"Wake up." I groaned as I hear Enrique. Binuksan niya ang kurtina ng kwarto ko. Itinakip ko ang kumot sa mukha ko at tumalikod sa bintana.
Ngayon nagsisisi na ako na hindi ko ini-lock ang pinto ko. Sinadya ko yun kasi iniisip ko na baka pasukin niya ang kwarto ko, pano niya ako maaakit kung naka lock di ba? Pero hindi ko naman akalain na ganito. Papasok siya sa kwarto para lang gisingin ako. Kung sa ibang paraan niya lang sana ako ginigising..."Mira gumising ka na magsisimula na tayo sa training" Gustong gusto ko talaga si Enrique pero sa mga ganitong pagkakataon gustong gusto ko siyang batuhin nitong bedside table.
Ilang araw na nagsimula ang training namin. Ang sakit ng katawan ko. I even have bruises on my body. Gosh, ngayon lang to nangyari. That's why I hate fighting. I always give people my good image kahit pa gusto ko na silang pagsisipain. Ang hindi lang nila alam kapag kinakalaban nila ako, pailalim ako tumitira. Like ruining their buisness or something.
"Mira," He said in a warning tone. Galit na umupo ako sa kama at humarap sa kanya.
"Gosh Enrique I really love it when you say my name pero hindi ngayon. Ang sakit ng buong katawan ko. And look oh! I have bruises!" Ipinakita ko pa sa kanya ang mga pasa ko sa braso. "Can we do other things that doesn't involve you killing me?"He chuckled and then he gave me an amused look. Nawala lahat ng pag aalburuto ko and I think my mouth fell open. Omg! He laughed! Hallelujah!!"Come on let's have breakfast." Tumalikod na siya at agad naman akong sumunod. Ayaw kong masira ang mood niya.
"At dahil masiyado nang late-""What? Late ka diyan. It's only 6 in the morning.""Don't interrupt me when I'm talking. Ang sabi ko sayo 5 am tayo ngayon." He gave me a meaningful look. Nag kibit balikat lang ako at nag concentrate sa pagkain. Hindi na ako magsasalita dahil baka maisipan pa niya na mag training kami."I have to go somewhere today. Kung gusto mong sumama ayos lang pero-""Sure! Sasama ako kahit sa langit pa yan." He gave me a passive look on his face kaya naman ngumiti lang ako at nag peace sign sa kanya.~*~
"Mira gising na." Naalimpungatan ako nang gisingin ako ni Enrique. Napansin ko din na huminto ang sinasakyan naming range rover. Umiling siya. "Sleepyhead."Tumingin ako sa paligid puro puni naman ang nakikita ko at may isang building lang na maliit. "Nasaan tayo?"
Hindi siya nagsalita at bumaba ng sasakyan. I rolled my eyes. My usual Enrique. Tamad magsalita at masungit.
I opened the door at bumaba na din. May kinuha siyang gamit mula sa likod ng sasakyan."Tara sa loob." He walked towards the building. Ni hindi manlang ako hinintay. Swear, kapag ikaw ang tinamaan sakin papahirapan din kita.May isang babae ang lumapit sa amin, or should I say kay Enrique. Siya pang din naman ang binati ng babae. Nasa gilid lang ako habang pinagmamasdan ang babae na magpa cute kay Enrique, eto namang lalaki na to walang ginagawa. Nakalimutan pa yata na may kasama siya."Na-miss ka talaga nila. Mabuti at naisipan mong bumalik." She put her hands sa braso ni Enrique. Napataas ang kilay ko dahil sa ginawa niya.
"Oo nga. Naging busy lang sa trabaho." Napansin ko naman ang pasimpleng pagtanggang ni Enrique sa kamay ng babae. I smirked.
"Ang mahalaga bumalik ka pa rin dito." Sa balikat naman ni Enrique humawak ang babae.That's it. Ubos na ang pasensya ko sa babaeng to. I walked towards them. Kanina pa siya chansing ng chansing kay Enrique samantalang ako hirap na hirap humawak sa braso na yan. Kahit tuwing self defense training namin di ko masiyadong nagahawakan braso niya tapos siya pasimpleng manyakis ang peg.
