OH, MY GOD! Napaaga ka!"I bolted inside the condo and threw my bag away, disarranging the glass souvenirs. Hindi ako makapag-isip nang tama sanhi para magpapadyak-padyak ako sa inis at galit."I hate them!" hiyaw ko. "I hate them! I hate them! How can they make me suffer more!?""Ana, wait! What is going on?!"Naglakad sa harap ko si Eliza at hinawakan ang magkabilang balikat ko. Her eyes look so confused and worried, and I even promised to behave in front of her. Pero hindi ko kaya sa oras na ito. Parang nabasag lahat ng plinano ko sa buhay. I can't contain my anger knowing that any time soon, my parents would push through it and I would be locked up in a boring, lifeless, lonely marriage! Forever!"Tell me what the hell is going on, Ana!" Mas tinaasan ako ng boses ni Eliza. "Sabihin mo sa akin, Anastasia! May nangyari ba? May humahabol ba sa'yo? And the dinner, how was it? Did something come up again?"I frowned, then shook my head slowly and repeatedly like a child. Eliza tucked
OKAY, BESTIE. ARE YOU READY?"I am seated on a big, throne-like chair, and in front of me is a long white table. Kakapasok lang ni Eliza sa opisina habang ako, napapagod sa kakahintay sa mga lalaking hinanap niya sa loob ng isang linggo."Oh, come on. Let the first guy in…" I said boredly with my chin on my palm. Narinig kong tumawa si Eliza."What's with the face, Ana? Confidence, gurl. Your problem's gonna end now.""Oh, I want this to end immediately. Papasukin mo na sila."Huminga ako nang malalim at umupo nang tuwid, ang likod nasa back rest, while Eliza went out to fetch them.Surprisingly, a lot of men signed up for this crazy thing. And what I mean by 'a lot' is literally. Marami talagang nagtatangkang maging boyfriend ko.Well, alam kong maganda ako. Guys, even the richest and hottest bachelors in town, line up to get me. But I never really thought they would set
CHEATING IS A CHOICE. It is never an accident. It is never the victim's fault. It is never… justifiable… nor forgivable. Blinded are those who give second chances to cheaters. And I am sure, malinaw na malinaw ang mga mata ko."Babe, I'm sorry..."Ilang ulit na pagmamakaawa ni Jacob, ang boyfriend kong ubod ng kaplastikan, habang hinahaplos ang magkabilang balikat ko. Napalunok ako dahil napakainit ng mga haplos niya at ayaw kong bumigay.Damn it! Hindi rin naman magtatagal ito. I will finish this right away. Nakipagkita lang naman ako sa kanya para bigyan siya ng leksyon. At dahil para siyang aso na habol nang habol sa akin, sumipot ang tanga para humingi ng tawad sa amo."Babe..." mangiyak-iyak na bulong ni Jacob. "Kausapin mo naman ako…"I rolled my eyes and huffed secretly. Nakakarindi na ang boses niya. Naaasiwa ako sa pagmumukha niya. Well, I must admit he's handsome with his soft facial features, pero 'yong ugali talaga, barumbado! Impaktito!Hipokrito!Kanina pa siya babe n
THIS LIFE IS SO SHITTY!" Bumagsak ako sa upuan at gigil na sinuntok ang mesa. Nasa bar ako after the stressful confrontation with my foolish ex. How come kasing-kapal ng mukha niya ang semento?"What a thick-faced, unsatisfied fool!” Sa sobrang galit ko, my growling voice clashed against the disco sound below. “Paano niya nagawang ipagpalit ako sa… sa ano… God, I hate to say this, pero bakit sa pangit pa?! Fuck, I am anyone's dream! And he only chose a freaking baduy, disgusting, and lowly slut like her… over me! Unbelievable!""Come on, Siz. Don't think about na. Hindi ka niya deserve. He’s not worth it.""Siz, exactly!" Eliza, my gay best friend, is never wrong. That's why I super love her frankness. "I just can't believe that he'd make out with that girl. Eh, mukha ngang bad breath 'yong impaktitang 'yon!""Ano ka ba. Baka naloko lang din 'yong babae. We should blame the cheater who hurt you and the illegal kabit,” she sounded so demure. “Si Jacob, sa kanya ka magalit. Okay? Siya
