I was patiently waiting for Sean to call me pero umabot na nang alas onse ng gabi ay hindi pa rin siya tumatawag. When the clock hit the 11:50 pm, kinuha ko iyong cellphone ko at nagtungo sa balcony ng kwarto.When the countdown started, I quickly grabbed my phone and composed a happy new year greeting for Sean dahil gusto kong eksaktong alas dose ko siya babatiin.When the time hit twelve o'clock, sinend ko na kaagad iyong text at napatingin sa langit para mapanood iyong mga fireworks displays na makikita mula rito sa kwarto ko.I was admiring the fireworks display when my phone vibrated. I smiled even more when I saw Sean's name on the screen. Mabilis kong sinagot ang tawag niya."Happy new year!" I greeted him.Narinig ko siyang mahinang tumawa mula sa kabilang linya. "Happy new year.""Kakauwi niyo lang? What are you doing?" nakangiting tanong ko. "I'm currently watching fireworks display.""I know," he told me. I heard him laugh a little. "Look down."Mabilis akong tumingin sa ba
"Your first semester grades are nothing compared to what I am expecting!"Napapikit ako sa lakas ng sigaw ni Mommy. During prelims, midterms, and semi-finals, nasanay na akong lagi niya akong pinapagalitan every time she saw my grades but this time it's different."I told you to do better! Is your relationship with Sean hindering you to do better?!""This has nothing to do with my relationship with him, Mom.""Then what is this? You call this a president's lister grade?! You're only point one ahead of your friend! Point one! Kung hindi ka sinuswerte, naagaw na sa 'yo ng kaibigan mo ang pwesto sa pagiging number one sa list!"Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko bago muling yumuko, pilit pinipigilan ang sarili sa pagsasalita upang ipaliwanag ang sarili ko. I did better this semester, I know that.It's just that... Nova also did better. And I don't see any problem with that. Nova also deserves to be on the first list. If I wasn't just one point ahead of her, I would surely be happy because sh
"Ate..." Ashley knocked on the door of my room.Sean and I just got home from spending our day together since it was our first anniversary today. Lumabas lang kami, nanood ng sine, at kumain. We just decided to have our dinner sa balcony ng kwarto niya at siya raw ang magluluto."Bakit?" nakangiting tanong ko sa kaniya."Baba ka raw sabi ni Kuya Sean. May ipapagawa ata," nakangiting sabi niya.Tumango kaagad ako sa kaniya bago muling sinuot iyong coat ko."Si Sean po, Tito?" tanong ko dahil hindi ko mahanap si Sean nang makababa ako. Hindi ko na rin kasi makita si Ashley dahil mukhang pumasok na rin sa kwarto niya."Nasa labas, 'nak. Kanina ka pa pinapatawag kay Ashley."Nilagay ko ang dalawang kamay ko sa bulsa ng coat ko bago nagtungo sa labas. Maingat kong binuksan ang gate at doon ko naabutan si Sean na naghihintay."Bakit?" tanong ko kaagad sa kaniya nang makalapit. "May ipapagawa ka raw?""Hop in, I've got a surprise for you," nakangiting sabi niya."What surprise are you talkin
warning: R18. Read at your own risk."Now, let's delve into an essential aspect of cabin crew training—security. Ensuring the safety of passengers and the aircraft is paramount. We'll be simulating scenarios involving unruly passengers and potential threats."Miss Bethany proceeds to explain various security protocols and procedures to us."In the event of an unruly passenger, your primary goal is to de-escalate the situation and ensure the safety of everyone on board. You have the authority to restrain the individual using approved methods if necessary."She demonstrated how to use restraints and communicate with an unruly passenger while remaining calm and composed.In the next part of the simulation, we practiced identifying potential security threats, such as suspicious behavior or unattended items.The simulation ended with us having a better understanding of how to handle security-related scenarios."Dinner tayo, sasama ka ba?" baling sa akin ni Lei. Nasa restroom kami ngayon at
