“Mag-ingat kayo sa pag-uwi, ah? Lumalalim na rin ang gabi at siguradong pagod na pagod na kayo pareho. Ingat kayo,” Nanang said as she closed the car door for me.Nginitian ko siya at saka marahang tumango kahit aminado akong humupa man ang pag-aalala ay hindi pa rin iyon lubusang nawala.“Kayo po ang mag-ingat, ah? Tatawag ako palagi at bibisita,” asik ko. Hindi ko alam kung naexcite ba siya roon. Sa palagay ko ay hindi dahil nag-aalala lang siyang ngumiti sa akin. “Mauuna na po kami. Maraming salamat sa pagpapaunlak,” Chester said after he started the car's engine. Nilingon ko siya at nakita ang mabait na ngiting iginawad kay Nanang. Though he always looked dangerous and cunning, he smiled genuinely.“S-Salamat din. Oh, siya, sige na.”Wala na akong nagawa nang paandarin ni Chester ang sasakyan paalis ng bahay ni Nanang. Actually, I felt a bit relaxed knowing that she arrived safe and unharmed. That's all that I wanted.“Feeling relaxed now?” Chester asked as he continued driving.
Fuck. Damn it, shit!I groaned so much when I felt like something was pounding my head so badly. Nanunuyo ang lalamunan at parang anumang oras ay masusuka. God, I badly need some water or I might pass out kahit kagigising ko lang!I held my throbbing head, trying to figure out if the laugh I heard was from my damn imagination. “That’s what you get for drinking so much. Here, drink some.”With my eyes half-open, I tried to pull myself up para lang mailapat ang labi ko sa basong lumapit sa akin. Drinking the cold water felt like heaven! Gosh, kailan ba ang huling beses na uminom ako ng tubig at bakit ganito?“Wake up, sleepy head. I can almost see those perfect and round sights up from here. Care to hide them properly, please?”My brows furrowed when he started talking gibberish. Perfect and round–what?!Mabilis kong iminulat ang mata ko nang marealize ko kung anong sinabi ni Chester. And I almost cursed when I saw my chest almost popping out of the damn silk robe!“Damn it.” I quickly
It's been a week–no. Two maybe? No. It's less than two weeks, pero sa tingin ko mababaliw na ako rito! Although I had my phone, I never even got the chance to touch it or even look at it.Chester's been bugging my whole system, at pakiramdam ko kaunting kaunti na lang talaga ay sasabog na ang ulo ko sa dami ng nangyayari. More so, my mind will explode completely because Chester's been stirring it up.Pilit kong sinasaksak sa utak ko na kailan lang, patay na patay ako at halos ibigay ko na ang sarili ko sa kapatid niya. In fact, I was so into him for years! Pero bakit kay Chester… ilang araw lang…“Are you awake?”My heart pounds so wildly every time he knocks on the door and asks that softly. His voice was hoarse, probably because he has just woken up. At pagkakagising niya mula sa kabilang kwarto, he'll go straight to my door and knock to see if I woke up. It’s been kinda like his habit.Kaya hindi na ako nagulat nang pagbukas ko ng pinto, bumungad sa akin ang magulo niyang pigura. H
When a little ray of sunshine hit my face, I couldn’t help but groan a little as my brows furrowed as well. Gusto ko pa sanang matulog dahil sa pinaghalong puyat, pagod, at sakit ng katawan, but the light and heat from the sun slightly annoyed me.I opened my eyes to peek at the blinds, but there were all closed properly. May isa nga lang na hindi sumagad sa dulo. Hmm, maybe I’ll just go tuck into Chester or whatever. His body is huge enough to cover the sunlight. I’m damn sure of it.“Ches…” I tried to open my eyes again to look at him pero napakunot ang noo ko nang makitang wala na siya roon.Huh? Nasaan siya?Parang biglang nawala ang antok ko nang tuluyang maiproseso na wala nga talaga siya sa tabi ko. I used to read this in different novels, and I think it’s reasonable to feel a bit empty after waking up without him beside you after sharing a memorable night. And no matter how much I try to deny it, I know I’m about close to feel that way.I know I’m about to feel so worthless un
I breathed heavily and disregarded the disappointment when he took his phone and walked away to answer the call. Sa halip na sundan siya, I feel like I’m really not in the mood to do so. He’s allowed to have his secrets, right? That's his right.I sighed and simply took the wine bottle. This has been my way to cope. Every time I don’t have my answers with a clear and straight mind, maybe I could solve it with drunk thoughts? Well, it doesn’t really work every time. Sometimes, I just… pass out.A few minutes passed before I felt someone remove the bottle from my hand and held my head para idantay iyon sa kanyang dibdib. Damn, why am I wasted already?“You’ve drank so much. Continue this, and you’ll be the death of me,” he said. I just giggled when I realized that we have the same thoughts. Pakiramdam ko rin kasi, siya ang magiging dahilan ng maaga kong pagkamatay.“You’re frustrating me too, so don’t get me started,” I whispered, which I know made him frown. “I frustrate you? How so?”
