MY HEART CLENCHED IN PAIN as I looked unbelievably to my parents. They were no ounce of mercy and soul mirrored in their eyes. I couldn’t help but to laugh sarcastically as my eyes glistened in tears. I thought there was a little hope that they would love me, because they called me to return home as soon as possible. But I forgot how heartless they were to me. “You have no choice, but to accept it, Mary Anne. The deal was already signed, and I already sold you to Señor Adolfo in exchange for five hundred billion pesos. You’re now his soon-to-be sixth wife. Huwag kang magtatangkang tumakas dahil hindi ko hahayaan iyon. Bukas ng umaga ay susunduin ka ng mga tauhan ni Señor Adolfo. Umayos ka at huwag na huwag kang gagawa ng kahit anong kalokohan na ikasisira ng ating pamilya,” malamig na turan ni Daddy pagkatapos ibuga ang usok mula sa hawak na tabako. Mommy smirked devilishly while caressing her precious pet which was an Ivory Ball Python. “Be a good girl, and obey Señor Adolfo at all
THE FIRE OF HEAT AND DESIRE was all over Daxton and I. My insides were craving for him. And I couldn’t believe that I even shamelessly seduced a hot stranger for a one-night stand. With his fast-driving skill, we arrived easily to a nearby hotel where he checked-in a VIP room. I bet he was a car racer like me, and it added fuel to me to want him more. We were now heavily making out inside the elevator as we touched ourselves. The ride seemed like forever, and we badly wanted to feel and taste each other’s warmth. When we arrived in the room, we immediately get-rid of our clothes to be naked. Kinarga niya ako nang walang kahirap-hirap. Agad ko namang ipinaikot sa kaniyang baywang ang aking mga binti nang nagsimula siyang maglakad nang mabilis papunta sa kwarto. Halos kapusin ako ng hininga sa aming mainit halikan. Pareho kaming lasing na lasing at init na init para sa isa’t-isa. Nadadarang kami sa nag-aapoy na init na bumabalot sa aming katawan. He slightly kicked to open the door i
BEFORE THE SUNRISE, I immediately ran away after having a one-night stand with a hot stranger named Daxton. I took a little cash inside his wallet for my fare going back to Arum. I bet he wouldn’t notice it, especially that his wallet was full of black and gold credit cards and blue bills. He was sleeping soundly on the bed when I left the hotel room. No one suspected me, and I didn’t bother to speak to anyone, because all I wanted was to escape as fast as I could.I’m literally dealing with so much pain from my head to femininity as I hail and ride a taxi heading back to the Arum to get my motorcycle. I had no choice but to endure it or else he would chase me, and I didn’t want another problem to happen. Safe naman na iwanan ko ang aking motor sa parking lot ng Arum dahil marami akong kakilalang puwedeng magbantay. Wala rin namang magtatangkang magnakaw o gumawa ng kalokohan dito lalo na’t mahigpit ang nagbabantay dito. Nasa loob ng waterproof tail bag ang iba kong gamit kagaya ng w
I GROANED AS I FLUTTERED MY EYES OPENED. I’m completely bewildered waking up in an unfamiliar room. I mentally noted to myself that I’m nowhere to be found by my parents and their hired men. I also needed to disguise myself for my safety and also for me to have a new life. “Aguy! Aguy! Aguy! Mabuti naman at gising ka na. Sobra kaming nag-alala sa iyo,” biglang sulpot ng babaeng matinis ang boses na sa pagkakantanda ko ay Caridad ang pangalan. Napatitig ako sa kaniya. Morena ang kaniyang kutis at kulot ang buhok niya. Filipina beauty talaga ang taglay niyang kagandahan.“Ahm. . . Nasaan na pala ako?” tanong ko at bahagyang umupo.Agad niya akong dinaluhan para alalayang makaupo nang maayos. “Ako nga pala si Caridad. Nandito ka ngayon sa Maid’s Quarters kung saan nag-stay ang mga maid sa Hacienda Gosiengfiao. Pinatignan ka namin kay Doktora Shakira. Mabuti na lang at nakita ka agad namin dahil kung hindi ay baka kung ano na ang nangyari sa iyo.”Hindi pamilyar sa akin ang Hacienda Go
