"How's the night with Kalisto?" Halos mapa-face palm ako nang 'yan ang bungad sa akin ni Tanya nang tawagan niya ako. Kahit kailan ay malakas ang radar ng babaeng ito lalo kung tsismis tungkol sa akin at sa lovelife ko.
"Hmm."Nanatili akong nakahalukipkip at nakatingin kay Tanya habang tinitingnan niya ang mga litrato. Hindi na mapigilan ang umangat ng isang kilay ko habang tinitingnan ang buntis kong kaibigan na titigan ang mga litrato habang hinihimas niya ang kaniyang tiyan.
Nezha Marleigh Sanchez"Quinton. Pete Quinton Ortega Ignacio."At that moment, I felt like my whole world collapsed. Pakiramdam ko ay lahat ng pangarap ko na nabuo kasama si Philos ay naglaho. Agad akong napabitaw sa bata na nilalaro ko na tila ba nakuryente. I stared at the woman in front of me in disbelief. "Who is the father of this child?" I asked her. It's her turn to stare at me. I don't know if it was wonder, disbelief or sorry I was seeing in her eyes but I don't like it. Hindi siya sumagot at niyakap lamang ang batang nasa braso niya."Who's the father?" I repeated my question. I tried to remain calm as much as possible, I don't want to make a scene, not inside my boutique.No one knows about my past other than my family, friends, and Philos' family. None of my assistant and staffs at my studio didn't dare ask about my personal life, especially my lovelife. I don't want them to know that I o
Nezha Marleigh SanchezI heard heels clicking on the floor board inside my office. I continued to work on my new design in my studio but when the clicking stopped, a hand slammed on my table. "Nezha Marleigh Sanchez!" Matinis na boses ni Hansel ang dumagundong sa studio ko na maging ang mga staff ko ay napapitlag. Hindi ako nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya at patuloy lamang sa ginagawa ko."Oh, you're back, fine and still walking." I heard her exasperated sigh. She's so done with me and my snark remarks."Ano itong nalaman ko na bumalik ka na naman sa pagiging workaholic mo? Tanya told me you are not answering her calls and you did not even go home for almost a week!" Ibinaba ko ang mga pangkulay na gamit ko at nagpangalumbaba sa harapan niya. I scanned her body and smirked. Muli na naman niyang kinalabog ang lamesa. "Nezha! Anong nginingisi-ngisi mo riyan?" I just shrugged at her and picked my color pencils and continued t
Nezha Marleigh SanchezAwkward silence.All that is inside the car was awkward silence. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na nakaladkad ako ni Hansel at Tanya sa roadtrip na ito. What's worse is Hansel made sure I won't be alone this time. She asked someone to come and accompany me and to make it worse, it was Kalisto. It was Kalisto fucking Rivera!I glanced at him again but his eyes were set on the road. The car was eerily silent and it seemed like anytime from now, a girl in white would pop out of nowhere at the backseat."Why don't we turn on the radio?""No."I don't know how many times he denied me of turning on the radio or playing a music from my phone. I don't even understand why there's a need for three cars when we can fit in one van! Nagpangalumbaba ako at mas piniling tingnan na lang ang tanawin sa labas ng bintana. All I can hear was the sound of
Nezha Marleigh SanchezI woke up with the sound of waves and the heat of the sun. Nang imulat ko ang aking mga mata ay bumungad sa akin si Kalisto na nakaupo sa isang upuan at nakaharap sa dagat nang may hawak na libro. He's wearing a gray bathrobe and I wonder how I got here when all I can recall was when I'm sitting on the sand. Tumayo ako sa higaan at kinuha ang bathrobe na nasa gilid ng kama. I covered myself because I'm still wearing the summer dress I wore yesterday and it was actually thin that someone could see my bando underneath.Umupo ako sa katapat na upuan at nagpangalumbaba. I tapped my fingers on the table yet he still didn't notice that I'm beside him. He's wearing earphones while reading the book he was holding. No wonder why he didn't notice me, he was too engrossed on what he was reading.Dinampot ko ang orange juice na nasa lamesa at sumimsim doon. I brought the orange juice inside and checked my phon
Nezha Marleigh SanchezWe are all around a campfire. My friends were all beside me and I'm in the middle. Beside Tanya is Alois, and beside Alois was Kalisto. Beside Kalisto was Hansel's husband. Pilit kong iniiwasan ang tingin ni Kalisto habang lahat kami ay nakapaikot sa campfire. We are all drinking and talking."So, Kalisto, how's your first night with Nezha?" Tanya inquired. I rolled my eyes and looked at him. He was also looking at me."Tinulugan ako."My best friends looked at each other and they laughed out loud. "Seriously?" Tanya exclaimed. I saw how a smirk formed on Kalisto's lips."Yes.""How about earlier? Ano nangyari sa inyo?" Hansel asked as she wiggled her eyebrows at me. I rolled my eyes again."I think she needs to stop herself from rolling her eyes or else, I'll stop her rolling her eyes but I'll turn it to white." Na
