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KABANATA 11
Huling Na-update:
2024-09-25 10:33:51
Kaugnay na kabanata
The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 12
A FEW MONTHS AFTER… RUAN'S P.O.V Arriadne already left me. Ilang buwan na rin ang nakakalipas pero hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin nagsi-sink in sa akin lahat. Parang kahapon kasi, nand'yan pa s'ya, eh. 'Tapos ngayon, biglang wala na. ''Give me another shot of tequila.'' wala na sa loob na utos ko sa bartender na ngayon ay nasa harapan ko.''Pero sir—''Inis na binagsak ko ang shot glass ko sa counter.''Bingi ka ba? I said, give me another shot of tequila!'' mas malakas nang sabi ko.''Pero lasing na po kayo—''''Hindi pa ako lasing. Damn it! Just give me another one!'' sigaw ko.Nilabas ko ang wallet ko at nilapag ko 'yon sa counter. Pinakita ko rin sa kanya ang cash na dala ko, pati ang mga credit cards ko.''See that? I can pay. I can even buy this whole place! Right here, right now. Lahat ng tao dito, kaya ko kayong bilhin lahat! And yet, you refused to give me a fucking shot of a fucking tequila?!''''It's not that, sir. Lasing na po kasi kayo—''''Hindi nga ako lasing!''Tumay
Huling Na-update : 2024-09-25The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 13
ZARA'S P.O.V Ala una na ng madaling araw pero hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin si Tristan, ang asawa ko. Btw, I am Zara Dela Merced-Buenavino. Kuya Ruan's half sister and yes, Tristan's wife. ''Mommy, why are you still awake po?'' Gulat na napalingon ako sa ibaba ng hagdanan kung saan nanggaling ang maliit na boses na 'yon. There I saw my four year old daughter. Si Sharia. ''I'm waiting for your dad, baby.'' mahinahong sabi ko. Mula sa pagkakaupo ko sa sofa ay tumayo ako at naglakad palapit sa kanya. Lumuhod ako para mapantayan ko s'ya. Then I hold her cheek as I gave her an assuring smile. ''Go back to your sleep now, baby. Everything's okay.'' sabi ko ulit. Ilang sandali n'ya akong tinitigan sa mga mata ko. Pagkatapos ay hinalikan n'ya ako sa pisngi. ''Go to sleep na rin po.'' malambing na sabi n'ya. Tumango ako. Binuhat ko s'ya bago ako naglakad pataas sa hagdanan. Hinatid ko s'ya sa kwarto n'ya. I put her down on her bed. Kinumutan ko na rin s'ya. ''Sleep tight, baby. M
Huling Na-update : 2024-09-25The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 14
RUAN'S P.O.V Almost eight months and maybe... tanggap ko na na wala na talaga si Arriadne. She already left me. Kaya mas mabuti siguro kung kalimutan ko na lang s'ya. Maybe, it would be better if I came back in to my previous life. No'ng hindi ko pa nakikilala si Ariadne. ''So, you're back in life again, huh?'' sabi ng babaeng nakatayo ngayon sa harapan ko. And that woman is none other than Thia. ''Just shut up and start.'' malamig na sabi ko. She smiled at me seductively. Lumapit s'ya sa akin at sinimulan n'ya na akong halikan. ''Oh, man!'' Dahil sa narinig ko ay naitulak ko si Thia. ''What's this? Walang special and extra service sa bar ko, bro!'' natatawang sabi ulit ni Tristan. I rake my hair in disgust. Yeah, wala ako sa bahay ko. At lalong wala ako sa kwarto ko. I'm here at Tristan's bar. ''What do you want?'' inis na tanong ko. ''Excuse me lang, huh?'' sabi ni Tristan kay Thia na ngayon ay halatang nawawalan na ng pasensya. ''I just have to talk to my brother-in-la
Huling Na-update : 2024-09-25The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 15
