"Tigilan mo ako, Malcolm!"
"I see, hindi ka pa nakakahanap ng malilipatan."
"Ano bang problema mo, ha! Kung wala kang magawa sa buhay mo, na napakaimposible dahil alam kung busy ka sa paninindak ng ibang tao, makipaglaro ka sa demonyo. Letche ka!"
Nakagat ni Magenta ang mga labi dahil sa ginawang pagmumura. Mula pagkabata ay hindi siya palamura dahil tinuruan siya ng ina na hindi iyon maganda. But Malcolm can bring out the worst in her.
Lihim niyang nahigit ang hininga nang marinig ang marahang pagtawa ng nasa kabilang linya. Tiningnan pa niya ang screen ng cellphone dahil hindi makapaniwala na si Malcolm iyon. No! It was not him! Perhaps it was voice phishing? Or was Malcolm completely possess by demons?
"I want to see you, Jen."
"The feeling is not mutual," she uttered with the utmost sarcasm.
"You have no choice, I'm already here."
"What?" Napatayo si Magenta at inilibot ang mga mata sa paligid, nang mapatingin s
Sebastian had a faraway look in his eyes as he fell into deep thinking. She also didn't fail to notice the melancholy in his face, it was very unusual of him. "Seb..." she called in a hoarse voice. Tumikhim siya nang maramdaman ang pananakit ng lalamunan at tila may nakabara. Sebastian glanced at her an his eyes were now back to the present. Dinama nito ang noo ni Magenta at pinigilan sa balikat ang dalaga na akmang uupo. "Stay on the bed, may sinat ka." Napapikit siya ng makaramdam ng pagkahilo sa tangkang pag-upo. Pinakiramdaman niya ang katawan at nakumpirma ang sinabi nito. Mabigat ang kanyang pakiramdam, nananakit ang lalamunan at bahagyang mainit ang katawan. Nang tingnan niya ang orasan ay alas-kuwatro na ng hapon. Mahigit apat na oras din siyang nakatulog. Tumunog ang kanyang tiyan kaya napahawak siya roon kasabay nang lalong pamumula ng mapulang ng pisngi. She was hungry, she hadn't eat lunch.
Nagbihis siya at dinampot ang car key sa ibabaw ng bedside table bago lumabas ng bahay. He went to his other house, which was smaller and cozier. That was where he lived when he returned to the Philippines when he was twenty-four. And for the past three years, he often came there.Iyon din ang bahay na tinirhan ni Malcolm kasama si Tessa. They lived together for over a year and she had a lot of memories in that house, but it can't compare to Magenta's. Ni hindi niya gaanong naiisip ang dating fiancée, he had buried the memories he had with her.He first bumped into Tessa inside a restaurant. Unexpectedly, they met again inside a bar that night. Mag-isa siyang umiinom noon at nag-iisip kung ano ang gagawin niya ngayong nakabalik na sa bansang sinilangan nang lapitan siya ni Tessa nang makilala siya nito. Tessa was older than him but she was young despite her age, she was beautiful and he knew how to make a man wrapped around her fingers.
