Erykah Sunshine."It's not Singapore but Hong Kong," I corrected.Napaigting ang panga niya habang nakatitig ng husto sa akin. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa labi ko."Okay, Hong Kong.""Yes," I mumbled and looked away. It was a minute of silence, and my mind was totally blank. I was close to telling him that we should stop this madness, but now? It's getting insane."Glenn?" Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa kanya. "Let's think about it first. I-I mean, getting married is not a joke. I don't know your plan, and I don't understand why you're doing this. If you are doing this to prove that you have moved on with your feelings from Saber, then don't do it. . . This is not right."Ayaw kong isipin niya na opurtunista ako. Oo, desperado na ako ngayon, at tama lang ang dating ni Glenn sa buhay ko para masolusyonan ang problema ko sa madrasta ko. Pero hindi parin tama ito.Marriage is sacred. It should be performed when two people are in love, which is not our case.He looked away and sighed.Gwapo si
ButterfliesZebedee Glenn."The hell, Glenn. What are you thinking, bro? Is this the best solution you could offer to your parents' needs?" Diezel looked at me in dismay.I shut my eyes and rested my back on the recliner. I'm not listening to him anymore. I'm so tired today. My mother knows what's happening. Matalino si Mama at hindi ko siya masisisi sa mga bagay na ganito. Iba nga lang si Papa. Okay lang sa kanya ang kung ano, basta meron.That's how easy my father is."You are lucky to have such a cool father."Naupo si Diezel sa isa pang recliner sa tabi ko. Isinandal ang likod at pareho na kaming nakatitig sa madilim na langit.Diezel was right. My father was cool and was opposite to my mother."Anong sabi ni tita?""Ayaw niya. She's against Erykah," sagot kong nakapikit ang mga mata."Can't blame tita for that. She likes Saber for the family. Why can't you go back with her? I heard the engagement was call-off."My jaw tightened. I'm not listening to Diezel again. I'm a man in my
Erykah Sunshine.UnlikeableWhen we arrived at our hotel, which was close to the building of our appointment, it was chilly. Glenn reserved a family suite for us, but we had separate rooms.I was exhausted, but I managed to wake up early and prepare a light breakfast. Today is the big day, and I'm already feeling anxious.May pagkain naman sa hotel at nasa baba ito, sa dining area, pero mukhang hindi yata ako makakain nang maayos dahil sa magaganap.I understand that this is only an artificial reality, and no emotions are involved. Although it will be legal in this country to perform the marriage, I don't think it will become legal in the Philippines unless Glenn will file our marriage to immigration.Wala na akong problema sa ganoon. Okay na ako sa set up na pinag-usapan namin ni Glenn. Walang malinaw na halaga pagdating sa pera dahil hindi naman namin pinag-usapan ito.The only agreement we had was that I would become his secret wife for his needs, and he would provide everything f
Zebedee Glenn.The ceremony ended quickly. I managed to secure the right ring sizes for her finger and mine. Diezel signed the documents, and they were processed quickly. Before I knew it, I was holding it now in my hand. I then send the document scan to Xavion for the files to keep in the Mondragon OFS.'Congratulations. Let me know if you plan to marry again in the Philippines. I'll make sure all the boys will be present. When you return from your honeymoon, we will have the traditional ceremony. We'll be waiting.'Napailing ako nang mabasa ang sagot ni Xavion sa email ko."There is no next to this wedding, and that's for sure. As for the tradition, I will ask the boys to keep it. I don't need it anyway.""You can't say no to the boys, Glenn. That's bad manners." Diezel snorted behind me. He is now holding a beer in hand. "Cheers!" He drank.Umikot ang tingin ko at hinanap si Eres.Nasa isang pribadong resto kami. Diezel reserved the whole place as a token gift and I didn't know th
