Chapter 14: Truth Behind The Lies
Jack's Perspective
"Haha, I won, bro!" Shouted Zio, halos hindi na siya tumigil sumigaw at sabihing nanalo siya. Biruin mo naman seven out of ten ang score niya, and me three? Damn, that is so emberrasing!
I lost sa ten rounds namin, and that was the first time. Ewan ko, I tried hard naman pero natalo pa din ako. Ganun naman talaga eh sometimes you win at sometimes, of course, talo. That is what our lives are, we are not always winning, ang pangit din naman kung lagi kang panalo, ang boring, it feels like everything is easy and what is worst is that you might hate people once na natalo ka nila, mahihirapan kang tanggapin ang pagkatalo mo. At isa pa kaya ka natatalo para tumayo ka ulit, to learn from your mistakes. Ang tanging dapat mong alamin is saan ka nagkamali para next time, at least alam mo na.
"So, bro. tulad ng pustahan natin, the winner will get everything he wants,"
Chapter 15: A sudden deathJack's PerspectiveTwo days later...I am in the middle of a class discussion when my father is calling me, I don't want to disturb the class, so instead of excusing myself I secretly answered the phone and whispered, "Hello, Dad?"The moment I said those words, I could hear him sniffing."Dad, are you crying?" I asked in a low voice"S-son, Z-Zio is dead!" His voice is cracking and trembling. But then the moment I heard him, halos hindi ako makahinga, hindi ako makapagsalita, ramdam ko ang pagsikip ng dibdib ko."Are you not joking, Dad?" I said trying not to believe what he just said, pero sa totoo lang hindi ko na mapigilan ang mga luha ko. Hindi! Hindi 'to totoo!"Jack, I'm not a teenager anymore to joke a serious thing like this," he said. At ang luhang kanina ko pa pinipigilan ay sunod-sunod na tumulo mula sa mga mata ko. Hindi ako
Chapter 16: The BurialJack's PerspectiveI hunched down my head, letting all the pain and tears devour me as they slowly shroud the casket of Zio with dirt."Huhu, my son!" Cried Zio's mom, habang ako unti-unti kong tinatanggap ang pagkawala niya, the same thing happened with my mom, noong araw na iwan niya kami.I was in a car accident with mom eighth years ago, I was young. My mom was driving, we were about to visit Dad to the hospital. Pero sa hindi namin inaasahan, nawalan ng preno 'yong isang truck na nakasalubong namin hanggang sa nagcause ng isang aksidente, smokes are in the air, and three person declared death, kasama na doon si mom, she did not survive, hindi na siya naihabol pa sa hospital. Dahil malaki ang injury na natamo niya and that was because she covered me, to kept me in
Chapter 17: ChoicesJack's PerspectiveI woke up early to prepare breakfast for me and Angel, hindi na kase umuwi si Dad, kaya hindi na naman siya makakaharap sa kainan. Well, I let Angel stay here, kase it's too late na kagabi para hayaan ko pa siyang umuwi and we missed each other also. Natulog siya sa kwarto ko, and I went to our guess room para doon matulog.6:30 AM ay agad na akong bumangon, then, after an hour and a half, ay sawakas natapos na din akong magluto. Agad naman akong nagpunta sa kwarto ko upang gisingin si Angel.I slowly opened the door and saw Angel, lying comfortably on my bed. Napakasaya akong makita siya, I went closer to her and kiss her forehead. At naalimpungatan naman siya, agad akong ngumiti sa kanya saying the words, "good morning
Chapter 18: Her letterJack's PerspectiveNakatingala na lamang ako sa langit, tinititigan ang bawat eroplanong lumilipad papalayo. Gusto ko sanang puntahan si Angel, bago siya umalis, pero she insisted, and also she changed her time flight without informing me nang sabihin kong, I'm not coming with her, may be next year, hindi rin kase ganun kadali, especially kung mas may opportunity ako dito as a doctor because of my Dad, I can train and improve myself here, but then, how can I enjoy myself when I know Angel is in pain, and here I am focusing for my career. Pero it's for her din naman. We just need time to be together.Haiist, ang sakit na hindi ko siya nakita bago siya umalis. Di ko man lang siya nayakap, hindi ko man lang siya nasabihan ng harapan na mag-iingat siya."You really hurting me Angel, how could you leave without saying goodbye to me," bulong ko at hinayaan ko ang luha kong pumapatak sa mga pisngi ko.Kinabukasan...
