Nakatanaw ako sa dagat ng mga tao. I saw Janice sashaying her way towards the path where the emcee is talking. Puno ng mga bulaklak ang daanan. I can’t believe, Janice, a relative of mine is on her sweet sixteen birthday, noong una’y karga-karga ko lang, ngayon ay dalagang-dalaga na. She’d grown to be a respectful lady. Pinong-pino ang galaw niya at halos hindi makabasag ng pinggan ang mukha kung tingnan. I smiled as I continued drinking the wine that was given to me. Tiningnan ko ang cellphone ko kung meron bang text si Cevier at tama nga ako. There’s 20 unread messages. I wasn’t able to inform him because they invited me at the last minute when I was about to go home. Cevier: Where are you? I’m here outside your office? It’s locked. Is everything good? Sunod-sunod kong binasa ang mga text niya. This brute keeps texting me until now. Cevier: Baby, It’s been an hour, where is my reply? Are you mad? Pinaghahanap ka na ng security team ko. Me: Don’t worry, I’m alright. So
“Malapit na ang birthday mo,” Napalingon ako kay Papa. Mataman niya akon tiningnan. I shrugged. Binuksan ko ang pintuan ng sasakyan niya at bumaba.“Ano ang gusto mong gawin sa birthday mo?” Tanong niya.“Maybe we’ll just eat outside, Pa,”Kumunot ang noo niya. “You don’t want a grand birthday?”Umiling ako. “Hindi na, Pa. I’ve had enough of my grand birthdays.”He sighed. “If you want to, I’ll clear my schedule for your birthday so that there will be no disturbance.” Sinara ko ang pintuan at pinaharurot niya ang sasakyan pagkatapos no’n. Nanggaling ako sa office niya para sa meeting. Naisipan niyang ihatid ako pagkatapos dahil may pasok pa ako.“Oh, nakapasa ka ba sa subject ni Mrs. Martinez?” Tanong ni Anje kay Evan. Evan groaned in frustration.“At pinaalala mo pa, ha? Sabing ayaw ko nang mag-nursing! Damn, sana pala hindi na ako nag-switch ng course.”Tumawa ako. I don’t know why pero last year na naming ngayon. Si Evan, nagswitch noong nag third year kami. Medyo mauuna na kaming
Nakatulala ako ngayon sa salamin. Namamaga ang mga mata, siguro dahil sa walang tigil na pag-iyak ko. Patuloy pa rin ang pag patak ng mga luha ko sa sink na hinahawakan. Sometimes, I always wonder why I’m always told upon ruling a massive empire at such a young age. I am grateful for everything that I have...more than thankful, even for the little things because that’s how the above expects us to do. To be thankful that he gave us the blessings...trust me, I’m thankful for it. Paulit-ulit na sinasabi ng Daddy iyon. I remember the time that I was visiting the field, where the construction workers do their labor every day, I recalled that I was young. He slowly guided me and pointed at the project that our company is building. It was one of the Montebella’s project, the MHI. “You see that, Darya? Ikaw ang magmamana ng lahat ng iyan.” I pouted and shook my head. “I don’t want it.” He sighed. “Baby, I will give this to you. Ikaw ang gusto kong pagbigyan ng lahat ng mga ari-arian namin
Ngumiti ako kay Lovin. He sat beside me. “Hindi ko talaga inasahan na makikita kita rito. I saw you months ago…and you’re not quite yourself back then. Ibang iba ngayon.” “I have some business to attend to. By the way, how are you with Cevier?” He asked before taking a sip to his espresso. He stared at me like something was wrong at my face. “Doin’ good. May business trip siya this week. Anong business mo?” “Semento.” “Talaga?” “Yup.” May sasabihin pa sana ako pero hindi ko na natuloy dahil rinig ko ang hagikhik ni Evan at Anje sa tabi. Nang nilingon ko sila ay tumikhim si Anje. “So you’re still a student?” Patuloy ni Lovin. Nagulat ako nang nilapag ng waiter ang isang buong chocolate cake sa table namin. Kunot noo kong nilingon si Anje. Agad naman na umling siya. Tila alam kung bakit tumingin ako sa kaniya. “Nag order ka ba ng cake, Evan?” “What? No! Bakit naman ako o-order e hindi nga ako nag crave ng cake. Kape lang.” Kung ganoon sino kaya? Baka nagkamali ang waiter. “Uh
