I looked at him disbelievingly, smiling for him to know that I was just joking. I was about to tell a remark when the sound of a screeching chair sounded through the clatter and a boy stood up. Eion. May binulong sya kay Dad and after a few words, Dax nodded before the robot walked away."San sya pumunta?" Asked Luke from beside me, voicing my thoughts."He was just going to check for his car, he said he left his phone." Nagkibit balikat si Dax at kinausap na si Emma. More like flirting.The waiter came to our table and served our orders. We thanked him once he was finished before digging in.Luke offered to feed me but I shook my head no. I can take care of myself, and I have my own hands. Thank you very much.I devour each and every bite as if the whole food would vanish in a minute. Savoring the delicious meal, nararamdaman kong nakatitig lang sakin si Luke. I reached for my glass of water and raised my eyebrows at him. "Stop staring, I'm eating. Baka matunaw ako."He blushed befor
He then grabbed the mic.“I found a love for meDarling just dive right inAnd follow my leadWell I found a girl beautiful and sweetI never knew you were the someone waiting for me”His voice was soft and husky. It wasn't too bad and out of tune, nor was it too good, but it was perfect. The way he said the words, just left me speechless, like he meant every word to....me. Sakin lang…“Baby, I'm dancing in the dark with you between my armsBarefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite songWhen you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breathBut you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight”I felt goosebumps when he said the last line. His green eyes pierced through me, just staring at me."Snow, why don't you join your husband-I mean your boyfriend?" This time, it was Hannah's turn to wiggle her eyebrows at me."Yeah, Snow, right Eion?" Emma agreed, turning to look at the boy from across the table, Eion. He just stared blankly in reply before looking at Luke in fr
Somehow, my menstrual cramps subsided a little nang lumipas ang Lunes ng parang bula. When Tuesday rolled by, everything was a bit odd lately. I could feel it like something happened when I wasn't there because when I went to my first period, Emma's nose was still stuck in her notebook and reading again! Well, it's not bad to read but it's just strange for someone like Emma."I'm concentrating." Her only reply when Tanont ko her what happened. I thought her quiz was only yesterday, she has one this day too? I kind of felt bad but I chose to just listen to the discussion.Then in my second period, parang may mali kay Hannah. Gusto kong tanungin anong nangyari sa kanya kahapon at lunch but I held back, noticing the gloom in her eyes. This was odd since the usual Hannah is all smiles and laughs, but this is different."Hey, Hannah, can I borrow a pen?" Tanong ko, even though I have one already, but just to start a conversation. Her eyes that were glued to the board turned to me and nodd
It looks like I left them in shock as their mouths are wide open and their jaw-dropping to the ground, iniwan ko lang sila at pumunta na sa canteen. Woo, that was quick. Like they said, Time is gold. So lunchtime is gold. And the minutes I had entertained those girls were wasted, psh, what a waste.Sa gilid ko, Hannah was smiling. Smiling. It was not a trick of the light or sorcery. With that, my confusion just got more terrible. I thought she was mourning like someone just died?"Snow? Bat moko tinitingnan ng ganyan?" Hannah asked, breaking me with my thoughts with her smile didn't waver.My mouth just dropped. Seeing my expression, tumawa sya."Huh? I thought someone just died, you were merely speaking just yesterday!" I exclaimed in shock."Who? me? C'mon, snow, you're getting delusional, let's just eat." I just sighed. So much for playing detective and figuring things out on my own. "NEVER!" A voice glowered from beside us. We turn to see Emma sitting and huffing, her face red a