UNKNOWN P.O.V Akala ko nakatakas na ako sa karahasan na pwede kong pagdaanan. Pero hindi pa rin pala... Hindi mapakaling naglakad ako pabalik-balik, paikot sa maliit na kwarto kung nasaan ako. Kailangan ko nang makaalis dito sa lalong madaling panahon. Nagmamadaling kinuha ko ang isang maliit na bag. Nilagay ko na rin doon ang ilang damit at mahahalagang gamit ko. Mamaya, kahit ano'ng mangyari, aalis ako. Tatakas ako. TRISTAN'S P.O.V It's passed two a.m but we're still here in my bar. Nag-iinuman. Nagku-kwentuhan at nagtatawanan. ''I think, we need to end this, bro. Mag-uumaga na.'' sabi ko kay Ruan na ngayon ay nakasubsob na sa counter. Medyo nakakaramdam na rin kasi ako ng hilo. Hindi ako masyadong uminom dahil binilin sa akin ni Zara na ihatid ko pauwi ang kapatid n'ya. ''Y-Yeah... U-Uuwi na tayoOooO!'' sabi n'ya naman. Tinaas n'ya pa ang kamay n'ya pero hindi nagtagal ay unti-unti ring kusang bumaba 'yon. He's really wasted. Tss! Pinilit kong tumayo. ''Tara na, bro.
Huling Na-update : 2024-09-25The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 16
ZARA'S P.O.V Halos dalawang oras na ako dito sa ospital. Tristan also went here but I ask him to go to the police station. Kailangan daw imbestigahan ang nangyaring aksidente. Lalo na't hindi lang si Kuya Ruan ang sangkot doon. Yes, may ibang tao pa na nadamay sa aksidente. And unfortunately, the other victim was a girl. Wala daw nakakakilala dito. At base sa mga gamit na dala nito na nakita sa area kung saan nangyari ang aksidente, mukha daw itong pinalayas o kusang lumayas. Wala rin daw dalang cell phone o ID 'yung babae kaya nahihirapan silang tukuyin kung sino at taga-saan ba ito. Hanggang ngayon, nasa operating room pa si Kuya at 'yung babae. Agad akong napatayo nang makita ko si Tristan na may kasamang dalawang pulis. Papalapit sila sa akin kaya sinalubong ko na sila agad. Tristan immediately hugged me. ''Good morning, Mrs. Buenavino.'' bati ng isang pulis. ''G-Good morning din po.'' bati ko rin. ''N-Nalaman n'yo na po ba kung Ano'ng eksaktong nangyari kay Kuya?'' ''Ye
Huling Na-update : 2024-09-29The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 17
ZARA'S P.O.V Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na nasa harapan ko na ngayon ang kaibigan kong matagal ko nang hindi nakikita. And yes, she's Althea Hope San Andres. Ang babaeng nadamay sa pagkaka-aksidente ni Kuya Ruan. ''M-May naaalala ako. P-Pero 'yung Zara na kilala at kaibigan ko mula no'ng bata ako ako... w-wala s'yang kapatid. P-Parehas kaming nag-iisang anak k-kaya... kaya nga kami 'yung laging magkasama no'n, eh. At sabi mo kanina... k-kapatid mo 'yung nakasagasa sa akin. K-Kaya imposible na ikaw 'yung Zara na kilala ko. A-At... Dela Merced ang apelyido n'ya, hindi Buenavino.'' Natawa ako dahil sa sinabi n'ya. ''It's really you, Thea! I can't believe this!'' masayang sabi ko. ''H-Ha?'' Huminga ako ng malalim. ''Ako at ang Zara na tinutukoy mo ay iisa lang. And yes, nag-iisang anak lang ako. Ni Daddy Roldan at ni Mommy Charlene. Pero may half brother ako. Sa side ni Daddy. And that's Kuya Ruan. S'ya 'yung kasama mo sa aksidente. And... I am Zara Dela Merced-Buenavino. 'Cause
Huling Na-update : 2024-09-29The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 18
THEA'S P.O.V Pagkatapos ng ilang araw na pananatili sa ospital at matapos ang ilang serye ng mga tests, pinayagan na rin kaming makalabas sa ospital. At gaya ng sabi ni Zara, sila nga ang nagbayad ng buong bill. Kasama na 'yung akin. Hays. ''We'll be heading to our house, Thea. Napaayos na naming 'yung guest room na gagamitin mo doon.'' anunsyo ni Zara nang nasa sasakyan na kami. Si Tristan ang magmamaneho at nasa tabi n'ya naman si Zara. Ako lang mag-isa ang nandito sa likuran. ''N-Nakakahiya na talaga sa inyo. 'Wag kayong mag-alala, babayaran ko kayo once na makahanap na ako ng trabaho—” ''Oh, no, Thea. 'Wag mo nang isipin 'yon, okay? Ayos lang sa amin 'to. Besides, malaki rin ang naitulong ni Tito Calix at Tita Diana sa pamilya namin no'ng nabubuhay pa sila.'' putol ni Zara sa sasabihin ko. Hindi na lang ako nagsalita. Pero tinawag ko ulit s'ya nang may maalala ako. '''Y-Yung mga gamit ko nga pala, n-nasaan?'' tanong ko. Nagkatinginan silang dalawa. Parang hindi nila bigla
