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
I SMILED WIDELY as I caressed my huge baby bump. I’m already six months pregnant, and my babies were really energetic, moving and kicking that made me feel that I’m not alone in this world.Kahit na nagkalinawan na kaming dalawa ni Señorito Yuji ay hindi pa rin siya tumitigil sa pag-aalaga at pagbibigay ng mga vitamins, gatas at cravings ko. Habang si Señora Jiarah naman ay laging nakaantabay sa akin sa mansyon. Sinisigurado niyang hindi masyado mabibigat ang aking mga trabaho dahil baka mapaano ako. Sobrang na-a-appreciate ko ang pag-aalala at pag-aalaga niya sa akin. Binibigyan din niya ako ng mga regalo kagaya ng maternity dress at sandals para maging komportable ako. At lagi niyang pinapaalala na huwag akong magpapalipas ng gutom at nakakapagpahinga nang maayos.Gusto sana nina Señorito Yuji at Señora Jiarah na manatili ako sa mansyon para hindi na ako mahirapan ngunit tumanggi ako. Sobra-sobra na kasi ang naitulong nila sa akin. Ayaw ko naman na maging pabigat. At saka komportab
I DID WHAT WAS RIGHT. Everything that happened was really unexpected, especially the confession of Señorito Yuji to me. He even kneeled and pleaded to me to let him be inside my heart and life, and be the father of my babies. He was really desperate to say yes to him.Hindi ko alam kung gaano ba kabilis o katagal bago malaman na mahal mo na ang isang tao. Wala akong alam tungkol do’n. Ngunit ayaw ko namang lokohin ang aking sarili na puwede kaming maging magkarelasyon.Ipinaliwanag ko ang rason kung bakit ako tumanggi sa kaniyang alok. Ayaw kong masira ang aming pagkakaibigan. Ngunit kapag hindi niya tinaggap ang aking desisyon ay mas mabuting putulin na lang namin ang aming pagkakaibigan at manataling civil sa paging amo at maid.Like what Manang Juris said, pity and love weren’t the same. Both of us would suffer if there’s no spark and love in between us. And what matters to me right now was to give all my love and attention as a mother to my babies. ‘Masakit man tanggapin ang kato
I WASN’T SHOCKED that my pregnancy was revealed after what happened a while ago. It already spread like a wildfire in the Hacienda Gosiengfiao. However, it brought another dilemma in me, because they suspected that the man that impregnated me was Señorito Yuji. Lumabas na naman ang pagiging overthinker at judgemental ng mga tao kung sino ba ang ama ng ipinagbubuntis ko lalo na’t nakikita nilang naging malapit kaming dalawa ni Señorito Yuji. At buong akala nila ay mayro’n kaming relasyon ngunit magkaibigan lang naman talaga kaming dalawa. Medyo kinakabahan ako na baka umabot ang usaping ito kay Señora Jiarah at maniwala tungkol sa kasunangalingang iyon. Ayaw kong magalit siya sa akin kapag nalaman niyang hindi naman pala ama ng aking mga anak si Señorito Yuji ngunit ipinapaako ko. Señorito Yuji and Manang Juris insisted that I should take a day-off to take a rest. However, I’m really anxious that Señorito Yuji didn’t even bother to clarify about it. Instead, he wanted to let everyone
I WAS CATCHING MY BREATH as I awakened from an unexpected dream. I wiped-off my sweat on the forehead with the back of my hand. My face was flushed as my heart was leaping fast with the sudden emotion that I felt. I couldn’t believe that I dreamt of the hot stranger that I had shared a one-night stand with almost two months ago named Daxton. My dream seemed real, especially in the part of our heated sex. His brown orbs were staring at me darkly as he was on top of me. He even leaned closer as he whispered that he would find me again even if I hid before he gave me a deep kiss. Wala sa sariling napahawak ako sa aking maliit na baby bump at bahagyang hinimas iyon mula sa aking suot na bestida. Buntis na nga ako kung anu-ano pa ang napapanaginipan ko. Ngunit hindi ko maitatanggi na malakas ang karisma ni Daxton kaya’t walang pag-aalinlangan kong ibinuka ang aking mga hita at isinuko ang aking virginity sa kaniya. ‘Ang lakas ng kamandag ng lalaking iyon. Isang beses lamang kaming nag-s
I’M HAVING A GREAT TIME eating my cravings while swaying my feet as I sat on the wooden chair outside the garden. It was already two in the morning, and I craved to eat two Cheeseburgers that have lots of Mayonnaise, and a Sunny Side-up Egg with two Egg Yolks while stargazing and feeling the cold night breeze. Napabaling ako kay Señorito Yuji na nakangiting pinapanood akong kumakain. Bahagya niyang inayos ang suot kong jacket para hindi ako masyadong lamigin. Hindi ko napigilang ngumiti dahil sobrang masaya ako na nakain ko ang aking mga cravings. Tinimplahan din niya ako ng Hot Chocolate Milk para hindi ako masyadong lamigin. Talagang nilutuan pa niya ako ng cravings para maging masaya ako. Sobrang na-appreciate ko ang kaniyang efforts. Pagkatapos niyang malaman na buntis ako ay talagang sinisigurado niyang nasa maayos akong kalagayan. Kulang na nga lang ay huwag niya akong pagalawin. Ayaw ko naman iyon dahil gusto ko rin na gawin ang aking trabaho habang kaya ko pa at hindi masyad
I JOLTED from the bed as I rushed to the bathroom, and vomited the next morning. I couldn’t help but to cry, because my throat hurts and also my head. I leaned on the toilet bowl as I flushed it.Nanghihina ako at nahihilo. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganito ang aking nararamdaman. Hindi ko napigilang mapaluha nang dahil do’n. Wala na nga akong kasama tapos masama pa ang aking pakiramdam. ‘Baka nasobrahan ako sa pagkain kahapon ng Manggang Hilaw at Bagoong at sumakit ang aking tiyan? Ngunit ang sarap kasi kaya’t hindi ko kayang tumigil sa pagkain hangga’t walang laman ang plato at platito.’ Kahit sobrang sama ng aking pakiramdam ay pinilit kong ayusin ang aking sarili. Napakagat ako sa aking labi nang sumalubong sa akin ang kadiliman sa loob ng aking silid at ang tunog ng Grandfather’s Clock. Sa kamamadali ko kaninang pumunta sa banyo ay nakalimutan ko nang buksan ang lampshade sa nightstand. Dahan-dahan akong naglakad at medyo nagkapkap sa paligid hanggang sa makabalik sa kama. Binuk
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
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
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