ARTIAS POV
"What did you bought?" I instantly asked as soon as he got inside the car. He put the sack containing the goods on his lap. Closed the door first before answering me. "Ito ang riseta, basahin mo nalang." malamig niyang sagot inabot sa akin ang receipt. Sinimangutan ko at kinuha nalang ang riseta para basahin nga iyon. But before I could read it he took out a bottle of water from the sack of paper and gave it to me. Nagsalubong ang kilay ko. Ito lang ba ang binili niya? Tubig lang pala ang bibilhin hindi nalang tiniis hanggang sa bahay. Inalog nya ang bote dahil di ko kinukuha sa kamay niya. KInuha ko na baka ibalibag pa sa akin. Nang mahawakan ko ang lamig noon ay nakaramdam ako ng uhaw. Hindi nga pala ako nakainiom kanina. Dapat magrerefill lang ako ng juice sa baso ko pero bigla nnalang akong napaaway. Walang hirap kong nabuksan ang takip. Tumingala ako para mabilis na malagok ang malamig na"Why do you keep telling me to behave?! You and Ma. Behave naman ako, ah?!""Yeah! Behave." he said sarcastic and pressed the cooton on my wounds strongly, making me feel a pain from that. I winced along with a groan. i gave him a glare. SInadyang diinin ang sugat ko."Behave naman talaga ako! Hindi naman ako mapapaaway kung walang mangaaway sa akin. Hindi naman ako masasaktan kung walang mananakit sa akin. Hindi naman ako mapapahamak kung walang taong gustong gawan ako ng masama." As I utter those words, memories flood in my mind and vivid images of people visit my mind. Mga alaalang ayaw kong balikan, at mga taong ayoko ng maalala pa.THat made him silent, I think I got too emotional. I cleared my throat. Tapos na pala siya sa pag-aapply ng betadine sa sugat ko. Matapos isara ang takip ng betadine ay ibilak niya iyon sa loob ng supot at ipanasok din doon ang iba pang gamit gaya ng bulak at alcohol."Galit ka ba? Sa ginawa ko kanina?"
ARTIA'S POV "Here, apply this." sambit niya pagkapasok sa kwarto ko. We are now at home, and I thought he left already. Ako nalang kasi ang bumaba sa sasakyan kanina at pumasok sa bahay. Kaya nagulat ako ngayong nandito siya at pinuntahan pa ako sa kwarto. He extended his arm holding an oinment that at first I thought its some kind of toothpaste. Kunot ang noong tinitigan ko siya. Mas inilapit sa mukha ko ang hawak na ointment. Ngumuso ako at kinuha na iyon. Akala ko kung ano na. "Apply that instead of using betadine. Wala lang akong ibang mabiling gamot kanina doon kaya yoon ang ginamit ko sayo. I'm going now." Ngumuso ako. "Aalis ka parin?" "They're waiting for me." "Dapat kasi hindi mona muna ako inuwi." "If you stay there longer either you or one those girls will need to be taken to the hospital." "Ang galing ko 'no? Walang laban sa akin ang apat na mga bruhang iyon." "Kung magaling ka tala
ARTIAS POV "You were already asleep when we arrived." He said looking intently at me. I blinked and looked away. I saw Iulian looking at us and standing in the door. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at sinigawan. "You scared me!" He chukled. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. At hindi ko alam na gising ka pala at pupunta sa kusina." "Why were you holding a knife anyway? At bakit nakahoodie kapa?!" inakala ko tuloy na magnanakaw siya. Plus naka all black pa siya. Hindi naman malamig sa loob na bahay, sa kwarto lang talaga ni Kinglsey at hindi naman din maliawnag dito sa loob kaya bakit nakasuot pa sa ulo niya ang hoodie. "I was gonna cook, at may hihiwain kaya may hawak akong kutsilyo. Its cold inside KIngsleys room, why I'm wearing a hoodie. Hindi ko na tinanggal because I know no one will be there and everyone is asleep." I nod my head once and faced Kingsley. Sumulyap ako sandali sa m
Artia's POV "She's back to sleep." he told to his friend. Hindi na niya ginising pa si Artia. ANd he doesn't know if he'll just carry her and brng her back to her room or just let her sleep there at sa isang guest room nalang siya matutulog. But he doesn't want Iulian to know about it. Baka kapag nalaman na natuutlog sa kwarto niya si Artia ay mabanggit pa ito kay Courtney na pagsisimulan ng kanilang away. His girlfriend doesn't really get easily jealous but with Artia she's immediately jealous. Maybe like him before, hindi maganda ang pagkakakilala niya kay Artia specially when its about her getting linked with boys. They ate the ramen Iulian cooked. pagkatapos kumain ay pumanik na sa guest room si Iulian. Kingsley pretended that he'll go back to his room and sleep there but really just stayed outside his room and after few minutes he went back in on the second floor and entered the next room beside where Iulian is sleeping.
