AKING SULATAN,
Sa pangatlong pagkakataon, nagkita muli kami ng babaeng hindi ko inaasahang mas malayo pa sa nakilala ko sa isla... kakaiba ang pagkakapintura sa kanya ng mga tao sa paligid niya, madilim ang paglalarawan at hindi kaaya-aya.
Bumukas ang matayog na tarangkahan ng Sande University. Anim na magarang kotse ang naglilinyahang dumadaan sa driveway.
Dumating kami nang may tig-isang kotse. Pulos itim ngunit iba-iba ang tatak. Ang dalawa ay kabayo at ang apat ay gintong toro. This is not just a gift from our parents, but we spent our twelfth grade productively. Let's say we got our sports cars from working hard.
Pinindot ko ang preno saka isa-isang tumigil ang mga kotseng nakasunod sa akin. Pumar
Hello, Shupi Siblings! First off, I wanted to express my sincere and profound gratitude for all the unparalleled support you've been giving me. In any way, I expected this story would turn out great. But my guess wouldn't be right without your compliments, suggestions, and constructive criticisms. Please note that I'm willing to learn and accept my mistakes through the process, so help me out as we go forward to this journey. May I just remind you that you are the most wonderful creature God has ever created. If you think you're worthless, then think again. You are my gem. You are valuable. You complete more than I complete your day. You can read every chapter for free through earning rewards. But to keep me going, please also try buying this book. Thank you and keep safe. Love, Gianna
NALULUNGKOT ang mga paru-paru! Parang may nagtutulak sa aking pumunta roon at hilain siya palayo sa malupit na teacher. Ibang usapin naman yata ang pananakit sa estudyante! Anong klaseng paaralan ang pinasok ko? Isang fraternity school yata ang nalipatan ko! Baka sa susunod, ako na ang hampasin ng paddle! "Bakit nila hinahayaan na saktan ng isang teacher ang isang student?" I asked. Kinalabit ko si Clavis na patulog na sa armchair. Alam ko naman na may punishment si Dalshanta mula sa Dean. Puwede namang tanggapin na lang ng teacher ang slip. O puwede ring maglinis na lang siya ng banyo. Community service, ganoon. Bakit hampas pa? Brutalan naman dito! Hindi pa ako handang mabugbog!
NAPANSIN KONG tumigil si Shanta sa paglalakad. Ginulo ko agad ang buhok ko at tumakbo sa upuan ko. Nakapamulsang sumandal ako sa armchair. Dahan-dahan ko siyang tiningnan habang nakayuko ang ulo. Kunwari mysterious tapos malilito siya sa akin. Magpaparamdam ako kapag nalimot na niya ako. Kokomprontahin niya ako tapos kikilalanin niya ako at mahuhulog kami sa isa't isa. "I didn't expect we'll meet again. Dalshanta pala ang pangalan mo..." simula ko at kaunting hinawi ang buhok ko sa gilid. Tumayo ako at malalaki ang mga hakbang na pinalibutan siya. Kumaway ako. "Hi! Ikaw 'yong babae sa isla, 'di ba? At 'yong nakabanggaan ko?" I asked. Nakita kong natigil siya at tinitigan ako. Ayan! Nag-iimprove siya, in fairnes
TUMAMBAY KAMING ANIM sa caferia noong lunch break na. Sumapit ang panibagong Lunes na tinambakan kami ng bundok-bundok na mga gawain. Mamaya ko na lang bibigyan ng label ang mga gawa ko dahil sa susunod na linggo naman ipapasa 'yon. Nagpanik lang talaga ako nang walang ginagawa noong Sabado. Pero ngayon, medyo hayahay na ang buhay ko."Nakalaro ko sa table tennis kanina 'yong kaklase niyo," pagchichika ni Katlego habang umiinom ng energy drink. "Batak 'yon! Magaling magdrive pero mayabang!""Na-olats ka lang, e..." asar ni Jira at nagtawanan sila ni Lachlan. "Ang mas malala... kay Dalshanta ka pa natambakan. Baka natakot ka sa babaeng 'yon?""Ba't ako matatakot?" Lego grimaced. Sobra din ang bilib niya para sa sarili. All of a sudden, he swung his arms like hitting a shuttle
