50I stayed there for a few more minutes before going out. I don't want anyone to see us leaving there ng sabay! It was a comfort room for a girl, tapos lalabas siya? Ghad! Mababaliw ako kakaisip sa pwedeng isipin ng mga makakakita.When I came out, I saw him outside. I wanted to run away, but he was right outside the door, as if he knew I might think of running away.Wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang sumama sa kanya, walang nagawa? Really, Aliyah? Aminin mo, gusto mo rin. Haist! Napabuntong hininga na lang ako sa naisip ko.I was silent while in his car. I don't know where we are going. He just kept glancing at me while driving.I glanced at him and remembered what he said. She doesn't have a fiancé. Is that true? But how did that happen? Kaye was with him then, and I remembered last night what Zoren asked; the question and what he said indicated that they were together.Mukhang napansin niya ang tingin ko sa kanya kaya sumulyap siya sa'kin. Napaiwas ako ng tingin at muling bumuntong
51"What happened?" Bella asked weakly as Maddix finally left. Seji is watching me; she's just quiet. Alam ko na nagtataka at nagugulat na siya, but I'm thankful that she didn't ask anything right now.Napatitig ako sa dinaan ni Maddix sa pag-alis niya. Seryoso ba siya? Mariin ang kagat ko sa labi at malalim na bumuntong hininga. Shempre, Aliyah. Seryoso siya!They were in a boutique, and Maddix took me there. After that, Maddix didn't talk anymore; he didn't even glance. I want to cry. That's what I want, na mawalan siya sa'kin ng pakealam, but to think that he's willing to ignore me makes me want to cry. He loves me. He really does. Now, the one question in my mind was answered a while ago: Kung bakit hindi niya ako dinawit at sinumbong sa pulis? He loves me. Ayaw niyang masira ako kaya mas gugustuhin niyang siya ang masira. Mali nanaman ako. Bakit iniisip niya pa rin ang kapakanan ko? Bakit kailangan niya akong mahalin ng ganoon? I don't deserve that."Can we go home, Bella? I'm s
52"Wala pa raw. Hindi pa siya umuuwi." My shoulders dropped when I heard that from Bella. I'm talking to her via video call.Ilang araw na talaga na wala akong balita kay Maddix. He really serious. "I think he really wants to give you time just like you want. Hayaan mo na muna siya. Kasal na namin next week, I'm sure he will be there," Bella tried to assure me."What if makahanap nga talaga siya ng iba?" Tanong ko, pero narinig ko ang tawa ng nasa tabi niya. I think it's Wendell."Try Maddix Villaranza, Aliyah," I heard Wendell voice, hanggang sa magpakita ito sa sa tabi ni Bella."Kunting lambing lang doon, kakaripas yun pabalik sayo," he said.Napanguso ako."Yeah, right, Aliyah. Galingan mo na lang," si Bella naman iyon at sinabayan pa niya ng pagkindat, then she said the kama, pero walang tunog.I shook my head but also smiled. I said my goodbyes to them because I had some work to finish. Next week will be Bella's wedding, so I have to finish my other work, especially since I as
53He's annoying! What's that? He really wants me to allow Zoren to court me? Wala. Binalayaan ko nga, pero wala pa rin. He didn't come home. He didn't show him to me. I frowned, leaning my head against the window of Verd's car. We are going to Tagaytay right now for Bella's wedding. My cousin and I used the same car, except for Bella, because she was there first with her parents.Hindi ko mapigilang iuntog ang ulo ko ng mahina sa bintana ng kotse ni Verd."He'll definitely be going tomorrow for Bella's wedding. Stop being dramatic, Liyah. Kasalanan mo rin naman yan," said Jero, who was next to me. I looked at him, annoyed."Being dramatic? It's been 2 weeks at mahigit, Jero! And yes, inaamin ko na na kasalanan ko, pero bakit natitiis niya ako?" Parang batang tanong ko.Nagkatinginin si Verd at Xian at sabay pang napa-iling."I really can't imagine myself being in love. It's disgusting," Verd said at nagkunwaring parang naduduwal pa kaya inis na inihagis sa kanya ang yakap-yakap kong
