GEN’S POV
NATIGILAN ako. My eyes landed on the small green box placed on top of my office table. Is that for me?
Kanina pa kami naghiwalay ni Donna, dumiretso na ito sa opisina ng mga ito sa second floor habang ako’y nagmamadaling umakyat. Medyo napasarap kasi ang kwentuhan namin, huli na nang mamalayan kong malapit ng matapos ang one hour lunch break namin.
Bahagya pa akong hinihingal nang lapitan ang malaking office table, I grabbed the note. Inikot-ikot ko iyon at lalong kumunot ang noo ko nang makitang pangalan ko ang nakasulat sa likod niyon. Mabilis kong binuksan ang sobre para lang matigilan.
To Gen,
Hope you like some sweets.
From: Ken
Laglag ang balikat na tinupi ko iyon. Okay, medyo disappointed ako. Why? Simply because in my hearts of heart, umaasa akong galing sa lalakeng malamang sa mga oras na
Welcome to The Kingdom of the Philippines or Reino de Filipinas. Filipinas as many locals preferred to call it, is one of the last Monarchies in Asia. Ruled by King Leoncio IV, the Kingdom continues to strive economically and today it is one of the thriving financial hubs in Southeast Asia. It is dubbed as the Queen of the Orient Pearl and one of the economic tigers in Asia. Due to its archipelagic nature, the country has a diverse culture and people that spoke not just one but 187 languages, but the national and official language along with English is Filipino or Tagalog. With this complexity coupled with the hospitality of the Filipinos and its amazing beaches, Filipinas is the number 1 tourist destination chosen by many travelers. T
88...89...93...99! It's tachycardia. No. It's an awful joke fate has thrown at my face. Who would have thought that I'll give away my first kiss to a total stranger—greek-god like if I may add— whom I dragged into a dark alleyway. Damn it! Ang engot ko. Napakalayo n'ya kay Karlo. I blink several times before my eyes stop, focusing on the man who's nibbling my lips. Dark floppy hair, high prominent cheekbones, and ax-like jawline. In short, panty-dropping gorgeous man! He's an A-league, a complexity and I'm just me. Simple, plain Gen. How in the hell did this happen? I forced my eyes to blink, trying to convince myself that I'm not dreaming or seeing an apparition of Mario Ermito or the likes. Gosh, the roman gods must be jealous of him. His lips were warm and soft. His breath was minty and his tongue. Oh, that sneaky little muscle. It scrapes every nerve in my body, I think I'm feverish. I don't know i
GEN'S POV What are the two things that we humans cannot escape? Some say fate. Others time. Me? I say both. As I stared down at my mismatched socks, I can't help but smile. Kung hindi ako marahil nalasing ng soju kagabi baka tamang pares ang nakuha ko kanina nang magising. Maybe, if I wake up early I won't be standing on the sidewalk but on a shed. Comfortable and far from being sunburnt. But fate has annoying timing, right? So, kaysa magalit ako't mainis sa sarili ko. Mag e-enjoy na lang ako. Pinunasan ko ng panyo ang noo saka tumayo ng tuwid. Raising both my hand, I mimic not just the chant of the people around but also their energy. "Viva Pit Señor!Pit Señor!!!" I was smiling from ear to ear while my eyes were roaming around Mango Avenue that was thronged with people, who's like I were very eager to catch a glimpse of the extravagant parade of Sinulog. The excitement I felt is unco
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE LIAM'S POV January 19, 2020 Sinulog Festival Grand Parade 10:00AM/ Alcala de Escolta Real Cebu City "Your Royal Highness, this will be the parade's schedule today,"Jaques walked toward me and put the iPad on top of my table."But it's not yet final. We're still firm with our decision, Sir." I nodded at him. Naiintindihan ko ang sentemiyento ng mga tao ko at ng palacio. "Duration?"I asked while scanning the gadget. Hindi pa man nagsisimula, pagod na ko sa nakikitang schedules. "About an hour. Depends on the crowd." I grunt. "Tell the boys to coordinate with the city council. I can't be delayed for my flight later this evening. You have to fix this, now. I can do the opening for the program at the plaza."