“Okay…I’ll give you space. I love you.” Inabala ko ang sarili ko sa paglaro ng aking mga kamay. He sighed painfully. Tulala akong nakatingin muli sa kaniya at tahimik na hinintay na tapusin niya at patayin ang tawag. Pero hindi niya ginawa iyon. Kaya ako na ang nag end ng call namin. Kahit anong iyak ko, hindi pa rin nawawala ang sakit. Pagkagising ko ay agad kong nakita ang pamamaga ng aking mga mata. My voice is raspy too. Gusto ko mang mahiga buong araw ay hindi ko magawa dahil may kailangan pa akong aralin. Nakasandal si Anje sa aking balikat habang ako ay umiinom ng milktea, tulala dahil sa dami ng exam na ni-take naming ngayong araw. “Sa tingin mo, Darya, papasa ba tayo?” Tanong niya. I glanced at her. Times like this I know that she needs comfort. Even though she’s calm right now, I know her mind is in chaos. She’s really quiet these days. At alam na alam ko na may problema siya. “Kung nag-aral ka. Ang hirap naman kung sasabihin kong ‘oo’ pero hindi ka naman pala nag-aral
Pinasundo ako ni Papa sa airport matapos ko siyang ni-text na pauwi na ako ng Pilipinas. He didn't ask why. Kinuha ni Manong Domeng ang aking maleta at nilagay sa likod ng sasakyan. Agad akong pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan.Pagka uwi ko sa bahay, wala si Mama at si Vien. Tanging si Papa lang ang sumalubong sa akin. Agad ko siyang niyakap. I hugged him for minutes until I started sobbing. He patted my back and ask."What happened?" Mas lalo pa akong umiyak. Hinaplos niya ang likod ko."Paano ko malalaman kung iiyak lang ang baby ko?" Umiling nalang ako at nagpatuloy sa pag hikbi. Nanatili siya sa ganoong ayos hanggang sa natapos ako. Somehow, hindi na gaano kabigat ang nararamdaman ko."Why are you back so soon, anak?" Umiling ako. He sighed and never asked again. Hinatid niya ako sa kwarto ko."Everything will be alright. If you don't wanna tell me, it's okay. If you want to cry, then cry. It's alright, anak." His words comforted me."T-thank you, Pa." my voice became raspy.He patted
"This is all your fault!" Napapikit ako nang naramdaman ang hapdi sa aking pisngi. I touched my cheek as tears fall down my cheeks. I looked at her like I was questioning my worth.Tinuro ako ni Mama. She is crying, her face is red, and she's also breathing heavily. "How can you be so selfish! Alam mong nababaon na tayo sa utang! Pero ano ang ginawa mo?! You broke the engagement!"I stared at my dearest mother, wide-eyed. Growing up, I looked up to her. Pero ngayon, I hate how she is. How she chose to raise me with tough love instead of gentle parenting.I hated how she made me feel so little. Na kahit sa isang bagay na dapat talaga ako ang magdedesiyon, ay hindi ko magawa!"Ma! Am I really that selfish to refuse the engagement? I have the right to! He cheated on me—""Pero malulugmok tayo sa kahirapan! Hindi ka ba nag-iisip?!"I stared at her helplessly."And instead of making a solution, you're going to sacrifice me?! Ma! I am your daughter! I am not your sacrificial lamb!"Isang
Mataman kong tiningnan si Cevier. He looked so stern, but also frustrated. Ngumiti nalang ako at umiling, dismissing our conversation. I can’t…trust him right now. We both stayed quiet. Nakatingin nalang sa mga taong nagsasayaw sa harap namin. Hindi ko siya pinansin. Hanggang sa natapos na ang gabi. Hinatid niya nalang ako sa bahay namin. I just thanked him. Diretso ang lakad ko at hindi na siya sinulyapan muli.“Hi, ate.” Salubong ni Vien sa akin.How long has it been? She looks a bit mature now. Siguro’y hindi na kami nagkikita kaya ganoon nalang ako kagulat. She’s not in her favorite cartoon character pajamas anymore. She’s in her high school uniform and a light on her face. She’s wearing her glasses but I’ve noticed something different right now.“Hello, Vien.”“You’re out partying with your friends?” She asked.“Yes. Kasama ko sila Evan. How about you? How’s your day? I’ve noticed…you got your braces removed.”“I’m glad you noticed. Bagay ba sa akin?” She showed me her perfect
“Are you okay?” I asked Darya. Hindi niya ako matingnan. Here we go again. After the things that we did together, it will only be like this…toxic. Nakakasawa rin. It is our honeymoon, we’ve made love… Natagis ako ng bagang ko. “I have to go, please…” At ganoon na lang ‘yon. Hinayaan ko siyang umalis. In the middle of the cold night. I felt lonely and cold. Hindi ko maintindihan. First, the wedding in Hawaii. Pero wala rin naman ako pakialam doon dahil gusto kong mapakasal sa kaniya. And no matter what I do, hindi pa rin iyon sapat sa kaniya. I felt that I wasn’t good enough in assuring her that it was only her. Ang hindi ko lang magawa ay ang saktan si Gladyss. She was a family friend. But I hate it that she was spreading such nonsense humor. Kung kanina’y malambing si Darya, ngayon, iba na ang ihip ng hangin. It frustrates me. Selosa siya. Heck, I was happy about it. It’s one of the things that I love about her. Pero hindi ko mapigilang masaktan. Dahil sa tuwing nagseselos siya,
