CARMELITA"I'M BEAT!" Agatha exclaimed as she sat next to me on the sofa. She took my wine glass and drank the wine.I just sighed and refilled my empty wine glass. Then, I took a sip without hesitation."Are you getting drunk?" she asked."Nope," I replied. "Is Tali asleep?""Yup. And she's snoring," Agatha replied.We were in the living room, watching a horror series on Netflix. It was a horror series that was recommended recently, "The Haunting of Bly Manor." I started watching it before we went to Coron, but I paused it because, well, we were on vacation. And yes, we're back home now. We're back in the house, and I'm continuing to watch it.Agatha was also watching with me. We're both fans of horror, suspense, and thriller stuff, so even if all the lights are off wherever we are and only the TV is on, we don't mind at all."I am ready to listen," Agatha said.I glanced at her in surprise. She wasn't looking at me but at the screen. She was also taking her time sipping her wine."I
FERNANDOSINCE WE RETURNED FROM CORON, CARMELITA'S TREATMENT TOWARDS ME HAS CHANGED EVEN MORE.After the kiss we shared that night in Coron, I asked her to give me more time to consider her proposal. She looked hurt when I said that, but she quickly recovered.The next day, during the second day of our tour, she seemed a bit uneasy, or maybe it was just my imagination, because her behavior towards me became okay again, and she was still extra sweet and clingy. Until we returned home and went back to our normal routine at Mairaos resort, Carmelita's displayed interest in me became even more intense.Earlier, when Maribel was here, there was some tension between them. I saw how Carmelita looked so angry, like she wanted to kill someone. It was my first time seeing her like that. Because even though she could be grumpy, she had never really gotten angry before. I mean, ever since I arrived here in their place, I have never seen her lose her temper.But man, earlier, if Carmelita hadn't h
THIRD PERSON"MORE LIQUOR," SLURRED CARMELITA TO THE BARTENDER."You're already drunk, Carms. Go home before the creeps here take advantage of you," said the bartender, whose name was Jennifer."Nooo! Liquor, please," the intoxicated woman insisted."Oh, Carmel. Did you and Ando have a fight?" Jennifer asked.They were friends, so Jennifer could talk casually to Carmelita. She had also met Ando before. The first time Jennifer saw Carmelita drunk was when she found out that her employee was engaged to her.In Jennifer's mind, she couldn't blame Carmelita for being enchanted by Ando. He was very handsome, masculine, and seemed kind."No fight! He doesn't want me. He doesn't!" the woman exclaimed loudly.Other people in the bar were starting to stare at her."Please excuse us. She's just going through something," Jennifer apologized to the other customers. "She's harmless, so don't worry. Enjoy drinking, everyone!"Jennifer breathed a sigh of relief as the customers returned to their own
CARMELITA"BES...""You're grown now, bes. You know what you're getting yourself into," Agatha said to me before leaving my office.I almost had a moment with Ando if it weren't for my friend's arrival. I liked what was about to happen, but at the same time, I was relieved that something inappropriate didn't occur. I'm thankful that my friend arrived on time, but I'm extremely embarrassed because she witnessed the whole thing.Yes, I know I'm confusing. I'm confused about myself too.I obviously like him, and it's obvious how far I'm willing to go for him. But this is not how it's supposed to turn out. This is not the plan. This is not what should be happening.What was the plan? Why am I like this?The plan was simple. Make Fernando fall in love and tie him down to me permanently. I mean, make sure he has no way out. That's his punishment for making me wait for so long.And yes, everyone, I know Fernando Desejo Jr. I know him very well. How could I forget him? He is my first love!I
17 YEARS AGO..."CARMEL, are you going to school?" my mother asked as she caught me by the door. I had just woken up."Yes, Mom. I didn't wake you up because I know you were so tired from working at the resort last night," I said, approaching her to kiss her on the cheek. "I'm leaving now," I added, about to step out but she stopped me again."Wait... have you eaten?""Yes, Mom. I cooked. Your breakfast is on the table. I also packed some food for you so you don't have to worry," I said with a smile.Tears welled up in my mother's eyes as she hugged me tightly. Though I was puzzled by her actions, I couldn't help but smile at her words. A mother's embrace is truly comforting."Oh... I'm so lucky to have you, Carmel. You're truly a blessing from God. Thank you, my child. I hope you never change," my mother said, smiling through tears."I'm also lucky because you're my mother. Okay, Mom. I'm leaving now. I love you, Mom," I said again.Her reply of 'I love you, too' was the last thing I
"COME ON, let's go inside," Agatha whispered. We were standing at the gate of the White House.I took a deep breath. Even though I had talked to my mom and asked her not to allow me to go when Agatha asked, she still let me. My clever friend said we were just going to play with Onin. Of course, my mom, who's so kind and easily persuaded by Agatha's antics, ended up allowing or even encouraging me to go.She even said that I should enjoy being a child while I still can, and she's confident wherever we go.Agatha's smile widened as she pulled me out of the bunkhouse. And Agatha's plan became more convincing because her dad was going to accompany us. I don't know what she said to her dad, but as I've said, Agatha is persistent. If she really wants to do something, she'll find a way."Hey, wait. We might get scolded," I panicked as she pulled me inside."Don't worry. Just be quiet. Shush," she said.As soon as we entered the gate, I froze and surveyed the surroundings. It was dark where w