Kalisto Rivera "Stay with me." I know she's already drunk as of this moment and I shouldn't take advantage of her vulnerability but her damn voice plead for me to stay. Marahan niyang hinawakan ang braso ko. Huminga ako nang malalim at pilit na kinaklaro ang isipan ko. I should not take advantage of her at this moment. She walked inside the bathroom, still holding my arm, her soft hands slid down to my wrist, down to my hand. My breaths hitched. Her touch sent an indescribable current in my system. "Stay with me, Kalisto." I stood frozen on my track when she called my name. The last time she was drunk, she called another man's name and that woke me up from kissing her senselessly. Her eyes are already drooping and it looked like she would fall asleep anytime, her face up to her collarbone were flushed red and she cannot walk straight. She really has a low alcohol tolerance ye
Nezha Marleigh SanchezI woke up with no one beside me and no one at the terrace. My head is splitting with headache and when I looked around me, I saw a painkiller and a glass of water beside me. I can feel the sore all over my body. I'm wearing a bathrobe. I tried to remember what happened last night. What trouble I caused. Sinapo ko ang ulo ko nang sumandal sa headboard ng kama. Muli kong iginala ang paningin ko sa paligid.Dinampot ko ang painkiller at baso ng tubig sa tabi at ininom ito. I held the glass of water for awhile and tapped it with my fingers. Hindi ko na alam kung ano nga ba ang gagawin ko dahil pakiramdam ko ay pagod na pagod pa ako. Muli kong sinapo ng kamay ang noo ko. Doon lamang rumehistro sa isip ko ang lahat ng sinabi ko kagabi at maging ang mga ginawa ko. Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko nang mapagtanto kung ano nga ba ang nangyari kagabi."We fucked," mahinang usal ko. I initiated it. I aske
Nezha Marleigh Sanchez-Rivera It's been two months since Kalisto and I got married. And today I planned to visit someone that is very important to me. We walked across the grass with a basket of flowers in Kalisto's hand. He's holding my hand as we walk towards Philos' grave. I asked him to bring me to Philos for me to break the news to him. I know Philos is finally happy along with our children that I found someone I'm willing to spend my life with and that I don't sulk too much anymore. But as we are on our way I stood frozen on my tracks when I saw a familiar figure that stood in front of Philos' grave.
I twirl as Kalisto danced with me inside our room in our new home. I giggled at how we danced like there's no tomorrow and I can see pure joy in his eyes. I couldn't help but to look at his handsome face with a smile that couldn't be taken away. When I twirled again he stopped me halfway and hugged me from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder. Swaying me along with his body. Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko upang damhin ang malamyos na musikang tumutugtog sa paligid namin. Patuloy niya akong isinasayaw sa salmo ng musikang nasa paligid namin. I never wished for anything oth
Nezha Marleigh Sanchez"Ang cute naman ng inaanak ko!" Hansel squealed as she saw Dana Adrienne, Tanya and Alois' daughter. She couldn't help but to look at Dana who's in the nursery. "Gusto ko na rin ng baby." Hansel said. When Alois called us the time Tanya said her water broke, and Alois is in a total chaos at that time. He was panicking like hell, not knowing what to do to his wife. Luckily, Tanya was still composed even though she's already in labor and was able to instruct Alois on what to do.I washed in a hurry and wore the turtleneck, sleeveless shirt, a denim shorts, and a white sneaker. Kalisto wore a white shirt and denim tattered jeans and a classic beige loafer. Kalisto reached for my hand and I looked up to him. "Bakit tahimik ka?" he asked me. Umiling ako at ngumiti. But deep inside, I feel something ached. Nandoon ulit ang pagtatanong ko sa sarili ko.It's a matter of what ifs. What if my children didn't
Nezha Marleigh SanchezI woke up without Kalisto beside me. Hindi ko alam pero umasa ako na siya ang makakagisnan ko ngayong umaga. Hinanap-hanap siya ng braso ko pero walang Kalisto sa tabi ko. When I opened my eyes, it landed on a ring glistening on my finger. A smile crept on my lips and I closed my eyes to drift back to sleep. Kalisto the sneaky one. Hindi ko man lang naramdaman noong inilagay niya ang singsing sa daliri ko.Unti-unti na akong hinihila ng antok nang naramdaman kong lumundo ang side ko ng kama. Hindi ko ito pinansin at mas piniling magpahila sa antok, but how can you fall asleep when someone is bothering you. He kissed my bare back and up to my nape. I can even feel him sniffling against my neck. I can also feel his warm hand caressing my shoulder down to the center of my breast to my stomach. I moaned under his touches and my body woke up. I no longer feel drowsy but I'm more aroused and I would choose his kisses than sl
