Pinaglaruan ko ang bulaklak na nahulog mula sa acacia. Pinutol ko ang sanga nito bago itinapon sa tabi. Nakita kong tinatakpan na ng mga ulap ang buwan sa kalangitan. Naghintay ako ng ilang sandali.Wala na sina Angela dahil umuwi na sila. Nanatili nga lang ako dahil naghihintay pa rin ako kay Winston.May kinikita siyang babae? At paano naman nangyari iyon? Ako ang palagi niyang kinakausap at tinatawagan. Wala rin siyang binanggit sa akin.Naalala kong hindi siya nagpapadala ng mensahe nitong nakaraang dalawang araw lang. Kung gano'n, posible rin.Nakarinig ako ng mga yapak sa kalsada. Lumingon ako at nakita ang kanina ko pa hinahanap. Si Winston.Pero hindi kagaya kaninang masaya ako, malungkot ko siyang tiningnan. Malamig ang mga mata niya habang nakayukong naglalakad. Tumabi siya sa akin nang hindi ako tinitingnan. Iniwas ko ang aking tingin, at tinitigan na lang ang kawalan sa harap.Bakit parang ang bigat ng pakiramdam ko ngayon? Bakit parang may hindi tama? Bakit, Winston?"Nan
"Paano kapag ayaw niya, Criselda? Eee, huwag na lang kaya?" kinakabahan kong sambit at pinigilan siya sa pagtulak sa akin.Natawa naman siya at binawi ang mga kamay ko. "Ano ka ba naman? Ito na nga ang pagkakataon mo para makapag-picture sa crush mo tapos hihindi ka pa," she encouraged me."Baka busy siya. Huwag na lang kaya?""Rosalind, walang masama sa isang simpleng pa-picture lang. Kaya sige na, huwag ka nang tumalikod pa.""Criselda!"Hindi ko na siya napigilan pa nang hinila niya na ang kamay ko mula sa classroom. Nagpatianod na lang ako dahil wala naman din akong magagawa.Valentine's day kasi ngayon at parating may booths sa school namin tuwing Araw ng mga Puso. Kanina ay ilang ulit akong nakipag-marriage booth kay Jerich, ang long-time crush ko. At ngayon naman ay sinasabihan ako ni Criselda na magkaroon ako ng remembrance na picture naming dalawa.Jerich knows about my feelings. I think everyone knows na may crush ako sa kanya. Well, I countlessly confessed to him, but he ju
I don’t know if I am just being paranoid that I keep noticing the vice chairman slowly having a fondness in hanging out with me. He would just casually arrive in front of my apartment, because he would like to watch movies and cook meals in the kitchen. And even if I am working late at night in front of my laptop, I could see him falling asleep on my sofa while hugging my squared pillow.“Want some coffee?”I looked up and saw Darwin who is placing a hot mug that contained black coffee just beside my laptop. I hung my jaw and looked around in the lobby, discerning if some employees are watching us, and thankfully, they are busy.“Mr. Montenegro,” I called him with almost shutting my eyes in fluster when I turned to him. “You have to understand that you are not supposed to do this.”He frowned and sighed boredly. “Let me guess; because you are my secretary and it is not my job to serve you on the other hand,” he said and crossed his arms. “But this does not concern anyone, Jill. You ar
“Please sit on here, sir,” I offered Mr. Ford Montenegro when he was done speaking to a businessman.He gave me a playful smirk while pulling out the swivel chair I was also holding its backrest. I was flustered and at the same time confident in teasing back while raising my eyebrow. I shook my head funnily before turning my back to organize portfolios in every place of the conference table.I observed the businessmen who are busy exchanging conversations for the meeting that will transpire today. The most things that I heard is the company’s new launching project and the names of the chairman and the vice chairman. While talking to the representative to prepare him for her presentation, I accidentally glided my eyes to the direction of Mr. Ford Montenegro who is playing his jaw with the middle of his thumb and index finger. It seems like he had been watching me, so I furrowed my eyebrows, giving him a gaze that would ask him why he is staring at me. He just shook his head, cleared hi