"I-EXCUSE ME. Is anyone there?" I knocked loudly on the door of the big house. Several minutes passed, but it seemed like nobody heard me, so I was about to knock again when the door suddenly opened. "Who are you? Why are you here?" the young girl who opened the door asked coldly. I was slightly taken aback by her unfriendly greeting, but I quickly remembered why I dared to knock on the door of the big house. "I-It's Rico, he need—-" "What's that, Nana? Who's there?" a woman approached the young girl. "She just knocked, Mommy. She mentioned Rico," the young girl said, still looking at me. "How do you know Rico, dear?" the woman asked me. That's when I told them everything that happened. They immediately responded, along with the woman's husband and their caretaker, Mang Jose. That's how our friendship with the new owners of the White House began. We met Nana, Rico's older sister, and Nana's twin brother Andy. Nana's real name is Fernanda, and Andy's real name is Fernando. At
"DAD? CALLIE?" the words I said when I saw my naked fiance sitting on top of my father with his polo shirt unbuttoned. My father was lying on the sofa in his office while my fiance was sitting on his stomach."Fernando!" The two exclaimed in shock and couldn't move for a few seconds when they saw me.I couldn't move as well as I could from where I was. So many emotions surround me right now. I wanted to get angry and lose my temper, but I stopped myself because we were in the office.Yes, we are in the office. To be exact, it was in the private office of the president of the company, who was none other than my father. I went to see him today because I wanted to discuss a new marketing strategy for our canned products.That's why my father's secretary was so quiet when I entered his office earlier. She even covered up for my father and told me that he was not there, but I heard a murmur, so I peeked into his office. I don't normally interfere in my father's affairs, but I heard the fam
"I-EXCUSE ME. Is anyone there?" I knocked loudly on the door of the big house. Several minutes passed, but it seemed like nobody heard me, so I was about to knock again when the door suddenly opened. "Who are you? Why are you here?" the young girl who opened the door asked coldly. I was slightly taken aback by her unfriendly greeting, but I quickly remembered why I dared to knock on the door of the big house. "I-It's Rico, he need—-" "What's that, Nana? Who's there?" a woman approached the young girl. "She just knocked, Mommy. She mentioned Rico," the young girl said, still looking at me. "How do you know Rico, dear?" the woman asked me. That's when I told them everything that happened. They immediately responded, along with the woman's husband and their caretaker, Mang Jose. That's how our friendship with the new owners of the White House began. We met Nana, Rico's older sister, and Nana's twin brother Andy. Nana's real name is Fernanda, and Andy's real name is Fernando. At
"COME ON, let's go inside," Agatha whispered. We were standing at the gate of the White House.I took a deep breath. Even though I had talked to my mom and asked her not to allow me to go when Agatha asked, she still let me. My clever friend said we were just going to play with Onin. Of course, my mom, who's so kind and easily persuaded by Agatha's antics, ended up allowing or even encouraging me to go.She even said that I should enjoy being a child while I still can, and she's confident wherever we go.Agatha's smile widened as she pulled me out of the bunkhouse. And Agatha's plan became more convincing because her dad was going to accompany us. I don't know what she said to her dad, but as I've said, Agatha is persistent. If she really wants to do something, she'll find a way."Hey, wait. We might get scolded," I panicked as she pulled me inside."Don't worry. Just be quiet. Shush," she said.As soon as we entered the gate, I froze and surveyed the surroundings. It was dark where w
17 YEARS AGO..."CARMEL, are you going to school?" my mother asked as she caught me by the door. I had just woken up."Yes, Mom. I didn't wake you up because I know you were so tired from working at the resort last night," I said, approaching her to kiss her on the cheek. "I'm leaving now," I added, about to step out but she stopped me again."Wait... have you eaten?""Yes, Mom. I cooked. Your breakfast is on the table. I also packed some food for you so you don't have to worry," I said with a smile.Tears welled up in my mother's eyes as she hugged me tightly. Though I was puzzled by her actions, I couldn't help but smile at her words. A mother's embrace is truly comforting."Oh... I'm so lucky to have you, Carmel. You're truly a blessing from God. Thank you, my child. I hope you never change," my mother said, smiling through tears."I'm also lucky because you're my mother. Okay, Mom. I'm leaving now. I love you, Mom," I said again.Her reply of 'I love you, too' was the last thing I