Artia's POV "Yes, tita?" My eyes immediately turned to Kingsley. Kasalukuyan namin kumakain ay may tumawag sa phone niya and by the looks of it I think its Ma. He looked back at me. Positive si mama iyan. "Yes." he answered again. TInasaan ko siya ng dalawang kilay at binigyan ng "anong pinag-uusapan niyo" na tingin. "When is it again?" He asked serious and frowned. I was in a frown too. Now so curious on what they're talking about. He asked when, is it a occasion? Event or what? or baka kung kailan sila uuwi? Umayos ako ng upo nang maisip na baka tungkol sa kasal ang pinag-uusapan nila. The three of us are just silent waiting for the end of Kingsleys conversation with the person on the other line which I think is my mother. "You're not coming home this, Sunday?" he asked next. Mas nagsalubong ang kilay ko. Now it seems like he's not talking with Ma. His tone turned casual, still polite but he don't sound like that wh
ARTIA'S POV I immediately noticed what Courtey is wearing. She's wearing a white and yellow stribped crop top shirt and a skirt paired with white shoes. I'll admit she have curves but my waist is thinner and I have abs, she doesn't. I glared at Kingsley. Grabe kung pagbawalan akong magsuot ng crop top at skirt dahil daw bata ang mga pupuntahan namin pero itong girlfriend niya nakasuot ng ganon. "I didn't know." He whispered looking stern. Kunwari hindi kami nagbubulungan. Umirap ako. Kung hindi niya pala alam e'di dapat bawalan niya si Courtney ngayon. "Hey," he greeted at her and kissed her on the cheek. Lumingon sa akin si Iulian matapos masaksihan din iyon. He smiled at me but I didn't. Nakakainis! Hindi ko naisuot ang OOTD ko for today dahil sa pagsusuway ni Kingsley tapos ito naman palang jowa niya magsusuot ng ganiyan at hindi man lang pinagsabihan. Courtneys eyes looked at me. She scanned my whole body. Nakasimangot akong
Artia's POV I blinked twice, flustered by his reaction. Nabigla ako dahil naalala niya ang kwento ni Iulian na sinabi ko kanina. Mukha siyang galit. Bago ko siya sinagot ay tinignan ko muna ang mga batang nakapaligid sa amin kung nakikinig ba sila. The kids are around 4 to 9 years old, I think. Kinabahan ako na baka narinig nila siya at madulas pa ang bibig at masabi iyon sa mga madre. Malalagot kami sigurado at baka paalisin na dito. I should be careful, since I'm here for the sake of my mother. I am representing our families name. Kung anong kasiraan ang gagawin ko ay kasiraan din kay mama. Kaya buti nalang ay walang pakialam sa amin ang mga bata. Lumapit ako sa kaniya para magkarinigan kami ng maayos kahit pa magbulungan lang ng sa gano'n maiwasan na marinig ng mga bata ang usapan namin. "Hush down, they might hear you." I said whispering. He just glared at me. I stared back at his sharp drowsy eyes. I've been wa
ARTIA’S POV "Anna! Don't be mean to our visitors." bulyaw sa kaniya ni Rita na isa sa mga nag-aasikaso sa ampunan. The kid even rolled her eyes on me. Inirapan ko din. Matapos umirap ay napadpad ang tingin ko kay Kingsley na nakatingin pala sa akin. I showed him a poker face and looked away. "Now, let's hear interesting story about you guys. What do you do at your age?" Rita asked to the kids. One bubbly girl voluntered to answer. She told us how her days goes by. What she do and who she spend her days with. Then other kids told their stories too. Lahat sila sa laro umiikot ang mga araw nila. Buong araw na nakikipaglaro sa mga kaibigan. Makikita ang saya at kuntento sa mga mukha nila. Ang sarap sigurong bumalik sa pagkabata. Ang akala ko noon mas sasaya ako kapag tumanda na ako dahil magagawa ko na ang mga bagay na gusto kong gawin. Mali pala ang akala ko. As you grow old, the problems in the world unreveals