THE LOUD CROWING of the rooster awakened me. I slowly opened my eyes, and stretched my arms and legs as I looked in the dark silhouette of the room that I occupied. Binuksan ko ang lampshade sa nightstand na nasa gilid ng kamang kinahihigaan ko. At napatingin ako sa dingding kung nasaan nakalagay ang Grandfather’s Clock. It was almost five in the morning. It really sunk in inside my mind that I’m already in a new place where I would hide for this moment, and also a new beginning in my life. Hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan ako magtatagal sa lugar na ito. Ngunit sa ngayon ay gusto ko munang sulitin ang pagkakataon na ito na malaya ako at walang iniisip na problema.Sobrang nag-e-enjoy ako habang kasama ko si Caridad sa nakalipas na tatlong araw na pamamalagi ko sa Maid’s Quarters. Pinagpahinga nilang dalawa ako ni Manang Juris hanggang sa talagang naging maayos na ang aking pakiramdam. Marami baon na kuwento at pagpapatawa si Caridad kaya’t hindi ako nababagot. Napakamasiyahin ni
I COULDN’T HELP BUT TO MESMERIZE the Gosiengfiao Mansion. The exterior design of the mansion was an Old Chinese Style with wooden structural elements interlocking the wooden brackets. It was painted in red, black and gold. While the interior design was a fusion of ancient and modern. There were lots of porcelain jars painted elegantly, golden artifacts, sculptures, paintings and a gold lotus tree with diamonds dangling on the tip of its branches. Ngayon lamang ako nakakita ng ganitong mansyon at sobrang ganda. Napakaaliwalas ng paligid at halatang hindi basta-basta ang presyo ng mga gamit rito.. Ngunit ang mas nakaagaw ng aking pansin ay ang isang glass painting ng dalawang taong magkahawak ang mga kamay habang nakangiti at nakatitig sa isa’t-isa.Caridad told me about the love story of the late couple, Nǚshì Jialin and Xiānshēng Ruohan. Their love for each other was against the world, because Nǚshì Jialin was an heiress of a Chen Family while Xiānshēng Ruohan was the son of Chen Fam
THERE WASN’T A PERFECT TALE in every relationship, marriage and life within the family if it was full of toxicity, lack of love and respect. But little did they know that the outcome of their selfishness and greediness could lead the person suffering from physical, emotional and mental pain. Lahat tayo ay mayro’ng kaniya-kaniyang mga problema ngunit ang pagkakapareho lang ay lahat tayo ay umiiyak habang dinadama ang sakit sa ating mga dibdib. Sobrang hirap kapag hindi na natin nagawang labanan at iahon ang ating mga sarili mula sa kinakaharap nating problema. We shouldn’t invalidate other’s feelings, because we all didn’t know the impact that might cause in every selfish decision. A simple apology wouldn’t patch up to heal a deep wound in our heart and soul. Minsan napapaisip ako kung mayro’n pa bang taong matino sa mundong ito na hindi manloloko, mananakit at tatapakan ang pagkatao ko. Sa totoo lang, nakakatakot sumubok at mahirap ulit masaktan ang taong kagaya ko na mula pagkaba
IT WAS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR to be here in the Hacienda Gosiengfiao. Amidst of their perfect image as a family, they also faced their own problems and pain too. However, they learned how to hide it with a smile. But still, I’m relieved that they were still moving forward in their lives, and didn’t forget to help other people too.Ang bilis ng panahon ay hindi ko namalayan na halos magdadalawang buwan na akong nagtatrabaho bilang maid sa mansyon. Marami akong nakilala at medyo nakakabisado ko ang pasikot-sikot sa Hacienda Gosiengfiao dahil lagi akong sinasama ni Caridad. Kahit papaano ay nakaka-adjust na ako sa aking trabaho bilang maid ng mansyon at tagadala ng mga pagkain sa rancho. Kagaya ng ipinangako sa akin ni Señorito Yuji ay talagang binabantayan niya ako sa tuwing pumupunta ako sa rancho para hindi ako kulitin at mabastos ng kahit sino. Ngunit sa kasamaang palad, napilitang umuwi sa probinsiya si Caridad dahil namatay ang kaniyang ama at kapatid na lalaki. Lumubog ang sinasak