I don’t know if I am just being paranoid that I keep noticing the vice chairman slowly having a fondness in hanging out with me. He would just casually arrive in front of my apartment, because he would like to watch movies and cook meals in the kitchen. And even if I am working late at night in front of my laptop, I could see him falling asleep on my sofa while hugging my squared pillow.“Want some coffee?”I looked up and saw Darwin who is placing a hot mug that contained black coffee just beside my laptop. I hung my jaw and looked around in the lobby, discerning if some employees are watching us, and thankfully, they are busy.“Mr. Montenegro,” I called him with almost shutting my eyes in fluster when I turned to him. “You have to understand that you are not supposed to do this.”He frowned and sighed boredly. “Let me guess; because you are my secretary and it is not my job to serve you on the other hand,” he said and crossed his arms. “But this does not concern anyone, Jill. You ar
"Wow, congratulations, Jill! Highest ka sa reporting, ah?" komento ng isang kaklase ko nang magsabay kami sa paglalakad sa kalsada. "Ang galing mo rin kasing mag-English. Nakakadugo sa ilong, alam mo iyon?"Tinawanan ko lang siya. "Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit sa English ko pa kung pwede naman sa delivery of speech, ate," aniko. "Pero thank you po!"Hoooo, nakakapagod kahit isang klase lang ngayong hapon. Marami kasing tanong ang instructor namin sa MSTE-1 tungkol sa topic ng reporting ko, at dahil ayokong mapahiya ay sinagutan ko lahat ng iyon kagaya ng pinag-aralan ko kagabi. I have always been competitive when it comes to academics without creating competitions against anyone. Gusto ko lang na mataas ang grades ko at malayo sa posibilidad na bumagsak ako. Nasa college na ako, kaya kailangan kong pagbutihan, lalo na at kasali ako sa scholarship program ng Cornelia Foundation College. Kumaway ako sa kaklase ko sa second year na pumunta sa waiting shed kung saan ang bus stop. Ako
Maybe it was the fact that I was bothered what happened last night that I was spacing out when I went to the office the next day of work. “Secretary Castro? Are you okay?” an employee asked me when she approached me. “The paperworks you are holding are being blown away from your table.”“Huh?” I said and turned my head to the direction of my cubicle. My eyes widened when I saw that my papers are being blown away from my table that is caused by the huge air conditioner’s fan. It made me curse and ran towards it. “Shit!”The employee also lurched forward to help me get them. She kept raining me with questions if I am okay, or why I have not noticed my paperwork. I just kept nodding because I just want everything to be organized, and yet I a messing it all up. “What about your coffee, ma’am?” the female employee asked me again innocently.“Fuck…” I murmured and dropped all of the paperwork on my table. “Why is my day doing this to me?”Without wasting time, I approached the coffee mach
I grew up as an obedient girl until I became a teenager who is known to be cool and silent to many. I have struggles when I communicate with other people since I am not immune to any forms of socializing. Maybe because I never really understood the concepts of camaraderies and friendships. For me, I am content to be alone, even if there is a saying that no man is an island. "Are you okay?" one boy asked when he saw me watching the kids at my school playing in the playground. He was wearing our school uniform that looked cute in him. "You look lonely. Don't you want to play with the kids?"I furrowed my eyebrows and scanned his body up and down while sitting on the bench. "Do I know you?" I asked boredly, having no idea why he was approaching me. "How come that you don't know me? I'm your classmate," he said and chuckled. "You know what, maybe our classmates are saying the truth. You are very distant and mean.""I don't know why you have to nose your business with me.""I just want t
"Wow, congratulations, Jill! Highest ka sa reporting, ah?" komento ng isang kaklase ko nang magsabay kami sa paglalakad sa kalsada. "Ang galing mo rin kasing mag-English. Nakakadugo sa ilong, alam mo iyon?"Tinawanan ko lang siya. "Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit sa English ko pa kung pwede naman sa delivery of speech, ate," aniko. "Pero thank you po!"Hoooo, nakakapagod kahit isang klase lang ngayong hapon. Marami kasing tanong ang instructor namin sa MSTE-1 tungkol sa topic ng reporting ko, at dahil ayokong mapahiya ay sinagutan ko lahat ng iyon kagaya ng pinag-aralan ko kagabi. I have always been competitive when it comes to academics without creating competitions against anyone. Gusto ko lang na mataas ang grades ko at malayo sa posibilidad na bumagsak ako. Nasa college na ako, kaya kailangan kong pagbutihan, lalo na at kasali ako sa scholarship program ng Cornelia Foundation College. Kumaway ako sa kaklase ko sa second year na pumunta sa waiting shed kung saan ang bus stop. Ako