-----fast forward----- ***Artia's POV*** "How about you two? Hindi niyo pa ba naiisipang magpakasal? You're on your right age naman. Maaari na kayong magpakasal." "Honestly, I've thought about that. Matagal na kayong magkasintahan, alam kong mauuwi kayong dalawa sa kasalan. Why don't you start planning about it?" Keep remembering it Artia. Keep thinking about it. About their conversation earlier on your dinner. Hindi kapa ba natatauhan? Even your mother and his father are pushing the two to get married. Hindi pa ba sampal sa iyo iyon? You should stop now, before you drown yourself you might not be able to save yourself. Nalulunod kana sa sarili mong patibong. Your great f*cking plan won't work. Ang tagal tagal na pero wala pang improvement ang plan mo. Ang sarili molang ang sinasaktan mo at isinusugal dito. Don't you think its time to back out? Now is the time to change your mind. Wake up, Artia! None of your plan will
Artia's POV Kinabahan ako, akala ko may nagwawala na. Akala ko sinadya ni KIngsley na basagin ang mga bote dahil sa ginagawa namin ni Iulian. But why would he do that? Mukhang wala naman silang pake kahit pa magsex kami dito ni Iulian. Sila nga naghahalikan din kanina. The wine from the broken bottle is spilled on the floor and flow down to the water pool. Some broken glasses fell down in the pool also. What happened became clear to me when I saw a cat near the bottles. Mukhang tumalon ito at iyon ang mga natamaan. Kingsley doesn't own a cat. Kanino kaya ang orange na pusang ito at bakit nandito? THe cat looked like the famous cat in the movie. I forgot the cats name. Mahihirapan akong alalahanin iyon lalo na't lasing. My eyes glance at the two. Courtney slightly in panic moving away from the pool. And then Kingsley, eyes blanked looking at us. When our eyes met he immediately looked away, turned around and left the pool too. I blinked
***Artia's POV*** I couldn't fall asleep why I decided to take a bath. After taking a bath I just wore a thin silk of dress and sat on the floor facing the mirror and resting my back against the table placed in the middle of my walk in closet. I stared at my own reflection in the mirror. From my face, to my body and back to my face. My lips trembled, and my eyes started to sting. I have the face. I have the body. But I have no one. Unlike Courtney, she have friends, she have Iulian and Kingsley beside her for years. She have Kingsley who's loving her. I bit my lips hoping I could stop it from trembling. Now I know the answer to my questions earlier. The kiss I shared with Iulian felt empty. I've kissed many guys, and the truth, it all felt empty. Ako lang itong naglalagay ng meaning at emosyon doon. Sa paraang iyon, nababawasan ang kalungkutang nararamdaman ko. Something really changed, because now I know and have realized that all those
***Artia's POV***Our lips touched and dance together. Just like the music being played, it was slow at first but then coped up with a steady pace. His lips are tender and warm just like Kingsley's lips but it didn't made the butterflies in my stomach fly. I was the one who cut the kiss.I stared at his lips, didn't want to stare at his eyes so he wouldn't see I was distracted while we are kissing. I'm confuse. Why do I feel like something is missing? Why didn't it felt good? Its not because he's not a good kisser, but I didn't enjoyed like how I enjoyed the kisses of Kingsley.Isinantabi ko muna ang mga katanungan na iyon. I should say something. Iulian might get offended with my reaction."Walang magagalit?" I tried to joke. I felt relieved when he chuckled."Sayo? Walang magagalit?" tanong niya pabalik may ngisi sa labi. Umiling ako at itinago ang pasimpling paglunok ng laway.I hope meron. Sana may magalit at sana ay si Kingsley iy
***THIRD P POV***"I feel better with you, next to me."It's strange, how he can remember the words she said. Kingsley looked away and turned his attention to his girlfriend. He didn't want to start a conversation with Artia now that Courtney, Iulian and their other friends are next to them.He just had an argument with his girlfriend, he doesn't want her to have another reason to argue with. Courtney might get jealous. Artia didn't talkedtoo since she really doesn't have anything to say. She stretch a small smile to Courtney, she smiled back but she know she's not really okay that she's here.She chitchat with