Year 2018, March (Three years ago) "Y-Yes, Sir." That's when he slowly entered me. Napaangat kaagad ang balakang ko para salubungin ang pagkalalaki niyang pumupuno sa akin. I closed my eyes and pulled my hair out from my head as Nick filled all of me. "Oh gosh! Sir!" "Yes, Ava. Umungol ka para sa akin. Alam kong sarap na sarap ka." "Ahhhh!" He didn't waste any second. The second he was deeply buried inside me, he slowly pulled his shaft out only to roughly pushed it again inside me. Halos tumirik ang mga mata ko sa paraan ng pag-angkin ni Nick sa akin. Sagad na sagad. "Ahhhh! Ang sarap, Sir! Yes... Hmnn!" Kusang naglaro ang kamay ko sa mga nipples ko habang pabilis nang pabilis ang paglabas-pasok ni Nick sa akin. His hands were gripping both of ankles as he held it tightly to have the proper balance to claim me on this position. "Ahh! Ang sarap talagang bumaon sa 'yo palagi, Ava! Walang-wala ang ate mo sa sikip at sa init ng loob mo!" A victorious smile spread on my lips as
SINABI na ni Zach na hindi siya makakapunta ngayong gabi sa apartment ko. Busy daw siya sa wedding preparation nila ni Joven. Malinaw naman sa akin ang message niyang 'yon.Kaya hindi ko maintindihan ang sarili ko kung bakit sa kabila ng sakit, nando'n pa rin 'yung maliit na pag-asa— na baka matapos niya kaagad 'yung kailangan nilang gawin ni Joven— o baka gumawa ulit siya ng palusot sa fiance niya 'tapos ay didiretso siya rito at susurpresahin ako.That little hope inside me made me hold on to Zach. Kahit sinabi na niyang hindi siya makakapunta, mas pinili kong pinanghawakan 'yung maliit na pag-asa na baka piliin ako ni Zach.Pinanghawakan ko 'yung posibilidad na pumunta pa rin siya sa apartment ko gaya ng ipinangako niya sa akin. Kaya kahit hindi sigurado, nang makarating ako sa apartment ko galing ng university, kaagad akong naghanda ng pagkain.I prepared dinner for the two of us, just in case Zach would choose to come over. I cooked his favorite pininyahang manok, the same level
FRIDAY came and I haven't heard anything about Zach since Wednesday when I had a break down because of so much jealousy and pain.Naghintay ako ng paliwanag niya kung bakit nagsinungaling siya sa akin. He said he couldn't come over to my place that Wednesday night because of his and Joven's wedding preparation. But then, I ended up hearing them fucking each other. Sabihin na lang natin na kaya ako tumagal sa ganitong klaseng relasyon ay dahil sa mga excuses na paulit-ulit kong tinatanggap mula kay Zach. That's how I get by as a mistress and how I discarded my conscience. As long as Zach was making excuses for us to work out, I promised to myself that I would never let go. This was how masochistic I was- since from my relationship with Nick up until now.Sasabihin ng iba ginusto kong maging kabit dahil pinili kong manatili, kahit toxic, kahit may nasasaktan na iba at kahit hindi naibibigay sa akin ang tamang pagmamahal na deserve ko. But what people don't understand was how toxicity co
Nagpalakpakan muli ang audience nang itaas ni Rupert ang kamay kasabay ng pagdikit ng drummer sa drum sticks nito at tatlong beses pinalo sa isa't isa.The electric sound of the guitar filled the room along with the high-pitched beat of the cymbals. Then, the steady deep beat coming from the base drum started the steady tone that was followed by the base and rhythm guitar. Rupert hold the microphone stand and gave the audience a serious and mysterious gaze.Hindi ko mapigilang humanga sa confidence na mayro'n si Rupert sa pagpe-perform. Halata kasi na totoong confidence 'yon at hindi lang pinepeke para magmukhang magaling katulad ng palagi kong ginagawa. He's really good at this and he's really enjoys doing this. Sana all."This song is for a woman I recently met. This is for her who always look at me with her sad eyes."Napaawang ang bibig ko sa sinabing iyon ni Rupert. He didn't say a particular name and he didn't look at me. But why did it feel like he was pertaining to me? Sa dami
