Amara
Tuluyan na bumagsak ang mga luha ko nang marinig iyon sa kabilang linya. Agaran namang kinuha ni Javier ang phone ko sa aking mga kamay. "What do you want?" Javier demanded, his voice edged with anger. I couldn't hear what she said on the other line, but Javier's expression shifted to confusion and fury. Despite his emotions, he reached out and took my hand. Walang tigil sa pagbuhos ang mga luha ko, bakit pinagbibintangan niya ako sa bagay na hindi ko naman ginawa? Sanay na ako sa maliliit niyang pagtangka na sirain kami. Pero huwag naman sana siyang umabot sa ganito. Lahat ng pagmamaliit niya sakin, tinanggap ko. Ang hindi niya pagkagusto sa akin bilang asawa ni Javier, tinanggap ko. Hindi ba talaga siya titigil hangga't hindi kami nasisirang dalawa? Baka nga kasalanan ko rin... Ang dami kong pagkukulang kay Javier. Napakuyom ang kamay ko sa galit, poot at sakit. Gusto ko siyang labanan, pero wala akong lakas ng loob para gawin iyon. Naiinis ako sa sarili ko, pero wala akong magawa. Ang babaw ng mga luha ko. Kahit anong pigil kong huwag umiyak, mas lalo lamang bumabadya sa luha ang mga mata ko. "Pupunta ako mamaya. Tigilan mo na si Amara." Seryosong saad ni Javier habang ang mga kilay ay magkasalubong. Pinatay niya ang tawag pagkatapos niyang sabihin iyon, at saka ako tiningnan. He pulled me into a tight embrace, his warmth offering a brief comfort. "Don't cry, okay? I'll handle everything later," he assured me softly. But his words couldn't stop the tears from streaming down my face, my emotions too overwhelming to contain. "Huwag kana pumunta..." Sagot ko habang umiiyak sakanyang dibdib. "Please..." Umiling ako at kumalas sa mga yakap niya. "Don't worry, Amara. It's nothing," he said, his eyes gentle despite the seriousness etched on his face. He tried to reassure me, but the tension in his expression told a different story. Seeing his expression made my mind race. He did his best to reassure me, yet something inside me felt uneasy. Despite his comforting words, may kung ano pa rin sa isipan ko na tila ginugulo ako. "Javier baka ano pang sasabihin ni mama." Hinawakan ko siya sa kamay at pilit na ipinapaliwanag sakanya na baka may ibang plano ito upang sirain kami. He looked at me darkly. Bigla akong kinabahan sa hindi malamang dahilan. Nabitin sa ere ang labi ko galing sa pagsasalita at natigil ang mahigpit kong pagkahawak sa kamay niya. "You have nothing to worry about," he said, his tone serious. "I’ll handle everything she's been putting you through. I want her to stop." His words were firm. Direktang tinitingnan ako sa mata na parang tinatansya ang magiging reaksyon ko. Napatungo ako at tumango nalang sa sinabi niya. Maybe I’m just being paranoid, but the fear that he’ll believe her over me is overwhelming. Iniisip ko palang na pinagdududahan ako ni Javier parang sampal na sa pagkatao ko. Every word she says could turn him against me, and that terrifies me to my core. Natatakot ako na sa huli, yung isang kinakapitan ko ay siyang bibitiw na rin sa akin. "Let’s just go home," I said softly, looking away. "Are you sure?" "Yes, I appreciate everything you’re doing, but I can't sit here feeling paranoid all the time," I said, turning my head to meet his eyes. "You should go see Mama." Sinabi ko iyon nang kinakabahan. Gusto ko rin naman malaman ang gusto ipaabot ni mama kay Javier. Ang sama ng pakiramdam ko, ayokong tumuloy si Javier doon. Hindi naman pwedeng pigilan ko siya. “Okay, let’s go,” he said softly, letting out a sigh. He helped me stand up, his hand gently guiding me by the waist as we walked back to the car. Each step felt heavy. Parang pinipiga ang puso ko habang iniisip ang bagay na ginawa sa akin ni Javier ngayong umaga, ngunit, hindi man lang kami nagtagal doon. Gustuhin ko man, pero mas lalo lang