“The sea looks absolutely stunning. Let's swim?” she suddenly said habang nasa may patio kami.My brows furrowed. “I thought your head hurts so badly that you just want to explode?”She continued sipping on her juice. “Hangovers can wait, the sea can't!” she said back na mas nagpakunot ng noo ko. “That doesn’t make any sense,” I whispered. It really doesn’t. Hindi naman mawawala ang dagat na iyan diyan. I’m more worried about her than any sea in the world. If she wants, we can stay here hanggang magsawa siya sa paglalangoy sa dagat. But for now, just please rest, Paris!“Neither do I.” What?My jaw dropped when she immediately stood up and removed the wayfarers I lent her. Kasunod noon ay ang akma niyang pagtatanggal sa suot na oversized white shirt in front of people! Oh goodness.“Paris!” I immediately stood up and pulled the hem of her shirt bago pa ako tuluyang atakihin sa puso. I saw how her eyes widened when I did that. Nang subukan niya pang hilahin ulit paitaas, I lost all c
Like the other glimpse I had, that one isn’t very clear. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero ngayon lang naman ako nagkaroon ng ganitong flashbacks. I was thinking of consulting someone, or something like that, but I don’t think my emotions would handle it very well. Isa pa, Dad would surely know about it not long after.I’m not really that curious. Like I always say, I think I wouldn’t be able to handle the trauma if I had remembered anything painful. Pero sa totoo lang, I couldn’t help but wonder if… I had a boyfriend at that time. Do I love him very much?If so, where is he now? Hmm, siguro ay ipinalayo na rin sa akin ng Daddy. Like what he did to Reese. Isa pa, if I was a minor back then, then I don’t think that counts“So, how long are you planning to stay here?” Muli akong napabalik sa katinuan nang marinig ang tanong ni Felix matapos naming kumain ng dinner at magkayayaan ang dalawa na mag-inuman. “I hope you’re still in touch with our… Dad?”“Of course we are. Hindi ko naman itatak
I can feel my heart pounding so wildly that it’s making my chest ache. Pakiramdam ko, kayang kaya ko silang sugurin at komprontahin, sampalin pareho at hindi magpatawad. What on earth are they doing there? Reconciling the past relationship they had?Why on earth would he cheat ngayon pang sinabi ko na sa kanyang gusto ko siya?! Is he fucking kidding me?And Claire… rebound my ass!“Paris? You’re still awake?” Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang bumukas ang front door dahil sa pagpasok ni Chester. His eyes widen, and his lips parted. Gaya ko, natigil din siya sa paglalakad at napatitig kung totoo ba ang nakikita niya.He’s surprised, huh? Well, guess what? I am too! “Hindi rin nga ako makapaniwalang gising ka pa, eh,” I said. I looked behind him, and was about to walk towards him para mas masilip nang mabuti si Claire, but the brute shut the door!“W-Where are you going?” aligagang aniya,I raised my brows at him. “What about you? Saan ka galing?”I saw the way he gulped and even glanced
I was taken aback by the words he uttered. Like what I said, I understood why he did those back then. Pero ngayong humihingi siya ng tawad sa akin, hindi ko alam ang isasagot.“Dad…”He smiled weakly and tried to look at me. “I know what I did back then was unforgivable, but I was just protecting you, and…”“Dad, Dad…” kaagad ko siyang pinutol. I held his hand and smiled at him. I know that I hated him so much back then. I was stupid. I was reckless and damn stupid. Ngayon, kahit hindi ko pa rin maintindihan kung bakit niya pinakasalan si Tita Faureen, I don’t care anymore.He’s all that I have. He’s the only parent I have.And this grudge has been here too long already. Pagod na pagod na akong magalit.“I understand…” pagpapatuloy ko ngunit suno-sunod siyang umiling sa akin.“No, I didn’t give you a proper explanation back then,” aniya. “Your Tita Faureen, she and I have been good friends even before I met your mother. When your mom left, I… I didn’t know what to do. I wanted you to