Erykah SunshineUninterested.'You may now kiss your bride, groom.'I was confident that it would be okay. After all, Glenn is not my first kiss. Naibigay ko na ang unang halik ko sa unang naging boyfriend ko noon. Hindi na virgin ang labi ko, pero hindi ko inakala na makakaramdam ako nang ganun.I smiled at him and nod so that he could kiss me. Okay lang dahil asawa ko na siya at dapat masanay ako sa mga ganitong eksena.Gaya nga ng sinabi niya noong nakaraang araw, ay baka may mga eksena na hindi na siya magpapaalam sa akin sa kung ano ang gagawin niya, lalo na kung nasa paligid namin ang mga magulang niya.Glenn's jaw tightened, and when his eyes came down to my lips, I smiled, and the unexpected happened.Our first kiss.I never thought I would feel this hot and tingly. It was a breakthrough, and all the butterflies inside my stomach flew out.Stupid, self.At imbes na itakip ang bibig ko ay mas lalong diniin ko lang ang labi ko sa kanya para matikman siya nang maayos. Masarap si
Zebedee GlennPain.What a load of bullshit."You can't work on it, Glenn. Mr. Okinawa didn't sign the contract today. He is not convinced. I guess we will have to take a different approach next time. I don't want to lose this client. This is a big project, and I don't want the Amantes to get it. "You have to do something to meet their demands!" Umalingawgaw ang boses ni Papa sa buong silid at napakuyom kamao ako sa sarili.I got home to this. I was hoping I could close the deal, but it was a disaster. Mr. Okinawa wasn't happy with what the legal team presented. They missed two things, and one was the most crucial on the list.Dianne told me about it already, but I chose to ignore that because I was confident that I could still win over the bidding project. Dammit. It was a mistake."What are you going to do about it, Glenn? Mr Okinawa gives us a week. You better fix this. We can't afford to lose this project. The entire Monde Firm's name is on the line, son. You better act now!" h
Erykah Sunshine."Hey, are you okay?" Parang robot ang kamay ko at basta-basta nalang itong umangat at hinaplos ang gilid ng mukha niya. Pinakiramdam ko siya, at inamoy na rin."You're drunk?" I twisted my lips.He slightly laughed. "Just a little bit, Eres. I'm sorry." He slid himself inside and walked past me.Sinunod ko siya nang tingin at saka sinarado ang pinto. Sa kusinang bahagi siya dumiretso at binuksan ang magarbong refrigerator at kumuha siya ng malamig na tubig. Mabilis ang pag inom niya nito.Nagtungo agad ako sa bathroom at kumuha ng extrang face towel sa drawer roon, at nag martsa ako pabalik sa kung nasaan siya."Here. What's wrong?"Hindi na muna niya tinangap ang face towel at niluwagan lang niya ang sarili.He unbuttoned his polo shirt and removed it in front of me. He was wearing a singlet underneath, and immediately, my gaze was drawn to his chest."Akin na." Kinuha ko sa kamay niya ang polo at ang kasunod na ginawa niya ay nagpakaba sa dibdib ko, kaya tumalikod
Zebedee Glenn.I'm so tired. Why the hell did I even drink last night? It's not me. But then again, I had enough, and I needed to vent out, and drinking was the only way I could mend myself.Nang maimulat ko ang mga mata ay nasa parking lot na kami ng golf course. Nilingon ko si Erykah at inaayos niya ang buhok. Tinali niya itong mabuti. Hindi niya napansin na iilang segundo na akong nakatitig sa kanya.Erykah is somehow my solace. I don't know what kind of person she is, but she's capable of many things, and that makes her perfect in my eyes. She can do all the jobs that I want her to do. She can probably manage the firm if I'm not around, and that's what I need from her."Have you receive my schedule from the HR?" Pinutol ko ang pag-aayos niya at umayos na rin ako sa sarili. Tinangal ko ang seatbelt para makalabas na."Oh? Y-Yes, Sir. I got it last night," she smiled. She quickly stepped out."That's good. It's your job from now on. You can message me every day and send me a follow
Brielle."We need to leave, tiya."Hindi umimik si tiya. Alam ko na pagod na siya sa kakatakbo. Medyo matagal na rin kami sa isla. Mag tatatlong taon na. Ito yata ang pinakamahaba na nanatili kami sa isang lugar. Madalas naman kasi noon ay palipat-lipat kami ng tirahan dahil sa mga taong humahabol sa amin."Pagod na ako sa kakatakbo, Breille… Matanda na ako."I press my lips together and look at her.Naipasok ko na ang iilang gamit na kailangan ko. Sa syudad na muna kami. Mas mabuti roon, dahil maraming tao at madali kaming gumalaw.Iniwan ko na ang susi sa bahay ni Morris kay Manong Paeng. Siya na muna pansamantala ang magmamatyag sa paligid. Sa kanya ko na rin iniwan ang susi ng bahay at ng tindahan."Tiya, we have to go, or else…" my lips trembled."Kilala ko ang mexicanong mafia na 'yon, tiya. Mas halang ang kaluluwa nu'n kaysa kay Alfred. Si Cappytano ang nagpapatay sa halos lahat ng mga tauhan ni Alfred, tiya. Kailangan natin na umalis!""Pero bakit ikaw ang hinahanap, Brielle?
