"Why did you went out on your own? Sana nagpasama ka," he said, as if concerned.
"Napahatid naman ako sa driver. Isa pa, malapit lang ito sa amin. And I want to be alone. Kaso, umepal ka."
He smirked. "Why so harsh on me, Desire? I'm not doing anything to you."
I stayed silent. Matalim ang tingin sa kanya. Napansin ko naman ang mga sulyap ng mga babaeng dumadaan sa amin. Kay Reilan, specifically. Hanggang dito ba naman? Napairap ako. Meanwhile, he just stared at me like I am some sort of puzzle he wants to solve.
Napadako ang tingin ko sa daan. May isang batang lalaking naglalakad sa gilid. Umiiyak siya, nag-iisa at tila ba nawawala. Some people glanced at him, but no one cared to ask him what's wrong. Hindi naman siya mukhang batang-kalye. In fact, maayos ang kanyang postura at mukhang anak-mayaman.
"Mongreco," He looked at me. Tinuro ko ang batang lalaki. His forehead creased.
"What?"
"Lapitan mo. Palapitin mo dito. Mukhang nawawala
"Hija, naghihintay ang mommy mo sa ibaba. Sabay daw kayong mag-almusal," bungad sa akin ni manang paglabas ng kuwarto. Inayos ko ang uniform na suot at sinuklay-suklay ang buhok habang naglalakad sa hagdan."Morning, Mom." I kissed her cheek before settling down. My eyes observed her face. She looks sleepless and tired. Ngunit hindi niya iyon pinapahalata sa postura."Good morning. By the way, how's school? Are you working good with Mr. Mongreco?"Nilagyan ko ng pagkain ang sariling pinggan."I'm doing good, po. Actually, I've already got some improvements. Maayos na rin ang pagsosolve ko. He's a good teacher.""That's good to hear, Desire. Akala ko talaga wala ng tutor na makakapagpatino sa 'yo. But looking at your state right now, I feel relieved. Ipagpatuloy mo 'yan."For the next days, I realized that I'm slowly building connection with Reilan. We share kisses and make out when we have time during tutoring sessions. And my problem
"You missed me that much, huh? Isang araw lang naman tayong di nagkita." He chuckled.Nabalik ako sa katinuan at lumayo ng bahagya. I sighed as he turned around to face me. May ngiti sa kanyang labi."H-Hindi kaya..."Naglakad ako pabalik sa high chair at muling umupo doon. Gusto kong huminga muna dahil pakiramdam ko may kung anong nag-iiba sa nararamdaman ko. And I'm afraid to name it. Dahil alam kong hindi ako dapat magkaroon ng malalim na koneksyon sa kanya. It's too risky and dangerous.I looked ar him as he turned off the electric stove and walked towards me."O, ba't ka sumunod? Tapusin mo yung ginagawa mo, Mongreco. Sinabi ko sa 'yo di ba, gutom na ako."Imbes na makinig ay mas lumapit siya at pumwesto sa likuran ko. Itinukod ang dalawang kamay sa magkabilang panig ng counter top habang nasa gitna ako ng mga braso niya. He planted a soft kiss on my cheek and buried his face on my neck. Enough for me to feel his rough
Pagkalipas ng halos dalawang oras ay napaalis rin ni Reilan ang mga kaibigan. Mukhang tumalab na ang kanina pa niyang pangtataboy sa mga ito. Mas lalo kasing nagsungit si Hitler sa kadaldalan ng mga kasama kaya nauna na itong umalis. At doon na sila sunod-sunod na nagsialisan."Baby..." We're now sitting on the long sofa. Nasa gitnang bahagi siya habang ako'y nasa dulo at nakaharap sa kanya. My legs are on his lap while his hands are resting on my knees."It's already six in the evening, Reilan. Kailangan ko ng umuwi.""Just sleep here. Sabado naman bukas. You don't have classes.""Kahit na. I still need to go home. Ayokong pag-aalahin si mom."He sighed. "I'll just call her. Sasabihin kong dito ka matutulog, so she don't have to worry.""Pero Reilan--""We won't see each other for the next three days. That's why I want to spend a night with you because I know I'll miss you so damn much."My forehead creased."Wait, what
"Des!" Lili exlaimed as she ran towards me. Looking so excited of something I don't know. Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mga mata."Shh! Ano ka ba, huwag ka ngang maingay. Nasa library tayo." Napatingin ang librarian sa amin kaya ako na ang humingi ng paumanhin. Kahit kailan talaga ay pahamak ang bibig ni Lili.Umupo siya sa harap ko. I closed the book I'm holding to pay attention to whatever she'll say."Ano ba ang sasabihin mo?""Si Rios nandito na ulit!" She giggled. Kumunot ang noo ko."Huh? What do you mean nandito na siya?""Bumalik na siya ng Pinas! And guess what, dito siya mag-aaral!""And then?" I asked boredly.As if I care about that man. Pero kung totoong bumalik na nga siya ay sana hindi na siya gumawa pa ng kalokohan. I hate his playful stunts. But who knows? Years passed, and maybe his feelings for me has changed. I even doubt if he really liked me or he just made me a subject to have fun with."Aren't you excit
