Adaline"What?" Ang tanging naibulalas ko sa sinabing iyon ni Terrance.Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata ko, at bahagya rin na umawang ang bibig. My brain's ability to think has ceased, while my heart, which had stopped beating for a brief moment, is now beating rapidly again.Hindi ko malaman kung ano ang sasabihin ko o kung ano ang mararamdaman ko. I just sat next to Terrance, who was still looking down the floor with a troubled expression."Her manager just called me to tell me what happened; Brianna was apparently overdosing on sleeping pills and drinking alcohol last night." Problemadong sabi ni Terrance, saka siya bumuntong-hininga. "I should have believed her when she told me yesterday that she couldn't live without me; I should have talked to her; and I should never have been a jerk to her.""H…how is she then? Is she alright?" Sa wakas ay nahanap ko na ang boses ko.Nanatiling sa sahig nakatuon ang mga mata ni Terrance ng sagutin niya ako. "She's still in the hospital, and whil
TerrancePakiramdam ko ay bigla akong nabingi matapos ang sinabing iyon ni Lucy. Tila tumigil din sa pag-ikot ang aking mundo, at maging ang pagtibok ng aking puso ay tila bigla din na huminto.I was rooted in place. I couldn't move nor say even a single word. My eyes widened and my mouth remained slightly open as I stare at Lucy who is also looking at me. Brianna had a miscarriage; she just lost her and your baby, Terrance. Tila sirang plaka na nagpaulit-ulit sa aking isipan ang sinabing iyon ni Lucy."You're shocked. I was too, and so is Brianna." Pagsasalita ulit ni Lucy habang ako ay hindi parin magawang makapagsalita. And so, Lucy continues, "Brianna was not aware that she was pregnant. If she knew, I am sure she won't be taking those sleeping pills, she won't starve herself, at hindi siya magiging pabaya sa sarili niya. Brianna has always wanted a child. She wanted to build a complete and happy family with you, but sadly, you don't feel the same way. I know I have no right to s
AdalineHindi ko malaman ngunit hindi ako mapalagay habang hinihintay ko ang pag-uwi ni Terrance galing sa ospital kung saan naka-confine si Brianna.I'm not sure why, but I have the uneasy feeling that things aren't going well, and I despise it.I'm trying not to think about it, but it just won't go away.I looked at my wristwatch. It's already seven in the evening and Terrance hasn't arrived yet. I had already sent him a message and called him, but he was inaccessible, which made me even more agitated."It'll be fine, Ada," I reassured myself as I walked back and forth in the living room. "Terrance is so into you now, and this situation won't make him change his mind so easily. So relax. Everything is still under your control."I was still worrying as I walked back and forth when my doorbell rang, followed by a few knocks on the door, which caught my attention.Nagmamadali ko namang tinungo ang pintuan, thinking that it is Terrance since I did not give him the key and he didn't know
Terrance"Brianna chose to overdose on sleeping pills? How about you then? Wasn't it also your decision to stay with Terrance, even if he's causing you pain? Wasn't it also your decision not to let go of him even though you knew he was in love with Brianna and causing you nothing but pain? Wasn't it also your decision to allow us to force you to marry, even if you and Terrance don't share the same feelings? Terrance and Brianna never asked you to commit suicide. You made the decision yourself. Ibig sabihin ba niyon ay kasalanan mo lang 'yun at sarili mo lang ang dapat mong sisihin, Adaline? Because if that is, then you have no right to exact revenge on my son and on Brianna." Ang boses na iyon ni Papa ang aking narinig nang nasa mismong harapan na ako ng pinto ng condo unit ni Adaline.Revenge. Isang mapait na ngiti ang sumilay sa aking mga labi.So this is Adaline's way of revenge. Brianna had been right all along. Adaline is plotting something to destroy me and Brianna.I should be
