‘Crab sticks? Like seriously?’ Ilang minuto na ring nag-iisip si Kimberly pero hanggang sa huli ay di niya pa rin kayang intindihin ang kanyang naging reaksyon. ‘When in history did I ever find interest with that freaking thing?’ She closed her eyes. Her head felt like breaking as she tries digging in her memory . She did her best to remember but just like all other attempts, she just ended up frustrating herself. ‘Come on, brain. Recall. Recall. Re--’ "Are you alright?" Bigla niyang naidilat ang kanyang mga mata nang marinig ang baritonong boses mula sa di kalayuan. Her eyes scanned the rest of the whitewashed room she was in; tiles, furniture, until her sight stopped at the semi-opened door and saw Jace looking at her through the small gap. Flashes of lights brought back what lead her to that hospital bed; the waves, the sea, the cliff jump he forced him to do. She should be angry, really angry. Pero sa hindi malamang dahilan tulad ng nangyari nang magising siya ay di niya na
A promise that took him a decade to fulfill. Never had he imagined himself that speechless when the moment finally came. Tumuwid ng upo sa kahoy na silya si Jace para pantayan ang tikas ng kaharap.The vacant hospital room they were in was huge. Puti ang mga kurtina, malinis at kung tutuusin ay may sapat na espasyo para mapagkasya ang lima pang higaan. But fuck him! He can't even breath easy in the presence of this old man. Mas malala pa ang nararamdaman niya ngayon kumpara sa araw na tinutukan siya nito ng seniorita gun. Yes, that same day when he married the bride who outshone all the other brides in world's history... his Baby. The tension felt like a thick slab of ice against his face so he decided to break the silence. He cleared his throat. "Dad... I mean Mr. Santiago." Hindi agad kumibo ang kanyang kaharap. Nanatili lamang itong nakatitig sa kanya gayong alam niyang narinig siya nito. He waived off the coil that was forming in his stomach and continued. "It's nice to see you
“Binubura ka nilang lahat, Jace...” “Alam ko...” “Hindi naman talaga kasi dapat ibalik pa ang nakaraan. Isoli mo na siya.” “Hindi ko kaya. Siya lang ang meron ako...” . . . . “Jace!” It was Kimberly’s scared voice that cut through all the ruckus in his mind. Nang lingunin niya ito ay agad niyang sinalo ang mga pisngi ng dalaga, bago maingat na diniinan. Nagla-lock jaw na naman si Kimberly dahil sa takot at dahil ‘yon sa kanya. Syempre, kasalanan niya ulit. ‘D*amn...’ “Wag kang tumingin sa labas. Sa akin ka lang tumingin.” “S-Saan ba kasi tayo pupunta--” “Pete’s place,” mabilis na tugon niya habang ginigiya ang tingin nito. He knew that making her ride that speedboat was a bad idea. Lalo pa ngayon na hindi pa ito nakaka-recover mula sa pagkakahospital. Kaso wala na siyang pagpipilian. Kailangan niya itong ilayo, o ito ang ilalayo nila sa kanya. Could he handle that? Nagawa niya noon pero hindi niya alam kung magsu-survive siya sa ikalawang pagkakataon. Baka ikamatay niya n
It was a scramble.Everything inside Kimberly felt like being tossed in a mixer! Fear, pain, agony, darkness and that wild nameless emotion that made her locked her mouth tighter to Jace's and bit his lower lips hard.Naramdaman niya nang dumaing si Jace sa loob ng kanyang bibig at napapikit siya nang maramdaman ang pagulong noon sa kanyang lalamunan. It brought a spark inside her core pero mabilis niyang isinantabi yon.She fought with him. Her strength against his. Her fear against his will to keep her under water. Nanipa siya at nahagip noon ang tagiliran ni Jace pero bukod sa sandaling paglalayo ng kanilang mga labi sa ilalim ng tubig ay sinalo nito ang kanyang baba at muling sinibasib ng halik.Her chest was about to burst when she felt him forced her mouth to open using his teeth and tongue. Nilaban niya ang panga sa kagustuhan nitong paghiwalayan yon. Her fingers found a way to claw his back through his shirt until she blindly felt it ripped.Umapaw ang tubig mula sa bathtub. P
