“Naku, abalang-abala na lahat, wala na akong panahon upang kumain. Faith anak, pagkatapos mo sa pagkain baka pwede mo akong samahan?” Zack suppressed a smile after he saw Faith secretly looked at him as if asking for help. Today was supposed to be their parent’s engagement party, much to Zack’s disgust. Not that he was against the idea of lovers celebrating their upcoming wedding, in fact he agreed to it. Zack would love to have the same party of his own with faith when the right time comes. The idea that both of their parents are celebrating their engagement is what pisses him off. Today was also the day both him and Faith decided to sneak out together and go somewhere else to avoid the party that both of them hated, it was already lunch and all of them are gathered in the dining table as per David De Guzman ordered, another thing to be annoyed about. Ano ba naman ang tumatakbo sa isipan ng kanyang ama. Zack wasn’t used to his own father acting like a caring father towards h
Katulad ng inaasahan ay maraming dumalong matataas na tao sa pa party ni David De Guzman. Bilang una pa lamang naman ay ayaw na talaga ni Faith na makisali sa kasiyahan ay heto siya ngayon at halos matulog na kinauupuang silya kahit pa nga pasado alas nueve pa lamang ng gabi. Faith’s eyes roamed around the party hall and sighed as a number of women her age gathered around on the other side of the hall. She no longer needs to check to know what the commotion was all about. Or maybe it is much better to say WHO the cause of the commotion was. Matalim na napairap si Faith saka nag iwas ng tingin at ibinalik na lamang ang atensyon sa ilang taong kausap ng kanyang ina at ni David De Guzman. Faith sighed as she grabbed her half emptied shot glass. Tingin niya ay mas mabuting iyon na lamang ang pag tuunan niya ng pansin kaysa ang kung sinong nag papainit lamang ng kanyang ulo. Katulad ng kanyang ina at ng mapapangasawa nito at lalo ang hudas na si Zack na halayang enjoy na enjoy sa
Hindi malaman ni Faith kung susundan niya ba ang nag wawalang si Valerie na ngayon ay palabas na ng pinto habang umiiyak at nag sisisigaw o mananatiling naka tanga. Naiwan naman sa loob ang may edad nang lalaki na tinawag na ‘father’ ni Valerie kanina, nanatili itong naka tayo habang masama nag tingin sa kanila ni Zack. Some part of her wanted to ask the old man what were they doing in Zack’s room, the party were clearly downstairs and the rooms in the house are private. Ngunit sa nararamdaman niyang pagkahilo dahil sa nainom na alak kanina ay pinili niya na lamang ang manahimik. “Look Mr. Servantes, it wasn’t my intention to let you witness all thi-“ “Don’t explain to him, Zack. He and his daughter should be the one explaining to you, now Mr. Servantes, if I might ask, ano ho ba ang ginagawa niyo sa kwarto ni Zack? Nasa baba ho nagaganap ang party at hindi dito, I hope you are aware that you have entered someone’s personal space by barging in here without the owner inviting you
Walang tigil sa pag iyak si Faith habang inaayos ang kanyang mga gamit. Hindi na rin siya nag abala pang tiklupin ang kanyang mga damit at basta niya na lamang itinapon iyon sa loob ng malaki niyang maleta. Pakiramdam niya ay natutuyo na ang kanyang lalamunan dahil sa pag iyak isama pang tila lalo lamang lumala ang nararamdaman niyang pagkahilo. “Bwisit na alak naman kasi, kung alam ko lang na lalayas pala ako rito ngayong gabi sana hindi nalang ako uminom ng madami!” Malakas ang tinig na paninisi niya sa alak na alam niya namang walang kinalaman sa lahat ng nangyayari. “Ginamit? Ginamit para matigil ang walang kwentang kasalan na ito pala ha? Bwisit ka! Ang sarap sarap mong balatan ng buhay at pahiran ng tinadtad na bawang at sili!” Galit niyang sabi na lalo lamang nag palakas ng kanyang pag iyak. Hindi pa siya nakuntento at na nakuha niya pang samaan ng tingin ang naka saradong pinto ng silid. Faith was mad at him... No scratch mad, she wasn’t mad at Zack Matthew f*cking De
