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
"Are you really sure about this? You're just an 18-year-old, Aliyah!" I didn't pay attention to what my cousin Bella said. 18 years old? Yes, but I was 15 years old when my dad died because of his boss. Kung may kakayahan nga lang ako noong 15 ako ay siguradong noon ko pa ito ginawa. I continue putting red lipstick on my lips to look more mature. I'm serious about my plan. I'll make sure to make him fall in love with me at kapag nasigurado ko na iyon ay iiwan ko siya. Punong-puno ang galit ko sa kanya, kung pwede lang na manakit ng tao ay ginawa ko na, but I know, for now, heto lang kaya kung gawin. Tinignan ko sa salamin ang buong katawan ko. I am wearing a satin red dress; it's backless, and my upper boobs are showing. Maraming nag-aakala na nasa 20 na ako dahil sa mature kong pangangatawan. I'm going to do this. I'm going to hurt him. Pagkatapos ko siyang pa-ibigan, hahanap ako ng paraan para masira ang kompanya niya. Mahirap gawin, pero dapat kong gawin. "Nakikinig ka ba? Ali
"I can't believe this! I can't believe him! I hate him!" Kanina pa ako pabalik-balik ng lakad sa kwarto ni Bella, but Bella just laughed at me after hearing what happened.Umuwi na ako agad pagkatapos dahil sa kahihiyan. Ang lalakeng iyon! "Ang lakas ng loob niyang ipamukhang bata ako at walang panama sa mga babaeng nandoon. He even said na umuwi na ako at huwag akong maglaro sa lugar na ganoon. How dare him! Ang kapal kapal ng mukha niya! Hindi niya na raw kailangang lumapit sa babae dahil babar ang lumalapit sa kanya! Ang kapal talaga!" Bulyaw ko dahil sa inis at iritang nararamdaman ko.Nagsuot ako ng maganda, nag-ayos ako tapos ganoon lang ang sasabihin niya? For the first time may nagsabi na bata ako! Nagsuot pa nga ako ng ganito tapos sasabihan lang niya akong bata?"Well, he is so gwapo naman kasi talaga. Sa itsura nga talaga nito ay hindi na niya kailangang lumapit sa babae," sambit ni Bella. Binigyan ko siya ng madamang titig."And you think tamang ipagyabang iyon? Ang sabih
Subrang diin ng ginawa kong pagto-toothbrush pagkatapos. Masama ang tingin ko sa pintuan at halos gusto ko nang lumabas at sabihin na hindi naman ako mabaho, pero alam ko naman na talagang mabaho ako. Nagsuka ako kaya paniguradong mabaho ako.Hindi dapat ako nahihiya sa kanya diba? Pero hindi ko talaga mapigilang mainis at mahiya sa nangyare. Nagawa pa niyang mang-asar! Sinulyapan ko ang sarili sa harap ng salamin at halos mapasimangot dahil medyo nahihilo nanaman ako.Pagkatapos ko ay lumabas na ako. I saw him sitting in a sofa na pang-isahan. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay at muling tinignan mula ulo hanggang paa. I'm ready to say something, but he made me stop."Grade 12 ka tapos pumupunta ka sa lugar na ganoon?" Tanong agad niya.Natauhan ako. Napakurap-kurap. Naalala niya ako? It's been a month, pero naalala niya ako? Hindi ko maiwasang kagatin ang labi para pigilan ang ngiti sa labi ko. Ngayon lang tumatak sa'kin na nandito siya sa loob ng barko. So I have time to get his attention