Rinig ko ang mga bulungan ng mga estudyante paglabas ng classroom. It was my last class for the day, that's why I immediately packed my things. Susunduin kasi ako ni Reilan ngayon. And he said that he'll date me.Ngunit nang makita kung sino ang nahihintay sa corridor ay napasimangot ako. Bahagyang nadismaya."Hi Des!"Napatingin sa akin ang ibang mga estudyanteng naroon at nagbulungan. Siguro'y iniisip nilang may kung ano sa amin ni Rios dahil nandito siya at pinapansin ako. When the truth is, I don't even want his attention.I just glanced at him once before walking away. Ayaw kong ma-issue lalo na sa kanya. But like how persistent he was years ago, he followed me as I walked fastly on the stairs."What is it this time, Rios?" Patuloy siya sa paglalakad, coping up with my speed."Well, I just want to invite you for a snack. You know, a little chitchat. Hindi mo kasi piunlakan ang imbitasyon ko. I thought you will come last night, but
"Kayo na muna ang bahala sa mansiyon, manang. I'll just give you enough money for your needs here. But if someone ask anyone of you, wala kayong kahit anong sasabihin. Understood?"The maids nodded. I was silent the whole time. Too shock and weak to even talk. Tahimik lang akong nakasunod kay mommy hanggang sa makapasok kami sa loob ng kotse. The armed men followed us. Nakasakay sila sa dalawang puting van na parehong nasa unahan at likuran ng kotseng sinasakyan namin.I am bothered with the threat of our lives. Ngunit sa biglaang pangyayari at sa mga nakakagulat na nalaman ay hindi ko magawang makapag-isip ng maayos. I didn't say anything until we reached the airport. I was just in my mother's side, following everything that she says. Dahil alam kong mas nakakapag-isip siya ng matino kung anong dapat gawing aksiyon.Gulong-gulo ang utak ko. I can't think straight and I'm still on the process of absorbing everything on my mind. At hindi iyon ma
Nang muli kong imulat ang mga mata ay siya namang muling pagbukas ng pintuan. Akala ko'y si Rios muli ang pumasok ngunit nagkamali ako.It's a woman.Umangat ang aking mga mata sa kanyang mukha. And my eyes widened in shock.I blinked a few times to make sure that what I'm seeing is real and not just a hallucination. Ngunit nang mapagtantong hindi lang ilusyon ang nakikita ay umawang ang labi ko sa gulat.Elegante siyang naglakad patungo sa akin. The sound of her heels everytime she walks echoes in the whole room.Her black long sleeved dress matched perfectly on her cold pitch black eyes. Her hair is on a classy bun with crimson red lips that makes her look mature, sophisticated and dark. Her aura screams in cruelty and darkness. Making her look savage, almost evil.But what made me bother is her face. Naguguluhan ako at hindi makapagsalita. No... it can't be. Imposible. I don't want to conclude anything yet. Ngunit hindi
Everything was like a whirlwind. Masyadong mabilis ang mga pangyayari. Masyadong marami ang mga nalaman ko. The truth behind all of these was unveiled. Ngunit hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong maging masaya.It's confusing to wake up in unfamiliar room, with a sudden appearance of a woman who exactly looks like me. We were chased by some people who want us dead. Our plane crashed, and I almost died. Ngunit hindi ko man matanggap, alam kong tumutugma ang lahat ng mga sinabi niya.Pero marami pa akong mga tanong. There are still puzzles on my head that I want to solve. I want to meet my father. Gusto kong malaman kung bakit kailangan nilang mamuhay ng kakambal ko na malayo sa amin. At isa pa, bakit nandito si Rios? Anong koneksiyon nila sa isa't isa?Lumipas ang ilang mga araw na nasa loob lang ako ng silid. Hindi na muling nagpakita sa akin si Devon o si Rios. Ngunit pinagsisilbihan naman ako ng maraming serbidora at madalas tinitingnan ng doktor ang kalaga
