[LARA AUSTIN] Dalhia and I presented resignation letters to our respective jobs when we returned. After that night in our escapade, I saw how terrified Dalhia was and wanted me to leave Paris at any cost. At first, I could not understand, and she did not intend to tell. Sooner, Dalhia explained what happened that night, leaving me puzzled. Kasal na si Elton kay EL kaya hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit pa niya ako hinahanap kay Dalhia. It just doesn't make sense. And Dalhia keeps telling me that I'm not safe with Elton. That I need to stay far away from Elton. "Are you done packing your things, Lara?" Napalingon ako sa kanya. "Yup. How about you?" Nag-aalala ako sa nakikita kong pagka balisa ni Dalhia simula ng magkita sila ulit ni Elton. Why did Elton hurt her? "Are you sure about this, Lara? Hindi mo naman ako kailangan isama ng London." Yes, I do need her by my side. Feeling ko hindi ko na siya ulit makikita kapag nagkalayo nanaman kami. Ramdam kong may hindi siya sinasabi
[DEENA DY]"What are you doing here?! Where's EL?!" Inulit ko ang tanong ng hindi ito sumagot. "Deena, why are you talking to her that way?" Dumating naman si Piper pero tila nawala ako sa sarili ko. "Lara tinatanong kita!" Muling tanong ko kay Lara na hindi pinansin si Piper. "Obligasyon ko bang sagutin yang tanong mo? We broke up!" "Broke up?! What are you talking about?" Takang taka ako at hindi matanggap ang sinabi niya. "What is it to you? Relationships don't mean always to end well. Circumstances happen, okay?""You cheated on her?" Uminit ang buong mukha ko at umakyat na sa ulo ko ang maraming katanungan. Kumakabog ang dibdib ko sa paraang hindi ko maipaliwanag. "Fuck! Deena.. What's your point here, anyway?" Galit na galit ito at bakit siya nagagalit? "I gave her up, Lara.!!" Parang bulkang sumabog ako. "...I gave up the only person I love..." Hindi ko alam pero lumabas na lang yun sa bibig ko. Hindi iniisip kung anong magiging resulta. "You didn't give her up. She do
[LARA AUSTIN] Parang may bagyo sa utak ko sa mga nalalaman ko kay Deena. Maliban sa pagtataka na magkakilala pala sila ni Piper, na makikita ko siya ulit sa ganitong paraan matapos ng kay EL sa Paris. .Ano bang nangyayari sa akin? Bakit ko to lahat nararanasan. Sa mga sinasabi ni Deena parang kasalanan ko ang nangyari sa amin ni EL. Wala akong maintindihan na gusto ko ng iuntog sa pader ang ulo ko. "Alam mo ba kung paano ako nakapasok ng Zara? That's because of your psycho ex-fiance, Lara.." No.. Ano?? "...Kung bakit natanggal sa trabaho si El at Alyah. That's all because of your goddamn ex, Lara.." "A-anong sinasabi mo, Deena?" "Hindi mo kilala ang walang hiyang ex mo, Lara. At ngayon nasa panganib si EL. We need to save her, Lara. Please..." Gulong gulo na ko sa mga pinagsasabi niya. "..Only you can stop, Elton.. We have to go back to the Philippines.." Hindi ko na matagalan ang mga pinagsasabi nito at wala sa sariling nilisan ko ang lugar. Nakabalik ako ng bahay ng di oras
[DEENA DY] Sa bahay ko na ulit nakita si Piper. Alam ko nasaktan ko siya sa mga narinig at nakita sa akin ng magkausap kami ni Lara. Mahal ko si EL pero bilang kaibigan na lang. She will always have a spot in my heart at nag aalala ako sa kanya. Kailangan ko siyang makita. Kailangan niya ang tulong ko. Hindi dapat ako umalis ng Pinas. Hindi ko dapat siya iniwan doon ng hindi nasisiguradong ligtas na siya kay Elton. Pero hindi din ako nagsisisi dahil hindi ko makikilala si Piper, wala siya ngayon sa buhay ko kung di ako napunta ng London. "Piper..." Mahinang tawag ko ng mamataan ko siyang nakaupo sa living room. Tumayo ito matapos may kuning kung ano sa table. Hawak niya ang mga iyon na humarap sa akin. "What happened? What happened to you in your three-day photo shoot??" Bumuhos ang biglang pangamba sa akin sa kadahilanang tila alam ko pero pilit kong itinatanggi. "W-what do you mean?" Tanong ko. Unti unti itong humahakbang palapit sa akin na padakay tinatapunan ng tingin ang
