I woke up another day as the rays of the scorching sun came into view.
"Summer na pala," I told myself as I got up from the bed.
Days turned weeks. Weeks turned to years.
A year has already passed. Asher was consistently communicating with us right after he flew back to the Philippines. He never missed a day to talk to us even through phone. It was difficult being apart from him again but I have to deal with it. It's his personal issue he wanted to overcome on his own. How brave of him to get therapy after everything that happened. We were all wrecked. I remember the time that I also had to endure PTSD after I gave birth to Aiofhe and the anxiety attacks I had after Terrence abducted me. Those were the darkest moments.
I suffered from severe anxiety. The episodes of constant fear and worry that I always felt whenever I thought of Terrence. Na baka pagmulat ko ng mata ay nasa harapan
"What do you want to order?" I asked as I seated. He also sat adjacent to me."Just a juice will do," sagot niya. I ordered his drinks after.Nang makabalik sa upuan ay hindi ko alam kung ano ang unang sasabihin. I inhaled sharply before I spoke."How are you?" Sabay naming nasambit kaya pareho kaming natawa."Okay naman," sagot ko. "Ikaw?""Good. I was actually surprised that you called me. It's been a long time since the last time we met. You still look pretty," aniya. Nahiya naman ako nang kaunti sa sinabi niya."You and your compliments." I laughed."It's true. You've been alwa
"Bilib din ako sa inyo no," she told me as her eyes were flaring.Asher came back and stood frozen beside me when he saw Terrence's mother."I did everything I could do to destroy you but you're still happy while we are suffering terribly!""Ma'am, how many times do I have to apologize for what I did?" I looked at Asher who moved forward and stared at her with the same intensity. "Hindi po ba't pinagbayaran ko na ang nagawa ko?""Maibabalik niyo ba ang anak ko?! He could've lived and stayed with us!" She was loudly crying. Nasa labas kami at nagsimula ng mapunta sa amin ang atensyon ng mga tao."Your son did something to us, too! He sexually harassed her and abused her. We never even
After Asher's proposal, I said yes.Bakit pa nga ba namin patatagalin pa kung kami rin naman sa huli? It was our choice to keep each other and we would do it until the last breath of our lives.He was smiling from ear to ear when I told him I wanted to marry him, too. It felt surreal but I hope this happiness won't be taken away within our grasp."Stop smiling. You look crazy," I told him. Hindi ako makatulog dahil sa kanya. Mukha na siyang nababaliw dahil kanina pa nakangiti."Why? You agreed to marry me.""And? Bawiin ko na lang kaya." Kaagad na sumama ang tingin niya sa akin. "I'm just kidding.""What did you say?" Pi
"What am I going to do with you?" tanong ni Asher saka tumayo. Nakakunot ang noo ko nang hinarap ko siya. Kakalabas ko lamang sa kwarto. Nilapitan ko siya."Why?"Kakatapos ko pa lang mag-ayos para sa binyag ng anak ni Dwight. I was honestly hesitating whether I would go or not. Aattend ako sa binyag ng ex ko, sounds weird right? But Asher told me Dwight was expecting me to come so I had no choice."You're so pretty," he said which made me blushed."Bolero." Natawa ako. I wore the blue maxim dress I bought the last time. Kasama namin dapat si Aiofhe pero masakit ang tiyan kaninang umaga kaya hindi makakapunta. Pinainom ko na ng gamot at nagpapahinga na ngayon. Buti na lang nandito si Mommy para bantayan siya.