"OH, MY GOD! What's this?!" May kung inagaw si Elmary sa isang lalaking nakasalamin. "A love letter?!" She exclaimed. "Super nakaraanan ka naman! What are you? Our lolo?" "Ibalik niyo na sa 'kin 'yan!" sigaw ng kawawang lalaki ngunit itinakbo ng ibang babae 'yong sulat niya. "Ngek, ngek mo! Habulin mo muna!" She teased. Umakyat ang isang kaibigan nila sa lamesa habang nakataas ang braso at hawak 'yong pink love letter. Kumembot ang bully sa itaas at fineflex 'yon. Walang ginawa ang ibang estudyante kundi ang tumawa sa pangyayari. Wala silang awa! "Akina 'yan! Please!" Pagmamakaawa ng payatot na lalaki at sinusubukang abutin ang sulat. Hinanap ng m
SABAY KAMING bumalik sa klase at halos lahat ay nagtataka kung bakit kami magkasama. They were whispering as we passed by them. May kahulugan din ang tingin nina Clavis at Jirario, pero inirapan ko lang sila. Issue sila. Tinanong din ako ni Alleva kung saan kami nanggaling pero hindi ko siya sinagot. May obligasyon ba akong ipaalam sa kanya? Close ba kami? Feeling siya. Samantala, inubos ng teacher ang oras sa discussion. Minsan, sumisilip ako kay Shanta pero nakadungaw lang siya sa bintana. Napapansin kong parati siyang nakatingin doon. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang sinisilip niya. Driveway at waiting shed lang naman para sa mga estudyante ang nasa ibaba. May inaabangan ba siya? Gusto ba niyang abangan ko 'yon mamaya? Noong uwian, umalis na ang mga kaklase ko pero naiwan kaming tatlo dahil sa paghihintay kay Jirario sa pag-aayos ng
PAPAHIGA NA AKO sa kama para matulog nang biglang nagnotif nang sunod-sunod ang cellphone ko. Hinila ko ang lubid sa lamp para lumiwanag nang kaunti ang kuwarto. Pinatay ko ang ilaw para makapagpahinga na ako pero ayaw talagang humupa ng ingay. Inabot ko sa gilid ng kama ang cellphone saka pinindot ang text messages. Gabing-gabi na. Wala bang patawad ang taong ito? Tao ako, hindi aswang. Ngunit nang mabasa ko ang pangalan ng nagmensahe ay napabangon ako kaagyat mula sa kama. Kinuha ko ang paborito kong unan at inipit 'yon sa dibdib ko. Sa sobrang kaba, napangatngat ako ng kuko ko. Shanta Crushie: yowzie..... wassup, Lombuddy??? Napangiwi ako sa paraan ng pagtetext
HINDI KO MAISARA ang bibig ko dahil sa sobrang pagkabigla. Her eyeliners give me the creeps. She has these spooky eyes that no one would dare stare at. Para siyang black lady sa suot niyang itim na casual shirt and, probably, paired with black jeans. Usual outfit na niya ‘yan. Nagmumukha siyang gangster araw-araw! Akala mo ay sasabak parati sa gulo! And guess what I’m feeling right now. I feel nauseated from the endless poking of these flirting butterflies inside me! Hindi inaalis ni Shanta ang titig niya sa akin. I have no clue what she’s thinking. Her face is expressionless. Walang kakulay-kulay ang mundo niya! She’s stuck in a room filled with dark and gray colors. Pero kahit gano’n, her existence ruins my palette of colors. Everyday is painted with her vibrance. As to her saying that she’s tainted with the color of evil
“THAT'S WHERE your classroom is located, right?” Humarap ako kay Euart at tumango siya. Nagkakagulo roon sa kabilang building at mabilis iyon na nakakaagaw ng atensyon. “Maybe, there’s a fight? I don’t know…” He shrugged. “Umagang-umaga ay may gulo? What’s the matter with this school?” I heaved a sigh of disgrace and annoyance. And because we can’t live a day without gossip, naki-ososyo kami. Lego and Lach led the way. Halos mapunit ang kanilang mga labi sa sobrang tuwa. Isa na namang araw na may awayan at kaguluhan. At buhay na buhay ang dugo nila roon. Pati ako. Hehe. “Excuse me, pwede pong umusog kayo?” pakiusap ng isang beking katangkad lang namin.