AdalineMuli ay hindi ko na naman mabilang kung ilang segundo o minuto kaming nag-iyakan na dalawa ni Terrance. Basta umiyak lamang kami ng umiyak na tila ba binubuhos na namin ang lahat ng sakit at pagsisisi na nadarama namin. And when we finally had enough of crying, we sat on the couch, magkaharap, at kapwa tahimik.But I was the one who broke that silence. "I can't believe I will hear you apologizing to me. Akala ko, mamamatay na lang ako ay hindi ko pa maririnig ang paghingi mo ng tawad." I said this, staring intently at him with a serious expression on my face, though I doubt he will notice because my eyes and nose are puffy, and Terrance is just staring at the floor with his hands clasped together. Hindi rin naman siya nagsalita kaya kinuha ko na ang tyansa na iyon upang sabihin ang lahat ng gusto kong sabihin. Tapos na akong umiyak kaya oras na para sumbatan ko naman siya. Pinanatili ko ang aking tingin sa kanya as I continued speaking, "It's funny tho. You never apologized no
Adaline It's been three days since the day my plan was discovered and when I and Terrance cried together. At sa loob ng tatlong araw ay wala akong ibang ginawa kung hindi ang magkulong sa aking condo. And Jackson and Regina have been calling me non-stop since that day as well. Marahil ay nabalitaan na nila ang nangyari kay Brianna dahil katulad ng nangyaring insidente sa restaurant ay kumalat na rin ang balita tungkol sa tangkang pagpapakamatay ni Brianna at maging ang balita na nakunan siya ay naming laman nadin ng bawat pahayagan dito sa Pilipinas. But I never bothered to answer nor return their calls. I just let them call me over and over again hanggang sa maubusan na ng baterya ang cellphone ko na hindi ko na din ini-charge pa. Regina must be furious right now dahil sa hindi ko pagsagot sa mga tawag niya. Ngunit alam ko na din naman kung ano ang mga sasabihin niya. Una ay tatanungin niya ako kung ano ang nangyari, then she'll went on scolding me but will ask how I am later on,
Adaline 3 years later… Abala ako sa pag-aayos sa aking sarili nang dahan-dahang bumukas ang pinto ng aking kwarto at sumilip si Regina na nakangiti. "What is it now?" Nakangiti kong tanong sa kanya na hindi inaalis ang aking mga mata mula sa malaking salamin na nasa aking harapan. Dali-dali siyang pumasok na sa aking kwarto at tumayo sa tabi ko. She then looked at me through the mirror. Hindi pa rin maalis ang ngiti sa kanyang mga labi. "You sure are taking your sweet time." I chuckled. "I just want to look good, okay? After all, this will be our first date since we started dating." Nakangiti kong sagot naman sa kanya. "Well, you already look good. Saka kahit nga ata hindi ka mag-ayos, magiging maganda ka parin sa paningin ni Jackson." Nakangisi na niyang saad na ikinailing ko naman. Yes. I am now dating Jackson. It's been three years since I left the Philippines and came back here in Canada. After that emotional talk with Mama Teresita, that's when I realized what I should
6 years ago... "Terrance, pag-usapan muna natin 'to. Huwag mo namang gawin sa akin ito." Pagmamakaawa ko sa aking asawa. Kung kailangan na lumuhod ako sa harapan ni Terrance para lamang hindi niya ako iwan ay gagawin ko. I don't want him to leave me. I can't let him leave me. "Wala na tayong dapat pang pag-usapan, Adaline. Alam mong hindi kita mahal at kahit kailan ay hinding-hindi kita mamahalin. Kaya mas mabuti pa na tapusin na natin ito hanggang hindi pa natin tuluyang nasisira ang buhay ng isa't-isa. At pareho din naman nating alam na wala ding patutunguhan itong pagsasama natin." No, hindi ako papayag. Hindi ako makikipaghiwalay sa kanya. I have sacrificed too much for our marriage at hindi ko hahayaang masayang l