I can't believe that brute! He really had the audacity to put his lips over mine without my permission! My lips is now ruined because of him!
"Ano ba kasing nangyari, Miss? Bakit ang pula ng pisngi ni Kairos? Tila may sumampal sa kaniya."
Well...
Nagkibit-balikat nalang ako at pumasok sa kwarto ko. Hindi na ako pumunta sa office ni Mama at Papa roon. Today is their 20th wedding anniversary kaya alam kong namamasyal sila ngayon and enjoying each other's company.
Bumagsak ako sa kama at tinakpan ng unan ang mukha ko at doon sumigaw nang sumigaw. I'm so angry right now, shouting my lungs out isn't enough.
Kinabukasan, I woke up early even though it's the weekend. I have one class today
"Ms. Vera—""Just Lilianna, please," pagputol ko kay Ms. Coming.She smiled. "Lilianna, Mr. Ferrolino will be your dance partner in the upcoming dance contest in your school."If this brute really is my partner, that means he's also a business student. Ayon kay Ethan, he's in his third year."I'm gonna come here from time to time to monitor your progress. Dance to you hearts' content, guys," wika ni Ms. Coming at umalis na ng studio. Naiwan kaming dalawa ni Kairos dito.I looked at Kairos who walked to the laptop and searched something. Bigla namang dumapo ang mga mata ko sa labi niya. Uminit naman ang pisngi ko nang naalala ko na naman iyong ginawa niyang eskandalo sa mall. Na
Chapter 9Nagising ako sa ingay ng alarm clock ko. Bumangon naman ako para patayin iyon. I looked outside and the sun was about to rise. I could also hear the birds chirping and singing. Bumuntonghininga ako at umalis na sa kama para maligo.I was not supposed to wake up this early but I heard that Mama took a day off today and would stay inside the house all day. Ang rason kung bakit bumangon ako nang maaga ay ayaw kong makita si Mama. I couldn't face her... no, I don't want to face her.It's just that, I'm still upset about our last conversation. Of course, I understand where she's coming from. She wanted the best for me. But does wanting the best for her own child means controlling her every move and every decision? Hindi ko na alam.
Umiyak ako nang umiyak nong gabing iyon. Hindi ako makapaniwalang magagawa iyon ni Mama. Ano na ang gagawin ko ngayon? Paano ako makakapunta sa contest bukas? Ayokong biguin ang department ko.I might get a low grade because of this! Lagot na naman ako. I cannot afford to get a low grade. I have to do something... but how?Kinabukasan, maaga akong nagising but I was not moving. Nakasandal lang ako sa headboard ng kama at nakatunganga sa damit na nakasabit sa pintuan ng kwarto ko. It was a white dress shirt na binili ni Kairos para sa akin kahapon. Binigay niya iyon sa akin habang pauwi kami sa galing Naga.Bumaling ako sa alarm clock ko and it says that it's already 9 in the morning. The contest will start at exactly 2PM pero dapat nasa school na ako ngayon dahil magre-rehearse pa dapa
I can't believe we made it through...I can't believe I made it through!Hindi ko nakayanan at tumalon ako kay Kairos sabay yakap sa kaniya sa leeg. I was so happy I feel the need to hug someone. It overwhelmed me to the bone! Hindi talaga ako makapaniwalang nagawa namin 'yon, nagawa ko 'yon!"Thank you, brute!"Kairos seemed shocked as he held me by my waist. Doon ko lang din narealize na nakatingin pala lahat ng tao sa loob ng break room, including Sawyer na pinipigilan ant sarili na tumili at si Ate Jane na kakapasok lang ng break room!But that's not the problem, because behind Ate Jane was my mother in flesh! Akala ko ba'y si Ate Jane lang ang pupunta rito? Perhaps, she did see
Next week came and everything went back to normal. Kasama ko na ulit si Gregory papuntang school which I somehow missed for the past few days. On the way to school, he talked about how he enjoyed the experience of staying in Palawan. He said that he was thankful because it was his first trip outside Cebu, kahit na ang rason kung bakit siya nandoon ay para bantayan si Papa kapag naglalasing."Sayang kasi hindi nasama si Papa. 'Di bale, isasama ko siya kapag nakaipon na ako."This was one of the things I admire about Greg. He loves his father a lot more than anyone else and always thinks about him a lot."He's a lucky father," komento ko.Umiling naman siya at ngumisi. "I'm the lucky son who is blessed with a father that hardworking."