BADTRIP. Nababadtrip ako kay Avancea. Bakit hindi na lang siya lumayas sa mamanahin kong mansyon? Bakit kailangan pa niyang makipag siksikan sa pamilya namin? Bakit napaka s****p niya simula bata pa kami? Our family would have been better, stronger, if she and her leech mother Amadena hadn’t appeared in our life. Pero may magagawa ba ako sa desisyon ng Papa ko? Meron. But, bullshit, not on this matter. He won’t let me, her genius daughter, dictate his heart. Not even Kuya Dallas who’s vocally against it but is silent when the two leeches are present. Wala rin naman kaming maaasahan kay Mama kasi iniwan niya kami kay Papa at sumama sa lalaki niya. To make matters worse, nagkaroon pa sila ng anak. But all of my mother’s desires faded when she lost everything she fought for. One, her partner who I never met. Second, her son, my step brother. And third, kami ng orihinal na pamilya niya. But serious matters aside, bwisit na bwisit na ako kay Avancea. Sinumbong niya ako tungkol sa pambubu
WHAT’S THAT?” I asked Shanta the moment she entered our bedroom with a book in her hand. Nilapitan ko siya at hinawakan ang bewang niya saka hinalikan siya sa balikat. “Saan pumunta ang Baby Love ko? Hmm?” “Hulaan mo…” biro niya saka kumapit sa bewang ko bago nangunang naglakad. I grinned, then walked with her with my right arm clinging onto her shoulder. Sinilip ko ang librong hinahawakan niya at naintriga ako. “You don’t recognize this, do you?” tanong niya. “Where did you find that?” Shanta looked up at me. “It doesn’t matter. I found it and I fixed everything back.” Binalik niya ang tingin sa libro… o ang manuskritong sinulat ko… at naupo sa dulo ng kama. I also sat beside her with my eyes pinned on her glowing face. “I have been curious about this lately, alam mo ba ‘yon…” kwento niya at sinimulang buklatin ang libro. “Punit-punit ‘to noong nahanap ko kaya nagpabili ako kay Benida ng scotch tape. She helped me put back every page.” Then, she looked at me teasingly. “Ako p
I SMILED at the guests who greeted me and Shanta as we walked on the red carpeted aisle. Hindi ganoon karami ang mga bisita. Nabibilang lang sa mga daliri ang mga tao sa mesa. I recognized almost all of them. Masaya ako at dinaluhan nila kami para sa gabing ito.Shanta and the Six Packs, which included me, sat down at a very special seat near the mini stage. Pabilog ang mesa at pitong upuan ang naroon para sa isa sa amin. Naunang umupo ang mga kaibigan ko. Lachlan and Katlego sat beside each other. Ganoon din si Euart at Jirario. Clavis, however, chose to sit next to her cousin. Samantala ako, pinagitnaan nina Shanta at Jirario. I pulled my Baby’s golden chair before she took her seat. “Musta ka na?” tanong ko kay Jira nang hayaan ko si Shanta na kausapin ang pinsan niya. I smiled at my cousin when I looked at him. It’s been a long time and we have been very busy with our own lives, so it’s nice if we catch up. “Kumusta ka naman at ng inaanak ko? Damn… I can’t believe you’re a family
ISANG BUWAN na ang nakalipas at unti-unti nang humuhupa ang kaguluhan sa Manila. Tito Kadam is already jailed in the New Bilibid Prison while his case is set for an appeal by his lawyers. While Coolidge Mental Care remained a crime scene, the patients were transferred to a safer and better facility. They will be sent back once the investigation is done and once the mental care has found its new owner. Sa ngayon, we’re trying to fix all the casualties, lalo na sa pagpapagamot ng mga pasyente. After all, Shanta and I both experienced a life inside the mental hospital. Nais naming tumulong. “Sir, Ma’am, nandyan na po ang mga bisita,” pagpapaalam ng kasambahay noong pumasok ito sa kwarto ko. “Susunod na kami. Thank you,” I said. And after telling me some more notice, the househelp left the room. Naiwan kami ni Shanta sa harap ng salamin habang inaayos niya ang necktie ko. Two days ago, we left Bohol for our business here in the Metro. Naisip naming ligtas nang tumira sa bahay ko… na
I DON’T KNOW when was the last time that I was energized to wake up. I remembered waking up with a huge weight in my head and I felt so exhausted at the start of the day, that ending it would mean fatigue for a week. But while my eyes remain closed, my mind is already awake. And I could feel Shanta’s small body still embracing me. Napangiti ako. Dahil diyan, bahagyang isinubsob ko ang aking ilong sa buhok niya. Walang pagbabago. Her hair’s scent is still the same lavender with fresh milk. I sniffed like drugs and kissed her forehead and tightened my embrace because I am never gonna lose her again. This moment could’ve happened two years ago if the incident didn’t happen. We could’ve been living on one roof with our two kids that are one-year-old apart, and we’re still making the third one. But even though we’re two years late, this… the night that I woke up beside her is what matters most. This will keep me from waking up and start my day blissfully. Aaraw-arawin ko ito, and the d