54The awkwardness of the surroundings prevailed. I blinked and couldn't help but look at Maddix. Naging hilaw ang ngiti niya, pero nakatingin pa rin kay Tito. Tito is now staring at me, kunot na rin ang noo niya at napasulyap kay Maddix, mukhang ngayon lang napansin ni Tito na mas umikli ang buhok nito kaya sumulyap ukut siya sa'kin. Pinanlalakihan na niya ako ng mata.Xian and Verd are now giving me a bad look. I heard Bella laughing next to me. Napatikhim ako at binitawan ang kutsara ko."I-I mean, si Xian po ang may pangit ang hairstyle," mabilis na sambit ko.Nabilaukan si Xian sa sinabi ko dahil umiinom ito nang sabihin ko iyon. Tinuro niya ang sarili."Bakit ako?" Bulong nito na kahit hindi ko narinig ay nabasa ko labi niya. Hindi napigilan ni Jero tawanan si Xian. Pekeng tawa ang binigay ni Tito Peter at saka sinulyapan si Maddix."Si Xian pala," natatawang sambit pa niya, pero rinig na rinig na pilit na tawa iyon."Tumigil na nga kayo. Come here, Maddix. Sumabay ka na sa'min
55Kaye was also smiling at tumingkayad pa para hawakan ang buhok ni Maddix. Napaiwas ako ng tingin at napasulyap na lang kay Zoren."Bukas pa ang uwi namin. May inuman daw mamaya saka bonfire, pupunta ka?" Zoren said.I tried to act normal. "Titignan ko. Sige. May gagawin pa ako," mabilis na sambit ko na lang at umalis na kahit na rinig ko ang pagpigil niya sa'kin. Halos matawa ako sa sarili ko sa subrang inis nang maramdaman ko ang pagpatak ng luha ko habang paalis doon. Why I even crying? Ano naman kung mukha siyang masaya habang kausap iyong ex fiance niya? Ano naman kung nagpagupit siya para sa ex fiance niya? Ano naman sayo, Aliyah. Don't acting like a child, Aliyah! In wedding reception, mas lalong nag-asim ang mukha at nararamdaman ko nang makitang nakuha ni Kaye ang bulaklak at si Maddix naman ang nakakuha ng garter. I know it's just a fucking game, but hearing some of the people cheering them on made me want to cry again.I even heard someone na bagay sila at may iba na n
56Taranta akong bumaba sa kama, pero sa taranda kong pagbaba sa kama ay nagkacramps ako at hindi maiwasang mapadaing."Shit! Ahh!" Ungol ko at tuluyang napaupo sa sahig. Hinawakan ko ang paa ko at hindi muna ginalaw. Napasulyap siya sa'kin at napapikit."Maddix," I called him softly. He sighed and came closer to me, but when he got closer, pero nang makalapit na siya ay medyo maayos na ang paa ko.Nang malapit siya ay hinawakan niya ang paa ko. Kunot ang noo siyang nakatingin sa paa ko. I bit my lips while staring at him. Bumaba ang ang mata ko sa labi niya, mukhang napansin niya ang patitig ko sa mata niya kaya sumulyap siya sa'kin. Nakagat ko ang labi bago magsalita."I'm having cramps. Can you carry me back in my bed? It still hurts," I said softly, but the truth is that's just my excuse. I just want him to carry me. I don't want him to leave me here and go back down there.Nandoon si Kaye, dapat nandito siya kasi nandito ako. I bit my lower lip again while thinking about it. Tala
57"Hinila lang ako ni Bella. Wala naman talaga akong planong sumama sa inuman," pagpapaliwanag ko at biglang nabitin dahil tuluyan nang tumigil ang kamay niya."Maddix!" Bulyaw ko, pero masyado ng galit ang tingin niya sa'kin."Naupo sa tabi mo yung lalakeng mukhang paa na 'yun tapos malalaman kong wala kang suot na bra?" Hindi makapaniwalang sambit niya at talagang galit na galit na siya.Nakagat ko ang labi ko at bigla kong narinig sa tenga ko ang boses ni Bella. "Isubo mo," Bella's said that in my mind. Napapikit ako at hindi maiwasang matawa."What's funny?" "Galit ka?" Parang tangang tanong ko sa kanya."Sinong hindi magagalit? Lumabas kang walang suot na bra, ang raming lalake roon, Aliyah! Paano kung napansin nila?" Frustrated na sambit niy sa'kin."Hindi naman nila mahahawakan. Ikaw lang naman ang hahayaan kong hahawak," sambit ko na pinagsisihan ko dahil mas lalo itong nagalit."Kung ganokn ayos lang na makita yan iba? You know what? Let's stop this!" Galit na sambit niya,