3Dahil sa pagtama ng mata namin ay mas namuo ang galit ko sa kanya. Kung hindi dahil sa kanya, dapat ay nandito pa rin ang papa ko hanggang ngayon. Dapat ay hindi ako nangungulila ng pagmamahal ng isang ama. Mama should be happy now, not crying every time she remembers Papa. Mom would never have thought of committing suicide. I should be enjoying my teenage days right now.Pinunasan ko ang luha ko. Hindi ko alam kong tanaw ba niya ang luha sa mata ko dahil medyo madilim sa kinatatayuan ko. I want to enjoy my teenage days, but I can't be happy thinking that my mother is still suffering from the death of my papa.Hindi ko alam kung bakit biglang nawala ang hilo ko at naging kumportable na. Ang tanging nasa isip ko lang ay ang galit ko sa taong nasa harap ko ngayon at kung paano siya saktan.Huminga ako ng malalim. I tried to smile at him. Kumaway ako, pero masyadong seryoso ang titig nito sa'kin. Imbes na masindak ay naglakad ako papalapit sa kanya. Biglang nanginig ang tuhod ko nang
4That's it. I can't believe that I did it. I can't believe what just happened. Tulala ako habang ang mga kasama ko ay nakapag-ayos na dahil malapit ng mag alas syete at kailangan na naming pumunta sa lobby para sa DTR namin."Hoi! Anong problema mo? Bakit hindi ka pa gumagalaw d'yan?" Tanong ni Seji nang mapansing nakaupo lang ako at nakatitig sa kung saan."Kanino 'to?" Halos takbuhin ko ang distansya namin ni Hennah nang hawak-hawak na niya ang white longsleeve na isinuot sakin ni Maddix kagabi nang ihatid niya ako sa labas ng kwarto namin.Hinablot ko iyon sa kanya at nag-iwas ng tingin."Anong problema mo?" Kunot noong tanong ni Hennah nang nagulat siguro sa biglaan kong paghablot sa damit sa kanya."Lumabas ka ba kagabi?" Tanong ulit ni Seji habang nakatitig sa hawak ko. "Hindi ma nagsusuot ng ganyan ah," dugtong pa niya."H-Hindi ako lumabas," utal kong sambit.I don't know. I'm confused. I should be happy, right? That's a huge improvement, but why am I thinking about our kiss
5Sa buong work immersion ko ay palagi akong tumatambay sa balcony cabins tuwing gabi, but right now, I don't want to go there. Minabuti kong mahiga na lang kahit na hindi pa ako inaantok.Tomorrow will be our last day working, so next morning will be our free day. The others, including Seji, have already planned what to do that day, while I will probably just go along with what they are going to do.Napasulyap ako sa phone ko nang tumunog iyon. Pangatlong tawag na iyon galing sa pasahero at sa buong tawag na iyon ay hinayaan ko lang na mag ring, pero narindi ako nang patuloy pa rin iyon sa pagtunog kaya pinatay ko na lang."This will be your last day for your immersion, so I'm expecting all of you na maging maayos ang huling araw ninyo," the manager said, and some of the staff are already in front of us."After this, all the activities you want to do will be free. Kakainin niyo sa restaurant, and also kahit na sa bar kayo mamalagi ay ayos lang, but know your limits. Kung balak niyong
6I just shook my head when the conversation between Hennah and I entered my mind. See, Maddix Villaranza really has this effect that, even if he does nothing, many people will want to be with him.Hennah is one of our elite classmates. Hennah is beautiful. She is the daughter of a business tycoon at ang tanga ko para sabihin na mas may pag-asa pa ako kaysa sa kanya. It's clear na mas may pag-asa ito kaysa sa'kin.Baka nga kapag sinabi niya sa ama na gusto niya ng isang date kay Maddix ay baka payagan ito at kausapin si Maddix tungkol dito. Knowing that Hennah was a spoiled brat.Pero bakit ko ba iyon iniisip? I should not thinking about that. Ano namang pakealam kung magdate yung dalawa! I was busy thinking kaya hindi ko napansin na may nakatayo na pala sa harap ko. Kung hindi niya lang hinawakan ang kamay ko ay baka hanggang ngayon ay tulala pa rin ako at wala sa sarili."Sorry, Sir," mabilis na sambit ko, pero napawi ang ngiti sa labi ko nang makita ang Americano na subrang kulit.
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