Agad akong kumawala nang natanto ko ang ginawa. My insides were shaking as I stared back at Kairos who was confused as I was. Dahan-dahan akong umatras and the next thing I knew, I was running towards the exit of this condominium.Ginulo ko ang buhok ko nang napansin kong halos walang dumadaan sa kalsada na mga public transportations. Dagdag pang medyo mahiyain pa rin ako sa pagko-commute.I jolted when an arm grabbed mine and turned me around. It was Kairos and he was panting."Bitiwan mo 'ko," matigas kong wika. "Kairos, bitiw."Umiling naman siya. "Let me drive you back to school.""I can go back by mysel—"He cut me off. "
Akala ko ay nagbibiro si Kairos sa sinabi niya noong isang araw but I realize that he was really serious. Nagkikita naman kami sa campus but he would only look at me for a few seconds and then walk away, as if he's constantly reminding me of what he vowed days ago.Nakatitig lang ako sa tanawin sa labas ng bintana habang hindi pa rin tumitigil sa pagputak ng bibig niya ang History class instructor namin kahit na lagpas na siya sa kaniyang schedule, buti nalang at last class na 'to para sa araw na 'to. Kahit hindi sila nagrereklamo ay alam kong gustong-gusto na nilang umuwi at gawin ang mga gusto nilang gawin aside sa mga school tasks and activities na walang prenong binibigay ng mga instructors.After a couple of minutes, the instructor finally dismissed the class. She apologized because she got carried away in talking about Philippine
Nakatitig si Kairos sa akin nang halos isang minuto bago niya iyon pinutol at pinulupot ang kaniyang mga braso sa baywang ko para yakapin ako."No, Lilianna," wika niya at bumuntong-hininga. "As much as I want to take you to my place, I have to resist and decline. I don't wanna be a bad influence."Ngumuso ako at sinandal ang baba ko sa balikat niya. "Ang good boy mo naman...""And you were being a bad girl," he said and chuckled.Nang mapansin niyang hindi na ako umimik ay bumitiw siya sa yakap at tumingin sa mukha ko. "How about we go to Naga and eat?"Ngumiwi ako. "I have no money with me, Kairos."
What It Takes To Be A FamilyI never thought that being a parent couldn't get much more tiresome but fulfilling at the same time. Sometimes, I would wake up seeing Lilianna swaying one of the twins in her arms as she hummed a song, her eyes closed because of sleep deprivation.I would automatically get up and say, "Lili, give me Leone. You should rest."Lilianna would open her eyes halfway and smile. "It's okay, brute. You should rest, may trabaho ka pa mamayang umaga.""No, give me Leone, Lilianna. Ako na ang magpapatulog ng bata. Where is her milk?"Bumuntong-hininga si Lilianna at dahan-dahang binigay sa akin si Leone Kennedy, ang babae naming anak.
Misterand Missus"How could you wed my daughter in a civil wedding, Kairos?!" nagagalit na tanong ni Papa."Papa..." pagpigil ko sa kaniya sabay hawak sa braso niya. Nagulat naman ako nang hinablot jiya mula sa hawa ko ang braso niya. Wow! He was really mad. I thought he was just acting!Nakita naman iyon ni Kairos. Lalapit na sana siya sa akin pero inilingan ko siya para pigilan siya.Napatingin kaming lahat kay Papa nang tumayo siya mula sa pagkakaupo rito sa sofa. "Mara, where did you put my shotgun?"Napasinghap si Tita Esmeralda.