“Eat. Even if you're angry with me.” Cevier said. Nagluto siya ng kare-kare. Nanatili akong nakahiga sa kama maghapon. Ni hindi nga kami nagpapansinan e. “Wala akong gana.” He sighed. I felt his arms around my waist and he nuzzled into my neck. Para akong nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig. How can he still have this kind of effect on me? When I despise him for having an obsessive ex-fiancee. “Please?” I felt his nose on my neck, inhaling my scent. Mas lalo akong natunaw sa kaniyang bisig dahil sa ginawa niya. “I hate that you’re skipping meals because you’re mad. Please eat. Kanina ka pa walang kain.” We are still in his private villa. Mga ilang araw na kami rito dahil sa honeymoon. Hindi kami magkatabi matulog. Pumupunta lang siya dito kapag wala na siyang trabaho at para mag hatid ng pagkain. And in some instances, he would lay next to me and hug me. Thinking it would ease the anger that I felt for him. It did. Pero sa tuwing naaalala ko ‘yong babaeng ‘yon, hindi ko mapigilang
“Cevier Montebella is spotted with the heiress, Gladyss Fererro kissing in the corridor of the high-end club in Taguig. Is this a sign of reconciliation between old lovers?”I saw the article pop-up. Pinindot ko iyon. I can almost hear my heartbeat. Pumikit ako ng mariin nang makita ang larawan na naroon sa article. Si Cevier na naka suot ng isang itim na suit, kissing Gladyss. He was wearing the tie I gave him while kissing his ex-fiancee. I couldn't believe it. But it wasn’t a surprise.Pumatak ang butil ng luha ko sa aking cellphone. He never failed to disappoint me. Hindi nalang sana ako naniwala na maaayos pa ito. “Naku, girl. Huwag kang umiyak masisira ang make up mo.” The make-up artist said.“Huy, Evan. Tulungan mo nga ako dito sa hair niya,”Tumayo si Evan galing sa sofa upang tulungan ang make-up artist. Tahimik akong nag-sccroll sa aking cellphone at nakitang may mga bagong articles na na release sa websites. “Excited nang matali si, Darya.” Biro ni Evan.That one articl
Mataman kong tiningnan si Cevier. He looked so stern, but also frustrated. Ngumiti nalang ako at umiling, dismissing our conversation. I can’t…trust him right now. We both stayed quiet. Nakatingin nalang sa mga taong nagsasayaw sa harap namin. Hindi ko siya pinansin. Hanggang sa natapos na ang gabi. Hinatid niya nalang ako sa bahay namin. I just thanked him. Diretso ang lakad ko at hindi na siya sinulyapan muli.“Hi, ate.” Salubong ni Vien sa akin.How long has it been? She looks a bit mature now. Siguro’y hindi na kami nagkikita kaya ganoon nalang ako kagulat. She’s not in her favorite cartoon character pajamas anymore. She’s in her high school uniform and a light on her face. She’s wearing her glasses but I’ve noticed something different right now.“Hello, Vien.”“You’re out partying with your friends?” She asked.“Yes. Kasama ko sila Evan. How about you? How’s your day? I’ve noticed…you got your braces removed.”“I’m glad you noticed. Bagay ba sa akin?” She showed me her perfect
"This is all your fault!" Napapikit ako nang naramdaman ang hapdi sa aking pisngi. I touched my cheek as tears fall down my cheeks. I looked at her like I was questioning my worth.Tinuro ako ni Mama. She is crying, her face is red, and she's also breathing heavily. "How can you be so selfish! Alam mong nababaon na tayo sa utang! Pero ano ang ginawa mo?! You broke the engagement!"I stared at my dearest mother, wide-eyed. Growing up, I looked up to her. Pero ngayon, I hate how she is. How she chose to raise me with tough love instead of gentle parenting.I hated how she made me feel so little. Na kahit sa isang bagay na dapat talaga ako ang magdedesiyon, ay hindi ko magawa!"Ma! Am I really that selfish to refuse the engagement? I have the right to! He cheated on me—""Pero malulugmok tayo sa kahirapan! Hindi ka ba nag-iisip?!"I stared at her helplessly."And instead of making a solution, you're going to sacrifice me?! Ma! I am your daughter! I am not your sacrificial lamb!"Isang