[PIPER ELOIZE CHAPMAN] I don't know what to feel after all I heard and learned from Deena when she's talking to Lara about one person. That person was the reason she couldn't love me back. I don't know what pains me more. The thought of Deena not loving me, or the truth that she is still locked up with someone, seems I would have never gotten a chance to surpass. I know it's part of her past, yet I can't help but hurt. By her look earlier, I could tell how much she still adored that woman called EL.What a small world. Magkakilala sila ni Lara. Iisang tao ang minahal nila. Correction.. Minamahal...Nang bumalik ako ng office wala na si Lara at Deena. Pabagsak akong naupo ng swivel chair ko hanggang abutan ako ni Claudette. Saka lang natapos ang malalim na pag iisip ko. Masaya niyang ibinalita ang nalalapit nilang kasal ni Calli. When I went back from Paris, Calli wasn't at my place anymore. She messaged me about staying at Claudette. I'm glad that finally, one of us is happy
[LARA AUSTIN] Sa pagbukas ng pinto saka pa lang bumalik ang ulirat ko. It feels like forever sitting on this couch. "Dalhia.." "Lara.." Kumunot ang noo nito. "..May problema ba? Bat ganyan ang mukha mo?" "There would be a huge problem if you would not tell me everything you know.." May tono ng pagbabanta sa boses ko. "I-I don't understand. What's happening?" "The night you saw Elton again.. Please, Dalhia, tell me everything I need to know. Why? Why the hell are you so scared of him? Why the hell you keep on forcing me to leave Paris? Like running away from him. I'm begging Dalhia. There's a reason you were there at the airport when I was about to depart. And please don't use Krizzy, the only reason you are there."Dalhia walked out, trying to ignore my blast, but this time, she wouldn't be able to escape from me. I need to know the truth. I have to know all. All that would make sense from what's been going on for a long while now. The countless times that she ghosted me. Ther
[PIPER ELOIZE CHAPMAN] Hindi ko alam kung ito ba ang tamang oras para sabihin kay Deena ang tungkol kay Lara dahil hindi ko pa naman alam kung tama ako sa kutob kong magkapatid nga kami. Pasalamat na lang din ako dahil nakinig sa akin si Dalhia. We talked about it. I explain everything—my reason for my intention about Lara. At first, she's in shock but then realizes what this would be for Lara. Dalhia sent me some samples I asked her about behind our serious talk the day after they landed—those samples to the lab for the DNA procedure. The rest is not in my hand now. Dalhia asked one favor. To see the result first before letting me blow Lara's mind about her real identity. "Love... What are you thinking?!" Napatingin ako sa babaeng nakahiga at nakayakap sa tabi ko, having only blankets to cover our naked bodies. "It's about Lara..." "Yeah.. How did you know her?" I gulp, collecting all the intrepidity before I open my mouth again, ready to share it with her. "Lara might be my
[LARA AUSTIN] Paalis na dapat ako papuntang airport ng iluwa ng pinto si Piper at Deena. "I'm glad you came.." Sambit ni Dalhia. Sinabi ko naman sa kanya hindi kailangan may madamay pang ibang tao sa problema ko. Magtutuos kaming dalawa ni Elton. Mata sa mata, ngipin sa ngipin. "You can't go alone, Lara. Please." "Piper was right, Lara. You can't just go into a war empty-handed. You have no idea what your ex can do, Lara." Nagsalit ang tingin ko sa kanilang tatlo na tila pinagkakampihan ako. "If you don't listen to us. Everything that EL sacrifices will just be thrown away like trash.." Natigilan ako sa sinabi ni Dalhia. "Get a hold of yourself, Lara. We need to make a plan if you really want to save EL." Suggestion ni Deena. "Let us help you, my sister.." Napakunot naman ako sa sinabi ni Piper. "I know this is not a good time to blast your mind, but there is no perfect time to say this." Ano bang pinagsasabi niya. "You are my sister, Lara. My long lost sister.." Napailing
