"AM I being so sensitive?""Am I being to affected by their wordings? Why am I the only one who suffer here?"She kept uttering those words, lasing na siya.The alcohol on her body kept her nerves numb, or maybe yung mga sinabi ni Roy ang nagpanigas ng buong kalamnan niya kaya naman kung ano anong nang pinagsasabi niya ngayon.Ano pabang point ng reputasyon iniingatan niya ng matagal na? her being a good and well mannered girl? anong use non when kahit anong gawin niya ay hindi niya ma please ang tatay niya? Keeping that Reputation can't gain her anything more than pain, deceptions, betrayals and many more disadvantageous to her.Kaya naman ngayon, kahit ngayon lang she must do something she really wants, she picked for herself and made decision by herself.Not from her dad.Mom.Funtaveriá's.or even Cian.Luminga naman si Cairan sa dalaga ng mapansing tahimik na eto, nakatulog na ba siya dahil sa kalasingan?"Astria" he sweetly uttered her name."Are you awake?" tanong pa neto sa da
“H-HEY! W-WHAT are you doing!?” Halos natatarantang tanong ni Astria habang hindi mapakaling nakatitig sa lalaking nasa ibabaw nya ngayon.Damang-dama ni Astria ang init ng kanyang mga pisnge dahil sa ginawa ng binata, she can hardly breathe because of that.Hindi naman sumagot sakanya si Cairan at tanging nakatitig lang sakanya nang may kakaibang tingin.The atmosphere in the room was so tense and sobrang init na may di maipaliwanag na feeling na pinapadama sakanila.Their posture was so ambiguous.Him being at her top, looking at her deeply and seductively panting too, his Adam's apple rolled up and down.While her…Kitang kita ni Astria eto dahil sa posisyon nila.Siya na nasa ilalim ng binata habang saklop saklop ng binata ang dalawa niyang kamay..Napalunok siya sa di malamang dahilan at napatitig sa mga basang labi ni Cairan unconsciously.“What are you looking at? Want to kiss me again?” He mischievously asked and then smirked.Sasagot na sana si Astria upang depensahan ang sari
MATAPOS MAKAALIS ng binata sa ibabaw ni Astria ay wala ng sinayang na oras si Astria at naupo na, sumiksik sa gilid ng sofa na tila ba dumisistansya sa binata.Inayos nya rin ang inayos ng binata na tshirt nya at pinagpagan eto, maya maya ay tahimik na napasilip sa binata.Now, he's drinking the last can of beer.As if they didn't do that ambiguous thing, as if nothing happened.Wow.He look so calm pero siya, ang dalaga. Halos hindi na maitago ang bilis at lakas ng tibok ng puso, hindi pa siya kumakalma. Dali dali naman na siyang nag iwas ng tingin.Hindi nya alam ang mararamdam, alam niyang dapat siyang magalit or mainis sa ginawa ng binata pero may parte sakanya na hindi manlang galit o inis.All she can think of is that she was very very nervous.She was so shy to the point na hindi manlang siya makatingin sa binata ng diretso.Pero teka lang.She know that only people in relationships can kiss, so…Why did they kiss? Naalala niya tuloy bigla yung sinabi ng tatay nya.Be slutty,
THAT LEAVES Astria speechless, dali dali nalang siyang papunta sa pintong pinaglabasan ng binata at mariing napasandal rito. Tila ba nangangambang babalik ulit ang binata. She finally came back to her senses. Hays! Suddenly, she wants to beat him up and make him suffer for stealing her first kiss. But… She really didn't feel like being forced or violated by those things. Infact, she really likes it. She just caught off guard. Matapos masiguradong locked na ang pinto ay dali-dali na siyang tumungo sa kwarto ni Yuniña at doon pabagsak na dumapa saka isinubsob ang mukha sa unan. Matapos ay nagsimulang magsisipa at malilikot. It's over. Hindi na siya makapagisip ng matino, tanging ang nangyaring paghalik lamang sakanya ni Cairan ang pumapasok sa isip nya. Para etong sirang plaka na paulit-ulit na naglalaro sa utak niya. How can he be… “GRAAAAAAAGH” she scream while tinatakpan ang mukha nya gamit ang unan upang hindi makagawa ng ingay. She was so flustered righ
