“Mama, si papa tumatawag.” Sabi ko at agad na iniabot ang phone sakanya.Nasa ibang bansa si papa, kakaalis lang nya ulit 2 months ago, minsan lang sya mag online dahil sa sobrang busy sa trabaho, kaya naman pag may pagkakataon, tumatawag sya samin. Pumasok muna ko sa kwarto habang nag uusap sila, wala naman akong masyadong ginagawa, kaya okay lang din. Ilang minuto din ay lumabas ako para kumuha ng tubig, summer pa rin kaya sobrang uminom ng malamig na tubig. Buti nalang talaga nakabili na si mama ng ref bago pa man mag summer, kung hindi ubos ang kalahati ng allowance ko, kakabili ng yelo. Pero natapatigil ako ng may mahagip ang mata ko sa screen ng phone ko. “Ma, may nagchat sakin? Sino yan?” Tanong ko kay mama. “Di ko alam nak. Check mo nalang.” Sabi nya at inabot sakin ang phone ko, habang naka earphone sya, naka audio call lang sila ni papa, kaya okay lang. (Pogi! Wr ka?) Kunot noo akong nag reply “bahay, why?”Ilang sandali pa ay agad na nareply na sya. (Nasa school nyo a
ELARA “Ingat kayo, uwi agad ha?” Sabi ko bago kami maghiwa hiwalay ng daan, mag cocomute sila, habang ako pupunta sa parking lot para kunin ang sasakyan ko, medyo masakit ang ulo ko. Hindi ako pumayag na mag late lunch kami, nagkatamaran na tuloy sila na kumain, and i’m a bit guilty, kaya nung uwian namin at inaya nila ako to grab a snack, hindi na ko nagpabebe at sumama na lang, halos mga ka co-department ko lang naman ang kasama, they shot a little, habang ako juice lang, i don’t really drink, it’s just, it’s not my thing.Medyo madilim na ang daan papunta sa parking lot, pero may mangilan ngilan din naman na street lights, hindi naman sa takot ako, may experience lang ako nung college ako.Agad na hinanap ko ang car key ko sa bag nang matanaw ko na ang kotse ko, pero bago ko tuluyan na maisuksok ang susi nito, may dalawang pares ng kamay na biglang humiglat sakin, marahas at walang pasintabi na hinila nila ako.“What the f
Naging abnormal naman ang tibok ng puso ko, mahirap din pala ang maging straight forward minsan, nakaka pahamak. Sasagot pa sana ako ng biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko, nasa tabi ko lang ito, sinagot ko agad nang makita kung sino ang tumatawag.“Hello?” Maingay sa kabilang linya, may mga nag sisigawan.[Bruhaaaa! Where ka?! Bakit hindi ka pumasok? Omy ghad! Nag runaway ka na ba? Akala ko wala kang jowa?!] Natawa ako dahil sa sinabi nya, bruhang Jaycee talaga ‘to, ang harot. Nawala tuloy ang kaba na nararamdaman ko kanina.“Okay lang ako, kwento ko na lang pag nagkita tayo, bakit maingay?”[Ang mga bruhilda kasi, kinikilig. May bago daw kasing dating sa kabilang department, pogi daw si koya.] Wala akong maalala na may bago ha? Hindi ako informed, itatanong ko na lang siguro pag pasok ko.“Okay sige, kita nalang tayo, baka mag half day ako.” Sagot ko na lang, para makaalis na ko rito at makapag ayos na papasok.[O sya bakla, ingat ka ha? Love kita! Mwa!] Napangiti ako dahil sa sinab
Flashback“Shit! Sinabi na sumama ka samin leche ka!” Sabi ng lalaki na hindi ko kilala, nasa likod na kami ng school, hindi, halos manlabo na ang tingin ko dahil sa mga luha na kanina pa umapaaw. Natatakot na ko, wala naman akong kaaway na grabe para ipakidnap ako.“T-teka, bakit, bakit a-ako? W-wala akong alam!” Pinilit ko pa rin na sabihin kahit nakahawak na sila sakin at malapit na ko maipasok sa sasakyan.“Kailangan ka namin! Ikaw lang, sigurado na luluhod ang gago na yon samin! Kaya sumama ka kung ayaw mo masaktan!” Sigaw ng lalaki sa harap ko, naging kaklase ko sya nung freshman ako, bakit sya kasali dito?Isang malakas na suntok ang naramdaman ko sa sikmura ko bago tuluyan akong nawalan ng lakas para lumaban sa kanila. Kahit ayaw ng utak ko, hindi na gumagalaw ang katawan ko para kumawala sa mahigpit nila na pagkakahawak nila sakin. Hindi pa yata naubos ang luha ko, tuluyan na ko napahagulgol nang tuluyan na akong naipasok sa van na kanina pa nakaparada sa gilid. Napapagitnaan
