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
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
People say there's no place like home. Kahit anong ganda ng lugar na pinupuntahan mo, wala pa ring makatatalo sa comfort ng tinatawag nating tahanan. It might be a person, might be a dog or any animal, and it might be your actual home.But for me, I haven't found the one or the thing I could call my true home. My parents? I love them but alam mo iyon, may mga araw talaga na ayaw mo sa mga magulang mo.Yup, those kind of feelings."Lili, pupunta ka ba ngayon sa SCC? Ano nga ulit iyong kukunin mong degree program?"Huminto ako sa pag-drawing at lumingon sa ama kong nasa may pintuan, his right hand was on the doorknob while his other hand was holding a cup of coffee.My father, Julius V
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