Chapter 19: Getting to know each otherThird Person's PerspectiveIt wasn't easy for both two individuals in a relationship to solved things lalo na sa mga bagay na hindi mo alam kung may solution pa nga ba, kung nalalamatan na ng pride ang pagmamahalang binuo niyo ng magkassama.Ilang araw na pagsuyo at walang katapusang paghingi ng tawad si Jack kay Angel to forgive him, begging her to start over again, but then Angel became too cold and selfish, she wanted him to studddy abroad with her. Napakahirap na desisyon iyon for Jack.Jack's Perspective"What happened?" Tanong ni Star sa sulat niya. Well, we are like long-distance friendship, pero kung tutuusin nadiyaan lang siya sa tabi-tabi. Haha! Simula nang sagutin ko ang mga sulat niya ay simula na din nang pagkakaibigan namin we share things na hindi namin masabi sa iba."Well, she wanted me to study abroad with her, gustuhin ko man pero nandito naman sa Pilipinas ang bagay na para sa akin. I kept explaining pero hindi niya ako pinaki
Chapter 20: Unending ArgumentsJack's Perspective"Please, Mahal! Kausapin mo ako ng maayos," mahinahong sabi ko kay Angel sa telepono."Jack, please, huwag ngayon, nakikiusap na ako," sagot niya at hindi ko na alam kung anong gagawin. Tila lahat ng bagay sa kaniya ay unti-unting nagbabago."Mahal, we've been like this for a few weeks. Hindi ka ba nagsasawang ganito tayo? I miss our late-night talks, I miss your voice, I miss everything about you!" Nanghihinang sabi ko at narinig ko siyang napabuntong-hininga."Do you really miss me?" Tanong niya at agad ko naman siyang sinagot, "Of course, a lot, Angel, a lot!""Then why can't you just go here? Kung talagang gusto mong maayos ito bakit hindi na lang natin pagbigyan ang isa't isa?" Hindi ko alam kung bakit ipinagpipilitan niya ang bagay na iyon."Angel, I explained to you already..." Hindi na ako makapagsalita ng mag-umpisa na siyang magalit at hindi ko na siya maawat sa mga sinasabi niya, ramdam ko ang inis at galit sa bawat bigkas
Chapter 21: Jack's Perspective"Hi, Zio? Kamusta na? Haiist, today is your birthday! Kung nandito ka lang, baka nagawa pa kita itreat. I miss you, bro! Ang lungkot ko ngayon eh! Angel was taking a break from our relationship, cool off daw muna," I whispered habang inaayos ko ang pagkakatayo ng kandila.Habang sinusubukan kong sindaan yung kandilang dala ko para kay Zio ay biglang may babaeng nag-abot sa akin ng lighter!"Here, you could use it rather than using a match," a woman voice said from my back as she handed me colored blue metal lighter."Oh! Thank you!" I said. I gave back the lighter. "Thank you," I said."Welcome, is he your friend or sibling?" Tanong niya sa akin habang nakatingin sa lapida ni Zio.I smiled and answered her, " He's my best friend!" I smiled."Oh I see," tanging sagot niya."And you? Sinong binibisita mo?" Tanong ko at ngumiti siya. "Your best friend," sagot niya and nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa narinig ko. Si Zio? Tama ako hindi ba? Pero hindi siya familiar
Chapter 22: One year laterJack's Perspective"Hahaha, so you're a doctor?" Sabi ni Star sa sulat niya."Not, yet but soon to be a Doctor in the future, haha!" Nakangiti ako habang sinusulat ang mga salitang iyon. Ewan ko ba bakit hindi maalis ang mga ngiti ko sa tuwing binabasa ko ang mga sulat niya.Sa isang taon na pag-uusap namin ni Star hindi ko alam pero lagi akong naeexcite na basahin ang bawat sulat niya sa akin.My heart fluttered everytime na chinicheer niya ako para sa future ko.She always there kahit sa sulat lang. Biruin mo umabot kami ng isang taon na ganito lang ang set-up ng friendship namin. We didn't know the faces of each other but then who cares? She is the one who where there to cheer me up and made me happy.Pero habang tumatagal ang pag-uusap naming dalawa, hindi ko na alam ang nararamdaman ko, pakiramdam ko nahuhulog na ako kay Star, pero alam kong mali, oo mali, dahil alam kong mayroong ako at si Angel? And our relationship is just in time out. Oo, we are st
