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THIRTY-NINE
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Guilty Pleasures FORTY
NIKKI'S POV"Mag-iingat ka roon, ha. Don't forget to call us often," bilin ni Ate.We were standing outside the airport, an hour before I board my plane. Kasama namin si Daddy, Camille at ang kambal. Ngumiti ako sa kanya at tumango."Of course, Ate. Tatawag ako parati sa inyo. Mami-miss ko kayong lahat," naluluha kong sagot.I gripped my luggage tightly, trying to draw strength from it. Sa pag-alis kong ito ay mabigat ang dibdib ko. Iiwan ko sa lugar na ito ang lahat ng sakit at sama ng loob na nararamdaman ko. Iiwan ko sa lugar na ito ang puso ko at ang taong mahal ko."Girl ha, one chat away lang ako. Kapag inatake ka ng homesickness, don't hesitate to give me a call ha. Kahit nasa trabaho ako, sasagutin ko talaga ang tawag mo. Hindi naman ako pagagalitan ng boss ko, 'di ba Tito?" malokong sambit ni Camille.We all shared a laugh because of her remarks. That's what I really love about her. She could turn every serious moment into funny ones. Isa ito sa mga ba
Guilty Pleasures FORTY-ONE
NIKKI'S POVI woke up to the loud ringing of my phone. Pupungas-pungas akong nagmulat ng mga mata ko at sandali pang napatulala nang na-realize ko na wala ako sa kwarto ko. It took me several minutes before realizing that I'm in Paris!Hinanap ko ang cellphone ko na kanina pa tumutunog. I smiled when I saw Ate's name on the screen."Ano ba, ate? Isang araw pa nga lang akong naka-alis, miss mo na agad ako?" I joked as I answered her video call."Tita Mommy! Where are you?" sigaw ng kambal habang nag-aagawan sa cellphone ni Ate."Nandito ako ngayon sa Paris. See that? That's the Eiffel Tower," saad ko sabay turo sa Eiffel Tower na malapit lang sa Hotel na tinutuluyan ko."Wow! I want to go there too, Tita Mommy!" namamanghang saad ni Thea."Sa susunod, I will bring you here," tugon ko.Naiiling na lang ako nang makita ko silang patalon-talon pa."How are you? Nakapaglibot ka na ba riyan?" sabik na tanong ni Ate."Ate, kagigising ko lang. It's only sev
Guilty Pleasures FORTY-TWO
GALE'S POV"Any news about her?" I asked the man who was sitting in front of my desk.The middle-aged man held his cap, and removed it. He looked at me with a sad face and shook his head. Pang-limang private detective na siya na ni-hire ko para mahanap si Dominique."Still no lead on her, Sir. It's like she's gone without a trace," naguguluhan nitong tugon.Kumunot ang noo ko. Paanong bigla na lang mawawala ang isang tao? Not unless someone messes up with her records."It's okay. You did great. By the way, this is your payment. Tatawag na lang ulit ako," I said and handed him an envelope containing the amount of money we agreed."Thank you, Sir," aniya, saka siya tumayo upang lumabas ng opisina ko.The moment he closed the door, I heaved a deep sigh. Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko at tinitigan nang matagal ang mukha ni Dominique. I touched the screen of my phone, wishing it was her face that I was actually touching. Pinahid ko ang butil ng luha na kumawala sa mg
Guilty Pleasures FORTY-THREE
GALE'S POV"Are you out of your freaking mind? Why are cancelling the wedding? Everything's already been prepared! Gale, ilang beses nang na-postpone ang kasal niyo ni Ara dahil sa mga excuses mo, I can't let you back down anymore!" Mom shouted in my face.Nandito ako ngayon sa mansion para makiusap sa kanila na huwag ituloy ang kasal. "Ano na lang ang sasabihin ng mga kumpadre namin ng Daddy mo? Na hindi kami marunong tumupad sa usapan? Ano na lang ang sasabihin ng Ninong at Ninang mo? They're counting on us, Gale! We've planned this wedding a long time ago!" dagdag pa niya. Hindi ko kayang pakasalan si Adhara dahil hindi siya ang mahal ko. Kung may babae man akong ihaharap sa altar, si Dominique lang iyon.I felt my body shaking in suppressed anger. I never wanted to be part of this plan! Kung ang tinutukoy niya ay ang noon pang panahon na kami pa ni Adhara, then that's bullshit! Matagal nang natapos ang kabanatang iyon ng buhay namin."Kayo lang ang may gusto
