Umalingangaw nang sobra ang boses ni Tito Eugene sa pagtawag niya kay Zuri. I sighed heavily and paid for it. Pinaakyat ko na sa kasambahay iyon at kasabay noon ang pag-alis ng delivery boy.
"It's my responsibility, Tito, don't mind it, it's okay..."
"This is not about your responsibility, it's about how they teach her to lessen her whims, she's too luxurious, hijo..."
Ngumiti ako, "It's not about how you discipline her, Tito, nasa akin po ang problema at hindi ko iyon napipigilan. This is not about lessening her whims, it's about how I want to spoiled my life. Frankly speaking, Mommy, Tita Betty and Donya Ruanda, masakit po sa akin ang ginawa niyo sa kanya," I said shakily and I couldn't really help but a tear escaped in my eyes. "At ayaw ko pong pinagsasabihan niyo siya tungkol sa mga luho niya," I added.
"Hijo," tumayo si Tita Betty, "I talked to your Mom that she'll talk to her politely."
Natawa ako, "She's sensitive. Yo
Doon ako natulog nang gabing iyon at tahimik na bumangon kinaumagahan. I sat down in the long dining table and ate the croissant with the coffee I made.I had my self time the whole day, wala akong sinayang na oras para lang magbasa at matulog, inayos ko rin ang kwarto pagdating ng hapon bago ako bumaba."Gago ka. Haunted house na 'yan kumbaga," bulalas ni Vanessa sa tawag matapos kong sabihin na umuwi ako ng Batangas."It's actually my comfort zone, paalis na nga ako sa destinasyon ko. Sunod kayo o daanan ko kayong tatlo?" sabay ayos ng bag sa likod."Ipangako mo sa akin na ililibre mo kami," aniya sabay hagalpak ng tawa."Hoy, hoy, ano 'yan?" it was the voice of Logan."Sinabi ko kasi na ilibre tayo sa Amanpulo pagkatapos sa States."Napangiti ako at hinawi ang buhok."Siya pa talaga, Van? We're helping our friend. 'Wag na, Vanessa, tayo na lang ang natitira para kay Ivo."Lumandas ang luh
I lived and loved as much as I could and this really a life worth living. I will be happier if I'll die happily. I could finally rest and finally find a way to recover my failing heart. Heaven is what people wants the most, no matter how hard it takes to fight, people could understand the heaven's call.Kung ito man ang gusto ng langit, pwede bang maging malaya ako sa lalong madaling panahon? If the will of the wind decides to hold my heartbeat, I will stand for its majority.Nagulat ako sa rotor na dumagundong sa kalangitan habang natutulog ako dahil nang matapos akong kumain ng tanghalian, natulog ako. My heart pounded a bit and I remained sitting. It was my chopper and probably Logan used it, bumaba iyon sa wide area at lumabas si Logan kasama si Arthur."Resigned na 'ko. Tang ina!" sigaw ni Logan.Humalakhak ako at halos batuin ng nurse ang nagpapatawang Logan."Ang mga sasak
Inalu siya ni Cormac at tinulak lang niya ito. I wiped my silent tears and they looked so devastated while looking at me but I cut my gaze off. I held my Mom's hand tightly to stop her, umiling ako at sa isang iglap, nawala ang bumubuhos niyang luha na siyang dahilan kung bakit siya ang pumunas sa luha ko.Niyakap ko siya. Kung ito ang huling pagkakataon para mayakap ko siya, ayaw ko nang kumalas pa, pero marahan niya akong hinagkan at nanatili si Daddy na pinanood akong hinihingal. Hindi ako tumingin kahit kanino dahil hindi ko gustong makita kung paano napalitan ng awa ang galit nila sa akin.Dad recovered from his sudden shock as he went to me and hugged me backwardly, I bowed down and he's too precise and careful that he might break my lifeline."If you are bothered by our presence, please we'll let you sleep where you were staying but can we visit you when you're sleeping?" he said and I felt her large hand gently touched the wire on my chest.
