PAST ONE IN the morning. She was tired from traveling another two hours after the hospital visit. She felt sore all over. The mattress on her back was very comforting, pero ni isang segundo ay hindi makuha ni Kim ang umidlip. There was a huge turmoil inside her head that was keeping her from closing her eyes. ‘Sh*t!’ Marahas siyang bumiling mula sa hinihigaan. Her hand closed into a tight fist when her throat started to burn. Ginamit niya ang likod ng palad para padabog na punasan ang luhang basta nalang kumawala. ‘Sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t!’ She remembered what happened in Aling Pining's hospital room. How she lost her thoughts, how her world stopped just by the sight of the only man he ever loved as hard, and how his eyes cut her in half with so much anger that she feared even opening her mouth. . . Jace was dreadfully composed. He was smiling at everyone but Kimberly could easily tell that the facade was fake. For a stretch, his presence alone made her felt like standing on a temporar
THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE. Ilang ulit binasa ni Kimberly ang unang mensaheng natanggap sa loob ng apat na araw bago malakas na napabuntong hininga. ‘He can't be saying this, right? Hindi niya pwedeng hilingin na basta-basta nalang kunin si Cassidy sa akin’. Pabalibag na naibagsak niya ang aparato sa kaharap na bakal na mesa kasunod ng mariing pagpikit. The garden table made a sound enough to rattle the child playing with her barbie printed ball not far from where she sits. Dagling umangat ang tingin nito. Her cute nose rumpled with her eyes wondering? "Mommy mad?" Noon lang parang natauhan si Kimberly mula sa malalim na pag-iisip. Her eyes found her child and she was forced to let out a chuckle as soon as she met her baby's coffee stare. Mabilis pa sa alas kwatrong pinalis niya ang disgustong bumalatay sa kanyang mukha bago malambing na tinuro ang sarili at umiling. "Mommy's okay. Mommy just received a text from uncle Chester and --" "Daddy!" putol ni Cassidy sa mga sasabihin niya na
It was a long drive. Madilim pa ang buong paligid nang sa wakas ay maayos na maiparada ni Jace ang minamanehong kotse. Time on the radio says four in the morning. He felt consumed, not to mention tired.His eyes we're droopy but that didn't stop him from grabbing the only companion he had inside the car, a half full bottle of Kavalan. One twist, and he got the whiskey burning his throat as the image of her crossed his mind again.‘Drown it, Jace. The b*tch is happy.’ Mapait siyang napangisi. ‘It's over...’Nagsindi siya ng sigarilyo oras na makalabas ng kotse. He begun alternately puffing his Marlboro and gulping from the liquor bottle.Umiikot ang paningin niya sa bawat hakbang pero nakarating pa rin ang pasuraysuray na lakad niya sa harap ng antigong pintuan.He pulled out a set of key from his backpocket then started aiming for the key hole. His sleepy eyes were squinting while figuring out how to get the key in.Ilang minuto rin siyang paulit-ulit na nagmintis dahil sa pagkahilo h
"UGH!" Kimberly’s body hit the wall hard. She tried to gasp for precious breathe but the distance between her and Jace's was more than enough to halt her air.Nakatukod ang dalawang braso nito sa magkabilang gilid ng kanyang ulo habang nanlilisik ang mga matang nakatitig sa kanya. He was effectively caging her, making her feel trapped while standing inside the farthest room he dragged her in.Kumikirot pa rin ang puso niya sa nakikitang sakit sa mga mata nito, pero mas nangingibabaw ngayon ang takot dahil sa paraan ng pagtitiim ng mga bagang ng kaharap. She could smell the liquor on his breathe and she hates how it made her own mouth bitter.It was the storm. The man she was with that moment wasn't Jace her lover... it was his monster."J-Jace... Let me talk, please. About Cassidy--""Tangina ka," he gritted low on her ear.Napabuka ang kanyang bibig nang biglang umigkas ang kamao ng kaharap at malakas na sumuntok sa pader na malapit sa kanyang mukha. Hindi pa siya nakakahuma sa gulat
"Jace!"Halos mapunit ng kanyang daliri ang kobre kama dahil sa hapdi sa kanyang pagkababae. She was dry and he was huge, but she doubt if Jace even cares. Needless to say, he was punishing her.Nagpumilit siyang pumiglas. She wobbled and kicked her legs but the movement of her lower part just made her yelped in more pain; mas bumabaon ang pagkalalaki nito, mas lumalalim."Jace please--""Fuck!"Gusto niyang mamaluktot sa hapdi nang marahas na hinugot nito ang sarili mula sa kanyang lagusan pero nawalan siya nang tyansa nang biglang itinulak ni Jace ang kanyang dalawang tuhod palapit sa kanyang mga balikat.Umangat ang kanyang balakang mula sa kama dahil sa pagkakabaluktot habang nakasampay sa mga balikat nito ang kanyang mga binti. Fear clouded her thoughts, napalipat ang naiiyak niyang tingin kay Jace.‘Oh no...’"Please..." Her head bucked when she felt him grabbed his manhood between them then started teasing her slit up and down. Pinilit niyang ilayo ang sarili pero bago pa niya
KIMBERLY wasn't sure how she ended up wrapped in a blanket above that soft mattress. Nang imulat niya ang kanyang mga mata ay bigla siyang napakurap. Maliwanag na.Her back sprung up from her bed in haste. Kung hindi pa dumausdos ang makapal na comforter sa kanyang dibdib at tinamaan ng hangin ang napakasensitibong tuktok no’n ay hindi niya pa maalala ang mga nangyari.'I-It wasn’t a dream...’ Her eyes widened. ‘Jace made love to me.’Agad na winaglit niya ang init na nagbabanta na namang bumulwak mula sa kanyang puson nang pilitin niyang umusod papunta sa gilid ng kama. Her skin felt so alive as she moved gently on the sheets. She was about to step down from the bed when her face distorted soon as put her legs down. May umakyat na hapdi mula sa kanyang sentro at nanginig ang kanyang mga hita.‘Oh God! Ang hapdi ng --’"Hey."Agad na napalingon siya sa pintuan ng kwarto. Her exposed back was facing the door as her feet dangles on the farther side of the bed. She was naked down to her
"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
‘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
“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