"MALCOLM, wake up...""M-Mom?" usal ni Malcolm na pupungas-pungas. "What's happening?" nagtatakang tanong ng bata nang makita ang bag na nakasampay sa balikat ng kanyang mommy. "Shh... Wear your shoes fast.""But why? Where are we going? Is it Christmas eve?" Naririnig niya ang tunog ng mga paputok sa labas ng kanilang bahay. Hinawakan ni Ruby ang pisngi ni Malcolm at nakikiusap ang mga mata. She was in haste too. "Don't ask, my child, I'll tell you later. Now wear your shoes and wait outside your room."Kahit na naguguluhan ay tumango ang bata at sinunod ang sinabi ng kanyang ina. Nauna itong lumabas sa kanyang silid na sinundan niya matapos maisuot ang kanyang sapatos. Nakita niya itong kinakatok ang pinto ng silid ng kanyang Ate Grace. Ilang sandali ay binuksan iyon ng ate niya na pilit pinipigilan ang panging
MULA SA pagkakaupo sa ibabaw ng kama ay mabilis siyang napatayo nang magulat nang marinig ang tunog ng sasakyan mula sa labas ng bahay. Nagmamadaling isinarado niya ang drawer ng side table at lumabas sa kinaroonang silid, pagkatapos ay isinarado ang pinto.She walked towards the front door while tucking her hairs behind her ears to look presentable. Her chest was thumping too fast, dahil iyon sa pinagsamang kaba at pagkasabik na makita ang taong sakay ng kotseng tumigil sa labas ng bahay at marahil ay maayos nang nakaparada sa bakuran.Bahagya siyang napaatras nang itulak nito pabukas ang pinto. Agad niyang nalanghap ang alak mula rito, namumula rin ang mukha't leeg nito at halatang nakainom.Sandali lang siya nitong tinapunan ng tingin at lumakad patungo sa direksiyon ng mahabang sofa. Isinarado niya ang pinto at nilapitan ito. Napalunok siya habang nakatingin sa mukha ni Malcolm. Nakaupo ito sa sofa habang nakalagay sa
"I don't approve of your scheme, Mr. Peters. But I can't never stop you, can I?" she asked as serious as it sound. "You always do want you want even if that means hurting other people. Can you see her?"Malcolm remained expressionless even when Suzette faced the child to his direction. Her big, innocent and misty eyes were staring at her as if any moment she would fell into tears."She's innocent about what's happening around her. Pero siya ang naiipit sa inyo ni Magenta, look at her and tell me you don't feel anything at all," Suzette demanded. Punong-puno na siya sa pinsan niya. Wala siyang pakialam ngayon kung nasasaktan ito sa mga pinagsasabi niya, he deserved to hear the truth from her. "Her mother's missing, and her father disowned her. Even after before she was born, her father wanted her gone—""Shut up!" he hissed. His teeth gnashing in anger. Nagagalit siya dahil naapektuhan siya ng sinasabi nito. The guilt was crepting inside him, but he w
"What happened to her?"He looked at her lazily, masking the emotions that his face emitted. "You already know. I never told you anytime about it, but you made me do it.""I wish I could remember."Marahas ang buntung-hininga ni Malcolm sa narinig. "You will hate me if you do.""I can't understand. Nag-away ba tayo? Naghiwalay? But should I hate you? Bakit hindi mo agad ipinaalam sa akin ang tungkol kay Rose? Did you... did you hurt me?"Bago nag-iwas ng tingin si Malcolm ay nakita ni Magenta ang guilt sa mga mata nito. Does that mean the answers to all her questions were yes? Kung naghiwalay nga sila at nagkasakitan, bakit naroon siya ngayon? Does that mean he wanted her back? At siya, anong nararamdaman niya?Mababaliw siya sa pag-iisip. Hindi rin niya mapagkakatiwalaan ang kasalukuyang damdamin para rito dahil wala siyang maalala sa nakaraan. Yes, she wanted to be with Malcolm, it felt good when she was with him like she was finally
SHE CAN REMEMBER. She can remember everything now after hearing Rebecca's story, who does not know that she had temporary amnesia.From curling on top of Malcolm's bed while pulling her hair to lessen the throbbing of her head because of her memories that came back in a flash of lightning, she stopped from squirming and smiled weakly at Rose when she noticed her near the door frame. Rose was looking at her with confusion."C-come here..." she said weakly and urged her daughter to come closer.When Rose climbed on top of the bed, she embraced her tightly as her tears started to flow like waters that escaped a dam. Rose tried to struggle free, but Magenta did not let her. She doesn't want her daughter to see how messed up she is.God, how could she forget her? They've been separated for almost a week, Rose must have been devastated during those times that she was not there with her side. How dare Malcolm do that to her? To them!