Elara4 years ago“Ang lakas ng ulan grabe, may bagyo ba?” Napatigil din ako sa pagsusulat sa notes ko at tumingin sa bintana, malakas nga ang ulan, sa dami ng ginagawa naming hindi ko na alam kung ano ang balita sa panahon ngayon.It’s Friday afternoon, halos five na rin, pero sobrang lamig at dilim ng panahon, this will be the last month of first semester of second year, ang bilis ng panahon, mas dumami na ang gagawin.“I don’t know, masyado tayong marami ginagawa, ilang araw na ko hindi nakakapanuod ng news.” Sagot ko at nagsulat ulit. “Natapos mon a ba yung draft sa research natin? Kailangan na natin matapos yon para ma-ipasa na.” Paalala ko sa kanya, patapos na rin ako sa notes na gagamitin ko para sap ag rereview mamaya, finals na kasi naming next week, then completion ng mg requirements.“Oo, patapos na ko, send ko sayo mamayang gabi, edit mo na lang, natapos na nila Jem yung part nila.” Tumango lang ako bilang sagot, dahil busy talaga ko sa notes ko. “Kamusta na kaya ang baby
Mabilis na natapos ang meeting, nag finalized lang kami nang lugar kung saan gaganapin ang team building, magkano ang budget na ilalagay, kung ilang araw, at kung ano ang mga pagkain na dadalin namin. Nag include na rin ng mga games, at kung sino ang magkakasama sa grupo.Dahil team building ang mangyayari, bunutan kung sino ang magiging magkakasama, magiging ka-group mo na rin sila sa mismong outing, and guess what, ka-“Hoy bakla! Swerte mo naman! Kasama mo si fafa Jaxon, wag mo rapin ha, ako magpapa demanda sayo!” Inirapan ko si bakla dahil sa sinabi nya, ang kiri nya talaga.I sighed and looked again at the paper I’m holding, bakit baa ng ganito ang life? Kung sino gusto mo iwasan, yung ang malalapit sayo, nakakainis lang talaga. Ayoko na maalala lahat, pero bakit kailangan na ganito? Bakit kami pa rin? Hindi lang kami basta mag kasama sa group, magkasama din kami sa tent, Wtf?Bumalik na lang ako sa table ko at inayos ang mga gamit ko, wala akong balak mag over time ngayon, gusto
“Nandito na ba lahat?” Tanong ni President samin, sumama din sya sa team building namin ngayon, “Okay, let’s do the head count.” Sabi nya, kay nag simula na kami mag headcount.Forty three kami lahat na sumama, galing sa tatlong department, sa harap ng company ang meeting place, at three ang meeting time, buti naman at halos walang na-late, bukod sakin syempre, hobby ko na ata talaga ma-late, parang hindi ako mapapakali pag hindi ako na-late sa kahit anong lakad ko. Natawa na lang ako dahil sa sinabi ko, para na talaga akong baliw sa ginagawa ko.Sa Zambales namin napili na ganapin ang team building, hindi rin naman ako masyadong familiar dito kahit nung dito pa ko nakatira sa Zambales, halos bahay at eskwela lang ako dati, wala ako sa mood lumabas, madalang lang, hindi naman kasi ako umaabot sa ganito kalayo, kaya kahit paano excited ako. Makakapag pahinga na rin ako.Sinuot ko ang sun glasses ko bago kami makalabas ng van, halos apat na oras ang naging byahe naminn mula sa Company h
“Okay, siguro naman busog na ang lahat? Lalo ka na Elara?” Nag tawanan ang lahat dahil sa sinabi ni Pres, ngumuso lang ako at yumuko.Ako kasi ang may pinaka marami na nakain, ako ang nauna at nahuli na lumabas sa field, masarap kasi, tsaka nagutom ako, hindi ako nakapag breakfast kaya nag bawi ako ng kain, luh.“For today, we will be having our first activity, pang warm up lang naman to, so don’t worry, yung mga competitive dyan, bukas na lang kayo bumawi, for now, chill games muna tayp, so by pair- oh, may kaparehas na agadang bagong recruit? Speed ha.”Nagtawanan lahat kaya tumingin ako sa likod para hanapin sya dahil sa harapan ako nakapwesto, halos matumba ko nang makita ko sya sa likod ko, ngiting ngiti ang sira ulo at nakadikit sakin. “Okay, na distract ako sa pogi na to, the first game will be ‘drawing. Okay, okay bago kayo mag reklamo, wag muna.” Tumawa na ang lahat, chikadora din talaga si Pres eh. “Okay by pair ang laro na to, in this game you will be needing a whiteboard o
The evening sky was painted with hues of orange and pink as Lily walked away from Lee, her heart heavy with emotion. She could hear his footsteps behind her, his voice calling out, begging her not to leave. But she knew that she had to do this, for herself.Lily sat at the edge of her bed, tears streaming down her face. She couldn’t believe what she had just learned. For months, she had been living in a blissful illusion, thinking that her promotion, her raise, her new apartment were all a result of her hard work and determination. But now, the truth had been revealed, and it hit her like a ton of bricks.Lee stood in the doorway, his expression pained. He had been the one behind it all, pulling strings, making calls, ensuring that Lily got everything she wanted. And now, seeing her broken and betrayed, he didn’t know what to do.“Lily, I’m sorry,” Lee said, his voice filled with regret. “I just wanted to help you, to make your life better. I didn’t mean to deceive you.”Lily looked u
