CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX: FLIGHT✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧NAKAHIGA na kami ni Poppy sa king size bed sa kuwarto niya. Magkaharap kami at magkayakap. Matapos ang diskusyon kanina, nalaman kong next week na pala ang alis nila papunta sa Australia kaya naman halos hindi ko na siya mabitaw-bitawan ngayon. Sinusulit ko ang pagkakataong katabi ko pa siya at nayayakap.“Faith?” mahina niyang tawag sa ‘kin, nakasubsob ang pisngi niya sa dibdib ko.“Hmm?” I hummed softly.“Galit ka ba sa ‘kin?”“Hindi.”“Bakit parang kanina ka pa tahimik? Pansin ko lang na pagkatapos natin kumain, naging tahimik ka na. Hindi mo na ‘ko masyadong kinakausap,” mahina niyang sabi, may bakas ng pagdaramdam sa boses niya. Hindi ko alam na mapapansin niya 'yon.Oo. Simula kaninang mapag-usapan ang pag-alis nila, hanggang sa makaalis ang pamilya ko, para akong tuliro. Ang daming tumatakbo sa isip ko. Nag-o-overthink ako. What if pagpunta niya ro'n may makilala siyang iba at ma-realized niyang mali ang desisyon niyang pakasalan ako?
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN: HONEYMOON✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧SINCE Poppy left for Australia, I’ve been overwhelmed by a deep sadness and intense longing. Umalis na rin ako sa mansyon at umuwi na lang muna sa ‘min sa pag-aakalang malilibang ako. Pero hindi. Because every corner of the house felt emptier without her presence, and each day seemed to stretch endlessly. I threw myself into work, hoping to distract myself from the void she left behind, but nothing seemed to fill the space she occupied in my heart.Sobrang hirap pala kapag nasanay ka nang kasama ang isang taong naging sobrang halaga at malapit na sa puso mo tapos biglang malalayo sa ‘yo. Nights were the hardest. Kahit papa’no kasi kapag araw, nagagawa ko pang libangin ang sarili ko sa trabaho. Pero kapag gabi na, doon ko mas lalong nararamdaman ang pangungulila kay Poppy. The bed felt cold and vast without her beside me. I often found myself staring at the ceiling, memories of our time together replaying in my mind. Her laughter, her sm
CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT: ONE YEAR LATER✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧I WAS buried in paperwork, my mind focused on the endless tasks at hand, when the door to my office swung open. Colleen, my secretary, stepped in, her face a mix of urgency and excitement.“Sir Faith,” masaya niyang tawag sa ‘kin, her voice slightly breathless, “nakita ko sa news na nakauwi na si Poppy at Mr. Herald dito sa bansa.”Agad akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya, shock washing over me. “What? Are you sure?”Colleen nodded, humakbang pa siya lalo palapit sa ‘kin, holding up her phone to show me the news article. There it was, clear as day—Poppy and his dad had indeed come back.A whirlwind of emotions hit me. Poppy hadn’t mentioned anything about returning, and it had been a month since we last spoke. Nitong nakaraang buwan, natigil ang pagtawag niya sa ‘kin at pag-ch-chat. Whenever I tried to reach out to her, she would send a brief message saying she was busy and had a lot to do. Dahil do’n, medyo nagbawas ako sa pang-ii
CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE: DISCONNECTED✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧I STOOD there, frozen, as I watched Poppy and Nathan interact. My mind raced, wanting to approach her, but my feet felt like they were cemented to the floor. Bago pa ‘ko magkaroon ng lakas ng loob na lapitan siya, may ilang bisita na nakakilala sa ‘kin, nilapitan ako at binati. They chatted animatedly, and I found myself briefly engrossed in their conversations, my attention momentarily diverted.As I wrapped up the small talk and turned my gaze back toward Poppy, I noticed she was now seated at a round table with that man—Nathan. The sight of them together was unsettling, pero ilang sandali pa ay tumayo ang lalaking ‘yon dahil may ilang bisitang tumawag sa kaniya. Naiwan si Poppy sa table, mag-isa.With Nathan momentarily absent, I gathered my resolve and made my way to the table. My heart pounded as I approached, feeling a mix of nervousness and determination. I quietly took a seat next to Poppy, my hands slightly trembling.“Hi, Po
