Chloe's POV will be tomorrow. Kinda tired and sleepy now. May mga new readers ba si Trace, pa-comment naman at pa-rate na rin. Thank you.
CHLOE We were talking casually, like some lovers who just have a date, hang out, and make quality time together. And I know I need to wake up from this dream state, for we are not lovers. But yeah… come to think of it, I am still hoping. We looked like we were dating. It is obvious that some people in the area, whom I noticed, were giving us glances. And I claim that we are an item more than anything. It is better to think that Trace brought me here in Palawan because he needs to spend more time with me as he loves me. I smiled with my thoughts while looking at the beautiful white roses that caught my interest. Actually, it was not the flowers that made me look in that direction at first; it was the family near the area where the peacocks are located that caught my attention. A young family with two beautiful daughters. The father was carrying the youngest, and the mother was holding their eldest daughter’s hand. They made me remember my childhood. Daddy was the one who was alw
TRACE "Truth is… you are not my slave, Chloe. You.Made.Me.Your.Slave. And I fucking hate that. I fucking hate what you are doing to me, and it makes me want to hate you more too. Ayaw na kitang mahalin pero putangina..." I stopped. Tintigan ko siya na nakatitig din sa akin. I saw how she slowly made a small smile. Hope in her eyes. Hope? Mayro’n pa bang gano’n sa amin? May pag-asa pa ba na magtatagal ang ganitong relasyon namin na kahit ako ay hindi sigurado sa kung ano mang mayroon kami. At tangina… ano na naman bang nakain ko at kung ano-ano ang nasabi ko? Inis akong napabuga ng hangin. Sabagay at alam naman ni Chloe na mahal ko siya. Alam niya kaya okay lang na nasabi ko ulit. Hindi na big deal ang pagmamahal na iyon. Aminado naman talaga ako. Pagmamahal na gusto kong malimutan pero mali nga ako ng plano. I am hooked and owned by her more than I have rein on her. “Ma-hal ke-tah, ma-hal mo akow…” Chloe said na parang ewan na naman sa accent niya. “Then Paige is right.” Pai
CHLOE “Do… Do we have a relationship, Trace? A real relationship?” I don’t know why I need to ask that. Alam ko naman na kung sasabihin niya na oo ay dahil sa nagse-sex kami, but for me… what we have is not counted as a relationship. Technically, yes… it is still considered a relationship, not the kind of relationship I prefer, but still… yeah, it’s a fucking relationship. “Kailangan pa ba ang opisyal na relasyon? Akin ka na at hanggang magkasama tayo ay akin ka lang. At kung darating ang panahon na ayaw ko na ay palalayain na kita,” he arrogantly said those words, as if I have no option… as if I have no right to demand for more… I nodded and tried to smile. “Then I will be free to date any other men after that, right? Like I am free to have someone who will love me and respect me, find someone who will treat me well…” I uttered those words. I need to know if there is still hope for me. Hindi naman siya nagsalita. He was like telling me that what I said won’t matter at all to him.
TRACE Inagaw ko na ang phone kay Chloe at masyado na silang maraming pinag-uusapan ni Paige. Naba-badtrip na nga akong isipin na parang kaduda-duda na ang galawan nina Jeru at Paige ay dumagdag pa ang asar ko nang marinig kong sabihin ni Chloe na ipaabot ang pasasalamat niya kina Gob at Louisianna. “What was that about?” tanong ko kay Paige na saktong may dinadaldal pa dahil akala si Chloe pa ang kausap niya. May kinukwento pa na kinikilig ang bratinella, may pa-dream come true pa na sinasabi. Dream come true… iuntog ko kaya ito sa dream niya nang magising sa katotohanan. “Kuya! I’m talking to Chloe!” “Unsa ang imong gisulti kaniadto?” “And now we move to Vizayan edition?” tawang-tawa na tanong ni Paige. “Anyways ay marami kaming napag-usapan. Which part?” “Ang mahitungod sa imong amahan ug sa iyang demonyo nga babaye,” asar kong sabi. Sinadya ko talagang mag-Bisaya para walang maintindihan si Chloe. Gamitan ko sana ng Portuguese na salita kaso baka maintindihan na ni Chloe at
