Halos masilaw si Charlie sa pagtanaw sa saranggola niya na pinagtulungan nila ni Gael na paliparin kanina. The pink kite she chose was flying high in the blue sky-- proudly displaying the wish she wrote on it before she let it fly.Wala sa sarili siyang napatingin kay Gael na noon ay nasa malapit lang, abala rin sa pagpapalipad ng saranggola nito.He was smiling from ear to ear. A bolt of memory flashed through her mind as she remembered the very first time she realized she had a crush on him.She was on the 5th grade and he was already in high school. They don't see each other as often as they did when she was still homeschooled. Saka na lang sila nagkikita tuwing umuuwi siya sa San Gabriel during school breaks. But Gael will always be at their beach house to accompany her. Before Jasmine, she only had Gael as her friend and no one else. She had always seen him as her hero in his long dirty blonde hair, tanned skin and ripped jeans.She remembered the first time her heart fluttered
Alanganing bumaba ng sasakyan si Charlie habang ang mga mata ay nakatutok sa beach house na nasa kanyang harapan. They have arrived in San Gabriel just a few minutes ago at doon sila agad dumiretso ni Gael. "I have never been here before, Gael" pag-amin niya habang pinapagala ang tingin sa kubuuan ng lugar. There's a smaller house just a few meters away from the beach house. Luma na ang pinto ng maliit na bahay, halatang mas matagal iyong naroon kaysa sa beach house. It's probably the house of the caretaker, she thought. "Who lives here, Gael?" tanong niya sa kasama habang magkapanany silang naglalakad patungo sa harap ng beach house. "Me and T'yo Berting. According to reports, we used to live here," anito. Agad siyang bumaling dito. Nakamata pa rin ito sa beach house na parang wala namang tinatanaw. Nang umihip ang panghapong hangin mula sa dagat sa 'di kalayuan, unti-unting pumikit si Gael. She didn't look away. She just watched him. Was he trying to recall something? A mem
Ilang sandali ring tahimik na naglakad sa may baybayin sina Gael at Charlie. Reveling the beauty and wonder of nature. “Do you know how to swim?” tanong ni Gael sa kanya, maya-maya. She smiled, as the memory of the first time she successfully floated on the water resurfaced in her mind. “I do. You taught me, Gael.” Mabilis itong napabaling sa kanya. “Really now. I didn’t know I had a teacher in me,” natatawang sabi nito, kuntodo ang ngisi. “I think I’m your first and last student. So don't be so cocky, Gael. You’re not that great,” she retorted, rolling her eyes in fake annoyance. Lalo itong natawa. “Do you know how cute you looked whenever you do that?” Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya. “Do what?” “’Yan, kapag umiirap ka. You looked cute.” She averted her eyes from him when she felt her cheeks heating up. “Tell me about your grandfather,” pag-iiba niya sa usapan. “Well, Opa Aksel is kind to me. He taught me everything I know about running our business. I owe him everything.”
