I was busy in the kitchen, stirring the pot of garlic and onions I was sautéing. The scent filled the house, adding warmth to the quiet morning. I was making breakfast, cherishing the rare moments of calm before the day picked up its usual pace.Bigla, narinig ko ang katok sa pinto. Napakunot ang noo ko—wala namang nagbabalak dumalaw ng ganitong oras. Binura ko ang mga palad ko sa tuwalya at tinungo ang pintuan.When I opened it, a tall man stood in front of me. He was dressed in a sharp suit, his face serious. The sight of him stirred an inexplicable unease in my chest.He scanned the house quickly, his eyes darting around as if searching for something—or someone. “Is Kalix here?” he asked, his tone businesslike.Nag-atubili ako saglit, hindi sigurado kung sino ang lalaki. “Sir, wala po si Kalix ngayon. Wala pa po siya,” sagot ko, hindi alam kung anong dapat idagdag.Richard’s face showed slight disappointment. He glanced around the room, then back at me. “Who are you?” he asked, not
I sat across from Tito Richard, his posture as stiff as the tension in the air. His eyes were sharp, boring into me with a kind of unnerving calm that made the silence feel heavier. Every second that ticked by seemed to stretch, the weight of his gaze never faltering, always calculating, waiting for something from me.Hindi ko alam kung ano ang iniisip nya, but I know, the moment he laid eyes on Naya, he already knew.“You know,” Tito finally spoke, his voice edged with something dark, “I’ve been hearing whispers—rumors, to be exact. People are saying you’ve got someone new. A new woman in your life.” He said it casually, but there was a definite undercurrent of threat that hung in the air.I tightened my jaw, keeping my gaze steady, unwavering. I wasn’t about to let him drag me into this. Tito had always been the manipulative type, the kind who enjoyed stirring the pot for his own gain. I wasn’t going to let him play me.“No, Tito,” I said flatly, my voice calm but firm. “There’s no
A series of doorbell rings woke us up.Napabalikwas ako ng bangon, gulo-gulo pa ang buhok at habol-habol ang hininga. Sa sobrang lakas ng tunog, pakiramdam ko, pati kaluluwa ko nagising. Sa tabi ko, si Kalix, na halatang galing sa malalim na tulog, ay napamura bago dahan-dahang dumilat.“Ano ‘yon?” garalgal niyang tanong, halatang iritado habang hinimas ang sentido niya.Tumingin ako sa wall clock—alas-sais pa lang ng umaga. Sino bang walang respeto sa oras ng ibang tao at ganito kaaga makapanira ng tulog?!Before I could answer Kalix, the doorbell rang again—faster, louder, almost like it was intentional.“Tangina, kung hindi importante ‘yan, may mabubura akong tao sa mundo,” bulong ni Kalix, bumangon at mabilis na nagsuot ng t-shirt.As for me, even though I was only halfway awake, I still followed. But when I reached the door, I didn’t need to ask who it was—I already knew.I could feel it.Before I could brace myself, Kalix swung the door open.And that’s when I saw them.Nanay at
“Ano bang ginagawa niyo?!” halos pasigaw kong tanong habang pilit kong sinasarado ang drawer na binubuksan ni Cris.“Ano? Tinitingnan lang namin kung ano na ang mga naiipon mo,” sarkastikong sagot ni Nanay, hindi man lang ako tinitingnan habang hinahaplos ang bedsheet ko. “Aba, ang ganda ng buhay mo rito ah, Naya. Hindi mo man lang naisip na kami sa probinsya, naghihikahos!”“Kaya ba kailangan niyong kalkalin ang gamit ko?!” bumibigat na ang dibdib ko, lalo na nang makita kong binubuksan ni Cris ang isang kahon na puro personal kong gamit.“Ano ka ba, Naya? Akala mo naman may tinatago ka rito,” singit ni Cris, nakataas ang kilay. “Baka nakakalimutan mo, utang mo sa amin kung bakit ka buhay ngayon.”Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ako sa sinasabi nila o tuluyan nang magwawala. “Utang?! Kailan pa naging utang ang buhay ko sa inyo?!”Lumapit si Nanay sa akin at tinuro ako sa mukha. “Kung hindi kita tinanggap, baka kung saan ka na lang pulutin! Alam mo bang malaking k
