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Chapter 11: Hiding 2
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2024-10-29 19:42:56“Sige na, mag-igib ka na ng tubig,” ani Belle kay Zyrone nang nasa harap na sila ng poso. Latag na ang dilim subalit ngayon pa lang sila maliligo.
Salubong ang mga kilay nitong bumaling sa kanya. “Where’s the faucet?”
Agad na nalukot ang mukha niya. “Kuryente nga wala dito, faucet pa kaya,” nagsusungit na sabi niya bago ininaba sa harap niya ang gasera.
May bitbit siyang gasera dahil bukod sa walang kuryente si Lila Mati, may ilang metro din ang layo ng banyo mula sa main house. Tipikal iyon sa mga lumang bahay sa probinsiya na napuntahan na niya.
“So where will we get water?”
“E d’yan nga sa poso,” sabi niya, tinuro pa ang poso na halatang luma na subalit gumagana pa naman.
He looked at the manual water pump in front of him like it was a monster he needs to be afraid of.
“Hindi mo ba alam gumamit n’yan?” tanong na niya.
<
Kaugnay na kabanata
Marry Me, Stranger Chapter 12: Secrets
When dinner came, wala silang imikan sina Zyrone at Belle kahit na magkatabi sila nito sa maliit na hapag ni Lola Mati. Ipinagluto sila ulit ng matanda ng piniritong isda at pinakbet. The dinner was simple yet scrumptious. Ang sabi pa nito, bukas ipagluluto naman daw sila nito ng ibang ulam upang hindi sila agad manawa sa pagkain. The old woman was really kind at hindi niya lubos maisip kung paano na lang at na may estrangherong gaya nila na aabusuhin ang kabaitan nito.And thinking about that, she was mentally reminding herself that she needs to wake-up early tomorrow to help Lila Mati in whatever way she could.Awtomatikong bumalik ang isip niya kay Zyrone nang magsalin ito ng tubig sa baso nito. He quietly downed the whole glass of water before he resumed eating again, silently.After Zyrone was done bathing, nakaligo rin siya… nang mag-isa. Hindi na siya nagpatulong rito sa pag-iigib at lalong hindi na siya nagpahintay rito s
Marry Me, Stranger Chapter 13: Secrets 2
Hindi agad nakapagsalita si Belle dahil sa ipinagtapat ni Zyrone sa kanya. So, Zyrone wasn’t originally an only child. He had a brother who died of drowning.“I-I’m sorry to hear that,” she said sincerely.Kahit na suplado ito at madalas magsungit, she can’t help but feel for him. Matagal na siyang ulila and she had lived a pretty rough life. At alam na alam niya ang pakiramdam ng mga nawalan ng mahal sa buhay.Hindi sumagot si Zyrone. Nagbuga lang ito ng hininga. Tila ito nahulog sa malalim na pag-iisip. Sinong mag-aakala na ang isang suplado at antipatikong gaya ni Zyrone ay mayroon ding malungkot na nakaraan? She had always thought of him as so entitled kaya ito ganoon kasungit
Marry Me, Stranger Chapter 14: Alone
Sinag na lumalagos mula sa kung saan ang nagpagising kay Belle kinabukasan. Nang tuluyan siyang magmulat, agad na tumambad sa kanya ang maliwanag na paligid ng kuwartong kinaroroonan niya.Ngumiti siya, nag-inat at umupo sa kama. Last night was the best sleep she had in two days. She felt well rested and energized for what she needed to do today.Maingat siyang bumangon sa kama and made a mental note of the things she would do tpday. Nakalapat na sa sahig ang mga kama niya nang may maalala siya. Kagabi, hindi niya matandaang naglakad siya pabalik sa kama at doon natulog. The last thing she remembered last night was she was on the hood of the car, watching the stars while talking to Zyrone.Napasinghap na siya. Did he…Natutop na niya ang bibig, namula na rin ang kanyang pisngi. There was a logical scenario forming in her mind on how things had transpired last night but she found it too preposterous to believe!Wala na siyang inaksayang
Marry Me, Stranger Chapter 15: Alone 2