GEN'S POV "Genessia to earth!Yohooo!!"Matinis na boses ni Donna ang gumising sa pagkakatulala ko. Kumurap-kurap ako sabay titig sa mga kamay niyang naka wasiwas sa harap ng mukha ko na akala mo ay flag. "Hoy! Maria Genessia Rodriguez namatanda ka ba? Kanina ka pa tulaley d'yan ah."Dagdag ni Chardii na nakaupo sa tapat ko. Sa harapan namin ay ang mga umuusok pang bandehado ng lugaw. Nasa isang twenfy four-hours gotohan kami para magpalipas ng tama ng alak, according to Karlo. Well, I don't need it, to be honest. Kanina siguro, yes but now definitely not. After what happened, dilat na dilat ako. Gising ang diwa ko't lumilipad patungo sa napaka yummy na stranger. "Oo nga kanina ka pa walang imik. Ano ba problema mo? Simula nung makita ka namin sa may eskinita ganyan ka na,"puna ni Donna. Huminto ito sa pagkain at mariing tumitig sa mukha ko.
GEN'S POV Butil-butil ang pawis at bahagyang nanginginig ang mga kamay kong may hawak na tasa ng mainit na latte. I let out a sigh and carefully placed my drink on the table. For the fifth time, eyed the clock on the wall. Maybe, malapit na siya. Grabbing my phone, I searched for Donna's number. Ngunit bago ko pa mapindot ang call button may bigla ng humbalot sa cellphone ko. "S***a ka!" "Oops. Sorry, bakla. Naipit sa traffic." I rolled my eyes dramatically when her lips landed on my right cheek and squeezed me in a tight embrace. "Wait. Did you order our drink?"She inquired pertaining to our fave Starbucks coffee drink. "Nope. It's freaking long. Sabi ko sa'yo i-text mo sa 'kin kanina,"I pouted. "Fine. Ako na'ng bibili. Hindi kita maintindihan. Magaling ka sa memorization bakit 'di mo makabisado 'yung baris
GEN'S POV "GEN!!!"Matinis na tili ni Mama mula sa hagdan ng bahay namin. Kasalukuyan akong nasa kwarto ko at nag lilinis ng marinig ko ang boses na iyon ni Mama. Lumabas ako ng kwarto't bumaba sa sala ng bahay namin. "Ma 'yung boses mo."Saway ko sa kanya. Di ako nito pinansin, parang bata 'tong patalon-talon at niyakap pa ko nang makalapit na ko sa kanya. "Gen, congrats!Tanggap ka na sa palacio,"masayang sabi niya sa 'kin at ipinakita ang papel na kanina pa nito hawak. "Oh my God!"Di makapaniwalang nasabi ko. Kinuha ko kay Mama ang sobre at binasa iyon. Puno ng kaba ang dibdib ko habang pinapsadahan ng mga mata ng nakasulat sa papel.It's from the palace. The words were screaming at me. I am officially hired as Royal Aide. I jumped in so much glee while my parents were staring at me with big smiles
GEN'S POV LIFE IS FULL OF RULES. Absolute truth and though at times we tend to think otherwise since it put limits on how we see and do things– life in general, still, we are surrounded by them. Katulad na lang ng kung paano ako putaktihin ng sangdamakmak na alituntunin ng palasyo. I sigh dramatically, straightened my back as I ready my ears for the lengthy speech of dos and don'ts. "Listen very carefully and I want you to remember the 3 general rules here inside the palace,”tinig iyon ni Maam Val ang Head ng Social Media Department isa sa apat na departamentong under ng Communications and Information, department kung saan kami naka assign ni Donna. Yes, I'm grateful to our lucky stars. Hanggang Dito sa palacio magkadikit ang bituka namin. "First, discretion is paramount. All things that are related to the palace will remaininsidethese walls,”