Contentment “Sweetheart, you’re engaged, soon to be married, but you’re openly flirting with another man?” pinasadahan ni Dean ng tingin ang singsing sa daliri ko. Pabiro siyang umiling at malungkot na sinabi, “I’m disappointed in you, you’re a very naughty girl.” Hinampas ko siya ng menu na hawak sa inis ko. Hindi matigil si Adrian at Caleb sa kakatawa na maya-maya ay sinundan niya na rin. People were looking at us, eyeing us curiously, because the three men that I’m with were laughing loudly and obnoxiously without even trying to hide it. “Will you shut your mouth?” iritadong baling ko sa kanya. It’s Saturday and we’re currently at Rico’s restaurant, about to have lunch. Adrian had invited us here because he said that he had something interesting to share with us. Hindi ko naman alam na involved pala ako sa something na ‘yon. That ‘something’ was the very reason why they were mocking me right now. Because our dear client, Mr. Quijano, has openly told Adrian that he likes me af
Touch “Can you at least tell me what’s on your mind, love?” Bumaling ako sa kanya pero hindi ako sumagot. Nandito na kami ngayon sa parking lot ng condo ko. My parents had tried to convince us to stay together for the night. They thought that it would be a perfect chance to open up to each other, but I insisted that I had too much work left to do, kaya hindi na sila namilit. If only they knew. The whole ride had been filled with silence at ngayon lang siya nagsalita nang makarating kami. It seemed like I wasn’t the only one with a whirlwind of thoughts inside my head. He had said before that he was determined to go through with this wedding, but his troubled expression right now suggested otherwise. I let my eyes linger on him for a moment as my thoughts drifted. It pains me to think that all of this was once my dream. I used to dream of marrying him someday. At ngayong andito na kami, why does it feel like my heart is being torn into pieces? Seven years ago, I would have yearned
SystemLimang wedding gown na ang nasusukat ko ngunit wala pa rin akong mapili. Its not because I didn’t like the designs recommended. Actually, ang iba nga ay nag surpass pa sa expectation ko. Hindi ako makapili all because of the fact that I couldn’t stop my mind from replaying what happened inside the fitting room. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala.Did I just let him touch me? Shit!But it’s okay, right? After all, we’re going to get married. Wala namang masama roon. Normal lang naman ang physical contact sa mga mag-asawa, right? It just felt awkward because of course, we had a past. Kaya gano’n. But technically, we’re not doing something wrong, right?Yes, it’s okay… it’s fine… pero bakit hindi ko makumbinsi nang tuluyan ang sarili ko? I felt like a teenager with a raging hormones caught doing something very inappropriate.Wala na rito si Aril because he said that he had to step out for an emergency. Hindi ko naman alam kung anong klaseng emergency iyong tinutukoy niya dahil linggo n
CallIsang classy Italian restaurant ang napili niya malapit sa boutique na pinanggalingan namin. Hindi ko maiwasang igala ang mga mata ko dahil sa romantic ambience ng lugar. Puno ng red roses ang bawat design, maging sa mga crystal vases sa lamesa. At kahit tanghali pa, may mga maliliit din na kandilang nasa baso ang nakabukas. Halos pa lahat ng kumakain doon ay couple talaga. Napanguso ako sa pag-iisip kung bakit dito niya pa napili. We could eat somewhere simpler. I won’t mind kahit sa fast food or what. Hindi naman ako mag rireklamo at lalong hindi naman ako mapili.“Thanks,” tipid na pasasalamat ko when he pulled a chair for me. Still with his old moves, huh?Ngumiti lang siya sa akin at umupo na rin.“I recommend their seared scallop ravioli for pasta,” sabi niya habang tinitingnan ang menu.Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. So… he’s frequent here? Hindi naman siya mag ri-recommend kung hindi, ‘di ba? I didn’t like the thought that’s slowly forming in my head. E, ano naman kung l