Morris."Don't tell her that you're still here, Mors," Linus advises."And why is that?" My brows met halfway."Because that's not you. You don't give your location to anyone, lunatic."I laughed a little bit and shook my head. Linus was right. I don't easily give my location unless it's them, my cousins, asking for it. But Brielle is not just anyone. . . I like her."It seems like you like her. How serious?"I stared at Linus on the big screen. He's not even looking at me. He was busy sorting something. I did not answer and just rested my back on my chair.I'm not sure about it, but one thing is sure… I miss her."Hey, Mors. Don't you know that Cappytano is after you?" He changes the subject.Napatingin na siya sa akin ngayon na seryoso. Nawalang bigla ang tanong niya kanina tungkol kay Brielle.It wasn't important anyway. Linus knows that, and he doesn't care much about it. He is more concerned about the enemies around us."And what does he want? Cappytano was off the hook a long t
Brielle.Pagkatapos malinis ang paligid ay ang mga halaman naman ni tiya ang inasikaso ko. Nakakabagot nga, dahil wala man lang akong lilinisan sa territoryo ni Morris.Lahat ng mga alaga niyang hayop ay wala na roon. Inilipat niya ito sa pangangala ng isang kaibigan. Hindi ko alam kung sino, at tiyak sa kabilang isla iyon.Wala rin siyang halaman sa paligid at purong malalaking bush shrub at mga puno lang. Hindi na kailangan ng tubig dahil nabubuhay naman.Inside Morris house is clean. Nothing else to do there. Nalulungkot lang ako sa tuwing bumibisita ako roon. Dahil naaalala ko siya sa bawat sulok nito.It's not even a week, but it seems like months for me."Tapos na, tiya. Ihahatid ko na lang ito mamaya," tugon ko. Naramdaman ko kasi siya sa likod. Hindi siya sumagot."Siyanga pala, tiya. Ang aga mo naman nakabalik. Hindi ba dapat mamaya ka ba? Wala na bang ganap sa baba?" Pinunasan ko muna ang kamay gamit ang basahan na meron ako. Tumayo ako at saka nagpawis ng pawis sa mukha ba
Eva.I feel lonely already while seeing him walking away from me. Nangilid ang luha ko sa mata at mabilis akong tumingala sa lahat.Sana nga pala ay hind ko na siya hinatid dito sa pier. Heto tuloy. Nakakaiyak na.Kumaway siya at nasa top deck na ng barko. Kumaway rin ako, at nag-flying kiss pa. I want him to remember me as lively and lovely, and will try to wait for him. Alam kong alam ni Morris kung saan kami hahanapin ni tiya kung wala na kami sa isla.Bleu, his only friend was also with him. Wala ng natira sa bahay niya sa tuktok, dahil iniwan ni naman talaga ang lahat sa akin. Nasa akin ang mga susi nito.Nakauwi na ako, at ang tahimik na paligid agad ang namasdan ko. It feel strange. The quite environment around me seems like a haunting dream from my past.Nakakatakot at nakakalungkot. Ibang-iba na. . .Ibang iba na, dahil wala na si Morris sa Islang ito. Naiwan na lang kami ni tiya."Tatawag naman siya 'di ba? Brielle?" si tiya sa likod ko.Gabi na. Madilim ang langit at wala m
Brielle.I look at the blue sea sadly, feeling uncomfortable at the moment, trying to make everything alright.Gusto kong manatili kami ni tiya rito, para pagkabalik ni Morris ay nandito pa rin ako. Nagdadalawang isip na tuloy ako ngayon. Hindi ko alam kung tutuloy pa ba kami sa paglilipat ni tiya sa malayong isla na iyon.Ibinaon ko ang paa sa buhangin at ramdam ko ang lamig nito sa ilalim. Nilingon kong muli si Morris mula sa karagatan.Malayo siya, at hindi ko na halos makita."Inomin mo muna ito, anak." Inilagay ni tiya ang malamig na inomin na gawa niya. At kasama na ang kay Morris."Salamat, tiya." Tinikman ko agad ito, at ibinalik ko lang ang mga mata ko sa kung nasaan na si Morris ngayon. Tahimik ako at panag ang pagbuntonghininga sa sarili."Babalik na ako sa tindahan," aniya. Hindi ako kumibo at tulala pa rin habang pinagmasdan si Morris."Mamimiss mo ano?"Ang akala ko ay umalis na si tiya… hindi pa pala. Nilingon ko siya at katulad ko, ay nakatingin din pala siya kay Morr