Pinasundo ako ni Papa sa airport matapos ko siyang ni-text na pauwi na ako ng Pilipinas. He didn't ask why. Kinuha ni Manong Domeng ang aking maleta at nilagay sa likod ng sasakyan. Agad akong pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan.Pagka uwi ko sa bahay, wala si Mama at si Vien. Tanging si Papa lang ang sumalubong sa akin. Agad ko siyang niyakap. I hugged him for minutes until I started sobbing. He patted my back and ask."What happened?" Mas lalo pa akong umiyak. Hinaplos niya ang likod ko."Paano ko malalaman kung iiyak lang ang baby ko?" Umiling nalang ako at nagpatuloy sa pag hikbi. Nanatili siya sa ganoong ayos hanggang sa natapos ako. Somehow, hindi na gaano kabigat ang nararamdaman ko."Why are you back so soon, anak?" Umiling ako. He sighed and never asked again. Hinatid niya ako sa kwarto ko."Everything will be alright. If you don't wanna tell me, it's okay. If you want to cry, then cry. It's alright, anak." His words comforted me."T-thank you, Pa." my voice became raspy.He patted
“Okay…I’ll give you space. I love you.” Inabala ko ang sarili ko sa paglaro ng aking mga kamay. He sighed painfully. Tulala akong nakatingin muli sa kaniya at tahimik na hinintay na tapusin niya at patayin ang tawag. Pero hindi niya ginawa iyon. Kaya ako na ang nag end ng call namin. Kahit anong iyak ko, hindi pa rin nawawala ang sakit. Pagkagising ko ay agad kong nakita ang pamamaga ng aking mga mata. My voice is raspy too. Gusto ko mang mahiga buong araw ay hindi ko magawa dahil may kailangan pa akong aralin. Nakasandal si Anje sa aking balikat habang ako ay umiinom ng milktea, tulala dahil sa dami ng exam na ni-take naming ngayong araw. “Sa tingin mo, Darya, papasa ba tayo?” Tanong niya. I glanced at her. Times like this I know that she needs comfort. Even though she’s calm right now, I know her mind is in chaos. She’s really quiet these days. At alam na alam ko na may problema siya. “Kung nag-aral ka. Ang hirap naman kung sasabihin kong ‘oo’ pero hindi ka naman pala nag-aral
Ngumiti ako kay Lovin. He sat beside me. “Hindi ko talaga inasahan na makikita kita rito. I saw you months ago…and you’re not quite yourself back then. Ibang iba ngayon.” “I have some business to attend to. By the way, how are you with Cevier?” He asked before taking a sip to his espresso. He stared at me like something was wrong at my face. “Doin’ good. May business trip siya this week. Anong business mo?” “Semento.” “Talaga?” “Yup.” May sasabihin pa sana ako pero hindi ko na natuloy dahil rinig ko ang hagikhik ni Evan at Anje sa tabi. Nang nilingon ko sila ay tumikhim si Anje. “So you’re still a student?” Patuloy ni Lovin. Nagulat ako nang nilapag ng waiter ang isang buong chocolate cake sa table namin. Kunot noo kong nilingon si Anje. Agad naman na umling siya. Tila alam kung bakit tumingin ako sa kaniya. “Nag order ka ba ng cake, Evan?” “What? No! Bakit naman ako o-order e hindi nga ako nag crave ng cake. Kape lang.” Kung ganoon sino kaya? Baka nagkamali ang waiter. “Uh
Nakatulala ako ngayon sa salamin. Namamaga ang mga mata, siguro dahil sa walang tigil na pag-iyak ko. Patuloy pa rin ang pag patak ng mga luha ko sa sink na hinahawakan. Sometimes, I always wonder why I’m always told upon ruling a massive empire at such a young age. I am grateful for everything that I have...more than thankful, even for the little things because that’s how the above expects us to do. To be thankful that he gave us the blessings...trust me, I’m thankful for it. Paulit-ulit na sinasabi ng Daddy iyon. I remember the time that I was visiting the field, where the construction workers do their labor every day, I recalled that I was young. He slowly guided me and pointed at the project that our company is building. It was one of the Montebella’s project, the MHI. “You see that, Darya? Ikaw ang magmamana ng lahat ng iyan.” I pouted and shook my head. “I don’t want it.” He sighed. “Baby, I will give this to you. Ikaw ang gusto kong pagbigyan ng lahat ng mga ari-arian namin