Pain.
I try to cough off the ache in my throat as I catch my breath yet it still hurts. I sit myself up, coughed and coughed until I felt myself puking. It wasn't vomit, but water. Salty water. I exhale hard through my nostrils when I realise how painful it was there. The same salty water comes out in bits as I try to open my eyes.I saw feet. I lift my head up to see a familiar human figure, squatting, her eyebrows are lifted up and her lips are loose. She seems to be worried. I try to move and suddenly felt something cold. I look down to my body and there I realise that I'm soaked. But I don't hear that much. The noise is loud but also blurry, my eyes burn along with my nose and throat. I can feel my feet and arms shaking, my chest is still pounding and my body is wet. Did I fall? A memory flashes in my head. One scene, a short one. It was dark and windy juHapon na umuwi sila Ethan pabalik Manila dahil sa hangover nila, buti na lang din at private ang sasakyan nilang plane kaya hindi nila kailangan mag alala. Buong gabi, 'yong binigay lang ni Christion sa 'kin ang pinainom n'ya, at hindi pinayagan sila Ethan na bigyan pa ako ng kung ano. Pati rin siya, hindi uminom pero nanatili pa rin kami roon hanggang madaling araw para makipag-kwentuhan.Pero nang inakala ko may makikilala akong isang personality ni Christion, ay nagkamali ako. Masungit siya, lalo na kay Ethan pero tinatawanan lang niya si Christion kapag nagagalit na dahil sa pang-asar niya.He was like a mixture of the Christion that tolerates, which is his personality that he shows me, and the Christion that is strict, which is his personality that people know."O
"Angel! Hi! How are you? Sorry, ngayon lang ako nakapag-call! Okay ka lang ba? Is he--"I sighed, looking down to my laptop before I shut it close. "He's fine. I told you, he isn't that bad.""That bad? So he have done something-- what did he do? Angel? Nasa resort pa rin kayo di ba? May gin--"I let out a laugh. "I am fine, he didn't do anything.""Is he there with you? Angel--""Ciara, I'm fine. Mag-isa ako ngayon, actually. Nasa kwarto," I said and I hear her sigh from the other line.Tingles grow from m
"I don't like him!" I said, stepping out of the room as I shut the door close from behind. He's leaning agaisnt the railings with his arms crossed."You don't… but you still entertained him, it was obvious that he likes you.""So? Why do you care? It doesn't mean we're married in law, I can't talk to other men--""It does. Because it can be considered as cheating." Umayos siya sa pagkatayo."Everything is just arranged--""Kahit na. Do you see me talking to women other than you or Inez?" he asked as I took a step closer."No, but--"
"We can ask them to cancel--""Hey, no." I wipe my face with my palm before I place the card back on the dusty table. "It's just-- it's still tomorrow, right? I'll be alright.""Can you atleast allow Inez to go through your things? We can ask her to get them instead so we can go home na--"I turn to him, causing him to pause. I shake my head as a response, dropping my hand to my side, and pressing my lips together to form a smile. "No need. I better start packing up so we could leave immediately, feel free to leave, you can just pick me up or whatever. Masyadong dusty dito.."He lets out a sigh before turning to my right, I see his eyes wandering around before he takes a step away. "No, I'm staying, but… We n
"Good morning, Love."I plastered a smile on my face as I turned to Tita Amara, sitting at the dining table with the rest of them. Lahat na kami ay dito na natulog, the Luciano's insisted and Lolo Donny along with Don Christopher seemed to begged the younger adults."Maaga kayo today?" Don Christopher asked as me and Christion seated in front of Mr. Luciano. Bahagyang tumango lang ako habang may ngiti sa labi at lumingon kay Christion na seryoso ang mukha."We're going back to her condo to get her remaining stuff, but I have to visit the office quickly to check up on something.""Ah, yes. I heard may meeting magaganap ngayon? Partnership?" Mr. Luciano asked and Christion nodded.
"You went out, I heard?" I entered the car first before him. The coolness from the conditioner immediately greeted me, fighting against the heat from the sun outside that was attached onto my skin. I quickly let out a sigh before resting my back, feeling the tense in my body loosen up. "May nakakita sa 'yo with an employee, pumunta kayo sa vending machines," he continued and my head turned to him. "Yeah, nagpumilit na sanahan daw ako," I replied, his head then turns to me. "Where was Mera then? She was the one who I assigned to take care of you." "She was busy and I am not a toddler. Don't you dare do anything impulsive to her job," I said as my eyebrows narrowed. His forehead creased. "What?" he asked, and I sharpened my gaze. "Oh. That." My eyebrows rose. "What that?" I asked. "Well since you mentioned, I really don't tolerate disobedience in my team--" "Hey! No! What, you're just gonna fire her for that?" I asked, confused. "I insisted on h
"Ma'am, sa'n po 'to ilalagay?"I turned to the guy as I place the box on the floor. "D'yan na lang po, thank you." Umayos ako sa pagkatayo at nagpaalam na sila para umalis kaya't kaagad akong naiwan habang pinapalibutan ng mga kahon.Nilibot ko ang aking mga mata, hindi pa rim makapaniwala na akin 'to. May sarili na akong studio. I sighed with a soft smile on my face before I started unpacking.Ito talaga ang mas gusto ko, magtrabaho ng mag-isa. Walang gulo, at wala na akong iba pang iintindihin pa kung 'di ang trabaho ko. Pero ang sabi ay papapuntahin ni Christion dito si Inez after lunch, at susunod lang daw siya. Wala naman akong magawa at hinayaan siya, hindi ko alam kung papaano pero parang gusto ko rin na nandito siya.
"Ay hala, girl. Parang s'ya nag drive," Inez whispers beside me as a car stopped right in front of the building. Inez keys the lock and I turn around, facing the car before the front passenger's seat window goes down.His figure was slowly revealed, he placed a small smile on his face as our eyes met and the funny feeling once again tingled in my chest. I hear Inez sigh from beside me, catching my attention."Inez, dito ka sa likod," Christion said as we started to walk towards the car. I take a quick glance at Inez before we switch sides, Christion opens the door from inside giving me a surprise. "Sorry, nalate ako. Gutom na ba kayo?"I pressed my lips together and shook my head."Good, kumain na kayo?"
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