The first time I laid my eyes on her... I got hooked. So bad.She was dancing wildly in the middle of the crowd, not minding the men's stares at her. Nang mga oras na 'yon, hindi ko pa alam kung sino siya o anong ugnayan niya kay Analiese Fontana. I didn't even think about that while watching her.I'm not sure why I got hooked by her at first glance. Maybe because of her drunk, yet mysterious innocent eyes. Maybe because of her sweet smiles while dancing. Maybe because of her fragility. I don't know.I've met different women. But I never do the first move. And dancing wasn't even my forte. Kaya kung anuman ang meron sa kanya ay gusto kong malaman. She was so submissive, but at the end of the night, I felt so frustrated.He mistook me for another man.I got confused and angry because of that. Ni minsan wala pang babaeng tinawag ako sa ibang pangalan. Especially in that kind of heated moment
I can feel someone holding my hand firmly. Iyon ang una kong napansin nang magising ang diwa. Kaya kahit mabigat ang talukap ng mga mata'y sinikap ko itong imulat. I want to confirm that it's him. Gusto kong masiguradong buhay nga ako at hindi lang guni-guni ang lahat.I saw the white ceiling as I opened my eyes. I blinked several times and checked my breathing. True, I'm still alive."Desire..."Napatingin ako sa gilid. There, I saw him. Puno ng pag-aalala ang kanyang mukha. He's still wearing his suit. Ngunit bahagya iyong nadumihan. Siguro'y nang pasukin ang nasusunog na bahay. Totoo nga, he came to save me. To fulfill his promise of protecting me and our child."Are you okay? May masakit ba sa'yo? Wait, I'll call the doctor. You need to be checked again." He stood up, but I hold his hand.Umiling ako."Please... stay."Muli siyang umupo. Hinaplos niya ang mukha ko. His eyes are filled with genuine care and concern. Pinatakan niya
Emosyonal akong niyakap ni Lili at Marie nang pumasok sila sa kuwarto ko. I'm done with my make up. Nakaroba pa lang ako samantalang sila ay nakaayos na. They look so happy for me. Ako rin, sobrang saya. Na sa huli, ito ang naging resulta. Na sa huli, mabubuo ulit ako."Stop crying, girls. Your make ups would be ruined. I don't want to have ugly bridesmaids. Kaya tumigil na kayo dahil baka mapa-iyak rin ako. Arte niyo, ha." I chuckled.Kumalas sila. Pinunasan ang mga luha."Ano ka ba naman, Des! We're just happy! Alam namin kong anong pinagdaanan mo kaya sobrang nakakagaan sa puso na makita kang masaya ngayon," si Lili na bahagyang namula ang ilong."Oo nga. Kaya hayaan mo na kami! Isang beses ka lang ikakasal kaya kami emosyonal. I'm sure mapapaiyak ka rin sa kasal namin," ani Marie.Tumawa ako."Let's see, then.""O, siya magbihis ka na at baka ma-late ka pa sa kasal niyo. Good luck." They both laughed before going out.Naiwa
Kakabangon ko pa lang sa kama ay agad na akong nakaramdam ng pagkaduwal. I quickly run towards the bathroom. Sinikop ko ang buhok at sumuka sa sink.Umagang-umaga ay ganito na ang nangyari. Kaya hindi ko maiwasang magduda na totoo nga talaga ang hinala ni Lili. As what I've heard, pregnant women sometimes have morning sickness.Narinig ko ang pagbukas ng pintuan ng banyo, hindi na ako nag-abalang lumingon dahil abala ako sa pagsusuka. Wala namang pumapasok sa kuwarto ko ng walang paalam maliban kay Reilan."Baby," his voice was soft.Nang matapos sa kalbaryo, inis ko siyang hinarap. I thought he already left last night but here he is, fueling my irritation again."Bakit ka nandito? Lumabas ka! I don't need you here! You should leave me!"Sinunukan kong lumabas ngunit hinarangan lang niya ako. With our body's closeness, I can smell his manly perfume. I inhaled his scent. Mabangong-mabango iyon sa pakiramdam ko na para bang gusto ko iyon
Reilan opened the car's door for me. Our bodyguards remained at our back as we stand in front of my father's home. The house where I stayed for four years in pain.I admit, living here was really hard. Wala ang mga taong nakasanayan ko. Wala si mommy, o kahit ang mga kaibigan. Though dad is there, he's still a complete stranger. Hindi rin kami ganoon kadalas mag-usap dahil abala siya sa kompanya.Kahit inaalalayan ako ni Rios, sa loob ng apat na taon, hindi pa rin ako nasanay. It was like I am trapped in such an unfortunate reality I can't escape. But despite of that feeling, I know this place helped me grow.I didn't despise living here. Because I know, I owe a lot to them, to my father who helped me live again. Maybe it was really destiny who brought me here. And maybe, at the end, I'll heal completely in spite the scars.Marami man ang masamang nangyari, marami pa rin akong natutunan.The pain made me become the person wh
