Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Belle habang pinagmamasdan ang sarili niya sa full-length mirror na nasa kanyang harapan. She was wearing a silver sparkly formal dress that perfectly hugs her slim figure with a neckline that falls just between the valley of her breast. Her long brown hair was pinned up in a messy low bun. Her make-up was subtle yet highlighted the best feature of her face-- her eyes.
She looks, perfect. But perfect was far from how she feels right now.
She’s nervous as hell!
Kung kaya lang niyang umeskapo o magtago sa kung saan mang sulok ng bahay na iyon nang hindi agad nahahanap ninoman, baka kanina pa niya ginawa. Dahil kahit na anong pagkokondisyon ang gawin niya sa sarili niya, ayaw kumalma ng huwisyo niya. Pakiramdam niya sasabak siya sa giyera at ni wala siyang sandata!
Hindi naman kasi siya irap-proof at insulto-proof. At sigurado siya, paglabas niya mamaya sa kuwartong iyon, papaulanan na naman siya ng irap a
“I will not allow your decision, Mother. That’s our family’s heirloom. You cannot just give it to anyone!” Zyrone’s father yelled at Grandma Eve. They were inside the library and had been in discussion for a long time now. “Who are you to tell me what to do, Richard? This was given to me by your father. I can give it to whomever I want to give it to,” his grandmother reasoned out while she’s seating on her wheelchair. Grandma Eve was already dressed for the occasion just like the rest of them on that room. His grandmother was wearing a red dress, as if asserting her power over all of them. But his father just won’t back down.“That girl your grandson had married is a stranger! Who knows if Zyrone just used her so that he won’t marry Grace— the rightful woman for him.” His father turned to him. “Go ahead Zyrone, tell your grandmother the truth!” “Richard!” awat ng Mommy niya, nangungusap pa na tumingin sa kanya. He k
Nang magmulat ng mga mata si Belle kinabukasan, agad na bumati sa kanya ang masiglang sinag ng pang-umagang araw na lumalagos mula sa malaking bintana ng silid. Muli siyang pumikit at dinama ang malambot na kutson kung saan siya nakahiga. From what she remembered, her bed wasn’t that soft. Pero wala na iyong bale sa kanya. Ang importante nakapagpahinga siya. This is the best sleep she had in days. Kung hindi nga lang sa huni ng mga ibon sa labas ng veranda kanina, baka hindi pa siya nagigising. Veranda. Agad siyang napamulat. Walang veranda ang kuwarto niya! Agad siyang napabalikwas ng bangon sa kama. Mabilis niyang ipinagala ang tingin nang matanto niyang wala siya sa kanyang silid. And then, all the events of the past few days flashed in her mind—the wedding, the scandal, her marrying Zyrone and last night’s horrible party. Alanganin niyang nilingon ang tabi niya, gusot pa rin ang beddings subalit wala na s
"This is unacceptable, Zyrone. We are going way too overboard!" histrerikal na sabi ni Belle kay Zyrone.They were now back inside of their room. Dahil matapos ang anunsiyo ni Grandma Eve sa library, hindi na nakapagpigil pa ang Daddy ni Zyrone. Nagwala na ito at nagsisisigaw-- uncaring of the condition of Grandma Eve. Richard insulted her and called her names. But she maintained her silence. Ayaw niyang sabayan ang galit nito dahil alam niyang lalaki lang ang gulo. Besides, Zyrone was with her. He took a protective stance in front of her just in case his father would charge at her. And she appreciates that. She knew, with Zyrone with her, she won’t be harmed.Pagkatapos ng ilang minutong pagwawala ng Daddy ni Z yrone, agad na nagtawag ng security si Miranda to contain Richard.Surprisingly, Grandma Eve was calm during her son's meltdown. Mukhang kabisado na talaga nito ang ugali ng anak nito. Somehow she had a glimpse of how strong of a lead
Wala sa sariling nakatitig si Belle sa kisame ng kuwarto nila ni Zyrone. Doon siya dumiretso matapos ang madamdaming pag-uusap nila ni Grandma Eve.Akala niya madaratnan niya roon si Zyrone dahil wala ito sa may pinto paglabas niya sa kuwarto ng lola nito. Pero maging sa kuwarto nila, wala pa rin ang suplado.Kung saan nagpunta, hindi niya alam. At kahit na alam niya siguro kung saan ito nagpunta, hindi pa rin niya ito pupuntahan.Not when she looked like a mess. In fact, she doesn’t want other people to see her like that. Mukha kasi siyang nabugbog kaysa nagmukmuok. Her eyes were puffy from all the crying since last night. Sa totoo lang, masakit na ang mga mata niya sa pag-iiyak. Pero anong magagawa niya kung ayaw magpaawat ng mga emosyon niya.Kaya heto siya ngayon, muling ninanamnam ang kanyang pag-iisa. After the events of last night and today, she knew she needed that time alone… again.She heaved a deep sigh.