"I was looking all over for you." Napapiksi si Kimberly sa pagkakaupo nang biglang may magsalita mula sa kanyang likuran. She felt her heart jumped inside her chest, pero ilang sandali pa bago siya lumingon sa pintuan ng nag-iisang kwarto sa rooftop. "What are you doing here, Baby? Malamig na. Are you okay?" She didn't made any extra move other than to stare back at the man leaning lazily against the door frame. Kahit madilim sa kinatatayuan nito ay hindi siya maaaring magkamali. Every cell in her already knows his baritone voice. It was Jace. "Kim, Are you aware that your feet are--" "Dipping in an infinity pool." she completed his statement for him before she raisied one foot from the water and watched how the drops drip down her toes. Nang matapos ang pagtulo ng tubig mula sa kanyang binti ay nilubog niya ulit yon at ang kabila naman ang inangat na tila isang batang nagtatampisaw. "So you finally made peace with water?" She heard him sigh. Nasundan yon ng mga yabag sa tile
HINDI MALAMAN ni Kimberly kung paanong kapit sa hand rail ang dapat niyang gawin habang hinahabol ang mabibigat na paghinga. The water before her was moving and she could feel it almost reaching her chin. Her toes were barely touching the floor under water and she's more than sure that she was just few inches from drowning, but... "Oh...Jace!" Isang halos hindi makilalang ungol ang kumawala sa kanya kasabay ng pagpikit ng mata. Nang hindi pa maging sapat yon para kontrolin ang panginginig ng kanyang hubad na kalamnan ay mariin niyang nakagat ang pang-ibabang labi para ikulong ang isa na namang nakakadarang na ungol mula sa kanyang lalamunan. "I'm... I'm oh!" she felt her folds parted and darn her for knowing what was that warm thing that was lapsing her core. Naramdaman niya nang umangat ang isa niyang hita at sumampay yon sa matigas na balikat. Lalong bumuka ang kanyang mga binti, kasunod ng pagtama ng kanyang balakang sa sinasandalang tiles. " Jace!" Her back arched when the wo
It was the longest ten seconds of her life. Kimberly had never felt so hesitant before until that time came when she had to wait for his reaction while standing butt naked on a mansion's rooftop. Every second was just too silent, long and totally disturbing... Napayakap siya sa sarili nang umihip ang hangin. The night was dark and cold, pero wala yon kumpara sa blangkong titig ni Jace - nakakapangyelo ng puso. "Ano? Wala ka bang sasabihin?" Untag niya rito nang di na makatiis. Hindi pa rin ito kumilos hanggang sa paulit-ulit nalang siyang mapakurap. She breathed deep in an attempt to push back her tears and hold herself together. ‘Dang it! Masakit pala ang maapakan ang pride’. "Fine." She jerked her head with a fake grin and continued with the hardest monologue she ever delivered. Tutal para namang wala siyang kausap eh. "If that’s what you want. Sana noong dumating si Dad, sinoli mo nalang ako..." Alam niya na magkasing pula na ang kanyang mga mata at pisngi sa sobrang pagkapah
‘Make love to me, please...’ . Sandaling napatigil sa ginagawa ang kamay ni Kimberly nang maalala ang mga katagang ‘yon. Nagtataka pa rin siya kung paanong ang simpleng mga salitang ‘yon ay nauwi sa sitwasyon ngayon. Halos isang linggo na rin ang nakakaraan nang magbago ang sitwasyon nila ni Jace. And all through those days, hindi niya na rin maintindihan ang nadarama niya rito. She felt closer. Pero ang nakakatawa... hindi awkward. Parang napakanatural lang na ganoon sila magkalapit. She shook her head to refocus herself. One sigh and she went back to scribbling on that notebook he left for her. Sabi ni Jace mahilig daw sya mag-scribbles. Ang nangyari, sa gulo yata ng isip niya, nagkapunit-punit ang iniwan nitong papel, yung iba nasa sahig, yung iba naman nakalamukos sa desk. Sa dulo ng lamesa naman ay mayroon ding mataas na baso ng juice, platitong may sandwich, at sticky note. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be back in a few. Need
“And they lived happily ever after...”“Hindi kaya.”“They did, Casey. They did...”“Hind kaya frog ‘yong pinakasalan ni Snowhite. At mas lalong hindi tatlong tadpoles ang naging anak nila!”Jace had to move the book covering his face down a bit. Raising a manly eyebrow, isa-isa niyang siuyod ng makahulugang tingin ang tatlong batang magkakatabi sa ibabaw ng family-size bed na kaharap - isang six years old na babae and dalalawang cute na two-years old na lalaki.Patamad na sinandal ni Jace ang likuran sa inuupuan niyang single couch. Pinilit niyang wag matawa nang ibalik ang kanyang tingin kay Cassidy na kanina pa nakasimangot habang nakatingin sa kanya. “Binilang ko, Casey. Tatlo talaga--”“Daddy naman eh--”“Snowhite! Frog!” It was Rain who cut her sister off. Umangat sa ere ang maliliit na kamay nito bago gigil na pinagtatapik ang comforter na nakakumot sa kanilang magkakapatid. The baby was pouting his lips while furrowing his eyebrows. He got jet black hair just like their mom, b