Huling Na-update : 2024-09-29The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 19
THEA'S P. O. V "So, the news is true. It's nice to see you again, Thea, hija." Kahit naguguluhan ako ay nagawa ko pa ring bumati sa may katandaan nang lalaking nagsabi noon. At kahit parang tutumba na ako sa sobrang hilo at pagkabigla ay nakilala ko pa rin siya. Ito ay walang iba kundi ang nag iisang ama ni Zara at ng walang hiya ng Ruan na iyon. Si... Tito Roldan. "T-Tito..." nag-aalangan pero naluluha kong saad. Hindi ako makapaniwala na nangyayari ang lahat ng ito ngayon. "Come here, anak. Give us a hug!" nakangiti nang anyaya nito sabay bukas ng dalawang kamay. Nakadipa na siya na halatang hinihintay nga ang paglapit ko para sa isang yakap. Hindi naman ako nag aksaya ng panahon at nilapitan ko na siya. Sila ni Tita Charlene. "We've been looking for you for so long. Saan ka ba napunta?" naluluha ding tanong ni Tita Charlene habang yakap ako. "M-Matagal ko na rin po kayong hinahanap l-lalo na at kayo na lang po talaga ang inaasahan kong makakatulong sa akin lalo na noong gu
Huling Na-update : 2024-09-29
Pinakabagong kabanata
The Rebirth of Love SPECIAL CHAPTER 4
THEA'S P. O. VAmoy na amoy sa kabuuan ng kusina ang nakakatakam na pagkaing ako lang din ang naghanda at nagluto.I did this for Ruan. Pambawi sa lahat ng pag aalaga na ginawa n'ya noong nasa ospital ako.From the coffee I am making, my attention was instantly drew to Ruan when he entered the kitchen, his gaze sweeping across the table, avoiding mine. The coldness in his eyes was a familiar ache, a constant reminder of the chasm that separated us. I tried to bridge the gap, to rekindle the warmth that once existed between us.“Good morning,” I said, my voice betraying a hint of forced cheerfulness. “Breakfast is ready.”He grunted in response, a noncommittal sound that did little to ease the tension in the air. He sat down, his back ramrod straight, his gaze fixed on his plate. The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.Nagsisimula na akong magtaka kung bakit gan'to s'ya. Ano bang problema? O may naging problema ba?I tried again, attempting to break through the wall of his coldne
The Rebirth of Love SPECIAL CHAPTER 3
ARIADNE'S/THEA'S P. O. VHindi man n'ya ako sinamahan nang ma-discharge ako—o si Thea—sa ospital, sumunod na araw ay dinalaw naman ako ni Ruan.But his coldness was a constant, icy presence. Kitang-kita ko ang laki ng pagbabago sa kanya. Kitang-kita ko 'yung sakit sa mga mata n'ya, para s'yang laging may hinahanap. Ramdam na ramdam ko 'yon—mula sa pag iwas n'ya ng tingin, sa paraan n'ya ng pagsagot sa akin. He mourned Thea, the real Thea, the girl he loved—a girl whose life I now occupied.One night, I found him in the garden, huddled beneath the weeping willow, his shoulders shaking silently. Tahimik lang s'yang umiiyak pero kitang-kita ko sa pag alog ng mga balikat n'ya ang sobrang pagdadalamhati. That sight tore at something within me, a raw, aching empathy that transcended the boundaries of my spectral existence.I understood his pain. More than he could ever know. Minsan ko na ring naramdaman ang sakit na 'yon nang sapilitan akong napaalis at naiwan ko s'ya nang hindi man lang ak
The Rebirth of Love SPECIAL CHAPTER 2
