(Reese's POV)
AFTER I left my parents' house, I went to the orphanage to calm myself down. I don't want to go home yet. Magulo ang isip ko ngayon. Mas lalong gumulo dahil sa confrontation na naganap. Maybe Echo was right, that this isn't the right time. And maybe Mommy was right, that I should have waited for her to get proofs. But regardless of that, who would blame me for doing that?
Gago ang mundo kaya dapat maging mas gago ka... That's what someone told me. And that's right. Walang mangyayaring maganda sa'yo kung hahayaan mong gaguhin ka ng ibang tao.
Now that I already found out that my father was one to blame, I can already execute the next step of my plan. Kung ayaw nilang sabihin sa'kin ang mga gusto kong malaman, ako ang gagawa ng paraan para makuha ang mga ito. Sabi nga nila, kung hindi madaan sa santong dasalan, daanin sa santong paspasan.
"Sigurado ka ba na ok
(Reese's POV)WEEKS had passed but I didn't even received a single message from my father's Secretary, or even from my mother. I was expecting them to call me and talk about our last conversation but nothing happened.But that's okay. Maybe they're still processing the things I told them. Hindi lang naman kasi basta-basta lang ang mga impormasyong sinabi ko.Until now, hindi pa rin ako kinakausap ni Lex. Matagal ko ng hinihintay ang tawag niya pero wala akong natatanggap. Hindi lang naman tungkol sa pinag-usapan namin ang gusto kong malaman sa kanya. Gusto ko ring magtanong tungkol sa kapatid ko. Wala na kasi akong balita sa tungkol sa kanya. I tried to asked one of his so-called-friends pero wala na rin daw itong balita tungkol kay Desiree.Gusto kong malaman kung kanino siya ipapakasal ni Daddy. Baka lang naman kasi konektado rin ito sa problema ko. Hindi man kami magkasundo ng kapati
(Reese's POV)I was silent the whole ride to his parents' house. I was just looking outside the window and watching the cars passed. That's the reason why my neck hurts. Nangalay talaga ako.As usual, Coz opened the door for me. Kinuha niya ang hawak kong bulaklak bago ako inalalayang bumaba. Pero hindi pa man ako tuluyang nakaka-apak sa sahig, may marinig na kaming hiyaw mula sa entrada ng bahay nila. And when I looked at that way, I saw a woman who's almost running towards us and a man following him with an amused smile."She's my mom," Coz murmured before the woman get closed to us."Joseph!" she happily exclaimed and hugged Coz. "Finally, you're here," she said when she let go of Coz. Then her attention turned to me."G-Good afternoon po," I greeted shyly. Kinakabahan ako. What if kagaya siya ng mga napapanood o nababasa ko?"My daughter-in-
(Reese's POV) "ARE you okay?" 'Yan agad ang bungad ni Coz sa'kin ng lapitan niya ako habang hinuhugasan ko ang kamay ko sa lababo. I closed the faucet before facing him and giving him an assuring smile that I'm okay. But no, I'm not really okay. Bumabagabag pa rin sa'kin ang mga sinabi ng Mommy niya kanina. Am I really in love with him? My God! That's insane! How could I fall in love with him? I will never deny that he's handsome, like a Greek God, but he's a walking red flag. "Are you sure?" paninigurado niya habang tinutuyo niya ang mga kamay ko gamit ang isang towel na ibinigay ng Mommy niya kanina. I nodded again. His gaze was focused on my hands that's why I got to stare at his face. This guy... why is he acting so sweet towards me? "Stop staring at me, wife." I averted my gaze immediately. Pero agad din
(Reese's POV) COZ annoying me about the issue of me being 'thin' continued for almost 2 weeks now. Noong unang linggo, okay lang dahil natitiis ko pa. But this week was far different from the first week. Walang mintis ang pag-uutos niya kay Alice na maghanda ng marami kapag agahan at hapunan. At siguro kapag lumalabas siya sa kwarto niya o sa library at nakita niyang nakabukas pa ang ilaw sa kwarto ko, he'll asked Alice to prepare snacks for me. At ako naman, dahil ayaw kong nagsasayang ng pagkain, napipilitang ubusin kung ano man ang dalhin ni Alice. What made me more annoyed was he even told Alice to checked on me during lunch. Hindi ko alam kung kanino na naman niya nalaman ang schedule ko. Kada alas-onse ay wala akong klase hanggang ala-una. At halos dalawang linggo na ring walang mintis si Alice sa pagtawag o pag-text sa'kin kada alas onse para siguraduhing kakain talaga ako ng lunch. Kulang na lang talaga ay pabaunan nila ako p