“Hanggang Kailan?”Napamulagat ako nang marinig ang malalakas na tawanan mula sa labas ng kwarto ko. Sinilip ko ang oras sa phone—10:23 AM. Halos hindi pa ako nakakatulog nang maayos.Nakahiga pa rin ako, pero ang ingay sa labas ay hindi ko na kayang balewalain. Mga basag-basag na tawanan, tunog ng bote ng alak na nagbabanggaan, at ang nakakairitang tunog ng mga kutsara’t tinidor na hindi ko maalala kung kailan ko nilabas.Ilang araw na ganito.For five days, I felt like a servant in my own home. I was the one waking up early to clean, cook, and tidy up their mess. As if I was the one indebted to them, as if it was my fault they were here. They didn’t care if I was exhausted from studying, falling behind on my modules, or still aching from my past accident.Napabuntong-hininga ako bago bumangon. Masakit ang likod ko, mabigat ang katawan ko.Mula sa bahagyang nakabukas na pinto, natatanaw ko si Cris—ang kapatid kong hindi ko alam kung kailan naging responsibilidad ko. He held a bottle
Pagkatapos ng kaguluhan noong nakaraang araw, halos hindi ko na maalala kung paano ako nakatulog. Pakiramdam ko pagod na pagod ang katawan ko, pero mas pagod ang puso ko.But when I opened my eyes, Kalix was there—sitting beside the bed, his laptop in hand, looking busy with whatever he was working on. He wore a black polo, the top two buttons undone, and it was clear he had been awake for a while.Napansin niya agad ang paggalaw ko, kaya ibinaba niya ang laptop at lumapit sa akin. “Hey, baby. How are you feeling?” Tanong niya, banayad ang boses at puno ng pag-aalala.Pilit akong ngumiti. “Medyo masakit pa ‘yung sugat ko, pero okay lang.”Tumango siya, saka hinawakan ang kamay ko. “I took care of everything. You don’t have to worry about them anymore.”Naramdaman ko ang kirot sa dibdib ko. Kahit gaano kasama si nanay at Cris, parte pa rin sila ng buhay ko. Pero alam kong wala nang saysay pang balikan ang nakaraan.“Where are they now?” tanong ko, mahina lang ang boses ko.Huminga nang
Amoy na amoy na sa buong unit ang niluluto ko. Tinanggal ko ang takip ng kawali at hinayaan ang mainit na singaw ng sabaw na humalo sa hangin. Kailangan kong bilisan—baka dumating si Kalix nang gutom.Saktong nasa kalagitnaan ako ng paghahalo ng sabaw nang biglang bumukas ang pinto nang malakas.“Naya!”Napalingon ako at nakita si Kalix na hingal na hingal, parang tumakbo paakyat. Agad niyang sinuyod ng tingin ang paligid, at nang makita niyang wala nang ibang tao roon, bumuntong-hininga siya.“Are you okay?” tanong niya, mabilis na lumapit sa akin. “Did she say anything to you?”“Who?” Kunot-noo kong tanong habang inilipat ang atensyon sa hinihiwang gulay.Lumapit siya sa likod ko, idinantay ang mga kamay sa magkabilang gilid ng counter. “Finesse. I heard she came here. Why didn’t you call me?”Napahinto ako saglit sa paghiwa bago bumalik sa ginagawa ko. “She didn’t do anything.”Hindi ko man nakikita ang mukha niya, pero ramdam ko ang matinding pag-aalala niya sa likuran ko. “Naya—”
I barely noticed how time flew by. Just a few more weeks and the semester would be over, and finally, I’d be able to breathe a little easier. Even though I returned to studying a bit late because of the accident, I managed to catch up with the requirements. Tired, yes. But it was worth it.Kasalukuyan akong nakaupo sa study desk ko, pilit tinatapos ang isang research paper nang maramdaman kong may mainit na bagay na idinampi sa pisngi ko.“Take a break, love,” bulong ni Kalix habang hawak ang isang tasa ng kape.Napangiti ako at kinuha iyon. “Thank you. Pero kailangan ko pa talagang tapusin ‘to.”“You’ve been staring at your screen for hours. You need to rest.”Huminga ako nang malalim bago ko siya tiningnan. “I know. Pero gusto ko nang matapos lahat ng to para wala na akong iisipin sa trip natin.”Tumabi siya sa akin at ipinatong ang baba sa balikat ko. “Speaking of that… sure ka bang okay ka na sa itinerary natin?”“Mhmm. Mukhang okay naman ‘yung lugar na napili mo.”“Of course. I m
I barely noticed how time flew by. Just a few more weeks and the semester would be over, and finally, I’d be able to breathe a little easier. Even though I returned to studying a bit late because of the accident, I managed to catch up with the requirements. Tired, yes. But it was worth it.Kasalukuyan akong nakaupo sa study desk ko, pilit tinatapos ang isang research paper nang maramdaman kong may mainit na bagay na idinampi sa pisngi ko.“Take a break, love,” bulong ni Kalix habang hawak ang isang tasa ng kape.Napangiti ako at kinuha iyon. “Thank you. Pero kailangan ko pa talagang tapusin ‘to.”“You’ve been staring at your screen for hours. You need to rest.”Huminga ako nang malalim bago ko siya tiningnan. “I know. Pero gusto ko nang matapos lahat ng to para wala na akong iisipin sa trip natin.”Tumabi siya sa akin at ipinatong ang baba sa balikat ko. “Speaking of that… sure ka bang okay ka na sa itinerary natin?”“Mhmm. Mukhang okay naman ‘yung lugar na napili mo.”“Of course. I m
