Kabanata Apatnapu't Anim
"Ate." Tinawag ako ni Calen.
Humarap ako sa mga kapatid ko habang pinupunasan ang luha ko. Binuksan ko ang mga braso ko para sa kanila.
They all went around my bed to hug me.
"Masayang-masaya ako na nandito kayong lahat." Bulong ko sabay yakap sa kanila.
"Congrats Ate." Sabi ni Calen.
Tumango ako at humarap sa kanila.
I pinched Calvin's rosy cheek.
"I miss you all."
Hinayaan kong batiin ako ng bawat tao sa silid bago sila mag paalam umalis.
I f
Kabanata Apatnapu't pito "Hindi ka ba nagpaalam sa kanila?" Tanong ni Lindsey habang pinapatulog ang anak. Umiling ako at ngumiti lang. Jacob fist bumped Carlo and Calvin. Calen was on the side of his girlfriend. He could walk again without the help of anybody. Jacob waved goodbye to my Aunt and Uncle as he entered his car. Ngayon ang unang araw niya sa kumpanya namin. Uncle assigned him as the new acting CEO. I am so proud of him. "Cindy, alam mong tatanggapin ka nila. Pamilya mo sila." Sabi pa ni Lindsey. Humarap ako sa kanya.
Kabanata Apatnapu't Walo Makalipas ang limang taon. "Jake please, tigilan mo na ang pagtatrabaho sa bahay!" Jessica crossed her arms in front of me. She's pouting her lips like a brat that she is. "Hindi ako pupunta sa party, Jessica. May appointment ako bukas sa guidance counselor ni Calvin." Sabi ko at minasahe ang gilid ng ulo ko. Napa away na naman si Calvin last week. I sighed as I remembered his reason. 'I won't stop fighting until Ate comes back!' Si Calvin ang sakit ng ulo ko sa kanilang tatlo. Siguradong namana niya ito sa At
Kabanata Apatnapu't Siyam Calvin and I laughed as I let him drive my car. "I saw a stolen picture of you on her phone!" He beamed. Umiling ako at ginulo ang buhok niya. "Be a good boy and I will teach you how to charm girls." Sabi ko at tinuro ang susunod na kanto. "Girls are complicated." Aniya at napakamot sa batok. "Saan talaga tayo pupunta?" Tanong niya. Tumingin ako sa side view mirror. Halos wala talagang nagbago sa bayang ito. "Just drive. Malapit na tayo." I said as I read the town's name on my mind. 'Welcome to San Rafael'
Kabanata Limampu Cindy couldn’t stop crying. I hit my forehead using my palm. “Babe our daughter might think that I made you cry. Huminahon ka.” Sabi ko at hinawakan ang mukha niya. I wiped the tears away from her beautiful eyes. “You did make me cry!” Aniya at tinulak ang dibdib ko. Umupo ako sa tabi niya. "Hindi ko naisip na iiyak ka. Hush now, please. I turned my back on that job years ago.” Sabi ko at hinimas himas ang likod niya. "Hindi mo din sinabi sa akin ang tungkol sa pagiging vigilante mo. What you have done was more dangerous than my job.” Mahinahon kong paliwanag. Ayokong sabayan ang pag tatampo niya. I al
Huling Kabanata"Amethyst, sweetheart can you ask Daddy to get Mommy's scarf please?" I asked, my four years old daughter.Humarap siya sa akin at ngumiti."Sure, Mommy. But can I bring my teddy?" Tanong niya gamit ang mapupungay na mga mata.Paano naman ako makakahindi? Bumuntong hininga ako at tumango."But first we have to make a deal. Walang paglalaro sa loob ng theater okay?” Kailangan nating panoorin at suportahan si Ate Chelsey." Sabi ko at sinara ang zipper ng violin bag ng panganay ko.Today is her recital.Amethyst jumped in joy and ran to the door."Careful baby." Si
Kabanata Isa"Cindy sweetheart, please stay away from him. Hindi siya makakabuti para sa'yo." pagmamakaawa ni Mommy.Ngayon ay ika labing pintong kaarawan ko at patuloy na hinihiling ni Mommy na makipaghiwalay ako sa kasintahan kong si Leo. Great. Just great."Mommy huwag mong gawin sa akin ito. Alam mong mahal ko siya. Not now please. " sagot ako.Nakilala ko si Leo noong nakaraang taon, nasa entrance kami ng Imperial ice bar ng mga kaibigan ko.We got faked ID's and the guard won't let us in.Tinitigan akong mabuti ng guard at sinabing 'HINDI pinapayagan ang mga menor de edad sa bar na ito. It was my first time going to a bar. It was just a challenge with my friends but we got busted anyway.Isang grupo ng mga lalaki ang lumabas at doon. Isa doon si Leo. Nakasuot siya ng puting shirt, leather jacket at itim na pantalon. Mukha siyang tipsy ngunit siya ay ngumiti at kumaway sa akin."Hija you just turned seventeen oday, how old is he? Twenty five! Oh my God Cindy. Kapag nalaman ito ng D
