HIRAYA ALMENDRALHinintay ko muna matulog si Yasmir bago kami umalis ni Hari. Nag-iwan naman ako ng note kung sakaling magigising ito, para hindi siya mataranta kakahanap saamin.Nakabalik kami sa kwarto at nakita kong gising na si Luna at nagtatalon sa kama. Nakahiga naman si Nadia at naglalaro ng mobile games."Kala ko hindi ka na babalik ate," nakangiting sabi niya. Napaubo naman ako sa sinabi ni Nadia at kitang-kita ko ang ngiti nitong may meaning."How's the night with Kuya Yasmir?" Dumapa ito para usisahin ako."Mama and papa is making a baby!" Napapikit naman ako ng mariin sa sinabi ni Hari. Natawa naman si Dada sa sinabi ng anak ko at pinalapit niya sa kanya."How'd you know, Hari?" Tanong niya sa bata."Papa told me. And I said I want a baby girl.""But you already have me, Hari!" Pagtatampo naman ni Luna. Tumigil ito sa kakatalon at mukhang iiyak na. Lumapit naman si Hari kay Luna at niyakap."You're still my first ate! And I love you!" Hinalikan ni Hari si Luna sa pisngi. N
HIRAYA ALMENDRALInayos ko ang suot kong coat, maging ang buhok at naglagay ako ng kaunting make up bago lumabas ng banyo. Nakita kong nagliligpit ng mga gamit si Nadia na tinulungan naman ni Ate Lala, dahil kina Mommy Ysa na sila tutuloy.Mananatili naman ako dito sa hotel dahil tatlong araw ang conference. Maraming guest speakers, mga sikat na doctor all over the world. Maraming coverage din ang conference kaya aabutin talaga ng tatlong araw."Mauuna na ako, sino kukuha sa inyo?" tanong ko kay Nadia, sila lang kasi nag-usap kagabi ni mommy dahil nakatulog kaagad ako. Two hours lang kasi ang tulog ko kagabi."Si El, Ate." Pinaningkitan ko naman ng mga mata si Nadia. "Behave. Hindi na kayo bata para laging magkadikit. Umayos ka Nadia." Ngumuso naman si Nadia sa sinabi ko."Nadia," tawag ko ulit sa kanya, napaungol naman ito sa inis, "Oo na, Ate! As if naman may gagawin kami ni El!" sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Umiwas naman ito ng tingin.Alam kong may pagtingin pa ito kay Ysrael. Paano
HIRAYA ALMENDRALNaalimpungatan ako nang makaramdam ang mga halik ni Yasmir sa leeg ko."Yasmir," pagtawag ko sa kanya pero napaungol lang ito bilang tugon."Hari?" Tanong ko, "he's downstairs playing with his cousins." He said in a hoarse voice. Napaungol naman ako ng pinasok ni Yasmir ang kamay niya sa loob ng damit ko."Ahhh..." I can't help but moan softly, surrendering to the undeniable pleasure of his kisses.Each touch of his lips sends waves of ecstasy through me, igniting a fire deep within that I can't resist. The intensity of his embrace leaves me breathless, completely lost in the passion and desire that consumes us both.Kaagad siyang napatayo nang may kumatok sa pintuan niya at napaungol pang lumapit doon. Nagtaklob naman ako ng kumot at doon napatawa ng mahina."What?" Inis niyang tanong sa tao na nasa likod ng pintuan."Ow," ramdam ko ang kapilyuhan sa reaksyon ni Riley."Hinahanap ka ni Tita." Napapikit ako ng mariin dahil sa boses ni Riley. Hindi ko man siya nakikita
HIRAYA ALMENDRALNapatakip ako ng bibig sa sinabi ni Don Antonio. Titig akong nakatingin sa kanya. So, it was all bluff? Fuck. I shouldn't leave then."Then why? Bakit kailangan mo kaming sirain? Bakit kailangan mo kaming paghiwalayin?" Sunod-sunod kong tanong sa kanya. Napatingin ito sa gitnang bahagi ng study room kung saan nandoon ang isang litrato ng babae na hindi ko kilala."She's my first love," napatingin ako sa kanya ng sabihin niya iyon."But love consume us too. No—people surround us separated us. I left to save her; I marry their grandmother for the sake of her safety. Ganon ko siya kamahal." Napakurap ako ng ilang beses sa sinabi niya."There are several types of love, Hira. Love can bring you happiness, a genuine happiness. Love can make you crazy, literal crazy. Love can be your downfall, na hindi mo na kakayanin pang tumayo. Love is sacrifices, it's either in a good way or bad way." Hindi ko siya maintindihan. Ayaw pumasok sa utak ko ang mga pinagsasabi niya."Love can
