Chapter 16 | Consider
"Anong gagawin ko ngayon, Kurt?"
"Malay ko sa 'yo!"
"Putangina, seryoso kasi!"
"Ako ba ang nagpabuhat at na-picture-an? Hindi naman?"
I frustratingly groaned that my throat almost got scratched. Sumakto pang kumirot muli ang isang parte ng aking ulo dulot ng hangover kaya pabagsak akong umupo sa gilid ng kama.
Kanina pa ako gising, nakapag-almusal at nakaligo na rin nang nalaman ko mula kay Kurt na ako na ang usapan sa unibersidad.
Maraming friends si Kurt sa Facebook na batch mate namin kaya kahit sobrang layo ng post ay napadpad sa news feed niya. Hiniling k
Chapter 17 | CarEveryone was confused as fuck. They obviously wanted answers from both of us but they were probably too anxious to ask either one of us.Their eyes kept looking at me and then back to Marcus. I wasn't sure if Marcus already told them what we talked about... but maybe he didn't.The day went awkwardly and the silence every time Marcus and I would cross paths was overly dramatic. Their fake coughs and deep sighs made me uncomfortable too.The thing that Marcus told me about her mother and childhood kept repeating inside my head like a boomerang. I asked myself if my decision was really selfish to offend him that much.I knew he had feelings for me, but he also said to
Chapter 18 | KnowI almost forgot to text my father because Kurt got me frustrated to the core. My fingers were shaking as I typed a short message to my father saying that we were now close to Kurt's house.I couldn't exactly describe my feelings, I was nervous about whatever Kurt planned to do.Pinagkatiwalaan ko si Kurt sa lahat ng mga sikreto ko pero hindi ko kayang pagkatiwalaan ang mga ideya niyang ganito. Sa ngisi niya pa lang ay halata ko ng may masamang balak 'tong kaibigan ko.Sa dami ng taong pwede niyang paki-usapan na sunduin kami ay bakit si Marcus pa? Halata mo talagang sinadya kahit saan mo tingnan... at ito namang si Marcus, akala ko ba'y pang-business lang iyong numerong niya kay Kurt?
Chapter 19 | Fear"Naks, blooming," halakhak ni Kurt nang nakita niya akong bumaba mula sa ikalawang palapag ng kanilang upahan.Pinilit kong magseryoso ngunit nakatakas pa rin ang aking ngiti.Tulad ng mga nagdaang araw ay sabay kami ni Kurt pumunta sa karinderya. Maliwanag na ang langit hudyat ng panibagong araw. Hindi ko nga lang mawari kung bakit tila ba mas magaan na ang aking loob kaninang paggising na kahit pa siguro tuksuhin ako ni Kurt buong magdamag ay hindi ako maiinis."We?" tukso pa niya at siniko ang kaliwa kong braso, "hindi ka pa nagkukwento sa 'kin tungkol sa nangyari kahapon.""Tulad ng sinabi mo, mag-usap kami, kaya nag-usap kami.""Sus, Ian! Sa tagal kitang kai
Chapter 20 | Favor When I was younger, I was prone to letting things slip. It was simple for me to disregard things, no matter how wrong they seemed, because no one ever spoke out against it in our household. They claimed it was a form of discipline, and most family households had inherited it as well... but even as a child, I sensed deep down that violence wasn't right. I couldn't recall everything, but the emotion I experienced every time my mother yelled furiously at us lingered in my soul like a deep untreated scar. The only thing I hoped for before was for it to end as quickly as possible. I didn't pay attention to her statements, and I couldn't digest anything anyway since fear consumed my system. My sister definitely had it worse. Unlike me, she experienced physical harm and it would always happen whenever
Chapter 21 | GoEven after a few seconds had transpired, none of the three of us began to talk. I sensed that they were still shocked by my presence since they didn't see me coming earlier. The cool December breeze hit our skin, making me feel slightly uncomfortably cold. When I got outside, I was literally dressed in an oversized white shirt and knee-length shorts. The weather was irritating me, and the fact that these two refused to speak irritated me more.Kurt blinked repeatedly, while Marcus remained still. I grew impatient with waiting so I asked again, “Hello? Magsasalita ba kayo o ano?”“Wait lang, nagulat kasi ako,” Kurt hissed, “pero ie-explain ko sa ‘yo mamaya. Aalis na kasi sila Marcus.”“Okay,&rdquo