Pasado tanghalian na subalit wala pa rin ni anino ni Lila Mati. Nakaligo na siya. Nakapagpalit na rin siya ng damit mula sa mga pinahiram nitong damit sa kanila ni Zyrone kahapon. She even did the least thing she could do, magsaing ng kanin. Pero wala pa rin ang matanda.Nag-aalangan naman siyang galawin ang pagkain na naka-imbak sa basket na nakasabit sa kisame ng matanda dahil baka ayaw nito iyong ipagalaw. Baka sabihin pa nito pagbalik nito na abusado siya.Maya-maya pa, nakarinig siya ng kaluskos sa sala. She hurriedly opened up the door of her room only to be disappointed when it’s not Lila Mati she saw on the living room but it was Zyrone. Basa ang buhok nito pero tuyo na ang suot na damit. Namumula na rin ang balat nito. Mukhang kakaahon lang nito mula sa pagsu-swimming.“It’s lunch,” tipid nitong sabi.“So?” Umirap siya. Kahit hindi siya nito diretsahin, nakuha niya agad ang ibig sabihin ng suplado. Mukhan
Marry Me, Stranger Chapter 16: Consequence
Kinabukasan, maagang nagising si Belle upang maghanda ng agahan nila ni Zyrone. Subalit kahit na maaga na siyang nagising, mas maaga pa rin talagang bumangon si Zyrone kaysa sa kanya. Nang magising siya, wala na ito sa tabi niya. But instead of checking where he went, she just went straight to the kitchen and prepared breakfast for the two of them. Though she slept well, she doesn’t feel well rested compared yesterday when she woke up. Hindi niya alam bakit. Kaya naisipan niyang harapin agad ang pagluluto to jumpstart her day.She toasted the tasty bread on the pan and made some scrambled eggs. Nag-init din siya ng mainit na tubig para sa kape.Ilang sandali pa, sumungaw na ang bulto ng suplado sa back door. He was wet and his chest was heaving from catching his breath. She reckoned he took a swim again.Lumipad ang tingin niya sa bintana na nakatapat sa mismong baybayin. The sky is till dark and the waves are still angry from last night’
Marry Me, Stranger Chapter 17: Consequence 2
“Has she been found yet?” tanong ni Zyrone sa assistant niyang si Treyton.“N-not yet, Sir. Ms. Audrey is still missing,” sagot nito, alanganin.He huffed, anger slowly rising on his chest. Three days. It’s have been three damn days since the scandal and Audrey is still missing.Up until now, hindi pa rin niya alam kung anong dahilan nito kung bakit ito hindi sumipot sa kasal nila. Their contract was good. He thought she was in it, fully. And then now, this…He raked his fingers through his hair. This is the toughest situation yet he had to face in a long time. And truth be told, more than he wanted to admit, this might be the beginning of his downfall. He paced on the sandy ground—trying to rein in his temper.“What about Pastel? Did you do what I told you?” aniya, pilit pinakakalma ang sarili.“Yes, Sir. Your mother also talked to the Chens. The damages had already
Marry Me, Stranger Chapter 18: Coping
Gigil na nagpaparoo’t-parito si Belle sa loob ng kuwarto. Pakiramdam niya inaaltapresyon siya. Bakit hindi? Zyrone just told her the most preposterous thing she had ever heard.Marry me.Paulit-ulit na um-echo sa isip niya ang sinabi nitong solusyon sa problema nila. At lalo lang siyang nanggigil. Paanong solusyon ang pagpapakasal niya rito? Ni hindi nga sila magkakilala tapos pakakasal siya rito?Lintek talaga na suplado!Umupo na siya sa kama at pinagsusuntok niya ang mga unan. Gigil na gigil siyang tunay. Kulang na kulang pa ang sampal na iginawad niya rito kanina. Ang bagay rito, mag-asawang sampal , roundhouse kick at uppercut!Baka kapag ginawa niya iyon, matauhan na ito nang tuluyan.Nagbuga siya ng marahas na hininga at ibinaling ang tingin sa langit. Nahawi na ang madilim na ulap at unti-unti nang lumalagos ang init nga araw sa paligid. But even then, she doesn’t feel comforted at all!