CHAPTER SEVENTY: UNSPOKEN EMOTIONS✿ SUMMER ✿PASADO alas siete na pero hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin kami nakakarating sa mansyon nila Poppy gawa nang matinding traffic kanina. Mabuti ay medyo humupa na ngayon at dere-deretso na ang takbo ng sasakyan.As we drove towards the Herald mansion, I looked out the window, watching the city lights flicker by. Kuya Hope and Kuya Love were chatting in the front seats, but I was lost in my own thoughts dahil excited na ‘kong makita ulit si Poppy.Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a familiar figure on the side of the road. “Wait, is that Kuya Faith?” I murmured to myself, leaning closer to the window. Hindi masyadong mabilis ang pagmamaneho ni Kuya Love kaya nakilala ko si Kuya Faith. There he was, walking alone with his coat draped over his shoulder, looking so lonely.“Kuya Love,” I called out, turning to my brother who was driving. “Did you see that? I think I just saw Kuya Faith walking by himself.”Saglit akong sinulyapan ni Ku
CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE: DINNER✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧I WOKE up early, my mind still tangled in the restless thoughts that had kept me awake for most of the night. Hindi ako pinatulog ng pag-iisip ko kay Poppy. The stark reality of her change in behavior haunted me, and I couldn’t shake off the gnawing worry. Kaya madaling araw pa lang ay nag-shower na ‘ko at nagbihis, deciding to head to the company much earlier than usual.The office was eerily quiet at this hour, a stark contrast to the bustling environment it would soon become. Pagpasok ko sa sariling opisina, agad akong naupo at inabala ang sarili ko sa mga trabahong naghihintay sa ‘kin sa table ko, sa pagbabaka sakaling malibang ako at makalimot sa nangyari kagabi sa party. Yet, no matter how hard I tried, my focus kept drifting back to Poppy.Her image was etched in my mind—so different, so confident, and so distant. Summer's words from last night played over and over in my head. According to her, Poppy had seemed fine at the party. N
CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO: DINNER PART II✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧GUSTO ko sanang sundan si Poppy sa restroom, to comfort her, pero mas pinili kong manatili na lang sa upuan ko at hintayin siya, respecting her need for space.As I waited for her to return, I resolved to be patient. Whatever was happening, I needed to be there for her, even if it meant facing the pain and confusion head-on. The only thing I was certain of was my love for her and my determination to find a way back to each other.Ilang sandali pa, natanaw ko na siyang pabalik. Umupo ulit siya sa puwesto niya—sa harap ko at pansin kong wala na ‘yong contact lens niya. Her eyes were now clear, and there were no traces of tears. The previous tension seemed to have shifted slightly, but the emotional weight remained.I tried to meet her gaze, hoping for some hint of the Poppy I once knew, but her eyes were resolute, distant. Nakaka-frustrate na hindi ko man lang mahulaan kung ano’ng tumatakbo sa isip niya, samantalang noon, napakadali
CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE: POPPY IN THE HOUSE✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧NANATILI akong nakatingin sa screen ng cell phone ko, inaabangan na ma-seen niya ang message ko dahil gusto kong masiguro na hindi na siya maghihintay sa ‘kin sa loob. Ilang sandali pa, na-seen na niya ‘yon, and it felt like I was cutting a piece of myself away, but I knew I had to do this for her, for both of us.Putting my phone down, I leaned back in my seat, letting the reality of the situation sink in. I had just agreed to let her go, to let our marriage end. ‘Yong bigat ng sitwasyon ramdam ko sa dibdib ko, na nagpapahirap sa ‘kin huminga. But it was the right thing to do. Poppy deserved to be happy, even if that meant a life without me.Taking another deep breath, I started the car and drove away, the city lights blurring as I navigated the streets back to the office. Oo. Imbes na sa bahay ako umuwi, sa office na lang ako dumiretso dahil ngayong gabi ang balik nila Mom at Dad sa bahay. Ayokong makita nila na ganito ang