BIGLAAN NYA nalang inalis ang kanyang kumot na nakatalukbong sakanya at malakas na napabigas ang mga katagang “Why are you looking at hi—” she paused and didn't finished her words dahil narealize nya ang kanyang tinuran. Napatakip nalang siya ng bibig. Mukhang narinig naman eto ni Yuniña dahilan upang mapangisi etong tumingin kay Astria. ARGHHH! Why did she say that!? She sounds like a jealous girlfriend. “Ho, ho, ho… Don't worry, Star my bestie. Boss pogi is all yours. I have my lovely Uno with me. Napopogian lang talaga ako kay Boss Pogi, you know that I'm weak to handsome men” natatawang tugon ni Yuniña. Nagtalukbong nalang ulit ng kumot ang dalaga at nagsimulang isubsob ang sarili. Sobrang nakakahiya! She even wants to dig a hole just to bury herself my god. Why did she blurt it out so loud!? “Maybe you're confused right now, Astria. Kasi nga halos andami at ang bilis ng pangyayari but still, you should think about it carefully and considered Boss Pogi. Sure ako, I saw it,
Napaiktad nalang si Astria nang may lumapat na mainit na palad sa mga balikat nya. “H-ha?A-ano?” She blurted out of shock. Masyadong lumipad ang utak nya at di napansin ang paligid. “The door is open, are you ok? Tulala ka” he casually said at inalis ang mga palad neto sa balikat nya. Tinapik pala siya ng binata. “Ohh, sorry” awkward na tugon ni Astria at lumabas na ng elevator. My God, napatagal pala ang pagdeday-dream nya! Nakakahiya naman baka nagmukha na siyang tanga. Nagmamadali nalang tuloy siyang maglakad kahit na Hindi alam ang paruroonan. Nang biglang may humawak sa pulsuhan nya dahilan upang mapalinga siya. It was Cairan. Buti naman, kinabahan siya dahil akala nya si Cian eto lalo na at nasa lobby sila. “Where are you going? Hindi dyan ang parking lot” takang tanong ni Cairan “Are you really determined to run away?” Dagdag pa neto dahilan upang mapaiktadang dalaga. “No, no, it's just… I didn't know na sa parking lot tayo pupunta” pagdadahilan ni Astria kahit alam
“NANDITO NA pala tayo, you can stop here na” saad ng dalaga nang magising sa sinabi ni Cairan. Nandito na pala sila… It will be troublesome for her kung ihahatid pa sya ng binata papasok sa loob mismo ng village. Someone might see them and tell her parents, sure siyang di magugustuhan ni Roy eto or worse even the Funtaveriá's will make a fuss. Ayaw na nya ng gulo. Cairan seems to see her thoughts, she still didn't want others to see them together. Suddenly, he felt so annoyed. “Alright, I'll stop here” malamig na tugon ni Cairan matapos imaobra ang manibela paliko sa gilid ng kalsada. She's acting weird right now and it's really annoying for him, una umiiwas ng iwas ang dalaga sa kanya. She even wants to run away earlier, buti nalang talaga ay expected na to ng binata kaya maaga rin siyang bumaba incase na tumakas eto. How can she be more lovely and daring when she's drunk but at the same time when she's sober… she easily crushed his hopes and annoyed him… Her so
HE JUST stares at her and later on starts to say “Who sent you back?” It's just a 4 words but it makes Astria's heart beats so fast, naglalamig narin siya dahil sa pagkakaba. She didn't know what to say… It's disadvantageous to her if she say it was Cairan… “Is it Cairan?” he uttered that makes Astria flinched “Nakita ko siyang inabot sayo yung maleta mo kanina” dagdag pa nang matanda. It leaves Astria no choice, nakita pala sila ng matanda. “Ah… Yes po Lo, siya nga po yun… may work po kasi siya sa resort at pauwi narin kaya nakisabay nalang ako sakanya dahil urgent din meeting namin and mahirap humanap ng transpo sa resort” mahabang pagpapaliwanag ni Astria trying hard na wag ipahalatang kabado siya. “Really?” tanong ng matanda na tila ba hindi naniniwala sa mga sinabi nya “Alright, let it be. But still, Star, You should distance yourself with Cairan. You and Cian, his half brother's are engaged even if it's just a childhood engagement arrangement and sooner we want both
She might looks behave and obedient to his mom pero her eyes is no longer the same back then in the paste, her eyes looks tired and uninterested.Hindi naman nagtagal ang pagdidiscuss nila Odette tungkol sa mga bagay at aalis na sana ng kausapin ni Cian ang ina nya "Mom, mauna ka nalang muna. Kakausapin ko lang si Astria".Odette just look at him with some hesitated eyes, maybe nabalitaan neto ang nangyari sa ospital noon, matapos ang ilang minuto ay nagsalita rin naman eto "Alright, be nice to Star ok? She's your fiancee now and sooner she will be your wife, Do you got it?""Yes, I know mom, I understand" inis na sagot ni Cian, he was really annoyed tuwing pinagsasabihan sya ng kung sino kahit pa ina nya eto. Umalis naman na ang ina nya kasama si Roy na ngayo'y hindi matanggal ang abot tengang ngiti, hinatid neto si Odette papuntang gate. Pero, bago eto umalis ay lumingon muna eto sa likod sabay sabing "Astria, prepare some drinks si Cian habang naguusap kayo" utos neto kaya napaira