Inabot ni Suzette ang kamay ni Magenta at pinisil ang palad nito. Alam niya ang gusto nitong sabihin kahit na hindi nito naituloy iyon. Some feelings were just too strong to let go anNatatd forget."I know I am in no position to give you advice, after all, I am the reason why this is happening... No, Jen," mabilis na pigil ni Suzette kay Magenta na akmang kukuntrahin naman ang kanyang sinabi kasabay ng kanyang pag-iling. "We can't deny the fact that I played a big role in everything that had happened and happening right now. The moment I met you, I felt that you were all that Malcolm needed. And I wasn't wrong, you changed him, Jen, you changed everything in his life. You might not believe this, but I saw Malcolm smile genuinely for the first time since the day I met him again. He was inside his office then, holding a photograph while smiling, and later I found out that it was your fake wedding picture. He had kept one in his wallet. And when you left, the
NAGISING SI Magenta nang maramdaman ang brasong yumakap sa kanyang katawan."Hmm..." she moaned softly when he gave her shoulder light kisses. "Merry Christmas," he whispered to her ear tenderly. Tumihaya ng higa si Magenta at ikurap-kurap ang namimigat pa niyang mga mata. Kapagkuwan ay banayad siyang ngumiti nang luminaw ang kanyang paningin at makita si Malcolm na nakatingin sa kanya. Tumaas ang kanyang kamay patungo sa ulo nito at masuyong hinaplos ang buhok ni Malcolm patungo sa pisngi nito habang nanatiling magkahugpong ang kanilang mga mata. Her heart was beating too fast, Malcolm was staring at her with too much affection in his eyes. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin siya masanay-sanay, there were still butterflies fluttering inside her tummy, her veins were racing, her senses were in haywire every time Malcolm was with her."Merry Christmas, Mal," she said while caressing his lips. Napatingin siya sa mga labi nito, she wanted to feel its softness. At hindi siya nabigo dahil
"I never had an ideal family. My mother was a typical mother, she loves her children among anything else, but I had a sorry excuse for a father... Marcus."I grew up witnessing him hurting my mother, but I couldn't do anything to stop him. Marcus was insecure, he was proud, arrogant, and he was always paranoid. He was raised by a single mother, a worker at my grandfather's company on my mother's side. Marcus' mother was ambitious, she wanted to marry her son to a wealthy family. He forced Marcus to woo my mother, Marcus did everything to have her, he became obsessive in the process. Years after they got married, Marcus' obsession with her had gotten out of hand. He would suspect every guy that got close to my mother. Particularly Dominic, who had a history with my mother. "Marcus was jealous of Dominic. My grandfather adored Dom than him, Dom was smarter, Dom was more talented. When my grandfather died, Marcus felt victorious when he was finally appointed CEO of the company. And becau
"Sit down, Malcolm," utos ni Gail nang akmang tatayo ang binata. She sighed deeply and looked at her nephew sympathetically. "I was with Marcus with his last minutes, Mal. He wanted me to deliver a message to you."Malcolm groaned in disapproval, he didn't want to hear it. "He had Alzheimer's! What message could he possibly want you to tell me when he couldn't remember me! When he couldn't remember what he did to my mother! To my whole family! I loathe him, Gail! He should have suffered in his last moment because of the crime he had committed to my family, but he couldn't remember a thing! He couldn't remember!" Malcolm burst. His voice raised in anger.Umiling si Gail nang marinig ang outburst ng pamangkin. Naiintindihan niya kung bakit ito nagagalit sa pagka-alala sa ama, ngunit kailangan niyang sabihin ang mga salitang gustong iparating ni Marcus dito. "No, Mal. He remembered. Marcus hadn't completely forgotten everything he did, there
TUMIHAYA NG HIGA si Malcolm nang maalimpungatan. Hindi niya agad napansin na nasa dulo na siya ng kama kaya nahulog siya sa sahig. "Shit!" he muttered an oath crispily as he felt the pain in his back, but it was nothing compare to the throbbing of his head. Sumandig siya sa kama at mariing napapikit habang pinapahupa ang pananakit ng kanyang ulo dahil sa hangover. Nang ituwid niya ang mga binti at may matamaang kung anong bagay ay nagmulat siya ng mga mata subalit matindi pa rin ang pagkakunot ng noo at pagtatagis ng mga bagang. The hangover was hellish. Sinipa niya ang bote ng alak na wala nang laman at agad na gumulong patungo sa mga iba pa. He groaned, seeing how many empty bottles were on the floor, they were evidence that he had drunk last night to oblivion. Pinilit niyang tumayo para lang muling mapasalampak ng higa ng pahalang sa kanyang kama. His body was too heavy to move, at ang ulo niya ay para bang minamartilyo. That was the wo