FINAL CHAPTER: Epilogue Jack's Perspective "Zhane! Zhane!" malakas na iyak ng ina ni Zhane habang inililibing namin ang bangkay ni Zhane. Well, yes, pagkatapos kong malaman ang tungkol sa mga sekreto niya, makalipas ng isang buwan ay napagkaalaman namin na hindi pa rin siya tuluyang gumaling, and my Dad extremely felt depressed about it, he felt embarrassed sa mga nangyayari and the end, after all the efforts and risks they couldn't save her anymore, hanggang doon na lang nga siguro, masakit para sa aming lahat pero iyon na nga ang huling araw na nakita namin si Zhane. Pero kahit pa hindi gumaling si Zhane sa kanyang sakit, tita, Zhane's mother appreciated my dad's loved for her daughter, and that she can't blame anyone about her death. She explained na wala namang may gusto sa nangyari. And she also feel glad na nakasama pa niya si Zhane kahit papaano sa tulong ni dad, because without the treatments she had baka mas maaga pa siyang nawala
Chapter 42: The Truth!Jack's PerspectiveAgad akong pumasok, hindi ko maalis ang kaba sa puso ko. Nalilito ako sa nakita ko and then, I checked her drawers and then I bursts out tears."Why didn't you tell me?" I sobbed quitely.My tears are falling non-stop, nang makita ko lahat ng sulat ko kay Star. Huhuhu.Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit nasa drawer ni Zhane ang mga sulat ko kay Star and then, I saw her diary na nakapatong sa mga sulat."Dear Diary,I left a note at the park with a phrase saying," FIND ME" and guessed what? Someone left a letter for me. Haha. And I decided to answer his questions, until we became friends and he has the same name with the person I love, his name is Jack, funny right?""Dear Diary,
Chapter 41: The Marriage!Zhane's PerspectiveI can hear everyone shouted when the priest announced that Jack and Angel were now husband and wife. Lahat sila ay tuwang-tuwa sa kanila and of course, pati ako. Matapos akong bisitahin ni Jack before kinabukasan tinanggap ko na ang lahat.I come back from what I was before. Nagkaayos kami ni Jack and ayaw ko din naman sa araw ng kasal niya ay may sakit pa rin akong nararamdaman kaya naman, lahat ipinasa-Diyos ko na lamang. Naging masaya na lang ako para sa kanilang dalawa. All I wish for is that Angel will loves him as much as I do. Na she wil never let Jack unhappy.Hindi ko man makita ang bawat pag ngiti nila, every tears of joy coming out from theie eyes, I know they both happy.And as long as Jack is happy, masaya na rin ako."Congratulat
Chapter 40: Cold!Jack's PerspectiveI visited Zhane sa bahay nila, sinca wala naman masiyadong gagawin sa toy store.Nang nasa tapat na ako ng bahay nila ay nakita ko si Zhane na nakaupo sa may labas nila. Tahimik at napakahaba na din ng buhok niya.Tita is combing her hair at agad naman akong kumatok sa may kahoy sa may tabi ko."Oh, Jack, ikaw pala!" sabi agad ni tita nang linginon niya ako."Yes po, tita. May pasalubong po pala ako," sabi ko sabay bigay ng prutas kay tita."Nag-abala ka pa, Jack. Lagi ka na lang may pasalu
Chapter 39: Zhane: Painful Cries!Zhane's PerspectiveHuminga ako ng malalim habang nakapikit ang mga mata ko, all I can see is black, nothing more, and when I slowly open my eyes, it is also the same. Gusto kong umiyak pero pinipigilan ko. Naawa ako kay mama dahil nadagdag pa ako sa mga inaasikaso niya, well, next week maaari na din akong umuwi. Finally, I'm gonna leave this place, permanently. Hindi man nagawang gamutin ang mga mata ko, I am still thankful that I survived. Hindi rin naging madali sa akin lahat, I thought mamatay na ako.Ang sakit noong mga araw na hindi ako maitindihan ng lahat, sa isipan ko nasasabi ko ng maayos ang mga bawat katagang sinasabi ko, but I never imagined na hindi pala, the doctors let me hear my voices when I was talking to them before, since I couldn't watch the video.