Hell and back, and then, hell and back again.Kimberly heard something popped when she tried to rest her back against her chair. Her eyes were droopy, her white shirt was a little unclean from being worn for three days in a row, and yet never had she thought of leaving that same spot for even just an hour.Malalim ang kanyang naging buntong hininga nang sandaling ipikit ang mga pagod na mata. For a while she found herself concentrating to the mild machine beeping sound occupying the room.The same noise that keeps her believing that Jace's still alive. Unconscious but still there.‘One. Two. Three heartbeats--’"Kimberly." Pinutol ng tawag na yon ang kanyang pagbibilang. Mabagal ang naging pagmulat ng kanyang mga mata para lingunin ang kung sino mang pumasok sa kwarto.She found herself letting out a forced smile upon seeing Chester sitting in a wheelchair. Sa likod nito ay ang ama nitong tumutulak ng upuan at inang may buhat ng kanyang unica hijang mahimbing ang tulog.As if on cue,
BANG!"Jace!"It could have been the odds among all odds. Kung gaano kabilis ang naging pagbulusok ni Kimberly pabagsak ay gayun din kabilis huminto yon.Luha, sipon, laway... what else could an inverted hanging body withdraw just to justify what fear of death is like?Huminto ang oras, pati yata pagsulak ng dugo sa kanyang ulo tumigil.Kimberly doesn't want to count how many seconds was she swaying upside down. Pero nang makaramdam siya ng hapdi sa lalamunan dahil sa pinipigil na hininga ay napilitan din siyang dumilat at lingunin kung ano ang mahigpit na bagay ang nakapulupot sa kanyang binti.She made a loud gasped.It was a strong and manly hand.For a fraction, Kimberly almost forgot what the real score she was in was."Tangina!""Jace!"Terror and relief mixed with her blood when his callous hand pulled her back to the stairs.She lost her balance and almost slumped on her butt. Buti nalang ay mabilis nitong nasalo ang kanyang katawan bago pa siya matumba. He held her tight with
Hindi masigurado ni Kimberly kung ano ang mas malakas. Ang pagkabog ba ng kanyang puso? O ang kanyang naririnig o ang makinang katabi. It had been a while. Hours and hours of searching. Days and nights of visiting different hospitals and morgues in hopes of finding the man she needs to rescue. And yet, here comes the moment, and there she was... standing stiff beside the hospital bed where Chester was laying weak, pale, and half dead. ‘Jusko... Chester--’ "Umh...nurse?" Dagling naagaw ang kanyang atensyon mula sa panakanakang pagpitik ng linyang nasa monitor. She felt her face froze under the surgical mask when her eyes met a pair of confused hazel eyes looking back at her. Pinigil niya ang pamumuo ng napakaraming tanong sa loob ng kanyang isipan at pilit pinakaswal ang pagkukunwari bilang isang nurse. "Yes ma'am?" "Kanina pa po kayo nakatayo d'yan. Hindi pa po ba kayo tapos obserbahan ang pasyente?" The young woman sitting on the lone chair inside that room gave her a once over
Kimberly’s insides were in tight knot. It had been a while since she opened the door for him pero magpasahanggang sa mga oras na ‘yon ay di pa rin niya mabasa ang ekspresyon nito.‘Oh God. Tell me how to decode chopping board faces.’"Umh... candlelit dinner." She shrugged her shoulders unsurely. "Surprise?"Jace still didn't but a word. Bagkus ay lumibot ang malamig na paningin nito sa medyo madilim na salas. Mula sa malaking mesa na pinilit niyang itulak galing dining room, sa mga larawan na isa-isa niyang pinagpi-print bago nilagyan ng tali at isinabit sa ceiling, sa dalawang bandehadong nakahanda, sa ice bucket na kaysa wine ay dalawang bote ng beer ang nakababad, sa kandilang pamblack-out na nakatayo sa gitna ng lamesa... hanggang mapapadpad ang paningin nito sa mga pahabang baloons na ginawa niyang bouquet at pinang-center piece."Condoms ko ‘yon. ""Alam mo na pala eh." Binalewala niya ang pag-awang ng bibig nito dahil sa sinabi niya. Instead, lumakad siya palapit sa lamesa, ki