Chapter 22 | Hanap As we entered the rooftop garden, we were greeted by the cold December wind. The wind was definitely different from the cold felt in Manila; the temperature here in Tagaytay, despite being chilly, was comforting. As I slowly approached the rails, I happily embraced the coldness of the night. The rooftop was home to a variety of plants that I was unfamiliar with, as well as bright lights hung above us. I unconsciously gripped the bars, causing my hands to shiver; it was freezing! Because my skin couldn't endure the coolness, I opted not to touch it again. As an alternative, I let my elbows rest on the bars. I squeezed myself as I leaned forward to take in the night view of Tagaytay. The city resembled a parallel of the sky with all of the establishments lit up like stars. When I looked up, I not
Chapter 23 | GreetWalang ibang tao sa sala kung hindi ako, sina Aphro, mama, papa, lolo at ang bisita ko umanong si Marcus. Lumabas si Aphro sa terrace habang busy si mama paupuin si Marcus sa sofa. Si papa naman ay na sa tabi ni lolo na nakaupo sa harap ng dining table at mukhang abala rin si papa aliwin si lolo.“Hindi naman nasabi ni Ian na may bisita pala siyang dadating,” natatawang sabi ni mama kay Marcus na halatang hindi komportable sa pag-upo.Hawak niya ang mga regalong para sa akin daw na kanilang hinanda. Naka-polong maroon lang si Marcus at black jeans ngunit dahil sa maayos niyang porma at mukha ay hindi magkakamali ang kahit sino na mayaman ang isang ‘to. Sana lang talaga at hindi siya kinulit ng mga tao sa labas kanina dahil nakakahiya para sa akin iyon.
Chapter 24 | NotificationMabuti na lamang at hindi na ako muling kinausap ng sinoman sa aking pamilya tungkol kay Marcus sa mga sumunod na araw. Wala rin naman akong masasabi sa kanila dahil totoo namang walang namamagitan sa aming dalawa. Ni hindi ko nga matukoy kung magkaibigan ba kami ngayon o ano, kahit ako ay hindi rin sigurado kung ano ba kami sa isa’t isa… ngunit ang alam ko lang sa aking sarili ay komportable ako tuwing kasama siya.Wala namang kaso sa akin kung dadalas ang aming pag-uusap at pagkikita, tanging ang mga mapanghusgang mga tao lamang na nakabantay sa amin ang lagi kong inaalala na nagiging dahilan din upang mas lumayo ako kay Marcus. Hindi ko rin maintindihan ang sarili ko kung bakit tila sobrang apektado ako sa iniisip ng iba tungkol sa akin. Hindi mapakali ang damdamin ko tuwing iniisip ang mga bagay na ito at hindi ko rin
Epilogue 3 | #LOMEpilogue3 I went back to our condo the same night with a broken heart and a blank mind. I thought I couldn't feel pain anymore after everything I'd gone through, but the pain caused by Mercian was far more excruciating than any hurt I'd felt. Gaano man ako nasaktan sa mga sinabi ni Ian kanina, hindi ko pa rin magawang magalit at sisihin siya sa biglaang desisyon. Inisip ko na baka pagod lang siya at siguro nga'y may hindi siya naunawaan sa akin na dapat kong linawin sa susunod naming pag-uusap. Kailan naman kaya dadating ang araw na iyon kung sinabi niya nga kaninang huwag ko na siya muling balikan? Hindi ako mapapakaling hindi maayos ang problema naming 'to. Sa dami ng hawak kong responsibilidad, siya lang ang siguradong hindi ko kayang bitawan. Kilala ko si Ian at kung inaamin niya nga ang mga sinabi niya kanina ay
Epilogue 2 | #LOMEpilogue2 “What?” I unintentionally raised my voice, which made my parents’ eyes widen. My father then continued what he was saying after a minute of silence, “We’re enrolling Minah to a public school in Marikina. It’s not far from here and she has her own driver to take her there every day—” “That’s not the point, Pa. Why do you suddenly decide to enroll her there? Maraming mas magagandang paaralan dito sa Manila. Don’t you think it’s better to enroll her in Syru, too, so that Trojan can also look out for her?” “She doesn’t want to study there,” mom said. I rolled my eyes. “How did you know that? Tinanong niyo ba siya? Or is this because of Abuela’s never-ending hatred towards her? Are you enrolling her in a public school be
Epilogue 1 | #LOMEpilogue1 “Hoy, si Lucre ba ‘yon?” “Huh, saan?” I lowered my head a bit and walked faster so they wouldn't catch up with me. When I heard their voices becoming louder, I tightened my grip on the book I was holding. “Sige na, tanungin niyo na! Papalayo na siya, oh!” A guy’s voice convinced one of his girl friends he was with. “Bahala na nga!” Someone was brave enough to call my name despite the chance that I wouldn’t look back. “Lucre!” My shoulders fell as I let out a deep sigh. I knew why they called, and if it wasn't my time to read, I might have considered playing with them. I moved my body slightly to the side to acknowledge the
