"How did you know?" kinakabahan kong tanong habang siya'y nagmamaneho papunta sa aming bahay. "I had you investigated before I come here," tipid niyang sagot.I almost forgot that he's damn rich now. Kaya marami na rin siyang koneksyon at hindi malabong napaimbestigahan na ako nito!"God knows how I wanted to drag you both with me the moment I found out we have a son," aniya. "Ang nagpipigil lang sa akin ay ang kaalamang galit ka sa akin. That's why I gave you time first."I looked at him guiltily. No traces of anger can be seen on his face. In fact, he looked...peaceful. But then, hindi ba siya galit na itinago ko ang totoo?"Hindi ka...uhm, galit?" nag-aalangan kong tanong."Why would I be? You struggled to raise him alone when I should've been there for you both. Dapat kayo ang galit sa akin, Selene."Parang may humawak sa aking puso sa sinabi niya. I smiled weakly at him."Stop blaming yourself on things you have no control of," I said. "At hindi kami galit sayo. Ang totoo, gusto
Naalimpungatan ako sa pagtama ng nakakasilaw na liwanag mula sa bintana. I opened my eyes slowly. Mula sa puting kurtinang hinihipan ng hangin ay inilipat ko ang paningin sa aking tabi.No one was there. Siguro'y nasa labas na ang mag-ama ko. Ngumuso ako at dahan-dahang bumangon. Forth slept here with us last night. It was a long day for us kaya't agad kaming nakatulog. Ngunit himalang nauna pa siyang magising sa akin.Inayos ko ang sarili saka bumaba. Naabutan ko si Carson na nakatungtong sa monoblock chair habang abala sa pagbabati ng itlog. While Forth is topless while cooking something.Saglit akong napatulala. His hair is messy but he still look hot as hell. His thin stubble made him look rough and more intimidating. Ang mga labi'y pula at medyo nakaawang habang nakikinig sa sinasabi ng anak. He laughed a bit at what our son said, revealing his set of perfect whites.Even with the way he laughs, hindi ka mapapanatag. Akala mo'y isang guwapong diablong natutuwa sa kung ano. His sm
Trigger Warning: ViolenceWakas"So...are you coming home tonight?" my brother, Frand, asked and sat on the couch in front of me with a glass of liquor on his hand.I leaned on my swivel chair. Ibinaba ko ang dokumentong binabasa at sinulyapan ang nakakatandang kapatid. Ilang beses na itong pabalik-balik sa aking opisina ngayong araw para kulitin akong umuwi ngayon. It's lola's 85th birthday and we are having a family dinner. Ayos lang naman na hindi ako pumunta dahil binisita ko na si lola kahapon. We had an early celebration on her favorite restaurant yesterday so I think she'll understand if I won't come.Kaso ang mga kapatid ko, ayaw tumigil. Palagi na lang, tuwing may okasyon ay pinagtutulungan nila akong pauwiin. They've been teaming up against me for the past years just to make me come home. Hindi na rin kasi ako umuwi simula no'ng naging abala na sa mga hawak na negosyo."I'm busy," sagot ko.Matalim niya akong tiningnan ngunit sa huli ay bumuntong-hininga. "Kinukulit ako ni M
They say the Almighty gives the toughest battle to His strongest soldier. Hindi ka Niya bibigyan ng pagsubok kung hindi mo kayang lagpasan. Ang lahat ng problema ay may solusiyon. Matatapos rin ang unos. I can't agree to that. I can't understand why all of this happened to me. Looking back, realized I've been fighting most of my life. Na hindi natatapos ang paghihirap, sakit at pagdurusa ko. Na kahit anong gawin kong pagdilat sa dilim, wala akong mahanap na liwanag. Na kahit anong pulot ko sa mga nabasag na piraso ng pagkatao ko, hindi ito muling mabubuo at lalo pang nadudurog. No matter how hard I try to be tough, I'll always end up failing like a fragile glass. I'm not strong. Magmukha man akong malakas sa harapan ng lahat, alam Niya kung gaano ako kahina kapag kaharap ko ang sarili ko. Kaya bakit ganito? What is His reason for putting me in this bloody battlefield? I smiled sadly as the cold breeze embraced my body. I am living in the dark all my life. Kahit pa ngayong payapa ang
