I left the house. I don't know where else to go or who else to call. I have no friends. I have no one else. Kung sa mga pinsan ko naman ay pauuwiin lang nila ako sa bahay. I don't want to see my mom. I just want to be alone and I wanna think for a while.Hindi ako makapaniwala na ginawa ni Mama iyon sa akin. All the while I thought Eos just left me to be with Lualhati. Now, I can't think. What if he was in love with me like what Adonis have said? Now, paano ko pa maibabalik ang chance na nawala sa aming dalawa?I sighed. I kept on walking. I was inside a mall. Nakapambahay lang ako. The only cash I have was a thousand peso. Saan ako dadalhin ng pera ko. I paid the taxi earlier with my Cartier bracelet. I have nowhere to go.I sat on a bench near the fountain. I was looking at the people walking around. Buti pa sila may patutunghan sila. Buti pa sila may kasama sila. Buti pa sila... paano naman ako?Bahagya akong nagulat nang maramdaman kong may naupo sa tabi ko. I looked at my right a
"Ma..."Mama was asleep when I got into their room. Naiuwi na namin siya for like five hours ago. Papa was outside the balcony making calls. Palagay ko ang kausap niya ay si Ninang Bathseeba. The ride home was exceptionally quiet. Kuya Apollo was gritting his teeth while driving. Percy started researching about Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease - I dunno about Kuya Achilles because he rode with Mama and Papa, kasama niya rin si Betchay.I sat beside Mama's bed and touched her face. She stirred a bit and then she opened her eyes. Nagulat ako kaya bahagya akong lumayo sa kanya. Akala ko ay sisigawan na naman niya ako but she smiled. She sat up on her bed and faced me."Kanina pa kita hinihintay." Nakangiti siya sa akin. Hindi naman ako makapagsalita. I wanted to say sorry for not going after her kanina sa mall. I wanted to apologize for breaking her heart back then but words cannot express my thoughts. Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya at naiiyak."Ma, ang tagal mo. Busy ba sa ospital?" Tanon
"Alejandros!!! O to the M to the G!"Nanlaki ang nga mata ni Elisha nang pumasok sa silid naming dalawa ni Sabino nang umagang iyon. She bit her lower lip and closed her eyes because we were about to make love and then she just barged in."I'll be taking a bath." Sabi na lang ni Sabino. He chuckled and turned around. Tinitigan ko naman si Elisha. Her eyes were still closed. Nakatitig ako sa kanya. I put my robe on and sat on my bed and still looked at her."Tapos na ba? O to the M to the G!"Elisha Marie Lamico sounded so much like my mother when they were the same age. She was my mom's goddaughter, Pan's best friend and my business partner. Halos kasabay ko na siyang lumaki. Pan and her would always have sleepovers when they were growing up. Isa din siya sa mga unang taong nakaalam kung ano talaga ang kasarian ako and she was okay with it."Eli, its fine. Sabino is inside the bathroom now. What are you even doing here? Hindi ka pa marunong kumatok?" Inis na tanong ko. She made a face
Eos Demitri deserve more than this.It was all I could think about while I sat inside the precinct that dreadful night. I couldn't stop crying. He's dead. The medic told me that after they tried taking his pulse and got nothing, he's dead. And I really think that he deserve better than this. He deserve so much better than this.The police took me to the precinct for questioning. I demanded to have a lawyer before answering any of their questions. Agad ko namang tinawagan si Piedro para puntahan ako. I asked him not to tell my brothers – especially my parents but I guess, Artie just couldn't keep anything for herself. So, now, I'm just waiting for Apollo to come and get me.I hate this.I don't want to be here. I don't even know if I should be mourning at all. Ano ba naman ako sa kanya. He only said he loved me. We were never an ite. – or any labels at all. Mahal daw niya ako. Mahal ko rin siya. Sapat na ba iyon para magluksa ako?"Eleithiya..." It was Apollo. I looked up and I saw him