ARIADNE'S/THEA'S P. O VThe hospital doors swung open, releasing me into the blinding sunlight. Or rather, it released me. It felt strange, even now, to think of myself as inhabiting Thea’s body. Technically, ako pa rin si Ariadne—ang multo ng kawawang Egyptian princess. But the world saw Thea. Dahil katawan n'ya ang gamit ko at nasa loob ako nito.Oo, nakalabas na rin ako ss modernong mundo. Kaya bga nakilala ko si Ruan, eh. Pero ibang-iba pa rin pala talaga ang pakiramdam kapag buhay at may pakiramdam ka. The world, right now, was a confusing blur of unfamiliar sensations and sights.The car ride home was a silent film of contrasts. The smooth, cool leather of the car seat felt alien against my skin—or rather, Thea's skin. The way the sunlight warmed my face, the way the wind ruffled my hair… it was all so intensely alive, a stark contrast to my previous existence as a disembodied spirit. Yet, it was also a constant reminder of what I had taken, what I had become.The house loomed
The Rebirth of Love SPECIAL CHAPTER 1
RUAN'S P. O. V“Thea… she didn’t simply die,” Thea—or Ariadne, rather, began. Her gaze distant, lost in the swirling embers. “Her death… it was… a shedding. A leaving.”I shifted uneasily. This wasn’t the straightforward explanation I’d expected. Thea’s death had been declared a tragic accident. At oo, masakit. Pero parang mas pipiliin ko pang maramdaman ang sakit ng pagkawala n'ya—sa kaluluwa at katawan—kaysa patuloy kong makasama ang katawan n'ya pero hindi na s'ya ang nandoon.“Her soul… it departed,” Ariadne continued, her voice barely a whisper. “It slipped away, leaving behind… an empty vessel. A shell. A-At naalala mo 'yung sinabi sa'yo sa rooftop noon? No'ng tinanong mo ako kung may chance ba na magsama tayo ng maayos at normal?” She paused, her eyes locking with mine, a flicker of something unreadable in their depths. “'Eto na 'yon, Ruan. Nakita ko na 'yung perfect vessel. Kaya finally, magkakasama na tayo ulit.”A chill snaked down my spine. The image of Thea, vibrant and ful
The Rebirth of Love EPILOGUE
RUAN'S P. O. VDays have passed and the constant words from others about how Thea won't be able to wake up still lingers on my mind. And sometimes, I almost listened. Sometimes, the weight of despair became too heavy to bear, the whispers of doubt too loud to ignore. The thought of waiting, of hoping for a miracle that might never come, felt like an impossible dream.But then I would look at her, at her peaceful face, at the faint rise and fall of her chest, and the doubt would recede. I would remember the warmth of her smile, the melody of her laughter, the depth of her love. And I would know that I couldn't give up.I was rotten from deep within, a man burdened by the sins of his past, haunted by the ghosts of his mistakes. But my love for Thea, a love that had blossomed in the darkest of times, was the only thing that kept me afloat, the only thing that gave me the strength to keep going.I was a broken man, clinging to a hope that felt like a fragile thread, a thread that could sn
The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 83
RUAN'S P. O. VThe hospital room was a sterile, white tomb, the air thick with the scent of antiseptic and unspoken sorrow. It had been three months since the accident, three months since Hope had slipped into that deep, silent sleep. Three months of agonizing hope and crushing despair.Matagal nang tumigil 'yung mga doktor na magbigay ng assurance sa akin na gagaling pa si Hope. Na magigising pa s'ya ulit. But no matter how kind their smiles are and no matter how gentle their words are, hindi ko pa rin magawang makumbinsi na isuko s'ya. They spoke of brain injuries, of the delicate balance of life and death, of miracles that were rare and unpredictable. They spoke of letting go, of accepting the inevitable.But I refused to listen. I refused to accept their pronouncements of defeat. I clung to the faintest flicker of hope, the whisper of a possibility that she might wake up, that she might smile at me again, that she might say my name. Babalik s'ya.Every day, I sat by her bedside, h