Client Buti na lang, naging abala ako sa buong linggo na ‘yon dahil sa mga ongoing projects sa firm. Paminsan minsan ay tumatawag si mommy para ibalita sa akin ang mga preparation na ginagawa nila. She tries her best to complement everything to my liking pero dahil sa nangyari noong nakaraang linggo ay nawalan ako ng gana makisali sa pagpaplano. I kinda feel bad because she seems to notice my lack of enthusiasm whenever we talk about it pero wala siyang sinasabi. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa simpatya o awa sa sitwasyon ko kung kaya't hinahayaan niya 'ko at hindi na masiyadong kinukulit pa. As much as I don’t like to dwell too much on what I saw, may iilang pagkakataon na nahuhuli ko ang sariling napapatulala dahil doon. It's not healthy. Kaya pilit kong ibinabaling sa trabaho ang atensyon ko. Speaking of preparations, sa Batangas daw gaganapin ang kasal at beach wedding ang theme. Nakahanda na rin ang mga invitations. Mayroon daw mga kilalang pangalan ang dadalo kaya dapat haban
ColdInirapan ko siya para maitago ang kabang nararamdaman ko."No. Nagkataon lang, because Adrian is out of town and it's his client, kaya ako muna ang kumausap. Now that I answered your question, can you please tell me what are you doing here? Don't tell me because I didn't answer your call? Oh, please."Umiling iling ako dahil hindi ako naniniwalang iyon talaga ang rason niya. Surely, there must be something logical, right?Hindi naman siya mag aabala pang pumunta dito dahil lang hindi ko sinagot ang tawag niya? 'Coz that's freaking absurd! I'm with a client. Kahit na sabihin pang tanghali iyon and lunch time, hindi sa lahat ng oras ay masasagot ko ang mga tawag niya.Napaupo ako sa swivel chair ko at bumaling sa monitor. Pagkaraan ay taka ko siyang tiningnan dahil nakatayo pa rin siya sa harapan ko.Gusto ko siyang paupuin pero hindi rin ako kumportableng dalawa lang kami rito.Hindi pa rin siya nagsalita kung kaya't napabuntong hininga ako. This is making me frustrated! Seriously
Act Nakataas ang kilay ni Caleb habang palipat lipat ang tingin nito sa aming dalawa ni Aril. Nakaupo na kami ngayon sa conference room habang naghihintay sa iba pang mga dadating. Nasa harapan namin si Caleb, habang magkatabi naman kami ni Aril. And because it's still early, kaming tatlo lang ang naroon. I couldn't bring myself to meet Caleb's gaze dahil pakiramdam ko ay mas malalaman niya ang kung anong kababalaghan ang nangyari sa loob ng opisina ko kanina. Alam kong naghihinala na siya dahil ni hindi ko man lang siya pinapasok doon at agad na inaya sa conference room nang makalabas. "Will you stop it? You are making her uncomfortable," iritadong sambit ni Aril sa pinsan. Lalong nagsalubong ang kilay ni Caleb dahil sa sinabi nito. "I'm not interested in whatever you have to say," matalim na sagot ni Caleb at mariin itong tinitigan. Halos mapasinghap ako nang biglang lumipat ang tingin niya sa akin. "And why would you be uncomfortable, Kierra Adelaide?" Napapikit ako ng mar
Universes"Happy birthday," bulong ko sa kan'ya habang inaabot ang isang itim na box. Kinagat ko ang labi ko nang kumalas siya sa yakap para makita iyon."What's this?" nakangiti niya iyong inabot."My gift." Pinanood ko siyang buksan 'yon. I carefully watched his reaction.His eyes softened nang makita ang laman ng kahon."I have the same one but it's a bracelet," sambit ko at inangat ang kanang kamay para ipakita sa kan'ya.Inangat niya ang kwintas at marahang hinaplos ang pendant gamit ang hintuturo."Why would you give me this?"Niyakap ko siya ulit bago ako sumagot."Well, it's your birthday and I want to be the first one to greet you and give you a gift kahit bukas pa talaga.""You know you don't have to give me anything, right? You're more than enough, love. I couldn't ask for more as long as you're with me," bulong niya at hinalikan ang tuktok ng ulo ko.I smiled kahit nakasalampak ang mukha ko sa dibdib niya at hindi nakikita ang reaksyon ko sa kasalukuyan.I really love it wh