What…Everything fell silent after he uttered those words. Pakiramdam ko, pinagsakluban ako ng langit at lupa at hindi ko alam kung anong paniniwalaan.I felt numb. I-I couldn’t even think properly or say something properly. Gusto kong tumakbo… gusto kong magwala… gusto kong….Oh God, what is this?“Chancellor pushed her causing her death. M-Magkasama kami noon at naglalaro nang makita niya ang Mommy mo. Back then, we… we really hated your Mom because we know what’s up between her and dad,” pagpapatuloy ni Chester sa mga bagay na hindi niya nasabi sa akin noon.“She approached us, and it was really an accident. My brother didn’t mean it… we were…” parang dinudurog ang puso ko sa bawat salitang binibigkas niya. His voice was hoarse and breaking. Parang paulit-ulit siyang sinasaksak sa bawat salitang binibitawan, and it breaks my heart hearing him that way. “... we were just children…”Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya at halos madurog ako nang makita siyang umiiyak. He was doing his b
Masama ang loob ko at walang imik hanggang makabalik kami sa resthouse nila Chester. Maging siya tuloy ay tahimik at hindi ako kinikibo kaya mas lalo lang akong naiinis.Well, I’m not totally mad at him. Naiinis ako sa nalaman ko! And the fact that they’re still friends made me dislike the idea even more. Dumagdag pang parang hindi niya napapansing masama ang loob ko.Eh ‘di do’n siya kay Claire!Wait, no. Ugh!“What’s wrong? Are you mad at me?” tanong niya nang hilahin ako para maupo sa lap niya sa couch dahil tataas na sana ako sa kuwarto.I rolled my eyes. “No,” I simply answered and was about to leave him pero siyempre, hindi niya ako hinayaan. Si Chester ‘yan, eh!“Sinungaling,” mahina at mapanuyang asik niya bago ako ginawaran ng halik sa pisngi. “Tell me, Love. What’s bothering you? Kakaunti lang ang napamili mo dahil kanina ka pang ganiyan.”I rolled my eyes. “Oo nga at kanina ka pa rin walang pake,” asik ko.He groaned as he buried his face on my neck. “I’ve been trying to ca
I saw my whole world fall apart right before my eyes when he uttered those words. How… how is that possible?“What are you saying? T-That can’t be… my father would’ve killed you–!”“He almost did. Remember?” he asked with a ghost of a smile, cutting me off and making me remember that he was right.Galit na galit sa kanya si Daddy noon, and I could vividly remember the night when he was almost killed by my Dad. Hindi ko magawang maintindihan noon ang aking ama, pero ngayong narinig ko ang mga salitang ‘yon mula kay Chester, parang naninikip ang dibdib ko.“Are you sure you want to talk about it already? Paris you seem unwell. I–!”“No,” I said. “Keep talking. But please… nagmamakaawa ako sa’yo. Do not lie this time.”My words were straight and blank. But his eyes tell me that to him, they were like bullets fired into his chest for a reason that I could not name.But after a few blinks, nawala iyon at matamis siyang ngumiti sa akin. “I promise.”Chester and I have been great the next fe
I couldn’t recall how much I cried for a few days because of that. Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyayari, or what triggered them back, but the memories kept flowing like a river that could not be stopped. And along that, I could feel surges of emotion that I could not name. Halo-halo ang nararamdaman ko, and I don’t know if I could even contain all of them. I don’t even know how many days it has been. I was only brought meals inside my room and was taken care of. Minsan binibisita ako nina Daddy at Tita Faureen sa kwarto, but I don’t have the energy to talk to them. When I look at my father, all I can do is cry. Kaya nang lumabas ako sa kwarto, they were all surprised.“Paris? How are you feeling? I should’ve just brought you some food for–!” Napatigil si Tita Faureen sa pagsalubong sa akin nang mapansin niya kung ano ang nakakuha ng atensyon ko pagbaba ko ng hagdan. My lips parted at the sight of tons of flowers in the living room. Some are withered, and some are being saved by Tita