Nezha Marleigh SanchezKalisto gave me a piece of popcorn while we're watching a movie. Nakasandal ang ulo ko sa balikat niya habang nakatuon ako sa TV screen. "I don't really get it why girls like these kind of movies," Kalisto complained while popping a popcorn in his mouth. Inalis ko ang pagkakahilig ko sa kaniya at tiningnan siya nang masama habang siya ay nakatuon pa rin ang mga mata sa TV."Ano? Manonood pa ba tayo o ako na lang papanoorin mo?" I rolled my eyes at Kalisto's statement.We are watching The Best of Me and Kalisto have been bantering about the movie and how adulterous the movie was, especially that Amanda was already married. Wala na akong magawa kundi ang bumuntong hininga sa mga criticism ni Kalisto. Boys don't understand how girls think and why girls are so in love with this kind of stories. It is said that girls like to fall in love with guys in fictions because it was so ideal for them to find a m
Nezha Marleigh SanchezNang makapasok ang wheelchair ko sa apartment ay agad akong dinamba ni Adi. "Wait! Adi!" His paws are on my lap and he gave me kisses all over my face. Such a slobber. Inilayo ko ang mukha ko kay Adi at hinawakan ang collar niya. "Wait! Sit, Adi." Agad namang sumunod si Adi at humihingal na tumingin sa akin. Inabutan naman ako ni Kalisto ng panyo upang punasan ang mga laway ni Adi na nasa mukha ko."Your dogs missed you, especially this one." Tumingala ako sa kaniya at ngumiti."He's the unruly one. Most of them are well-behaved. Sadyang spoiled lang si Adi kasi siya ang first dog ko."Tumango-tango si Kalisto at tumalungko sa harap ni Adi. The other dogs also rushed towards me but they sat right beside my wheelchair. Unluckily, I can't take care of them while I still have my cast on. I still need to wait for almost a month and a half for the cast to be removed.
Nezha Marleigh Sanchez"That's a good one," I heard Kalisto's comment as he looked at my new designs. I was in the mood for designing new gowns and dresses —wedding gowns and dresses to be particular.He took interest with a simple cream A-line gown. It has a sequined style skirt with a flowing pattern and a tube-like bodice with a split neck and spaghetti strap. "I've heard that you don't do wedding gowns, not unless it is requested by your clients, why are you making these designs now?" I can't help but to smile with his statement. Pumangalumbaba ako at tumingin sa kaniya."You heard a lot of things about me, Mister Rivera." He leaned down, our faces inches away from each other. My heart raced with his graceful movement. "I know a lot about you, Miss Sanchez." He smirked and stared at my face and then to my lips.I grew silent and I lost all the words I wanted to say. He's making my heart go
Nezha Marleigh SanchezI woke up in a colorless world. It looked like an old movie in black and white. It looked lifeless and lonely. The rest of the world is just simply black and white. It seemed that the world stopped and the colors seeped away from the universe. There are no birds chirping, no cars moving nor other people walking. I was alone in this place. I looked around the whole place but it was simply a world full of loneliness. I walked around the place but I didn't find a single person.In an instant, I felt lonely. I felt the pain of living alone in this world. It's hard to live in a world that is lifeless and in black and white. It was hard. I tried to look around for another time, in hope that I'll see a single living person. I walked aimlessly in this unfamiliar world then I fell down. I fell on my knees and landed on my both hands. There, I was down on my knees in front of a gravestone In front of Philos and our children's gr
Nezha Marleigh SanchezMy body feels numb and cold. I can still remember what happened. I remember how my car crashed on another car. I remember getting stuck and accepting that it will be the end of me. That I will be with Philos and our children. That the pain will be gone after.I just want all of these problems to go away. I want to run away from them. Hide. I remember how I welcomed death if it will come to me. How I willingly closed my eyes and wait for my demise. I don't fear death anymore because I lost everything I have. I lost my heart. Will there be another reason for me to live?I slowly opened my eyes and felt a warm hand holding mine. Nakadukdok siya sa tabi ko at mahimbing na natutulog. I can't clearly see his figure because my eyes were all blurry.Sinubukan ko siyang aninagin but it all cost for me to feel pain in my head. I groaned in pain. I can feel pain all over my body. He stirred and looked