Epilogue FAITH ZEICAN LEE (Eight years old...) I was excited to leave school when I saw Lolo Don A waiting for us. Naroon na siya sa gate, nakatayo sa tabi ng itim niyang limousine, kasama niya ang personal assistant niyang si Sir Dan. Habang naglalakad kami nila Hope at Love palapit sa direksyon nila, takang napatanong si Love. “Saan kaya tayo dadalhin ni Lolo Don A?” “Baka mag-s-shopping or kakain tayo sa labas,” sabi ni Hope na hindi rin sigurado. Ako rin ay hindi sigurado. Ngayon lang kasi ginawa ‘to ni Lolo Don A, na nag-volunteer kay Daddy at Mommy na siya ang susundo sa amin sa school, gayong dapat ay sabay-sabay kaming uuwi nila Daddy mamayang hapon dahil sa Lee University naman kami pumapasok at kabila lang ng Elementary Department ang College Department kung saan namin pinupuntahan si Dad after ng klase namin. “Hi, Lolo Don A!” nakangiti kong bati sa kaniya paglapit namin, sunod na ring bumati ang dalawang kakambal ko. Maging si Sir Dan ay binalingan namin para
CHAPTER NINETY: THE WEDDING✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧One month later.HANGGANG ngayon, para pa rin akong nananaginip. Dumating na ang araw na pinakahihintay ko since the moment I realized how much Poppy meant to me—ang pakasalan siya at makitang nakasuot ng magarbong wedding gown imbes na simpleng white dress lang.Standing in front of the mirror, I take a moment to soak it all in. The white suit looks better than I’d hoped. The fabric is smooth and cool, feeling like it was tailored just for me. The jacket fits perfectly, hugging my shoulders and chest just right without being too tight. The notched lapels give me a classic look, while the minimalist buttons keep it sleek and modern.I adjust the crisp white shirt underneath, noticing how it contrasts subtly with the suit. The silk tie adds a touch of elegance, its soft ivory hue blending seamlessly. The pocket square tucked into my jacket pocket finishes off the look, and I can’t help but smile.Habang ina-adjust ko ang tie ko para kalmah
CHAPTER EIGHTY-NINE: THE PROPOSAL✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧“BASED on my source, sugar lolo ni Chloe ang nagpalaya sa kaniya at ginamit lang ang pangalan mo para saktan si Sugarpop,” ani Hope. Kaharap ko sila ni Love, habang nakaupo ako sa paanan ng kama ko.Sumaglit ako ngayon dito sa bahay namin, kasama ko si Poppy para kuhanin ang iba ko pang gamit. Pero si Poppy ay nasa baba, kasama si Mom dahil wala si Summer ngayon, may lakad kasama ang mga kaibigan niya. At tiyempo ang pagdating namin dahil may balita na raw sila kung sino ang nag-send ng email kay Poppy.“Sino’ng source mo?” tanong ko sa kaniya, naninigurado.Natawa siya. “Si Detective Conan.” Ngunit agad din siyang sumeryoso nang samaan ko siya ng tingin. “’De joke lang. ‘Yong detective na pinahawak nila Mommyla sa kaso, of course! Hindi pa ba binanggit sa ‘yo ni Mommyla?”“Hindi pa.”“Hina mo talaga. Lagi kitang nauunahan sa balita.” He laughed.Wala pang nabanggit sa ‘kin si Mommyla, pero ang daddy ni Poppy ay mayro’n na. Hindi ng
CONTENT WARNING! Please note: The following chapter contains s*xual scenes and is intended for mature audiences only! This material is not suitable for minors. Reader discretion is advised. CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHT: FINALLY ✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧ THE AFTERNOON sun bathed Villasis Park in a golden hue as we arrived back home from our vacation. The air was warm and welcoming, just like the familiar scent of the gardenias that lined the pathway leading to the main entrance. Naglalakad si Poppy sa tabi ko, her gaze taking in every detail of the estate. Ito ‘yong bahay namin na para talaga sa ‘min. Hindi lang namin nagawang tirahan noon dahil mas pinili ni Mom at Dad na mag-stay kami sa poder nila for Poppy’s safety. Pero kahapon, noong nasa hotel pa kami, tinanong kami ni Dad kung ano ang plano namin ni Poppy. Kung magsasama ba ulit kami sa bahay namin, sa Villasis Park o mansyon. Hindi ako sumagot agad dahil gusto kong i-consider ang suggestion ni Poppy kaya ang sabi ko sa kanila, mag-uusap
CHAPTER EIGHTY-SEVEN: OUTING PART VI - SEMINAR✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧THE first light of dawn seeped through the curtains, gently stirring me awake. Nagbaba ako ng tingin kay Poppy na nakayakap sa ‘kin, her breathing soft and steady. Without thinking, I pressed a kiss to her forehead, savoring the warmth of her skin against my lips.Nanatili akong pinagmamasdan siya habang natutulog, nag-aalanganin akong kumislot sa pag-aalalang magising ko siya. Hindi natuloy ang nangyari sa ‘min kagabi matapos niyang masaktan. Nang makita kong puno ng nerbyos ang mukha niya, I decided to stop and tell her na ‘tsaka na lang namin ituloy kapag ready na ulit siya. Natulog lang kaming magkatabi at magkayakap.Nag-beeped ang cell phone ko sa nightstand, inabot ko ‘yon at tiningnan kung sinong nag-text. Si Mom. Inuutusan na kaming mag-prepare at bumaba sa lobby para magkasabay-sabay raw ulit kami sa almusal. Doon kasi ulit ang breakfast buffet.Matapos kong reply-an si Mom, ginising ko na si Poppy. Ayokong mag