Agad kaming nagsampa ng kaso laban kay Victor. Hindi siya umapila. Instead, he pleaded guilty during the hearing. Naging tahimik ang mga sumunod na linggo. I felt relieved that finally, he's now on jail. That finally, matutuldukan na ang madilim na parte ng buhay ko.I also talked to Rios in person. Pero hindi ako hinayaan ni Reilan na makipagkita sa kanya ng mag-isa. He was with me all the time but he gave us some privacy.Rios, until the end, tried to convince me that the Mongrecos are evil. He said that I will be safer by staying on his side, that I should come back to Scotland with him. Nagalit siya nang hindi ako sumang-ayon sa gusto niyang mangyari.Ngunit sa huli'y wala ring nagawa. My decision was already absolute. Hindi na ito mababago pa ng kanyang paninira kay Reilan at sa pamilya nito.Mr. Lucas contacted me a few days after Victor was captured. Sinabi niyang hindi siya sigurado kung paano nito natunugan ang aming imbestigasyon. I just t
Silence filled the whole place.No one dared to say something after we told them everything that happened including our child's death. Shock was evident on his mother's face. Ni isa mula sa mga kaibigan niya ay hindi nagbalak magsalita, tahimik na nakikiramdam sa paligid. Niyuko ko ang ulo, wala ng masabi. Reilan stayed silent while caressing my waist. Alam kong kahit siya ay gulat pa rin sa nalaman. Sa diin ng kanyang bawat salita habang nakikipag-usap sa mga magulang ay ramdam ko ang poot doon. He is having a hard time controlling his anger. Hindi man niya sabihin, ramdam ko ang galit na nararamdaman niya.I know because I also felt that kind of anger the moment I knew about it.Naputol ang katahimikan nang malakas na tumunog ang cellphone ni Reilan. Nanatili siya sa tabi ko nang sagutin ang tawag."It was Major Bonifacio," he said after the call. Nagtangis ang bagang niya, halos durugin ang teleponong hawak sa pinipigilang galit. I hold his hand
Tahimik akong iginiya ni Reilan papasok sa isang may kalakihang kuwarto. I didn't say anything as he commanded me to sit on a side of the bed. Saglit niya akong iniwan at pumunta sa closet. Pagbalik niya'y may dala na siyang damit. His clothes, probably."Wear these, for now. I don't have your clothes here," aniya sa mababang boses at inabot sa akin ang hawak. It's a mustard t-shirt and shorts.Tumango ako at inalis ang coat. I put it on the bed before looking at him again. Kinuha ko sa kanya ang mga damit saka tumayo.I walked towards the bathroom. Ramdam ko ang pagsunod ng kanyang tingin. When I finally escaped from his sight, I heaved. I looked at my reflection on the mirror. And damn, I look horrible. Ipinatong ko muna ang damit sa sink at naghilamos ng mukha. Ang malamig na tubig ay kahit papaano'y nagpagaan sa aking pakiramdam.When I went out, my eyes automatically darted on the man sitting in the king-sized bed. Madilim siyang nakatingin sa
After dinner, we decided to watch a movie. Sinang-ayunan ko ang suhestiyon ni Louie dahil sa tingin ko hindi ako makakatulog ng maaga sa gabing iyon.I'd just idle and think about the many things I need to fix in my life. Alam kong marami pa akong kailangang ayusin. Pero sa ngayo'y gusto ko munang magpahinga mula sa lahat at sa mga susunod na araw na lang isipin ang dapat gawing aksyon."Anong genre ang gusto mong panoorin ngayon?" he asked. Nakaupo ako sa sofa. Siya nama'y tinitingnan ang mga DVDs."Anything will do. Just make sure it has a good story line. Alam mo namang wala akong specific genre.""Wala ka pa rin talagang pinagbago."Action movie ang pinanood namin. He sit beside me with a bowl of popcorn. Kapag siya ang pumili ay patayan talaga ang gugustuhin niya. I don't have any problem with that, though. Okay naman sa akin kahit ano basta maganda ang takbo ng storya."Ang galing ng stunts!""Yeah. Galing ng bida,"