Iulian and sometimes with the other guys whose name she can't remember. Well, she's not really interested, her mind is clouded with the couple next to her and the trauma Rom left to her.She's thirsty but she don't have the spirit to drink the glasses of alcohol served in front of her. She didn't voice it out. At kahit pa gustuhin man
Kingsleys POV"Bukod sa gusto kitang kasama, wala na akong ibang kaibigan.""Look out for, Artia.""I lost everyone. My Dad's dead. I have no more friends."I closed my eyes tightly hoping I get to focus and stop remembering her voices and those words she said and what her mother said to me too. It keeps visting my mind. I can't stop thinking about it.[Why do you have to take her with you?] I looked out of the window for a second. I can feel her staring at me, listening to my conversation with Courtney on the phone."We already talked about this." No matter how much I lower my voice she can still hear me. I glance at her and her face says it. She's asking if we are arguing.[Yes, we talked about it but I want us to talk about it again. I thought it will just be for a while. Don't tell me she'll come with us sa lahat ng lakad natin.]"Mamaya natin ito pag-usapan."[Fine! Let's just meet there. Hin
Artia's POV "What?" He asked stern now back to being suplado. It was only for a short moment but it was gold for me. Him laughing together with me. Staring at my eyes not to others. Finally he laughed with me. I can't hide the smile formed in my lips. I shook my head and looked away, not wanting him to see that I was too happy just seeing him laughing with me. My heart still feels like its floating in the air above the clouds. Butterflies inside my stomach flying around. Giving the feeling that I haven't felt for years now. "Nothing." I answered. He noticed I was staring at him for a long time why he asked me what. I admit I stared at him so intently. It was too obvious. I should've been careful so he wouldn't get back to being stern so quickly. "I feel sorry to Iulian. I didn't know it tasted so salty. Ang dami niyang kinain," mahinang sambit ko habang nilalaro gamit ang kutsara ang sinangag na niluto ko. Buti nalang pala at hindi si Kingsl
Artia's POV "I just want to say sorry too, about what I said yesterday. No woman wants to be disrespected and molested. Sorry." Parang naisama ko sa paglunok ko ang dila ko dahil hindi ako nakapagsalita. Parang lalabas na din yata sa d****b ko ang puso ko sa lakas ng tibok nito. Dang! What is wrong with me? Bakit ganito makapagreact ang puso ko sa ginawa niya? When I recovered I smiled sweetly at him and said, "Babe, its okay." I bit my lips after talking. Dang! Baka magalit ulit sa akin dahil sa pagtawag ko sa kaniya ng babe. Hindi ko naman sinasadya! It just slip out of my tongue. "You're forgiven." I said my voice automatically turned husky. Our eyes wandered at each other for a while before he looked away and walked. Akala ko ay aalis na siya pero napangiti ulit nang makita siyang sumandal sa may bar counter. I giggled and open the fridge to look at the sandwhich he made for me. Ngiting-ngiti ako habang tinitignan iyon at
Artia's POV "You two already kissed." Mula kanina ay hindi na ako tinantanan ng batang ito. She keeps on asking the same question over and over again everytime she sees me-- no she's following me. "Why are you so eager to know if we did kissed or not?" Gaya ngayon, sinusundan niya ako kahit saan ako magpunta. Kanina ay may kinausap kami ni Kingsley why we left her for a while. Pagkatapos doon ay naghiwalay kami ni Kingsley. I don't know where he went to and if he talked to someone but now I can see him and I'm walking towards his direction. "I heard the other girl is Kuya Kingsleys girlfriend. So if you two already kissed, maybe you seduced him to kiss you. Or you stole a kiss from him since you like him." Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at binalingan ang batang nakasunod sa likod ko. "I like him?" I asked. Parang sure na sure sa sinasabi niya. "Yeah. I can see it in the way you look at him