"Did you make a wish na?" I asked him. He is now holding both of my hands.Tumango siya sa akin bago matamis na ngumiti. "I hope your wish comes true," he whispered."Yours, too," nakangiting balik ko. "You know, I heard there's a legend that says if you kiss under a shooting star, your love will last forever," I smirked."Is that so? Well, I wouldn't want to tempt fate."Without second thoughts, I leaned in, and we shared a sweet, passionate kiss under the starlit sky.We are now lying side by side, cuddled up on the blanket, still gazing at the stars. Nakasandal na ako sa dibdib niya habang siya ay nilalaro ang buhok ko."This has been the perfect date so far," bulong ko sa kaniya.He reached for my hand and squeezed it. "I'm glad you think so. I just know that you're exhausted from your ojt that's why I wanted tonight to be special for us... especially for you."We just ate at Leslie's Ridge and Restaurant for dinner. Too bad gabi na kaya hindi na namin makita iyong view ng Taal Vo
"Avril..."Pakiramdam ko ay tumayo ang mga balahibo ko nang biglang sumulpot si Nova sa harapan ko. Ayokong magpa-apekto sa sinabi ni Mommy sa akin pero hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili kong maglagay ng kaunting distansya sa kanila."Is everything okay?" tanong niya."Huh?""I might be wrong but I can feel that you're avoiding us. May nasabi na naman bang hindi maganda ang Mommy mo sa 'yo?""I'm not avoiding you---""Magsisinungaling ka ba sa akin?""Nova, believe me. It's not like that---""I was actually in your house earlier. Bibisitahin sana kita para iabot 'yong bigay ni Nanay pero aksidente kong narinig ang pagtatalo niyo ng Mommy mo," pag-kwento niya."It's just because of my---""Dahil sa puntos na lamang mo sa akin?" muling putol niya. "Pinapagalitan ka ba dahil doon? Kasi ayaw ng Mommy mo na maagaw ko sa 'yo 'yong pwesto sa pagiging una sa PL?""Hindi---""Kung pinapagalitan ka dahil doon, you can tell it to me. Hindi ko din naman alam na kaya kong abutin ang ganung grade. Wala
Masama ang loob kong umuwi sa bahay. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa mga binitawang salita ni Nova kanina or because I am aware that Mom was behind of this. I stormed into the living room, my eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and hurt."We need to talk," I demanded, my voice tight with emotion.She looked up, seemingly unfazed by my intensity. "What's the matter?" she curiously asked."You know exactly what's the matter!" I shouted, my fists clenched at my sides. "Is it true? May kinalaman ka ba talaga sa cheating issue ni Nova?"Her eyes widened in feigned innocence. "Why would I get involved in that mess?"I took a deep breath, trying to control the rising tide of frustration. "I overheard your conversation on the phone earlier!"She sighed, putting her phone down and standing to face me. "Stop accusing me of the things that I never did. And why would you listen to the conversation of others?""Just please tell me the truth!""What is happening here?" takang tanong ni Daddy na kak
"How dare you say that to him?! You should've answered him politely! Why do you have to embarass me?!"Mom was fuming mad as she shout at me. Panay ang paglakad niya habang hinihilot ang kaniyang sintido."I just told him the right words, Mom. Totoo naman pong may boyfriend ako. And I don't want him to think that I'm interested.""You should've just said yes! Hindi naman ibig sabihin no'n ay pumayag ka na kaagad na nirereto ka niya sa bunsong anak niya!"Nag-angat ako ng tingin. "So, I'm right? Nirereto niya nga po talaga sa akin ang anak niya?""My God, Janniza! Where are your brains?!""Janine," suway ni Daddy sa kaniya. "Why are you putting the blame on your daughter? You're obviously disrespecting her relationship with Sean. She just did the right thing.""I am not disrespecting her relationship with Sean! I am just trying to introduce her to someone else!""Introduce her for what? Alam mong hindi mabilis maging komportable ang anak mo sa ibang tao," sagot ni Daddy sa kaniya."Tha