Mag ta-tatlong araw na ang naka lipas mula nang umalis si Faith sa bahay nina Zack. Tatlong araw na rin siyang nag mu-mukmok sa bahay ng kanyang ina. Faith even lost count on how many times she convinced herself to go to the grocery store. For three days, Faith settled herself with food deliveries, refusing to come out of the house or meet other people. And now she wanted to go out and run to grocery to get her something or anything to do, which means she was actually hoping that maybe cooking or baking something would at least divert her attention or have herself something to be busy about aside from isolating herself to the world, yet for some reason she was trying to understand, Faith just couldn’t find any courage to do so. “Oh for Pete’s sake, Faith... You are just going out, pick up some groceries and go straight back home. Fine, the as*hole betrayed you, so what? Hindi pa katapusan ng mundo, so pull yourself together and get over it!” Tila isang tangang sermon niya sa s
“Oh my God, Jared? Hi, kamusta ka na? Ang tagal na rin ha?” Pilit na pilit ang ngiting sabi ni Faith, pilit niya ring pinapasaya ang kanyang tinig kahit pa ang kanyang buong atensyon ay naka pako sa kinatatayuan ni Zack kanina. Tahimik na umaasang muling makita si Zack kahit pa hindi niya nga sigurado kung naroon nga ito kanina o dala lamang ng kanyang pagkabalisa at ibang tao ang kanyang nakita at inakalang si Zack iyon. Whatever that is, Faith was hoping it was real. “Eto maayos naman, yes it has been a long time, balita ko big time model ka na raw ah?” Malaki ang ngiting sabi ni Jared. Sandali naman itong pinagmasdan ni Faith. He grew tall, and achingly good looking and muscular too. Kung hindi niya lamang alam na nag ta-trabaho ito sa USA bilang isang marine engineer ay iisipin niyang isa rin itong big time model. “Uyy hindi naman, I am just a model, not big time-big time model, but sure, that is what I do... Ikaw nga itong mukhang super big time na eh.” Faith smiled her
“The guy was all over you for almost two years now, Faith...” Naiiling na sabi ni Talia habang humihigop ng kape. “Yeah, I know that...” Kagat-labi niyang sabi saka tinapunan ng tingin ang isang bouquet ng red roses na kaka abot lamang sa kanya ng isang delivery man. “You know that, so? May balak ka bang sagutin kasi kung hindi pwede mong ipasa sa akin, tumatangap naman ako ng used.” Taas kilay na sabi pa ni Talia, sinamaan naman ito ng tingin ni Faith.” “I just don’t know, okay? I didn’t say I don’t like him, ewan ko ba alam ko naman na halos dalawang taon na rin akong nililigawan ni Jared, I mean I know the guy was serious, he’s in love with me and I like him... it’s just that... hindi ba masyado namang mabilisan kung sasagutin ko na siya ngayon?” Wala sa sariling sabi ni Faith. Dalawang taon na mula nang bumalik siya sa Paris at bumalik sa pag mo-modelo at iwan ang problema niya sa Pilipinas. Katulad ng sinabi sa kanya ni Jared noon ay tinangap nga nito ang trabaho sa Pari
Kulang na lamang ay mapatalon sa kinauupuang sofa si Faith dahil sa matinding gulat nang malakas na tumunog ang kanyang doorbell. Hindi niya na kailangan pang hulaan kung sino iyon, sino pa nga ba ang taong kanyang inaasahang dumating? Faith rolled her eyes at the thought as she forced herself off the couch and meet her visitor. And she was right, standing by the door was Jared Agustin, he was smiling brightly at her while in his hands were a bottle of her favorite wine and on his other hand was her favorite flowers. “Hi!” Masayang pag bati nito nito sa kanya habang ngiting-ngiti pa rin. And holly hell, this guy is so beautiful he never fails to make her smile by just simply seeing him. And hell no, Faith was sure she wasn’t in love with him, and just how much she hated herself for not being in love with him all this years. And hated herself even more that right at this moment she was actually planning on making it official with a man she’s not even in love with. “Hello, I am
