zachary brought me to his condo. At first, I had no idea why we didn't go to Nanay Victoria's house, but then I heard his phone call with his friend, Thelmo. He wanted me to be close to a psychologist so that if I ever thought about getting checked, it would be easy. I just shrugged it off and kept ignoring him. Napatuon ang atensyon ko kay Angel nang muntikan na siyang mahulog sa cat condo na binili ni Zachary noong isang araw. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pinag-aaksayahan niya ng pera ang pusa ko, kayang-kaya ko namang i-provide 'yon. I am her mother, he's a stranger. Ano'ng karapatan niya para umaktong co-parent sa pusa ko? Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kuting. Maingat ko siyang dinampot at dinala sa kama, hinaplos ko ang kaniyang balahibo habang bahagyang nakanguso. Sinubukan niyang kumawala sa kandungan ko para muling tumakbo sa cat condo na nasa gilid ng k'warto, pero pinigilan ko siya. "Ikaw, ah? Nagpapaloko ka sa isang 'yon," ani ko at umirap. "Cheap lang 'y
(WARNING: This chapter may contain content of an adult nature. If you are easily offended or are under the age of 18, please exit now. Pero s'yempre hindi ka susunod 17below.)It was already past four in the afternoon when I woke up. I didn't even realize that I fell asleep crying. A small table on the side of the bed caught my eye as I gazed around the room. In addition to a bouquet of flowers, there was a plate of stir-fried noodles on it. I approached the table with nothing on my mind when I noticed a note on the edge of the plate. I took it and read it right away.To the most gorgeous woman I've ever met,I'm sorry. Whatever I did wrong, which I don't know, I want to apologize for it. I hope this small gesture will help you feel better.Ilang segundo kong tinitigan ang sulat niya. Pilit kong inaalala ang dahilan ng galit ko kanina pero tila hindi ko alam kung saan iyon hahanapin ngayon. Naguguluhan ako sa inasta ko. Kahit anong gawin ko, hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit sumama ang
(TRIGGER WARNING)Zachary was sound asleep next to me as I stared silently up at the ceiling. He gave me a warm hug around the waist while his head sat on my neck. I glanced at him for a second, then sighed warily.I asked him to fvck me, not because I wanted to, but because I needed him to do that in order to prove to myself that he and Eunice are still connected. But I admit, I was lost for a moment when we were busy doing that. It was as if my libido fully controlled my body, and I didn't feel any disgust.Isang buntonghininga na lamang ang pinakawalan ko at marahan na umalis sa pagkakayakap niya. Hinila ko ang comforter na tumatabon sa hubad naming katawan at umupo, ipinulupot ko ang kumot sa akin. Wala sa sarili kong nasuklay ang aking buhok gamit ang aking mga daliri saka siya muling nilingon.On a sinking ship with all of us on board, Zachary chose to abandon Eunice. Why? I am unaware of that. What is the strongest potential cause for him to break his previous commitment to her
A mixture of machine noise and whispers woke me up from my deep sleep. My eyesight was blurry as I gently opened my eyes. I wasn't sure if I was awake or in delirium. There were a few vague people I couldn't figure out, including one wearing a white lab coat and a man in front of him who had his back to me. They were speaking, but I was having trouble understanding them.What's going on?Sinubukan kong ibuka ang bibig ko para magsalita, pero hindi ko magawa. Tila may kung anong nakaharang sa lalamunan ko na hindi ko matukoy kung ano. Para ding sinasaksak ang bawat parte ng katawan ko, tipong namamanhid sa matinding sakit. Muli kong inilibot ang paningin ko, gano'n pa rin. Malabo at parang inaalon ang bawat matuunan ng mga mata ko."I'm sorry, we really tried to save them both . . ." I heard someone mumble as my eyelids closed again, slowly.May mga pagmumura pa akong narinig pero hindi ko na iyon nasundan pa. Para akong nasa kawalan, naliligaw sa dilim. Walang anumang liwanag na pupun
I know I am enough for my child; however, sometimes I also thought that if I were to disappear, who would stay longer at Angelei's grave like I did? And right now, God has given me the answer to that. I smiled bitterly as I watched Zachary kneeling and silently crying in front of Angelei's grave. I don't know how many hours we have been here; after I was admitted to the hospital for four days, I asked him to drive here first. I know it's too late, but I still want to make up for it and clear his name.Sa buong dalawang taon na lumipas, naging karamay ko si Angelei sa lahat ng sakit at galit na dala-dala ko. Ipinadama ko sa kaniya na kaming dalawa lang ang magkakampi, ipinakargo ko ang puot na mayroon ako para kay Zachary. Kaya naman ngayong alam ko na ang katotohanan sa likod ng miserable kong pinagdaanan, alam kong kailangan kong ayusin ang lahat. Hindi lang ako ang nasaktan. Sa bawat luhang pumapatak sa pisngi ni Zachary alam ko na katulad ko ay hindi niya rin maiwasang sisihin ang