Charlie was reeling as soon as she allowed Gael to taste and nip her lips. Every uncertainty, every fear, every reason that tells her why they cannot be together, limot na niya ang lahat ng mga iyon. All that mattered was that moment with Gael and the scorching fire of passion slowly consuming her. Maya-maya pa, bumaba ang mga labi ni Gael sa kanyang leeg habang marahang ipinaglalakbay ang isang kamay nito sa ilalim ng kanyang button-down blouse. She instantly whimpered when she felt his warm hand on one of breast. He fondled it before giving her now sensitive peak a not so gentle squeeze. The sensation ripped right through her and made her core clenched more with need. Maya-maya pa, muli nitong ibinalik ang mga labi nito sa kanya. She met his lips with equal need and passion, knowing in her heart that after today, she will never have him this way ever again. It’s her last chance to be that intimate with Gael, her husband whom she will give away after today. Gael quickly tore h
“Tell me the story,” ani Gael kay Charlie, marahang hinahaplos ang daliri niyang may nakasulat na ‘palagi’.They were sitting at the sofa. Kandong siya nito habang ang kumot lang na nahalungkat nila sa isa sa mga boxes na naroon ang nakatapis sa kanya. They had just spent the last few hours making love in all parts of the beach house. She felt like they were back to the honeymooners they were once before—insatiable and couldn’t get enough of each other.She leaned her head on his chest as she turned to the big window. Madilim na subalit patuloy pa rin ang malakas na pagbuhos ng ulan. She made a mental note that she should make an alibi as early as now before Axel and Jacob would go berserk and realize that she’s too far gone from safety.Wala sa sarili niyang kinuha ang kaliwang kamay ni Gael na mayroon matching tattoo ng sa kanya. She gently intertwined their hands together and she thought how perfectly their hands meld with each other. Like two perfect puzzle pieces. A sudden wave
Kanina pa pinagmamasdan ni Charlie ang bintana ng beach house. Mabigat ang dibdib niya habang hinihintay ang pagsikat ng araw.She had been awake for some time now but she cannot move—not when Gael was still fast asleep beside her and one of his arm was circled on her waist.She closed her eyes and tried to memorize the feel of his warmth against her skin, the way he breathed and the way his heart beats against his chest.She will take all of that too… as a memory.Their tomorrow has ended last night. And today, they must part ways.She bit lower lip when a wave of hurt rose from her chest. She had dreamed of spending the rest of her days with Gael when they got married in haste five years ago… but there she is, saying goodbye to Gael for one last time.She felt Gael stirred, his hand tightening around her waist. He gently grazed his lips of her shoulder and said, “Goodmorning.”She smiled through her unshed tears. It was morning now indeed.“It stopped raining,” bulong niya.Muling h
Charlie stood between silent chaos and fire for a while. She just stared at her Dad and Grandpa and feeling Gael’s presence behind her. She didn't know what to do. She willed her mind to think, to do something… anything! But her logic faltered and so she just chose to surrender to the uncomfortable silence.Maya-maya pa, tumunog ang cellphone ni Jacob. “Yes, Sir. She’s with Gael, indeed.”Whom was he talking to? Was it Gray? Or Sir Eric?And indeed? Were they just checking if she’s there or not? For some random chance was someone close to her knew that she’s with Gael?Pero sino naman? She was careful when she left Manila yesterday. Wala siyamg pinagsabihin ni isa. Lalo tuloy siyang naguluhan dahil marami na namang tanong na wala na namang kasagutan. Subalit mabilis din na nawala ang mga iyon sa isip niya nang magsalita ang Daddy niya.“Charlie, let’s go home,” anito, ang mga mata nakatutok sa kanya. Her father’s face was void of any emotion but she can hear the disappointment in h
Her father’s brows furrowed further, the confusion in his eyes grew. Sensing her father will never say another word, nagpatuloy siya sa pagsasalita. “It's okay, Dad. I could never think of you as a murderer. And even involve T’yo Berting just to get back at Gael. I knew you will not go that far. I know you were just trying to take me back but I was stubborn and… “ Muli siyang humikbi, napuno ng pagsisisi ang dibdib. “You should’ve told me as soon as Gael came back, Charlie. Kahit na hindi sa akin agad. Kahit na sa Mommy mo man lang o sa Uncle Joshua mo,” pukaw ng Daddy niya sa kanya, maya-maya.“I-I got scared, Dad. I’m sorry. You almost died on me and…” She shook her head. The memory still scares her beyond her wits. Nagpapaalala sa mga kasalanan niya na dapat niyang pagbayaran. Muli siyang napahikbi.Walang nang sinayang pa na oras ang Daddy niya. Mabilis siya nitong kinabig payakap at doon siya sa dibdib nito tuluyang humagulgol.“I-I was so afraid of you dying, Dad. I-I woul