Dumating ang miyerkules and it’s time for me and Eion to present in front of the class. Para sakin, I had been sweating profusely. It's not that I am a coward. But bad things happen to me every time it's my turn to present something in front of them.I'll always end up embarrassing myself...And believe me, quite a few got so used to it that they consider it as a routine for me. Which is not good!And may I remind you that I. AM. WITH. EION!Was the offer I made last month even valid? Eion hasn't mentioned it, and I always forgot to bring it up. Well, screw that. Mrs. Johnson didn't waste a minute that as soon as she came into the room, bigla na syang tumawag ng mga magrereport. Time sure flies by so fast that the next thing I know, it's our turn already. I almost froze in panic. Keyword: Almost.But one thing caught me today...Eion. Something seemed off to his mood rather than usual. I mean, he is usually quiet but today, he didn't glare at me even when he got all the chances he got
Napahinto ako. "What?""Just be quiet." He hissed. "It happened before."Naglalakad na sya palapit sa akin and I take a back step, quite nervous. "Uhm...i don't know if it's one of your apology but I think-"In a swift motion, he wrapped a cloth around my waist and threw me on his shoulders. Anong ginagawa nya?’"What are you planning to—put me down!" sigaw ko, there were a few students in the halls who saw us. Seeing Eion's face, they scrambled aside to allow them to pass, probably thinking it's just a couple's fight."Don't let him kidnap me! You and you! Help!" sigaw ko again."Shut up!""Ibaba mo ako!""You want me to drop you? Then fine," he loosened his hold that made me slide down a little to the ground. My eyes widened, "Ow! Okay, don't drop me!He grunted, then returned his hold to me. "Where are you taking me?" Tinanong ko, forcing myself to calm down. "To the school clinic."I looked up at him in confusion, my eyebrows furrowing. "Why? Is it because of earlier? I promise
"Thank me after we got an A, stupid." Was Eion's reply the first thing in the morning nang magkaroon ako ng chance na mapasalamatan sya. He was sitting at his usual seat and I switched seats with the person beside him earlier to talk to Eion since the teacher is still not there.Suminghap ako. What's really with him? From the start, it was always like this. Him being rude, Him doing something good, then me thanking him, then him acting back to rude again. On and off.He flashed me a glare before looking at his math notes. He cleared his throat, tinitingnan ako. "We'll have a long test in maths after the two-week break." He informed me.Maths? Oh, I missed that subject yesterday since I got home soon."Okay." Tumango ako,, "Thanks for the information. I can just go and borrow notes from Hannah at the break.""Hannah's going to a family gathering." Sagot nya."Really? She didn't mention that to me.""Then to Emma...but I can't borrow it from here cause we're not in the same class...dif
With that incident in my mind, umuwi na ako. "Nathan I'm home!" sigaw ko as soon as I got to our house. I waited for a minute...baka tulog pa. I'll just open the door myself then. Rummaging through my bag, I looked for the key. I'm sure I just put it here this morning..."Where's my math notes?"I jumped in shock and looked at the source."Oh." I sighed in relief, seeing it's not a robber or something. "Eion, so good to see you here." I greeted sarcastically. I turned my eyes to look around, then stared at him in confusion, "Bat andito ka?” He leaned to a wall, crossing his arms in front of him, "I want it back."Tingnan ko lang sya, waiting for him to continue. Realizing he has nothing more to say, I motioned for him to continue, "The what? What are you referring to?" I sighed. Eion, minsan, please, just please, elaborate clearly, it's not like you have to explain for five sentences. I just need a good answer, that's all."My notes." He replied.Nagtama ang aking kilay, my eyes na