I'd be lying if I denied that I wasn't exhausted from the fight I was in. For two years, anger kept me alive, but that didn't mean I wasn't slowly being drained. The people I trusted betrayed me, and even if my anger towards them reached the sky, the pain they left in my heart is still there. I was always aware that the road I was going to take would not be easy. I didn't just want justice for my unborn child; I also wanted to destroy their lives in every way to satisfy myself. Now that I'm slowly getting it, I feel like I'm lost in nowhere."Wala naman kayong balak gawing hotel ang ospital, 'di ba?" pagsusumubok magbiro ni Aireen.Inirapan ko lang siya. "Umalis ka na nga, hinihintay ka na ng fvckbuddy mo sa baba."Akala ko ay papatulan niya ang pang-aasar ko, pero tumitig lang siya sa akin. Naroon ang lungkot sa mga mata niya na hindi ko alam kung para saan. Mayamaya pa ay isang pilit na ngiti ang pinakawalan niya bago ako tinapik sa balikat."Tawagan mo na lang ako ulit kapag may ka
Study, graduate school, and work. Actually, that's the only plan I have for my life. My studies come before anything else, no matter how much time my buddies and I spend hanging out or drinking. But I had a different goal when I met Atasha Rodriguez. She is simple but beautiful. Her appeal was so strong that even if she were just sitting and busy with what she was sketching, she seemed like an angel in my eyes."Ikaw, ah? Matagal ko na napapansin ang lagkit ng tingin mo roon sa fine art student na malimit nakatambay sa bench," puna ni Thelmo nang minsan kaming nag-inuman sa dorm niya.Mabilis namang umigting ang panga ko at matalim siyang tiningnan. "How did you know her?""Whoa! Chill, walang aagaw sa chikababe mo," aniya habang nakataas pa ang dalawang kamay sa ere. "Obvious naman kasi kung anong course ang kinukuha niya, bukod pa roon amoy ko na ang pasimple mong pagdaan sa room nila kahit mas mabilis doon sa kabilang pathway."Tumawa naman ang iba naming kasama at inulan ako ng ka
We won, and all the people who have sinned against us are already behind bars. I don't know how Zachary was able to sue Tita Ayna, but I am grateful to him anyway. I can now face our children in peace.Masama man maging masaya sa kalungkutan ng iba ay hindi ko maiwasan. Sa loob ng dalawang taon, nakuha ko na rin ang hustisya para sa amin. Para akong nasagip sa pagkalunod, nakahinga at nakakita ng bagong pag-asa para ipagpatuloy ang buhay na minsan ko ng sinukuan."W-We did it," utal at naiiyak kong sambit habang niyayakap si Zachary.Mabilis namang pumulupot pabalik ang kaniyang mga braso sa baywang ko at pinatakan ng halik ang aking buhok. "You are now free, baby . . ." rinig kong usal niya.Napahagulgol na lamang ako. Hindi ko mapigilan ang sayang kumakawala sa dibdib ko at alam kong gano'n din siya. Tapos na, tapos na ang laban naming dalawa."Thank you. Hindi ito magiging posible kung wala ka," ani ko sa pagitan ng aking paghikbi.Naramdaman ko naman ang pag-iling niya saka ako ma
The following weeks passed quickly. We stayed at Nanay Victoria's home for two days before returning to Manila. Zachary and I wasted no time; he underwent counseling after our assessment, while I, on the other hand, had a therapy session. It was a little difficult for me because I had to go over everything again so that the doctor who was looking at me could understand my condition. Nevertheless, I was comforted to know that I had someone by my side the entire time.I was diagnosed with PTSD. I'm not surprised because that's what my old doctor in America confirmed to me. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is not curable, but people with this condition can improve their symptoms significantly.Hindi ko maiwasang humanga kung gaano kapropesyonal si Thelmo sa trabaho. Magkakilala man siya ni Zachary ay hindi siya naging opinionated. Kaibigan siya sa labas ng hospital habang doktor naman sa loob. Hindi niya ako pinipilit magsalita sakaling hindi ako kumportable. Nakaalalay siya sa bawat sasab
I used to believe there was nothing more agonizing than what I went through, but now I'm being forced to feel it twice as much. It's been two days since I found out about the deaths of my pet kitten and my unborn child, but I still don't know how to accept it. I felt like I was losing my mind.Angel suffered a deadly wound that resulted in significant bleeding before she passed away. Unfortunately, I dropped her after getting hit on the head, and a shard of glass punctured her chest. While I lost my baby because my body was weak and I was under a lot of stress, I also had to be injected with some drugs.Wala sa sarili akong napahawak sa impis kong tiyan habang tulalang nakatanaw sa labas ng bintana. Hindi ko alam kung alin ang mas masakit, mawalan ng anak na alam mong dinadala mo o mawalan nang hindi mo man lang nalalaman na may buhay pa lang namumuo sa loob ng katawan mo. Napabuntonghininga ako at pilit na nilunok ang sakit na nagbabara sa aking lalamunan. Gusto kong umiyak, pero par