FlashbackMasama ang loob ko kay Nick dahil sa ginawa niyang pag-iwan sa akin sa kalagitnaan ng ginagawa namin para kay Ate. Nagmakaawa ako sa kaniya pero hindi niya man lang ako pinakinggan.Kaya ilang araw ko na rin siyang iniiwasan at hindi pinapansin. Scratch that— iniiwasan ko siya at mukhang wala siyang pakeelam. Kaya lalo akong naiinis. Sobrang nagseselos ako sa biglang pagiging sweet at maalaga niya sa Ate ko na hindi naman niya ginagawa noon. He's being too attentive to her. Dahil ba buntis si Ate?Ang nakakatanga lang, ni hindi gumawa ng paraan si Nick para kumustahin ako matapos niya akong iwan noong gabing iyon. Mukhang pabor na pabor nga sa kaniya na nagtatampo ako nang ganito kasi mas may oras siya sa Ate ko.At hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan ko matitiis na 'wag sabihin ang relasyon namin ni Nick. Ilang beses nang sumagi sa isip ko sabihin kay Ate Agatha ang totoo 'tapos ay papiliin si Nick. He said he loves me, that's why, I'm enduring this setup.Pero, unti-unti na
Hinihingal na nagising ako mula sa masamang panaginip na iyon. May eyes were wet because of tears and my chest is moving up and down because of my deep breaths."Ava?"Unti-unting nawala ang takot at sakit dahil sa bangungot na iyon nang makita ko si Zach sa gilid ng kama ko. Nakayakap siya sa baywang ko habang nakaunan naman ako sa isa niyang braso. We were both naked under the sheets."You had a bad dream?"Kiming tumango lang ako at kaagad niyang pinunasan ang mga mata ko. Pinatalikod niya ako nang pagkakahiga saka niyakap. He caged me in his arms in spooning position like we always do."Anong oras na? Hindi ka pa ba aalis?" wala sa sariling tanong ko habang kinakalma ang sarili.Zach's arms around me tightened. He even kissed my shoulder and head before pulling me closer."Nah. I won't go anywhere, Ava. I'll stay until Sunday with you."Napaawang ang bibig ko. Akmang haharap ako kay Zach nang pigilan niya ako sa pamamagitan nang paghigpit ng yakap sa akin. He even wrapped his legs
Napaawang ang bibig ko nang bigla niyang hawakan ang aking kaliwang braso kung saan nando'n ang hindi pa ring humihilom na sugat na ginawa ko sa aking sarili. It was still covered with bandage and the stinging pain was still there.Tumiim ang bagang ni Zach habang hinahaplos ang nakabenda kong braso. He didn't ask me about it or what was the reason of my punctured arm. He didn't also ask me about what happened to me last Wednesday after he stood me up to fuck Joven."Don't let yourself get hurt again, Ava. I don't like it when you're hurt."You're hurting me, Zach. You're hurting more than any kind of wound."Hindi mo ba itatanong kung bakit ako may sugat?"Sa halip na sagutin ako, paakyat na gumapang ang kamay niya mula sa nakabendang parte ng braso ko paakyat sa balikat ko. He caressed my shoulder before his other hand caressed my hair. "I miss you so damn much, Ava."Kaagad akong napapikit nang bumaba ang labi niya sa labi ko. He kissed me fully, with so much ferocity and I got los
I LEAN comfortably on my leather sofa seat on the right most corner of the vintage cafe as I munched on my red velvet cake. My eyes never left Zach who was now sitting, three tables away from me, with three gentlemen in semi-formal attires. I was enjoying myself as I witnessed how professional he is in dealing with his client. A smile would immediately spread on my lips when his gaze will turn to me and then he will cock his eyebrows at me as if checking if I'm alright.Actually, kanina pa hindi nawawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ko. Yesterday, the whole Saturday was about Zach and I enjoying ourselves inside our villa. Then, I woke up from Zach's kisses and ticklish caresses. He made me breakfast in bed and we took bath together. Sunod no'n, inaya niya akong ikutin ang buong resort and I really did a good time- because this is the first time in the span of our almost one year of relationship that we actually acted like real couples. We hold hands in public, he made me laughed with his no