"Hands off girl." Para namang ngayon lang ako nakita ng babae. She looked a little bit confused at first pagkatapos ay namutla."Laila?" Kumunot naman ang noo ko.
"Who's that?" Baliw na yata ang babaeng to. I shrugged. "I'm Mira and get your hands off my man."
"Mira?" Tumingin siya kay Enrique. Medyo matagal silang nagtitigan bago nagsalita si Enrique."Kapatid siya ng kaibigan ko." Tumingin sa akin ulit ang babae pagkatapos ay kay Enrique. Nagpabalik balik ang tingin niya sa aming dalawa."Oh." Kumurap kurap muna siya bago ngumiti sa akin ng alanganin. "Hi. I'm Rita.""Who cares about your name?""Mira." Enrique said in a warning tone. I rolled my eyes."Yes? Lolo? Am I being scolded again?" Sarkastikong sabi ko sa kanya. He sighed. Napatingin ako kay Rita nang bigla siyang tumawa."You're cute." Sabi niya habang umiiling.
"Thanks pero mas prefer ko ang maganda kesa cute." I flipped my hair. "But not because you told me I'm cute doesn't mean na pwede mo nang hawakan ng ganyan si Enrique."Nainis ako lalo nang mas lumakas ang tawa ng babae. Nang iinsulto yata itong babaeng to sa akin. I crossed my arms infront of my chest."Ang cute niya mag selos Culver." And she has the guts to call him by his other name. Gosh. Enrique's lips pressed into a thin line na parang nagpipigil ng tawa."I haven't properly introduced myself to you young miss. I am Rita and I used to be Culver's nanny. I'm already 47 and I am happily living with my husband and 2 children."
"What?!" Tinignan ko siya simula ulo hanggang paa. She looks so young! She's petite and she's small. Hanggang leeg ko lang siya, but maybe it's because I'm 5'7 tall pero kahit na. Ang bata niya tignan.
"Yes." Natatawang sabi niya."Do you drink sa water ng fountain of youth or something?""Hindi. Maliit lang kasi ako kaya mukha akong bata. Ito kasing si Enrique hindi manlang ako ipinakilala, may kasama pala siya. Tara sa loob." Tumalikod na siya at naglakad papasok ng building. Sumunod naman kami ni Enrique.
"Is she really 47?" Hindi makapaniwalang sabi ko. Baka mamaya ginu-good time lang nila ako.
"Yes.""Pano niya name-maintain ang ganyang kutis? Malapit lang ang edad niya kay mommy pero.." Hindi ko na tinuloy ang sasabihin ko dahil baka kapag narinig ako ni mommy tanggalan ako ng mana. "Gosh. I have to know her secret so that I'll still look young and fresh when I reach that age.""I'm sure you'll still be beautiful no matter what age you are in." Napahinto ako sa paglalakad habang nagderetso lang sa paglalakad si Enrique."What?" He stopped and turned his head to look back at me. "Pwede mo bang ulitin yung huli mong sinabi?""No." Tumalikod na siya ulit at naglakad papasok. Tumakbo naman ako upang mahabol siya."Pakiulit please." Sabi ko habang sinasabayan siya sa paglakad."No.""Sige na.""Wag ka nang makulit.""Ulitin mo na.""God, you're an annoying woman." Naiiling na sabi niya pero imbes na mainis ako sa sinabi niya natawa lang ako. Ayan na. Nabighani na siya sa ganda ko. Ang sunod niyan mamahalin na niya ako."Ano? Hanggang diyan nalang ba kayo?" Pang-aasar ko sa mga bata. Sumimangot naman sila sa akin. Kanina pa kasi kami naglalaro ng Sipa. Hindi kasi nila matalo-talo ang score ko na 98. "Ang galing mo naman ate Mira, sa susunod tatalunin na talaga kita." Natawa naman ako kay Tonyo isa sa mga bata dito sa ampunan. Lumapit ako sa isa at ginulo ang buhok niya. Isinandal ko pa ang siko ko sa ibabaw ng ulo niya. "Ate Mira crush mo ba si Kuya Culver?" Tanong ng isa ngumiti naman ako sa kanila. Nag squat ako at pinalapit ko silang lahat sa akin. "Secret lang natin ito ha? Crush na crush ko kasi siya. Kaya dapat tulungan niyo ako para magig crush niya rin ako." Nagsipag tanguan naman sila at parang mga kinikilig na tumatawa. "Meryenda muna tayo!" Tawag ni Rita. "Mag meryenda na muna kayo then we will play again. Dapat matalo niyo na ako, okay?" Tumango naman sila sa akin at tumakbo papalapit kay Rita na nginitian ako. I waved back at her pagkatapos ay tumakbo ako palapit kay Enrique na kani