CHLOE That hurts me... as my defenses were shattered. Hearing Trace says he had no intention of marrying me cuts like a knife in my heart. It was like he was telling me I was not good enough for him. All the hopes in my heart were gone as I heard him say that no one could make him marry me. So be it... Why does he need to say those words to my face proudly? Did I ask him to marry me? Hindi naman eh… Malungkot akong tumingin sa mukha ko sa salamin ng restroom na tinataguan ko pansamantala. I hope Trace won’t follow me here. I hope he won’t disturb me for a while. Kung ano ang saya ko kanina, knowing na okay na si Daddy at dahil hindi na ako nag-worry na baka kung ano ang mga pangit na sinabi ni Mommy kay Miss Louisianna, ngayon ay negative na... Lahat ng positive thought ko ay nawala dahil parang nagagalit sa akin si Trace. Why? Dahil lang sa gusto ng papa niya na i-arrange ang kasal namin? Sa akin ba siya dapat magalit? I sobbed. Pareho lang talaga sila ni mommy, they love
TRACE “And who’s the devil that told you to decide for me?!” galit kong pasigaw na tanong sa tatay ko na nakikita kong papasok pa lang ng bahay. Napatingala si papa para tingnan ako at napailing na parang nakakita ng malaking problema. “Bumaba ka nga rito, Trace…” utos niya sa akin. Nilingon ko si Chloe na nakaupo lang sa gilid ng kama sa kwarto ko. Nakatingin siya sa tambak na Doraemon sa isang side ng kwarto na nakahilera. Hindi ko alam bakit nakalabas ang lahat ng mga ‘yon dahil nakatago naman ang karamihan nakaraan at isa lang ang nasa labas. Baka nag-ayos si Yaya Cora nang mga gamit ko at nakatuwaan ang puro Doraemon na stuffed toys ilabas. Kararating lang namin dito sa Salvacion, ang plano ko na one week sa Palawan ay naging dalawang araw lang dahil pagkatapos namin makabalik sa yate pagkatapos naming magtalo ni Chloe ay naging tahimik na siya. Ang dalawang lalaki na kinatatakutan niya ay pinaimbestigahan ko na kay Keros at ang report sa akin ay walang problema sa mga
CHLOE Since yesterday, I have been thinking of those two guys that gave me a cringe feeling. Trace told me that I shouldn’t worry, but knowing he could be a target for his enemies made me think that loving him is such a dangerous game. Wala si Paige sa mansion ng mga Dimagiba nang dumating kami, wala rin ang father ni Trace at nasa capitol pa raw sabi ni Mang Damian na sumundo sa amin ni Trace sa port. Trace introduced the old man to me like he was introducing a relative. He sounded proud to the old driver and later on ay nalaman ko na father pala nina Ibarra at Simoun na nasa isla. Nasa kwarto na ako ni Trace at nakaupo lang ako sa gilid ng kama niya. My mind goes to the first day I woke up in this room. Noong magising ako na yakap ni Trace. That was the first night we slept together without my knowing but still counted because I woke up in his arms. Then my eyes went to the Doraemon stuffed toys on the right side of the room. Para silang pinagsama-sama doon at nakalinya lang.
TRACE “You don’t need to worry, Chloe. Pakakasal na lang kayo ni Trace para wala nang problem sa parents mo…” I heard my father said that. Parang gusto kong matuwa bigla sa tatay ko ngayon. Kung sakaling mapangasawa ko nga naman si Chloe ay hindi na ako mahahalata na gusto ko rin. Magmumukhang napilit si Chloe ng tatay ko kapag nagkataon. But Chloe obviously looked worrying na nakatingin lang kay papa. Ano kaya ang iniisip nito? Alam ko naman na nag-iinarte lang siya na ayaw pakasal sa akin kasi akala niya ay ayaw ko. “At kung ayaw mo na sa anak ko dahil sa kung ano mang dahilan, kaya ayaw mo pumayag pakasal sa kaniya, ay uunawain namin,” papa stated na dahilan at nabwesit ako bigla na naman sa kaniya. Okay na ang sinabi niya kanina eh… convincing na sana. Pero ang sinasabi niya ngayon ay parang… parang sinasabi na rin niya na may problema sa ugali ko. Ano bang problema ng mga ito at kanina pa ako iniinis? “If after a year na hindi mo na talaga gustong ituloy ang kasal niyo ay