CARMELITA"BES...""You're grown now, bes. You know what you're getting yourself into," Agatha said to me before leaving my office.I almost had a moment with Ando if it weren't for my friend's arrival. I liked what was about to happen, but at the same time, I was relieved that something inappropriate didn't occur. I'm thankful that my friend arrived on time, but I'm extremely embarrassed because she witnessed the whole thing.Yes, I know I'm confusing. I'm confused about myself too.I obviously like him, and it's obvious how far I'm willing to go for him. But this is not how it's supposed to turn out. This is not the plan. This is not what should be happening.What was the plan? Why am I like this?The plan was simple. Make Fernando fall in love and tie him down to me permanently. I mean, make sure he has no way out. That's his punishment for making me wait for so long.And yes, everyone, I know Fernando Desejo Jr. I know him very well. How could I forget him? He is my first love!I
THIRD PERSON"MORE LIQUOR," SLURRED CARMELITA TO THE BARTENDER."You're already drunk, Carms. Go home before the creeps here take advantage of you," said the bartender, whose name was Jennifer."Nooo! Liquor, please," the intoxicated woman insisted."Oh, Carmel. Did you and Ando have a fight?" Jennifer asked.They were friends, so Jennifer could talk casually to Carmelita. She had also met Ando before. The first time Jennifer saw Carmelita drunk was when she found out that her employee was engaged to her.In Jennifer's mind, she couldn't blame Carmelita for being enchanted by Ando. He was very handsome, masculine, and seemed kind."No fight! He doesn't want me. He doesn't!" the woman exclaimed loudly.Other people in the bar were starting to stare at her."Please excuse us. She's just going through something," Jennifer apologized to the other customers. "She's harmless, so don't worry. Enjoy drinking, everyone!"Jennifer breathed a sigh of relief as the customers returned to their own
FERNANDOSINCE WE RETURNED FROM CORON, CARMELITA'S TREATMENT TOWARDS ME HAS CHANGED EVEN MORE.After the kiss we shared that night in Coron, I asked her to give me more time to consider her proposal. She looked hurt when I said that, but she quickly recovered.The next day, during the second day of our tour, she seemed a bit uneasy, or maybe it was just my imagination, because her behavior towards me became okay again, and she was still extra sweet and clingy. Until we returned home and went back to our normal routine at Mairaos resort, Carmelita's displayed interest in me became even more intense.Earlier, when Maribel was here, there was some tension between them. I saw how Carmelita looked so angry, like she wanted to kill someone. It was my first time seeing her like that. Because even though she could be grumpy, she had never really gotten angry before. I mean, ever since I arrived here in their place, I have never seen her lose her temper.But man, earlier, if Carmelita hadn't h
CARMELITA"I'M BEAT!" Agatha exclaimed as she sat next to me on the sofa. She took my wine glass and drank the wine.I just sighed and refilled my empty wine glass. Then, I took a sip without hesitation."Are you getting drunk?" she asked."Nope," I replied. "Is Tali asleep?""Yup. And she's snoring," Agatha replied.We were in the living room, watching a horror series on Netflix. It was a horror series that was recommended recently, "The Haunting of Bly Manor." I started watching it before we went to Coron, but I paused it because, well, we were on vacation. And yes, we're back home now. We're back in the house, and I'm continuing to watch it.Agatha was also watching with me. We're both fans of horror, suspense, and thriller stuff, so even if all the lights are off wherever we are and only the TV is on, we don't mind at all."I am ready to listen," Agatha said.I glanced at her in surprise. She wasn't looking at me but at the screen. She was also taking her time sipping her wine."I
FERNANDO"WHOA! It's so beautiful here!" exclaimed the twins. They ran and splashed into the water together."It really is beautiful here! These rock formations are the best. Let's take a picture, sis. Come on," Agatha said, and she and Tali took a selfie."Where are we again?" I heard Carmelita ask our boatman."We're at Barracuda Lake. We just came from Kayangan Lake. Fun fact: It's called Barracuda Lake because when you dive, you'll see the fish skeletons of barracudas below," our boatman, who we got to know as Mang Junior, explained."Ohh..." some of us murmured in response."Guys! Dive in! The underwater view is amazing!" Cole shouted as he appeared to invite us.The twins didn't wear life jackets because they're good swimmers. But they wore goggles to see underwater better.We brought our own swimming gear, so we didn't need what was provided by our tour guide. Well, all of us are from Marupok Island, and we all know the dos and don'ts of the sea.Anyway, we were excited to dive
FERNANDO "OH MY GOD! It's so beautiful here!" exclaimed Agatha as we descended to our first destination for the day, Kayangan Lake. "Wow. What happened to 'Ha? Coron? Let's just do our team building here in Marupok. Marupok Island is much better than other places'. Ha? Sister Agatha?" teased Dylan to the woman. "Tsk! Marupok Island is really more beautiful. Coron is just second. No offense meant, Brother who's driving our boat," Agatha defended herself. "It's okay, ma'am," said the boatman. Agatha really is funny sometimes. "Mommy, I want to swim now," Talitha, the lively child, chimed in. Of course, she's still with us. Unlike other kids who are afraid of sailing on the ocean, this kid is different. She's very adventurous and always on the go. Maybe because she also grew up on an island. "Oh, let's go. What are we waiting for? Let's explore Lake Kayangan, everyone!" Agatha said excitedly and led the way off the boat, carrying Tali. "Agatha is hilarious, huh? At first, she wa