Bacolod sunsets are beautiful... Pero hindi kung may sakit ka ng katulad kay Pete.Umangat ang kanyang kamay para i-adjust ang suot na de-kulay na salamin. Papadilim palang . Masarap sana sa pakiramdam ang malamig na ihip ng hangin pero hindi kaya ng kanyang mga mata ang sobrang liwanag.The lights were too harsh and every step he was taking on that road was a matter of tolerance. Ito ang rason kugn bakit laging madalim sa bahay niya at laging gabi ang pinipili niyang oras ng trabaho. He hated the light because it was making him dizzy. Nasusuka siya pero pinipilit niyang pigilin. His house in Sta Clarita was specifically designed for his need.He was born photophobic. His eyes were strikingly beautiful and light, dahil kinulang sa pigments ‘yon. It was a health condition that he had been bearing with his whole life.Inayos niya ang suot na shawl para takpan ang mukha bago pinagpatuloy ang paglakad sa siksikang kalsadang ‘yon. Hilong-hilo na siya sa dami ng taong bumabangga sa kanya.
----------------------------------- Office emergency. Will be back home before dinner. Breakfast ready. Lunch on the fridge. I love you, Queen and Princess, J. ____________________________ Kimberly's mouth shut tight after reading that sticky note. Ilang beses pa siyang napakurap at inulit-ulit ang pagbasa sa hawak bago wala sa loob na napahigop sa hawak na tasa ng malamig na kape. She shook her head left and right before lifting her face to the antique table sitting grandiose inside that kitchen. Walang nagbago, naroon pa rin ang mga sinasabi ni Jace. There were more than five different dishes carefully covered above the table, may maayos na naka-wrap na dalawang sandwich sa loob ng clear canister at higit sa lahat ay sliced fruits na nakahilera sa isang platter - pineapples, rabbit cut apples, at oranges. ‘Jace...’ her mind sighed before putting the sticky note straight to her pocket. It took her some seconds before she realized that she had already been suppressing a smil
‘PUTANGINA.’Jace felt the battle worsen amid the alcohol inside his head.He was mad. He was barely holding on. He was drunk but he knew exactly what he was doing. He was faking normal and trying his best not to lash out. God knew that he was trying... really hard.Sobrang init ng ulo niya nang marinig ang pangalan ng kapatid mula sa labi ni Kim. Worse? Halos magkapatong na sila pero ni hindi man lang nito binanggit kay Chesterna naroon din siya. Ang sakit sa puso noon.For a moment, he wanted to slam her to bed and shove his dick into her pretty little mouth to kept her from talking more. Bawat salita nalang kasi na lumalabas sa mga labing ‘yon, nakakasakit. The funny thing though was that he wasn't even able to blurt out a single word about it. Rather, he found himself drinking silently while pacifying himself. Parang maliit na batang pilit pinapatahan ang sarili sa isang sulok kasi wala naman siyang aasahan na gagawa noon.Grudges. He was pent up for years. He was dying inside fig
"Jace..."The name was almost incoherent when it slipped out of her mouth.Nakadama si Kimberly ng pagkaalangan na lapitan ang hinahanap nang sa wakas ay matagpuan ito sa madilim na parte ng bahay.He was silently standing before a window with his back facing her. Sa katabi nitong mesa ay may nangangalahating bote ng mamahaling brandy at halos umapaw na ashtray. He was motionless as he remained staring over the dark empty yard. It was a give away that he was mentally somewhere else and that he'd been drinking for a while before she came.For a moment, she felt unsure if calling him would be a sin. Pero sa huli binuka na rin niya ang kanyang bibig. "Matulog na tayo."That was the only time Jace seemed to stir and noticed her there. Lumingon ito sa kanya, may kagat na sigarilyo at malalamlam ang mga mata. His face was as dark as the night outside and it wasn't even hard to tell that he wasn't okay."Matulog na... tayo?" he repeated in a cold tone, giving emphasis to his last word, na pa