ginagambala ang isip ko. Buong byahe ay tahimik lamang akong nakatingin sa labas ng bintana. Minsan ay kinakausap ako ni Javier upang malibang ang isipan. Gusto niyang ihatid muna ako sa bahay bago siya pumunta kay mama. Hindi na ako nakipagtalo dahil hindi naman siya papayag na umuwi akong mag isa. My mind is too overwhelmed to think clearly right now. Binuksan ko ang pintuan ng sasakyan upang bumaba nang makarating kami sa bahay. Hindi ko na hinintay si Javier na pagbuksan pa ako. Bago pa man ako makababa ay pinigilan ako ni Javier, kaya napalingon ako sakanya. He raised an eyebrow at me, his concern evident. Without a word, he pulled me into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around me with a comforting warmth. He pressed a gentle kiss to my cheek. Ang marahan niyang pagyakap at paghalik sa akin ay kabaliktaran naman ng nararamdaman ko sa sarili. Ayokong bumitaw siya, gusto ko siyang pigilan at sabihin na huwag nalang puntahan si mama. “I’ll be back later,” he said gently, cupping my face in his hands. His touch was tender, his eyes full of concern. I nodded in response, unable to find the words. He gave me a final, reassuring look before I stepped out of the car, the weight of the moment settling heavily on my shoulders. Hindi ko na siya hinintay pang makaalis, pumasok na ako ng bahay. Hindi ko na hinanap si manang Nenita, at pumunta nalang nang tahimik sa kwarto namin ni Javier. Magtatanghalian na ngunit wala akong gana kumain. Umupo ako sa gilid ng aming kama habang sapo ang noo. Hinihintay ang kung anong tawag o mensahe galing kay Javier, ngunit wala akong natanggap ni isa. Natigil ako sa pag iisip nang may tumawag sa phone ko. Dali dali ko naman itong kinuha sa pag aakalang si Javier iyon. Pangalan ng tiyahin ko ang tumambad sa screen nang binuksan ko iyon. Nakaramdam ako ng pagkadismaya. "Hello po tita." Sagot ko rito at umupo sa dulo ng kama. "Amara? Can you come to the States tonight? I’ve already booked a flight for you," she said. Bigla akong kabahan nang sinabi niya ito. Her voice was tender, but the sadness was clear and unmistakable. "Bakit po tita?" Tanong ko sa kabila ng naghuhurumintado kong dibdib. Bigla na lamang itong humikbi sa kabilang linya, kaya mas lalo akong nag alala. "Tita? Ano pong nangyari?" "Si Reese... wala na siya Amara. Wala na ang mom mo." Umiyak ito ng tuluyan sa kabilang linya. Napatunganga sa kawalan habang pilit na intindihin ang sinabi niya. Pinilit ko pang matawa, ngunit hindi ko magawa. "Tita hindi magandang biro itong ginagawa mo." Sagot ko sa mababang boses. "Inatake siya sa puso, Amara. Hindi na naagapan." Walang tigil na ang pag iyak nito sa kabilang linya. Hindi ko lubos maisip ang nangyari, nahulog sa kamay ko ang aking cellphone habang sunod sunod na pumatak ang aking mga luha. Naninikip ang dibdib ko, nahihirapan akong huminga. Hindi totoo iyon, buhay si mom. Kakatawag niya lang sa akin kahapon, kaya ano itong sinasabi ni tita? Hindi totoo ang lahat nang yon! Nanginginig kong dinampot ang phone ko upang tawagan si Javier. "Please answer me, Javier," I muttered under my breath, my voice barely more than a whisper. Ngunit ilang minuto na ang nakalipas hindi pa rin ito sumasagot. Nagtipa rin ako ng ilang mensahe para sakanya, ngunit wala akong natanggap pabalik. Bakit ngayon pa.... Javier, bakit ngayon... Nagtipa rin ako ng mensahe para kay tita. Sinabi kong pupunta kami ni Javier, hinihintay ko lang siyang dumating. Litong lito ang isipan ko. Hindi alam ang nangyayari ngayon kay mama at Javier, dumagdag pa ang tawag ni tita. Hindi, baka lang binibiro nila ako. Pinalis ko ang mga luha. Bakit may ticket na agad ako papuntang states? Sorpresa pa yata ang pinaplano nila. Napailing ako, walang tigil sa pagtibok nang sobrang bilis ang puso. Kailangan kong