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
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
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,
“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
"GOOD MORNING, CHES—" Nabitin sa ere ang bati ni Kimberly nang isang blangkong mukha ang bumungad sa kanya pagkabukas ng pinto. For a while, she didn't know how to react to the man in front of her. Ngingiti ba siya o sisimangot?It was a beautiful morning. Mataas ang araw pero malamig ang hangin. Humuhuni rin ang mga ibon mula sa mga punong nakapaligid sa old American-styled house na iyon. Things could have been perfect, kung hindi nga lang nakasimangot ang gwapong lalaking kaharap niya."Good morning, Jace," alanganing simula niya habang pinakakalma ang sarili."Indeed it was," sagot naman nito bago patamad na isinandal ang balikat sa hamba ng pintuan.Tumaas ang mga kilay ni Kimberly. Halos bumulong lang si Jace pero sapat ang sarkasmo ng sinabi nito para magpanting ang tainga niya. The brute clearly used past tense— was."Okay..." Mabagal siyang napatango. It was barely eight in the morning. Hindi ba sobrang aga naman yata para mag-away na naman sila? Sa kagustuhang tapusin na ang h
"ANO?!" Naibaba ni Kimberly ang hawak na tinidor nang manlaki ang mga mata ni Rhona habang nakatingin sa kanya. Ala-una na ng hapon. Kasalukuyan silang kumakain sa isang fast food nang maalala niyang ikwento rito ang mga naganap sa bahay ng mga Mangino. Her only purpose for telling her best friend about what happened was to make herself feel less guilty. Iyon nga lang at hindi inaasahan na mag-o-overreact ito at magsisisigaw nang ganoon. What she said was supposed to be a secret. Ika ng marami, private girl-talk. Hindi ba nito na-gets 'yon? "Niloloko mo ba 'ko?! Anong muntik mo nang halikan si Jace?!" "Ilakas mo pa kaya? Hindi pa naririnig sa kabilang dulo nitong mall, 'yang boses mo." Sinamaan niya ng tingin ang kaharap, bago binalik ang atensyon sa kinakaing tanghalian. They were having lechon-sinigang at Mias, isa sa mga kilalang kainan sa mall na iyon. She has to give it to the restaurant, their entrees were exceptionally good. Their foods were mostly classic Filipino dishes
WALA SI CHESTER nang makarating si Kimberly sa bahay ng mga Mangino. Ilang araw na rin ang lumipas pero ni hindi pa rin nito naririnig ang paliwanag niya tungkol sa nangyari. The past few days had been cold. Mga magulang nalang ni Chester ang nagbubukas ng pinto sa tuwing dadalaw siya sa mga ito. Araw-araw pare-pareho lang naman ang sinasabi ng dalawang matanda sa tuwing bumibisita siya roon— wala raw si Chester. That was both sad and intriguing. Sa klase kasi ng relasyong mayroon siya sa pamilyang 'yon ay opisyal na "label" na lang talaga ang kulang sa kanila ni Chester. Hindi naman sa pagmamayabang, pero alam niyang napamahal na rin siya sa bawat tao sa pamilya nito— maliban kay Jace, syempre. Matigas pa sa bato ang ugali niyon eh. The Jace's is like an uncharted territory to her. Mahirap itong hulihin, mahirap pasukin, at mas mahirap namang maintindihan. Hindi niya alam kung saan ba siya dapat lumugar sa tuwing nakikita ito. She doesn't want to be in his bad side, but then, pero
"HOW DID she take it?" Jace lit his cigar at the same time as Chester came into their room. He had been wide awake since his brother went out. It was already two in the morning, may pasok pa siya mamaya pero talagang hindi lang siya dalawin ng antok. Something was bothering him. He was the one who advised his brother to admit the situation to the girl as early as now. He even told Chester to return everything she gave him. At ngayon nga, he was also the one feeling guilty to the bone dahil alam, niyang masasaktan ito sa mga pinayo niya. She'd been loving his brother for freakin' five years after all. "Lighter than I thought." Ngumiti ang kausap, bago nilagpasan ang kamang hinihigaan niya, dumiretso ito sa aparador at nagsimulang magbihis. "Hindi siya nagalit?" He blew out his smoke. He found that answer stressing. Kimberly, taking that turn down message light was really not what he expected. Something was hëll not right."You can't be serious." Umiling ang kuya niya bago excited na
“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