In the bustling city of Havenridge, there was a building that stood out among the rest. The Havenridge Tower was a marvel of modern architecture, stretching high into the sky with its gleaming glass facade. It was the tallest building in the city, a symbol of prosperity and success.But for Lily, the Havenridge Tower was more than just a building. It was her workplace, her home, and her prison.Lily worked as a receptionist on the 50th floor of the tower, where the prestigious law firm of Anderson & Associates was located. She had been working there for years, ever since she had graduated from college, and she had always prided herself on her work ethic and dedication.But lately, things had started to change. The long hours, the demanding clients, the constant pressure to perform – it was all starting to take its toll on Lily. She felt trapped, suffocated by the walls of the tower that seemed to close in on her more and more each day.One day, as Lily sat at her desk, staring out at
Catherine stumbled into the condo, her vision blurred from the tears that streamed down her face. Sin stood in front of her, his expression unreadable. Outside, the rain poured down in a relentless torrent, the sound of it drumming against the windows like a thousand tiny fingers. The sky was a dark, brooding mass of clouds, obscuring the moon and stars from view. The air was thick with moisture, the humidity making it feel like a sauna. The condo was a small, cozy space, with soft, dim lighting that cast a warm glow over the room. The walls were painted a soothing shade of blue, adorned with framed photographs of happier times. A plush couch sat in the center of the living room, facing a small television set. The floor was covered with a plush rug, soft underfoot.“Please, Catherine, you need to leave,” Sin pleaded, his voice tinged with frustration.Catherine shook her head, her voice trembling. “No, not until you tell me why. Why were you avoiding me all these years?” Catherine sto
Sin sighed as he pulled on his jacket, preparing to slip out of the house unnoticed. It was a typical Saturday afternoon, and he had plans to meet up with his friends at the park. But just as he reached for the doorknob, his mother’s voice echoed through the hallway.“Sin! Can you come here for a moment?”He froze, knowing that tone all too well. With a resigned sigh, he turned around and headed towards the living room where his mother and brothers were gathered. As he entered the room, he saw Catherine, his ten-year-old sister, sitting on the floor surrounded by coloring books and crayons.“What’s up?” Sin asked, trying to sound casual.“We’re having a bonding moment with Cath,” his mother said, gesturing towards the coloring materials. “We thought it would be nice for you to join us.”Sin glanced at Catherine, who looked up at him with big, hopeful eyes. He felt a pang of guilt for wanting to leave her behind. “I’m sorry, I can’t. I’ve made plans with my friends,” he replied, alread
As Letisha sat in her car, tears streaming down her face, she felt utterly alone. The weight of being scammed pressed down on her, and she didn’t know where to turn. She had always been independent, used to solving her problems on her own, but this time, it felt like too much.She stared blankly ahead, trying to gather her thoughts, when a sudden knock on her car door made her jump. Startled, she turned to see Alex standing there, looking concerned.“Letisha, are you okay?” Alex asked, his voice filled with genuine worry.Letisha wiped her tears and tried to compose herself. “I… I’m fine,” she replied, her voice shaky.Alex didn’t seem convinced. “You don’t look fine. Can I come in?”Letisha hesitated for a moment before nodding. Alex opened the car door and sat down beside her, his presence comforting.“What happened?” Alex asked gently.Letisha took a deep breath and explained how she had been scammed, losing a significant amount of money. She felt embarrassed and foolish for fallin