makita si Javier. Kaya siguro ako nagkakaganito dahil wala pa ang asawa ko, at nalilito lang sa mga nangyayari. Napagdesisyonan kong puntahan nalang si Javier, hindi na inisip ang ano mang possibleng gagawin o sasabihin ni mama. Pilit kong iwinawaksi sa utak ang mga narinig kong balita mula kay tita. Pinaglalaruan lang nila ako. Imposibleng mangyari iyon, napakalakas ni mom. Lumabas ako ng kwarto at bumaba, ngunit saktong pagkababa ko ang pagkapasok din ni Javier sa bahay. He looked at me with a seriousness that cut deep, his eyes filled with anger and disgust. The intensity of his gaze made my heart ache, as if every harsh emotion he felt was directed straight at me. It was as if he could barely stand the sight of me, and the pain of that realization was almost too much to bear. Hindi ako nagpatinag doon, binilisan ko ang paglakad upang salubungin siya. Ngunit laking gulat ko nang nilampasan niya ako at deretsong pumunta sa kwarto. Mas lalong sumasakit ang dibdib ko dahil sa bilis ng pintig nito. Hinabol ko siya papunta sa kwarto. Each step feels like I'm carrying the weight of the world. My nerves are so frayed that I feel like I could throw up at any moment. Fear and anxiety twist in my stomach, making it hard to breathe, and every step forward feels like a battle against my own body. "Javier..." Pag tawag ko sa mahinang boses. Hindi ako nito pinansin at pumasok lang sa kwarto. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang nakita ko siyang inilabas ang mga gamit niya kasabay ng isang malaking maletang inilatag sa sahig. "Love, ano itong ginagawa mo?" I asked softly, yet my voice still broke. The fear of hearing his answer terrified me. It scared me so much that I didn’t want to hear it, but I asked anyway. The weight of my fear is almost too much to bear. Each word felt like it might shatter me completely. Pagod na akong umiyak, masakit na ang mga mata ko... Gusto kong mag pahinga muna, hindi ba pwede iyon? “Since when, Amara?” he demanded, his voice firm and filled with fury. “Since when did you fucking start cheating on me?”AmaraTumigil ang mundo ko sa sinabi niya. His eyes blazed with anger and betrayal, each word slicing through me like a knife.Walang tigil sa pag unos ang luha ko nang marinig iyon sakanya. Naalala ko ang mga sinabi ni mama kanina. Is this what she wanted to do? Break me completely?I walked towards Javier, my heart aching with every step. I wanted to reach for him, to feel some kind of connection, but the pain and fear in my chest were overwhelming. My hands trembled as I extended them, the distance between us felt impossibly wide. Each step felt like a desperate plea for comfort that I was terrified I might not receive. Ngunit parang binagsakan ako ng langit nang makita ko siyang umatras.“Don’t come near me, Amara,” he said, his voice cold and distant. The coldness in his voice sent a chill through my entire body, leaving me feeling frozen and utterly alone. Nanginginig ang mga tuhod kong huminto sa harap niya. Nakayuko habang walang tigil sa pag patak ang mga luha ko sa aking p
AmaraAng malamig na tubig na dumadaloy sa akin ay tuluyan ko nang naramdaman nang marinig ko iyon. Si Javier ang nag utos? Hindi niya magagawa sa akin iyon. Kahit galit 'yon... mahal pa rin ako. Kaya bakit? baka nagkamali lang si kuya."Kuya, baka nagkamali lang po kayo ng pagkarinig?" tanong ko habang iniinda ang ulan sa labas ng bahay ni mama.Bago pa ito makapagsalita upang sagutin ako, lumabas si mama. May sarkastikong ngiti."He did say that," she smirked, the corners of her mouth curling up in a way that made her words sting even more.Nang marinig ko iyon sakanya, at makita ang mukha nitong puno ng sarkasmo, imbes na magalit ako, mas lalo lamang ako nanlumo. He was really angry at me. A cold shiver ran down my spine at the thought that we might never fix this mess. The idea of losing him for good filled me with fear, making it hard to breathe."Saan po siya ngayon mama?" I asked in a weak voice, struggling to keep my composure. My words felt like they were barely holding toge