Leozardo's POV "I love you," I whispered when we were already lying in bed after I had taken her many times. She didn't say anything. She just buried her face in my neck while hugging me. "May lakad pa tayo," I whispered at her. Her dad called us last night. We will go to their house in Makati. I closed my eyes so badly that I thought Daryha had married Vanzeus Guevera. I can't help but think about everything. When I learned that she had already married someone, nawalan na ako ng pag-asa. Akala ko hindi ko na siya mayayakap ng ganito, hindi ko na siya mahahalikan at hindi ko na siya makakasama. "Love," I whispered again. "Pinagod mo ako kaya maghintay ka," masungit na sambit nito, pero mahigpit naman ang yakap niya sa'kin. Natawa ako at hinila siya para mas mayakap ko. The first time I laid my eyes on her when we were still studying, I said to myself that she would be mine, even though I knew that she liked Jerico. Everyone knows that she likes Jerico, but maybe she feels that
Wakas is waving!!!_________________________________________Takot pa rin akong umuwi sa Pilipinas. Nag-aalala ako na baka makita ko si Mommy at ang asawa niyo. Hindi pa rin akong handang makita sila, pero alam ko na dapat kong harapin ang mga nangyare sa nakaraan.It's been a month since Leozardo knew about Kent. We moved into his condo, and dad allowed us because that's what I wanted. Dad, Tita Geva, and Van also went back last Sunday to the Philippines. In a month, Leo and I both did not work. We spend our time together with Kent.I already talked to James and president. Sa totoo lang wala na akong contract sa kanila. I'm just continuing to work as a model, pero wala ng contract. I told them the truth: I want to spend my time with the father of my son and my son.The president and James got shocks when they learned that Leozardo Luenco was the father of Kent.Sa isang buwan namin dito ay kapansin-pansin ang palaging pagtawag ng pamilya niya kay Leozardo. They want Leozardo to go ba
WARNING! 18+ ONLY! ____________________________________________ Tita helped me cook after that, and Manang apologized more times nang madatnan kami at nakitang kami pa ang nagluto. Tita and I just say na hindi naman niya kailangang humingi ng pasensya. Mas naunang dumating si Daddy, kasunod niya lang sila Leo at Kent. Napangiti ako nang makita ang masiglang tawa ni Kent nang papasok na sila ni Leo. "Papasok ka, Anak?" Tanong ni Dad habang nilalagay namin ni Tita ang ilang mga niluto namin. Napansin ko ang pagsulyap sa'kin ni Leo na animo'y hinihintay din ang sagot ko. "Oo, dad. Ilang araw akong absent at kahapon ay hindi ko pa tinapos ang trabaho ko buong araw," sambit ko. "Kung ganoon ay?" Napasulyap si Dad kay Leo. I bit my lower lips. "It's fine if you stay here for Kent habang nasa trabaho ako," alanganin kong sambit kay Leo. Hindi agad ito nagsalita, pero napansin ko na para bang may gusto itong sabihin. Nagpakawala muna siya ng buntong hininga bago tumango. "Okay, th
46 "Let's talk about what you meant a while ago," he said gently and a little weakly while burying his face in my neck. "It's not necessary. Let's not talk about it--" "I want us to talk about it, Love. I want to know what's on your mind," he said quickly, not letting me finish what I had to say. Bumuntong hininga ako bago sabihin ang nasa isip ko. "I just don't want you to decide this fast. I want you to take your time thinking kung ano talaga ang nararamdaman mo. Mamaya hindi ka pala sigurado at gusto mo lang na mabigyan ng buong pamilya si Kent, well I also want to give Kent a complete family, but I don't want to be selfish towards you at ikulong ka sa responsibilidad mo kay Kent. Hinding-hindi kita ikukulong," malumanay na sambit ko. Narinig ko ang malalim na buntong hininga niya. Kumalas siya sa pagkakayakap sa'kin at iniharap niya ako sa kanya. "Ayos lang sayo kung magpakasal ako sa ibang babae?" Tanong nito sa'kin habang titig na titig sa mata ko. Para niya akong b
45Leo was the first to stop crying. He was even able to stop Kent from crying. He talks to him, and Kent seems to know what Leo is talking about. I cannot resist staring at them, especially Leo. I know that he will be a good father."Papa," Si Leo habang tinuturuan si Kent na banggitin iyon."Pap.. pa," Hirap na sambit ni Kent. Titig na titig si Kent sa ama at subrang attentive sa sinasabi ng ama niya.We are all in the sala. We are all sitting. No one talks, and we are all staring. Kent and Leo na para bang may sarili silang mundo."Pap...pa!" Ulit pa ni Kent habang tumatawa na at nagagawa pang pumalakpak."Yes, baby. I'm your papa," Leo said tl Kent.We remained on the sofa until Kent fell asleep in Leo's hand. When Leo fell asleep, I stood up to take Kent, but Leo didn't want to give him to me."Ilalagay ko siya sa kwarto namin," sambit ko, pero umiling ito."I still want to hold him," mariin na sambit niya kaya napabuntong hininga ako."Pero baka mangalay ka---""It's fine," sery