(Reese's POV)"MAGKANO ang utang niya?" I asked. He remained silent that's why I changed the question. "Kanino siya may utang?" But he still remained silent. Ayaw niya akong sagutin. Wala siyang balak sabihin sa'kin. "Sa'yo ba?" dagdag tanong ko, baka sakaling sagutin niya. But there's no response from him. He's just looking at me intently. I released a sigh of defeat then stood up and was about to turn my back at him when he talked."Not me."I looked back at him with furrowed brows. "What do you mean?" Tuluyan na akong humarap sa kanya. "Hindi siya sa'yo nagka-utang?" paninigurado ko. He nodded. "Bakit sa'yo ako ikinasal kung gano'n?"Hindi sa kanya nagka-utang si Daddy. Pinangbayad niya ako sa utang niya. Bakit kay Coz ako ikinasal kung wala naman palang utang ang tatay ko sa kanya."What do you think?" hamon niya.I tried to think harder but I can't think
(Reese's POV)HINDI lang sa'yo umiikot ang mundo... kahit mahigit isang linggo na ang lumipas, parang naririnig ko pa rin si Coz na sinasabi sa'kin 'yan. Tumagos talaga sa'kin ang mga katagang 'yan.Nagiging makasarili na ba ako ngayon? Hindi ko na ba ikinokonsidera ang mga nasa paligid ko? Am I being too much?Here I am again at my room's balcony, looking up at the sky and just staring at the moon for I don't know how long already. It's just that everytime I look at the moon, it calms me down. It seems like it's giving me back the energy I lost for doing my best to survived the day."I want to be like you," wala sa sariling sabi ko sa buwan na para bang naririnig ako nito. "I want to be someone's light in the dark," I added then I smiled bitterly. "But how will I do that if I can't even provide myself the light to get out of the dark I'm in right now? How can...I help someone if I can't even help my
(Reese's POV)I woke up with Coz gently shaking my shoulder. I covered my mouth when I yawned before getting up. I looked outside the window and saw that the car stopped on a gasoline station.I took my phone and used it as a mirror to check my face. Nakakahiya naman kaso sa mga kasama ko. I was busy combing my hair using my fingers when Tita---I'll just call her like that from now on dahil ang awkward kung Mom ang itatawag ko kagaya ng sinabi niya noon---asked me if I want to go with her at the restroom. I nodded. Na-iihi na rin naman kasi ako."Malayo pa po ba ang resort?" tanong ko habang naghuhugas ng kamay. Nasa loob pa siya ng cubicle at kaming dalawa lang naman ang narito sa loob ng restroom.She went out of the cubicle before answering me. "Isang oras pa siguro, anak." And just like what I'm doing, she washed her hands.Anak... that made me smile. Kailan ba huling may tum
(Reese's POV) WALA akong imik simula ng marinig ko ang sinabing 'grandchild' ni Tita hanggang sa makarating kami sa silid na gagamitin namin ni Coz. Alangan naman na magreklamo ako? Saan ako matutulog kung mag-iinarte ako? Sa dalampasigan? Mas na-unang pumasok si Coz sa silid. Siya na rin ang bumuhat sa bag na kinalalagyan ng ilang pirasong damit ko. All I was holding was my phone, headset and my wallet. Tita reserved a cottage with two rooms. That's the reason why I need to share a room with Coz. Parang wala naman siyang pakialam kung magkasama kami sa iisang kwarto kaya dapat gano'n din ako? Pero pa'no ako mapapanatag? Hindi ako sanay na may kasamang lalaki sa kwarto. I know Coz will never do something against my will pero ang awkward pa rin. With the fact that there's only one bed and no sofa inside the room, hindi talaga ako kumportable. I should be thankful because there's
(Coz's POV)PINANOOD kong unti-unting nawawala sa paningin ko ang kabaong ng kapatid ko. Just the thought of not going to see her again smiling made me clenched my fist. Bakit siya pa? What did she do wrong for her to suffer these things? She don't deserved to be in this position. Whoever the reason behind this will pay...big time.Dumiretso kaagad ako sa opisina pagkaalis ko sa sementeryo. I have lots to do and I want to know who did that to my sister. I'll make that person's life a living hell. Hindi siya makakatakas sa ginawa niya.After some minutes, my Secretary entered together with someone I really know. Kaagad itong may inilapag na envelope sa lamesa ko. Sinenyasan ko ang Secretary ko na iwanan muna kami na kaagad namang sumunod."Nand'yan na po lahat ng gusto niyong malaman sa pinapaimbestigahan niyo, Sir," aniya.With gritted teeth, I opened the envelope and pulled out the documents. My eyes squinted at the words I'm reading. He's right. Narito na lahat ng kailangan kong m