Tia Vejar took me home that afternoon. I never liked her rotten spoiled brat attitude because it's getting to my nerves. Nakisakay lang ako sa kanya kanina dahil matatagalan ang driver ko sa pagsundo sa akin dahil nagkasakit ang driver ni Mama kaya ipinahiram ko muna ang akin. Pwede namang sunduin ako ni Daddy or ni Heath or Hunter pero hindi ko bet kaya inasar ko na lang si Tia. Natuwa naman ako sa reaksyon niya. Her reaction made my day. Pikon talaga si Tia."Nandito na si Daddy? Si Mama po?" Tanong ko sa maid nang masalubong ko siya. Sinabi niyang nasa itaas daw su Daddy at nagpapahinga. Agad naman akong tumakbo paakyat sa itaas para puntahan siya."Daddy!" Bungad ko sa kanya. Nakaupo siya sa swivel chair niya at para bang may binabasa. Agad naman niyang ibinaba ang papeles at tiningnan ako. Sinalubong niya ako ng ngiti."Hello, baby girl."I giggled when he called me that. Sabi niya kahit ilan taon na daw ako, ako pa rin ang number 1 baby girl niya. Naupo ako sa visitors chair na
Tia left the prom already. I saw her exiting the premises and I found myself wondering where she went. It's not my business, I know but I wanna know. Pakiramdam ko kasi ay may ginagawa si Tia na lingid sa kaalaman ng lahat. I just want to know so I can tease her about it.The prom was a bit boring for me. I was just sitting on my corner watching my classmates as they danced the night away. People were asking me to dance too, but I don't want to move a muscle. Pakiramdam ko kasi ay walang kwenta kung gagalaw man ako. I don't like this event. Pumunta lang ako para maisuot ang gown na binili ni Mama para sa akin. She bought the gown from Paris Fashion Week and I could already imagine her reaction kung sinabi ko sa kanya na ayokong magpunta talaga doon.I wanna be somewhere else...I wann be away... with that one person who can make my heart beat faster and faster and faster... Iyong tipong hinihingal na ako pero kinakaya ko dahil masarap sa pakiramdam na kasama ko siya. I want to be with
It was Tia vejar's eighteenth birthday and everyone in the family was invited. That night we were inside the Consunji Hotel's premises. Lahat ay naroon – mula sa lahat ng pinsan ni Mama hanggang sa mga pinsan ko – and because it was Tia's birthday – naroon din si Percy at ang mga kapatid nito. Tulad ng dati ay hindi ako sumasayaw kahit na halos lahat ng mga anak ng ka-business partner ng mga magulang at tyuhin ko ay inaayaw ko. Hindi ako sumasayaw dahil naroon si Percy – hindi ko lang talaga gusto.It was Tia's night and she really owned it. Napaka-emotional noong father and daughter dance nila ni Uncle Hades. It made me a bit teary eyed at dahil doon, niyaya kong sumayaw ang Daddy ko."Dad... dad..." May kausap siyang mga business people but he stopped talking to them the moment I called him."Everyone, this is my princess, Haley Demitri." Pakilala ni Daddy sa akin."Good evening..." I flashed my sweetest smile. Hinatak ko ang kamay ni Daddy tapos ay hinarap ko siya. "Dad, sayaw tayo
I am twenty – four now – and so far, I haven't forgotten what happened to me in the Philippines, almost eight years ago.Somehow, I think about coming back now, and it makes me feel different.I was looking at the window – all I could see were clouds and that little sunshine that's trying to break free from the clouds surrounding it. Tumaas ang sulok ng bibig ko."Perc, are you alright?" The woman beside me asked me. Her name was Alaina and right now, she's the girl I wanna fuck and I'm taking her home to the Philippines – just to fuck her there. Hindi ko naman siya kailangan ipakilala sa mga magulang ko lalo naman sa Mama ko, ma-stress lang ang Mama ko sa kanya.Lumapag ang eroplano sa lupaing sinilangan ko. I inhaled the air and felt a bit nostalgic."So, when are you going to introduce me to your parents?""Hindi kita ipapakilala sa mga magulang ko, Alaina. I'm going home, you're staying in a hotel and n Thursday, susunduin kita dahil pupunta tayo ng Boracay and in that place, I am