Nakatulala si Belle sa mga pagkain na nakasilbi sa kanyang harapan. Ilang minuto na rin siyang naroon. At kung gaano siya katagal na nakaupo roon, ganoon na rin katagal na lumilipad ang isip niya.She’s actually having lunch with Zyrone… alone.After the scene Richard made in the library, Miranda had decided that it would be better for them to go back to the Philippines to avoid any more altercation with Grandma Eve or so he heard from Zyrone. Hindi na niya kasi nakausap pa si Miranda dahil matapos niyang mag-freak out sa realization niya kanina, nagkulong na siya sa banyo. Saka na lang siya ulit lumabas doon nang sabihan siya ni Zyrone na handa na ang tanghalianAnd when Zyrone told her about the news, she was so relieved. Baka kasi hindi na talaga kayanin ng pagtitimpi niya should Richard go berserk again and hurl hurtful words at her.Si Grace naman, narinig niyang sumama na rin sa mag-asawang Richard at Miranda. At si
“Malayo pa ba tayo?” habol ang hininga na tanong ni Belle kay Zyrone habang binabagtas nila ang isang trail sa mapunong bahagi na iyon ng gubat na nakapaligid sa Lake Tahoe. She thought that the trip would be just easy peasy moreso when they drove a boat through the lake. Akala nga niya magbo-boating na lang sila at hindi na magha-hiking. But it all changed when they stopped on a small dock that lead them straight to the trail they were walking on. They had been walking on the trail for at least 10 minutes now. At dahil hindi naman talaga siya athletic type, hindi talaga kaya ng mga tuhod ang ganoon kahabang lakaran. Lalo pa at pataas ang terrain at marami rin nakausling mga ugat ng punongkahoy. “Just a few more minutes, Belle. I promise you it would be worth it,” ani Zyrone, habang patuloy pa rin sa paglalakad sa unahan niya. She groaned inwardly. Parang gusto na niyang magwala! Sa dinami-dami ng kamalasang in
“The bed is ready,” pukaw ni Zyrone kay Belle habang nakaupo siya sa deck ng tree house at pinagmamasdan ang langit na puno ng mga bituin. She turned her head and saw him walking towards her from the door. Ang sabi nito kanina matapos nilang maghapunan, aayusin daw nito ang magiging higaan nila. Because though the tree house is really spacious, it only has one bedroom and so they need to share beds… again. Ito ang nag-volunteer na mag-ayos ng higaan dahil siya ang nagluto ng hapunan nila. Kung tutuusin, hindi naman siya nahirapan sa pagluluto dahil bukod sa puro instant food ang baon ni Zyrone, kumpleto sa amenities ang tree house. Mayroon iyong maayos na kitchen, running water at kuryente from the solar panels on the roof. Ang sabi ni Zyrone, his grandparents made sure that the tree house wouldn’t lack anything should he goes there whenever he wanted to or from his own word, whenever he needed to. The tree house was made just fo
“Please take care, Grandma. Zyrone and I will be back. And we’ll go boating in the lake like what you’ve said this morning,” ani Belle, marahang niyakap ang matanda. Hapon na at bibiyahe na sila ni Zyrone patungo sa airport para sa kanilang flight pabalik ng Pilipinas.Gumanti ng yakap ang matanda. “Looking forward to that, Belle,” anito bago bumaling sa apo nito na nasa likuran lang niya. “Be kinder to your wife, Zyrone. Don’t give her as much trouble as you’ve given me.”Zyrone chuckled and held her by the waist. She secretly gasped and stilled herself when her heart hitched. That was the first time they’ve been that close since both of them woke up this morning.“You don’t need to worry about that, Grandma. Naughty or not, Belle still loves me. Right, baby?” anito bago bumaling sa kanya. Mabilis siyang sumulyap dito. Nang matanto niyang halos gahibla na naman uli