Amoy na amoy na sa buong unit ang niluluto ko. Tinanggal ko ang takip ng kawali at hinayaan ang mainit na singaw ng sabaw na humalo sa hangin. Kailangan kong bilisan—baka dumating si Kalix nang gutom.Saktong nasa kalagitnaan ako ng paghahalo ng sabaw nang biglang bumukas ang pinto nang malakas.“Naya!”Napalingon ako at nakita si Kalix na hingal na hingal, parang tumakbo paakyat. Agad niyang sinuyod ng tingin ang paligid, at nang makita niyang wala nang ibang tao roon, bumuntong-hininga siya.“Are you okay?” tanong niya, mabilis na lumapit sa akin. “Did she say anything to you?”“Who?” Kunot-noo kong tanong habang inilipat ang atensyon sa hinihiwang gulay.Lumapit siya sa likod ko, idinantay ang mga kamay sa magkabilang gilid ng counter. “Finesse. I heard she came here. Why didn’t you call me?”Napahinto ako saglit sa paghiwa bago bumalik sa ginagawa ko. “She didn’t do anything.”Hindi ko man nakikita ang mukha niya, pero ramdam ko ang matinding pag-aalala niya sa likuran ko. “Naya—”
Pagkatapos ng kaguluhan noong nakaraang araw, halos hindi ko na maalala kung paano ako nakatulog. Pakiramdam ko pagod na pagod ang katawan ko, pero mas pagod ang puso ko.But when I opened my eyes, Kalix was there—sitting beside the bed, his laptop in hand, looking busy with whatever he was working on. He wore a black polo, the top two buttons undone, and it was clear he had been awake for a while.Napansin niya agad ang paggalaw ko, kaya ibinaba niya ang laptop at lumapit sa akin. “Hey, baby. How are you feeling?” Tanong niya, banayad ang boses at puno ng pag-aalala.Pilit akong ngumiti. “Medyo masakit pa ‘yung sugat ko, pero okay lang.”Tumango siya, saka hinawakan ang kamay ko. “I took care of everything. You don’t have to worry about them anymore.”Naramdaman ko ang kirot sa dibdib ko. Kahit gaano kasama si nanay at Cris, parte pa rin sila ng buhay ko. Pero alam kong wala nang saysay pang balikan ang nakaraan.“Where are they now?” tanong ko, mahina lang ang boses ko.Huminga nang
“Hanggang Kailan?”Napamulagat ako nang marinig ang malalakas na tawanan mula sa labas ng kwarto ko. Sinilip ko ang oras sa phone—10:23 AM. Halos hindi pa ako nakakatulog nang maayos.Nakahiga pa rin ako, pero ang ingay sa labas ay hindi ko na kayang balewalain. Mga basag-basag na tawanan, tunog ng bote ng alak na nagbabanggaan, at ang nakakairitang tunog ng mga kutsara’t tinidor na hindi ko maalala kung kailan ko nilabas.Ilang araw na ganito.For five days, I felt like a servant in my own home. I was the one waking up early to clean, cook, and tidy up their mess. As if I was the one indebted to them, as if it was my fault they were here. They didn’t care if I was exhausted from studying, falling behind on my modules, or still aching from my past accident.Napabuntong-hininga ako bago bumangon. Masakit ang likod ko, mabigat ang katawan ko.Mula sa bahagyang nakabukas na pinto, natatanaw ko si Cris—ang kapatid kong hindi ko alam kung kailan naging responsibilidad ko. He held a bottle
“Ano bang ginagawa niyo?!” halos pasigaw kong tanong habang pilit kong sinasarado ang drawer na binubuksan ni Cris.“Ano? Tinitingnan lang namin kung ano na ang mga naiipon mo,” sarkastikong sagot ni Nanay, hindi man lang ako tinitingnan habang hinahaplos ang bedsheet ko. “Aba, ang ganda ng buhay mo rito ah, Naya. Hindi mo man lang naisip na kami sa probinsya, naghihikahos!”“Kaya ba kailangan niyong kalkalin ang gamit ko?!” bumibigat na ang dibdib ko, lalo na nang makita kong binubuksan ni Cris ang isang kahon na puro personal kong gamit.“Ano ka ba, Naya? Akala mo naman may tinatago ka rito,” singit ni Cris, nakataas ang kilay. “Baka nakakalimutan mo, utang mo sa amin kung bakit ka buhay ngayon.”Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ako sa sinasabi nila o tuluyan nang magwawala. “Utang?! Kailan pa naging utang ang buhay ko sa inyo?!”Lumapit si Nanay sa akin at tinuro ako sa mukha. “Kung hindi kita tinanggap, baka kung saan ka na lang pulutin! Alam mo bang malaking k