"Is he going to be okay? Pakiramdam ko ang dami nang nangyari simula nang bumalik ako para idemanda sana ang asawa mo, hindi naman natuloy."Ngumiti si Bathseeba sa akin habang nakaupo kami sa chapel nang ospital kung nasaan si Ares Consunji – ang asawa niya. She was holding my hand tapos sa kabilang kamay niya ay may hawak siyang rosary. Mugto ang mga mata niya, sino ba naman ang hindi maiiyak dahil sa mga nangyayari sa ngayon?A week ago, I was inside this chapel, bargaining to the Lord abve to save Ares so Bathseeba will be spared the pain. Hindi ko kayang makitang masaktan nang lubusan ang babaeng itinuring kong kapatid sa napakahabang panahon. Isa pa, naging mabuting tao naman si Ares sa halos kalahati ng buhay niya. He was a good man, he became a good man because of this woman beside me and for that I adore her more.Sinong mag-aakala na isang tulad ni Bathseeba ang magpapabago sa lalaking minamahal naming dalawa.Yes... naming dalawa. After all this years, I realized that my lo
The letter – Eos' letter – did well to me, I guess. Ang akala ko lang ay sakit lang ang hatid niyon sa akin pero habang tumatagal ay napapansin kong nagiging malaya ako. I realized that I don't have to be stuck in his memories anymore, that somehow, he wanted be happy and he wanted me to move on with my life.Isa na lang siyang distant memory sa ngayon and he will stay that way for a very long time. Isa na lang siyang magandang alaala. Iyong sa Greece, iyong sa prom – lahat ng masasaya, iyon na lang ang tatandaan ko."So, why are we shopping again?" I was with Perseus that morning. We were in the mall at ibinibili ko ng damit si Mama, si Papa at pati na rin siya. Gusto ko lang na magmukhang tao si Perseus even once in a while lang tapos si Papa siyempre, given na gwapo na ang Papa ko, mas gagwapo pa siya dahil sa mga suits na ito."Because you need to look like you're worth something." Mataray na sagot ko. Napakamot lang siya ng ulo. I saw him made a face kaya sinapak ko siya nang pab
"Kapag naka-italicized ang mga letters, feeling ko ang tahimik noong nagsulat ng letter na iyon."Napangiti ako, heto na naman si Yana at ang mga weird thoughts niya. Nasa bahay kami noon at nakaharap siya kay Mommy. Si Mommy ang kinukwentuhan niya at ako ay nakikinig lang. Panay lang nakangiti sa kanya si Mommy, may times na hinahaplos niya ang buhok ni Yana tapos ay ngingiti at titigan lang ito. I guess she really likes Yanessa.Who wouldn't like her? Kahit na panay siyang hindi mapakali ay nakakatuwa naman siyang kasama. Ang sabi ni Yohan sa akin noon, kailangan daw ni Yana ang palaging may ginagawa para hindi siya maging restless. She needs to get busy kasi ang taong may ADHD madaling mawala ang focus sa isang bagay.I don't know if Yana still undergoes therapy but she seems fine now with Mommy."Tapos nababasa ko iyong snail mails ng Lolo ko sa Lola ko, nakakatuwa lang po kasi ang tawagan nila Honey samantalang iyong Mymy ko at Dydy ko, naririnig ko po, Abnoy at saka Bobo minsan
Alam mo iyong sa mall? When you break it, it is considered sold. Apply it to my sister and then the saying "kapag ang baso nagkalamat na hindi na mawawala iyon." Apply it to our friendship.Hindi iilang beses kong narinig kay Yohan Consunji ang mga pahaging na salitang iyon tuwing kausap niya ang isa sa nga kaibigab namin na nagkakagusto sa nakababata niyang kapatid na si Yanessa.Para siyang guard dog na nakakaamoy ng lalaking nagkakagusto sa kapatid niya within twenty blocks. Sabi niya, tingin palang daw alam na niya at kailangan niyang salagin lahat ng lalaking iyon dahil iyon ang tungkulin niya bilang isang "Kuya.""Dude, hindi ka ba naiilang? Binabara mo lahat nawawalan tuloy sila ng gana sa'yo bilang kaibigan."Nagkibit - balikat lang si Yohann sa akin. Kasalukuyan kaming nasa entertainment room ng bahay nila at nanonood ng Inferno. Assignment namin iyon sa Literature at seryoso si Yohann sa mga pangyayari."I frankly don't care, Alester" Matabang na wika niya. "As long as Yanna
The letter broke my heart into tiny million pieces. Ang buong akala ko ay makakalaya na ako sa oras na mabigyan ng tuldok ang nangyari sa amin ni Eos Demitri but I was wrong. I love him and the fact that he thought that our love wasn't meant to be shattered my hopes of us being together.Bakit mas masakit ngayon? Bakit ba kailangan kong magmahal ng taong hindi naman para sa akin. He said he did love me. How can I be sure of that now?"Tia, what are you still doing here?"Bahagya akong nagulat nang marinig ko ang boses ni Perseus. I looked at his direction. He was standing near the glass house's door. He looked as if he just got out of bed. Tiningnan ko kung anong oras na sa aking relo. It was almost four am, and yet I am wide awake. I hate sleepless nights like this. It makes me want to question my judgment. Mali ba na minahal ko siya?Perseus sat beside me."What's happening to us, T? Why do we love the people we can never have?""I guess Mama's karma is bouncing back at us."Perseus