Kinaumagahan, halos mga alas kwatro nang umaga ng magising si Astella mula aa pagkakatulog, she was sober too at medyo magaan na ang pakiramdam nya. Nagulat pa sya ng magising sa hospital bed kaya naman napatitig sya sa gilid at nakita nya si Astria na natutulog, napalinga rin sya at napansin si Roy na prenteng natutulog sa sofa habang si Astria e nasa hindi komportableng posisyon.Napailing na lamang sya at napabuntong hininga, wala talagang pake ang asawa nya sa anak nila... she failed as a mother for choosing a bad father. May hinuha na sya sa nangyayari kung bakit nandito ulit ang anak nya and she feels so bad and guilty. Hahawakan sana ni Astella ang ulo ng anak para himasin ng gumalaw ang dalaga, naalimpungatan ata eto.Nagulat eto ng makitang nakabangon ang ina mula sa pagkakahiga "Mom! gising ka na! teka, you should I down first kailangan mong magpahinga" natatarantang saad neto at ginaya ang ina papahiga "Nilagnat ka ulit at sobrang taas kaya naman dinala ka na namin ni dad
"Mamili ka ng maayos Astria, you being engaged to Cian and cut ties with that bastard or you will be freed but your damn mother will be sold with some maniac old man and your lovely illegitimate man will be kicked out of the Funtaveria Corp, choose wisely Astria. Choose" paguulit pa ni Roy na puno ng ngisi ang labi, nakikita nya kasi ang reaksyon ni Astria. She looks pale, shocked an helpless, and he's enjoying it.Choice... do that shit can be called a choices!? kahit anong piliin nya wala syang magagawa, lahat may masamang mangyayari... Naiiyak sya.Napalingon sya sa ama ng makarinig ng malalakas na halakhak."Astria, you should obey me and just damn get engaged with Cian and cut that bastard out of your life. Yan ang napag-usapan natin kanina diba bago ko ihatid ang ina mo sa ospital? You will obey what I want. Isa pa, Sure naman akong hindi mo kayang makitang maging parausan ng matanda yang nanay mo no? then, text that bastard that you will get engaged with her own damn step-brot
She's speechless, wala nang pagaasa pang magtino ang ama nya. Astria wipes her tears at pinilit buhatin ang ina o kaya'y tapik-tapikin "Mom, stay awake for a while, tutulungan kitang makalakad para madala sa ospital" marahang saad ni Astria sa ina.Sobrang init na ng temperatura ni Astella at napapansin nya narin ang pangangatog neto, kinakabahan na sya lalo. Her mom needs to go to the hospital immediately.Pinilit naman ni Astella ang sarili, sinuportahan sya ni Astria na makatayo at lalabas na sana ng storage room ng pigilan at harangan sila ni Roy."Do you think I will let you go that easily!? ngayon pa na tumapak ka ulit sa pamamahay ko!?" inis na asik ni Roy sa anak."Nababaliw ka naba!?" nagngitngit ang mga ngipin ni Astria at masamang tumingun sa ama "Mom needs to go to hospital immediately! she's burning as fuck! she's your wife and she needs immediate help right now!!" galit pang asik ni Astria sa ama.Sinalubong naman ni Roy nang nanlilisik ring mata ang mga mata ni Astria "
Magdidilim na ang paligid nya nang tumunog ang telepono nya at makatanggap sya ng mensahe mula kay Cairan. Mukhang nakauwi na eto at hinahanap sya, he's asking kung bakit pa sya wala sa penthouse...Nanlalabo ang paningin ni Astria habang binabasa ang mensahe ng binata.But she manage to pull herself together and replied on his messages ' I'm just taking a stroll, Mauna ka nalang muna kumain ' tanging nasagot nga na lamang sa binata at ibinalik ang telepono sa bulsa nya.'what a cold reply' she said in her mind. Infact, hanggang ngayo'y may cold war parin naman sa pagitan at halos ilang araw rin silang wala masyadong kibuan, pero sure syang kahit ganon ang situwasyon nila ay naghihintay lang talaga eto nang desisyon nya at plano nya.Napabuntong-hininga na lang sya, as if naman she have a choice diba? she have none, kahit anong piliin nya ay may dapat parin syang isakripisyo.Matapos nang ilang minutong lakadan ay nakarating na sya sa tapat ng bahay nila. Huminga muna sya ng malalim m