Amara I sat in the car next to Kuya, our driver, tears streaming down my face. The rain outside was relentless, and I was completely drenched. Palagi akong nililingon ni Kuya Mel dahil sa pag aalala. Walang tigil sa pag buhos ang mga luha ko, sumasabay sa lakas ng ulan. He only stayed out of pity? I guess I was so absorbed in my own emotions that I failed to notice it. I'm too blind to see it until it's too late. "Isipin mo nalang na mabuti na iyong nalaman mo agad nak. Habang wala pa kayong anak, mas mahirap pag meron na." Hindi na nakatiis si Kuya sa paglingon sa akin. Nag aalala nang lubusan. "Oo nga po" I agreed, but deep down, I wished I hadn’t known. I loved him too much, enough to accept even his pity just to be by his side. But now that I knew the truth? I had to accept it and let go. It was clear I couldn't give him the happiness he deserved. Each beat from my chest felt like a painful reminder of what I had lost Masakit malaman ang totoo. Ngunit nagdala rin it
AmaraI'm glad that Kuya and Manang Nenita were with me yesterday. They helped me with everything I needed to do and even drove me to the airport.Returning to the States feels different now that I'm no longer a Villanueva.Ang huling punta namin rito ay noong nag bakasyon kami, magkasama at masaya. Ngunit ngayon, ako nalang mag isa. The change is hard to accept. And I hate how just thinking about it makes me want to cry. Everything feels strange and new, as if the world has shifted slightly, making me see everything from a different perspective. The weight of my new reality is heavy.But it's good to be back here. At least now I'm with my family. It gives me a sense of comfort I desperately need right now. Though everything feels different, being surrounded by those who love me makes it a little easier for me. Pero hindi pa rin ako natutuwa sa ginawa nila kahapon, para lang ma sorpresa ako pag pumunta.I'm physically and emotionally exhausted. But I know I'll be fine. Things always
Amara"Mom, I want this too!" My five year old son, Yuan, came running to me, clutching a bright red toy car. His hair bounced with each step, may malaking ngiti sa kanyang labi. Ngunit bago pa man ito makalapit sa akin, Ayala her twin sister stepped in front of him, blocking his path with her tiny arms."You already bought a lot, Yuan," she said, crossing her arms with a stern look on her face. Halos magkadikit na ang kilay nito. Parang matanda kung umasta. Hindi ko mapigilan ang hindi matawa sa ginawa nito. I walked over to them.I bent down to their level. "Hey, it's okay. Mommy's going to buy it, alright? But first, what do you always need to remember?" I asked, nakangiti habang kausap ang dalawang anak ko.Yuan's expression softened as he came closer and hugged me. Ayala followed him. "Be kind always," Yuan said, hugging me tightly. Natawa ako nang marahan habang niyakap silang dalawa."Very good," I said softly, pinisil ang mga pisngi nila. "Let's go and pay."Just like usual, t
AmaraThe next day, we gathered in the conference room for a crucial business meeting about the trip to the Philippines. Ang buong kwarto ay tahimik at tanging tunog lamang ng aircon at ng aking takong ang maririnig.Ang mga taong naunang dumating na nakaupo kanina ay tumayo nang pumasok ako. Randam ko ang pag sunod ng mata nila sa akin habang papunta ako sa aking upuan sa unahan. "Alright, let's get started," I began, taking a deep breath. "This collaboration could take our perfume brand to the next level. The Philippines offers a unique market with great potential, and partnering with this new brand can open doors we haven't even imagined."Our marketing head, Elena, nodded in agreement. Pinaglalaruan ng kamay nito ang ballpen sa harapan. "We've done extensive research on the market trends there, and it's clear that there's a growing demand for high-quality perfumes. Our products will fit perfectly.""Logistics will be key," Rafael added, his voice steady and confident. "We need to