"Lagi ka talagang aabusuhin dahil sobrang bait mo," sabi ni mama sa akin habang kumakain kami ng hapunan. "Hindi pwedeng ikaw nalang lahat, Jill. Magtira ka naman para sa sarili mo." Nadiin ko ang pagtusok ng kutsara sa karne ng isda dahil sa irita ko. Nakatalikod si mama sa akin dahil nasa upuan ako, habang siya at ang dalawang kapatid ko naman ay nasa lamesa. "Oo, mama. Oo," sagot ko nang matigil siya. Mukhang nahalata niyang ayaw kong pinapangaralan ako ngayon dahil sa pagod kaya natahimik din siya. Hindi sa padabog ako kumain ulit, pero nagpatuloy ako nang nakasimangot. Ramdam ko pa ang tingin ng kapatid kong babae sa akin, pero hindi ko na siya tiningnan pa. Umalis ako sa boarding house dahil gusto kong matahimik ang buhay ko. Tapos paparangalan pa ako rito? Ano, dahil lang sa tumigil ako sa pagtatrabaho at wala na akong naibibigay na pera, gaganituhin na nila ako? Huminga ako nang malalim matapos kong isubo ang panghuling kanin at tumayo rin para ilagay ang nagamit na kubye
I grew up as an obedient girl until I became a teenager who is known to be cool and silent to many. I have struggles when I communicate with other people since I am not immune to any forms of socializing. Maybe because I never really understood the concepts of camaraderies and friendships. For me, I am content to be alone, even if there is a saying that no man is an island. "Are you okay?" one boy asked when he saw me watching the kids at my school playing in the playground. He was wearing our school uniform that looked cute in him. "You look lonely. Don't you want to play with the kids?"I furrowed my eyebrows and scanned his body up and down while sitting on the bench. "Do I know you?" I asked boredly, having no idea why he was approaching me. "How come that you don't know me? I'm your classmate," he said and chuckled. "You know what, maybe our classmates are saying the truth. You are very distant and mean.""I don't know why you have to nose your business with me.""I just want t
"Shit! Fucking shit! How do I fucking do this shit?""Anong ginagawa mo?" rinig kong tanong ni Irise sa aking likod."Wait lang, Irise. Baka hindi ko mapantaya-- FUCK!"Kung may mas mailalakas pa sa pagmumura ko, iyon na ang malakas na halakhak ni Irise. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin mula sa salamin, pero hindi siya natigil sa paghahampas sa akin habang natatawa. "Tigilan mo nga ako, Irise!" naiinis na sambit ko at nagpatuloy sa ginagawa, ngayon ay sinusubukan ulit makapokus. Humalukipkip naman siya. "Bakit ka ba kasi nag-e-eyeliner? Sampung minuto ka nang nasa labas ng kwarto natin. Akala ko kung ano nang ginagawa mo, pero nakaharap ka lang pala sa salamin!"Kung maputi lang ako, baka sa pag-init ng aking mga pisngi ay namula na ako sa pagkapahiya. Gusto kong maapektuhan sa tanong ni Irise, pero binalewala ko lang ang katotohanan sa magiging sagot ko. "Wala lang. Sayang kasi ang eyeliner na nabili ko sa SM noon, so... ano... nagta-try lang," rason ko.She snorted. "Hmmm... talaga lan
"Wow, congratulations, Jill! Highest ka sa reporting, ah?" komento ng isang kaklase ko nang magsabay kami sa paglalakad sa kalsada. "Ang galing mo rin kasing mag-English. Nakakadugo sa ilong, alam mo iyon?"Tinawanan ko lang siya. "Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit sa English ko pa kung pwede naman sa delivery of speech, ate," aniko. "Pero thank you po!"Hoooo, nakakapagod kahit isang klase lang ngayong hapon. Marami kasing tanong ang instructor namin sa MSTE-1 tungkol sa topic ng reporting ko, at dahil ayokong mapahiya ay sinagutan ko lahat ng iyon kagaya ng pinag-aralan ko kagabi. I have always been competitive when it comes to academics without creating competitions against anyone. Gusto ko lang na mataas ang grades ko at malayo sa posibilidad na bumagsak ako. Nasa college na ako, kaya kailangan kong pagbutihan, lalo na at kasali ako sa scholarship program ng Cornelia Foundation College. Kumaway ako sa kaklase ko sa second year na pumunta sa waiting shed kung saan ang bus stop. Ako