"You're avoiding me."It was more of a statement than a question. I realized that while I pretend to look at the painting of the girl walking under the rain in front of me. I didn't realized that Lenos Demitri was standing before me. If I only knew, I would've runaway by now."I'm not avoiding you..." I answered back. I saw him smirk."It's been three months, Eleithiya." He said again. "Hindi ka na nagpupunta sa puntod ni Eos. Bakit hindi ko maiisip na iniiwasan mo ako?"Muli akong napabuntong-hininga. Finally, I gained the courage to look at his green eyes."You kissed me." I stated. "You kissed me in front of him.""Don't be dramatic. We were on his grave.""That was my sanctuary. Now I can't even go there because all I can think of is that I cheated on the man who loves me."His jaw clenched."If he loves you, if he really did love you, Eleithiya, why did he choose his revenge to Eos over his love for you?"Well that hit a muscle. I couldn't control it anymore, I slapped him. I his
I was never a fan of love and happy endings, but that changed when I met Eleithiya Makaria Consunji- VejarHindi ko siya pinagtutunan ng pansin kahit na madalas ko siyang madatnan na dinadalaw niya ang puntod ng kapatid ko. Maliban sa akin at sa anak ni Eos na si Chaos, ay si Eleithiya lamang ang nagdadala ng bulaklak, dumadalaw at umiiyak sa puntod ni Eos.Noong una ay palaisipan sa akin kung para saan ang mga luha niya. Was she crying because he died? Or was it because of regret?Alam ko kung ano si Tia para sa kapatid ko. Si Tia ang dahilan kung bakit kahit kailan ay hindi nagawang mahalin ni Eos ang ina ni Chaos. He was so much in love with this woman – he waited for her.Though Eos never told me about her – directly, hind naman ako tanga para hindi ma-figure out ang mga pangyayari. He was in love with her.She was his light.And I realized that Tia was crying because her love for Eos Demitri was genuine. Pero kahit na anong iyak niya ay hindi na niya maibabalik ang buhay ng kapa
"Bakit hindi ka sasama?"Kinukulit ako ni Gonzalo tungkol sa field trip na gaganapin bukas."May family something kasi kami saka isa pa, birthday ni Uncle Hermes. Medyo may handaan kaya pass muna ako. Kwentuhan mo na lang ako pagbalik ninyo."Halatang hindi naman siya natuwa sa isinagot ko pero wala naman siyang magagawa kaya hinawakan na lang niya ang mga kamay ko at hinagkan ako sa gilid ng sentido ko. I smiled at him. Nasa bleachers kaming dalawa. Nanonood ako ng practice nila. Break lang noon kaya nakatabi siya sa akin pero sinesenyasan na rin naman siya ng coach niya."Babalik na ako doon." Ngumisi siya tapos nagnakaw na naman ng halik sa labi ko. "Pampaswerte.""Mora! Baka naman maubos ang labi ng girlfriend mo!" Namula ang mukha ko nang sumigaw ang coach niya."Humabol lang ng pampaswerte coach! Mahal ko ito eh.""Oh my god!" Iyon lang ang tanging nasambit ko. Loko talaga ito. Sinundan ko siya nang tingin. Hinati sila ng coach sa dalawang team. Siyempre, si Gonzalo ang captain
Isang taon na lang ay ga-graduate na kami. Hindi ko nga alam kung paano kami naka-survive ni Gonzalo nng paganoon-ganoon lang. Naubos ang ipon ko pero para sa kanya ay okay lang. Wala naman kasi ang pera, ang mahalaga sa akin ay ang maabot niya ang pangarap niya. Sulit naman lahat tuwing nakikita ko na nananalo siya sa games at unti-unti siyang nakikilala bilang isang magaling na basketball player.Hindi naman perpekto ang relasyon naming dalawa. Siyempre, nag-aaway kami at ang madalas naming pag-awayan ay ang pera. Ayaw na ayaw niyang binibigyan ko siya. Hangga't maaari daw, h'wag na lang dahil iyong katotohanan na ako ang nagpaaaral sa kanya, ay nakakapagpababa na ng tingin niya sa sarili niya.Madalas ko namang sabihin sa kanya na wala lang iyon. Mas mahalaga na makatapos kaming dalawa. Ayokong iwan niya ang pangarap niya. Nakilala ko si Gonzalo dahil sa passion niya sa basketball and if that will be taken away from him, what will happen to his soul?"Mazikeen, kanina pa kita hinin