MAYBE, I am dreaming, o malakas lang talaga ang tama ng alak kaya ako nagkakaganito. Heck, I live in a luxurious world where meeting and getting face on with expensive-looking men is so normal. Wala lang siya sa mga naka-meet ko sa La Salle. Iyong makakita ng gwapo at amoy-ginto ay kasing-normal lang ng paghinga ko.But here I am… in front of a greek-like man. Heavenly handsome with his sharp, sculpted jaw. Akala ko hanggang doon na lang ang kayang purihin ng mga mata ko, but his nose… saktong-sakto sa hugis ng mukha niya. It wasn't too wide or big or thin. It was perfectly triangular, leaving a shadow shaped like a pyramid on his cheek.Napalunok ako. I felt my stomach rumble at the sight of his lips. Nakakita na ako ng magagandang labi sa mundo, pero ang isang ito… kakaiba. Naturally pinkish like a petal smudge. It even looks wet and bouncy. Malaman… at may guhit sa ibaba. I blinked twice in a balled out way. Parang ang sarap lang pindot-pindutin.Damn this alak!How can a man lik
MINULAT KO ANG MGA MATA KO. Isang kulay peach na kisame ang tumambad sa akin. Unti-unti, umupo ako sa kama habang hawak ang noo ko. I feel an aching pressure on my skull. Mas lalo lang sumakit iyon nang masuri ko ang kabuoan ng kwarto.Shit. Anong ginawa ko kagabi?Where the heck is my pink bed? Where are my heart-shaped couches? Who the hell replaced my cherry blossom curtains?Bigla akong napatakip ng bibig nang may ma-realize. Ang yaman ng kumidnap sa akin at dinala pa ako sa isang condo. How considerate can this kidnapper be?The interiors were minimalistic. Akala ko'y peach ang kulay ng kwarto, but as I observed, they were painted white. Nakasara pa ang kulay gray na kurtina kaya medyo madilim sa loob. The lamp on the bedside table was the one emitting yellow-peach light.Natauhan ako bigla kaya bilis-bilis kong sinilip ang ilalim ng comforter. Every small thing in this room reminds me of a man. Kung disente man o hindi, it doesn't matter. What matters now is my dignity. A decen
"PLEASE, don't leave just yet," pigil ng lalaki nang pahawak na ako sa pinto. "I can't seem to function knowing you haven't eaten."Napatitig ako sa doorknob. Hindi ko siya kilala at hindi ko alam ang nangyari sa aming dalawa. But the way his voice cracked, pakiramdam ko'y totoong nag-aalala siya."Please…" The stranger begged again. "Kahit sumubo ka lang nang kaunti, magkaroon lang ng laman 'yang tiyan mo."Napahawak tuloy ako sa tiyan ko. Ramdam ko ang pagkulo nito. I frowned. Perhaps, it wouldn't hurt my pride to bite a toast."I'll wait for you," he added.Saka pagyabag ng mga paa ang sumunod na tunog. Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko. The last time I met a stranger, I felt fear.Ngunit parang bumaliktad ang mesa at mas gumaan ang loob ko ngayon.Umiling ako bigla saka huminga nang malalim.Offering breakfast doesn't mean he is a fully decent man. Hindi ko pa nga alam kung ano ang buong naganap sa amin. Masama pa rin ang kutob kong may ginawa siya. O kung may ginawa man ako, ay sina
"MY GOSH, SIR! Is that how you flirt with girls?!" Tumayo ako, takip-takip pa rin ang malambot at masarap na labi ko. Undeniably, this man looks so angelic, parang mapapadasal ako. But his build, his moves… are aggressive. He's giving me the soft yet wild boy type. At naniniwala ako na ang mga taong ganoon, they are the dangerous ones."Oh, you don't have to smooch my lips to prove all of it!""Jesus, Miss. I shouldn't have told you that-""No!" I shook my head. "I think I should have been more open-minded!""It came out the bad way. I'm sorry-""No, Sir! Ako dapat ang humihingi ng tawad…" With that, I touched my chest. Tinitigan ko siya nang nagbabaga para madama niyang nagsisisi ako. That a softy beast like him should spare me."I'm sorry I made quite a lot of wrong accusations against you. Akala ko kidnapper ka because I awoke in a different unit. Akala ko rin isa kang sexual predator kasi iba na ang damit ko pag gising ko! Mas lumala pa nung lumabas kang topless sa bathroom! An
OKAY, BESTIE. ARE YOU READY?"I am seated on a big, throne-like chair, and in front of me is a long white table. Kakapasok lang ni Eliza sa opisina habang ako, napapagod sa kakahintay sa mga lalaking hinanap niya sa loob ng isang linggo."Oh, come on. Let the first guy in…" I said boredly with my chin on my palm. Narinig kong tumawa si Eliza."What's with the face, Ana? Confidence, gurl. Your problem's gonna end now.""Oh, I want this to end immediately. Papasukin mo na sila."Huminga ako nang malalim at umupo nang tuwid, ang likod nasa back rest, while Eliza went out to fetch them.Surprisingly, a lot of men signed up for this crazy thing. And what I mean by 'a lot' is literally. Marami talagang nagtatangkang maging boyfriend ko.Well, alam kong maganda ako. Guys, even the richest and hottest bachelors in town, line up to get me. But I never really thought they would set