But if she couldn't find her home, if she couldn't recognize my love for her as a light to her path coming back to me, then I will guide her, and if she doesn't feel my presence, I won't do anything but to wait.I had to be checked the next week so I had to fly back to America, hindi na ako nagpasama sa kahit sino sa mga magulang ko dahil abala sila sa kampanya, I only told them that we are going somewhere but this is the reason why... the battery went weak and it had to change to the newest one.Ayoko na silang pag-alalahin, maayos lang ako dahil nakikita ko naman na sila palagi, pero ngayong linggong ito, abala sila."Ewan ko lang kung fake news 'to, pero sabi rito sa magazine, the heiress of the Altavas Corp is dating with an Airline Pilot," sumungaw si Vanessa sa upuan niya, nakaboard na kami pauwi ng Pilipinas at unti-unti akong lumingon sa pagkakahilig sa seat ko."Good for her..." tanging nasabi ko."Talag
I almost forgot about the medicines that I will be taking. I recieved a text from Roy that Chris will be coming in here, naghintay ako at pinanatili ko ang pag-aakbay kay Zuri nang makaupo ako."Sorry if I scolded at you awhile ago," nag-iwas ako ng tingin."It's okay," she said.Chris has an umbrella as he folded and when he arrived, I drank the medicines and the juice. I wiped my lips after I drank the last drop and put down the glass."Lunch na, Ma'am, si Architect Lava Zallega, naghihintay sa hapag," ani Chris.Zuri couldn't stop caressing my forearm and shook her head. "Hindi pa ako gutom at... thank you for taking care of him while I am away," ngumiti siya."It's not just my work to take care of him as a patient, Ma'am but a friend, let us do our job and it will be a pleasure to see him happy again," Chris was gathering those remaining things on the bed."Pwede niyo ba akong turuan para alagaan siya?"Umiling si Chris, "M
Hindi ko sinabing sa Alabang ako ideretso dahil alam kong naroon ang bahay nila kaya sa Nasugbu ako inuwi, limang taon ding hindi ko nakita ang Nasugbu at gusto kong doon muna. My friends already settled down, Vanessa was on her parents house, and she's already a mother of a girl, even Jayden and Logan.I was still in medication for good. May ICD pa rin ako at kailangan. Tumigil ang sasakyan sa driveway ng mansyon at agad akong bumaba."Oh, young man, I missed you," sabay yakap ni Daddy at binuka, at pang-aalalay na wheelchair dahil ang ICD ay bago pa at hindi ako masyadong lumakas."Ang kwarto niya, nasa baba, pero inaayos pa ng mga Ate niya..." sabi ng isang kasambahay na sumalubong kay Roy.Sa may daybed ako nagpunta nang marahan at nakita alak ni Daddy sa isang bilugan na lamesa. Unti-unti ang pagtaas ng sulok ng labi ko pero agaran ang pagtakbo ni Kuya at sumigaw, he cleared the table with all force as the glasses and bottle shattered."Gusto
She's my life, too, and this life is nothing without her, I will stay colorless, wrecked and pained, but I know that there is nothing to loose anymore and everything will be gain from now on."Ang sarap nitong luto nila," sabay ngisi nang may nakita pa akong tira sa plato.Tumawa siya at ngayo'y sinapo ang tiyan ko, "My baby's really that food lover..."I swallowed the radish and chewed another one again."Sa Davao siguro ang sunod niyong pupuntahan, dahil doon kami uuwi..."Binaba ko ang kutsara, "I don't know if Dad would allow me to go with him but if you will be there, I'd go for you.""But your health is a bit in chaos. Baka ma-trigger pa ang puso mo," she said.Umiling ako, "I missed your cousins, too. Sila Bado at Danilo?""Nandoon, may mga pamilya na rin."Minsan, naiisip ko kung galit din ba sila sa akin? And how's Lolo Andres' health? Is he really okay? Kahit na dalawang araw ko lang naramdama
Ang dami niyang naging inarte sa harap ko at namamangha ang mga maraming manonood. I was still standing and a bit fascinated by her. Kaunti lang."Anong ginawa ko sa 'yo at bakit naman ginawa mo akong saktan nang ganito? You cheated! At ngayon, hihingi ka ng pangalawang pagkakataon para ano?! Ha?!"Lumunok ako nang bahagya niyang itulak ang braso ko. Tinutok ng assistant ang mic sa akin at hindi ko alam ang sasabihin kung hindi sumabay sa eksena."I won't ever get tired of asking for it, asking for your forgiveness means leisurely forgiving myself. Asking for it means that I will always lower my ego. Begging for your forgiveness means wanting you back to renew and this is not about how I lower my pride, though, it's about loving you... I love you! I still love you so much."Her jaw dropped and she's on the verge of smirked but she bowed a bit now as the crowd clapped and cheered, nag-anunsyo ng break ang host na nangingisi sa akin.
