He's going to meet my only blood-family.Buong gabi, hindi ako halos makatulog. Ayaw mawala sa isip ko ang mga posibleng mangyari, dala sa masyadong pagkaka-excite, siguro. Maaga akong nagising, at naabutang naliligo na si Tion. Sa kwarto niya na naman ako pinatulog, at parang magiging kwarto ko na rin siguro siya mula ngayon.Pagkagising ay dumeretso ako sa kwarto ko para maligo, at mag-ayos. We finished getting ready for work right on time, with plenty of time to spare for Tion having a chance to cook us lunch. Spam Sushi."What can you not cook?" I ask, and put another sushi in my mouth, causing him to chuckle.Nasa office niya kami, kumakain ng Lunch. Request niya 'to palagi, at magsisinungaling ako kung sasabihin kong ayaw ko 'yon. I like it here, with him. "How is it?" he asks before taking a drink from his water bottle. I swallow my chewed food before parting my lips."Yummy," I said, beaming a smile. "Chef's kiss." Putting my finger ti
I imagined everything. From how it could have possibly happened, to why would they do that. And I asked him, "totoo?"He didn't look at me, and just nodded like it wasn't a big deal. He wasn't scared, and kept a blank emotion in his face. He admitted it straight forward, and didn't even ask for a chance to explain and let me leave.It was like he gave up immediately… A door closes, then a window opens. But a lot of windows opened in my case."Woah!" Shan exclaimed as he hops out of the van, followed by me. "Mommy, I want to swim!"I step on the ground with Shan holding my hand, his attention is focused on the beach in a distance from us as he softly pulls me towards there, showing excitement. "After Daddy Brent's meeting."Nilingon ko ulit ang Van at inabot 'yong bag ko. "Why!" he whines, and I turned to him to see he's already facing me. "No one will look after you," I said, softly, causing him to pout. "How about you!" he groaned, and s
"A-ay, Sir, wala pa pong wedding."I have always told him that I'm still not ready yet, knowing how much he wanted to have his own family. We met in Bataan. Doon ako lumipat no'ng kailangan kong ipakalma ang sarili. Because somehow… even my family's hometown was a lie. I grew up there, Tito said. Lumipat kami nina Lolo nang namatay si Ate, we tried to begin again in Manila.Alala ko pa ang sinabi ni Tito na nakapangilabot sa 'kin, "we would constantly tell you about the truth, but would forget and believe something that isn't true. We gave up and let it be, thinking it would be best for you."Ever since that day, I started remembering more. Until I found myself, one day, knowing all of the answers to my questions before. The hows and whys. [In italic]'"That's what happens if you let greed get into you," Tito said, driving. Hindi ko siya sinagot at hinayaan ang atensyon mapunta sa blanko. I should've shouted at him, I should've confronted him
"Shan!" Brent called, and turned to the right with a huge smile on his face. "Mommy said yes!" Shan gasped, and put his open hand to his mouth before raising both arms in the air. "Yay!" he shouted, and the room was immediately filled with laughter.Bumalik na kaagad sa akin si Brent at inangat pa ang aking kamay tungo sa kaniya bago sinuot doon ang isang sing-sing. DejaVu kicked in, but pretend that it wasn't there.Rings, marriage, and me, a wife. How can simple worlds be this painful?"I love you," he said, almost in a whisper, before he leans closer for a kiss. It was a deep one, and his hand eventually travelled to my waist and pulled my body closer. Lumakas pa any hiyawan, dahilan para pareho kaming mapatawa bago siya dahan-dahang lumayo. I slowly open my eyes and immediately met his gaze."Inuman na!" Tito Luis exclaimed, causing both of us to flinch. We turned to him and started to laugh again.Am I really ready? I asked myself. Was it pres