Buti na lang na-convince ko si Eion na dumaan sa reception matapos siyang makipagkulitan sa kotse. Ang reception ay sa villa ni Hudson, kung saan naglilingkod ang kaibigan ni Eion noong bata pa si Mario. Nakita ko siya at ngumiti sa kanya. "Buti naman nagtatrabaho ka pa rin dito, Mario." Bahagya siyang yumuko, “Kahit ako ay nagtataka kung bakit hindi ako pinaalis ni Eion. Anyways, I’m wishing you a happy marriage, Ms. Snow.” Pagkatapos ay bumulong siya, "Alam ko na kayong dalawa ang hahantong sa isa't isa." Sabi niya sabay kindat, at bago pa ako makasagot ay naglakad na siya palayo. "Ano iyon?" Tanong ni Eion nang maabutan niya ako habang pinaparada niya ang sasakyan kanina. "Wala. Mario ang pagiging Mario." Sumagot ako. Nakita ko si Leroy na nakatingin sa paligid at nang magtama ang aming mga mata, nakahinga siya ng maluwag. Pagkatapos ay tinahak niya ang daan papunta sa amin. "Oh hey. Nagulat ako na nakarating ka rito, aking kaibigan." Sabi ni Leroy sabay turo sa labi ko at
Maya-maya lang ay tumigil si Eion at tumayo. Binigyan siya ng isang waiter ng gitara at tumahimik siya.“I never sing, Snow, but for tonight, it’s only you and me. Kantahan kita."Napabuntong hininga ako dahil doon. "Teka, kakanta ka ba talaga?"“Oo. Nagsasanay ako nitong mga nakaraang buwan. Sa Pinas, alam mo ba na nakasanayan na nilang kantahin ang iyong puso gamit ang gitara at pumunta sa bahay ng liligawan mo. Tinatawag itong harana." Ipinaalam niya sa akin. Ang mga kamay niya ay nagtu-tune ng gitara at medyo nanginginig siya. Nginitian ko siya at nag thumbs up para palakasin ang loob niya.Tumango siya, “Maaaring hindi ito ang bahay mo at nasa barko tayo ngayon pero... I’m doing it. Sana ay mag-enjoy ka sa gabing ito, mahal ko." Pagkasabi niyan, sinimulan niyang i-string ang gitara at ipinikit ang kanyang mga mata, binuka ang kanyang bibig para kumanta."Kapag ang iyong mga binti ay hindi gumana tulad ng datiAt hindi kita maalis sa iyong mga paaMaaalala pa ba ng iyong bibig ang
Sinimulan ni Eion ang kanyang panata. "Naalala mo ba yung unang araw na nagkakilala tayo?" Hindi ito ang karaniwang love at first sight moment. Naiinis ako sayo, hindi ko alam na pagmamahal na pala ang nararamdaman ko. Nagsimula kami bilang magkaaway at ngayon, tingnan mo kami. Ikaw ay naging aking manliligaw, aking kasama, at aking matalik na kaibigan. Wala akong ibang gustong makasama sa buhay. Makakasama kita, mahal ko, at asawa ko, magpakailanman." Sabi na napatigil siya. Nakatingin siya sa mga mata ko habang sinasabi niya iyon. Wala siyang kopya, pagkatapos ay nagpatuloy siya, “Ginawa mo akong pinakamasayang tao sa mundo ngayon sa pamamagitan ng pagsang-ayon na ibahagi ang iyong buhay sa akin. Ipinapangako kong pahahalagahan at igalang kita. Ipinapangako kong aalagaan at poprotektahan kita. Ipinapangako ko na aaliwin kita at hikayatin ka. Ipinapangako kong makakasama kita sa buong kawalang-hanggan. Ipinapangako kong mamahalin kita kung sino ka, at kung sino ka pa. Nangangako
Pagdating sa venue, nanatili ako sa sasakyan habang sinusuri muna ng organizers ng kasal namin ang lahat bago kami magsimula. Napatingin ako sa abalang tao na nakaupo sa mga upuan. Mayroon lang kaming isang daang bisita para sa araw na ito dahil ayaw kong mag-imbita ng marami. At saka, wala akong masyadong kaibigan. I lost contact with my high school friends the moment we migrate here. Isa pa, hindi rin ganoon ka-close si nanay sa mga kamag-anak ni tatay dahil pareho silang tumakas sa kanilang tahanan noong ako ay kasama nila. At hindi ko siya masisisi dahil doon. Kaya si mama lang, si Nathan, at ilan sa mga kaklase ko from Anastolgia High like Ember. Kaya karamihan ay pamilya at mga kamag-anak ni Eion ang mga bisita niya. Nakita ko sina Luke at Hannah na binabati ang mga bisita at sinisiguradong komportable ang lahat. Napatingin sa amin si Tita Maggie at ikinaway ang kanyang mga kamay. Nakaupo siya sa tabi ng kanyang asawa, si Martin Sawyer na karga-karga ang kanilang isang ta
"Hindi ko talaga akalain, sa ating tatlo, na ikaw ang unang ikakasal, Snow." Sabi ni Emma habang naglalagay ng powder sa kanyang mukha gamit ang kanyang makeup brush. “Naku, nagseselos ka ba na siya ang unang ikakasal sa atin, o nagseselos ka dahil gusto mong ikasal sa susunod, Emma?” mungkahi ni Hannah habang naglalagay ng lipstick sa labi. Umikot lang ng mata si Emma, “Well, I didn’t expect na ikaw, sa aming lahat, ang unang nabuntis, Hannah.” Gumanti siya ng putok, itinuro ang malaking tummy ni Hannah. Si Hannah ay pitong buwan nang buntis sa anak ni Leroy. Maging ako ay nagulat sa biglaang balita. Hindi ko ito inaasahan. Natawa si Hannah doon at kinindatan ako, “This is your time girl. Lumiwanag na parang brilyante." Natawa na lang ako sa kanila, napakagat labi sa sobrang kaba na nararamdaman ko ngayon. Nasa dressing room talaga kami habang suot ni Hannah ang kanyang magandang royal blue na bridesmaid dress. Pinili namin ang royal blue dahil ito ang paboritong kulay ni Eio