I grew up as an obedient girl until I became a teenager who is known to be cool and silent to many. I have struggles when I communicate with other people since I am not immune to any forms of socializing. Maybe because I never really understood the concepts of camaraderies and friendships. For me, I am content to be alone, even if there is a saying that no man is an island. "Are you okay?" one boy asked when he saw me watching the kids at my school playing in the playground. He was wearing our school uniform that looked cute in him. "You look lonely. Don't you want to play with the kids?"I furrowed my eyebrows and scanned his body up and down while sitting on the bench. "Do I know you?" I asked boredly, having no idea why he was approaching me. "How come that you don't know me? I'm your classmate," he said and chuckled. "You know what, maybe our classmates are saying the truth. You are very distant and mean.""I don't know why you have to nose your business with me.""I just want t
Maybe it was the fact that I was bothered what happened last night that I was spacing out when I went to the office the next day of work. “Secretary Castro? Are you okay?” an employee asked me when she approached me. “The paperworks you are holding are being blown away from your table.”“Huh?” I said and turned my head to the direction of my cubicle. My eyes widened when I saw that my papers are being blown away from my table that is caused by the huge air conditioner’s fan. It made me curse and ran towards it. “Shit!”The employee also lurched forward to help me get them. She kept raining me with questions if I am okay, or why I have not noticed my paperwork. I just kept nodding because I just want everything to be organized, and yet I a messing it all up. “What about your coffee, ma’am?” the female employee asked me again innocently.“Fuck…” I murmured and dropped all of the paperwork on my table. “Why is my day doing this to me?”Without wasting time, I approached the coffee mach
"Wow, congratulations, Jill! Highest ka sa reporting, ah?" komento ng isang kaklase ko nang magsabay kami sa paglalakad sa kalsada. "Ang galing mo rin kasing mag-English. Nakakadugo sa ilong, alam mo iyon?"Tinawanan ko lang siya. "Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit sa English ko pa kung pwede naman sa delivery of speech, ate," aniko. "Pero thank you po!"Hoooo, nakakapagod kahit isang klase lang ngayong hapon. Marami kasing tanong ang instructor namin sa MSTE-1 tungkol sa topic ng reporting ko, at dahil ayokong mapahiya ay sinagutan ko lahat ng iyon kagaya ng pinag-aralan ko kagabi. I have always been competitive when it comes to academics without creating competitions against anyone. Gusto ko lang na mataas ang grades ko at malayo sa posibilidad na bumagsak ako. Nasa college na ako, kaya kailangan kong pagbutihan, lalo na at kasali ako sa scholarship program ng Cornelia Foundation College. Kumaway ako sa kaklase ko sa second year na pumunta sa waiting shed kung saan ang bus stop. Ako
I don’t know if I am just being paranoid that I keep noticing the vice chairman slowly having a fondness in hanging out with me. He would just casually arrive in front of my apartment, because he would like to watch movies and cook meals in the kitchen. And even if I am working late at night in front of my laptop, I could see him falling asleep on my sofa while hugging my squared pillow.“Want some coffee?”I looked up and saw Darwin who is placing a hot mug that contained black coffee just beside my laptop. I hung my jaw and looked around in the lobby, discerning if some employees are watching us, and thankfully, they are busy.“Mr. Montenegro,” I called him with almost shutting my eyes in fluster when I turned to him. “You have to understand that you are not supposed to do this.”He frowned and sighed boredly. “Let me guess; because you are my secretary and it is not my job to serve you on the other hand,” he said and crossed his arms. “But this does not concern anyone, Jill. You ar