A series of doorbell rings woke us up.Napabalikwas ako ng bangon, gulo-gulo pa ang buhok at habol-habol ang hininga. Sa sobrang lakas ng tunog, pakiramdam ko, pati kaluluwa ko nagising. Sa tabi ko, si Kalix, na halatang galing sa malalim na tulog, ay napamura bago dahan-dahang dumilat.“Ano ‘yon?” garalgal niyang tanong, halatang iritado habang hinimas ang sentido niya.Tumingin ako sa wall clock—alas-sais pa lang ng umaga. Sino bang walang respeto sa oras ng ibang tao at ganito kaaga makapanira ng tulog?!Before I could answer Kalix, the doorbell rang again—faster, louder, almost like it was intentional.“Tangina, kung hindi importante ‘yan, may mabubura akong tao sa mundo,” bulong ni Kalix, bumangon at mabilis na nagsuot ng t-shirt.As for me, even though I was only halfway awake, I still followed. But when I reached the door, I didn’t need to ask who it was—I already knew.I could feel it.Before I could brace myself, Kalix swung the door open.And that’s when I saw them.Nanay at
I sat across from Tito Richard, his posture as stiff as the tension in the air. His eyes were sharp, boring into me with a kind of unnerving calm that made the silence feel heavier. Every second that ticked by seemed to stretch, the weight of his gaze never faltering, always calculating, waiting for something from me.Hindi ko alam kung ano ang iniisip nya, but I know, the moment he laid eyes on Naya, he already knew.“You know,” Tito finally spoke, his voice edged with something dark, “I’ve been hearing whispers—rumors, to be exact. People are saying you’ve got someone new. A new woman in your life.” He said it casually, but there was a definite undercurrent of threat that hung in the air.I tightened my jaw, keeping my gaze steady, unwavering. I wasn’t about to let him drag me into this. Tito had always been the manipulative type, the kind who enjoyed stirring the pot for his own gain. I wasn’t going to let him play me.“No, Tito,” I said flatly, my voice calm but firm. “There’s no
I was busy in the kitchen, stirring the pot of garlic and onions I was sautéing. The scent filled the house, adding warmth to the quiet morning. I was making breakfast, cherishing the rare moments of calm before the day picked up its usual pace.Bigla, narinig ko ang katok sa pinto. Napakunot ang noo ko—wala namang nagbabalak dumalaw ng ganitong oras. Binura ko ang mga palad ko sa tuwalya at tinungo ang pintuan.When I opened it, a tall man stood in front of me. He was dressed in a sharp suit, his face serious. The sight of him stirred an inexplicable unease in my chest.He scanned the house quickly, his eyes darting around as if searching for something—or someone. “Is Kalix here?” he asked, his tone businesslike.Nag-atubili ako saglit, hindi sigurado kung sino ang lalaki. “Sir, wala po si Kalix ngayon. Wala pa po siya,” sagot ko, hindi alam kung anong dapat idagdag.Richard’s face showed slight disappointment. He glanced around the room, then back at me. “Who are you?” he asked, not
As I finished preparing lunch for Kalix, I couldn’t shake off this strange feeling. I couldn’t exactly place it, but something about today felt different. I packed the adobo, rice, some vegetables, and a little dessert I made, and just like that, it was ready. I was excited to bring it to him. Cooking for him always felt… right.I quickly changed into something simple—just jeans and a blouse—nothing too formal but still presentable. I grabbed the lunch and headed out, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin. The street was filled with people, each absorbed in their own world, and here I was, walking down the road, unsure of what exactly I was doing.I made my way to my car, alam ko naman ang way papunta sa office ni Kalix, Nag park na ako at pumasok sa building, the front desk officer greeted me as soon as I reached the lobby, kilala naman ako nang ilan sa mga employee ni Kalix. but as I was walking, I suddenly bumped into someone. I stepped back, looking up, and realized it was Jame