I'm going to visit my parents here in Iloilo. Honestly speaking, I had a hard time convincing Shey to come with me.
It hurts. I already notice that she's drifting away from me. The Shey who's open and lively when she's with me has long gone. It's a fact that I should accept, though I kinda hope that we'll return to the way we were."Shey, sumunod ka lang sa akin." Marahan kong sabi sa kaniya habang bumababa kami ng bus.Nandito kami sa Molo Terminal, at kahit gustong gusto kaming ihatid ni Rafus ay hindi niya magawa dahil may inutos sa kaniya ang Papa niya. He's currently in Manila and it's been two days since we return from La Societe. He didn't specifically told me what business he'll do there and I didn't forced him to disclose it to me anyway.Nagkausap kami habang nasa biyahe ako kanina pero ilang minuto lang iyon dahil napapansin ko ang pagsulyap sa akin ni Shey. Kahit na nakaearphone ako ay hindi parin ako kampante.Rafus and I talMy days continue like that. Talking to Rafus, helping my parents, and eat. I wanted to make up with Shey but she disliked it, sumasama siya sa kanila ni Nanay at Tatay sa Enterprise para lang maiwasan ako."Slaine, apo. Gusto mo bang sumama sa amin ng Lolo mo?" Tanong ni Lola Azucena nang madatnan nila ako sa sala."Saan po ang punta niyo, Lola?""Kikitain namin ng Lolo mo ang isang investor sa Pavia, at hindi naman namin gustong maiwan kang mag-isa rito." Umupo si Lola sa tabi ko at marahang hinawakan ang buhok."Sige po sasama ako sa inyo ni Lolo, saglit lang po at magbibihis lang ako ng damit, Lola." Magalang kong sambit at dali-daling umakyat patungong kwarto.It's already my fourth day here and up 'til now, my head's clouded with the thought of Helen. I'm dying to know what's wrong, so I could take part in making her feel better. Kung pwede ko lang siyang puntahan sa Manila ay nagawa ko na pero hindi iyon gano'n kadali. I don't have
Nang makarating sa bahay ay sinubukan kong gawin ang lahat ng makakaya para lang makumbinsi sina Nanay at Tatay na umuwi kasama namin. Kahit tunog desperada na ako at halos lumuhod sa kanila.Bigla kong naisip na hindi ko masikmura kung ano ang pagtrato nina Lola sa mga magulang ko rito. Ayokong isipin ang mga salitang maaring ibato ni Lola kay Tatay at kasalanang nagawa ni Nanay na hanggang ngayon ay hindi parin nalilimutan ni Lola."Hindi pupuwede, anak." Mahinang ani Nanay. "Mahina na ang Lola at Lolo mo, walang magbabantay sa kanila rito dahil ayaw nilang mag-hire ng kasambay. Matanda na sila at mahina ang tuhod kaya kahit sa ganitong paraan man lang ay naparamdam ko sa kanila na mahal ko parin sila at kahit gano'n ang nangyari noon ay malaki parin ang respeto at utang na loob namin ng Tatay mo sa kanila."Kahit anong gawin ko ay ayaw ni Nanay na iwan sina Lola rito. I even desperately proposed some ways to Nanay in reconciling with her parents, yet he
The dinner ended in awkward atmosphere. After I volunteer to wash the dishes, I instantly rush towards our room and pursue Shey to go home with me tomorrow yet she's too persistent to stay."Gusto ko pang makasama sina Nanay. Sa susunod na araw nalang siguro ako uuwi, Ate.""Sigurado ka ba talaga diyan, Shey? Pwede naman tayong magsabay bukas para may dalawang araw ka pa bago matapos ang semestral break mo."Umiling lang si Shey sa akin bago ibinalik ang atensiyon sa cellphone na hawak niya. Bumuntonghininga ako at nagsimula nang mag-impake ng gamit para sa pag-alis bukas.Itinabi ko sa isang sulok ang mga gamit na ibinigay nina Lola at Lolo. Aanuhin ko naman ang Fendi bag na ito? Hindi naman ako mahilig mag-show off sa mga tao kaya hinding-hindi ko ito magagamit.I spend my night packing my things while talking to Rafus over the phone. I agreed to his suggestion that he'll fetch me up tomorrow at ten, so when morning came, I've searched
"Hoy, ang gwapo naman ng naghatid sa'yo! Boyfriend?" Nakangiting bungad ni Jean nang makapasok ako ng room. Hindi ako sumagot at ngitian lamang siya. Umupo ako sa tabi niya habang siya naman ay sundot nang sundot sa tagiliran ko."You're too secretive, Aranza. Spill the tea!" Jean annoyingly said then pulled my hair in a jokingly manner."Wala akong tsaa," tanging sagot ko na ikinaasim ng mukha niya."Ayaw pa kumpirmahin! Madalas ko kaya kayong makitang magkasama kahit saan!"Mahina akong natawa at hinarap siya. "What do you think the real score between us?"Kumunot ang noo ni Jean at bahagyang napanguso. "Of course, kay Rafus palaging perfect, tapos sa'yo passing score!"Napangiwi ako sa sinabi niya at siya naman napahalakhak. Bahagya akong napairap sa kaniya. "Nakakaperfect score naman ako Jean!""Of course I know that! But your score either ranges from forty five to fifty, so the mean is a passing score on e