44Masaya ako, pero alam kong may kulang, pero sino ako para hilingin na mapunan ang kulang? We are going to talk, right? Then fine. What I want right now is for him to know about Kent. Kung noon ay medyo takot akong sabihin kasi baka mag duda siya lalo dahil wala itong maalala noon, ngayon ay sigurado akong hindi siya mag dududa. He knows what happened that night. He knows na siya lang at alam niyang nagsisinungaling si Joseph Vuenavista."He is the reason I endured everything that happened in my life these past few years. He is my everything. He saved me when I was so down and broke." dugtong ko.I saw him staring at his glass. Napansin ko ang malalim na pag-iisip niya. Pati ang pagseseryoso niya ay namimiss ko. Nakakainis! Kanina lang ay subra akong naiirita sa kanya."Ikaw? Are you happy right now?" Hindi pa siya nakakasagot ay muli ko iyong dinugtungan. "Of course you are, right? But I want to ask you, is it Danica? or some other girl?"Hindi man lang nagbago ang expression. Ser
43"Mr. Luenco, what do you think are you doing?" Tanong ko, pero nahimigan ko ang sariling gulat sa boses ko.He didn't speak, nagpumiglas ako para mabitiwan, but a car suddenly parked in front of us. The same driver I saw last time got out of that car."Ano ba? Ano ba 'to?" Nagtatakang tanong ko sa kanya at patuloy na tinatanggal ang kamay niya sa palapulsuan ko."Pumasok ka," mariin na sambit niya."N-No! What is this, Mr. Luenco? You think it's nice to pull someone like this? And you think sasama ako sayo? Makakarating ito kay President!" Iritang sambit ko. "Let's talk," seryoso nitong sambit na ikinatawa ko."Bakit kailangan ako? You had a girl beside you a while ago! Kung gusto mo ng kausap, pwede naman siya! Bakit kailangan mo pa akong hilahin!" "I said let's talk, Ryha!" Bulyaw niya na nagpatigil sa'kin.Pareho kaming natahinik sa biglaang tinuran niya. Napapikit siya at bumuntong hininga."Please, let's talk," mas malumanay na sambit na niya.Ayokong paasahin ang sarili kon
42I did what he said. Right in front of him, I called Van and told him that he didn't have to pick me up, but Van said he would still come. He said that I would go with James and the president to the place, but we would go home together. Doon na raw kami magkikita.Tudo tingin ako sa side mirror, malinaw ko kasing nakikita ang kotse ni Leo na nakasunod sa amin."Really, mom? That's good, so we can be able to have our photoshoot in there hotel," I just glanced at James when I heard his happy words to the President."I was really shocked why he suddenly offered his hotels in the Philippines, but well, business is business, and he will have benefits if he lends us his hotels," sambit naman ni President.Philippines? Mukhang napansin ni James ang pagtataka ko sa usapan nila nang sulyapan niya ako sa front mirror ng kotse."This is the project that will be held in the Philippines, and we're lucky that Mr. Luenco offered his hotel. If you don't know, Mr. Luenco is a billionaire. His hotel
41"Daryha, let's go." I heard a serious voice. James diverted his attention to Van, as did Leo and Levi, who both glanced at Van.Hindi na ako nagdalawang isip. Tumayo ako at pilit na ngumiti kila James at Levi. It was hard for me to look straight into his eyes, but I did my best to do that. I smiled at him. He just stared at me blankly, na para bang ni minsan ay hindi niya sinabing mahal niya ako.Nanikip ang dibdib ko at pinigilan ang nagbabadyang luha sa mata ko. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at naglakad para malapitan si Van. "We go first, James. I'm sorry," paumanhin ni Van kila James."Stay a little bit, Van," sinubukan pang kumbinsihin ni Levi si Van, pero pakoramdam ko ay gusto na rin talagang umalis ni Van.Tumayo naman si James at niyakap ako and say his goodbye. Aalis na sana kami, pero mabilis kaming pinigilan ni James."Oh, I'm sorry. By the way, before you two go, I want to introduce Mr. Leozardo Luenco to you, Van. Mr. Luenco, this is Vanzeus Guevera," pakilala nito."Oh. I