“WHAT DO YOU want for dinner, Rosa?”Nginitian ni Rose ang kanilang guide na si Jose na sumungaw sa loob ng floating cottage, he was a Dominican in his early thirties, with a charming personality. He asked her earlier if he could call her Rosa, and she said yes.“I could eat anything edible, Jose.”“Excelente!” Jose exclaimed in Spanish.Napatingin siya sa kanyang asawa na kausap na ngayon ni Jose. She was amazed hearing Russel conversing in Spanish. She was reminded that she had a genius husband.Russel was a multilingual. Noon pa man ay inaral na nito ang iba’t ibang lengguwahe. When she was a teenager, she asked him why he was learning different languages and Russel said that it could be an advantage in dealing with clients or investors with different nationalities. Noon pa man ay gusto na ni Russel na magtrabaho sa kompanya ng daddy niya. Gusto nitong makatulong sa kanyang daddy sa pagpapatakbo ng kompanya. Siguro ay ito ang paraan nito upang makapagbayad, kahit na wala naman iton
SHE WAS HOLDING her phone and scrolling at random stuff when she heard a knock on the door. Mabilis siyang tumayo at binuksan ang pinto ng floating cottage nila. Bumungad sa kanya ang dalawang pamilyar na mukha.They were part of the group they saw during the day when they were island hopping.“We are having a campfire by the beach, why don’t you and your husband join us?” the black woman said to her. She had a beautiful smile on her face.Ruby Rose could stare at her face for a long time. She was really beautiful. She had a curly untamed her, it was framing her small face. What was her name again? Hindi niya maalala ang pangalan nito kahit na nagpakilala ang grupo na kinabibilangan nito kaninang nag island hopping sila.If she remembered it clearly, the woman beside her was her wife, who looked life European. The couple were travelling from one country to another.“Thank you, ahm…” she trailed off while trying to remember their names. But her efforts were futile.“Jessie, that’s my n
THE KISS STARTED SLOW as if they were weighing each other’s feelings.Ipinalibot niya ang mga braso sa leeg ni Russel at hinila papalapit ang katawan nito sa katawan niya. She opened her mouth and met his tongue halfway.Tila may mumunting apoy na sumisindi sa kanyang katawan habang magkalapat ang mga balat nila.She could feel Russel’s weight against her and the hardness of his body. Nakipaglaro ang dila niya sa dila ni Russel at parang unti-unti na itong nadadala sa ginagawa nila.Russel’s mouth was so hot and wet. Everytime their tongue touched she felt electricity running down her spine.She touched Russel’s broad back until her hands found the hem of his shirt. Unti-unti niya iyong itinaas upang alisin ang damit sa katawan ni Russel. She wanted to touch his bare body and feet its warmth.Hindi naman siya binigo ni Russel nang tulungan siya nitong alisin ang damit nito.Itinukod ni Russel ang dalawang kamay sa magkabilang gilid niya at tinitigan ang kanyang mukha. She stared back
NAALIMPUNGATAN SI Ruby Rose nang marinig ang tunog nang humintong sasakyan sa kanilang garahe. Hindi niya namalayang nakatulog siya sa sofa sa may sala habang naghihintay sa kanyang asawa. Sinulyapan niya ang may kalakihang wall clock na nakasabit sa dingding. It was almost two in the morning, the last time she checked the time, it was ten in the evening, she slept for nearly four hours. Tumayo siya at lumakad patungo sa pinto upang pagbuksan ang asawa. “Welcome home,” bati niya rito nang nakangiti. She could immediately smell the alcohol from him, the stench was too strong that she wanted to throw up. He walked pass her without saying anything and entered their room without looking back. Ni hindi man lang siya nito tinapunan ng tingin kahit sandali man lang. Isinarado niya ang pinto at nagmamadaling tumungo sa sink upang ilabas ang mga kinain. She felt sick when she smelt the strong scent of alcohol. She drank water after she throw up, her stomach felt so empty and she was famis