Epilogo: Eternal LoveI was enjoying the breeze of Toronto when my cousin, Isaiah, called me and disturbed me from relaxing my ass off."What?" I asked, annoyed.I heard a chuckle coming from him. "Come on, bro! Get your ass back here. You're not fit for Canada!""I'm having my vacation, Isaiah. I'm not staying here for good. 'Wag kang mag-alala, uuwi rin ako next month.""School is coming back next month too, you should be here by the last week of May or the first week of June. Third year is a crucial year for college students, Kai. We should not take it lightly."Napailing ako. Isaiah and his obsession w
Epilogo: First Love "My god, Kairos! Ang bagal-bagal mo talaga! Male-late na ako sa appointment ko at male-late ka na rin sa dance school mo na iyan!" Napailing ako sa pagsigaw ni Kieru sa kabilang parte ng pintuan. Nasa labas siya ngayon ng kwarto ko at naghihintay na lumabas ako. I woke up late this morning, and I immediately played video games on my personal computer. That's also the reason why I'm now almost late to dance class. Kinurot ni Kieru ang tainga ko nang nakalabas ako sa kwarto ko. Humiyaw naman ako sa sakit. "Aray ko, Kieru!" She gasped. "You have no respect to your older sister, Kairos!" "Calling you ‘ate’ gives me chills," I said with a disgusted look. Tinanggal ko ang pagkahawak niya sa tainga ko at nauna nang lumabas sa bahay at pumasok sa family car. The whole ride, Kieru insisted that I should—no, “must” call her ‘ate’ or else she'll wreck my desktop computer in my bedroom. I just sighed and decided
Chapter 40Pero hindi ko kaya.Hindi ko na kayang mawalay pa sa kaniyang ng kahit isa pang araw.Kaya ginawa ko ang gusto kong gawin.Embarrassing as it sounds, but I turned around and shouted Kairos' name with my longing heart. Agad naman siyang lumingon sa akin, naguguluhan.At first, I was walking slowly as I stared at his mysteriously dark eyes. But when I got impatient, I jogged my way towards him... until it turned to a run. I left my luggage alone and spread my arms as I hugged him.He carried me by the butt and I immediately wrapped my legs around his waist.
Mariin akong pumikit nang naramdaman kong gumalaw ang kama. Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa kumot nang naramdaman ko ang braso ni Kairos na tumanday sa baywang ko sa ilalim ng kumot.Kalaunan ay narinig ko ang tawa niya. "I know you're awake, Lilianna. Your body is tensed."Doon pa ako kumawala nang malalim na hininga bago minulat ang mata at hinarap siya. Agad naman akong nagsisi nang nakitang halos magdikit na ang mga ilong namin. Sobrang lapit niya!I hissed when my sister down there ached because of the pain I got from last night's... physical activity. Pumikit na naman ako nang nakaramdam ako ng hiya. Gusto ko na lang lamunin ng lupa nang inalala ko ang ginawa namin kagabi.I couldn't believe that really happened. It
The celebration eventually ended. Nagsiuwian na ang ibang guests samantala ang iba naman ay napagdesisyonang dito na lang sa hotel matulog. The Ferrolinos booked a couple of hotel rooms for the guests to stay in for the night."I booked a room for you, Lian," sabi ni Sawyer nang pumasok kami sa elevator. Sinabay niya ako sa kotse nilang dalawa ng asawa niya. Nahiya tuloy ako dahil baka naistorbo ko sila. "You should stay for the night. Neco couldn't drive you home because he's dead drunk."Tumawa ako at tumango. "Okay. I will stay."Niyakap niya ako patagilid. "Thank you for coming to the best day of my life, best friend. Nawala na ang six years kong tampo sa'yo."We laughed together as we talked about random things
Dumating na nga ang araw ng kasal ni Sawyer. Narito kami ngayon sa isang five star hotel ng ciudad. May nakalaang mga suite ang entourage—magkahiwalay ang mga babae sa mga lalaki. Ang groom naman at ang bride ay may tig-iisa ring room na nakalaan para sa kanila.May mga professional makeup artists at hairdressers din na binayaran ng pamilya Ferrolino para sa amin kaya naging mabilis ang paghahanda para sa kasal. We only got to sit in front of a vanity mirror, and watched our faces get beautified by their artsy hands. The makeup artists decided to match our eyeshadows with the wedding motif.Akala ko ay magmumukha kaming clown sa lavender eyeshadows pero kabaliktaran ang nakita ko nang natapos akong ayusan ng isa sa mga makeup artists. I commend them for making it perfect. It was simple and minimal but it complenemented
Chapter 36It would take an hour or two before we arrive at Minglanilla so I decided to rest my eyes. Pero agad ko rin iyong pinagsisihan dahil tuluyan na akong nakatulog! Nagising lamang ako sa marahang pagyugyog sa akin ni Kairos.Paglingon ko sa bandang kanan ko ay nasa harapan na kami ng main gate ng Midori Plains. Nang naalala ko si Isla ay agad ko namang binaling ang backseat. She was nowhere to be found.Narinig ko ang pagtikhim ni Kairos. "I dropped her at the city."Tumango na lang ako.I unbuckled my seat belt and went out of the car. Sumunod naman siya at binuksan ang likuran ng sasakyan. Sumalubong sa akin ang tumitiriki na araw kaya napasuot ulit a