Narinig kong bumukas ang pinto ng kwarto ni Enrique pero nakaupo lang ako at ipinagpatuloy ang pag basa. Bahala siya sa buhay niya. I've been giving him a cold shoulder for two days ever since makabalik kami galing sa ampunan.Hindi ko naman siya iniiwasan pero hindi ko din siya pinapansin. Bahala na kung magka panisan kami ng laway. Kami lang naman dalawa dito edi kami lang ang mag aamuyan ng hiningang panis.I don't know why he acted like that towards me samantalang concerned lang naman ako na baka nasaktan siya. I know naman kasi na kasalanan ko kung bakit kami natumba pero hindi naman yata tama na ganon ang inasal niya sa akin.It's like this every time I tried to help him, he only makes me feel like I'm a nuisance."Lalabas muna ako." Tumango lang ako at hindi nagsalita. Ni hindi ko siya tinapunan ng tingin. I heard him sigh. "Mira.."Inalis ko ang tingin sa libro ko at tinignan siya. I raised both my eyebrows. "May kailangan ka?"Ilang sandali pa siyang tumitig sa akin. "Wala."
Nagising ako sa malakas na ingay sa sala, madilim pa. Nag ayos ng damit at lumabas upang puntahan kung ano yung ingay. Hindi kaya nandito na si Enrique? Dalawang araw na kasi siyang wala para puntahan si kuya."Enrique?" Walang sumagot. I tried to walk slower dahil iba ang kutob ko. The noise stopped when I called his name. Mabilis kong hinablot ang vase na naka display sa corridor para maghanda kung sakali man na masamang tao nga. Nakarinig ako ng nabasag at nang sumilip ako sa sala nakita ko si Enrique na nakaupo sa sahig."Fuck fuck fuck." I heard him mutter. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang makita siya. Lumapit ako at nakita ko na may dugo sa dailiri niya."My gosh Enrique anong nangyari sayo?" Ibinaba ko ang vase na hawak ko sa sofa ba malapit at agad na lumapit sa kanya. I can smell liquor on his breath. "Are you drunk?"He didn't said anything at tinitigan lang ako."Wait I'll just get the medicines doon sa cabinet." Tatayo na sana ako pero pinigilan niya ako sa braso gamit ang wa
I raised a brow upon seeing Enrique sit. Nakahawak siya sa ulo niya and I know na may hang over siya. At isa pa, hinayaan ko lang siya na matulog sa sahig so baka rin siguro masakit ang katawan niya sa tigas ng sahig, but I doubt it. Baka sing tigas din ng yummy niyang katawan ang marble floor niya."So? Are you okay na ba?" Medyo mataray na tanong ko sa kanya. I still can't get over the fact that she called me by her ex's name."Mira?" I rolled my eyes at him. Of course it's me Enrique, you idiot. May iba pa ba? Pero imbes na yun ang sabihin ko, umiling ako at tinignan siya ng masama."No. I'm Laila." I said with a poker face. His face became pale na para bang nawala lahat ng dugo sa mukha niya. "You called me by that name last night.""Fuck." I heard him mutter. Yan tama yan magmura ka kapag naririnig ang pangalan ng ex mong sumalangit na."Kaya pala ayaw mo sa akin dahil may ibang babae ka." I crossed my arms at tumitig pa sa kanya habang nakataas ang isang kilay. Syempre I have to
Ilang segundo na nakalapat ang labi namin sa isa't-isa. My eyes are open and his are closed. Hindi ako makakibo sa sobrang gulat. Ni hindi na makapag isip ang utak ko kung ano na ang dapat kong gawin.He started to move his lips and that's it. Nawala na ako sa sarili ko at nagpadala na. Napapikit ako at sinabayan ang mga labi ni Enrique. I noticed that his lips are hesitant to move more pero I'm not letting this moment pass by so I started to lead the kiss.Our tongue tangled and I can taste him. A mixture of mint and cigarette, I think. Alam ko na Enrique smoke because I see cigarette butts sa ash tray sa veranda pero hindi ko pa siya nakita na nanigarilyo. Isinabit ko ang mga braso ko sa balikat niya. He held me on my waist and pulled me closer to him.Then he stopped. He freaking stopped and lightly pushed me away."This is wrong." Kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi niya. What the hell? I thought it's going well. The kiss was going well."Ano?" Baka mali lang ako ng narinig. Ano an
