"Are you okay, Apple? Kinakabahan ka ba?"
Naagaw kaagad ang aking pansin nang magsalita si Attorney Kraius Montreal. Magkatabi kaming dalawa sa kotse nito habang binabaybay ang kahabaan ng EDSA. Hindi gaanong traffic kaya mas magaan ang pagpapatakbo nito. Mabilis nga iyon kumpara sa normal na araw ko kapag sasakay ng jeep. Gayunpaman, mararamdaman pa rin ang pag-iingat sa bawat kambyo at tapak nito sa preno.
"Ayos lang naman po ako. Medyo kinakabahan lang ng konti," sagot ko rito. Binalingan ko rin ito ng tingin at nakitang seryoso lamang ang mga mata nitong nakatuon sa harapan.
Kraius chuckled beside me. Sinulyapan rin ako nito. "Masyado na ba akong matanda para i-po? Call me by my name, instead."
Tumango ako kahit hindi na nito iyon nakikita. I even smiled a bit because what Mr. Montreal told me lessen my nervousness and uneasiness. Masyado rin itong madaldal at kung minsan masyadong gwapong-gwapo sa sar
When you were a woman full of hope, it would always make you stronger. Bolder and ready to risk despite everything that would block your way. Aasa ka. Mananalig. Hanggang sa pakiramdam mo kaya mo na ang lahat. Pakiramdam mo hinding-hindi ka mabibigo.But in every challenge, fate always had an oddly way of playing the game. Baited. Puzzled. Undeniable doubts and turns of events. Kung gaano kabilis nangyari ganoon din kabilis natapos ang lahat. Na ang pinanghahawakan mong pag-asa ay maaari ring mawala at maglaho.Good luck.It would not happen everytime. It never worked every time. Sometimes, it may give you hope that could lead you to the destruction that you never wished that exist. Hanggang malalaman mo na lang na hindi pag-asa ang dala nito kundi sakit. Sakit na hindi mo aakalaing posibleng mangyari."Apple." Tinig iyon ni Mommy.Every time I heard her voice, for me, it was the mos
I watched intently the neon lights as it played in my sight. The switching of its color every minute as it danced to the darkness of the night was indeed a good and wonderful scene of euphoria. It was sirene and peaceful. It was as if, could fade away all the pain and worry. Beautiful but also dangerous.Mall of Asia globe indeed had its own way to change a mood. As I looked around the place hundreds of people were looking at it too with a smile pasted on their lips. There eyes were beaming too, the way they looked at the big globe. They were obviously happy and in awe.While, I am only here. Didn’t even know what to do. Didn’t know what to say. Hindi ko rin alam kung saan ako pupunta. I seemed lost. Wrecked and broken. Mula pa kanina sa presento kasama si Mommy. At mas lalo pa itong nadagdagan nang marinig ko ang sinabi ni Mr. Aguirre.I am lost for words. I couldn’t even think straight. I even lau
I played the pen in between my fingers. Pinaikot ko ito nang paulit-ulit. Mabilis na halos hindi na masabayan ng mga mata ko ang imahe nito. Hanggang sa tuluyan itong nalaglag sa ibabaw ng Steno pad na nasa aking harapan. I sighed and took it again, then played it once more.Sa sobrang boring na nararamdaman ko ang ballpen ang tangi kong napagdiskitahan. I even stretched my legs and swayed it slowly. Pinaikot ko rin ang aking swivel chair matapos magsawa sa paglalaro sa ballpeng hawak ko.Doon lumabas ang pinakamagandang babaeng nakita ko sa tanang buhay ko. Si Olive Trinidad Ramirez, my boss. Isang kilalang psychiatrists. Naka-bob cut ang buhok nito na mas lalong nagpatingkad sa anyo nitong pisikal. Pointed nose and small face that complimented her white complexion. Hindi nga lamang ito masyadong mataas ngunit hindi naman iyon nakabawas sa ganda nito."Apple, can you go out with me for lunch?" Tiningnan nito ang wri
Pagod man ako nang nagdaang gabi ay maaga pa rin akong nagising. Gusto ko pa sanang pumikit at matulog ngunit hindi na maaari. I could feel the sunlight reflecting on my face. Para bang ginigising ako nito. As if telling me to wake up and start my life. To keep living and be alive despite of every thing.Nang ibuka ko ng tuluyan ang mga mata ay hindi nga ako nabigo. The sunlight abruptly caught my sight and made my vision blurry. Pumikit muli ako at sinanay ang mga mata. Kapagkuwan ay nagpalit ako ng pwesto at nagmulat ng paningin.I felt relieve seeing no trace of Condrad from the other side of my bed. Alam ko naman kasing tumabi siya sa akin kagabi nang mahiga ako sa kama. He embraced me from behind and whispered sweet words but I couldn't afford to talk to him nor listen. His sweet nothings meant nothing to me too. Parang hangin lang na dumadaan sa dalawang tainga ko. Nasanay na rin ako kapag naglalambing ito sa akin at hayaan ito