Weddings, marriage, ceremonies. "Babe, pupunta tayo sa Herra ngayon, ah?" Brent reminded me. Tumango lamang ako habang sinusuot ang T-Shirt ni Shan. "We're meeting Clarisse, our wedding coordinator."Kaka-propose niya lang, at kasal na kaagad. Request iyon ng parents niya, dapat in 6 months ay may kasal na raw kasi hindi rin sila magtatagal dito sa bansa. At wala naman akong magawa, ayaw ko silang biguin."Sama ako, Daddy," Shan suddenly spoke, looking up to Brent to the right as he swung his feet in the air, sitting on the corner of the bed. Brent chuckles. "Hindi pwede 'yan, Baby. You will be with MommyLa, like I told you yesterday, 'di ba?""But I want to go with you and Mommy," Shan replied. Inayos ko na ang damit niya bago lumingon kay Brent. He wears a soft expression on his face, halatang hindi rin alam kung paano sagutin ang bata. "How about this."Lumapit siya sa amin at umupo sa tabi ni Shan. He takes a quic
"I want an annulment."Hindi siya natagalan para makababa, ilang segundo lang ang lumipas bago ko siya nakitang naglalakad na sa hallway, patungo sa 'kin, hawak-hawak ang isang malaking ngiti.Kaagad siyang lumapit sa 'kin, nasa bulsa ang dalawang kamay. Suot-suot ang napaka pormal na damit, gaya lang noon.He snickers, and the left corner of his lips rose. "It's nice to see you again, Love—"I was quick to be brought to reality, and I began to feel my emotions once more. Rage with a hint of broken pride."Do not call me that," madiin kong sabi, "Let's file an—""Why?" he asked, with his forehead creased. "I gave you space thinking that was all you needed, and after what? Six years? Five? 'Yan lang pala gusto mo?"My eyebrows rose, and he let out another snicker before taking a quick glance to the right before returning to me. I chose to ignore his words and focused on the last, I wanted to nod but I didn't. "
"OMG ka, Dai!" I gasp, parting my lips as stretch my hands towards her direction, waving. Kaagad siyang nakalapit sa akin at diretso akong niyakap. "Gago ka! Namiss kita!" she whines, slightly jumping before we pull away. And in a snap, my excitement is immediately replaced by guilt. I press my lips together, forming a sketch line, and let out a sigh. "Sorry."Her forehead forms a crease. "Hoy, ano ka ba!" She softly hit me on the shoulder with her hand. "Alam kong 'di mo 'yon gagawin kung wala kang rason. Kumusta ka na? Si baby?"My smile widens. "Boy, five years old na."Her eyebrows rose, as her lips stretched for a wider smile. "Sabi ko sa 'yo, e," she said before walking to my side, and clung onto my arm. "Ay teka nga, ano ba ginagawa mo rito?"I turn my head to her and meet her gaze once more. "Christion."Kaagad kumunot ang noo niya. "Huh? Friends kayo? Akala ko may dramang naganap?"A chuckle
"Come here, kiss Daddy Brent."Shan ignores him and focused his eyes on his iPad with his eyebrows together, and a pout on his lips. Sabay kaming napatingin ni Brent sa isa't-isa bago mahinang napatawa."Daddy will come home naman kaagad," I said, shifting my eyes back down to him before putting my hand on the top of his head. "Say ba-bye na—""No!" Shan exclaimed, whining. I lean closer to him to see his eyes beginning to water. I held up a frown and softly held onto his cheeks, turning his head to me.Hindi siya nagmatigas ngunit ang mga mata ay hindi pa rin nilalayo sa iPad. "Sige na. Daddy's airplane is almost leaving, oh.""If you don't kiss me goodbye I won't bring any toys," Brent said, leaning his head closer inside through the open window, but Shan still ignores him. "Ah, sige, Mommy na lang—"Shan whined, kicking his feet to the corners of the chair, dahilan para mapatawa muli kaming dalawa. "Ano? You kiss me
Kaagad niyang ginawa ang hiling ko. Nakaharap sa sa gilid ng sasakyan na nasa tabi ng akin, nakahawak sa kaniyang cellphone malapit sa kaniyang tenga. Ngunit hindi siya nagsasalita.He pulls his phone away and faces the screen, he types in and puts it back close to his ear. But nothing changed.He took a quick glance at me and looked down to his phone. Tion let out a sigh and turned to me, walking towards me, holding the same pitiful expression on his face."He won't answer," he said. "Do you want to go inside the car na? Pa-aircon ka muna, I'll try to call him again."I sighed, and shook my head. "I'll go na lang." I stretched my hand to him, and his eyes immediately dropped down to it as his eyebrows rose. "Phone ko—"He looks up to me. "You're definitely not going alone. Can anyone else go with you?"Another soft sigh escapes my lips. "Ciara needs me now, please."He nodded, and placed my phone in my hand. "Can I atleast call Inez—"I shake my head. "She's probably busy, I don't wa