"Hey Mira, I heard you broke up with that actor. I thought things are going great with the both of you?" I smiled at Claren as I put on my skirt. Kakatapos lang kasi ng magazine shoot namin. Isa siyang Aussie na kapwa ko model sa agency na pinapasukan ko.I've been working on this agency for three years and I've been to different countries to attend runways and magazine shoots. Nung una hesitant ako sa pag-model but when Nasci-a latin word for 'native' which I named my jewellery business-started to boom because of it, I saw the happy faces of those people who makes my jewellery, it made me love my job.Being an international model made people admire my fashion at kasama palagi sa outfit ko ang products namin. That's when it started to be recognized. Hanggang sa ginawa naming parte ng online shop ang Nasci and now our jewellries are delivered worldwide."I've dated him for quite a while now. I got bored." Napatigil siya sa pag retouch ng lipstick niya. She raised an eyebrow at me at um
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Hindi ko mapigilan ang mapasigaw dahil sa nakikita ko ngayon sa social media. I woke up with my phone ringing because of my manager calling, telling me she's on her way to my apartment and asking me about an issue. Wala pa akong clue nung una, but when she mentioned Sage Vasquez I immediately googled myself and voila, I saw what she was referring.I opened and read one of the link titled, Miranda Crivelli's new boyfriend after a week of break upPinaka-unang nakita ko ay ang picture namin ni Sage. He was holding my wrist at nakangiti habang nakatingin ako sa kanya. Kung titignan nga naman talaga mukha kaming close dito sa picture. Pero sa picture lang to! Gosh this is stressing me out. Huminga ako ng malalim at kinalma ang sarili ko bago binasa ang mga nakasulat sa article.It has only been a week after calling it quits with previous boyfriend-Sean Termill-Mira Crivelli reportedly has a new victim of love, a 25-year-old Filipino band vocalist.The model-actress was s
"Mira pangalawang beses na yan na may nang bato sayo! Wag mo akong iniirap irapan diyan nakuuuu."Nandito kami ngayon sa isang Cafe at kanina lang ay kausap namin si Jaqie na agad ding umalis dahil may gagawin pa daw siya. I really missed hanging out with the both of them. The last time na nakita ko si Julian ay nung nanganak siya kay Tori. With Jaqie naman it was when she was wasted. Wasted as in ang pangit niya sa sobrang pagka broken hearted. I was broken-hearted din naman that time pero hindi ko naman pinabayaan ang itsura ko kagaya niya na mukhang hindi na naliligo."It's just a crumpled paper Julian. Wag ka ngang mag overreact diyan." Alam kong concerned lang si Jules pero hindi ko naman pwedeng ipakita sa kanya na natatakot din ako sa mga death threats na nakukuha ko from haters. Besides, alam kong bibigyan nila ako ng body guards kapag nalaman nila. I hate body guards kaya naman mas lalo kong itinago ang papel na ibinato sa akin."Sigurado ka ba na pupunta ka pa ng mall? Baka
"That's right. Demitri's not here cause Mira's leaving." Agad akong napatingin kay Klaus. He's talking to Trei and Keith, he minimized his voice for me not to hear it, but I did. Klaus' voice is always loud even when he tries to minimize it. "Ang alam ko wala nanaman planong bumalik yung babaeng yun." I immediately stood up. Napatingin naman sa akin si Trei at Klaus, habang nakayuko lang si Keith at natutulog. "Where?" Kumunot naman ang noo ni Klaus. "Dude are you alright?" Hindi ako nagsalita. "Can I tell you something?" "No." I immediately answered but he ignored me. "You look like a caveman Montreverde. You haven't shave for weeks! Halos hindi kita makilala kanina." Hindi ko pinansin ang sinabi niya. Ang daldal talaga ng taong to. "Where is she?" Kailangan ko siyang makita. Kahit isang sulyap lang. Kahit isang segundo lang. I miss her. I miss her annoying voice. I miss her loud laughter. I just... miss everything about her, because I love her. "Sino?" Alam kong alam niya kun