Letisha arrived at the party venue, the soft glow of the lights casting a warm ambiance over the room. She scanned the room, spotting her colleagues mingling and chatting animatedly. She made her way over to the group, her red dress catching the light and drawing admiring glances.“Letisha, you look stunning!” exclaimed Sarah, one of her coworkers, as she approached.“Thank you, Sarah. You look lovely yourself,” Letisha replied with a smile.As the evening progressed, Letisha found herself engaged in lively conversations with her colleagues. She shared anecdotes from work and laughed at the funny stories that were being exchanged.“So, Letisha, any plans for the weekend?” asked Mark, another colleague.“I’m thinking of taking a day trip to the countryside. It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to relax and unwind,” Letisha replied.“That sounds wonderful. You deserve a break,” Mark replied, raising his glass in a toast.As the night wore on, Letisha felt a sense of camaraderie and
As Avianna stood before Sebastian, tears streamed down her cheeks, reflecting the shimmering moonlight. The gentle breeze carried the scent of the sea, mingling with the faint aroma of tropical flowers. They were on the beach, the soft sand beneath their feet, the sound of waves lapping against the shore providing a soothing backdrop to their conversation.Sebastian’s usually vibrant green eyes were clouded with confusion and pain, his tall, lean frame tense with emotion. His raven-black hair tousled slightly in the breeze, adding to his disheveled appearance. He looked at Avianna, his expression a mix of defiance and vulnerability, as if he were fighting an internal battle.Avianna, on the other hand, was the picture of anguish and determination. Her caramel skin glistened in the moonlight, her long, flowing hair cascading down her back. Her eyes, usually bright and full of life, were now red and swollen from crying. She looked at Sebastian with a mixture of love and desperation, her
“Welcome aboard! Enjoy your stay, our dear visitor!” This was the greeting that welcomed me as I stepped off the plane. I thought it would be like any other trip, where we would disembark at the airport. I was surprised when we landed directly on the island, confirming Charline’s statement that the island was indeed exclusive.There were only ten of us on the plane, and it felt like we had rented the entire island.We were greeted by our tour guide, Korina, who would be with us for the first two days of our stay on the island while we familiarized ourselves with the area. I felt like I was the only first-timer, as some of my companions seemed to be quite familiar with the place.“Miss Aviana, this will be your room, feel at home. Just call me if you need anything,”Korina said as she showed me to my room. I nodded and smiled, watching as she left. The room had two single sofas, a center table, a cabinet, a mini-kitchen, and a bathroom, the latter visible from my vantage point due to t
The night was cast in shadows, the sky a blanket of thick, stormy clouds that unleashed a torrential downpour upon the city. The rain fell in relentless sheets, drenching everything in its path and shrouding the world in a veil of darkness. Detective Taliya stood in the alley, her gun held firmly in her hands, her eyes darting warily from shadow to shadow. Beside her, Zachary lay on the ground, his body battered and bruised, a dark pool of blood spreading beneath him from a wound in his side. “Taliya, please,” Zachary gasped, his voice strained with pain. “You need to go. They’re coming for us, and I won’t let you get hurt because of me.” Taliya’s heart clenched at his words, but she remained steadfast. She had a duty to uphold, to protect and serve, no matter the cost. But as she looked into Zachary’s eyes, filled with fear and desperation, she felt a tug at her heartstrings, a pang of something she couldn’t quite name. The sound of approaching footsteps echoed in the alley, the h