We got married.Weeks of preparation happened and finally we become one.It was one of the memorable moments I had. Most of the people I treasure were there to celebrate the special day with me. My mother and my father together with his family attended the wedding. I don't hate my father anymore. I also had forgiven him for what he did to us. I even met her daughter Thalia, she played with my child when they visited us the last time. My friend, Kiana was there too with her husband and child, Cholo Tuwang tuwa si Aiofhe nang makita muli si Cholo. Ang mga kaibigan ni Asher ay nandoon din sa kasal namin. Aiofhe was our flower girl. She looked so wonderful in her dress. The last time she wanted to become a make-up artist now she dreamt of becoming a model.I am happy... more than happy act
"Nahanap mo na?" tanong ni Dwight sa tabi ko. Ibinuga ko ang usok ko sa bibig at itinapon ang sigarilyo sa sahig. I puffed cigarettes every time I was frustrated. Hindi ko na mabilang kung pang-ilan ko na ngayong araw. Umiling ako. "Hindi pa rin." "Don't lose hope. You'll soon find her." Dwight encouraged. Would I still be able to find her? What if it was really her choice to leave me alone? If she was suffering, I wanted to be with her but how could I when she chose to leave me? I didn't want know what to do anymore. Everything just piles up. I couldn't even breathe properly! Mabigat pa rin ang aking dibdib dahil sa mga nangyari. Ang hirap tanggapin ng puso ko na tuluyan ng umalis si Jezrel at iniwan ako. "Tita, just please tell me..." I begged her mother when I came to their house. I even tried to beg the stars and the moon to tell me where the hell
The years I experienced in jail were one of the nightmares in my life.I didn't have any choice but to simply function and figure out way to survive. I had no choice in the first place. This was the consequence of the action I did. And I'm going to pay for it.Most of the time, the pain attacks come in and there was a time that I was hallucinating or even paranoid that Terrence might hunt me down. It was excruciating to the point that I would just sat still and do nothing at all, worse was to even attempt to kill myself.But I fought hard on the demons inside my head. I had to... for my family, for Jezrel."Alam mo bang 'di 'to ang unang krimen ko?"Napatingin ako sa lalaking katabi ko sa selda. We were eight inside. I roughly slept each night because of the environment I was."No'ng menor de edad ako, nilason ko ang tatay," he n
When you're cheated, what should be the first thing to do? To blame yourself over and over again, asking yourself what have gotten wrong? Or to hate those who cheated behind your back? To tell you honestly, I didn't know what to feel. My mind went blank and the first thing that popped out was to get my gun. When Jezrel told me she was pregnant. My body was numb. Asher, my best friend, my brother whom I trusted the most betrayed me. Gusto ko siyang saktan nang saktan! Pinaulanan ko siya ng suntok. Because the fuck, what did I even do to deserve this? Alam ko naman may kasalanan ako. Pero tangina bakit sa lahat ng tao kaibigan ko pa? I kept on punching him. I was livid! Paano nila
Asher and Jezrel were happy with their family. Jezrel was now pregnant with their second child. Saksi ako sa mga napagdaanan nila. The smile on their faces was vivid. They looked so madly in love with each other. I couldn't ask for more.I guess this is how it ends. My first love whom I offered the world before finally settled with someone she chose to keep with for lifetime.Marco and Samara on the other hand, was happy too. I heard from him that Samara was pregnant with their third child. Sobrang sipag ng mokong. Natawa ako sa isipan ko.Johnson also finally got married. Akala nga namin ay walang balak eh. Pa'no 'tong tropa namin kahit dati takot mag-commit. Parang tanga. Nasaktan kasi 'yan dati kaya takot magmahal. But now look at him, he's now building a family with the love of his life and someone who she chose to keep with.Napangiti ako kapag iniisip ang mga pinagdaanan
"How sure are you with me?" She asked when we got home. We were lying on the bed while her arms are wrapped around me."I felt it. Ikaw lang gusto kong makasama, Sandra. Wala na akong ibang maisip na makasama kung hindi ikaw."Napangiti siya nang malawak. "Yieeee, kilig yarn?" pang-aasar ko pa."Edi wow, Dwight. S'yempre sure ka na sa akin. Ako ba naman pakakasalanan mo eh. Malamang sa malamang," pagmamayabang niya pa. Pinisil ko ang kanyang pisngi."Confident, huh?""S'yempre." Ngumisi siya. "I don't regret talking to you that night."Bigla ko rin naalala kung paano kami nagkita nang gabing iyon. When everything was blurry but then she came and gave me the light I was once hindered of. No'ng mga panahon na 'yon halos nabaliw ako sa ginawa ni Jezrel sa akin, pero ngayon makilala ko si Sandra. Worth it lahat nang nangyari. H
We try to work things out kahit may mga pagkakataon na hindi talaga kami nakakapag-usap nang maayos. Tulad ngayon, binabaan niya ako ng telepono. I vented out my frustrations on her which I shouldn't. I would be starting another project and it was killing me. Hindi na lang ako basta manggagawa, my father appointed me as the new president since he retired. And everything was heavy these days. Alam ko namang mali ako sa ginawa ko and I already apologized her. But she was not talking to me. Ito na yata ang pinaka-matagal sa phase ng relasyon namin na hindi kami nakapag-usap.I went to bar for a drink. It has already been days since Asher had been released. Unang hinanap nito ay alak. Baliw talaga 'tong mokong na 'to. Niyaya ko siyang uminom. Good thing, he was available."Nakausap mo na ba?" He inquired holding the glass of whiskey in his hands. Inikot ikot niya pa ito habang pinagmamasdan ang mga tao. He might really have missed the air outside. Lalo na dahil malakas tal
The first two months of not being with each other was so difficult. I wonder how do couples with long distance relationship? Never have I ever thought I would be in this state. My woman was away with me pursuing her dream and I was left alone here.Our communication was okay. It was more than okay. I had difficulty adjusting with her time zone but I was trying hard for her and she also did the same.I've seen her fashion walks online and her name was starting to become quite popular. She was new on that field but she managed to fight all the hurdles on her own. I couldn't be more proud with her.I already took the bath and today was our schedule for video call in Face Time. I was too to reach her but there wasn't response. Nag-message na ako sa kanya pero wala pa rin. This was the hardest being in this situation. You cannot just go to her when you want to. I was also busy with several projects. Inis kong bingasak ang phone ko dahil hindi pa rin siya sumasagot.