Kabanata dalawaBago niya ako ulit mahalikan.A phone rang. We both looked where the sound was coming from.Nasa loob ng bag ko. Shit Shit Shit Anong oras na?Bumangon ako at dali-dali kong hinanap ang phone ko sa bag.Shit. I'm sure it's Dad.I saw who's calling. Wait. Unknown number? Sino ito?I felt Leo's body at my back. "Sino yan?" tanong niya."I don't know. It's unregistered." sagot ko."Answer it." he demanded.Niyakap niya ako sa likuran ko."Hello? Who's this?" I asked the caller."Ms. Cindy? This is Simon. Tumawag sa akin si Mr. Lopez. Kailangan na po nating umuwi." Oh. The driver.I totally forgot about him. Wrong timing."Just give me a couple of minutes. We're almost done. Just stay in the car." I dropped the call before he could speak and put my phone in silent mode."Bodyguard? Maaga pa." Leo pouted.I chuckled. Napaka-cute niya kapag ginawa niya iyon. He looked like a baby with tantrums."That's Simon, my new driver. Dad gave me my dream car for my birthday. He said
Kabanata tatloDad cancelled our office day. He has an emergency in one of his projects. He looked so worried when I saw him running to his car. “Mom anong nangyari?” I asked. I'm all dressed up."I'm not sure Hija, but I hope it's not serious." Hinawakan ni Mom ang kamay ko."Come on, eat your breakfast. Join your brothers." Yaya niya sakin.Una kong nakita si Calen. Nagbabasa siya ng isang libro habang umiinom ng kanyang chocolate drink."Hi Ate!" Ngumiti sa akin si Calvin. Bunso namin siya. Nuod tayo spider man?" Tumalon siya mula sa kanyang upuan at tumakbo sa akin. Niyakap niya ang kaliwang paa ko. He's just 3 years old and he loves spider man."Tapusin mo muna ang pancake mo baby." binuhat ko siya at binaba sa high chair niya."Masarap." He clapped and dug in his plate.Napangiti ako sa kanya.Nagtext sa akin si Stef. Sinabi niya sa akin na pupunta si Steven dito ngayon para dalhin ang mga gamit ko at regalo ni Leo na naiwan namin sa condo. “Hija gusto mo ba ng French toast?" T
Huling Kabanata"Amethyst, sweetheart can you ask Daddy to get Mommy's scarf please?" I asked, my four years old daughter.Humarap siya sa akin at ngumiti."Sure, Mommy. But can I bring my teddy?" Tanong niya gamit ang mapupungay na mga mata.Paano naman ako makakahindi? Bumuntong hininga ako at tumango."But first we have to make a deal. Walang paglalaro sa loob ng theater okay?” Kailangan nating panoorin at suportahan si Ate Chelsey." Sabi ko at sinara ang zipper ng violin bag ng panganay ko.Today is her recital.Amethyst jumped in joy and ran to the door."Careful baby." Si
Kabanata Limampu Cindy couldn’t stop crying. I hit my forehead using my palm. “Babe our daughter might think that I made you cry. Huminahon ka.” Sabi ko at hinawakan ang mukha niya. I wiped the tears away from her beautiful eyes. “You did make me cry!” Aniya at tinulak ang dibdib ko. Umupo ako sa tabi niya. "Hindi ko naisip na iiyak ka. Hush now, please. I turned my back on that job years ago.” Sabi ko at hinimas himas ang likod niya. "Hindi mo din sinabi sa akin ang tungkol sa pagiging vigilante mo. What you have done was more dangerous than my job.” Mahinahon kong paliwanag. Ayokong sabayan ang pag tatampo niya. I al
