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
(⚠️WARNING: YOU'RE ENTERING A RATED 18 ZONE. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED⚠️)Everyone was happy. They were drinking and congratulating the soon to be husband—Zachary Villarreal.Nakaupo siya sa six-seater sofa habang katabi ang mga kaibigan niya. Hindi ko mabakas ang emosyon niya dahil mula nang pinanood ko siya ay seryoso lamang ang kanyang mukha. It's his stag party today. Tatlong linggo pa bago ang kasal pero ipinaghanda na siya agad ng mga kaibigan niya sa kanyang condo. I smirked when I saw how his eyes flushed because of the alcohol. The way his long lashes moved slowly against the light, I knew he was already drunk."We have a surprise for you," his friend from his left uttered, and he let out a loud laugh.Based on my knowledge, he's Thelmo—one of the groom's closest friends. Siya rin ang nag-asikaso ng party para sa gabing ito.Mabilis na naghiyawan ang ibang mga lalaki na tila nakuha agad kung anuman ang tinutukoy ng nagsalita. Zachary slowly shook his head with a smile on his face
(⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️)"Tingin mo ba ay masisira mo ang kasal naming dalawa? Is this why you're doing this?" My focus turned to her again. We stared at each other for a second. She gave a mocking laugh and shook her head incredulously. "Wala kang pinagbago, Atasha," singhal niya.Umismid naman ako saka tumayo bitbit ang kumot na nakapulupot sa aking katawan. Without asking, I went to Zachary's closet and picked one of his oversized t-shirts. Pumili na rin ako ng shorts doon at saka walang pakialam na nagbihis sa paningin nila. Nang matapos sa pag-aayos ay saka ko binalingan ng tingin ang kapatid ko. Zachary was still sitting on the bed with his boxers on."Eunice, masyado ka namang overthinker," saad ko at bahagyang humalakhak. "Sirain agad? Hindi ba p'wedeng na-miss ko lang ang ex ko?" Nanunuya akong ngumiti."How dare you!" Mabilis siyang lumapit sa akin at ginawaran ako ng isang sampal.Hindi naman ako natinag sa p'westo ko at ngumiti. "What? Isn't this normal? Akala ko kasi oka
It's been two years. I'm not sure if time actually passes swiftly or if I just don't forget things easily. I just shook my head and wore my glasses before looking back at the big house in front of me. "Welcome back, Atasha," pagkausap ko sa aking sarili saka nagsimulang maglakad papasok sa bakuran.Nothing's changed. The mansion's interior and exterior still share the same aesthetic. My heels made noise every time I stepped on the marble floor. I couldn't help but become serious when my memories progressively brought me back to what happened two years ago.Mapait akong ngumiti. Pamilya. Sabi nila, talikuran mo na raw ang lahat huwag lang ang pamilya mo dahil sila lang ang p'wede mong asahan hanggang dulo. But that's not the case for me. Paano ko pahahalagahan ang pamilya ko kung sila mismo ang sumira sa akin?"What are you doing here?" Napaismid ako nang marinig ang boses ni Eunice. Tumigil ako sa gitna ng malaking salas ng bahay at saka inangat ang paningin ko sa kaniya. Naglalaka
One . . . two . . . three . . . Three clicks of my pen and Zachary's eyes darted on me again. After disturbing his class, he continued teaching his so-called students. He didn't even bother to give me the momentum to introduce myself up front.Hindi ko iniintindi ang itinuturo niya kahit na may kaunting interes ako roon. Nanatili lang nakasunod ang mga mata ko sa bawat galaw niya. Magaling siyang magturo, inaamin ko. Well, hindi naman siya magiging professor kung hindi. I licked my lower lip and lazily leaned my back against my seat, exposing my leg under the slit of my fitted dress."Ms. Rodriguez, what the hell are you doing?" A smirk crept into my lips when I heard his baritone voice. His eyes were glaring at me; it was as if he was killing me with them. The veins popping out on his neck didn't even escape my sight.How many times will I watch him go to this state after I come back? I chuckled in the back of my mind.Inosente akong nagtaas ng kaliwang kilay. "What do you mean, S
(⚠️WARNING: LOWER YOUR PHONE LIGHT. WALK AWAY FROM PEOPLE. SUPRESS YOUR SMILE. AGES 17BELOW, SKIP THIS CHAP. KAPAG NAHULI KA WALA AKONG KASALANAN, AH! ⚠️ )"Hmmngh . . ." I muffled a moan under Zachary's hand. He was ruthlessly claiming me while covering my lips with one of his hands, silencing my audible groans. My left knee was grasping his other arm as I was pressed against the restroom wall. "Hush. Tone down your voice," he grunted under my neck. My back arched when he sucked on my tits like a hungry baby. He pinched the top of it with his teeth and licked them with his tongue. I was engulfed by anguish and pleasure. I felt as though he was torturing me while also leading me to the ninth cloud."Fvck," I heard him murmur; he seem frustrated.He removed his hand from my mouth and hoisted my other leg in one swift motion. My knees embraced his hips, and my arms wrapped around his neck for support. I groaningly moaned when I felt him filling me to the brim. My back nearly scraped
I could tell I wasn't in my own room by the manly scent that greeted me when I woke up. While I relived the events before I fell asleep, I kept my eyes closed and felt my surroundings. I momentarily went into shock since I had assumed no one else was nearby when an arm unexpectedly snaked around my waist and a warm breath brushed the side of my neck.Slowly, it dawned on me. I am at Zachary's place. We're on his bed, sleeping together.Hindi ko alam kung paano kikilos, kung paano mag-iisip. Bahagyang nablangko ang utak ko dahil sa nangyayari. Hindi ko inaasahan ito.Is he still asleep?That explained why he's acting like this. His body moved unconsciously without knowing that I was the one who was beside him, not Eunice. I almost rolled my eyes in the back of my mind.Hinayaan ko siya habang nagpatuloy naman ako sa pagpapanggap kong tulog. Bukod sa pagod pa rin ako ay nararamdaman ko ang kirot sa aking buong katawan. Hindi na ako magtataka kung sakaling may mapansin akong mga pasa mam
I confidently strode down the hallway wearing a simple backless top and a short fairy skirt. Tracking down the classroom where my favorite professor was teaching. Mind the sarcasm.Two days passed, and during that time I did not attend any class. I spent my time relaxing and catching up on some projects that have been on my mind since I returned from the Philippines. I am a fashion designer, and I have my own clothing line. Even though it was not extremely famous, I could say that it was known somehow. I have four branches, two in America and two here in the Philippines.Hindi na ako nag-abalang kumatok at basta na lang pumasok sa loob ng silid. Katulad noon, agad na tumama sa akin ang paningin ni Zachary sa kalagitnaan ng kaniyang pagtuturo. Umigting ang panga niya at matalim akong tiningnan."Ms. Rodriguez," he mumbled and looked at his watch. "Are you aware that you are thirty minutes late for my class?" He raised his eyebrow and scanned me from head to toe.One thing I liked about
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