CONTENT WARNING!Please note: The following chapter contains s*xual scenes and is intended for mature audiences only. This material is not suitable for minors. Reader discretion is advised.CHAPTER EIGHTY-SIX: OUTING PART V - WARNING!✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧SA ILALIM ng liwanag ng kuwarto, pumaibabaw ako kay Poppy at ginantihan ang halik niya. Half of my weight pressed down on her, and the warmth of our bodies melded together, deepening the connection between us.Her eyes were filled with anticipation and nervousness, and every touch of our lips seemed to ignite a new spark between us. I adjusted our kiss, transitioning from gentle touches to more passionate movements of our lips. Nang ibuka niya ang mga labi niya, I decided to enter her mouth with my tongue. Hindi niya ‘yon inaasahan, pero mahina siyang napaungol.Ginaya niya ang ginawa ko at ‘yong kaniya naman ang sinubukan niyang ipasok sa bibig ko. The sensation of our tongues meeting brought an intense pleasure, and each movement of
CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE: OUTING PART IV - FIRST REAL KISS✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧As I stepped out of the bathroom, the warmth of the shower still lingered on my skin, but it did nothing to calm the unease I felt deep inside. I pulled on a plain white t-shirt and pajama pants, yet the simplicity of the clothes couldn't lighten the heaviness in my chest.Nang igala ko ang tingin sa kuwarto para hanapin si Poppy, nakita ko siya sa balcony, nakatalikod sa ‘kin. Nakasuot na rin siya ng pantulog, pajamas din at mahaba ang manggas ng pang-itaas niya. Kahit nakatalikod siya sa ‘kin at hindi ko nakikita ang mukha niya, ramdam ko ang kaba niya.I knew that feeling all too well—dahil gano’n din ang naramdaman ko kanina nang ako naman ang sumunod na pumasok sa shower room after niya. I had felt the same tension, knowing that tonight would be the first time in a year that we would share the same room, the same bed, after everything that had happened between us.Lumabas ako sa balcony kung nasaan si Poppy—
CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR: OUTING PART III ꧁ POPPY ꧂ “N-NASAAN si Faith?” naiiyak kong tanong kay Kuya Hope matapos niyang ipaliwanag sa ‘kin na edited ang picture ni Faith at Ate Chloe. Maging ang screenshot na pinakita ko ay sinabi niyang fake rin daw. Ini-orient niya rin ako kung ano ‘yong photoshop dahil hindi ko alam ang tungkol doon nang banggitin niya. “Nasa hotel,” sabi ni Kuya Hope, sabay inabot niya sa ‘kin ang phone ko. “Hindi siya sumamang lumabas pagkakain. Ililipat niya raw ‘yong gamit niya sa room namin ni Andreng.” Pagkasabi niya no’n, hindi na ako nakapagpaalam sa kanila. Ang bilis kong tumakbo palayo, pabalik sa hotel. Natandaan ko naman ang papunta sa room ko at nasa bulsa ko rin naman ang key card ko kaya tinungo ko agad ang elevator. Pagdating ko sa palapag na ‘yon, mabilis kong tinakbo ang room ko at binuksan sa pagbabaka sakaling maabutan ko pa si Faith. Pero wala na siya roon, maging ang suitcase niya ay wala na rin. Siguradong nakalipat na siya sa room ni Kuya H
CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREE: OUTING PART II꧁ POPPY ꧂BANDANG alas dies, noong nakapagpahinga na kami matapos kumain ay ‘tsaka kami lumusong sa dagat. Ako, si Ate Summer, Si Tita Baby, Si Sunny at Meng, kami ang magkakasama. Si Mommy Keycee naman at Daddy Ace ay may sariling mundo at medyo malayo sa amin. Ang sweet nila dahil nakasakay pa si Mommy Keycee sa batok ni Daddy Ace.Medyo malayo rin sa amin si Daddylo at Mommyla. Samantalang si Faith, Kuya Hope at Kuya Love naman ang magkaka-bonding. Kahit medyo malayo sila sa amin, nakilala ko pa rin sila base sa kanilang suot. Pare-pareho silang naka-shorts, ngunit si Kuya Hope lang ang walang pang-itaas. Si Kuya Love ay may suot na itim na rash guard, habang si Faith naman ay puting T-shirt. Manipis ‘yon kaya nang mabasa ay bakat na bakat ang katawan niya.Ang saya nila dahil pinagtitripan nila si Kuya Hope. Pinagtutulungan nilang buhatin at ibinabalibag sa tubig. Hindi ko naiwasang pagmasdan si Faith dahil may ngiti na ngayon sa mukha niya. Me