Guilty Pleasures FORTY-FOUR
NIKKI'S POV"Thank you, Pierre!"I tiptoed and kissed him on the cheeks. Tuwang-tuwa ako dahil sinamahan niya ako para sa limang araw kong bakasyon sa Scotland. The place was one of my dream destination, and I'm beyond thankful to Pierre for going with me there.Sa loob ng isang taon na pamamalagi ko sa France, natutuhan ko na rin ang kanilang mga kultura at pamumuhay. Noong una ay aminado akong nahirapan ako na mag-adjust, lalo na ang magtiwala sa mga taong nakikilala ko, pero kalaunan ay unti-unti ko ring natutuhan iyon.Pierre had been my guide. True to his word, he never took advantage of me. Naging mabuti siyang kaibigan sa akin, kahit pa alam naming dalawa na higit pa roon ang pagtingin niya sa akin.I met a lot of people who showed interest in me, pero dahil hirap akong magtiwala, I ended up pushing them away."You're always welcome, Dee," he replied with a grin.Napangiti rin ako sa tinuran niya."I'll get going now, see you at the café," paalam k
Guilty Pleasures FORTY-FIVE
NIKKI'S POVFor a moment, I found it hard to speak. Everything that happened a year ago, came back rushing into my mind. All the pain, the betrayal, it all came back. Pakiramdam ko, muling umahon ang sakit sa puso ko. I was wrong when I said I'm already okay, because seeing Gale today brought back a lot of unwanted feelings that I tried to forget.Kusang tumulo ang luha ko. Noon, iniisip ko kung ano'ng mararamdaman ko kapag nagkita kaming muli, pero ngayong nasa harapan ko na siya, tahimik kong hinihiling na sana ay wala siya rito. Masakit pa rin pala. Akala ko, naghilom na ako, hindi pa pala.Gale started walking towards me, while I stayed standing. Parang bigla akong nawalan ng lakas, hindi ko magawang igalaw ang mga paa ko para umatras. Hindi ko magawang umalis sa kinatatayuan ko, para bang napako na lang ako roon."Love... Am I too late?" He asked, breaking me from my trance.I gasped. Why is he calling me love? Hindi ba't kasal na sila ni Adhara?"Please,
Guilty Pleasures FORTY-SIX
NIKKI'S POVI could feel the tension building between Gale and Pierre as they exchanged dangerous looks with each other. Pierre was holding my right hand, while Gale has the other one. Hindi ko alam kung ano'ng mararamdaman ko, habang nakikita ko silang nagtatagisan ng tingin. At siguro nga, kung nakamamatay lang ang tingin ay kanina pa silang nakabulagta."Who are you?" It was Pierre who broke the awkward silence."I'm her boyfriend," Gale answered confidently, making me glance at him.Sa halip na sumagot ay isang mahinang tawa ang pinakawalan ni Pierre. Umiling-iling pa ito na para bang isang kahibangan ang sinabi ni Gale."You must be kidding. Dee said she has no boyfriend," he answered smugly.I felt Gale tensed, and his grip tightened a little bit. He gritted his teeth, and looked at Pierre's hand that was still holding me. Agad akong natauhan dahil doon.Marahas kong hinila ang kamay ko mula sa kanilang dalawa at pinandilatan sila ng mga mata."Stop
Guilty Pleasures FORTY-SEVEN
NIKKI'S POV"You're late."I turned around, only to find Pierre standing behind my back with his eyebrows raised. He looked at me intently, as if he was trying to read my mind. I let out a deep sigh."I'm sorry. I just did something important," I replied."I see. And that something important is eating breakfast with a guy?" He asked.Napasinghap ako, hindi ko inaasahan na marinig iyon sa kanya. Nagtatanong ang mga matang nagbaling ako ng paningin sa kanya. Did he saw us?"I saw you two. I'm confused, you told me you're single," he stated, as if he read my mind.I immediately recognized the pain that laced his voice. I held his hand and pulled him inside my office to talk to him."Pierre, I wasn't lying when I told you that I don't have a boyfriend. But I also told you, I'm not ready for another romantic commitment. That guy, he was the reason why I left. He was the reason why I came here, why I needed to heal..." I explained.Hindi naman lingid sa kany
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