[DEENA DY CHAPMAN]My wife Piper has been avoiding me dahil sa project na tinanggap ko two weeks ago. Isang movie yun at ako ang leading lady kaya automatic may leading man. Kasi naman sabi niya okay lang tapos hindi naman pala. Saka niya ko aartihan kung kailan nagsimula na ang shooting. Sinong hindi mapipikon. Hindi na ata siya umuuwi ng bahay kaya on the way ako ngayon sa opisina niya. Alam kong busy siya dahil naka leave si Lara. Magkakababy na sila ulit ni EL. I'm happy for them. This time si Lara naman ang magbubuntis kaya good luck sa kanya. Kung alam ko lang kung gaano kahirap maglihi at manganak. I'd instead let Piper do the process. Pero iba naman ang saya nung ipanganak ko na ang twins namin. Yeah. One boy and one girl. We named them Draize Nilez Chapman and Ezdeen Piper Chapman. Two years old na ang dalawa kaya naging monster na sa sobrang kakulitan. Mabuti na lang na kela Mommy Athena at Mama Zora sila kaya I can deal with Piper. "What's the meaning of this?!" Ura-u
KUNG saan naganap ang kasal sa tabi nito lang din ang naging reception, malapit sa beach. "Congrats sa inyong dalawa!" Nanlaki ang mata namin ni EL na napasapo ang palad saming bibig. Aba nagtatagalog pala ang pari na to! "Thank you Father." Kasabay ng pakikipag kamay namin ng wifey ko. Sunod naman ang paghila sa akin ni EL kung saan. "Baby, hindi pa tapos-" Hinila na ako ng marahas sa palapulsuhan ko. Kulang na lang makaladkad ako. "Hey! Not here!" Awat ko sa kanya pero bingi ata ang gaga. Para itong gutom na gutom na mabangis na hayop at nilapa ang walang kamuang muang na labi ko. Hindi ko alam kung saan niya ako dinala pero walang tao rito at hampas ng alon lang ang naririnig ko. Wala na din pa lang saplot ang mga paa namin. Teka kailan pa yun natanggal? Hindi ko na namalayan dahil sa pagtakbo namin kanina. "I can't wait any longer, Lara." Usal nitong napunta ang mga mainit na halik sa leeg ko. Bandang collarbone hanggang shit! "E-eL.. Ah- Baka m-may makakita-" sa dib dib k
HABANG malumanay na naglalakad kasabay ng masuyong kanta hindi magkandaugaga ang samu't saring emosyon sa dib dib ko. Ang mga mata kong nasa iisang direksyun lang at di mapigil ang pagdaloy ng luha. Akala ko hindi na kami darating ni EL sa puntong ito ng buhay namin. Sinubok ang katatagan ng relasyon namin at umabot sa sukdulang tila walang happy ending pero heto kami ngayon suot ang magarbong wedding gown. Siyang nakatayo ng may ngiti sa mga labi sa dulo nitong nilalakaran ko na sa ilang hakbang ko'y mahahawakan ko na ang kamay ng babaeng hindi ko aakalaing bibihag sa aking puso. Gabing nagsimula sa isang hindi maipaliwanag na sensasyon. Isang bagay na hindi pumasok sa isip kong magaganap sa buong buhay ko. I thought I was straight, like a pole na ang namagitan sa amin ni EL ng gabing iyon ay dala lang ng init ng alak na nananalaytay sa dugo namin o di kaya ng hormones sa katawan ko. Akala ko Elton was my forever, my other half, my endgame, and would be my first and last partner
After a moment of silence, the next thing that occurred was the moment of truth. "I'm in pain, Lara. I'm confused like it messing my mind hell up." Napayuko siyang tila itinatago ang sakit sa kanyang mukha. "I was raped.." Her beginning of the words felt like stabbing my chest without stopping. "It isn't your fault. That was clear, but when you told me about what happened between you and Dalhia..." Suddenly, she stopped as if collecting some strength to go on and walk me through. "...I just felt like my entire universe blacked out. I don't know. Maybe I wanted to shout and blame someone for everything that changed my life, everything that happened to us. They ruined us." I get it. I fully, totally, clearly understand the avoiding. EL felt pain whenever she saw me. "Believe me. I love you. No one could ever take that away. It's just that.. It's too painful, like how.. I didn't want it, everything that happened. I have limited options to protect you. I wanted that, and so I need
"I love you..." She said it over and over between kisses. I couldn't do anything else but breathe deeply, savoring the intensity of pleasure I was embracing. "I'm sorry... Don't you dare leave me, please." I just felt her tears on my bare skin which brought a hint of gratification despite what she inflicted. Losing me was so explicit that she would never be able to take it. My heart is supposed to celebrate but how big is her indecency? My mind can't stop traveling, imagining wildly how serious could it be.The red stain tormented me once again. Fuck! I'm gonna kill whoever that bitch was, flirting with her. "Oh! Fuck.... Shit!" Abruptly a whine came out, making my lips parted as I felt her smile and the sound of her giggle in my ear. "Why the hell did you enter without a warning? F-fuck! E-el!!"My grip on her back tightened as she began to shift back and forth synchronizing with what she was doing inside, invading my walls. As our eyes met, our noses brushed against each othe