Rafael As I packed the last of our luggage, I glanced over at the twins. Ayala and Yuan were bubbling with excitement, walang tigil sa pagngiti ang dalawa. May dala-dala silang maliliit na bag na hindi nila binibitawan. Napangiti ako habang tinitingnan sila. "Are you guys ready?" I asked, ruffling Yuan's hair. "Ready, Papa!" Ayala chimed in, bouncing on her feet. I smiled, but a part of me was still worried about the trip. Tiningnan ko si Amara na nag aayos sa sarili habang nakatingin sa salamin. I knew how much it meant to her, and I wanted to be there to support her through it. I also knew there were things in the Philippines she preferred to keep buried. Noong panahon na walang wala siya, ako ang nandoon para suportahan siya sa lahat. Mahal ko siya bilang kaibigan ko. Marami na rin siyang naitulong sa akin. Hindi ko nga rin maintindihan sa sarili ko noon kung bakit ko siya tinulungan. Ayoko sa miserable, pero tinulungan ko ang babaeng puno ng uhog noon habang umiiyak sa gilid n
RafaelOur flight landed safely. Nakahinga na rin ako nang maluwag, ngunit pagod ako sa byahe. Habang yung dalawang bata naman ay masiglang masigla, sabik nang makababa ka agad ng eroplano. I shook my head and smiled slightly at the sight."Welcome to the Philippines," the flight attendant announced over the intercom.We gathered our things, making sure not to leave anything behind. "Alright, kids," I said, trying to keep my voice firm. "we're here, huwag bibitaw sa kamay ni mom, maliwanag?"Tumango naman silang dalawa na ngiting ngiti. "Opo!" sagot ni Yuan, kaya ginulo ko ng kaunti ang buhok nito saka ko siya nginitian.Hinayaan ko nalang muna na si Amara ang maghahawak sa kamay nila. Dahil ako naman ang nagdadala ng gamit naming lahat. Mas mabigat iyon kung ipapaako ko pa sakanya. Kahit papaano may natitira pa naman na pag ka gentleman sa budhi ko, hindi pa naman purong disney princess lang.As we stepped off the plane, the warm, humid air hit us, a stark contrast to the air-conditi
Javier Napakapit ako sa gilid ng lamesa upang mapanatili ang balanse matapos ang huling sampal na natamo ko dahil sa galit ni Mr. Wei. Ramdam ko ang malamig na patak ng dugo na umaagos mula sa sugat sa aking pisngi, ngunit pinilit kong pigilan ang sarili na ipakita ang sakit o galit ko. Alam kong hindi ako maaaring magpakita ng kahinaan, lalo na sa harapan ng taong ito. "Mr. Wei," mahina pero mariing sabi ko habang tinititigan siya ng diretso sa mata, "I assure you, I will handle this. Hindi makakaligtas ang Montellions sa ginawa nila. Hindi ko hahayaang tuluyang masira ang negosyo mo dahil sa kanila." Patuloy siyang naglalakad paikot sa opisina, parang isang hayop na na-trap, puno ng galit at kawalan ng tiwala. Tumigil siya sa harapan ko, ang mabigat na hininga niya ay parang nagbabantang bagyo. Nakita ko ang pait at galit sa kanyang mga mata hindi lang dahil sa pagkalugi, kundi dahil sa pride na tila nabasag. "Don't you dare make promises you can't keep, Villanueva," mari