(Reese's POV)WE'RE ENGAGED. It was an epic engagement but it's worth it. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa pinili kong desisyon. Sumugal ulit ako kahit walang kasiguraduhan na hindi na ako matatalo. Pero gano'n naman talaga kapag sumugal ka, hindi mo alam ang magiging resulta. Sana lang ay mapunta sa akin ang swerte at hindi ako matalo bandang huli.We're not perfect. Be both have our own red flag. But we're both working on that. He never ffailed to tell me how much he loves me every single day. At sa bawat hindi ko pagsagot, kita ko ang sakit sa mga mata niya pero agad din namang nawawala at napapalitan ng pagmamahal. Hindi ko intensyon na iparamdam sa kanya ang gano'n at hindi rin ako naghihiganti sa ginawa niya.I was back to my reverie when someone snapped in front of my face."Kanina ka pa tulala habang nakatingin sa singsing mo, marecakes," nakangising saad ni Audrina. "Nang-iinggit lang ang peg?"I chuckled as I caressed it. "Hindi pa tuluyang nagsi-sinc in
(Reese's POV)THE night of the surprise came. He told me to wear something comfortable. Kahit hindi naman niya sabihin, talagang 'yon ang gagawin ko. I'm into jeans, not dresses. Shoes and not heels. Ni hindi na nga rin ako naglagay ng make-up at basta na lang sinuklay ang buhok ko.When I went out of the room and walked down the stairs, his attention went to me. May kausap ito sa cellphone pero ang atensyon niya ay na sa'kin. That made me smile. I believe him.I talked to his mother last night. She explained what happened after I left. She made me realized lots of things. And I was shock that their love story was almost similar to ours. Tito also fooled her—her words, not mine. Hindi raw niya ako pipiliting paniwalaan lahat ng sinasabi ni Coz. Ang tanging gusto lang daw niya ay subuan kong intindihin ang mga rason niya. After this night, kung hindi ko pa rin daw kayang tanggapin muli si Coz, desisyon ko na raw 'yon at wala na siyang magagawa.Ilang oras akong nag-isp kung ano ang da
(Reese's POV)PIGIL NA PIGIL ko ang sarili kong matawa sa itsura ni Coz. He looks confused but he still managed to nod his head. That made me smile. Tumayo ako ng maayos bago kinuha ang cellphone sa bulsa ko at may tinawagan."Where the fuck are you?!" kaagad na bungad nito pagkasagot sa tawag ko. "Matinong sagot ang kailangan ko, Rose Destiny. Bigla-bigla ka na lang aalis ng walang pasabi kung saan ka pupunta. Letse ka talaga!""Relax, Olivia!" I said with a smile on my face as I stare at Coz who's still confused as to this moment. "I'm with him." There's no need to tell who I'm talking about. Alam niya kung sino ang tinutukoy ko. "I'll stay here for awhile. Don't worry about me.""Loudspeaker this phone right now!" she demanded like she's the boss of me. "Right now, Reese!""Chill. I'll do it," I said then did what she wants and put the phone above Coz's table. "She wants to talk to you." I mouthed to Coz and he just nodded."I know we're not that close, Taylor, but I want you to
(Reese's POV)WHAT he said caught me off guard. My eyes almost popped out as I stare at him looking at me softly. I can't believe that I'm seeing fondness in his usual cold eyes. Is this for real?Mapakla akong natawa. Mahina sa umpisa hanggang sa unti-unting medyo naging malakas. Hinila ko ang kamay kong hawak niya at tumayo. "Y-You..." Napa-iling ako habang natatawa pa rin. "T-That's a good joke," sabi ko.He pressed his lips as he stared at me. "I'm serious."Pinahupa ko muna ang pagtawa ko bago siya sinagot. "It didn't look as a joke to me." Seryoso siya? Mahal niya ako? Hindi ko alam kung nagpapatawa ba siya o nanggagago na naman para utuhin ako.I know it's not right to judge a person pero iba kasi pagdating sa kanya. I should be happy right now hearing him say those 3 words and 8 letters to me pero hindi. Sino ba naman ang hindi matutuwa kapag narinig mo mismo sa taong mahal mo na mahal ka rin niya? That your love for that person isn't unrequited after all?Every woman deserve