Inabot ni Suzette ang kamay ni Magenta at pinisil ang palad nito. Alam niya ang gusto nitong sabihin kahit na hindi nito naituloy iyon. Some feelings were just too strong to let go anNatatd forget."I know I am in no position to give you advice, after all, I am the reason why this is happening... No, Jen," mabilis na pigil ni Suzette kay Magenta na akmang kukuntrahin naman ang kanyang sinabi kasabay ng kanyang pag-iling. "We can't deny the fact that I played a big role in everything that had happened and happening right now. The moment I met you, I felt that you were all that Malcolm needed. And I wasn't wrong, you changed him, Jen, you changed everything in his life. You might not believe this, but I saw Malcolm smile genuinely for the first time since the day I met him again. He was inside his office then, holding a photograph while smiling, and later I found out that it was your fake wedding picture. He had kept one in his wallet. And when you left, the
SHE CAN REMEMBER. She can remember everything now after hearing Rebecca's story, who does not know that she had temporary amnesia.From curling on top of Malcolm's bed while pulling her hair to lessen the throbbing of her head because of her memories that came back in a flash of lightning, she stopped from squirming and smiled weakly at Rose when she noticed her near the door frame. Rose was looking at her with confusion."C-come here..." she said weakly and urged her daughter to come closer.When Rose climbed on top of the bed, she embraced her tightly as her tears started to flow like waters that escaped a dam. Rose tried to struggle free, but Magenta did not let her. She doesn't want her daughter to see how messed up she is.God, how could she forget her? They've been separated for almost a week, Rose must have been devastated during those times that she was not there with her side. How dare Malcolm do that to her? To them!
"What happened to her?"He looked at her lazily, masking the emotions that his face emitted. "You already know. I never told you anytime about it, but you made me do it.""I wish I could remember."Marahas ang buntung-hininga ni Malcolm sa narinig. "You will hate me if you do.""I can't understand. Nag-away ba tayo? Naghiwalay? But should I hate you? Bakit hindi mo agad ipinaalam sa akin ang tungkol kay Rose? Did you... did you hurt me?"Bago nag-iwas ng tingin si Malcolm ay nakita ni Magenta ang guilt sa mga mata nito. Does that mean the answers to all her questions were yes? Kung naghiwalay nga sila at nagkasakitan, bakit naroon siya ngayon? Does that mean he wanted her back? At siya, anong nararamdaman niya?Mababaliw siya sa pag-iisip. Hindi rin niya mapagkakatiwalaan ang kasalukuyang damdamin para rito dahil wala siyang maalala sa nakaraan. Yes, she wanted to be with Malcolm, it felt good when she was with him like she was finally
"I don't approve of your scheme, Mr. Peters. But I can't never stop you, can I?" she asked as serious as it sound. "You always do want you want even if that means hurting other people. Can you see her?"Malcolm remained expressionless even when Suzette faced the child to his direction. Her big, innocent and misty eyes were staring at her as if any moment she would fell into tears."She's innocent about what's happening around her. Pero siya ang naiipit sa inyo ni Magenta, look at her and tell me you don't feel anything at all," Suzette demanded. Punong-puno na siya sa pinsan niya. Wala siyang pakialam ngayon kung nasasaktan ito sa mga pinagsasabi niya, he deserved to hear the truth from her. "Her mother's missing, and her father disowned her. Even after before she was born, her father wanted her gone—""Shut up!" he hissed. His teeth gnashing in anger. Nagagalit siya dahil naapektuhan siya ng sinasabi nito. The guilt was crepting inside him, but he w
MULA SA pagkakaupo sa ibabaw ng kama ay mabilis siyang napatayo nang magulat nang marinig ang tunog ng sasakyan mula sa labas ng bahay. Nagmamadaling isinarado niya ang drawer ng side table at lumabas sa kinaroonang silid, pagkatapos ay isinarado ang pinto.She walked towards the front door while tucking her hairs behind her ears to look presentable. Her chest was thumping too fast, dahil iyon sa pinagsamang kaba at pagkasabik na makita ang taong sakay ng kotseng tumigil sa labas ng bahay at marahil ay maayos nang nakaparada sa bakuran.Bahagya siyang napaatras nang itulak nito pabukas ang pinto. Agad niyang nalanghap ang alak mula rito, namumula rin ang mukha't leeg nito at halatang nakainom.Sandali lang siya nitong tinapunan ng tingin at lumakad patungo sa direksiyon ng mahabang sofa. Isinarado niya ang pinto at nilapitan ito. Napalunok siya habang nakatingin sa mukha ni Malcolm. Nakaupo ito sa sofa habang nakalagay sa