Erykah Sunshine.I plaster my best smile when I finally face Saber. She was dolled from head to toe. Iniba niya ang kulay ng buhok at naging ash blonde na ito. Naka skinny white jeans, powdered baby blue na ladies polo at naka white Nike running shoes. She's stunning, like the first time I saw her back then.Napansin ko agad ang maleta niya sa gilid. Inakyat ito ng isa sa mga tauhan ni Glenn kanina."So, what I mean is, I personally came here for the work, Glenn." Saber glanced at me quickly before moving closer to Glenn's side.Pasimple kong kinuha ang plato ko na may lamang tinapay na pinalamanan ng kalamay. Mas mabuti na mag-usap na muna sila at aalis na lang ako. Tutal labas naman ako pagdating sa negosyo nila."Where are you going?" Glenn looked at me as I tried to sneak out behind him.Napatuwid ako sa sarili na bitbit ang snacks. Taimtim ang titig niya, at mukhang iritado. "Uhm, sa kabila na ako, para makapag-usap kayo.""You're not going anywhere, Erykah. Stay here," he firml
Zebedee Glenn.How am I going to prove to Erykah that I am sincere this time if Saber keeps following me?Umalis ako roon dahil sa mga magulang ko at kay Saber. I want to get away from them and hide. I only want to Erykah with me and spend time with her.I'm a stranger to this feeling, but I like it… I am happy every time I am with her. I feel contented and can start my day productively with her. I'm at my best every time I see her around me.I took the ring out of my pocket and put it on my finger. I don't want Erykah to doubt my sincerity. I truly want her as my wife and not just as a cover."Ano ba ang meron kay Erykah na wala sa akin? I am better than her, Glenn. Our families are tied for decades in business. I know I've made a mistake in the past, and I regret it, Glenn. I want you back…give me a chance." She said, begging in the way she looked at me in the eyes.I know Saber is sincere, but I could no longer feel the same way I had with her for years. I no longer longed for her
Erykah Sunshine.Jealous.Parang lumabas sa kaluluwa ko ang puso ko nang makita sa baba si Glenn. Hindi ko pa nga abot ang buko, ay ipinapababa na niya ako! Hindi puwede 'to. Nandito na ako at dapat lang na makakuha ako kahit isang bunga man lang."Get down, Erykah! Get the hell down. Now!" Ma-awtoridad ang boses niya at parang kampanang kumalampang ito sa tainga ko. Natakot akong bigla."Kukuha muna ako ng isa. Isa lang, please…para naman ito sa 'yo ah!" Inis sa boses ko. Ang hirap umakyat sa niyog at parang palaka akong kumakapit dikit, tapos ipapababa niya lang ako? Hello!"What the fuck, Eres! I don't want anything! Just get the hell down!"Wala na. Galit na talaga at parang hindi na nga ako makakakuha ng bunga.Ngumuso ako at tinitigan lang ang malalaking bunga sa ibabaw. . . Malapit na eh. . . Sayang."Oo na!" Maingat ang pagbaba ko, at napakunot-noo ako nang mapagtantya ko na mas mahirap palang bumaba kaysa sa umakyat.Ang dali kong naakyat ito kanina, pero ang hirap bumaba
Erykah Sunshine.It will never be a solo for us. Saber joined, uninvited, acting bitchy towards me."Ang kapal ng mukha." Ngumuso ako at nagpatuloy na sa pagluto. Piniritong isda and niluluto ko. Naluto ko na ang ibang putahe at si Saber na mismo ang nag ayos ng mesa.Ano pa nga ba ang maasahan ko? Wala na. Nandito siya sa bahay na ito, at hindi ko naman basta-basta siya mapapaalis dahil bisita siya ni Glenn!"I think that's overcooked." Her eyes pointed at the fish frying."I like my fish golden and crispy," I smirked. "Glenn hates oily foods. Although he loves fish, but not fry. Steam or sabaw ang gusto niya pagdating sa isda, at hindi prito. . . Don't make it too brownish because you can no longer taste the fish on it. It's just burnt oil, crispy, and that's unhealthy."I twisted my lips. Saber reminds me of Sarah. They have the same food preferences and both dislike oily dishes.Sa totoo lang, dito lang din naman ako nahilig sa mga pritong pagkain. Iyan din naman kasi ang nabibi