I was very young when I started hearing thoe name of the young Filipino businessman who's rocking the highest society. As a curious kitten I checked on him. Pumulot ako ng magazine sa rack. He's very good looking man in gray tuxedo. He was smiling but even if he's young, I can sense his ruthlessness and the way he showcase his mysterious smile, it seems like he was the only person what is up and wait..."Hindi ba't ito iyong nahuli ko noong nagpapablowjob, Shane?" napalakas ang tanong ko sa kinakapatid kong Cardinal, he's handsome and he has a very weird name, napalapit ako dahil nakipagkasundo ang kapatid kong babae sa pinsan niya.He turned to me lazily. "Ah, oo. Si Ivo, the one we were with when we went to Iloilo para sa party, limang taon na rin nang hindi kami nagkita."Tumango ako at tiningnan ang litrato niya."Gusto mo siya ano?" Vincenzo teased while giving me a water.Umirap ako at uminom."I'd l
I paid for her wedding gown and they prepared for it. We visited Sto. Domingo Church as we transacted the budget of it."Ang dami mo nang gastos." she said while looking at the aisle.Natawa ako at tumingin sa harapan. "Lord, thank you for blessing her to me," ngumiti ako at lumandas ang luha, "Thank you for allowing me to fight for this woman." I signed of the cross.I won't ever deny my tears to God. He's been guiding me through all these years. Sometimes, I'd like to screw everything but it turns out to tears."Good morning!" my Mom greeted one busy morning came.Nasa opisina si Zuri. She was getting all of her works kaya kahapon ay umuwi ako rito sa Alabang para magpahinga nang bahagya dahil hinayaan ko siyang makasama niya ang mga kaibigan niya."Masyadong maalikabok ngayon ang bahay kaya pwede ka munang sa kwarto at padalhan na lang ng pagkain."Ngumiti ako, "'Wag na, Ma, sige lang, I wi
Tuloy lang ang tradisyong pamamanhikan. Medyo hindi lang ako nasanay sa ganiyong bagay. I witnessed how my brothers supplicate to the Dela Merced and Villareal. Alright, I saw how Dad was set up something sumptuous when he married Mom for the second time.Natapos ang pamamanhikang tradisyon at umuwi rin ng Maynila ang buong pamilya ko dahil sa marami pang gawain doon. Kami na lang din dito sa harap ang natira."Sabihin mo lang kung gusto mong umakyat, sasamahan kita," sabi ni Zuri at binigay ang baso sa akin.Umiling ako at lumipat ng upuan sa ilalim ng santol dahil sinisilipan na ako ng araw sa dati kong inuupuan."Bakit mo ako nilayasan?" naiinis niyang tanong.Kumunot ang noo ko at umupo, "May araw. Naiinitan ako.""That's why I am convincing you to go upstairs para hindi ka mainitan dito.""I want to breathe some fresh air, dito muna ako."Hindi siya sumagot at tinalikuran ako. Lalo pa ak
Umalis ako at dumeretso sa Alabang. Hindi ako tumingin kahit kanino o sumagot man lang sa tanong nilang lahat kung nasaan daw ang mapapangasawa ko."Nasaan siya?" ngumisi si Kuya Achilles at kunwari naglilinis sa pool.Nasa lounge bed ako at pinanonood ang mga nagdi-disenyo para sa nalalapit na kasal. Binaling ko ang mga mata sa binabasa kong libro."Sungit natin ngayon, ah, hindi pinayagan sa kama?" pang-iinis ni Daddy.I flipped the page and heard Mom's steps with her commands."Seb, I want it to be elegant looking even on the backyard. Sabihin mo iyon sa mga tauhan mo...""Yes, Madame," sagot ni Severino at ng team sa likod ni Mommy.I sighed heavily and looked at the trees."Ivo, where's Zuri? Seb was looking for her..."I lazily darted my eyes on the page, "In my condo... packing her things up..."She laughed awkwardly. "Susundan ka rin pala, bakit mo hindi sinabay?" I sensed her panic.