"From what I can see, you are the girlfriend." Mas nadagdagan pa nga ang energy ng host sa pagdating ni EL. Kahit ako parang nabuhay ang mga dugo sa ugat ko. Inabot ng kaliwa kong kamay ang hawak niyang bulaklak na nasa kanang kamay naman niya. "I can buy you some flowers still, Babe.." Inirapan ko lang siya. Ang corny pero kinikilig ang host pati mga audience. "Now, let's go on to the exciting part..." Pagpapatuloy ng host. Minsang hinahalikan ni EL ang likod ng palad ko kaya naman halos ilipad na ako sa dami ng butterfly mula sa tyan ko. Napapasulyap na lang ako sa gilid niya. Kahit ilang araw na masama ang loob ko sa babaeng to, hindi pa din talaga kumukupas ang epekto niya sa'ken. Same effect pa din simula ng marealize kong mahal ko siya. Naa amaze na lang ako kapag nababalikan sa utak ko kung paano ako nahulog sa kapwa ko babae. "So, we are already adults. This question won't shock you, rest assured." Duda ako sa nakakalokong ngiti ng host. "What do you guys favorite ti
NASA DRESSING room ako, nakaupo paharap sa malaking salamin habang hawak ang phone kong hindi nawala ang tingin ko rito. I informed EL about this day kahit hindi kami okay. I hoped she'd come, show her support, and set aside whatever misunderstanding we had. Kahit nasasaktan na ako sa mga pagbabagong nararamdaman at nakikita ko sa kanya hindi pa din ako bumibitaw. I still hope for a happy ending with all this chaos going on in our relationship. Ganun naman talaga kapag mahal na mahal mo ang isang tao, hindi ba? "Miss Lara, everything is set." One of the staff of LFM said, and I just nodded through the mirror in front of me. My mind was still preoccupied, but I needed to focus and act like everything was smoothly fine. I took a deep breath before leaving the room and going backstage. Putting a solid front and a fake smile, I guess, won't kill me, so that's what I did, stepping up to the stage where the interview will be conducted. Lumibot ang mata ko sa paligid. The Cameramen g
PABAGSAK kong naihiga si EL ng makauwi kami ng bahay at makapasok ng kwarto. Sinipa ko nga lang ang pinto para maisara. Nasa katawan kasi ni EL ang parehas kong kamay. Kaya pa naman niyang maglakad pero talagang lasing ang gaga. Iniayos ko ang higa niya sa kama. Madami man akong katanungan gustong ibato sa kanya ngayon ay di ko magawa. She's so wasted. I heaved a long sigh before returning to assess the situation, removing her heels and clothes. This isn't the first time I saw her gorgeous naked body, but damn, that same feeling still lingers on me. It's like a sudden heat shooting through my inner system. I covered her with a blanket before I stood up. I cussed mentally, concealing the rage inside me that was about to explode when I saw a red stain on the corner of the collar of her blouse. My gaze turns back, staring at her with a death sentence from my orbs. My heaves became aggressively active like they wanted to blow fire. Is she cheating on me now? The fuck! Mentally, I
SI MAMA kasi for the meantime ang pumalit kay Claudette habang wala ito. "Are you sure you are okay? Nag away ba kayo ng girlfriend mo? Teka maiba nga ako. Hindi pa ba kayo magpapakasal?" Sa sinabi ni mama bigla akong napaisip. "Can we not talk about that, ma?" Walang tinging saad ko at nagkunwari pang busy sa harap ng laptop.Ayoko kasi siyang mag alala. "O-okay, but you can always share anything with me. You know that." Tumango akong ngumiti. Madami pa kaming pinag usapan ni mama at nahinto lang yun sa pagpasok ng assistant ko. "Sorry, Miss Lara, but the London Lifestyle Magazine is here." Napapikit at mura na lang ako sa isip ko. Nawala sa isip kong tinanggap ko nga pala ang invitation nila. Kilala sa buong London at ganun na din sa ilang bansa ang LFM. Gusto kasi nilang ma feature ang buhay ko sa next issue na ilalabas ng magazine nila. Yun din sana yung sasabihin ko kay EL nung inaya ko siyang lumabas for our first date na hindi naman naging maganda ang kinalabasan. I wa