Erykah Sunshine.Drunk.Saber laughed. It wasn't convincing by the look of it. Matibay rin pala ang apog ng babaeng ito at napaka-confident niya sa maraming bagay."What's funny?" I rolled my eyes and walked past her. I have no time to play bitchy with her. She's good at what she was doing with Glenn. Then, I may as well leave her to that and see if she can truly get Glenn back to her side."Ano ba ang kailan mo kay Glenn? Pera ba? Magkano? I can double or triple it. Name your price."Wow, ang hanep ah! Sampalin ko kaya ito ng pera."Magkano ba ang kaya mo?" Hamon ang pagbalik tingin ko sa kanya. If she only knew I can afford to pay her price she would probably go mental."Huh, lumabas din ang totoong kulay…" She smirked, enough to get my blood pumping again."Pera nga ano? Oh, well, I can't blame you. A lot of women who are linked to Glenn only want money from him. I can't blame them. So, would a million or two be enough?"What? Isang milyon o dalawa lang? Ang cheap ah."Nope. That
Erykah Sunshine.kiss.What did he say? Ano raw?"Hindi ako malalasing…""You will, and I don't want that." He smirked and then continued on what he was doing. I swallowed hard, trying to settle the beat of my heart. Masyadong halata yata ang puso ko, at ayaw kong marinig niya ito.I assisted him, and he taught me gradually. Mabilis akong natuto at namangha, dahil sa kabila ng pagiging abala ni Glenn sa trabaho niya ay may alam din naman pala siya sa pagluluto ng ganito."Ang swerte ng mapapangasawa mo," I uttered and gazed at the buko pie in the oven. I heard him chuckle."I'm not kidding, Glenn. Ma-swerte si Saber sa 'yo. Iba ka kaya… Engineer ka, negosyante pa. Mayaman na mayaman, gwapo, may konting kabaitan at magaling pa magluto. Ano ba ang kahinaan mo?" I twisted my lips as I looked at him in front of me."What?" He didn’t seem pleased at that, because there was no smile on his face."I'm your husband, Eres. What the hell are you talking about?" He scoffed, feeling annoyed at
Erykah Sunshine."Hindi ka ba bibitaw?" I pouted as I looked at Glenn's hand entangled mine. Wala yata siyang plano na pakawalan ang kamay ko. Kanina pa siya nakahawak sa akin, at namamawis na ako.After that confession, we had a nice dessert and ate the buko pie we had made. It was delicious! And now we are having our warm tea on our bedroom balcony, facing the north-east side of the house where the garden is.Malalaki ang mga puno rito, at may iilang ilaw sa paligid. Tanaw mo rin ang konti liwanag ng mga alitaptap sa tatlong uri ng puno na kung saan sila naglalagi."They're beautiful," I whispered as I looked at them dancing in the dark."Yes, they are beautiful. . . like you."Napangiti ako at tinitigan ulit siya. Napako ulit ang mga mata ko sa kamay naming dalawa."Ayaw mo ba'ng bumitaw? My hand is starting to get sweaty, Glenn.""Nope. Not for another two hours, babe.""Babe?" Humalakhak ako at bahagyang tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo, at hindi pa rin siya bumitaw sa kamay ko. Ibinal
Erykah Sunshine.Iniisip ko pa lang ang mga magulang ni Glenn ay kinakabahan na ako.How can I enjoy this honeymoon of ours if there's someone out there waiting for him without me in the picture?"Are you okay? What are you thinking?" Pumalupot ang kamay ni Glenn mula sa likod at damangdama ko ito. Hinahayaan ko na siya sa lahat ng gusto niyang gawin sa akin. Walang silbi kung pipigilan ko siya dahil mas lalo niya lang akong ikukulong sa bisig niya."Taste this, babe. It's a buko juice with a kick of lime and alcohol."Kumunot bahagya ang noo ko at saka tinikman ito. Tumabi agad siya sa akin, at itinaas ang paa sa isa pang silya sa harapan namin.Panglao is a beautiful place. It's a small version of Boracay. The sand is white, and the seawater is crystal clear. There are a lot of tourists around, and there are delicious foods to choose from. Iyon nga lang may kamahalan.Sa isang mamahaling hotel ang booking ni Glenn, dito sa South Palmas. Medyo pribado ito dahil nasa dulo na at walan