I woke up with my head throbbing. Pinatay ko ang alarm na nasa side table at bumangon, sapo ang ulo. I didn't have enough sleep last night. The past few weeks are actually hell for me. Final exams drained my system. Halos hindi na ako matulog sa dami ng kailangang aralin, at mga requirements at projects na kailangang ipasa. I took a shower and did my morning routines. I wore my school uniform and did my make up before going downstairs for a breakfast. The breakfast went on with my parents talking about business and work. Tahimik lang akong kumain at paminsan-minsan ay nakikinig. Medyo gumaan ang pakiramdam ko sa narinig sa mga magulang pero mabigat ang akingpakiramdam at masakit ang ulo. I kissed my parents goodbye after eating and went out of the house. I entered our SUV. My phone rang inside my bag. I sighed when I saw who it was. "Yes?" I asked in a monotone. The woman sighed on the other line. "What is it, Jayle?" "Eh kasi," muli siyang bumuntong hininga. "I have something t
I wiped the sweat off my forehead and neck using my hanky and combed my damp hair. My phone rang again. I glared at it. Pahamak. I saw Manong's name on the screen. "Ma'am. Sandali lang ho, ah? Traffic kasi eh. Malapit na po," I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Okay po. Just make it a bit fast po, please? I badly wanna go home." I said and hung up the phone. Napapikit ako ng mariin nang maalala ang senaryo kanina. Everyone from our batch knew about Forth's reputation. Some even find it amusing and cool. While me? I hated it. I don't like guys playing with someone's feelings. They are bunches of idiots. I jumped a bit at the presence of someone beside me. My heart thumped. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa gulat, o kaba. Syempre, sa gulat. Bakit naman ako kakabahan, diba? Hindi naman ako ang nahuling nakikipaghalikan. I lazily turned to him. "What?" Kailan ba ako makakauwi. I'm so tired. Dumagdag pa ito. His brow shot up. "Nasaan ang sundo mo?" Aniya at sumandal sa pader ng waiting shed na
Sumabog ang malakas na musika sa buong lugar. The blinding strobe lights, bottles of liquor, gyrating bodies, people dancing wildly and drunk people seated on the couches welcomed me. Hindi na kami mag-aalala dahil lahat kaming magkaibigan ay nasa legal na edad na at responsable naman sa mga kilos. I spotted my friends at the right corner, malapit sa dancefloor. Kumaway si Shane sa akin, doon ko napansin ang dalawa pang lalaking hindi pamilyar sa sa akin na nakikipag-usap sa mga kaibigan ko. "There she is!" Macy beamed. "Ang hot naman talaga! Nagliliyab ang kagandahan sa malamig na gabi!" She teased. Natawa ako roon at inikutan siya ng mata. Shane whistled playfully. "Sana all may dede," Giana laughed. I sat beside Jayle whose busy texting someone. Nakangiti pa at animo'y kinikilig. Siniko ko siya ng bahagya. Lumingon siya sa akin, nangingiti pa sa kausap. "Oh, hi! Sexy naman!" She beamed. I smiled at her and put my purse at the table. I poured the Jack Daniels on a glass while li
Sa mga ganitong sitwasiyon, hindi ako umiinom ng mahigit sa dalawang baso ng alak dahil alam kong mahina ako sa bagay na iyon. Ngayon lang ako nakainom ng marami. I stood up and walked sluggishly. I am a bit slurry but I managed to walk my way to the restroom. Walang katao-tao sa loob noon nang makarating ako. I leaned my head against the cold wall. Mainit ang aking pakiramdam at nahihilo pa. It took me minutes to compose myself and freshen up. Medyo umayos na ang aking pakiramdam matapos makapagsuka at maghilamos. Bahagyang nabawasan ang pagkahilo ko bagama't namimigat na ang mga mata. On my way to our table, my phone rang. Dad's name flashed on it. It's already 1 am so its very unusual for him to call this late, I think it's important. Pahirapan man ay mabilis akong nakalabas sa bar at sinagot ang tawag. Namuo ang pawis sa aking noo at leeg dahil sa pakikipagsiksikan sa mga tao. "Dad," I called. "It's late. Something wrong?" He sighed tiredly. "Nothing, hija. Nasaan ka?" "I'm