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