OH, MY GOD! Napaaga ka!"I bolted inside the condo and threw my bag away, disarranging the glass souvenirs. Hindi ako makapag-isip nang tama sanhi para magpapadyak-padyak ako sa inis at galit."I hate them!" hiyaw ko. "I hate them! I hate them! How can they make me suffer more!?""Ana, wait! What is going on?!"Naglakad sa harap ko si Eliza at hinawakan ang magkabilang balikat ko. Her eyes look so confused and worried, and I even promised to behave in front of her. Pero hindi ko kaya sa oras na ito. Parang nabasag lahat ng plinano ko sa buhay. I can't contain my anger knowing that any time soon, my parents would push through it and I would be locked up in a boring, lifeless, lonely marriage! Forever!"Tell me what the hell is going on, Ana!" Mas tinaasan ako ng boses ni Eliza. "Sabihin mo sa akin, Anastasia! May nangyari ba? May humahabol ba sa'yo? And the dinner, how was it? Did something come up again?"I frowned, then shook my head slowly and repeatedly like a child. Eliza tucked
"ARE YOU sure ayaw mo ng kasama? I can wait in the living area while you talk to your father," alok ni Eliza, ang mga mata'y tanaw ko mula sa rearview mirror.She's in the driver's seat while I sat at the back of the car. Bakas sa bagong kulay ng buhok niya ang naganap na pagbabago. "No need," ani ko saka bumaling sa labas ng bintana. "I can handle my parents if anything happens. But I hope we don't end up arguing."I don't know what's with my airy aura today, but I think my new looks are responsible for it. Sinigurado ko talagang magiging isang bagong tao ako paglabas ko ng salon."Why would they need you there anyway? Ako ang kinakabahan para sa 'yo, 'te.""Yeah, right…" I looked boredly at my newly painted red nails. "I even cancelled all my appointments today. Kung kinakabahan ka, lalo naman ako. Dad sounded so serious.""Alright, we're here," is not something I want to hear after a long trip from the road. Huminga ako nang malalim.I looked outside at the white classic mansion
MABUTI NAMAN at gising ka na. Halika na rito at kumain nang may sama ng loob."That was Eliza standing behind the dining table. Nagsasalin siya ng iced tea para sa dalawang baso habang nagpupunas naman ako ng aking buhok. "Wala kang work today?" tanong ko. "I thought you were going on a business trip.""Duh… It was cancelled.""Really?" I pulled a chair and sat on it. "Did something happen? Baka makatulong ako.""Oh, no. You don't. Wala namang emergency.""Wala?"Who would cancel a meeting without a reason? That's messed up.I saw Eliza sigh and walked towards the kitchen counter. Bumalik siya nang may dalang isang malaking bowl of rice."I cancelled it," bigla ay niya."My God, Eli… Why?""Because I'm worried about you." Dali-dali siyang umupo sa tabi ko pagkatapos ilapag ang kanin. "I lost sight of you last night. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. Hindi naman pwedeng hindi kita hanapin." "Umuwi naman ako. You should've gone for the trip. Tell them you're not cancelling it.""Ana…" Hin
"JUST SHOW me where you live and I'll take you there.""Huh?""Hindi ako akyat-bahay.""I'm not saying that," agad na korekta ko."I know... I'm just reassuring you." He smiled childishly, then pulled the door wide open. "Alright, Miss Red Dress… Please hop in now."Hindi ako gumalaw. What he called me caught my attention and I stared at his peaceful face. Miss Red Dress… What a beautiful, lovely name."May muta ba ako?""Huh?"He chuckled."What did you say?" gulat na tanong ko."Nothing." He pinched my cheek. "Let's get in, Miss Red Dress."My back flattened when he did that. Did he… Did he just caress my cheek? Ano bang nasa utak ng lalaking ito?"Miss-""Oh, yeah, yeah…"Binilisan ko ang paglakad ngunit nakaharang ang nakabukas na pinto, kaya lumiko ako sa kaliwa. But suddenly, the man's hard chest blocked my sight. My heart raced.Lumiko ulit ako para umiwas, pero lumiko rin siya. What the hell is he doing? Kumanan ako, at kumanan din siya. Kumaliwa naman ako, kumaliwa naman din