Pakiramdam ni Faith ay tila kakawala sa loob ng kanyang dibdib ang puso dahil sa lakas ng tibok niyon, isama pang pakiramdam niya ay agad nanlambot ang kanyang mga tuhod kasabay ng panlalamig ng buo niyang katawan nang pag pasok pa lamang sa loob ng hospital room ng ina ay agad nang bumungad sa kanya ang halos buto’t-balat na lamang niyang ina. Kasalukuyan itong naka higa sa hospital bed nito, naka pikit man at tila tulog ay bakas pa rin ang hirap na nararamdaman nito. Nahigit na lamang ni Faith ang pag hinga saka pilit na pinigil ang pamumuo ng ilang butil ng luha sa mata nang makita ang lagay ng ina, isama pa ang ilang aparatong naka kabit rito na siya lamang nag padagdag sa labis niyang kaba. Faith knew that her mother was sick, but she didn’t know that she was bad off like this. She can barely recognize her, her mother was so thin that she could almost see her bones poking through her skin. Faith’s heart tightened from the sight of her mother, isama pa ang pag sisising sa la
Mariing nakagat ni Faith ang pang ibabang labi nang halos ilang minuto na lamang ang layo nila sa ospital at hangang ngayon ay hindi pa rin siya kinakausap ni Jared. Kung kakausapin man siya nito ay tanging oo at hindi o ‘di kaya naman ay ewan lamang ang sasabihin sa kanya. Hindi naman ito masisi ni Faith, kahit sinong fiance naman siguro ay mawawala sa mood at higit na mawawalan ng gana lalo pa at ang layo ng isinagot niya sa ‘mahal kita’ nito kanina. Hindi kaya planeta ang sun. Alam ko Faith, nag bibiro lang, sa haba ng sinabi ko, iyon lang ba ang napansin mo? Well uhm... what did you say? I just said I love you, Faith... But don’t worry about it, wala namang bago, for you, the words I love you is such a big word. Mas lalo pang tila hindi mapakali sa kinauupuang taxi si Faith nang sandaling sumagi sa isipan ang naging pag uusap nila kanina. Faith never get the chance to answer when Jared already jumped off his seat and started to get ready to hop off the plane, since that co
Pakiramdam ni Faith ay tila sinisilaban ang kanyang pwet habang hindi mapakaling naka upo sa waiting area ng airport na iyon. Kasama niya ang fiance na si Jared na pilit pinapagaan ang kanyang loob sa pag kwento ng tungkol sa plano nitong pag papatayo ng bahay sa Pilipinas, kasama niya itong nag hihintay sa kanilang flight pabalik ng Pilipinas. Hindi kasi pumayag si Jared na lumipad siyang mag isa, kaya’t sa kabila ng sobrang busy ng schedule nito sa trabaho ay pinilit pa rin nitong masamahan siya. Faith couldn’t explain how worried she was after she found out yesterday that her mother was in the hospital sick, she didn’t think twice and immediately booked a flight to the Philippines the next day. “Hey, everything will be okay...” Naka ngiting alo sa kanyna ni Jared, kahit paano ay gumaan ang bigat ng kanyang pakiramdam dahil sa labis na pag aalala para sa inang may sakit nang kunin ni Jared ang kanyang kamay at mahigpit iyong pinisil-pisil. Nag pilit naman ng ngiti si Faith sa
Kanina pang naka ngiti si Faith habang pinag lalaruan ang kumikinang na singsing sa kanyang daliri. It’s been a year since she and Jared was officially in a relationship, and in that one year, Faith was finally able to settle her doubts and fears. She was so scared that in a month or so, she would hurt Jared Agustin’s feeling and just how much happy she is that she didn’t. Jared had been really understanding of her, he listens to every drama she would tell him, masyado rin itong sweet at maalaga. Sex with Jared was amazing, though she wouldn’t dare to deny that it wasn’t so great as she remembered it to be with someone who’s memories she chose to burry for a long time now, ever since the day she embraced the fact that whatever she had with Jared should be serious. She was happy with him, or at least Jared never failed to make her happy in every little thing he does. Katulad na lamang ngayon, kasalukuyan siyang nasa coffee shop malapit sa modeling company na kanyang nag ta-trabah
The kiss Faith shares with Jared was amazing, she’s not going to try to deny that. In fact it was so good but she couldn’t help but to pull away. Jared looked at her, confusion was etched on his face and Faith couldn’t do anything but force a smile at her. “Sorry, I’m just...” “No, it’s okay... Pareho nating first time ang halik na ito sa isa’t-isa. I am not gonna lie, I feel a bit uncomfortable too... Don’t worry about it Faith.” Naka ngiting sabi ni Jared na halatang pilit na pinapagaan ang namumuong pagkailang sa pagitan nila. “Isa pa, hindi lang naman ito ang una at huli natin eh, the next time we try to kiss each other, I know it’ll be better.” Dagdag pa nito. Nag pilit naman ngiti si Faith saka tipid na tumango. “Y-yeah, I- I am really sorry Jared, I just... Tama ka, pareho pa tayong naiilang sa isa’t-isa, next time that we try I am sure it’ll be a lot more better.” Damn it! What the hell is wrong with me? This is just a freaking kiss, it’s no big deal! It’s not like