"Culv, while you're there can you check on my sister?" Demitri asked while we talked through the phone. I just finished a mission here in Madrid and he asked me if I can look how his little sister is doing.Demitri is one of my closest friend. Tinulungan niya akong bumangon sa mga panahon lubog na lubog ako. He helped me in building my buisness. He is-was, I mean-my wife's cousin. Demitri is also a good friend. Kaya naman gagawin ko ang lahat ng pabor na kaya kong gawin para sa kanya."Alright." He gave me his sister's location and I immediately went there and looked for Mira. Hindi ko pa talaga siya nakikita ng personal dahil mahilig daw maglibot sa iba't-ibang bansa ang kapatid niya.I went to the place where he said his sister is and waited for the picture of his sister. Nang makuha ko ang litrato, halos mabitawan ko ang cellphone ko.He looks exactly like her. Like my wife.My eyes scanned the room and there she is laughing and drinking with old men and women as they share jokes.
One year together and Enrique still hadn't proposed to me! Gosh! I'm not getting any younger. Mom keeps on teasing me na hindi daw ako nag mana sa kanya dahil hanggang ngayon hindi parin ako pinapakasalan ni Enrique. She said that when it was her and dad, six months after they met nagpakasal na sila. Eh kasi naman pinikot niya si daddy!I should've grabbed the chance when she saw us inside my room a year ago. Dapat sinakyan ko na si Mommy at sinabihan si Enrique na Mom's right! Kailangan niya nga akong panagutan. Edi sana we have our cute chikitings na."You're still young Mira. Maghintay ka lang kasi." I rolled my eyes at Jaqie."Says someone na nag propose sa asawa niya." Jaqie just laughed at me. Kanina pa siya kain ng kain. Lumalaki na din ang tiyan niya since 8 months na siyang buntis."Naalala ko nung kasal ko, masiyado kang desidido na saluhin ang bouquet ko para ikaw na ang sunod na ikasal. Look at you now, hindi mo nasalo kaya hindi ka parin kasal." Julian and her both laughe
"Alin ma?" I asked innocently na para bang nung hinulog ko si Enrique sa sahig makakalimutan ni mommy na he saw us sleeping together."Don't act innocent on me Miranda Fleur. Mas magaling akong umarte kesa sayo. Ano ang ibig sabihin nito?" He looked at Enrique na ngayon ay nakaupo na sa sahig at hinihimas ang ulo niya. He must've hit his head nung nahulog siya."We were just sleeping-""I knew it!" I looked at my mom weirdly. Bakit ba galit na galit siya eh we were just sleeping lang naman talaga! She's being hysterical na diyan."Mom calm down. We were just sleeping together!""Jusporsanto Miranda! You were SLEEPING TOGETHER!!" She fanned herself using his hands. Nakatulala lang si Enrique sa kanya. Shocked yata siya sa pagiging over acting ni mommy. "Ano nalang ang sasabihin ng mga amiga ko? That I have a daughter who sleeps around?""What's wrong with sleeping?" I muttered."What's going on here?" Nagsilingunan kami nang marinig ang boses ni kuya Demitri. "Mom? When did you get bac
I showered and Julian must've lend Enrique my brother's clothes dahil nung kumatok siya sa kwarto ay bagong ligo na din si Enrique at nakabihis ng tshirt ni kuya. Julian and I both insisted that he sleeps on the guest room. That's two bedrooms away from mine."I just want to check on you. Are you hungry? Do you want to eat something?" Umiling ako. I walked towards my bed and tucked myself in while sit and leaned my back on the headboard. I patted the space beside me.Enrique's face was hesitant and I rolled my eyes. Not this again. I arched my brows at him and twitched my lips to one side. I saw him gulped. Jusko naman, why is he like that ba? Akala mo naman I will rape him here. Hindi naman ako namimilit if hindi pa siya ready...Hindi parin siya gumalaw so I pointed my finger at him and then beside me. Ngumiti ako ng malapad when he sighed and made his way to sit beside me. Pero nasa ibabaw lang siya ng comforter nakaupo. I rolled my eyes. Conservative masiyado kainis! It's not like