The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 82
THEA'S P. O. VThe air hung heavy with the scent of garlic and rosemary, a comforting aroma that usually signaled a pleasant evening. Parang atojo pa tuloy umalis. Lalo na nang pagtayo ko, parang bigla akong nakaramdam ng hindi maganda. Tonight, the smell seemed to cling to me like a shroud, a harbinger of the horror that was about to unfold.Kumaway pa ulit ako kay Ruan paglabas ko ng restaurant. Nakaupo pa rin s'ya sa loob pero kitang-kita ko naman s'ya sa salaming dingding. Alam ko na nakikita n'ya rin ako. As I walked to the sidewalk and before I cross the road, I took a quick glance at my watch confirmed my suspicions—it was getting late, and I needed to get home. Kaya tama lang din talaga na hindi na ako um-oo sa suggestion ni Ruan na isama pa ako. I excused myself from the table, a wave of relief washing over me as I escaped the awkward silence that had settled over the dinner.I breathe a sigh of relief—mostly like enjoying the cool night air. I took a deep breath, the crispne
The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 81
1 year later… THEA'S P. O. VThe soft glow of the setting sun painted the city in hues of orange and pink as I walked towards the restaurant, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs.It was our anniversary, one year since the day Ruan had promised to never let go of me again. One year since we had decided to face our demons together, to heal the wounds of the past.Isang taon na rin silang ayos ng mga magulang n'ya. It happened since they all decided to call everything quits. Nagkaliwanagan sila, nagkapatawaran. And I was indeed right. Sobrang daming bagay at side ng istorya ang hindi alam ni Ruan. Pero naliwanagan na s'ya nang magkausap sila ng mga magulang n'ya. Turns out, Ruan is really not who he seems to be. Mukha lang s'yang matapang at manhid; pero sa loob n'ya, nando'n pa rin ang batang s'ya na naghahangad ng kalinga mula sa mga magulang n'ya. And I saw that child when he cried while hugging his parents again after a very long time.Isang taon na rin, pero ni isa sa
The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 80
RUAN'S P. O. V"Ready na ba kayo?” I smiled with Hope's energy. Sobrang taas ng energy n'ya at ramdam na ramdam 'yon pagpasok pa lang n'ya sa sasakyan."Good morning, Ruan. Hi, Shariya! Did you miss me?” sabi n'ya ulit."'Morning, my Hope,” I said.Shariya giggled and exclaimed, "Yes!"And just as that, the day unfolded like a dream, a series of joyful moments strung together like pearls on a silken thread. Hope's energy was infectious, her laughter echoing through the bustling streets, her enthusiasm contagious. Shariya, ever the lively child, bounced between us, her infectious energy a constant source of amusement. We were a family, a makeshift unit bound by affection and shared experiences.We started with a leisurely stroll through the park, the sunshine warming our faces, the fresh air filling our lungs. Shariya chased pigeons, her giggles echoing through the trees, her joy a balm to my soul. Hope watched her with a tenderness that tugged at my heartstrings, her eyes filled with
