20Early in the morning, I was already in the parking lot. I had a schedule for a photoshoot this morning. I was about to open my car door, but someone suddenly pulled me, and then that someone's lips suddenly touched my lips.Subrang bilis ni nakadilat pa ang mata ko sa gulat."Morning," Leo said in his baritone voice after the kiss.Napakurap-kurap ako."G-Good morning," utal na sambit ko at lumayo sa kanya at nilibot ang tingin, takot na may makakita sa ginawa niya."Don't use your car. Ihahatid na kita," sambit nito sabay slide ng kamay niya at pinagsalikop ang mga daliri namin.It's been three days since that night. I just can't believe that I said that, pero naisip ko na wala namang masama roon. Jerico is happy with his girlfriend, ayokong manira ng relasyon gawing maayos naman ang relasyon nilang dalawa.I don't know why I suddenly felt like this. Pagkarating ko rito ay talagang wala akong pakealam kung masira ko sila.And also, I have something I felt na nahirapan akong pangal
21"You okay?" It's Leo.I came to my senses when I remembered that he was with me. My mind was too occupied with Danica's words. Leo deserves better—a woman, not a girl like me. She didn't say it directly, but I knew it was like she was preferring me. Ako lang naman kasi yung humalik kahit may girlfriend si Jerico."Ilang taon na ba si Danica?" I suddenly asked. He is driving. Ihahatid niya ako sa office dahil may trabaho pa ako roon."Why?" Kunot noong tanong nito at sumulyap sa'kin ng mabilis bago sumulyap ulit sa kalsada."Answer my question, don't ask another question," sambit ko sabay irap sa kanya."Why are you suddenly asking about her?""I'm just curious. Diba you said that na matagal na kayong hiwalay? Well, hindi ako naniniwala roon, pero if that's really true, then why did the two of you break up? You know, she's a complete package. Maganda, matured mag-isip, mabait---""Where will this conversation go, Ryha?" Seryosong tanong nito at tinigil ang kotse dahil sa pulang ilaw
22Umuwi ako sa bahay noong gabing iyon at inubos ang oras sa pagmessage kay Leo. I know that I did something wrong, pero nag-aalala lang naman ako sa kapatid niya. Kung siya naman ang nasa lugar ng kapatid niya ay gagawin ko rin iyon.Ilang araw na akong walang natatanggap na mensahe galing sa kanya. Hindi siya nagreply sa kahit isang message na pinadala ko sa kanya. I tried to call him, but still, he didn't answer. Pinapatayan pa niya ako ng tawag.Bakit ba hindi siya makinig sa explanation ko?"You should wear something expensive. 'Yung mapapatingin lahat sayo," mama said when she visited the office.Galing sa pagkatulala ay napasulyap ako sa kanya. It's about the party na ihohost ng mga Villanueva sa susunod na buwan."Well, I already talk the designer. She ne--""That's not our party, Mom. I have so many unused designer clothes. Magpapagawa ka pa? No need for that," mariin na sambit ko."No! You need to--""Kung ganoon ay hindi na lang ako pupunta. Kayo na lang pumunta," seryoson
23Ang sabi ko ay hindi ko sasabihin, pero trinaydor ako ng bibig ko. Napansin ko ang pagkatigil nito."What did you say?" Paos nitong tanong."Ang sabi ko, galit ako sayo!"He fell silent and closed his eyes tightly."Hindi yun." Halos marinig ko ang pagmamakaawa sa boses niya. "Galit ako sayo at ayoko sayo!" Halos manginig ang boses ko, pero nagawa ko pa rin iyong ibulyaw sa kanta at tumalikod. Mabilis ang lakad ko habang bumababa sa hagdan habang pinupunasan ang luha sa mata ko.Mas binilisan ko ang pagbaba nang marinig ang yapak nito sa likod ko. Damn it! Bakit ba kailangan niya akong habulin dito? Can't he see? I don't want him to see me like this! "We're not done talking," he said, then pulled me away, making me face him. He leaned me against the handle of the stairs and locked me there."I don't want to talk to you," humihikbing sambit ko at sinubukang makawala sa kanya.Napatitig ito sa'kin, hanggang sa bumuntong hininga siya. "You miss me?" He tilted his head in question