"Surprise?" His husky voice dominates from behind.I turn around to meet his intense and dark eyes with glint of affection and satisfaction. My tears slowly falling from my eyes as the whole surrounding lights up. The trees are surrounded by LED and fairy lights from its trunk to its branches.Rafus closed the distance between us and wiped my tears away using his thumb and sweetly hushing me so I could stop crying but I couldn't."Happy first monthsary, baby..." He huskily said and leaned towards to kiss the top of my head.I froze, literally dazed by what he just said. I thought that I'm the one only who remembered it! I wrapped my arms around his neck and weeped again on his chest."I thought you forgot!" I punched his chest."Oh, is that the reason why you treated me ill earlier?""It's because I thought you forgotten our day! I've been waiting for you since early in the morning but you didn't greet me!""How could I forgot about this? It's our special date, and it's been programme
"Geez, get a room Cattaneo! Daig mo pa si Hatryx sa public display of affection!" Fraise hissed."Bobo mo naman, Kuya. Wala tayo sa public at property naman nila 'to." Rojas bashed and even tapped his older brother's shoulder to tease him."Shut up, bastard." Fraise cussed and punched Rojas on the shoulder.Nagsimula silang magbangayan at natatawa kaming nanonood ni Rafus sa kanila. The clock strikes at two and I decided to go home. Rafus wants me to spend the night here but I know my limitations. I even saw the strong disagreement on Mrs. Dela Rue's face.Nakarating ako ng bahay at agad na dumiretso sa kwarto. Shey's spending her Christmas vacation in Iloilo, so technically I'm all alone here. I don't know how long did I force Rafus to go home because if I didn't, he'll surely spend a night here.Matapos kong magpalit ng damit ay patamad akong humiga sa kama. My eyes pinned on the ceiling, remembering what Mrs. Sierra Dela Rue said to me earlier."Let's be frank here, hija. I don't s
"Mang-aagaw ka Aranza! You don't deserve Rafus! Gold digger and fucking bitch!"Hinigpitan ni Rafus ang pagkahawak sa kamay ko. Nag-angat ako ng tingin at bahagyang ngumiti sa kaniya."I'm okay baby. Both of us know the truth anyway," I assure him.Rafus seems unconvinced of what I've said yet he nodded eventually to drop the topic. Hinila niya ako sa mga booths at nakalimutan ko na parang bula ang nangyari kanina sa corridor."Baby, please? Isang beses lang naman..." I pleaded while doing a puppy eyes.Pinilipit ko siyang magsuot ng bunny ears na headband. I've successfully put some barrettes on his hair earlier and he looks so damn cute because his lips are slightly protrude and red."Come on baby, just for several shots! Para pareho tayo ng headband dali na, ayaw mo pa no'n, malalaman ng ibang estudyante dito na maggirlfriend-boyfriend tayo, at wala ka nang kaagaw sa akin. Sabi mo threathened ka sa mga pumoporma sa akin noong
"You feel so confident about yourself? Dadating ang panahon na babalik at babalik siya sa akin Slaine. You're just his pastime, so enjoy now then cry later." She sneered at me."Oh, I'm just a pastime? Then why did he introduced me legally to his parents when I'm just some sort of pastime? Why did he let me call his father Tito Stefano?" I uttered while brows furrowed.My only intention was to tease her but I didn't know she took my words in another level. She's damn livid and about to attack me but she manage to stop herself. She tiptoed to level her lips on my ear. She then slowly pat my shoulder before whispering words and leave me standing. "You're still clueless about their family affairs though. You may be the girlfriend but I know things you don't."Aurora's words lingers in my mind the next days. I have tried discarding that thought but it keeps on replaying at the back of my mind. What family affairs is she talking about? Rafus' family s