Brielle.Busog ako at masaya. Nagpahinga na si tiya at naiwan kami ni Morris na gising pa. Maaga pa naman, at alam ni tiya na sa bahay ni Morris ako matutulog ngayon. Kaya inayos ko muna ang lahat, para wala na siyang iisipin pagkagising niya bukas.Mahigpit ang hawak ni Morris sa kamay ko, at panay naman ang ngiti ko habang tanaw na ang treehouse. Huminto kaming pareho, at saka dumampi ang labi niya sa likod ng kamay ko na hawak niya. "I'll be missing you, Bree…" Humarap siya sa akin, at saka hinaplos ang gilid ng mukha ko."And I will miss you too, Morris…" Pinalupot ko agad ang mga kamay ko sa leeg niya at saka hinalikan siya.With both of our eyes shut, we kissed. . . It was majestic. Nakakatawa ang hitsura namin pareho. Para kaming mga teenager rito. We kissed, hugged, laughed and kissed again. Morri's jokes were not funny at all. Kahit pa anong jokes ang sabihin niya ay hindi nakakatawa ito dahil hindi bagay sa hitsura niya. Kaya heto, tudo tawa ako.Morris is also not romant
Morris."Ilang linggo ka sa Italya? Buwan ba? Taon?"Glenn grimaced as he looked at me with never-ending questions. I shook my head, sipping the light champagne.It must be my last family dinner for I am going to go back to Italy in the next few days.“I will be back before you know it, Glenn.”He laughed a little bit.“I will keep an eye on your woman if you want.”I chuckled as I looked at his wife below."Brielle is fine. She's easy and she'll never go anywhere. Hindi naman siya katulad ng napangasawa mo ngayon. Mukhang palaban ang misis mo."“A little bit. She’s stubborn, but I can handle her.”"Sinusuban ang pasensya mo ano? In that case, I will not bother you to keep an eye on Brielle. I trust her,” I proudly said, and it was his turn to chuckle.“So, are you going back into business again?”I know Glenn is worried, but everything is okay with my business abroad. Iyon nga lang may mga bagay na sadyang naiiba sa kalakaran, at alam na niya kung ano ang mga ito.My father knew abo
Brielle.I couldn't sleep, ending up staring at him while he was asleep.Noon, hindi ako naniniwala sa pag-ibig. Wala akong alam kung ano ang nagagawa nito sa buhay ng isang tao. Marami akong tanong tungkol sa pagmamahal, at nang hindi ko makuha ang tamang sagot ay kinalimutan ko na ang mga ito.Si tiya lang ang mahalaga sa akin noon. Siya lang ang pamilya ko. Siya lang ang kinikilala kong ina. Pero nang dumating si Morris sa buhay ko, ay nagbago ang pananaw ko sa pangalang 'pag-ibig'.I suddenly feel a weird desire, longing, and love for him. I want to be with him. I can't be at peace without seeing him. I want to sleep and wake up beside him. I want him to be a part of me. I want him with me forever… I know I'm selfish at times, but… that's me.Pero hindi naman ako bulag. Alam ko ang pangako namin ni Morris sa isa't-isa. Pumayag ako sa gusto niya, dahil wala namang kasiguruhan ang buhay.I'm not a good person. I've done a lot of bad things, and I have a dark past that I've been try
Brielle."You don't want us to go somewhere, Brielle. Why not? The weather is good, baby. Let's go out fishing.""No. I don't feel like fishing." Tumalikod ako kay Morris at saka nag-kunwaring abala sa lababo."Alright. So, when do you feel like fishing or swimming?""I don't know. . ." Kibit-balikat ko. Nilingon ko siya. Nakaupo siya at hawak ang mainit na kape sa kamay. Dapat sana ay pupunta siya sa kabilang Isla para mamalengke, pero pinigilan ko. Si Bleu ang gumawa nito. Inilipat ko ang gawain na ginagawa niya madalas sa amin ni tiya."Why don't we finish the project you started at your place?" I sweetly smiled and walked towards him.Nasa bandang likod na niya ako nakatayo at niyayakap siya."The tree house?""Oo... Hindi ba matagal mo na na gusto matapos iyon. Mas mabuting tapusin na natin bago ka bumalik ng Italy."Humawak siya sa kamay ko, at saka umikot ang tingin sa akin. Tumayo siya at nakatingala na ako ngayon sa kanya.Matangkad si Morris, at polido ang katawan. His broad