RafaelAfter our coffee time, I drove Amara to one of my penthouses near the beach. To be honest, I was a bit surprised when she asked if she could stay there for a while. And who am I to refuse? After all, I'm her devoted best friend.Pagdating namin doon ay sinalubong kami ng malamig na hangin kasabay ng tunog ng mga alon. Pinanood ko si Amara habang nililipad ng hangin ang kanyang buhok, at tahimik niya itong isinuklay pabalik sa likod ng kaniyang tainga.Bigla ko naman naalala ang eksena namin sa loob ng coffee shop. Mukhang nag-aalala siya para sa mga empleyado ni Javier, pero naramdaman ko rin ang matinding galit niya para sa kanya.She might have sounded like she was worried about him, but the truth was, she wasn’t. At first, I had doubts, maybe, she still had lingering feelings for him. That’s why I tried to remind her that he wasn’t worth it.I was relieved to hear that her concern was solely for the employees and not for her ex-husband.She may have spoken calmly, but I coul
After Rafael left and went to the washroom, I lightly tapped my chest, trying to calm myself.I can't deny that I was surprised when he said those things.Maybe even he, didn't realize that I heard what he said. I'm well aware that Rafa is a big fan of jokes and loves to tease me whenever he gets the chance.But what I didn't expect was, when he whispered about his preference between his thighs.Because of what he said, I couldn't help but feel embarrassed and awkward. I know Rafa didn't mean anything by it; even though he's gay, he has a buff, muscular body, and his features are masculine enough to fool any woman into thinking he's a real man.Dahil sa pakiramdam ko ay umiinit pa rin ang pisngi ko, tumayo na ako sa kinauupuan ko upang um-order ng ice cream. Habang nasa counter ay napabaling naman ang tingin ko sa wall tv na naka attached sa may gilid. Hindi ko napansin na mayroon TV pala doon kung hindi i-on ng isang staff nila. Bahagyang lumaki ang mga mata ko matapos makita an
RafaelAs we settle down at La Estrella, I couldn’t help but stifle a laugh, my shoulders shaking slightly.“What’s going on?” Amara arched her left eyebrow as she reached for her coffee and gently took a sip.She’s so incredibly pretty and elegant in every way she moves. For a moment, I just stared at her, as if in this bustling coffee shop, everything around us blurred, and all I could see was her.I couldn’t resist snapping my fingers in the air, which made her jump a little.“You know Amara, if I were a woman, I’d be even prettier than you,” I said, chuckling.Amara rolled her eyes, and unknowingly, I smiled.Damn. I’m so lucky to have her as my best friend. Of course, a beauty like hers needs a goddess like me. If I had long hair, I’d already be flipping it.“You seems so happy today.”Marahan nitong ibinaba ang kaniyang tasa sa mesa.Isang malawak na ngiti naman ang binigay ko sa kaniya, “Of course! We should celebrate your successful meeting with Ms. Guevarra.Bahagya naman namu
JavierAfter calming myself down, I immediately executed my plan to address the problems that kept coming one after another.I turned to Serena, who was standing in front of me.“Please handle the press for me, Serena. If possible, tell them that I will hold a press conference with them as long as they take down the news,” I instructed.“Noted, boss. Then, I’ll take my leave,” she replied, bowing slightly before leaving my office.I looked up at the ceiling with a frustrated sigh.If Amara were beside me, she would have told me to stay calm and gather my thoughts. Even though we’ve been apart for a year, her presence still lingers in my mind.I shook my head, trying to push thoughts of Amara aside. There was no time for distractions. I had to focus on salvaging what was left of my crumbling plans.With a deep breath, I reached for my phone and dialed the number of my head of operations.“David, I need an immediate status update on the site where the collapse occurred,” I said, my voice