"Nasaan ka na? Napakatagal naman nito. Galing ka bang ibang bansa? Mag-iisang oras na 'yang on the way mo!" sunod-sunod na talak ni Mikko pagkatapos kong sagutin ang tawag niya."Traffic nga. Anong gusto mo, lumipad ako?" tanong ko sa kaniya habang nasa daan pa rin ang tingin.He asked me to come to their house to help him in practicing new songs. Wala naman akong ginagawa kaya pumayag na lang din ako."Tawagan mo ako kapag malapit ka na."Pinatay na niya ang tawag kaya muling tumahimik sa kotse ko. When I arrived at their house, mabilis kong kinuha ang cellphone ko para tawagan siya. I can just enter their house but when I went to the front door, wala sa sarili akong napasilip sa glass window nila at nakitang nandoon si Brix kasama ang mga kaibigan niya.I stopped dialing Mikko's number and unconsciously looked at the girl with the blue hair clip. She was busy telling something while her friends were in full ears. I can't help but to smile while looking at her. She really looks hands
"I'm doing fine," I told her a few minutes after being silent. "Sean is always taking care of me.""I'm really glad to hear that," tumatangong sabi niya. "To be honest, I--- I really have something to tell you.""What is it?" tanong ko kaagad."I'm opening a small restaurant tomorrow. I know this is too much to ask but I still wanted to invite you for the mini opening."I bit the inside of my cheeks when I heard. She's opening a restaurant? Bata palang ako alam kong magaling talaga si Mommy when it comes to business and knowing the family she came, alam kong hindi naman siya mahihirapang magsimula ulit."May I know the other details?" I asked her, remaining a poker face."Eight in the morning," she said. "Don't worry. My family isn't coming. I only invited you and some of the staff and people I know personally.""Titingnan ko po," tipid na sagot ko kahit na alam ko sa sarili kong pupunta ako. Of course, I would still love to come. I wanted to show her support."You can invite Sean if
My life went on normally. Wala namang nagbago bukod sa palaging nakadikit sa akin si Sean. Sa tuwing wala akong flight ay gumagawa talaga siya ng paraan so he can stick beside me. Hindi ko alam pero napansin kong habang tumatagal ay mas nagiging clingy siya lalo sa akin and I'm not complaining."Hug?" tanong sa akin ni Sean, pumipikit-pikit pa ang mga mata niya dahil kakagising niya lang din. Nakatulog kasi siya kagabi habang nanonood kami ng movie kaya hindi ko na lang din siya ginising pa.I extended my arms on him to give him a hug. Mabilis naman siyang lumapit sa akin at sa sobrang aggressive ng pagkakayakap niya sa akin ay napasandal ang likod ko sa backrest ng sofa."Clingy mo, ah?" natatawang tanong ko sa kaniya habang bahagyang sinusuklyan ang buhok niya gamit ang daliri ko."Love..." he called me, his eyes still closed. "Can I ask you a question?"Bahagya akong tumawa. "You're already asking me na," I said.Nagmulat siya ng mga mata bago maingat na inabot ang kamay ko. Maraha
"Nagkabalikan na nga kayo?"Napapikit ako nang muling itanong ni Lei sa akin iyon. Alas sais palang ng umaga nang dumating siya dito at hanggang ngayon ay tinatanong niya pa rin iyon kahit na ilang beses ko na rin siyang sinagot."Balak mo bang itanong sa akin 'yan hanggang matapos ang araw na 'to?" nauubusan na ng pasensya na tanong ko sa kaniya."Hindi naman." Umiling siya. "Wala. Hindi na kita magagawang maid of honor niyan kasi kailangan partner kayo ni Kuya Sean," she pouted."Pwede mo pa rin naman akong gawing maid of honor. Ano naman kung hindi kami partner?" tanong ko."Mas maganda kung partner kayo!" she suddenly shouted kaya naman bahagya akong nagulat. Tumayo siya para lumapit at umupo sa harapan ko. Tahimik niyang inabot ang dalawang kamay ko bago hinawakan iyon."Are you happy?" seryosong tanong bigla sa akin.Matagal ko siyang tinitigan sa mukha bago unti-unting tumango bilang sagot. "Of course, Lei. I am beyond happy.""Is this really what you want? Are you sure you can
"What the hell was that?! Why did he kiss you on your forehead?!"As soon as Sean left, Lei immediately dragged me inside the house. Nanlalaki ang mga mata niya na parang naguguluhan sa nasaksihan kanina."Oh my God! Nagkabalikan na ba kayo?! Ano? Kayo na ulit?! Kailan pa? Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin?! I should be the first one to know!"Napasapo ako sa noo ko. This is the reason why I prefer to tell them in a nice way. Kung biglaan kasi, talagang ganito rin ang magiging reaksyon ni Lei."Kanina lang, okay? Nag-usap kami kanina," sagot ko."Kanina?! During our engagement party?! So, naging tulay pa pala itong party namin sa inyo?"Nagkibit-balikat ako. "Siguro. Parang ganun na nga.""Bruha ka!"Kung hindi lang siguro pagod at nakainom si Lei ay talagang aabot kami ng umaga para makwento ko sa kaniya ang lahat ng nangyari simula noong alumni party.The next day, tinanghali na ako ng gising. Sobrang sakit ng ulo ko dahil sa hang over kaya naman naligo na ako bago tuluyang bumaba para