SNOW’S POV "Snow, may pinadala sa iyo," sabi ni Nanay pagkagising ko. Kinuha ito at binuksan, ito ay mga bulaklak at tsokolate, na may sulat-kamay na tala na alam ko nang lubos. Kay Eion iyon. Pagkabasa nito, napangiti ako sa sinabi niya sa loob ng note. "Sa aking magandang niyebe sa aking taglamig na puso, ito ay para sa iyo. Hindi ko nakakalimutan ang anniversary natin." ito ang naging taktika niya for the past 4 years every time na anniversary namin. Then, my phone beep and Eion texted me. Nagustuhan mo ba ang mga bulaklak at tsokolate? Iyon lang ang teaser. Kakain tayo mamaya ng 7pm. Huwag magpahuli. - iyong strawberry addict robot Natawa ako sa nickname na itinakda niya sa phone ko bilang caller ID niya. Tila tinanggap niya ang palayaw na ibinigay ni Emma ilang taon na ang nakakaraan. “Oh, galing ba yan sa boyfriend mo, Sweetie?” pang-aasar ni mama. “Kung gayon mag-ingat ka. Hindi mo na kailangang humingi ng permiso sa akin dahil malugod kong papayagan kang sumama sa kany
4 YEARS LATER TITA MAGGIE’S POV “Justin!” I called out, huffing at umakyat sa hagdan. Nilingon ko ang yaya niya at tinanong, “Hindi pa rin siya kumakain ng almusal niya?” “Opo ma'am. Siya ay tumatakbo sa paligid para sa buong umaga. Humihingi ako ng pasensya." Sagot ng yaya niya. Bumuntong hininga ako, “Let’s stop chasing him for now. I'm sure mapapagod ka agad at kakain." sabi ko, pinaalis ang pagod niyang yaya. ako Naglakad ako patungo sa dining table kung saan nakaupo ang asawa ko at nag-aalmusal. “Honey, pwede bang tawagan mo si Justin? Pagod na ang yaya niya sa pag-aalaga sa kanya nitong mga araw na ito. Kailangan niyang kumain ng kanyang almusal." “Oo, honey.” Sagot ng asawa ko habang nagbabasa ng diyaryo sa umaga. "Halika na Justin, sweetheart. Huwag i-stress ang iyong ina. Malapit nang dumating ang kapatid mo kung ipagpapatuloy mo iyan….” Narinig ko ang huni ng asawa ko. And with that, I felt giggling from upstairs and Justin appeared running around the house and came
POV ni Emma Well, I trust Eion,” sagot ni Snow sa tanong ko habang tinitingnan ang oras sa kanyang wristwatch. Bumuntong-hininga, tumayo siya at kinuha ang kanyang bag. "Kailangan kong pumunta ngayon." I just rolled my eyes at her, "Yeah yeah, go to your strawberry addict robot now and leave your bitter and lonely friends." She just chuckled at me and bid her goodbyes, with Hannah encouraging her also. "Kunin mo ang lalaki mo, Snow." She winked at lumabas ng ice cream shop. Sa pag-alis ni Snow, naiwan kaming dalawa ni Hannah ngayon. Lumingon ako sa kanya, “Ano ang dapat nating gawin ngayon? Kakaalis lang ng kaibigan natin at naiinip na ako." reklamo ko sa kanya. Tila walang naririnig na salita si Hannah na sinasabi ko habang ang mga sulok ng kanyang mga labi ay lumingon upang bumuo ng isang ngiti. Oh hindi. Alam ko ang ginagawa niya. napabuntong hininga ako. Maya-maya lang, tumunog ang phone niya at pilit niyang pinindot ang sagot. “Oh siya, babe. Anong meron?” Oh right, si L
Pinatay niya ang mga ilaw. Ang kanyang mga labi ay patuloy na gumagawa ng mga kababalaghan sa akin. Ang halik na ito ay iba sa alinman sa aming huling pagkakataon. Bumaba ang mga halik niya sa leeg ko, pababa sa collarbone ko. Parang gusto niyang matikman ang lahat, bawat pulgada sa akin. Hindi ko napigilang isigaw ang pangalan niya, "Ugh. Eion.” At tinakpan ko ang bibig ko sa sinabi ko, feeling ko uminit ang pisngi ko sa kahihiyan. Geez, talagang…napaungol lang ako? Nakagat ko ang labi ko, nakatingala sa kanya habang nakatitig siya sa kaluluwa ko, tinutusok ako ng emerald eyes niya. He gulped, almost like in an pain, “Say that again. Tawagin mo ulit ang pangalan ko, Snow." Ginawa ko ang sinabi niya sa akin, "Eion." Para siyang nakikipagdebate sa sarili, pinipigilan ang sarili sa isang bagay hanggang sa bumulong siya ng isang sumpa, “Damn Snow. Ano ang ginagawa mo sa akin?" Tanong niya na ngayon ay humihinga. Sa isang iglap, napabuntong hininga ako nang umabot ang kanyang mga