Marry Me, Stranger Chapter 19: Coping 2
Halos isang oras nang nakaupo si Belle sa natumbang puno ng niyog. Umiinit na ang sinag ng araw at alam niyang malapit nang magtanghali. But she cannot bring herself to go back to the house. Not when she knows that what they’ll have for lunch was the same chicken who was fighting for her life when she left.She gathered her knees closer to her chest and rested her head on it sideways. She gently played with the sand—trying to take her mind off her immediate cares for the day.Maya-maya pa, nakarinig siya ng mga yabag na papalapit sa kanya. Agad siyang nag-angat ng tingin. And there she saw Zyrone walking towards her.“It’s lunch. Nagtatawag na si Lila,” pahayag nito.Hindi siya umimik, itinuloy lang ang ginagawa niya. Kung ‘yong manok lang din ang ulam, hindi na siya kakain. She’d rather starve than eat the poor chicken.Naramdaman niya ang pag-upo nito sa tabi niya subalit ni hindi siya
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Marry Me, Stranger Author's Note
Thank you for sticking with me up to the very end of this book. This story is a witness to the many silent battles I had to face while writing it. And I'm still glad that despite the struggles, I can say that I have given Belle and Zyrone a beautiful ending they deserve. And just like Belle, we may enocunter a rough patch on our journey, but that doesn't mean we will have to remain in there. May we all find the courage to stand up after a fall, give forgiveness after getting hurt, and restore our faith in love after the pain. Thank you once again my beautiful readers. On to the next story! Keep dazzling!
Marry Me, Stranger Chapter 142: Epilogue
“Jax Dominic!” nag-aalalang tawag ni Belle sa magtatatlong taong gulang na anak nang bigla itong kumawala sa kamay bago nagtatakbo sa direksyon ni Zyrone.She tried to hasten her walk kahit na alam niyang kahit na anong gawin niya hindi niya mahahabol ang anak dahil kabuwanan na niya sa ikatlong anak nila ni Zyrone. And according to her last prenatal check up with Doc Angel, she’s due to give birth any moment. And running is not just prohibited, it’s nearly impossible!She sighed and turned to Willa na siyang yaya na ngayon ni Jax. Nanikwas ang nguso nito bago nagmamadaling hinabol ang alaga nito. Natawa na lang sila ni Marco na siyang kasama nila ni Lillie na naglalakad patungo sa loob ng Prime Mall.Jax, just like Lillie, is really a handful. More active than Lillie was, actually. Her little boy loves to explore and discover new things like any kids his age. And he particularly has interest in cars and buildings. He has endless questions too with just about anything under the sun. E
Marry Me, Stranger Chapter 141: Home 2
Marahang naglakad sa aisle si Belle kasama sina Eliseo at Lillie. She still cannot wrap her head around what’s happening because she still thinks it’s impossible to happen at that very day when she received an answered prayer and a gift, but then again … it’s really happening!She’s really getting married to Zyrone… again!She looked up at the night sky peppered with stars, blessing them with their dazzle and beauty—a perfect background for their wedding ceremony. The air smelled soft and delicate, coming from the flowers surrounding them. And the music, sweet—full of promises.She quickly surveyed their guests. They were the same people who came and visited Zyrone today, people who had shared with their joy that finally the storm had passed and her little family is complete again. Their guests were just a handful compared to the number of people included in their original guests list. But she’s fine with it. They are the most important people in her and Zyrone’s life anyway. And she
Marry Me, Stranger Chapter 140: Home
Panay ang kabog ng dibdib ni Belle habang binabaybay niya ang hagdan patungo sa rooftop ng hospital. She took the stairs because the elevator on the floor were Zyrone’s hospital suite was in, suddenly was not working. And so she took the stairs instead. She’s actually quite thankful that the lift was not working because she had more time to think things through. She wanted to buy some time to think. She wanted to take careful steps on how she would handle the situation all by herself.Yes, by herself. Dahil apparently, wala siyang makontak sa mga kaanak niya—not Miranda nor Richard. Not even Eliseo! She had tried countless times to call their phones but her calls just won’t go through. Mukhang sabay-sabay na nag-off ng cellphones ang mga ito. Which is just so freakin' weird! Maging sina Marco at Leon, hindi rin niya matawagan. Not even Willa and Marie!At first she was having second thoughts about the note. Why wouldn’t she? She had just survived a kidnapping incident two-weeks ago. A
Marry Me, Stranger Chapter 139: Hope 3