Chapter 40 | Best Years Tinanghali na ako ng gising kinabukasan dahil nilubos talaga namin ni Kurt ang kumustahan kagabi. Sa isang malaki at sikat kaming club nagtungo kasama si Marcus dahil gusto ni Kurt iyong lugar na pwede siyang mag-relax and at the same time magwalwal. We rented a private and VIP area for us so that we could spend more quality time together. We talked more about Kurt's work and life because he had me curious back when he mentioned Janella Tolentino proposed to him. Like for real? Si Janella na dating may gusto kay Marcus? Si Janella na sobrang taas ng confidence at sobrang yaman… magp-propose kay Kurt? Hindi rin maintindihan ni Kurt ang trip ng babaeng iyon kaya hindi niya ako nasagot kung alam ba n
Chapter 39 | FlightKailanman ay hindi ko kinonsidera ang sarili ko bilang mapangarap na tao. Naalala ko noong grade ten kami at paparating na ang katapusan ng taon na iyon, inutusan kami ng aming adviser na magsulat sa one fourth piece of paper ng first choice of senior high school strand na gusto namin kasunod ng second at third choice kung mayroon.Sinabi niya namang para lang iyon sa personal niyang survey dahil gusto niya raw malaman ang bawat choices namin. It was a harmless task, but I had a difficult time writing my choices on the paper. Wala pa naman talaga kasi akong concrete plan para sa sarili ko. Marami na akong na-research at narinig na career suggestions mula kay mama pero hindi ako nagka-interes sa kahit ano roon.Noong mga panahong iyon ay napasabi na lang ako ng, “Gusto ko na lang maging tamb
Chapter 38 | BeginningMarcus and I made the decision to leave their mansion after several days of contemplation and double-checking. Marcus had a separate condo in Manila different from before, where we chose to stay for the next succeeding days. I easily agreed on his suggestions because I also believed those were the best to follow this time.We bought a lot of food supplies and other necessities needed at home. The condo he got was larger than the one we'd stayed in before, and it was closer to the establishments. For the past few days, we had been preoccupied with arranging our belongings. Today's agenda was different. We finished organizing and cleaning the entire condo to our liking. We had planned to go somewhere today... and have a picnic there.“Nandiyan na rin ba sa bag ‘yong blanket?&rd
Chapter 37 | BedI'd been enduring the same pain, violence and regrets for the past two years. I was trapped inside a four-walled room that almost made me forget about the outside world and the beauties of life. I had been alone with my own shadow since the tragedy ended.No one could deny that I had a tough time, and I had the worst of it. There were no days, just lonely and terrifying nights. I spent the past years blaming everything to myself and embracing the coldness of my own heart. The emptiness inside me felt impossible to be filled again.I never expected that the day I would see the sunlight and feel the warm breeze of a peaceful morning would eventually come. The storm was too long for me, and I'd been floating alone on my small boat with insufficient equipment to help me sail properly. The storm had been
Chapter 36 | Home“Ano?” naguguluhan kong tanong kay Marcus.Noong una ay nagduda na rin ako kung totoo ba talagang sila ang tunay na pamilya ni Arist dahil bukod sa malayo ang pisikal na katangian ni Arist sa kanilang ama ay hindi ko rin madama ang dugong Zorron sa kanya. Wala akong sapat na ebidensya upang patunayang hindi siya Zorron ngunit malakas ang kutob ko noong parang may mali.At hindi nga ako nagkamali!Kalaunan ay tinanggap ko na lang ang mga nangyari dahil napansin kong seryoso talaga silang lahat tungkol sa pagiging half-brother ni Arist ngunit… ang marinig ang katotohanang ito galing kay Marcus mismo ay nagpatunay na tama ang hinala ko noong una.Bakit nila nilinlang si Arist?
Chapter 35 | Confess If offered the opportunity to not wake up again, I would gladly accept it. I had already given up everything as my eyes began losing their vision as the wildfire around me burned furiously. I was ready to leave everything behind once and for all, including the memories I held dearest. That night, I realized that this was the end of my life. I was so disheartened to see another day after all those sacrifices. Para akong harap-harapang niloko ng kapalaran. Parang tanga, handa na nga akong mawala ng tuluyan sa mundo tapos matatagpuan ko ang aking sarili na nasagip mula sa apoy na gano’n kalakas? Ni wala man lang akong nakuhang galos, sugat o pinsala sa katawan na akala mo ay wala ako noong nangyari ang