Chapter 38: Welcome back to the Philippines!-The Surprise-Angel's PerspectiveI'm glad na ang uwi ni Jack is Sunday at nataon na wala akong pasok. I'm excited to see him again, dahil malaparanoid na ata ako sa tuwing hindi ko siya nakikita. I know I am extremely a weirdo, I cross the lines sometimes, accusing him that he has another girl is too much pero masisi niyo ba ako? I love him, and I didn't want to let him go. Dahil before naging kami, I already love him, and if I am not mistaken, I love him before we met.Yes, nakapagtataka ba? Okay, let me share it with you. Remember, the time na nagbuhusan ko ng drinks si Jack, and binilhan ko siya ng damit dahil super basa na 'yung puting t-shirt niya? That was all planned. Yes, I did that kase I want to be close to him. It's not an accident but a set up.Gusto ko na
Chapter 37: Zhane's conditionsJack's Perspective3 months... yep, tatlong buwan na ako dito kina lolo at lola and I will go back to the Philippines after 3 months, six months lang kase akong mag-sstay dito.Dapat 2 months lang kase for seminar and training lang naman sa company nila lola, but they asked me a favor to stay for a few months at wala na akong magawa since nandito na rin naman ako. And I want to make them happy.I and Angel talked about it also, nagtampo siya noong una pero of course, sinuyo ko siya at ipinaliwanag sa kanya na uuwi din naman ako, minsan iniisip niya na baka may nakilala ako kaya ayaw ko umuwi. Haiist, hindi ko din alam, hindi ko na ata maalis talaga ang bagay na iyon kay Angela.Well, about me, everything went well naman, I learned and memorized everything that I needed to learn in my grandparent's business. And pinipilit ako ni lola na ituloy-tuloy na a
Chapter 36: The flight!Jack's Perspective"Come back quickly," sambit sa akin ni Angel sabay yakap at halik na din sa pisngi ko."I will," I smiled and I hug her back, "Salamat sa paghatid, ingat ka pabalik sa inyo," I added."Ano ka ba, maaari bang hindi kita ihatid?! Haha, but remember to call me when you get there, and one more thing, walang mambababae hah?!" Pagbibiro niya sa akin."Hmmm... Yes, ma'am. Huwag ka pong mag-alala," sabi ko sabay kindat sa kaniya, agad naman siyang natawa at muli akong niyakap."Mahal, I love you," she said and I was about to answer her, but I was interrupted when we heard the announcement."Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen, This is the final boarding call for passengers who booked on flight 298A to Washington D. C. Please proceed to gate 3 immediately
Chapter 35Jack's PerspectiveLumipas ang panahon, at heto nasa company pa din ako ni Lola. It is a toy company, we made a branded toys and sale them around the globe. Yeah it's a well-known brand because of the quality of the materials used and the uniqueness of its style. Well, hindi ko pa alam kung kelan ulit ako babalik sa pag-aaral, but next year, pupuntahan ko sina Lola at Lolo para sa seminar, and mga needed gawin to improve and gain more customers. At doon din namin malalaman if which country got the highest rate of sales. Nakakatuwa kase ilang bansa din ang branch nina lolo at lola, and I am taking the country of Philippines, and I am actually excited to meet the other leaders from different countries!"Mahal, see you later, okay?" text ni Angel with a kiss and heart emoji. She invited me for dinn5sa bahay nila. Well, away-bati kami, minsan malala pa siya magtampo, she don't wanna see me nor talk