Lalong naiyak si Belle sa sinabi ni Zyrone. Walang sabi-sabi niyang kinalong si Lillie bago umupo sa gilid ng hospital bed. She looked at Zyrone and more tears fell from her eyes.Her emotions were overwherlming her, leaving her speechless but grateful.That day, she woke up and prayed to God to end her waiting. She thought that today, like all the other days that has passed, would be just another day of hoping and waiting. Never did she know that today, God will grant her pleas and bless her with a gift-- her very own miracles.Masuyo niyang hinaplos ang pisngi ni Zyrone. He leaned on her palm and another wave of warmth rose from her chest. “Y-you are really here. I-I missed you,” she tearfully confessed.Zyrone just smiled and said, “I missed you too and Lillie.”She smiled as she sobbed and gently pressed his free hand on her cheek. They are much warmer now—alive.Oh how she missed his warmth.Maya-maya pa, bumungad na sa pinto sina Eliseo, Leon at Marco. His grandfather quickly s
Marry Me, Stranger Chapter 138: Hope 2
Nagising si Belle na nakahiga sa isang hospital bed. At first she was confused. Why wouldn’t she? The last thing she remembered was she just arrived at the hospital together with Marco after her secret visit with Laura and then…She gasped when the events came back to her all in one go. Nahilo siya sa parking lot. It was not long before that when everything around her went black. And now this… she’s waking up in a hospital bed, which she can surmise, based on the noise and curtains surrounding her, is located at the emergency room. Unti-unti siyang bumangon. Sakto namang nahawi ang kurtina na nasa may bandang paanan niya. Nagulat pa siya nang biglang lumitaw doon ang bulto ni Eliseo. His face was contoured with worry. She saw a glimpse of Leon and Marco outside the cubicle she was in nut they didn't come in with her grandfather. “I came as soon as I can. Itinawag ni Marco sa akin ang nangyari,” anang lolo niya nang tuluyan itong makalapit sa kanya. Marahan nitong hinaplos ang buhok
Marry Me, Stranger Chapter 137: Hope
“Why are you here?” bungad agad ni Laura kay Belle, hindi pa man ito nakakalapit sa mesa na malapit sa kanila ni Marco. Bumaling si Laura sa kasama nitong pulis. “Ayoko silang kausapin. Ibalik mo na ‘ko sa loob,” utos nito.Subalit imbes na tumalima, tinulak lang ng pulis si Laura. The crazy bitch was forced to step forward until she was just a few steps away from her. The policewoman never left. She just stood behind Laura, alert.Laura looked at her with all the hate she could muster from the world. Like all she did for the past decades of her life was to live and breathe to hate. Well, that’s what Laura really did with her life—wasted life.Laura was wearing plain clothes. Her hair was in a messy bun and dark circles were visible under her eyes. Kumakalansing din ang mga posas na nakakabit sa mga kamay at binti nito. Malayong-malayo ang hitsura nito ngayon sa glamurosang Laura na nakilala niya.“Oh please, save your pity line to yourself.” The old lady rolled her eyes in annoyanc
Marry Me, Stranger Chapter 136: Waiting 2
Ten days. Ten lonely days.It has been that long since Zyrone was shot and yet… he is still unconscious. Doctors kept reassuring her though that he is stable and that they are confident that he will make a hundred percent recovery. But still, her worry will only stop when her husband will finally open his eyes and envelope her in his familiar warmth.Husband.She smiled bitterly. Tatlong araw na mula nang malaman niya kay Richard na hindi pinirmahan ni Zyrone ang divorce papers nila. And honestly, she doesn’t know what to feel about it. She’s happy that she’s still married to him and yet… the guilt that’s overtaking her was too much.She had spent three years hating Zyrone for the many things she thought he did but actually didn’t. She had deliberately hurt him several times but he stayed quiet and patient—telling her how much he loved her still despite of everything. She used to wonder where was his confidence was coming from. Ngayon alam na niya kung bakit.He really stayed true t
Marry Me, Stranger Chapter 135: Waiting
Umingit ang pinto ng private suite sa Angelicum Hospital kung nasaan si Zyrone. Agad namang napabaling si Belle sa direksyon niyon. Awtomatikong dumiretso ang upo niya sa sofa nang mapagsino ang nasa pinto. It was Richard.“Hi,” matipid nitong bati sa kanya bago tuluyang pumasok sa silid. Tahimik niyang tinanguan ang matandang lalaki at sinubukang umakto ng normal.But with Richard around, she knew she could never act normal. Heck! She didn’t have any pleasant memories with him, paano siya aakto nang normal?It has been almost a week now since the incident happened. Nakasampa na rin ang mga kaso laban sa mga Del Valle. At nai-transfer na rin nila si Zyrone sa Maynila—sa Angelicum Hospital and Medical Center. But still the same, her Zyrone is not yet awake. And though the doctors said that he is stable, no good news would count for her until he opens his eyes.Kaya naman, sa bawat araw na dumaraan, patuloy siya sa pakiusap sa Diyos na sana, bigyan pa siya ng pagkakataon kay Zyrone—pagk