JavierNaantala ang pagpunta ko sa meeting matapos kong mabalitaan na nagkaroon ng aksidente na nangyari sa mga dini-deliver namin na construction items.At first, it seemed like a minor issue, something that could easily be fixed by using another courier.Pero huli ko na malaman na mas malala pa pala ang sitwasyon. Our delivered items had been swapped, and some of it had already been used at the construction sites, leading to a major collapse.The replacement items were nothing but low-quality materials, halatang sinadyang palitan upang sabotahiin ang negosyo ko.And upon the investigation, it was revealed that the Montellions were behind it.I remembered how fiercely we competed to win Mr. Wei's favor, and despite the odds, I managed to convince him to side with us, causing a significant loss for the Montellions.I clenched my fist tightly, frustration washing over me.Ang insidenteng ito, kasama pa ang pagkakasugat ng ilan sa mga tauhan ni Mr. Wei, would severely damage our busines
RafaelI was little bit impatient today. I can’t call my assistant because right now, she’s maybe at Javier’s side attending all his schedule.And the only one who left me is Norrine, one of my people I planted inside of his company. Her great intellegent towards at mathematics raise her position as Accounting Manager. I picked up my phone and dialed her number. It took two rings before she finally answered.“Sir,” she said, her voice steady and professional."Norrine, what's the status on the plan?" My voice was steady, but beneath the surface, a storm brewed.I stood before the towering glass wall. The sky was a brilliant blue, the sun casting a warm serene light over the chaos of my thoughts.My eyes traced the buzzling city but all I could see was my reflection on the glass wall with a dark expression on my face. I couldn’t help but to feel anxious now that I know that Javier would be there in the collaboration of Amara and Penelope’s business venture. The knowledge that he wou
RafaelI stood on the balcony, overlooking the beach as the moonlight danced on the waves. Ang payapang kapaligiran ay siya namang kabaliktaran ng isipan ko. I pulled out my phone and called my assistant, needing to get updates on the situation with Javier’s company."Hello" I said when my assistant picked up. "What's the latest update on sabotaging Javier's company?"I leaned over the balcony, watching the waves crash against the shore. The night air was cool and crisp as I took a long drag from my cigarette, the tip briefly lighting up in the darkness.Matagal ko nang minamatyagan ang kompanya ni Javier, ex husband ni Amara. Simula nang malaman ko ang bagay na ginawa niya noon, hindi ko maiwasan ang hindi magalit. Hindi naman ako ang niloko, pero sa tuwing iniisip kong sinaktan nito si Amara, parang may kung ano sa loob ko na gusto siyang pahirapan.At iyon ang naghantong sa akin sa ganitong posisyon. Ako rin naman ang dahilan bakit ang lapit nila ngayon nang hindi nila alam. Malaki
AmaraI stayed at the mansion with my daughter Ayala, who was sleeping so peacefully. Her tiny body curled up under the soft blankets, completely relaxed after the long journey. Rafael and Yuan had gone out to explore, leaving the house in a gentle, serene quiet.Settling into a cozy armchair, I opened my book and let myself get lost in its pages. The silence was comforting, a rare moment of calm.Mabuti na rin na pumayag akong pumunta rito. Napakaganda ng lugar na ito, malayong malayo sa kinalakihan kong lugar. Kung sa lugar na nakasanayan ko ay halos malalaking building ang makikita, dito naman ay konti lang. Wala masyadong malalaking gusali.Noong nalaman ko kay Rafael na Capiz ang probinsya nito, ayoko na tumuloy. Ngunit pumayag nalang ako, kaysa bawiin yung sinabi ko.Naalala ko ang mga nangyari dati, hindi naman na dapat pang inaalala. Ang sinabi dati ng mama ni Javier na nandito sila ni Tiana, nag babakasyon habang ako ay naiwang mag isa. Matagal nang tapos iyon. Kaya mas mabut