(After Ava's burial)CORA'S POV***Ilang segundo rin akong nakatayo sa gitna ng dating kwarto ni Ava. Nandoon pa rin ang mga gamit niya. I guess, hindi pa pumupunta ang kahit sino sa pamilya niya para ayusin ang mga naiwan niyang gamit dito.I was frozen on my place with hands clenched on both of my sides. My tears blurred my vision as I roamed my gaze around the room. It's been three days since she was buried... And it's been three days that I hated my father to death."I'm sorry na hindi kita nailigtas, Ava," I murmured as my heart ached for my fallen friend. "I should've listened to my guts."Pagsisisi.At matinding galit.Iyon ang nararamdaman ko ngayon.One year ago, I got a hunch that something is different from the way my father is looking at my best friend. Pero dineadma ko iyon, thinking that he is seeing him like his daughter because she's one of my closest friends. Kaya gano'n siya mag-alaga at mag-alala para sa kaibigan ko dahil para niya na ring anak iyon. Five months ag
AVA'S***Kaagad na dumiretso ang aking likod nang sa wakas ay nakita ko na rin si Mama pagkatapos ng ilang oras na pag-aabang ko sa labas ng silid niya rito sa ospital. As much as my heart was yearning to hug her and to say sorry to her, I stopped myself from doing so.Nakuntento ako sa kinalalagyan ko at tinanaw lang siya habang nasa likod niya si Papa na siyang tumutulak sa wheelchair na kaniyang kinauupuan. Kasabay ng matinding kirot dahil gustong-gusto kong yakapin si Mama ay ang matinding hiya ko at pandidiri sa sarili ko.Masasaktan lang si Mama kapag nakita niya ulit ako. Wala na akong ibang ginawa para sa kaniya kung hindi ang saktan siya. That's the reason why I can't go to her.Ilang minuto kong pinanood ang mga magulang ko bago ko napagdesisyunang umalis na. I wiped the tears in my eyes before I walked away. Mula sa ospital, dumiretso ako sa sementeryo kung nasaan ang musileyo ni Gavin.I clasped both of my hands as I enter. Nang makita ko ang ultrasound picture ng pamangk
AVA'S POV***Ilang beses akong napabuntong hininga habang mahigpit ang pagkakahawak ng aking mga kamay sa aking mga tuhod. Halos malamig ang butil ng pawis na tumutulo sa gilid ng aking noo at sobrang nanliliit ako sa aking pwesto.Bago ako pumunta rito, pinag-isipan kong mabuti ang mga sasabihin ko. Buong magdamag kong inisip kung ano ang dapat kong gawin kapag nasa harapan na ako ni Ate Agatha.But I found myself tongue-tied and feeling nauseous, now that I am actually in the situation. This is suffocating... Being in front of her... and the man who introduced to me the wrong concept of love— Nick.“What now? Nagkalakas ka na ng loob na harapin ako? After making the same mistake again, Ava?” She snorted before she harshly tapped the table between us. “Ava, hindi ka ba nahiya? You became the mistress of your best friend's father! Hindi ka na naawa sa mga magulang natin sa mga kahihiyang dinadala mo sa pamilya natin.I heard the anger and shame on my sister's voice. Hindi ko rin kina
AVA'S POV [NOW... JOVEN'S AND ZACH'S WEDDING: THE SUICIDE DID NOT HAPPEN] *** It was suicide. I intended to die and leave this world. I was a coward and I don't have the courage to face all my mistakes. Sigurado na ako na iyon ang gagawin ko. Sobrang sakit na ng lahat at wala na akong nakikitang paraan para itama ang mga pagkakamali ko. But now that I am standing in front of the church, in front of the big crucifix in the middle of the altar, watching my man to exchange vows with another woman...then, all my plans changed in an instant.Death turned out to be scarier than what I expected it to be. It is something not easy to decide no matter how miserable someone's life is. Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa panyo sa kamay ko habang unti-unting nanlabo ang mga mata ko dahil sa mga luhang nagbabadyang tumulo. Then and there, I saw it. Nag-flash ang lahat ng posibleng mangyari sa akin kung magpapakamatay ako ngayon dahil lang nasasaktan ako. I shook my head as my body started to tre
ZACH'S P.O.V. *** "Cora, let's talk!" "I DON'T WANT TO TALK! NOT TO YOU! I HATE YOU!" Napahilamos ako sa aking mukha nang lagpasan niya ako. I didn't know where she came from but having her furious reaction towards me, I know for a fact that she's probably with Joven— and I know Joven told her. "Cora! I'm still your father!" Sinundan ko siya at kaagad na hinablot ang kaniyang braso para pigilan. Pero kaagad niyang iwinaksi ang kamay ko. Then she looked at me with so much disgust and hate. Para akong pinagsakluban ng langit at lupa sa pandidiri sa mukha ng sarili kong anak. The shame and conscience took a toll on me and I found myself taking a step back from Cora. No. I don't want my daughter to hate me. This is so fucked up. "Totoo ba? Totoo bang si Ava... ginawa mong k-kabit ang kaibigan ko?" Cora was crying. Her tears falling from her eyes like an endless river. Her eyes were begging me to say 'no'. Kita ko ang sakit sa mga tingin niya sa akin. The fact that she's still gi
