My heart contorted rigidly when Asher's face flashed my mind. Shit, Jezrel! I shouldn't be thinking about him. Pero, bakit ganito at palagi niyang ino-occupy ang isipan ko?
"Let's talk." Asher walked towards me but I passed him by. Ito na nga ang naisip ko kaya ayaw kong pumasok.
"Ayoko," mariin kong saad. Huminga siya nang malalim.
"We need to talk, Jezrel." His baritone voice was laced with authority.
I faced him properly. "Ano? Ano'ng sasabihin mo?"
"You didn't reply and you didn't come outside." basag ang kanyang boses.
"Ano naman? Saka, p'wede ba, Asher 'wag mo akong pag-tripan."
"Yeah, just forget about it. I was drunk last night. You know, the alcohol and shits, I told you nonsense things."
Sinalubong ko ang tingin niya. Was he just joking, then? Wala lang ang sinabi niya samantalang ako ay halos hi
Sunod sunod ang tawag at mensahe na natanggap ko kay Dwight pero lahat iyon ay hindi ko sinagot. I didn't want to hear any explanation from him. My mind's a mess, too. I don't think I'd be able to understand any reason from him. Whatever it is, that doesn't justify that he stood me up again. Pang-ilang beses na ba ito? Paulit-ulit pero parati kong hinahayaan. Ngayon na sinagad niya na ako, hindi madaling ayusin ito. Hinatid ko si Kiana sa airport. It would be hard for me to get through now that she's not here. May sarili rin siyang problema at ayaw ko ng maka-abala pa. "Hey." Chene looked at me with worry. Napansin niyang wala ako sa wisyo. "Yes, may kailangan ka?" "Kanina pa kita tinatawag. Okay ka lang ba? If you have problem, you know you can open up with me." "Thank you, Chene." I smiled. Niyaya niya ako sa malapit na samgyupsal nang matapos ang
"How's life there?" I asked Kiana when we finally got another chance to talk through the phone."Mahirap. Syempre, pero sinsubukan ko para sa amin ni Cholo. Mahal ko 'yung anak ko higit sa buhay ko. Ganoon yata talaga kapag may anak ka na. Alam mo sabik nga rin ako makita rin ang magiging anak niyo ni Dwight. For sure, they would grow up as fine as you were." I could imagine Kiana smiling from the other line. "Ikaw, kamusta ka?"Sandali akong napatahimik. "I am okay, Ki."I heard her sigh. "Well, I don't think you are. I'm your bestfriend! Ano ka ba? Judging your voice, feeling ko ang lala ng problema mo! Mas problemado ka pa sa aking may anak na!"I don't know what to say. "Ki..." I bit my lower lip. "Hindi ko alam... Parang okay nam
Our engagement spread like a wildfire. There were a lot of messages from my batchmates and people who I barely know. Sa social media maging sa texts. Marami pang nagsasabi nagoalskami.Dwight wanted to let the wedding happen as soon as possible but I was the one who told him to postpone it. That we shouldn't rush it. That we should savor our moments together first. But, honestly I couldn't even understand myself. Magulo. Sobrang gulo. I couldn't put them into words. Our parents were totally against it but we told them it's our decision.Binalikan ko ang planner ko. I want to marry at the age of 28. I guess, hindi siya mangyayari. I am going to marry Dwight at 23. And, for some reasons I am having doubts on this. Not him. Pero, ewan. Hindi ko alam. O baka ako lang may problema.
Was what I felt with Dwight still okay? I couldn't feel the butterflies in stomach anymore. I don't get nervous, too. It's like drinking a warm coffee. It felt like something was missing him. I excused myself to go to the comfort room. After a couple of minutes re-doing my make-up, lumabas na ako. Gusto ko muna sanang magpahangin bago umuwi. Naglakad lang ako ng naglakad. Tapos na ang pag-aayos sa buong lugar. Tahimik na rin dahil halos lahat ng guests ay umuwi na. Dwight might be probably worried right now so I walked towards where he was but I halted when I saw Asher and Naia's back. They were talking about something. I felt the need to listen but that would be rude of me again. Ayaw ko ng maulit 'yung nangyari noon. Nanigas ang
I should be mad. I should be mad at myself. I should be mad at him but for some reason I couldn't. Shit. I'm doomed! Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mukhang mahaharap ko kay Dwight. Nahihiya ako sa kanya... sa sarili ko at sa lahat... I didn't cheat but it felt like I did. Well, maybe. After what I did. Infedility. One word. You've heard it right. You shall not commit infedility. You shall not break a promise to remain faithful to your promise. "Babe, my mother asked me about our wedding. Do you think we can have it on April?" I was playing with the food. The image of Asher and I together in one room was difficult for me to get rid. Dwight and I were here at a restaurant near his work. Gusto niyang bumawi sa akin dahil hindi na naman siya nakasipot. Paulit-ulit na lang. Naiirita ako. Naiinis ako. How could one night... one night of passio
I'm pregnant. The doctor told us a while ago. None of us spoke after the doctor's revelation. Maging ako hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat na reaksyon ko. May bata na sa tiyan ko. That thought made my heart ache. Pinilit kong pakalmahin ang sarili ko. Everything makes sense now. The heaviness of my body, the delay of my menstruation which I thought normal, the uneasiness, the discomfort, the roller coaster of my emotions, at lahat ng iyon ay dahil buntis ako. Nagsalubong ang tingin namin ni Asher. He lowered his head to avoid my gaze. "I'm sorry, Jezrel.." His voice cracked. "I hate you, Asher. I hate you! I hate you so much!" He leaned forward and stopped me from moving hysterically. Ang sama sama ng loob ko! How could that one night ruined me like this? Hindi ko gusto ito! Ikakasal ako kay Dwight. Paano? Oh, God. How could we be so careless?
I woke up as the rays of sunrise touched my skin. There was no trace of Asher when I woke up. I checked over my phone and noticed that there was a message from him.Asher:I woke up early because I had a lot of things to do. I cooked your breakfast.Nag-ayos na ako kaagad dahil kailangan ko pang pumasok. Balak ko ng mapaghinga rin sa trabaho para sa anak ko.Last night's memory was still vivid in my head. My cheeks flushed. But that thought turned to thin air when I remembered how awful I was. I hated my father because of what he did. But look at what I did, too. I betrayed Dwight.I've been lying and convincing to myself that what Asher stirred up inside me were mere nothing but ang
I woke up earlier than the usual. I tied my hair as I walked around the apartment. The weather seemed fine, too. Tiningnan ko 'yung ref saka ang cabinet niya. Plano kong magluto na lang ng fried rice, itlog saka hotdog. Inayos ko na ang paghiwa ng bawang saka nilagay sa kawali. I was busy cooking the egg when I felt a hug behind. "Morning." His bedroom voice welcomed me. He was sucking my neck. "Asher, nagluluto ako," sabi ko pa. Hindi siya nagpatinag bagkus ay mas lalo siyang sumiksik sa leeg ko. "I thought you left me..." Parang bata niyang sabi. Lumingon ako saka hinarap siya. "Why would I do that?" "I'm just afraid, Jez," turan niya. Lumayo siya ng kaunti saka hinaplos ang tiyan. "Good morning, baby." I smiled at what he did. "Are you excited seeing this pretty little thing?" he asked when his gaze went to me.&nbs
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