I don't know kung ilang oras na kaming nandito ni Rustan sa loob ng garage. I'm also thirsty and hungry. I don't even see the kidnappers, all I saw was two guys na naglalaro ng cards while smoking some cigarettes sa gilid at binabantayan kami. Gosh, typical kidnappers that I see in a movie. Akala ko oa lang sila pero totoo pala. How lame. Wala bang something na kakaiba? Yung hindi ko nakikita sa mga action movies?Nanlaki ang mga mata ko as we heard a gunshot not far away from here."Finally!" Rustan said exasperatedly."Anong finally? Bakit finally?" I asked na natataranta. I hate guns. I hate the sound they make. I have a feeling na I'm gonna get killed tonight."My brother's team is here." He said with a smirk. Hindi ako natuwa. Omg! Don't tell me walang pulis? Anong oras dadating ang pulis?! Kapag safe na kami? Gosh! Are we shooting some lame filipino movie here? But as reality show?!The two guys immediately stood up and took their guns. Five or six more went inside. Lumapit sila
"Enrique's brother?" He smirked. Hindi ko alam na may kapatid siya pero super magkahawig talaga sila. Except-napansin ko-sa color ng eyes. Enrique' eyes are grey, sa kanya ay itim and Enrique doesn't make a smirk like that."Are you twins?" He chuckled and slowly shook his head.Kung sabagay, sa malayuan talagang mapagkakamalan mo siyang si Enrique, but seeing him up close you'll see the differences. This guy has a rounder face than him and Enrique has a mysterious aura around him, while Rustan has this bad boy image. Also, Enrique's body structure is a little bigger, but I think magkalapit lang ang height nilang dalawa."We're half brothers, actually." I was taken aback by what he said. May kapatid sa labas si Enrique?"He didn't tell me he has a brother." Bakit wala manlang akong alam na he has a half brother pala? He didn't even mention it to me. Ang alam ko kasi solong anak siya ng mga Monteverde."That's because he also didn't know-until last year when he accidentally saw me in a
"Mira ready na for your interview?" One of the crew asked me as my make up artist finishes my make up. Tumango ako at ngumiti. I have an interview today since our episode was a success. The management wants to expose us more to the viewers. I know for sure that they are doing this to see if they will want me sign a contract with them."My gosh momsh yung eyebags mo putok na putok! Mabuti nalang magaling ako. Charan! Waley ng bakas ng pinagpuyatan mo." I chuckled. Kanina pa kasi siya frustrated dahil sa eyebags ko na masiyadong namamaga. He even gave an exaggerated scream when he saw me.It's been two weeks since I last saw Enrique and in those two weeks, hindi ako makatulog. I'm so depressed, stressed-lahat na yata ng negative vibes nasa akin na. I always think about our last conversation.Mali ba ako? Did I made the wrong decision by pushing him away? Was I too much? Those are the questions that has been bugging me for two weeks.I it's really over for the both of us dahil kahit shad
The interview ended smoothly, although wala nang ibang ginawa ang hosts kundi ang i-issue na nasa dating stage kami ni Sage. We both denied it and said that we're only friends. We told them about how we actually met at kinuwento namin sa kanila kung anong nangyari talaga. They asked us if there's a possibility that we'll be together in the future, we didn't say any straight answers to keep the fans' excitement, of course it was all part of the script.I arrived at home, all the lights are off. My brows furrowed. Madilim at parang walang katao-tao. It looks a little bit creepy."Hello?" I shouted. Asan sila kuya Demitri at si Jules? Wag nilang sabihin na nag out of town nanaman sila at nag honeymoon without telling me?!I walked towards the garden when I saw a dim light. My eyes widen as I saw Enrique holding a bouquet of flowers and he's smiling at me. Nakita ko din na may table at candles na nakahanda. The ambiance looked like it's romantic but I cannot feel any romance. Manhind na y