JOVEN'S P.O.V.***"Hey, Joven. It's nice to see you again."I stared at the man who broke my heart into pieces while I was wearing a veil and a white wedding gown.I didn't bother to put up a smile. Walang emosyon ang tinging ibinigay ko sa kaniya. "You know I'm not happy to see you again, Zach. This is painful," I honestly said before avoiding his gaze.Napadako ang tingin ko sa tasa ng kape na nasa harapan ko. I couldn't believe I agree to meet him today.He said he has to say something so important— kahit nagdadalawang-isip, pumayag akong makipagkita sa kaniya sa Wednesday Cafe. The place was cozy and has a beautiful ambiance but I couldn't enjoy it specially that my heart was broken and the man who did it was sitting across me."I know. I'm really sorry, Joven.""Sorry would never make up for what you did to me and to my child." Napahawak ako sa aking tyan at marahang hinaplos iyon.Narinig ko ang buntong hininga ni Zach bago niya muling sinabi, "I'm really sorry."I had a tragi
NICK'S P.O.V. *** "Ma, Pa, this is Nick— boyfriend ko po," I bowed my head in front of my girlfriend's parents. I readied the gentle smile when my gaze met the eyes of Agatha's father. Gaya ng inaasahan, masama ang tingin na ipinupukol sa akin ni Mr. Lazarte pero ayos lang 'yon. Alam kong kapag nakilala niya na ako, gagaan din ang pakikitungo niya sa akin. Kabaligtaran ni Mr. Lazarte, mas magaan ang naging pagtanggap sa akin ng nanay ni Agatha— sabi niya tawagin ko na lang daw siyang Tita Lucia. Well, Agatha decided to finally introduce me to her parents after three months of dating. Hindi naman ako tumanggi dahil mahal ko siya. Yes. After years of being a notorious playboy, someone came to finally take my heart and own me— body and soul. Masyado pang maaga para sa iba upang malaman kung para sa iyo ba ang isang tao sa loob ng tatlong buwan na relasyon. Pero kay Agatha ko lang naramdaman 'to. Isa pa, hindi na rin ako bumabata. I'm nearing my thirties and I'm actually planning t
AGATHA'S P.O.V. *** Wala akong ibang gustong gawin after a sixteen-hour shift kun'di ang matulog at makapagpahinga. The hospital was busier yesterday and I think I wasn't able to even have a good dinner last night because of the patients I had to attend to. Sana maabutan ko ang asawa ko bago siya pumasok ng trabaho. I know, after I see his face, this fatigue and restless feeling will be a lot better. I heaved a deep sigh when silence greeted me when I entered the house. Oh, it's always like this. Since it was just six in the morning, everyone in the house was still asleep, specially that it's school vacation for my younger siblings. Naalala ko bigla si Ava. I had to ask her if she's really sure about taking STEM strand in SHS. I mean, hindi ko pa rin nakakalimutan 'yung madalas niyang sabihin sa akin noong nasa elementary siya— she said she wanted to be a writer. If that's the case, I don't think STEM was the strand that she should choose. I made a mental note about that. Tahimi
Rodolfo's P.O.V.(Ava's father)•••"Starting from now, I'm no longer your father," tiim ang bagang na saad ko bago nag-iwas ng tingin sa kaniya."Papa..."Galit. Awa. Sakit.Galit ako kay Ava at sa ginawa niya sa kaniyang kapatid. Galit ako kay Nick at sa naging relasyon nila ng ikalawa kong anak.Naaawa ako sa sinapit ng panganay ko at ng apo ko. Hindi ko inakalang kailangan kong masaksihan ang pangyayaring 'yon— napakaraming dugo at wala akong nagawa nang tuluyang mawala ang apo ko.Higit sa lahat, masakit. Masakit para sa akin ang lahat ng ito. Hindi ko alam na hahantong sa ganito ang pamilya ko— na dadating ang nakaka-putanginang pangyayaring 'to sa pamilyang binuo, itinaguyod at pinrotektahan ko.Kahit saan ko tingnan, mas kailangan ako ni Agatha at hindi ko makita sa sarili kong patawarin si Ava sa nagawa niya.She could've stop herself from having an affair with that bastard if she values her sister! Putangina."Huwag mo na ulit akong tatawagin na papa, Ava. Wala ka nang karap