Anastacia.My heart raced when I saw Zev's face. He's got bruises around the right eye like someone had punched him in the face."Anong nangyari sa 'yo? Who did this to you?"Napaluhod ako at ininspeksyon ang mukha niya. Hindi ko sila nasundo ngayon dahil delivery ngayon ng orders ko galing Amerika. Ako mismo ang kumuha ng mga ito sa pantalan. Kaya pansamantala si George ang kumuha sa mga bata."Tinanong ko rin, Ate. Pero ayaw magsalita. Ganyan na ang mukha eh. Gusto ko sanang kausapin ang guro nila, pero wala raw. Kaya umuwi na kami."Bitbit ni George ang bag ng dalawang bata. Inilapag niya ito sa gilid at saka namaywang sa likod ko."Patingin nga. Dios ko…" Tumayo ako at kumuha ng maligamgam na tubig. Pina upo ko si Zev at tahimik siyang nakayuko. Samantalang si Skye ay nasa gilid lang. Nakasandal sa dingding at pinagmamasdan kami."Ano ba ang nangyari, Skye? Who did this to your brother?"Siya na ngayon ang tinanong ko. Alam kong matigas ang ulo ni Zev at madalas ay hindi siya na
New BeginningAnastacia.Note: This is seven years later. The twins are now six years old.Binalot ko ang makapal na jacket sa katawan. Tumigil na ang ulan. Kailangan kong umakyat sa bubong kahit na hindi mabuti ang pakiramdam ko. Wala kong choice at kailangan ko ng gawin ito. Baka kasi mamaya ulit ay uulan na naman. Mas mabuting maagapan ko na ngayon.I need to climb up the roof to check the leak. The rainwater drips in Zev's bedroom. It's not that bad, but it really annoys me every time I hear the drip sound inside his room. It sounds frustrating, and my poor boy can't even complain. It hurts to the bones to see my children struggle along with me.Hindi man nila sinasabi sa akin ito, ay ramdam ko ito bilang isang ina. Naiinis ako at galit ako sa kung ano man ang sitwasyon meron ako ngayon. Wala akong ibang masisisi kung 'di ang sarili mismo."Mama? Aakyat ka?" Celestine Skye looked innocently at me, my sweet, beautiful baby."Yes, Skye. Get back inside. You will get wet, anak."Kin
Anastacia.Mama accepted it without knowing the entire truth about my secret. Only Tessie knows everything, and she promised me that she would never tell anyone about it.Bumalik na si Mama sa probinsya. Marami siyang ginawa para mapagaan ang lahat sa akin dito sa loob ng bahay. Babalik siya sa kabuwanan ko, at mananatili ng iilang linggo.May isang anak si Mama sa bago niya, pero malaki na ito. Nasa high school na si Neri. Mabait na bata at magalang. Malapit siya sa ama niya at nakakaingit ang closeness nila.I have no memories of my father. He left us when I was only five years old. Mama and he were never married. Since then, I haven’t seen him. The last I heard, he was doing well and living in Baguio with his five kids."Okay ka lang ba, Anastacia?"“Oo, okay lang.”Abala kaming pareho ni Kagawad Camilla. Siya ang kasama ko ngayon sa convention ng lungsod. Nasa Cagayan de Oro kami, at dalawang araw kaming mananatili rito dahil sa convention. Parte ito ng bagong proyekto na iniluns
Anastacia."Ano? Dalawang buwan!? Anong klaseng lalaki ba siya? Hindi pwede 'to, Anastacia! Babalik tayo doon. Kakalbuhin ko ang lalaking 'yon!""Ang galing naman niya! Pagkatapos siyang magpakasarap sa 'yo ay ganun na lang ba? Wala lang sa kanya ang lahat? Anong klaseng lalaki ba siya!? Pesti! Halika! Babalik tayo! Bilis!"Hinila niya ang paa ko at pinadyakan ko siya. Bumitaw siya at mabilis kong binalot ang kumot sa katawan. Umiiyak ako. Hindi hihinto ang luha sa mga mata ko dahil nasasaktan ako ngayon. Pinipilit kong magpakatatag, pero bakit ang hirap? Sinusubok ako ng tadhana at pakiramdam ko ay wala na akong pag asa sa lahat.I have no work, and I'm running out of money. What will I do next?"Anastacia…"Ramdam ko ang pag upo ni Tessie sa paanan. Minasahe niya ang paa ko, at tahimik siyang nakikinig sa hikbi ko.Promise, huli na ito. Bukas at sa mga susunod na araw ay ayaw ko ng umiyak. Nakakapagod umiyak. Nakakawalang gana sa buhay. Pero ganito naman talaga 'di ba? Kasalanan ko
Diezel.My eyebrow raised while listening to John. He's got less than twenty seconds before he fuck up. How the hell will he bring an investor to this project if he can't deliver his report properly? He can't even justify some of this. I'm not listening to him while I read his report. It's full of nonsense."Next!""B-But, Sir. I'm not yet done.""You're fired. Next!" I blurted out, fixing them with a hawk-like stare. When I locked eyes with them, they all averted their gaze."Damn it! Wala bang maayos na proposal sa inyong lahat? These reports are all boring! How will you bring a golden egg to the table if all your proposals are as boring and useless as shit!Tumayo ako at saka napabuntonghininga sa sarili. I need some air, or I could end up dismissing the entire team.Lumapit si Joel sa akin at bumulong."Your secretary is on the line. It's important, she said."I rolled my tongue, and Joel handed me the phone."Yes, Sharon?" I raised my eyebrows. "I'm not in a good mood already, S