"Aimee, paki kuha kay Dad para kakain na tayo."Kaagad tumango si Aimee at nilagpasan ako patungo sa itaas habang kakarating ko lang sa ibaba. Inayos ni Tita ang mga unan sa couch habang nandoon si Shan, nakahiga at parang natutulog habang hawak-hawak ang remote na nasa ibabaw ng t'yan. May kalakasan ang volume mula sa TV na parang nanonood na naman ng cartoons.As Tita Amara turns around, our eyes immediately met. Her smile widens bago siya muling humarap sa bata at inayos ang paghiga nito. "Alam mo bang napaka-aga nito lumabas ng kwarto niyo? Nagising ako 6AM at ganoon din siya." She placed a pillow on his head before turning back to me. "Kaya ayon, he helped me water the plants, and at nagwalis pa nga siya ng mga leaves sa labas."My eyebrows rose and a chuckle escapes my lips. "No wonder tulog."She nodded, walking towards the kitchen. "Napagod siguro. May lakad ka ngayon?"Tumango ako at sumunod sa kaniya patungo sa kusina. "Pupunta lang ako ng banko at konting grocery na rin,
"Shan! Your toys dito, oh!" I shouted, picking up the charger cables on the floor beside a small pile of legos spread at the corner. I neatly rolled the cables before opening the bedside drawer to find it filled with papers and other sorts of things.A sigh escaped my lips as I sit down the corner of the bed. Isa-isa kong kinuha ang mga gamit sa loob ng drawer na halatang hindi maayos ang paglagay. Napatigil ako saglit nang makakita ako ng isang notebook na itim.It has a leather cover and the pages seems to be thick. Umusog pa ako ng konti para may malagyan sa ibang gamit habang nilagay ang notebook sa ibabaw ng drawer at nagpatuloy sa pagkuha ng gamit mula sa loob.Maayos ko itong binalik hanggang matapos ako na may marami pang space na natira. I put the cables inside as well before standing up from the bed, and my eyes immediately caught the notebook once more.Kwarto namin 'to noon pa lang, paminsan-minsan kaming natutulog dito ni Ate kapag may nga events na nagagabihan na kami.
"But, Mommy!"I turned to the gear before shfiting it to park. I take a quick glance at Shan, and he looked at ne with his teary puppy eyes. I kept a serious expression on my face, looking at him directly in the eyes.He stopped for a moment and turned his head to the wind sheild as he began whining again, kicking his feet in the air. "Lowbat!""I'm not gonna repeat myself, again. We will charge your iPad when we get home—" I paused as he groaned, slouching on the seat. "Shan.""I want my iPad—""Why? iPad lang 'yon, it's not like that iPad is your whole world. Don't you want to go to the mall? Nandito na tayo," I said, trying my best to stay calm. "Do you want us to go home na?"He whined again, causing me to swallow."Do you want us to go home na?" I asked, repeating myself and he shook his head. My eyebrows rose. "Sige, you choose: uuwi tayo so that you could play on your iPad or gagala tayo with your Tito?"Hindi siya sumagot. He placed his arms on top of his chest as he drew circ
"What do you want, Love?"Shan looks up to me before shifting his eyes to the counter. "Chicken and friend and ice cream."My eyebrows rose as I nodded my head, I looked back at the cashier, meeting her eyes. "Chicken na lang po with medium fries, and sundae."She nodded her head and shifted her eyes to the computer. "Is that all, Ma'am?" she asked, and I nodded. "So basically, two chicken meals, two iced teas, one sundae, and two medium fries?"I press my lips together and nodded. Hindi kami nagtagal sa counter at kaagad na kaming umalis at naghanap ng mauupuan habang dala-dala ko ang tray namin.We stopped right in front of an available four seater table and placed the tray on the table as Shan immediately sat down. Nilapag niya ang kaniyang iPad sa lamesa bago kinuha ang kaniyang plato mula sa tray sabay ng ice cream cup.Umupo ako sa harap niya at kinuha na ang iPad niya para ilagay sa bag. Kinuha ko lahat ng order namin at nilagay sa gilid ang tray bago kami nag simulang kumain.