I'd be lying if I denied that I wasn't exhausted from the fight I was in. For two years, anger kept me alive, but that didn't mean I wasn't slowly being drained. The people I trusted betrayed me, and even if my anger towards them reached the sky, the pain they left in my heart is still there. I was always aware that the road I was going to take would not be easy. I didn't just want justice for my unborn child; I also wanted to destroy their lives in every way to satisfy myself. Now that I'm slowly getting it, I feel like I'm lost in nowhere."Wala naman kayong balak gawing hotel ang ospital, 'di ba?" pagsusumubok magbiro ni Aireen.Inirapan ko lang siya. "Umalis ka na nga, hinihintay ka na ng fvckbuddy mo sa baba."Akala ko ay papatulan niya ang pang-aasar ko, pero tumitig lang siya sa akin. Naroon ang lungkot sa mga mata niya na hindi ko alam kung para saan. Mayamaya pa ay isang pilit na ngiti ang pinakawalan niya bago ako tinapik sa balikat."Tawagan mo na lang ako ulit kapag may ka
I know I am enough for my child; however, sometimes I also thought that if I were to disappear, who would stay longer at Angelei's grave like I did? And right now, God has given me the answer to that. I smiled bitterly as I watched Zachary kneeling and silently crying in front of Angelei's grave. I don't know how many hours we have been here; after I was admitted to the hospital for four days, I asked him to drive here first. I know it's too late, but I still want to make up for it and clear his name.Sa buong dalawang taon na lumipas, naging karamay ko si Angelei sa lahat ng sakit at galit na dala-dala ko. Ipinadama ko sa kaniya na kaming dalawa lang ang magkakampi, ipinakargo ko ang puot na mayroon ako para kay Zachary. Kaya naman ngayong alam ko na ang katotohanan sa likod ng miserable kong pinagdaanan, alam kong kailangan kong ayusin ang lahat. Hindi lang ako ang nasaktan. Sa bawat luhang pumapatak sa pisngi ni Zachary alam ko na katulad ko ay hindi niya rin maiwasang sisihin ang
A mixture of machine noise and whispers woke me up from my deep sleep. My eyesight was blurry as I gently opened my eyes. I wasn't sure if I was awake or in delirium. There were a few vague people I couldn't figure out, including one wearing a white lab coat and a man in front of him who had his back to me. They were speaking, but I was having trouble understanding them.What's going on?Sinubukan kong ibuka ang bibig ko para magsalita, pero hindi ko magawa. Tila may kung anong nakaharang sa lalamunan ko na hindi ko matukoy kung ano. Para ding sinasaksak ang bawat parte ng katawan ko, tipong namamanhid sa matinding sakit. Muli kong inilibot ang paningin ko, gano'n pa rin. Malabo at parang inaalon ang bawat matuunan ng mga mata ko."I'm sorry, we really tried to save them both . . ." I heard someone mumble as my eyelids closed again, slowly.May mga pagmumura pa akong narinig pero hindi ko na iyon nasundan pa. Para akong nasa kawalan, naliligaw sa dilim. Walang anumang liwanag na pupun
(TRIGGER WARNING)Zachary was sound asleep next to me as I stared silently up at the ceiling. He gave me a warm hug around the waist while his head sat on my neck. I glanced at him for a second, then sighed warily.I asked him to fvck me, not because I wanted to, but because I needed him to do that in order to prove to myself that he and Eunice are still connected. But I admit, I was lost for a moment when we were busy doing that. It was as if my libido fully controlled my body, and I didn't feel any disgust.Isang buntonghininga na lamang ang pinakawalan ko at marahan na umalis sa pagkakayakap niya. Hinila ko ang comforter na tumatabon sa hubad naming katawan at umupo, ipinulupot ko ang kumot sa akin. Wala sa sarili kong nasuklay ang aking buhok gamit ang aking mga daliri saka siya muling nilingon.On a sinking ship with all of us on board, Zachary chose to abandon Eunice. Why? I am unaware of that. What is the strongest potential cause for him to break his previous commitment to her
(WARNING: This chapter may contain content of an adult nature. If you are easily offended or are under the age of 18, please exit now. Pero s'yempre hindi ka susunod 17below.)It was already past four in the afternoon when I woke up. I didn't even realize that I fell asleep crying. A small table on the side of the bed caught my eye as I gazed around the room. In addition to a bouquet of flowers, there was a plate of stir-fried noodles on it. I approached the table with nothing on my mind when I noticed a note on the edge of the plate. I took it and read it right away.To the most gorgeous woman I've ever met,I'm sorry. Whatever I did wrong, which I don't know, I want to apologize for it. I hope this small gesture will help you feel better.Ilang segundo kong tinitigan ang sulat niya. Pilit kong inaalala ang dahilan ng galit ko kanina pero tila hindi ko alam kung saan iyon hahanapin ngayon. Naguguluhan ako sa inasta ko. Kahit anong gawin ko, hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit sumama ang