Sabay kaming kumain ng tanghalian ni Mommy sa hospital bed nito. We talked about every thing. Kinuwento ko rito ang tungkol sa trabaho ko at si Miss Olive. She was smiling whenever I said compliments to every one around me. At nagsabing magpapasalamat siya sa mga ito sa pagiging mabait nila sa akin.I am happy seeing my Mom happy. Walang makakatumbas sa damdaming iyon na nararamdaman ko. It was so precious to me. Bukod kasi sa hindi kami palaging nagkakasama, madalang na rin kung makita ko itong ngumingiti.Ilang sandali pa kaming nag-usap ni Mommy bago ko ito pinatulog muli. Iniwan ko rin kaagad ito nang makitang payapa na ang paghinga nito. Nagbilin na lamang ako sa personal nurse nito ng ilang importanteng bagay bago ko nilisan ang ospital.I didn't know where to go actually. Pumara na lamang ako ng Taxi at hinayaan kong libutin nito ang buong Metro. As usual, it was a busy day for all the people battling for their own
I scanned myself in the full length mirror in front of me. I smiled softly as I saw how the red sequined fabric complimented my body. Its V-neck showed my cleavage. Ngunit imbes na mahiya ako ay mas lalo pa nitong dinagdagan ang kompyansa ko sa sarili. Fit and flare style dress that traces every curve of my body. Para bang sinadya ang damit na iyon para sa akin lamang."Oh, my gosh! You look stunning, Apple. I'm sure you will be the Apple of the night, tonight." It was Miss Olive Trinidad. Sinulyapan ko ito mula sa salamin at nakitang nakangiti itong nakamasid sa akin."Salamat po, Miss. Bagay rin po sa inyo ang damit niyo," I commented.Natawa naman ito at umiling. Nakita ko ring tumayo ito at naglakad patungo sa akin. "Nah, I disagree."Inayos ni Miss Olive ang pagkakapusod ng aking buhok. Pinagmasdan ko lamang ito habang ginagawa niya iyon. Ipinagkikibit-balikat ko na rin ang hindi nito pagsang-ayon sa
Mahigpit ang pagkakayakap ng aking dalawang kamay mula sa likuran ni Marcus. Nakasandal din ang aking ulo sa malapad na likod nito dahil sa takot na baka mahulog ako. My hair was dancing with the strong blew of the wind but I just let it. Hindi na ako nag-abala pang itali ito kanina nang makita kong sa isang big bike kami sasakay. After I confessed to Marcus my sentiments, he just laughed at me and shook his head. Hindi man masyadong maliwanag sa lugar na kinaroroonan ko kanina sa MOA ngunit kitang-kita ko naman ang mukha nito. I saw how his expression softened and abruptly turned into serious when he realized I was not joking at all. Naaalala ko pa ang gulat na bumalatay sa gwapo nitong mukha habang nakakunot ang noo.I knew he was confused and speechless. I even saw him open his mouth but he did not say anything. We stared at each other intently for a while as if we were the only thing that matter. Hanggan
"Hey, Apple. Are you okay?"Nagbalik ang aking alaala sa kasalukuyan nang maramdaman ko ang marahang pag-alog ng aking balikat. My gaze instantly shifted to Miss Olive who was looking at me worridly. Pinisil din nito ang aking balikat nang marahan. I knew it wasn't intentional. Marahil ay alam nitong hindi ako komportable.Ngumiti ako nang pilit. Tumikhim din ako para mawala ang bara sa aking lalamunan. What happened between Marcus and I was a spur of a moment thing. It was a long time ago, so I shouldn't be thinking about it. Dapat kalimutan ko na at ibaon na lang sa lupa."Pasensya na po, Miss Olive. I am just not feeling well," pagsisinungaling ko. Tinawag ko rin ang waiter na sakto namang dumaan sa aming harapan. Kumuha ako ng wine kahit pa kakasabi ko lang na masama ang aking pakiramdam at nilagok iyon sa harap nina Miss Olive at Marcus."Oww," narinig kong bulong ni Miss Olive. Tumatango-tango pa ito