I ignored his comment, "I missed the real you. Hindi ko to gusto!" I yelled in frustration.He chuckled, there was something dark and evil to it, "Oh, you don't like this? So ngayon may pake kana?""What?""If you want it that way, then you should have said it sooner." He smirked evilly, walking past me while ruffling and messing my hair as though I was a dog.So we really changed...Me, covering my emotions and building a facade, him pretending. Nevermind that. At least we learned."Wait!" Parang may mali..parang hinukay ko lang ang sarili kong libingsn, and reached now to the inner core, enough to reach the hell."C'mon. You're taking too long, stupid." Sabi nya, looking scowling at me. I tried to keep up with his pace but failed. Seeing me, he scoffed at me, judging me with his now restored dark gaze, and reached out around my neck to strangle my neck. I choked and slammed his hand away but his grip around me was hard so I didn't have a choice but to choke to death as we walked thr
"Goodmorning." Luke's voice said, his face looming on me as a wide grin spread across his face. Beside him were Emma and Hannah, with Leroy and Dax joining them. All of their faces circled around me. Hmm, the squad's all here?What a strange dream.Snuggling deeper in the sheets, I groaned and outstretched my hands and legs across my bed.Kiliti. Nararamdaman kong may kumikili sa akin. I pushed the sheets with all my leg's might at sinipa ito pababa. Another hand came tickling me again, this time I kicked it harder.The next thing that happened took me by surprise. Grabbing my feet, a hand-pulled it, and jerked it away to make it sound."Ah!" Sigaw ko, shooting up straight in reflex, and punching the person who did it. I mumbled a curse."Rise and shine," Leroy said in a singsong tone, drawing the curtains up. I squinted as bright light met my eyes. When I had time to adjust, I saw Emma's face, nakaupo sa tabi ko."We're going to be late, missy," nakangisi sya sakin.Silence, looking
With sullen faces, as though disappointed in something, they nodded their heads no simultaneously. "Unfortunately, nope, seryoso kami Snow""Time is running." Hannah raised her watch, "Now 19 minutes and thirty seconds." Sabi nya, I looked at her dumbfoundedly. She smirked, "Twenty-nine seconds, Twenty-eight seconds, Twenty-seven se-""You're kidding!" I jumped from my bed. "All of you, leave now! Kailangan kong magbihis!"They laughed at my reaction, got their bags from the door, and opened it. One by one they left. "Pack things good for four days or so...you never know, the Samal has a lot of beaches and stuff maybe we'll-""Yeah right. Alis na!"The fools even bothered to wave at me. "Good luck!"Emma turned one last time to flash me an evil smirk, "Iiwan ka namin if you don't make it in time." Sabi nya in a low voice as she flashed a naughty wink at me.Geez. Thanks for the pressure guys.Once they were finally completely left, I didn't waste a minute as I raced to the bathroom an
Natigilan ako. Not because of the threat, but because of his voice...Wait a minute, all this time it's..."Eion?" tanong ko."What? What do you want from me?" Sabi nya. Turning around, he looked at me and then back to close his eyes, "Oh, it's you." He brushed me aside.I choked.It's Eion! He's not even surprised at my appearance!Then as though he realized something, he looked at me again. And I expected him to exclaim like, "Why are you here?" How?"Instead, tinanong nya, "Where’s my bag?” I closed my still opened mouth, "I placed it on the compartment on top of us. Besides, it’s a person's seat! That thing doesn't pay." I didn't even pay a single cent for the tickets but let's just pretend okay?"So?"My eyebrows knitted, "So? So what? I have to move that for me to sit. The woman who was even assigned to sit here dragged me in, and switched places with me, great."Hindi sya nakikinig, instead, he stared at my drawings of flowers and the sun. I quickly closed it, "And I'm drawing
I looked up at him at ngumiti ng mariin. "Sorry...I was trying to hear what you are listening to, just being curious about me... as always, nothing to fear." I waved off like it's no big deal.I minded my own business and continued on drawing, not bothering to destroy the mood.From the corner of my eye, I see him removing one of his earphones on the right, wiping it, and placing it on my ear. Nasorpresa ako at may naramdamang kuryento as his hands accidentally brushed against my ears. I glanced at him, my small smile now turning into a wide grin.“Something about you nowThat I can't quite figure outEverything she does is beautifulEverything she does is rightCause there's you and me and all of the people with nothing to doNothing to loseAnd there's you and me and all of the peopleAnd I don't know whyI can't keep my eyes off of you and me.”I didn't dare move from my place habang nakasandig sa bintana, staring at the sky into emptiness as the song came and dug emotions deep in
I scowled, huffing. "You evil robot!" I whisper yelled, glaring at him. "Don't take me for a fool! I know what you are doing! I'm gonna google it! Hintay kalang!""Miss?" A flight attendant came in sight, pinupuntahan kami. Her eyes looked around and back to me, "I'm sorry but could you please keep it down? I'm afraid other passengers are being disturbed. Thank you so much." She flashed me a small smile at naglakad na rin palayo. I threw daggers at the flight attendant's retreating figure, fuming in anger. Argh! They always came in the 'unexpected' time to ruin my mood again! Just like earlier, that other flight attendant who forced me to sit, and now her. Can't they understand and blame the one who is really at fault? Why am I always the one who looks like it's my fault?I scoffed, umiling, and glared at the seat in front of me, burning holes in it. I grabbed my phone in anger from my backpack, almost breaking it on the way, opened it, and only to see the battery was low, with it h
"He? Who's that you’re referring to?" Emma piped in."My dad." Eion pressed. "Now that you see me fine, you can leave now. Ignore that old man.""Pero pumunta kami dito hindi lang para sayo, we came here to have fun also.""Yeah, cmon, what's done is done. You just have to go with the flow.""As they said, enjoy the moment, this won't last long."They said in unison. Tumahimik kang ako, not having enough energy to join in and argue.Nang dumating na ang pagkain, we ate our hearts out until we were full and discussed some matters. "Thank you for the food Eion! You're the best!" Hannah exclaimed.Finally! I flashed Eion a thumbs up, burping so loud. "Oops, excuse me." I smiled sheepishly. Good, this we are the only customer here, especially since it's already nine in the evening.Since Eion already knew our secret and the squad finally thought that it's better to let the truth out, it's fine to discuss some matters. “So anong plano nyo?" Tanong ni Emma, looking at each and every one of
Lahat kami ay tumingin sa isa’t isa, sympathy on our faces. Nakatayo lang kami, letting silence surround us."Sorry sir, Eion is just...being Eion..." There was more to it just by Luke's tone of voice.Eion's dad shook his head again slightly, his actions limited as needles and pointy things were stuck in his arm. "I'm used to it. He's my son after all. He really does hate me...I just wanted to see his face, it was the main reason why I ordered him here...."Tumingin ako sa sahig. The silence surrounding us was not entirely deafening as there was the constant sound of the machine, showing Eion's dad's heartbeat. But it was an empty silence. Just empty."Well, I gotta go and pee haha," Leroy suddenly spoke up, breaking it. Naglakad na sya at binuksan ang pinto ng biglang natigilan. "Look...who we got here," Leroy said. His eyes widened as big as saucers, and he swallowed down."Who was it?" Emma piped in, curious about who was the person at the doorway. He pushed Leroy aside who was b
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