(Reese's POV)GULAT ako sa nakikita ko at hindi ko napigilang umawang ang mga labi ko. Pero pagkaraan ng ilang segundo, nakabawi ako at naging blangko ang ekspresyon ng mukha ko."What are you doing here, Mr. Taylor?" I asked in a business tone like he always do every time he's talking to someone. "What's the visit for?"And the brute just smirked at me. I gritted my teeth and stopped myself from smacking his face. Wala akong pakialam kung gwapo pa rin ito kahit na basa na siya ng ulan. Alam na ngang malakas ang ulan, naglakas-loob pang lusungin ito. Akala mo naman ay waterproof ang hudyo."I'm here to pick up my wife," he simply said like he's just asking for a water."Maling lugar ang pinuntahan mo kung asawa mo ang hinahanap mo," walang emosyon na sagot ko. "Wala dito ang hinahanap mo, Mr. Taylor," dagdag ko pa. Bakit ba kasi ito nandito?"Wala?" Mapakla siyang natawa. "Why don't you let me in—""Gago ka ba?!" hindi ko napigilang isinghal sa kanya. "Let you in? Bakit, aber? Sino
(Reese's POV)MY MIND tried to processed what she said but it's declining everything. Naguguluhan ako dahil bakit ako ang dahilan? Ano ang kinalaman ko sa kanya? Ilang buwan na kaming walang communication kaya bakit ako damay?"H-Hospitalized?... L-Last week?... B-Because of m-me?" putol-putol na paninigurado. I can't formulate the exact words that I want to say because my mind was in chaos. "Narinig mo naman ang sinabi ko, 'di ba?" medyo iritang sagot niya pero binalewala ko na lang."W-What happened? Is he okay? Na-discharge na ba siya?" Sunod-sunod na tanong ko. Wala na dapat akong pakialam sa kanya, kung ano ang kalagayan niya, pero hindi ko maiwasan. Dapat kinakalimutan ko na siya pero hindi ko magawa.What happened? Ano na naman ang dahilan kung bakit siya naospital? Ano ang kinalaman ko? Okay lang ba siya?"Bakit ka nagtatanong ng gan'yan? Dapat kinakalimutan mo na siya, 'di ba? Bakit may pakialam ka pa sa kanya?""May pinagsamahan naman kami—""Pero niloko ka niya!" inis na p
(Reese's POV)"KANINO galing?" I asked Audrina after she handed me a box of doughnuts from Autumn's."Sa'kin malamang. Ako nagbigay, 'di ba?" She rolled her eyes."Kung isampal ko kaya sa'yo 'to?" I countered and acted like I was about to slapped the box to her. "Ano?" hamon ko pa.Instead of answering, she turned her back at me and even flipped her hair."Pikon ka talaga kahit kailan, Aurora." pang-aasar ko pa gamit ang nickname na ibinigay ko sa kanya."Tangina mo! Audrina ang pangalan ko, hindi Aurora, gago!" sigaw niya mula sa kusina na ikinatawa ko.Sa mga nakalipas na panahon, mas naging close pa kami. Minsan nga ay nagseselos na si Olive dahil mas madalas kong kasama si Audrina. Sabi nga ni Desiree, malapit na raw kaming magkamukha dahil halos kung nasaan ang isa, nando'n din ang isa."Tumanda ka sanang dalaga." aniya ng bumalik ito sa sala habang may hawak na tasa na sigurado akong kape na naman ang laman."Kape now, palpitate later." sabi ko nang maka-upo ito sa kaharap kong
(Reese's POV)AFTER knowing the news, hindi ko alam kung paano ko kinayang makauwi ng ligtas. I was shaking and nervous. Umiiyak ako dahil sa labis na pag-aalala.The news said it was not his fault but he was injured. At hindi nakatulong na hindi man lang binanggit kung ano ang tinamo niya. Nabalian ba siya? Nauntog ba? Wala. Walang nabanggit.The last thing I remembered before I fell asleep was that I cried so hard upon reaching my bed. Gusto ko siyang puntahan. Gusto kong malaman ang kalagayan niya. Pero wala akong ibang magawa kung hindi umiyak na LANG. Umaasa akong maayos ang kalagayan niya. That he's not severely injured or something.When I woke up, I found Desiree peacefully sleeping beside me and holding my left hand. Dahan-dahan akong umalis sa kama para hindi siya magising. When I checked the time, it was already 9 in the morning.I went to the kitchen as I scrolled through my social media accounts, trying to find some news about him. Medyo nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang may