ARAW ng Linggo at naisipan naming magsimba ng mga kaibigan ko. "Kera, yats.. Until when you're gonna ignore me?" Yats! Their new endearment. Pfft. Akala ko yats kasi parehas silang payatot. Ayun pala STAY. They will forever stay on each other side daw for the rest of their life till death do them part.Ikinatuwa ko ang isiping iyon na ikinasakit din ng puso ko. Sana all my forever. Makiki-sana all na lang ako sa kanila. Ganun din kasi si Rain at Allie. They were so in love with each other. How I wish I could be on Avry's side too until our hair turns grey, our skin wrinkled and our soul leaves our body. And then in the next life, we would meet again, and love each other in an undefinable way. If I could reincarnate 1000x I would still want to meet and fall in love with the woman who taught me what more there was in love a 1000x. "I told you.. Georgette is just a friend." Muling pangungumbinsi ni Rafa kay Kera. Simula kanina pa lang sa byahe nagtatalo na sila. "Guys.. Mamaya n
"Why did you do that? You don't have to." I asked and said when I cooled down. "I know what you are doing, Ice. You're driving her away. S-sorry. I invaded your privacy and the confidentiality of your condition." Kumunot ako, biglang napaisip."What do you mean? W-what are you talking about?" "I followed you the day you had a consultation with your Doctor and the day you learned the result, too. I'm worried that's why I did that." Natahimik lang ako. "If you want her to really give up, you have to make her believe that the thing she's holding up is no more. You can use me, Ice. It's my pleasure to help you. And I won't accept a no for an answer. Just on this, let me." [AVRY VALERI BLOSSOM]"Ma'am.. O-okay lang ho kayo?" I heard a female voice. That's the bartender, I guess. Alcohol was the first thing that popped up in my mind after my heartbreaking encounter with Ice earlier, so I ended up here at a bar again. And I think that would be the last time I will be seeing the love of
"I'm staying, honeybunch," Quinn said, which caused me panic. Just last night, she brought up the idea of not going back to Paris. We are currently having dinner in one of my restaurants. "W-what? No.." I raise to meet her eye, showing her my displeased reaction. "What the hell are you talking about, Quinn?" I asked just to make sure I didn't hear it wrong. "I want to stay, get married here, honeybunch. Ayoko na bumalik ng Paris. I want to settle here in my mother's homeland with you and build a family. Don't you like that?" She uttered, eyes fixated on me as she held both my hands and gently stroked them. Quinn is half Filipino and half French. "I have a life in Paris, Hon. I thought we have understanding?" Wala pa kaming one-year ni Quinn ng mag prose ako ng kasal. I met her at one of my gallery exhibits. I caught her then, staring for a long time at one of my Obra Maestra. She said she sees herself in that painting. At a glance, she looks genuinely happy and seems to be liv
[ICE QUEEN SAMSON] "Ice.. Ice!!" I was stunned sa biglang pagtaas ng boses ni Rocky—Nasa loob kami ng kotse niya at pauwi na. Sinundo niya ako kanina after ng klase ko. "S-sorry. What are you saying?" Tanong ko ng makabawi ako. Wala pala kasi ako sa sarili ko. "Okay ka lang ba? Kanina pa ako nagsasalita hindi ka naman pala nakikinig." "Sorry." "May masakit ba sayo?" Umiling ako sa tanong niya kasabay ng," Wala. Okay naman ako. Pagod lang siguro." "Are you sure? Sumasakit ba ulo mo?" Nag-aalala nanaman siya. "Gusto mong magpa check up tayo?" Dagdag pa nito. Panay ang tingin sa akin tapos babalik sa daan. "Relax.. Walang masakit sakin. Paranoid ka." Natatawang sabi ko. "Nakuha mo pa talagang tumawa. I'm being serious here, Ice." Hinawakan ko siya sa may braso para kumalma. "Okay nga lang ako." Pinanindigan ni Rocky ang pananatili sa tabi ko simula ng malaman niya ang tungkol sa sakit ko. Maliban kay Mommy, Ate Izzy, lolo, si Rocky lang ang may alam. Siya nga ang unang nakatu
[AVRY VALERI BLOSSOM]"You were quiet since yesterday. Is this still about not going back to Paris?" No.. It's more than that.Quinn knows how broken I was before she came into my life. What she doesn't know is whose. I never speak about Ice. Quinn could only see my suffering, but I didn't say anything to her. She only knew that I loved someone at that time. "Hey.. Talk to me. What's the matter, honeybunch?""Nothing. I'm just adjusting. You know. I'm not used to staying here anymore. Especially the traffic. So frustrating." She laughed, which eased me. "Yeah. Hon, there's still super traffic. By the way, I met someone the other day." "Who?" "We have the same name." Happily, she shared. "And I want her to design our house." I was surprised. I thought I was gonna design our home. "I knew that look. Don't be jealous. Just work with her. For sure, you gonna love her work too.""You allow me to work with a girl now?" I sounded amused. "She's an exception." She giggled. Another day
"Oh no. It's the same course." Magsasalita sana siya pero nag ring ang phone ko. Shit! Si Rocky. "Hello.. Rocky. Sorry on the way na ko ng bahay." "Ah ganun ba? Sorry, natagalan kasi ako sa meeting. Bagong investors." "Sorry.. Biglaan. Mukhang uulan na kasi." Pagdadahilan ko pero umuulan na din naman talaga. "Okay lang. Wala pa naman ako sa Samson kaya mabuti nag taxi ka na." Sorry Rocky. Wala ako sa taxi. Kasama ko siya ngayon. "Ingat ah. Chat mo ako kapag nakarating ka na." Sunod niyang sabi saka nagpaalam at pinutol na ang tawag. Sinulyapan ko naman ng palihim si Avry. Madilim na ang mukha nito. Hindi na katulad kanina. "Si Rocky pala sundo mo." She said in a monotone. Nasa daan lang ang focus niya. "Ah.. O-oo." Bakit ako nauutal? Ilan sandali pa nakarating kami ng bahay. Inalok ko siya na pumasok na muna. Nagalak naman ako ng pumayag siya kahit tila pangit ang timpla. Simple lang ang bahay namin pero maayos naman. "Ate Izzy.." Yumakap ako kay Ate kahit medyo nabasa ako
[AVRY VALERI BLOSSOM]I still can't recover from what I found out. I spilled coffee on Ice at the Love is Blind coffee shop and not on Xandra. They were wearing the same clothes when Ice changed, but Xandra was the one I talked to next.Are my eyes so blurry back then that I couldn't distinguish between them?Look at how greatly fate could play in our lives. It was Ice all along. I opened the door when I reached my penthouse, and Quinn, with crossed arms and a lethal stare, immediately met me. I'm dead...I forgot to update her on my whereabouts."Look, Hon, I'm sorry," I preceded before she could lash me out. I comprehended her temper, and I got used to it already. I know her very well. "Where the hell have you been? Did you throw your phone away? I've been calling and sending messages for almost two hours, Valeri!" "I'm sorry." That was all I could say with pleading eyes as I tried to hold her in my arms. "Are you?" She uttered In her sarcastic tone. "Zamantha and I met unexp
[AVRY VALERI BLOSSOM]Since I bumped into Ice, my mind seemed to storm out. I can't get her out of my system once again. It's starting to alarm and distress me even though she does nothing. "Ma'am.."My student was busy now with their activity while I was preoccupied with so many things that it gave me such a headache. I guess it was a wrong move going back. "Ma'am!" "Yes? Mr. Pascual?" Ano bang problema ng batang to? Early in the morning. "Can I excuse myself for a moment po?" "And why is that?" I asked with my stoic face. He's the guy from the last time who was talking with his pals about Ice. "Kikitain ko po kasi sa labas si Ice." My ears seemed surprised, and so did I when I heard her name. "For what?" I stood up, approaching him. "May pinaa-abot po kasi sa kanya yung pinsan ko," I remember.. Ka-block ni Ice ang tinutukoy nito. "I can get it for you-" "Hindi na po." My brows creased. "Gusto ko din po kasing makita si Ice." "You can't, Mr. Pascual. Focus on the task." I
[ICE QUEEN SAMSON BLOSSOM]Kalalabas ko lang ng banyo at pinapatuyo pa ang buhok ko gamit ang towel ng yapusin ako ng asawa ko. "Hmm.. Smells good. So alluring to my nose. Wifey.. Tomorrow is your free day, diba?" Habang inuubos ang halimuyak ko sa katawan, hinahalikan ako kung saan. "So?" Hinahayaan ko lang siya sa ginagawa niya. Patuloy pa din ako sa paglakad papunta ng kama hanggang maupo. Kinuha niya ang hawak kong towel, pinakawalan sa sahig. "What? Love.. Don't tell me-" Humalukipkip akong hindi natapos ang sasabihin ko dahil sa pag ngisi niya. Sa itsura pa lang niya basang basa ko na kung anong binabalak niya. Akma akong tatayo pero hinapit niya ako sa bewang dahilan para bumagsak ako sa ibabaw niya. Salubong pa din ang kilay ko. "Love.. Katatapos lang natin." Hindi niya pinansin ang sinabi ko, lalo pa akong hinatak hanggang mawala na ang gap sa pagitan namin. Lahat ng bigat ko nasa kanya na. Nakikiliti ako sa pagdampi ng malambot niyang labi sa leeg ko hanggang bahagya n
"Who was that?" Nguso ko. "Huh?!" Napasulyap pa to sa student na kausap niya kanina. Saka bumalik ang tingin sakin. "Isn't it obvious? My student, Wifey. What are you doing here, by the way?" Akma niya akong hahawakan pero tinabla ko kaya napasimangot siya. "I know she's a student, but what was that?" Kung kanina blangko ngayon masama na ang tingin ko. "At pupunta ako dito sa Samson anytime I want." Wala kasi akong klase today or any appointment pero naisip kong i-surprise visit siya. At mabuti pala na ginawa ko. Baliw na ata ang asawa ko sakin dahil binawi lang naman niya tong University sa pinsan niya para ibalik sa akin. Ako na ngayon ang Director and at the same time as Professor while doing my job as an Architect sa sarili kong firm dito sa bansa. "I don't know what you are talking about, Wifey. Come on. Let me touch you. I miss you." Lumayo pa din ako sa pangalawang attempt niya. "You are flirting with your stupid student." Agad na sumilay ang hindi pagka paniwala sa muk
"Nabusog ka ba?" Ang konti kasi ng kinain niya. Tumango ito saka bumalin sa akin. Sobrang dikit lang namin. Nasa pagitan ako ng mga hita niya. "Now tell me everything." Seryoso siya. Uminom muna ako bago nagsalita. "I was here two months after your Mom died." Pagsisimula ko. Our eyes were locked. My heart was beating, but in a good way. "You were here?" "You remember nothing when we got married kasi lasing ka." Sumilay ang nag iisip niyang mukha. Pasimple at mabilis akong humalik sa kanya bago ako nagpatuloy. "Do you know the movie Can't Help Falling in Love by Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo?" Tanong ko na sobrang lapit ng mukha ko sa mukha niya. Minsang sinusulyapan ang nakaka magnet niyang labi. Sumilay ang guhit sa gitna ng mga makakapal niyang kilay. "No.. I don't watch Pinoy Movies. It's so corny." Wow ah! "Then now you should watch. You'll know how we got married." Saka ako akmang tatayo pero napigilan niya ako sa bewang. Halos sumubsob tuloy yung dibdib ko sa m
[ICE QUEEN SAMSON]KABABALIK ko lang galing Canada at from airport dumiretso agad ako sa bar na sinabi ni Ara just to witness my wife flirting with some bitch. Aside from Ara, no one knows I'm back kaya nabigla pa ang ibang pinsan niya ng makita ako. They were about to take my wife out of the bar. She's so tanked up, wasted as hell. Inis pa ako sa nasaksihan kaya balak kong umalis na lang at magtungo ng hotel kung saan ako advance check-in ng assistant ko. Sa kabila ng inis ko, nagprisinta akong mag asikaso sa asawa ko. Miss ko na din kasi siya. Huli ko siyang nakita, that was one year ago. Nakatanggap pa nga ako ng salita kay Talli. Ako daw talaga dapat ang bahala sa lasing kong asawa. Yes, we are married without her knowing. Siya lang ang walang alam while the rest are witnessed. Even her mama knows about my plan to marry her daughter before she died in a plane crash. Tuwang tuwa noon ang mama ni Avry ng malaman ang plano ko. She knows why I left her daughter nine or almost t
[AVRY VALERI BLOSSOM] It's been what? Three years and counting, yet still waiting for Ice to come back. Andito ako ngayon sa veranda ng Penthouse ko. I got married to Quinn when Ice again, for the second time around, chose to give way, breaking my heart. It sucks, but I find it brave at the same time. Sa sobrang galit, hinanakit ko kay Ice pinili kong ituloy ang kasal. Pinilit kong maging mabuting asawa kay Quinn. Sa kalagitnaan ng halos one year na pagsasama napansin kong nagiging sakitin siya. Until I found out that she was dying and also why Ice chose to leave me behind. May usapan pala sila at hindi man lang ako sinali o binigyan ng say. Sorry ng sorry noon sa hospital sa akin si Quinn pero andoon na at ano pang magagawa ko. I stayed by her side up to her last breath. Now, I was left all alone, here in this feeling empty, suffocating house. I was on the way to losing hope. I feel like I'm the only one loving so desperately, selflessly, between us. I already forgave her for
ON THE WAY ako ngayon sa usapan namin ni Quinn. Iniisip ko kung ano bang importanteng sasabihin niya. Kung tama si Ate na may alam na siya dapat akong kabahan at maging ready masampal. Deserve ko naman yun. Kahit sino or kahit ako baka hindi nga lang sampal, ngudngod ang gawin ko sa babaeng nakipag sex sa fiancee ko. Tahimik kaming pareho. Ang pinagtataka ko bakit dito kami sa Love is Blind coffee shop nagkita. In all places, why here? Something is off na agad. "What do you prefer to drink?" Putol niya sa katahimikan na bumabalot sa pagitan namin. Hindi ko siya mabasa sa totoo lang pero may nag iba sa kanya—Hindi na siya magiliw gaya nung paano ko siya unang makilala. "Anything would be fine." Sagot ko, trying to be natural. Umorder naman siya at naiwan akong mag isa dito sa napili naming table. Parang sinadya niya atang dito pumuwesto kasi medyo malayo sa ibang customer. "Do you have any hint as to why I asked you to meet me?" Sabi niya ng makabalik. Ipinatong naman ng babae
NAUNA ng umuwi si Ate dahil inaya pa ako ng mga kaibigan ko sa hideout. "Buhay pa pala to." Nasabi ko ng makapasok ako sa lugar na maraming naging ala-ala sa akin. "Oo naman. Sa atin to eh." Nakangiting tugon ni Rafa. Yumapos naman si Kera sa tabi niya. Hinaplos ko ang couch na nasa tabi ko lang. Binabalikan ang magagandang memory. Dito kami madalas pumatay ng oras. Kwentuhan, kantahan at minsan inuman. May tawanan, asaran at iyakan. Lahat.. Ang daming nangyari especially sa couch na to. Nag-angat ako ng mukha ng may maalala. "Nasa US na siya, Bestie." Tila nabasa ni Rafa ang nasa isip ko. Kumawala naman sa pagkakayapos sa kanya si Kera. May kinuha ito. "He left a letter before his flight." Inabot sa akin iyon ni Kera. Dahan kong binuklat iyon. Ang haba. ***** I don't know where and how to start my only one. I made a mistake, Ice dahil sa pagiging selfish ko.. Bulag sa love.. We all are.. but loving you wasn't a mistake kahit pa sobrang nasaktan ako, which was clearly not your
[ICE QUEEN SAMSON]HABANG naglalakad naglalakbay din ang utak ko. Ang daming nangyari sa mga nagdaang araw. Hindi sumagi sa isip kong makikita ulit si Avry. Na pagtatagpuin ulit ang landas namin.Hindi ko din napag handaan ang isang bagay, malamang ikakasal na pala siya. Ang liit nga naman ng mundo at sa babaeng nakilala ko pa sa park. Parang sa mga napapanood ko lang. Pwede pa lang mangyari sa totoong buhay. Pero sino o kanino ba ang happy ending? Hindi ko alam.... "Oh bunso ang aga mo naman-" Si Ate Izzy ang bumungad sa akin pag bukas ko ng pinto. Niyakap ko siya ng sobra, kasing sobra ng dinadala ko. "Are you okay?" Naipikit ko ang mata ko at hindi napigilang umiyak. Bago pa man magising si Avry, nauna na akong umalis para hindi na niya makita. "May nangyari bang hindi maganda? Bakit ka umiiyak?" Hinagod ni Ate ang likuran ko na para bang dama niya ang bigat ng nasa puso ko. "I don't know what to do anymore, Ate. I'm not a bad person, but I love her." "Ano bang sinasabi mo?
"What happened?" Tanong ko ng magdilat ako at siya agad ang nakita. May takip ng kumot ang katawan ko."You fall asleep, Wifey. Did I drain you? Sabi ko we are not done yet pero pagbalik ko ang himbing na ng tulog mo." Kasalanan mo. Gusto kong murahin siya ulit. "Hindi na kita ginising. Are you hungry? I cooked your favorite.""Sinigang?" Bigla naman akong nabuhayan. Napangiti tango siya sa sinabi ko. "Do you want to take a shower first?" Naalala ko ang kaninang kahihiyan kaya tumango ako. Madaming bakas ang naiwan kaya kailangan kong maligo. Nakakahiya sa kanya. "Can you walk?" Sinubukan ko naman gumalaw na nawalan din ng saysay dahil ang hapdi ng pakiramdam ko. Natawa siya ng bahagya sa naging reaction ko. "It's your fault." Sabi ko ng may masamang tingin. "I'm not denying, Wifey. I'm guilty." Sabi naman niya na parang proud pa nga. Binuhat niya ako, dinala ng banyo. Dahan niya akong nilubog sa bathtub. May nakahanda na agad at maligamgam pa ang tubig. Pinaglaruan naman ng k