THE NEXT DAY, Shanta and I traveled back to Panglao Island, Bohol to stay in her mansion for the meantime while things subside. Hindi sana doon. It could have been my house, but almost everyone knows about it, so definitely, the place is not safe for us. We decided to take a break after the national newscast reported across the country. It was stressful and… chaotic. Ilang media na rin ang sumubok na kuhanan kami ng panayam, but Shanta, although ready to speak up, is not allowed to give herself another stress. I didn’t permit it because she needed rest after trespassing in Kachina's house. Makita-kita ko pang may benda siya sa noo kaya mas lalong hindi ako pumayag. She got it from her cousin who broke a vase on her head. And even though I wanted to make that woman pay, I didn’t want reporters to exploit my Baby’s condition and people to make a feast out of it. Kahit na kami ang nasa tama at ang biktima, hindi ko ginawa. The right people would see it, especially the court. And I wou
I GRINNED AT my reflection in the mirror surface. Our plan is working and just a little more time, this chaos they started would end. I then reached for the clean towel beside my laundry, then wiped my face. This is the only place where I can be myself besides being in Shanta’s arms. No nurse to watch over my every move. No Kachina to observe me and ask leading questions. Just me and myself, staring at each other. After I wiped my face, I spent my fifteen minutes taking a bath. Hindi man ako komportable sa klase ng banyo na meron sila dito, sinubukan kong hindi madiri. Well, I have lived an ordinary life before with a small toilet and a hand pump. I’d be immune to this, I guess. Pero sana… sana hindi magtagal ang pamamalagi ko dito. I can’t take the owner of this place. Pagkatapos kong maligo, I changed into a more comfy clothing. I didn’t wear my usual asylum gown. I don’t need it anyway because I am done with my mission. This is the day I am finally leaving this hell. Besides, nas
KAGE, DELIKADO ‘yang plano mo…” pagtutol ni Shanta. Nakaupo siya sa kabisera ng lamesa ng kanyang opisina sa mansion. “I’m not liking it. Masyadong mapanganib at… nagmumukha tayong mas masama kaysa sa kanila. Ayaw ko ng ganoon. We’re stooping down to their level… and as you said, violence should never be a choice. So, this one… It’s a no for me.” I bit my lower lip because she has a point. Well, it’s obvious that my ultimate plan is too risky… and brutal. Katabi ni Shanta si Benida, na nakaupo sa kanyang kanan. They were both looking at me with a hint of hesitation in their faces. Bahagya akong nakaramdam ng pagkapahiya. Shanta is right. We’re no different from the people who attempted to kill us. Tulad ni Tito Kadam, I am resorting to violence to get what I want. But this is the only way we could penetrate the Coolidge Mental Care. Kung totoo man, naroon ang mga karagdagang ebidensya para magiit ang tatay ni Kachina. Dahil hindi lang niya kami tinangkang patayin, he was even the ma
Kagan’s POV AYAN, KAGAN…” The psychiatric nurse said in utter softness after I obediently drank the medicine she prepared for me. “You are doing well these days and Doc Kachina must be so proud of you. Let’s just wait for her, okay? It’s past ten and she’s not yet here. But don’t worry. Papasok iyon.” I nodded and grinned just a little bit to make her believe Kachina is my calming pill, even when I don’t care whether she comes to work today or not. I then looked away and stared at the barred window the mental care had just built for me. Kung alam lang ng nars, I lost interest in her doctor the night she’s involved in ruining my life. Makalipas ng ilang sandali, narinig ko ang nars sa gilid ko, nagpapaalam para sa susunod na pasyente niya. I didn’t respond or what, then the door creaked open. Mabilis akong tumingin sa kanya, at nang makitang hindi siya nakalingon, I swiftly barfed the medicine I didn’t swallow and the bitter thing fell on my palm. I clenched my fist as soon as I fel