"Where have you been, Eleithiya?! I was worried sick!"I came home at exactly four am. I was trying to sneak in. Nagkanda-hilo – hilo pa ako kakahanap ng spare key ng main door sa ilalim ng paso sa may entrance ng mansion. I thought that by now, Mom would be asleep because she knows that I was at my prom and maybe she was thinking that I was having the time of my life – but I was wrong.I found Mama in the living room. She was pacing back and forth. Her face was full of confusion, amazement and worry. Hindi naman ako makapagsalita."At prom, Mama." I answered her. Natigilan siya tapos ay muling nagsalita."I called Haley and she told me she saw you leaving early! Where the hell have you been?!" She growled. I must've awaken the dragon inside her."I was re-really at prom, Mama! Maaga lang akong umalis because my other classmates and I went to a private party. That's why she said she saw me leaving early. I'm sorry for making you worry, Mama. I'm sorry."I bit my lower lip. I am such a
"Can I go alone in that trip?"It was a day after my graduation. I asked my parents if I can go alone on that after graduation trip alone. That was their gift to me – a weeklong trip to Paris. Matagal ko na kasing inuungot iyon kay Papa at ngayon na graduate na ako ng K-12, ibinigay ni Papa iyon sa akin kasabay na rin sa aking debut ang regalo na iyon.Papa put down his utensils. Kumakain kasi kami noon ng dinner. Ako lang at si Mama pati si Percy ang nasa bahay. Si Kuya Achill ay nasa hotel tapos si Kuya Apollo ay bumalik na sa ilalim ng lupa – where he really belongs."Why, Eleithiya?" Bahagya akong nagulat nang si Mama ang magsalita. She was seated beside my father. Even my father looked at her with a surprised looked. Si Percy naman ay napapito. May kakaiba na kasi sa tono ni Mama."I just want to experience travelling alone, I guess." Nagkibit-balikat ako."You wanna be independent?" Si Percy naman ang humirit sa akin. "So, hindi ka na rin hihingi ng pera kay Pa at Ma?""Percy! H
"I'm not here to beg to you, Eos Demitri. I'm not even here to yell you to distance yourself from my daughter. Pero ang kapal ng mukha mo."I feel like Hera Vejar wants to kill me and by the looks of it, I really think that she was ready to kill. Her eyes were on me like she wants to eat me up alive. If looks could kill, I should've been dead by now.I was in front of her. This is my home and yet I feel so... I don't even know how to feel."Then what are you doing here?" I keep my cool. I even smiled at her."Two things." She said. Naglakad siya papunta sa akin at nang makalapit at sinampal niya ako nang ubod lakas. Tumalim ang mga mata ko. Hera was breathing heavy. After what seems to be like four seconds, she composed herself again and stepped back."That is for coveting my daughter's innocence!" She hissed. "Ang kapal ng mukha mo! You're a pedophile!" Asik niya sa akin. "Of all people, anak ko pa talaga Demitri?! You're just like your brother! You steal things away from people and
"Tia, because you'll be staying here in the Philippines, you will have a new bodyguard."I am trying my best not to roll my eyes in front of my parents. We were eating breakfast that morning. Katatapos lang kahapon ng kasal ni Kuya Achilles. And because of this, I have decided to stay in the Philippines. I have spent the last five and half years of my life na pabalik-balik ng Pilipinas at New York. I dunno. It was maybe my way of coping up with the painful memory of the man who broke me."Pa, ayoko ng bodyguard." Binalingan ko si Mama. "Ma, kahit si Percy na lang ang kasama ko panay. I can deal with him." Tumawa si Mama."Anak, alis ka nang alis sa kadahilanang hindi ko alam. Si Percy hindi ka mapipigilan noon. Before your brother got married, alis ka nang alis, layas ka nang layas. Ayoko nang ganoon, nag-aalala ako."Hindi na ako nakakibo. That was last year. Well, I was just trying to take a glimpse of him pero kabobohan ang ginawa ko. He's not with that Lualhati woman anymore, pero
I found myself inside the car with Adonis. He was pretty quiet pero napansin kong tinitingnan niya ako mula sa rearview mirror. Napapailing ako. Why was my heart pounding like this? Pinag-aralan ko nang hindi kabahan kung sakaling makita ko siya but heck... I sighed."Idaan mo sa convenience store." Utos ko sa kanya. Tumango naman siya at idinaan niya sa pinakamalapit na seven eleven. Kahit naka-gown ako ay bumaba ako para mamili ng alak. I need to drink this away. Nakita ko naman na nakatingin lang siya sa akin. I smirked at him, ni hindi niya kasi ako tinulungan man lang. Pumasok ako sa loob at kumuha ng dalawa tig-anim na SML. I paid for it with my credit card tapos ay umalis na. Nakasandal na si Adonis sa hood ng kotse nang lumabas ako."What are you waiting for? Let's fucking go!" I hissed. Napangisi lang siya."Saan tayo, Ma'am?" Tumaas ang kilay ko. Anong nakain niya at tinawag niya akong Ma'am?"Anywhere but home." I said to him. Tumango naman siya. I was just looking through
"Are you sure about that, Apollo?"I overheard mom and Kuya Pol talking one day. I have no idea what they were talking about but when I heard CLPH, I realized that they have another business thing going. Nagtuloy ako sa silid ni Mama at Papa. I saw Kuya Apollo in their sitting on the side of our parent's bed. He was wearing a tailored suit and tie. Mukha din siyang bagong paligo. I smirked."To what do I owe the miracle of you taking a bath, dear Kuya Pol?" I mocked him. Sumampa agad ako sa kama ni Mama. Napansin kong hawak na naman niya ang notebook niya."Oh, Tia, tigilan mo ako, baka samain ka sa akin." Sumimangot ako. Mama just shook her head and stopped us."Apollo, are you sure about this?""Yes, Ma. I asked Uncle about it, he said it's okay and he's putting his bet on this. Maayos namang kausap si Eos Demitri. Besides the fact that he's a real jerk to the Demitri clan, he is a good business man."My mouth literally parted hearing that from my brother. Nakayakap ako kay Mama. I
"Bakit ba iyak ka nang iyak?"Hindi na yata nakatiis si Adonis na tanungin ako. Nasa ibabaw ako ng hood ng sasakyan ko. Nakasandal naman siya sa gilid habang binabato ang kung ano. Pinunasan ko ang luha ko at saka niyakap ang binti ko."Naniwala akong hindi niya ako minahal." Malungkot na wika ko."Tsk. Paano mo naman nasabi na minahal ka?""Eh di iyong mga words niya. Arabic chuchu." Umingos ako. Sinabi ko kay Adonis iyong isang sinabi sa akin ni Eos kanina.'Ah! I cannot let you go. I don't want to leave."Lalong nagngalit ang puso ko. Why the fuck did he say all that?Piningot ko si Adonis. "Aray ha! Hindi ko kasalanan kung Malabo kayong dalawa ni Tandang Eos slash Rayuma Man. Tsk! Tia, iyan ang sinasabi ko sa'yo. It's in you if you want to live in the past or throw it away. Sabi nga sa paborito kong pelikula, keep moving forward.I found myself smiling. "Paborito ko rin iyon...""See! May similarities na tayo! Malapit na tayong hindi maging tao kasi magiging bagay na tayo!" He gi
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
"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