Kulang na lamang ay mapatalon sa kinauupuang sofa si Faith dahil sa matinding gulat nang malakas na tumunog ang kanyang doorbell. Hindi niya na kailangan pang hulaan kung sino iyon, sino pa nga ba ang taong kanyang inaasahang dumating? Faith rolled her eyes at the thought as she forced herself off the couch and meet her visitor. And she was right, standing by the door was Jared Agustin, he was smiling brightly at her while in his hands were a bottle of her favorite wine and on his other hand was her favorite flowers. “Hi!” Masayang pag bati nito nito sa kanya habang ngiting-ngiti pa rin. And holly hell, this guy is so beautiful he never fails to make her smile by just simply seeing him. And hell no, Faith was sure she wasn’t in love with him, and just how much she hated herself for not being in love with him all this years. And hated herself even more that right at this moment she was actually planning on making it official with a man she’s not even in love with. “Hello, I am
“The guy was all over you for almost two years now, Faith...” Naiiling na sabi ni Talia habang humihigop ng kape. “Yeah, I know that...” Kagat-labi niyang sabi saka tinapunan ng tingin ang isang bouquet ng red roses na kaka abot lamang sa kanya ng isang delivery man. “You know that, so? May balak ka bang sagutin kasi kung hindi pwede mong ipasa sa akin, tumatangap naman ako ng used.” Taas kilay na sabi pa ni Talia, sinamaan naman ito ng tingin ni Faith.” “I just don’t know, okay? I didn’t say I don’t like him, ewan ko ba alam ko naman na halos dalawang taon na rin akong nililigawan ni Jared, I mean I know the guy was serious, he’s in love with me and I like him... it’s just that... hindi ba masyado namang mabilisan kung sasagutin ko na siya ngayon?” Wala sa sariling sabi ni Faith. Dalawang taon na mula nang bumalik siya sa Paris at bumalik sa pag mo-modelo at iwan ang problema niya sa Pilipinas. Katulad ng sinabi sa kanya ni Jared noon ay tinangap nga nito ang trabaho sa Pari
“Oh my God, Jared? Hi, kamusta ka na? Ang tagal na rin ha?” Pilit na pilit ang ngiting sabi ni Faith, pilit niya ring pinapasaya ang kanyang tinig kahit pa ang kanyang buong atensyon ay naka pako sa kinatatayuan ni Zack kanina. Tahimik na umaasang muling makita si Zack kahit pa hindi niya nga sigurado kung naroon nga ito kanina o dala lamang ng kanyang pagkabalisa at ibang tao ang kanyang nakita at inakalang si Zack iyon. Whatever that is, Faith was hoping it was real. “Eto maayos naman, yes it has been a long time, balita ko big time model ka na raw ah?” Malaki ang ngiting sabi ni Jared. Sandali naman itong pinagmasdan ni Faith. He grew tall, and achingly good looking and muscular too. Kung hindi niya lamang alam na nag ta-trabaho ito sa USA bilang isang marine engineer ay iisipin niyang isa rin itong big time model. “Uyy hindi naman, I am just a model, not big time-big time model, but sure, that is what I do... Ikaw nga itong mukhang super big time na eh.” Faith smiled her
Mag ta-tatlong araw na ang naka lipas mula nang umalis si Faith sa bahay nina Zack. Tatlong araw na rin siyang nag mu-mukmok sa bahay ng kanyang ina. Faith even lost count on how many times she convinced herself to go to the grocery store. For three days, Faith settled herself with food deliveries, refusing to come out of the house or meet other people. And now she wanted to go out and run to grocery to get her something or anything to do, which means she was actually hoping that maybe cooking or baking something would at least divert her attention or have herself something to be busy about aside from isolating herself to the world, yet for some reason she was trying to understand, Faith just couldn’t find any courage to do so. “Oh for Pete’s sake, Faith... You are just going out, pick up some groceries and go straight back home. Fine, the as*hole betrayed you, so what? Hindi pa katapusan ng mundo, so pull yourself together and get over it!” Tila isang tangang sermon niya sa s