24"Here. It can help your hangover," I said to Keith before giving her some pain reliever and a soap.Natulog siya sa room ni Herica dahil hindi naman ito umuwi kagabi. Kakarating lang din ni Herica at gulat na nakita si Keith na nandito. Of course, sinong hindi magugulat? Girlfriend ito ni Jerico at hindi kami close ng babaeng 'to."Salamat talaga. We're not close, but thank you for doing this. Baka kung hindi mo ako inuwi rito ay kung ano na ginawa ko," Keith said that to me."Don't say thank you to her. Siya naman dahilan kung bakit ka nalasing," sambit naman ni Herica na ngayon ay hinihila ang upuan para maupo na.Napairap ako. "Malay ko ba na sa isang tequilla lang ay mahihilo na yan," masungit at medyo iritang na sambit ko.Nakagat ni Keith ang labi nito sa sinabi ko at hindi na nagsalita. Pagkatapos naman nito mag-agahan ay nagpaalam na rin naman agad ito at naiwan kaming dalawa ni Herica."Mamayang gabi na ang party na ihohost ng mga Villanueva. You sure na pupunta ka?" Naram
25"So?" Tanong nito at tinaasan ako ng kilay.We are already here at the pool of this hotel. I sat down and removed my heels. I walked to the very edge of the pool and sat there. I held my dress up and let my foot get wet from the pool's water."Wala iyon. You can go back if you want. Ayoko lang talaga roon," sambit ko na lang, pero hindi ito umalis sa kinatatayuan. Nang tignan ko ay nakatitig ito sa'kin."Are you really Tita Mandy's daugther?" Tanong nito kaya nag-iwas ako ng tingin. "Galit ka sa'kin? Kay mommy?" Tanong ko nang hindi tumitingin sa kanya. I know he knows what I mean."So you also know." Hindi iyon tanong."Wala kang kasalanan at hindi na ako bata para magtanim ng sama ng loob sayo o sa mama mo. Nagulat lang ako na ikaw yung anak niya," he said.We both remained silent, hanggang sa mapansin ko ang pagtanggal niya ng sapatos niya at pagtaas niya ng suot niyang slacks. He sat beside me and gave me his full attention. Napairap ako nang mapansin ang kagwapuhan nito na n
26Naglakbay ang kamay nito sa likuran ko habang inaangkin pa rin ang labi ko. Ang isang kamay ko ay nakahawak at nanatili sa panga niya habang ang isa ay parang may sariling buhay na naglalakbay sa matigas na katawan niya.Ghad! How can he build this kind of muscle? Ang pagkakatanda ko noon ay payatot ito, iyon din ang rason kaya tinawag ko siyang lalampa-lampa. Bigla tuloy akong nahiya ngayon kasi hindi na nuya deserve masabihin ng lalampa-lampa.Hindi na ako bata para hindi malaman kung ano ang mangyayare kapag pinagpatuloy namin ito sa lugar na kaming dalawa lang. Alam ko na rin kung bakit bigla akong nakaramdam ng init sa katawan ko kahit na alam kong malakas ang aircon dito.I can't believe this. Daryha, itulak mo siya. Pero kahit anong dikta ko sa sarili na itulak siya ay hindi ako sinusunod ng katawan ko. I don't want to say this, but I felt excited about what would happen next. Magaling ba siya? Damn! Wake up, Daryha!Inalis niya ako sa pagkakasandal, pero hindi pa rin nag
27I didn't do anything when Madam Anastasia insisted that Zacky take me, which is why we are already in his car. We are both silent, but I felt his glance at me every time he had a chance. I know he has a lot of questions for me because I suddenly agreed with what my lolo wants."Thank you, and sorry sa abala," sambit ko nang tinigil niya ang sasakyan sa harap ng condominium na sinabi ko. Lalabas na sana ako, but he stopped me."Can I use your comfort room?" Tanong nito sabay kamot ng batok niya na para bang nahihiya pa itong sabihin iyon."Of course," mabilis na sambit ko. Hinintay ko siya nang ipark niya muna ang kotse at sabay kaming umakyat. Wala si Herica sa condo dahil magkasama sila ni Garry ngayon."Mag-isa ka lang ba rito? This condo is big at dito rin pala ang condo mo, malapit sa kanya," Zacky said when he did his business in comfort."No. I'm with my bestfriend, but she is with her boyfriend right now. Minsan dito siya, minsan naman wala siya. By the way, what do you wan
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