It was a long drive and tiring. Dumeretso sa kanilang mga bahay ang mga Kuya ko, it was also a long vacation for them.Nakatulog ako nang hapong iyon katabi siya. I was peacefully watching here when a knock from the door awakened her."Engineer, Daddy niyo po, nasa baba," boses iyon ni Roy.I stood up and left Zuri in my room. Bumaba ako mula third floor ng unit ko at nag damit. I was so stunned when I saw those policemen and some Attorneys ."Ivo, anak, calm down," Mom said.I calmed myself and sat down."Eugene filed a case against you and they are here to arrest you..." Dad started.Ito lang ang hinihintay ko para gumalaw na rin nang bahagya."Kidnapping ang sinampa, but we demanded to just house arrest you..." Dad said again.Bumuntong hininga ako at tumango. Nagulat pa ako sa Victoria at Cloe na nasa breakfast nook ko."Kuya ko si Drake Aragon na isa sa family l
Hindi ko na sinagot ang pangungulit niya sa sinabi ko. I only smiled before I closed my eyes and breathed deeply.Hindi ako naging kumportable sa gabing iyon at nanatili akong pa-gising-gising. She must be still sleeping this time, mag-aalas sais na. Naramdaman ko ang pag-alis niya kagabi at mula noon, hindi ko na nakuha ang tamang tyempo upang matulog nang maayos lalo na't kaunting galaw, tumutunog ang kama at umuuga.I went out and the whole sala was still dimmed, the lights from the kitchen were giving an access to my way. Pumunta ako sa kusina nila at nagulat ako sa anino.Zuri was shocked too, hawak niya ang baso ng gatas at nilapag sa bilugang lamesa. Ngumiti ako at niyakap siya."I just couldn't sleep," I said and tightened her in my arms."Titimplahan din kita," anya.Naupo ako at parang kanya ang bahay dahil alam niya ang ginagalawan niya. Umabot ako ng isang tangkay ng prutas sa gitna at pinitas upang kainin."The bed was no
"Your are so formal, we're relatives, so you don't have to show it up," she slapped my shoulders while laughing.Tumikhim ako at ngumiting muli. Kinuha ko ang kamay at nagmano. "Nice to see you again..." nag-angat ako ng tingin, "Lola."Nagulat siya sa sinabi ko at may mga tahimik na tumawa. Si Severino ay malakas na tumawa na agad nanahimik bago pa mapahiya lalo ang matanda. Dad was so stunned about what he witnessed.Tumawa na ang matanda sa pagkagulat at nakihalo ng usapan."Mukhang magkakasundo nga sila ng apo kong si Lambert, pero sayang, hindi siya nakasama, her daughter is sick," the woman said sadly. Napatango ang kakilala, "Mukha ngang magkakasundo, there's the sense of formality na sa unang tingin sa batang ito, you are hesitantly go to him at mukhang abala, Anita, you disturbed him," natawa sila."Hindi naman po, Ma'am," agad kong sagot."But you were watching while your nurses are
Napatayo ako nang halos dumugin ako ng mga media at agad na may humigit sa akin palayo roon. They were my brothers and it was literally shocking for me on the next happenings. I was guided to the wide hotel suite. Binuksan ni Kuya Achilles ang isang laptop at binigay sa akin. I looked at Vanessa and she gave her daughter to Cormac and she went to me."Anong nangyayari?" tanong ko.I was bewildered by those media who mobbed me and this clip, I can't seem to find the urge to play it."Alam ba ni Zuri 'to?" tiningala ko si Vanessa na nakalapit na."Hindi pa, nililibang ni Gracey roon sa hall, her parents are involved here and she might go back to Manila anytime soon if she'll watch it..."Bumuntong hininga ako at bumaling sa screen. I played the video clip and it was published earlier today. Nasa isang interview sila at pinalilibutan ng maraming reporters mula sa iba't-ibang panig ng bansa."Thank you, Madame for b
Naandar na ang bangka kaya hindi na ako makababa. Dinala sa karatig-isla at agad na binato ang lambat. Wala roon ang iniisip ko kundi ang mga tauhan ni Justin.I recieved a text from her and they headed to the city and do I feel relief because of that, though?"Kaunti na lang ang mga isda dahil kakahuli lang ng marami kanina," anunsyo ni Omar.Tumango ako at ngumiti nang kaunti at pinaplano kung paano ko ilalayo si Zuri dito. Amanpulo I not accepting those many guests right at this moment, baka lang pwede kaming umuwi na roon.I also missed my home. It has been two months since we went home here in the Philippines and yet, I am still trying to recognize where is really my home?Dumaong ang bangka dahil mataas na ang sikat ng araw, bumaba ako at hinanap sa buong hotel ang mag-organisa sa surpresa para sa Daddy at mga Kuya ko.