"MY GOSH, SIR! Is that how you flirt with girls?!" Tumayo ako, takip-takip pa rin ang malambot at masarap na labi ko. Undeniably, this man looks so angelic, parang mapapadasal ako. But his build, his moves… are aggressive. He's giving me the soft yet wild boy type. At naniniwala ako na ang mga taong ganoon, they are the dangerous ones."Oh, you don't have to smooch my lips to prove all of it!""Jesus, Miss. I shouldn't have told you that-""No!" I shook my head. "I think I should have been more open-minded!""It came out the bad way. I'm sorry-""No, Sir! Ako dapat ang humihingi ng tawad…" With that, I touched my chest. Tinitigan ko siya nang nagbabaga para madama niyang nagsisisi ako. That a softy beast like him should spare me."I'm sorry I made quite a lot of wrong accusations against you. Akala ko kidnapper ka because I awoke in a different unit. Akala ko rin isa kang sexual predator kasi iba na ang damit ko pag gising ko! Mas lumala pa nung lumabas kang topless sa bathroom! An
"PLEASE, don't leave just yet," pigil ng lalaki nang pahawak na ako sa pinto. "I can't seem to function knowing you haven't eaten."Napatitig ako sa doorknob. Hindi ko siya kilala at hindi ko alam ang nangyari sa aming dalawa. But the way his voice cracked, pakiramdam ko'y totoong nag-aalala siya."Please…" The stranger begged again. "Kahit sumubo ka lang nang kaunti, magkaroon lang ng laman 'yang tiyan mo."Napahawak tuloy ako sa tiyan ko. Ramdam ko ang pagkulo nito. I frowned. Perhaps, it wouldn't hurt my pride to bite a toast."I'll wait for you," he added.Saka pagyabag ng mga paa ang sumunod na tunog. Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko. The last time I met a stranger, I felt fear.Ngunit parang bumaliktad ang mesa at mas gumaan ang loob ko ngayon.Umiling ako bigla saka huminga nang malalim.Offering breakfast doesn't mean he is a fully decent man. Hindi ko pa nga alam kung ano ang buong naganap sa amin. Masama pa rin ang kutob kong may ginawa siya. O kung may ginawa man ako, ay sina
MINULAT KO ANG MGA MATA KO. Isang kulay peach na kisame ang tumambad sa akin. Unti-unti, umupo ako sa kama habang hawak ang noo ko. I feel an aching pressure on my skull. Mas lalo lang sumakit iyon nang masuri ko ang kabuoan ng kwarto.Shit. Anong ginawa ko kagabi?Where the heck is my pink bed? Where are my heart-shaped couches? Who the hell replaced my cherry blossom curtains?Bigla akong napatakip ng bibig nang may ma-realize. Ang yaman ng kumidnap sa akin at dinala pa ako sa isang condo. How considerate can this kidnapper be?The interiors were minimalistic. Akala ko'y peach ang kulay ng kwarto, but as I observed, they were painted white. Nakasara pa ang kulay gray na kurtina kaya medyo madilim sa loob. The lamp on the bedside table was the one emitting yellow-peach light.Natauhan ako bigla kaya bilis-bilis kong sinilip ang ilalim ng comforter. Every small thing in this room reminds me of a man. Kung disente man o hindi, it doesn't matter. What matters now is my dignity. A decen
MAYBE, I am dreaming, o malakas lang talaga ang tama ng alak kaya ako nagkakaganito. Heck, I live in a luxurious world where meeting and getting face on with expensive-looking men is so normal. Wala lang siya sa mga naka-meet ko sa La Salle. Iyong makakita ng gwapo at amoy-ginto ay kasing-normal lang ng paghinga ko.But here I am… in front of a greek-like man. Heavenly handsome with his sharp, sculpted jaw. Akala ko hanggang doon na lang ang kayang purihin ng mga mata ko, but his nose… saktong-sakto sa hugis ng mukha niya. It wasn't too wide or big or thin. It was perfectly triangular, leaving a shadow shaped like a pyramid on his cheek.Napalunok ako. I felt my stomach rumble at the sight of his lips. Nakakita na ako ng magagandang labi sa mundo, pero ang isang ito… kakaiba. Naturally pinkish like a petal smudge. It even looks wet and bouncy. Malaman… at may guhit sa ibaba. I blinked twice in a balled out way. Parang ang sarap lang pindot-pindutin.Damn this alak!How can a man lik