Kabanata Apatnapu't Siyam Calvin and I laughed as I let him drive my car. "I saw a stolen picture of you on her phone!" He beamed. Umiling ako at ginulo ang buhok niya. "Be a good boy and I will teach you how to charm girls." Sabi ko at tinuro ang susunod na kanto. "Girls are complicated." Aniya at napakamot sa batok. "Saan talaga tayo pupunta?" Tanong niya. Tumingin ako sa side view mirror. Halos wala talagang nagbago sa bayang ito. "Just drive. Malapit na tayo." I said as I read the town's name on my mind. 'Welcome to San Rafael'
Kabanata Apatnapu't Walo Makalipas ang limang taon. "Jake please, tigilan mo na ang pagtatrabaho sa bahay!" Jessica crossed her arms in front of me. She's pouting her lips like a brat that she is. "Hindi ako pupunta sa party, Jessica. May appointment ako bukas sa guidance counselor ni Calvin." Sabi ko at minasahe ang gilid ng ulo ko. Napa away na naman si Calvin last week. I sighed as I remembered his reason. 'I won't stop fighting until Ate comes back!' Si Calvin ang sakit ng ulo ko sa kanilang tatlo. Siguradong namana niya ito sa At
Kabanata Apatnapu't pito "Hindi ka ba nagpaalam sa kanila?" Tanong ni Lindsey habang pinapatulog ang anak. Umiling ako at ngumiti lang. Jacob fist bumped Carlo and Calvin. Calen was on the side of his girlfriend. He could walk again without the help of anybody. Jacob waved goodbye to my Aunt and Uncle as he entered his car. Ngayon ang unang araw niya sa kumpanya namin. Uncle assigned him as the new acting CEO. I am so proud of him. "Cindy, alam mong tatanggapin ka nila. Pamilya mo sila." Sabi pa ni Lindsey. Humarap ako sa kanya.
Kabanata Apatnapu't Anim "Ate." Tinawag ako ni Calen. Humarap ako sa mga kapatid ko habang pinupunasan ang luha ko. Binuksan ko ang mga braso ko para sa kanila. They all went around my bed to hug me. "Masayang-masaya ako na nandito kayong lahat." Bulong ko sabay yakap sa kanila. "Congrats Ate." Sabi ni Calen. Tumango ako at humarap sa kanila. I pinched Calvin's rosy cheek. "I miss you all." Hinayaan kong batiin ako ng bawat tao sa silid bago sila mag paalam umalis. I f
Kabanata Apatnapu't Lima I blinked two times to adjust my vision. I heard a commotion outside of the door. Nilibot ko ang paningin ko sa buong kwarto. Wala sina Jacob at Jessy. I blinked again but my vision didn’t improve. I raised my hand to see a needle in my arm. I pushed myself up. Nasaan sila? Sinubukan kong iunat ang aking likuran pero isang biglang sakit ang naramdaman ko. "Shit. It stings." I cursed. Nanunuyo ang lalamunan ko. The door opened slowly, Jacob walked in with an angry face. He looked straight to me. His
Kabanata Apatnapu't Apat Hawak ni Jacob ang aking mga kamay habang binibigkas niya ang kanyang mga pangako. “...to have and to hold, to honor you, to treasure you, and to love and cherish you always. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life. I promise you this from my heart, for all the days of my life.” Ngumiti siya at hinalikan ang aking mga kamay. Pinunasan ko ang luhang tumulo sa pisngi niya. He mouthed ‘I love you’ as I recite my vows to him. I stopped and hugged him tight. “Read your vows properly. You’re stuttering.” I heard him curse quietly as he pushed me off of him. Napatakip ako ng bibig nang makita ko ang mukha ni Leo sa harapan ko
Kabanata Apatnapu't Tatlo I still couldn't believe that Mina died because of my recklessness. Kinulong ulit ako ni Leo sa loob ng silid. He just left a glass of water in a paper cup. Tinanggal ng kanyang mga tauhan ang lahat ng babasagin at metal na bagay sa loob ng silid. I closed my eyes, thinking of my brothers. If I die in Leo's hands they will be traumatized for the rest of their life. I sighed as I think of ways on how to escape this hell hole. My feet and my one wrist were tied up again. I reached for the paper cup and drank all of the water. I need a clear mind now. Napangiwi ako nang makita ko ang mga sugat ko. Pinikit ko ulit ang aking mga mata at ini