"Where are you confused, Ril? For what specific reason are you confused?"Napayuko ako at marahang minasahe ang sintido ko. Masakit na ang ulo ko kakaisip sa mga kung anumang pwedeng mangyari."I don't know," tanging nasabi ko na lamang."Is it about your ex?"Unti-unting akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya. Kahit kailan ay hindi niya sinubukang magtanong tungkol sa ex ko o tungkol kay Mommy dahil alam niyang sensitive ang topic na iyon sa akin.He licked his lower lip when he saw my reaction. "Does he... hurt you? Does he make you cry? What did he do to you?"'Mabilis akong umiling sa kaniya bilang sagot. "We just talked. I gave him the closure that he had been wanting. Sinabi ko na sa kaniya lahat...""Does he... want to reconcile?""Hindi ko alam," mahinang sagot ko. "I've been wanting to contact him. Pero hindi ko magawa... hindi ko kaya.""Do you..." Napakagat siya sa ibabang labi niya bago pinasadahan ng mga daliri ang kaniyang buhok. "... still love him?"Nakita ko kung paano s
"Water party?" tanong kaagad ni Tyler. Madaling araw na kaya naman nagulat ako nang makitang nandito pa siya sa living room at gising pa. "I told you to call me so I can pick you up. What happened to you?" takang tanong niya bago kumuha ng towel para ipatong sa akin."Ty..." tawag ko sa kaniya. He immediately opened his arms for me, signalling me for a hug. Mabilis akong lumapit sa kaniya para yumakap. "I'm tired," bulong ko bago hinayaan ang sariling umiyak sa kaniya."What happened?" Mas lalong nagpakita ang pag-aalala sa mukha niya. "Who made you cry? Did something happened during the party?" seryosong tanong niya. "Tell me, Ril. Who made you cry? Who hurt you?""No one," umiiling na sagot ko sa kaniya. "I'm sorry.""What are you sorry for?" mahinang tanong niya. He held my face and wiped my tears away using his thumb. "Hmmm?"Hindi ko magawang ikwento sa kaniya ang nangyari bagkus ay umiyak lamang ako ng umiyak sa kaniya. Nakatulog ako habang nakayakap sa kaniya. Paggising ko, nas
Naghiyawan ang mga tao, nangunguna si Lei. Pakiramdam ko ay namumula na ang mukha ko dahil sa tanong. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang isasagot ko. He's talking about me and Sean, right? Wala naman akong ibang naging boyfriend bukod sa kaniya."Not anymore," mahinang sagot ko.Disappointment flashed on their faces after I answered. May mga nagbulungan at nagtanong kung bakit, kung kailan, at kung paano."Kalma!" tumawa si Chris, iyong host namin ngayong gabi. "Ito na lang ang tanong. Are you single, taken, engaged, or married?""Uh," awkward akong tumawa. "I'm single.""May pag-asa pa! Uso comeback!" malakas na sigaw ng isang lalaking hindi ko kilala. Umani iyon ng malakas na tawanan."Sorry kay Sean pero huwag na! Give chance to others!""Gago!" Malakas na sigaw ni Kuya Kai mula sa gilid ng stage."Hoy, tangina mo, Arturo! Swerte mo wala si Sean dito!" tumatawa ring sigaw ni Kuya Axel."Gago, nasa likod si Kuya Sean!"Sabay-sabay kaming napatingin sa likuran. Nakapamulsang naglalakad si Se
"Talk?" tanong ko. "Ano namang... pag-uusapan natin?""It's been four months since you came back yet we still haven't talk about what happened three years---""That was three years ago already, Sean. Do we really have to talk about it?" putol ko sa kaniya."Of course," he whispered, mukhang hindi niya inaasahan na itatanong ko iyon sa kaniya. "Don't you want to talk about it?""Hindi naman sa ayaw." Umiling ako. "Nakainom ka kasi. Let's just talk when you're---""Sober?" mabilis na putol niya sa akin. "That's what you told me the last time I tried to talk to you..."I looked away, feeling guilty. I know he deserves to know everything for him to start moving forward. But why does it feels illegal to me na ibigay sa kaniya ang closure na gusto niya dahil ayoko siyang umabante? I want to be stuck in our past relationship with him. Gusto ko... pareho kaming hindi makausad."Ano pa bang gusto mong malaman?""About what exactly happened.""Hanggang ngayon nakakulong ka pa rin sa nangyari?"