Anastacia.Bago na ang lahat. Pinalitan niya ang lahat ng staff rito at hindi ko na kilala ang mga ito. Kahit pa ang gwardiya ng gusali ay bago.What the heck? Talaga bang ginawa niya ito dahil ayaw na niya akong makitang muli?Shit.Hindi ko na tuloy alam kung tama pa ba itong ginagawa ko ngayon. Nanginig tuloy ang tuhod ko, at peke akong ngumiti sa babae rito sa front desk. Nasa likod ko naman si Tessie."Yes, Ma'am. How can I help you?" She smiled, but it was obviously a fake smile. She looked at me from head to toe and back again."Uhm, I would like to see Mr. Dennis Ezequil Mondragon?" Kumurap kurap ako. Nilakasan ko na ang loob."Oh? Do you happen to have an appointment with him, Ma'am?""A-Appointment? Wala, Miss."Nawala ang ngiti ko. Inaasahan ko na ito. Kilala ko si Diezel, at kahit noon pa ay hindi siya basta-basta tumatangap ng bisita.Ang buong akala ko ay nandito pa sina Kimmy at Dora. Pero wala na. Ano kaya ang nangyari sa kanila? Nilipat din ba sila ni Diezel?"Sorry
Anastacia."Ano!? Buntis ka? At dalawa pa talaga? Shit!"Parang putok ang boses ni Tessie sa tainga ko. Sinabi ko na sa kanya. Wala akong ibang mapagsasabihan at siya lang din."At ano ang plano mo, aber?"Namaywang siya at seryoso akong tinitigan. Umiwas ako at nagpabalik-balik ang lakad ko sa harapan niya."Hindi ko alam. Nalilito ako, Tessie." Kinagat ko na ang pang-ibabang labi."No, Anastacia. I know what you're thinking. Hindi puwede 'to! Kailangan mong sabihin sa kanya! Sasabihin mo at sasamahan kita!"I paused and inhaled deeply."Paano kung ayaw niya? Paano kung ipagtabuyan niya ako, Tessie?"Takot ako, at hindi ako handa kung sakaling magkikita kami ulit. Hindi na kailanman sumagi sa isip ko na makipagkita sa kanya.After he abandoned me, I erased his existence. I hated him so much! I want to forget him. At kung kailan ay okay na ako at handa na ang puso kong makalimot sa lahat, ay saka naman dumating ang problemang ito.Talagang hindi ko na makakalimutan si Diezel dahil bu
Diezel.What are the odds? I'm so effing bored. I raked my hair in exasperation, feeling so frustrated.I'm back here in the business after Italy. I went to Italy to forget Anastacia, but damn it. I couldn't get over with her. I couldn't forget her. Every time I shut my eyes I always see her face, crying, pleading and I feel effing guilty about it.Kung hindi ako pinigilan ni Joel ng gabing iyon, ay tiyak kasama ko na si Anastacia ngayon.I was determined to leave because it was the right thing to do, even if my heart said no. I hesitated and briefly considered going back to Anastacia, but Joel stopped me. He told me there was no hope for me and Anastacia. If I chose her, it would only complicate everything.Damn him! Damn them!They think my life is a game, right? Eff them all.Yes, I have set my goals. I want to build a perfect family with an Italian heritage. That's the ideal gift I could give to my mother and to the whole clan. The Elders are hoping that I will produce an Italian
Anastacia.I was crying the entire time I was inside my bedroom. After he dropped me off yesterday morning, I never went out. I have no work anymore. I've finished all my work at Diezel's company, and I have no plans to look for other work at the moment. Ang buong akala ko pagkatapos ng masasarap na gabi namin ay iisa na kami. Nagkamali ako, dahil heto umiiyak ako ng wala sa sarili.I was hoping that he would come back. I never went to bed last night. I was waiting for him the entire time. My cell phone was not even turned off. I was waiting for Diezel to call me, but it never happened.Siguro nalilito siya at nag iisip? Iyan lang ang iniisip ko, na baka hindi siya nakatawag agad dahil nag iisip pa siya. Pero mukhang wala na yata, dahil dalawang araw na ngayon simula nang huli ko siyang nakita, at wala pa rin akong balita sa kanya.The two days have suddenly passed into seven days, and still, Diezel has not even contacted me.Mataas ang pride ko, pero sobra na ito. Ganun na lang ba