HINDI NIYA ALAM kung ilang minuto na siyang nakatayo sa labas ng pinto basta ang alam niya ay kanina pa siya naroon. She sighed for the nth time and finally knocked on the door, she knocked two times but there was no response.“Are you sleeping?”Ruby Rose sighed in a mixture of disappointment and relief. Disappointment because she could not see him, she barely saw him for the whole week because he was always busy. And relief because her plan for that night would not be executed, even she thought that her plan was unreasonable. She was about to leave and go back to her room when the door opened.“What do you want? It’s late,” Russel Clarke said.Napalunok siya nang mapatingala sa mukha nito. He was really tall.Napahigpit ang hawak ni Ruby Rose sa kumot na nakapalibot sa kanyang katawan. She was trembling and it was not because of the cold. Hindi paman niya nagagawa ang binabalik ay para na siyang hihimatayin sa kaba.Mabilis siyang pumasok sa loob ng silid nito bago pa magbago ang is
7 YEARS LATER MANHATTAN, NEW YORK "What do you think is the first step to unlove someone?" the host asked. "You should stop seeing them. Seeing them often will always remind you how deep your affection towards that person. It'll be easier to unlove them if they were out of your sight. Focus on other things, pursue your dreams, focus on yourself." "That's deep. I'm wondering if it's based on your personal experiences?" "Maybe." Ruby Rose smiled playfully and shrugged her shoulders. Pinatay ni Ruby Rose ang cellphone at inilapag sa lamesa. Dinampot niya ang shades at isinuot bago umayos ng higa sa beach lounge chair.She smiled bitterly when she remembered what she answered to that question from the host of that vlog, the one she was watching on her phone. It was already uploaded in the internet.She was invited by a famous vlogger, who had millions of followers in Youtube and in other social media platforms, to be featured in one of their episodes. Their YouTube channel was known
“HMM…” Padaing na reklamo ni Ruby Rose nang masilaw sa liwanag mula sa labas. Pumasok iyon sa kanyang silid mula sa kanyang bintana na nasa uluhan niya. Someone opened her roller blind curtain and the sun was hitting her face.Itinakip niya ang kumot sa kanyang mukha at nagtangkang bumalik sa pagtulog ngunit may humila ng kumot niya. Wala siyang magawa kundi magising dahil mataas na ang sikat ng araw sa labas na tumatama sa kanya.She groaned like a wounded beast when she felt like her head was going split into two. It was the worst hangover she had ever experienced and last night was the first time she got wasted. Ni hindi niya maalala kung paano siya nakauwi sa kanyang apartment.“Get up and drink this.”Tinanggap niya ang binigay ng kanyang manager na pain reliever at baso ng tubig. Mabilis niya iyong ininom at isinandig ang likod sa pader habang nakaupo sa kanyang kama.“My head is killing me.”“You were so wasted last night; you couldn’t even stand up straight. If Carrie hadn’t c
“ROSE…”“RUBY ROSE…”“Ha?” Nagtaas ng ulo si Ruby Rose nang kalabitin siya ng kanyang kapatid na katabi niyang nakaupo habang kumakain sila ng hapunan. Tiningnan niya ito habang nakakunot ang noo.Nang ilinga niya ang mga mata palibot sa kanilang dining table ay nakita niya nakatingin sa kanya ang mga kasama. Her mother and father and her two siblings.Hindi niya gustong lumabas ng kuwarto niya kanina pero wala siyang magagawa. Iyon ang unang beses na nabuo silang pamilya sa harap ng hapag simula nang umalis siya.“What’s wrong? Kanina ka pa tinatawag ng mama mo. You don’t like the food?” Malcolm asked.Napatingin siya sa kanyang mga magulang at ngumiti. “It’s just jetlag, Dad.” Niyuko niya ang kanyang pagkain na kaunti lang ang nabawas. Hindi niya napansin kaninang nakatulala siya roon at nilaro-laro lang ng kutsara. Sumubo siya ng pagkain kahit na para bang babara iyon sa kanyang lalamunan.Tahimik siyang nagpasalamat nang makumbinsi niya ang mga ito. “How’s school?” tanong niya sa