3RD PERSON POVA little girl playing with her dollhouse hears her parents' angry voices from another room. Frightened, she covers her ears and seeks refuge, singing a lullaby to calm herself. But the peaceful moment is shattered by the sound of objects breaking and more yelling. Overwhelmed, she begins to cry, feeling helpless and scared amidst her parents' violent fight.Fiona Meyer, daughter of CEO Harold Meyer, lived in luxury but felt deeply lonely. Despite lavish possessions and parties, she longed for genuine connections. Her peers were drawn to her wealth and status, leaving her feeling isolated. Fiona yearned for authentic friendships and a sense of belonging beyond material wealth."Study, Fiona! Don't mess up if you want to make it at Meyer Ocean Cruise Lines. You're not leaving this room until you've got it all down!" Fiona's mother, Divina, bellowed before locking the door.Surrounded by towering piles of books and papers, Fiona sank onto her bed, the weight of her mother'
HIRAYA ALMENDRAL“Hari! We need to go now!” Tinawag ko si Hari habang nasa sala kami ni Nadia at nag-aayos ng mga gamit."Do you really need to go, Hira?" Mommy Ysa's asked, her eyes filled with sadness and longing."I needed to, mom, ilang araw na po akong absent sa work. You can visit us there, anytime." Nakangiti kong sabi kay Mommy.Nakita kong bumaba naman si Hari kasama si Yasmir na may cast pa sa kamay. Tulad ni Mommy Ysa, malungkot din ito.It's been a week since Hari was kidnapped by Fiona. She's now in the hospital, recovering and preparing for the birth of her baby.Despite what happened, I can't bring myself to be angry with her. I understand she must have been going through a lot to do what she did. While I may not agree with her actions, I choose to show her compassion and forgiveness.My main focus is on Hari's well-being and helping him recover from this ordeal.I understand her. Her desperation and love for Yasmir's led her into madness.After that harrowing ordeal, F
Warning: Chapter 1 contains strong language and profanity throughout, which may not be suitable for all readers.Hiraya AlmendralMasaya akong nakatitig kay Klaude habang magkahawak ang aming mga kamay na naglalakad sa parke. Mabuti'y naisipan niyang ipasyal ako dahil halos dalawang linggo na kaming hindi nagkikita dahil busy kami sa paparating naming OJT.Tumigil ito sa paglalakad at napaupo sa bench na nasa tapat namin kaya umupo din ako dito. Nawala kaagad ang ngiti ko nang makita ko ang malungkot nitong ekspresyon sa mukha.“Klaude,” tawag-pansin ko sa kanya.Umangat ito ng tingin saakin. Litong-lito ito at malungkot ang tingin. Hindi ko maintindihan. Bakit? Anong nangyayari?Napakunot ang noo ko, ramdam ko ang kaba sa aking dibdib at habang tumatagal ng hindi nito pagsasalita ay mas lalong lumalakas ang pagtibok ng puso ko.Nag-aalinglangan pa siyang sabihin sa akin, pero nang makita akong naghihintay ng sasabihin niya ay huminga siya ng malalim tsaka muling napatingin sa akin. “I
YASMIR SIERRAI glanced at the door of my office when it suddenly swung open, revealing my cousin Riley and Eros. Not far behind them were my two friends, Elijah and Lucas."What are you all doing here?" I asked, my voice dripping with laziness and a hint of surprise."Let's go to a bar," Eros declared, making me raise an eyebrow in response."Does your wife know about this?" I queried, my tone slightly teasing. Eros laughed at my question."Yes, she knows I'm with you guys. Can't I go out? Work is incredibly stressful," he replied in a languid tone, as if the very thought of work exhausted him.I sighed and leaned back in my chair, contemplating the unexpected proposal. I glanced at the stack of paperwork on my desk, feeling the weight of the stress they represented. Maybe a break wouldn't be such a bad idea."Oh, kayo? Ganon rin?" Tanong ko sa tatlo. Naniningkit ang mga matang nakatingin sa tatlo."I'm broken, man." Sabi ni Riley."Nuh," react naman ni Eli."Ikaw din?" Tanong ko kay