"Wow! Who is this?"A woman asked with a huge smile on her face. I look up to Tion to see his smile widen. "Ah, this E— Angel."She looks like she's in her 40's, yet looks very glamorous. She wears a simple casual dress, which suits her very well. Her brunette hair is softly curled, while her make up is only light. Her eyebrows and her eyes shifted to me. "Nice to meet you, Angel. I'm Evelyn," she said, "Well, I have to meet the others pa so enjoy kayo, ah?"Kaagad tumango si Christion at umalis na si Evelyn, I felt Christion's hands softly dig through my back, giving me a hint that we should go on. We walk around the bar, searching for seats, and suddenly, he leans closer to me as we reached the counter. "Birthday ng kaibigan namin ni Ethan, kakauwi lang galing Dubai."My lips parted as I nodded my head. "Required ba talaga may partner?" I asked as we sat on the tall chair together, he let out a chuckle, causing my stomach to flutter."For me? Yes," he said and called a bartender.
Paggising ko ay nakita kong gising na si Shan, nakadilat ang mga mata habang diretso sa 'kin ang tingin. He lays down on his side with Brent behind him, still asleep.I turned around and reached for a my phone, at nang pagbukas ko no'n ay 8AM na. Ilang saglit pa akong nanatili sa kama bago tumayo na, at sumunod naman sa 'kin si Shan. Pagbaba namin ay dumeretso siya sa couch at doon humiga habang nasa kabilang couch si Niana, tulog pa rin.Nagpatuloy ako patungo sa kusina at naginit kaagad ng tubig, at nang marinig ako ni Shan ay tinawag niya ako. "Milo!"Hindi ko na siya sinagot at binuksan ang cupboard para kumuha ng Milo. Hindi naman nagtagal at nagising na rin si Niana nang nagsimula na akong magluto ng ulam, maybe because of the sizzling sound of the egg when it landed on the hot oil. "Shan, toothbrush na," Niana said, standing in front of Shan, yawning. The kid groaned, not wanting to move, causing Niana to have to bribe him until they began walking to the bathroom as I began
"It would be better if you stare at me, looking less angry, you know?"I narrow my eyebrows and rolled my eyes. I wander my gaze around the room before looking down to my phone. Masyadong maaga kami ngayon, dapat pa namin maghintay ng iba pa.He sighed. "Tell me what you want."Hindi ko siya pinansin at pumunta sa isang social media platform bago nagsimulang mag scroll."I know that you won't go and look at me like that without having something in mind. I know you, Ella," dagdag pa niya, at kaagad akong nangilabot.Kanina nang nagkita kami sa loob ng building, nakatayo siya sa entrance habang diretsong nasa akin ang kaniyang mga mata. Nang makalapit ako ay hindi siya kumibo, tumayo lang siya doon hanggang nilagpasan ko siya at doon naramdaman na sinusundan niya ako. Sabay kaming pumasok sa elevator pero hindi pa rin kami nagsalita. The elevator was packed at magkatabi kami, nakadikit ang mga damit namin. My heart was racing."If this is about Shan—"Inangat ko ang ulo ko, dahilan par
"Kukuha rin po kayo ng eco-bag, Ma'am?"Inangat ko ang ulo sa cashier at umiling. "Ah, ito po." I turned to my cart, to my bag at kinuha 'yong mga tote bag na dinala namin. I place the bags on the counter at kaagad naman kinuha ng nagba-baggage. "Eight thousand seven hundred po lang lahat, may perks card po kayo?" the cashier asked, and I nodded. Binigay ko na ang card kasabay ng pera bago nagpatuloy palabas ng cashier at nagsimula na ang lalaki sa paglalagay ng mga pinamili namin.Pagkatapos kong mag check out ay kaagad kong hinarap si Brent na nakatayo sa waiting area. He immediately understood my gaze and walked towards me to take the cart before we started walking out."Sa'n tayo next?" I asked, keeping up with his pace. Brent looked down to me and shrugged his shoulders."Anong oras na ba?" he asked, and lifted his wrist, facing his watch to him. "Gagi, ten pa? Gusto mong kumain?"I nodded. "Sige. Drive thru tayo?" "May nakita akong post no'ng nakaraan, bagong restaurant daw di