One night when we were at her condo. Sandra broke a news that made my heart devastated."I'm going to work abroad," she said.My eyes widened and my muscles tensed. "Why?" I tried to remain calm even though my voice was about to betray me."Napag-isipan ko na 'to matagal na. I want to pursue my modeling career abroad.""Are you sure? Or baka nagmamadali ka lang?""Yes, Dwight. I have to do this. I was scouted for a fashion week in Paris.""What about us?" I asked with my voice broke. "What about me, Sandra?"She cupped my face. "We can still work our relationship naman. We won't lose our connection.""I can't... Sandra... Mababaliw ako 'pag hindi makita."Her eyes brimmed with years. "Dwight naman... Please allow me to go. This is for me. Kaya naman nating gawan ng paraan, e. LDR
Alessandra feels home. Whenever I'm tired from work, I would go straight into her condo and sleep there. Mas madalas na nga akong matulog sa kanila kaysa sa bahay ko. She was no on the kitchen cooking when I went to her. Sa tuwing nakikita ko siya ay palagi akong nakangiti. Maingat na naglakad ako papalapit sa likiran niya. I hugged her and planted little kisses on her neck. "Stop it," she mumbled. The grin on my face did not disappear as I continued giving her sweet kisses on her neck until it reached her earlobe which was her sensitive part. "Ano ba, Dwight, parang tanga." She turned around to face me. Nakuha niya pa akong irapan bago ibinalik ang tingin sa ginagaw
"Do I have another scheduled appointment?" I asked my secretary beside me."None for today, Sir," he replied."That's nice. Sa wakas." I massaged my temple. It's been an exhausting day. My eyes were tightly shut. When was the last time I had a proper rest?Kanina lamang bumisita kami sa site para sa bagong project. Some Engineers were also with me. Bumalik naman kami bago mag-lunch."So, magbabakasyon ka talaga?" Johnson asked me while we were at his pad. Pagkatapos kong mag-trabaho ay dumiretso ako sa kanila. There's nothing to anticipate life these days. It feels like I'm just floating in the air, waiting to die. This feeling sucks. Ang mga kaibigan ko masaya. Si Marco ay may bagong anak. Si Johnson naman ay may pinakilalang babae k
Just when I thought I won't be seeing this woman, I saw her again right in front of my eyes, still surprise of our another encounter. Funny how the destiny was playing with us.She sat down across me. I recalled how we ended up at her condo. We shared about each other's agony that time when we were in a bar drinking. I was grateful for her staying with me the whole time. That was the moment I had someone I shared my burdens with. That was nice, honestly. We were both each other's company. I thought I won't be seeing her again. She was a stranger and still a stranger. She looked frustrated though. Marahil ay dahil nahihiya rin siya sa mga naikuwento niya."I didn't expect this." Pinaypayan niya pa ang sarili. Kumuha siya ng isang basong tubig saka uminom. Ganoon din ako. "Do you like me?" I almost spitted the water on my mouth with how b
When you're cheated, what should be the first thing to do? To blame yourself over and over again, asking yourself what have gotten wrong? Or to hate those who cheated behind your back? To tell you honestly, I didn't know what to feel. My mind went blank and the first thing that popped out was to get my gun. When Jezrel told me she was pregnant. My body was numb. Asher, my best friend, my brother whom I trusted the most betrayed me. Gusto ko siyang saktan nang saktan! Pinaulanan ko siya ng suntok. Because the fuck, what did I even do to deserve this? Alam ko naman may kasalanan ako. Pero tangina bakit sa lahat ng tao kaibigan ko pa? I kept on punching him. I was livid! Paano nila