“Don’t bother. I can manage,” I said and waved my phone to show him that I’d just book myself a cab. Wala rin naman akong planong makituloy sa bahay ng kung sino mang kaibigan o kamag-anak. I’ll just stay at a hotel for the next few days to relax and think.Wala rin naman akong choice kundi tanggapin ang pamilya nina Felix sa amin. I just need to calm the fuck down or else I’d add fuel to the damn fire. Hindi ko alam kung anong naging reaksyon niya. I feel dizzy and tired that I just want to lay on a bed. Isa pa masyado na akong napahiya sa lalaking nakaupo sa harap ko. I have to leave before things gets worse kaya minabuti kong talikuran na siya at lumabas ng club.His response to my offer makes me feel very damn awful. That is so fucking embarrassing!Pero nasabi ko na, eh. And as stupid as it may sound, I’m not regretting it. I do not regret it, because if he’d accept the offer, I’ll gladly be his girlfriend.Damn, I really am drunk.Sinikap kong panatilihing mulat ang mga mata ko
“My goodness, Paris! Where were you?! And why the hell did you do that?” I breathed heavily when Felix was the one who confronted me right when we got back home. I simply smirked at him and continued sipping on the hot coffee that was served by the maids. Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko dahil sa totoo lang, siya lang ang naglakas loob na lumapit sa akin at komprontahin ako – something that I expected from my father, so that I could talk and rant to him.But I guess, they just didn’t care. Maybe they’re fed up with me.“Who cares?” I asked. “And you definitely know why I did what I did. Alam kong naiintindihan mo ‘ko, ‘cousin’.” I said, emphasizing the way I have addressed him.Felix only sighed and sat in front of me. Through the years, he has stood up as my older brother. He was the one who understood me and my whines – or that’s what I thought.He’s always been close to my Dad because he’s been close to me. Iyon naman pala… Dad wanted to marry his mother. Felix didn’t appr
My lips parted when I heard his confession. Never have I imagined him saying those in my face. Para akong paulit-ulit na sinasaksak sa dibdib habang patuloy kong hinihiling na sana mali ako ng pagkakarinig. I was hoping and praying so hard that my ears are only messing around with me dahil kung totoo ang naririnig ko ay hinding hindi ko sya mapapatawad!“You didn’t… what?” I repeated, hoping that I had heard the wrong thing.Pero para siyang tutang nag-iwas ng tingin sa akin. The pain in his eyes made me want to slap him so hard. Siya pa ang nasasaktan ngayon? Bakit?!“You didn’t… what now, Chester?” pag-uulit ko.He breathed heavily and mustered all his strength to face me. “I-I’m sorry–!”“You didn’t want me to remember? Who the fuck are you to decide?!” I shouted at him. Sinubukan niyang hawakan ang pareho kong kamay para pakalmahin ako pero hindi na uubra sa akin ang ginagawa niya! Every time we come across a problem like this, he always tries to tame me using his sweet words and
Chancellor left the room, and I almost fainted because of shortness of breath. Hindi ako makapaniwala sa sinasabi niya, at ayaw kong maniwala!How come he didn’t know? O baka naman itinatanggi niya lang din? But why the fuck would he deny such thing gayong magkaibigan kami!Or were my memories distorted? “Impossible,” I said. Parang sumasakit ang ulo ko sa frustration. There’s no fucking way I could be wrong, right?O baka naman pati sarili kong memorya ay hindi ko na rin kayang pagkatiwalaan gaya ng ibang tao sa paligid ko?!Tang ina!“Goddamn it! Damn!” I pulled my hair in frustration as my tears rolled down my cheeks. I don’t know what to fucking believe anymore! It has been a long time since I had flashbacks like this, at ganito pa?!“Argh!” I cried out of resentment and grief because I really didn’t know what to do anymore.“P-Paris–!”I sniffed and wiped my tears when I heard a familiar voice. Chester entered the room and attended me immediately, pero isa siya sa napakaraming t