Maya maya, nagvibrate ulit ang telepono nya. It was from cian again "Asked nicely, I might reconsidered it". Napabuntong hininga si Astria. "Please, Cian. Can you check her up? it's fine even if it's quick" pagrereply neto saka nagsend ng isang gif, a puppy with a pleading look and saying please. Matapos magsend ay agad syang nireplyan ng binata "Yan, sige. Wait, I'll check her up. Update kita pagtapos" He's still childish like he used too, isip isip ni Astria matapos tingan ang reply sakanya ng binata. Binitawan naman na ni Cian ang telepono nya at nagbihis, nakangisi ang binata at magaan ang aura nya ngayon. As if something good happen. Feeling kasi nya ay unti-unti nang bumabalik ang pagkakaibigan nila ni Astria kaya naman hindi maalis ang ngiti sa labi nya, halos matagal tagal narin simula ng huling sumaya sya. Nung mga nakaraang araw kasi ay puro nalang problema ang kinakaharap nya. He was forced in this damn engagement at wala syang magawa dahil may bantay sya
Buong magdamag na hindi pinatulog ng niya si Astria, she kept thinking and organizing her thoughts. In the he only state that he had a plan for Funtaveriá corp, not the whole detailed plan. Was it because he didn't trust her that much para sabihin? natatakot ba sya na baka ibunyag nya to sa mga Funtaveriá? She can't herself but to doubt him... his distrust to her mad her trust to him broken, she's also feel so guilty because of her own conscience. Those thoughts kept messing their relationship. Her conscience and guilt is eating her up along with her distrust on him. If she had never hurt him back then baka hindi sya naguguilty tuwing nakakasama ang binata, she wouldn't have to be afraid to be with him but the irony was, if she hadn't done those immoral things, would he really still approach her? hindi mawala sa isip nya na baka talagang inapproach lang sya ng binata dahil para makaganti eto and that was her biggest fear... It's holding her back to choose and run to him without
"Hey, stop. Don't bite yourself" pagaawat ng binata matapos makita ang ginagawa ng dalaga sa labi nya. He raised his hands at inabot ang labi ng dalaga, he gently rub them. "Please, don't be burden by those things. Now, your problem is my problem too. Kung pagbabayad nang pera ang solusyon sa problema mo willing akong gawin lahat para matulungan ka, I will give you all I have if that's what it takes." Bakit tuwing bumubuka ang labi ng binatang kaharap nya ngayon ay puro na lamang bagay na hindi nya pa naririnig ang inilalabas ng mapupula at maninipis na labi neto? it's making her doubt anything because hindi nya maramdamang worthy sya para sa mga sinasabi ng binata. How can she be worth it for those sacrifices? She hurt him back then... She... She always choose someone else, kahit na pasikreto nya mang tinutulungan dati si Cairan, she still choose to shut her mouth and turn a blind eye on his suffering siding those people who hurt him. Even she did give him a flashlights everytime
"You're thinking, I'm just talking nonsense right?" buntong hiningang saad ni Cairan matapos makita ang mga tingin ni Astria. Napababa naman ng tingin ang dalaga sabay iling na lamang "No... hindi sa ganon... it just, kahit na makahiram ka man ng ganong kalaking pera... I-i... I can't afford to pay it back. How can I pay you back" alalang saad ni Astria sa kasintahan. Hindi naman nakasagot si Cairan sa mga oras na iyon at nabalot na ng katahimikan ang buong hapag. The meal ended in silence, parehong walang kibo ang dalawa sa magkaibang dahilan and that gives Astria sa sense of guilt for ruining the mood. It's just... how can he borrow a hundred millions from someone? sinong tanga ang magpapahiram ng ganoong kalaking pera just because they're friends? he didn't even know kung mababayadan ba eto. And if Cairan did borrow money, hindi nya alam kung pano nya mababayadan ang binata. Hindi ganon kadaling maghanap ng pera, kahit magkayod kalabaw pa sya nang buong taon hindi manlang neto