LOGINShare
KABANATA 18
Last Updated:
2024-09-29 18:25:32
Related chapters
The 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
Last Updated : 2024-09-29The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 20
RUAN'S P. O. V I've been longing to take a nap for quiet some time. Pero kung kailan naman ako nakahanap ng tsansa na makapagpahinga, doon naman may nambulabog sa akin. Bigla na lang tumunog ang cell phone ko. Tanda na may nag text sa akin. Fuck. Kahit naiinis ay inabot ko ang cell phone ko para tingnan kung sino ba ang istorbo sa pagpapahinga ko. Pero agad ring nawala ang inis ko nang makita ko kung sino ang nag message. Si Zara. "Kuya, how are you? Nakapagpahinga ka ba ng maayos?" Dahil sa simpleng mensahe na iyon ay napangiti ako. Iba pa rin pala ang pakiramdam kapag may kapatid ka na nag aalala sa iyo. I was about to type a reply nang bigla ulit akong may matanggap na mensahe galing pa rin sa kanya. "Can you come to our house later tonight for a talk? Actually, dinner iyon. May kailangan lang pag usapan. And it's all about Thea." Napakunot ang noo ko. About Thea? Hell, what about her? Pero imbis na itanong iyon ay iba ang tinipa kong mensahe. "Sure, I'll be there at s
Last Updated : 2024-09-29The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 21
RUAN'S P. O. V"I never expected you to show up. Buti na lang, nakinig ako sa suggestion ni Zara na subukan pa ring i-contact ka. I'm so happy to see you, son.”The old man opened his arms wide, as if welcoming me through a hug. 'Yon nga lang, nagkusa akong umiwas at lumagpas sa kanya. Instead, I went straight to the dining area and take my spot in the capital of seats—in the very center."Kuya, kay Dad sana pwesto 'yan. If you won't mind—”"Ssh, anak. It's… totally fine with me. Let your kuya sit wherever he wants. Walang kaso sa'kin 'yon,” the old man interrupted Zara.I didn't pay much attention to them—especially to that old man. Ang nakakuha kasi ang atensyon ko higit sa lahat ay ang babaeng nakaupo ilang pulgada lang ang layo sa pwesto ko. It was the stupid woman who bumped into my car on purpose. Nandito pa rin pala siya."Why are you still here? Wala kang napala sa'kin kaya nandito ka ngayon? Hoping na may mahuhuthot ka?” nakangising saad ko sa babae.Inaasahan ko na maiinis s
Last Updated : 2024-09-29The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 22
THEA'S P. O. VHindi ko mapigilang mapangiti habang nakatingin ako sa hindi maipintang mukha ni Ruan.Nakaupo s'ya sa swivel chair n'ya at nakaharap sa laptop—mukhang sobrang busy n'ya kahit alam ko naman 'yung totoong ginagawa n'ya. Hindi naman talaga s'ya busy at wala naman talaga s'yang inaasikaso. Alam ko kasi na front n'ya lang 'yon para 'wag kong mahalata kung ga'no na s'aya kainis na inis sa presensya ko. Partida, day one ko pa lang dito sa opisina n'ya pero mukhang imbiyernang-imbiyerna na s'ya sa'kin. Paano pa kaya kapag tugal na at araw-araw na kaming magkasama sa iisang trabaho at sa iisang opisina?Because yes, ako na ang bago n'yang assistant at wala ring ibang nagawa ang loko kundi sundin ang utos ng ama n'ya. Dati pa lang daw pala kasi ay nabanggit na ni Tito Roldan kay Ruan na may co-owner s'ya sa kumpanyang 'yon. Hindi ko lang alam kung masyado lang s'yang slow na hindi n'ya na-gets 'yon o baka immature lang talaga s'ya at hindi n'ya matanggap na may kahati s'ya sa ku
Last Updated : 2024-10-02The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 23
THEA'S P. O. V"Once you're done with the sorting, ipagtimpla mo 'ko ng kape.”Iyon agad ang bumungad sa'kin kapapasok ko pa lang ulit sa office ni Ruan. Dala ko ang sandamakmak na files na katatapos ko lang ayusin. I spent almost half of the day just to finish all these. Akala ko pa naman, pag-akyat ko rito ay makakapagpahinga na 'ko kahit papaano. But I guess, nakalimutan ko na kampon nga pala ng diyablo ang "boss" ko."Ruan—Sir, mawalang-galang na ho. 'Di n'yo ba nakikita 'tong mga pinagawa mo? Sobrang dami, o. Past twelve na rin. Baka pwedeng mag-lunch break muna 'ko—”"You haven't eaten yet?” Kunot-noong sabi n'ya."Hello?! Magpapaalam ba 'kong mag-lunch break kung kumain na 'ko? Tsaka common sense naman, sa dami ng pinagawa mo sa'kin, tingin mo makukuha kong mag-lunch agad?” sarkastiko at naiinis na sabi ko. Nilapag ko lahat ng files na inayos ko sa table n'ya. "Sa'n ko lalagay lahat 'to?”"Lumabas ka na. Ako nang bahala rito.” aniya.Tinaasan ko s'ya ng kilay. "Seryoso ka?”Nag
Last Updated : 2024-10-02The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 24
THEA'S P. O. V"WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG? SA ANG LUPALOP KA BA NG MUNDO KUMAIN?”Kapapasok ko pa lang ng office, parang gusto ko na ulit lumabas dahil sa boses na narinig ko. Parang nawala lahat ng sayang naramdaman ko sa pagkain nang dahil sa nakakainis na boses na 'yon.Hindi ko muna s'ya pinansin at dumiretso lang ako sa table ko. Hinalungkat ko isa-isa ang mga drawer na nando'n at… bingo! Nakita ko na rin sa wakas 'yung wallet na hinahanap ko."Hey, woman. I'm talking to you—”"Alam ko at obvious namang ako 'yung kausap mo. Unless nababaliw ka na o may supernatural powers ka kaya may iba ka pang nakikita maliban sa'kin dito sa loob ng opisina mo.” sarkastikong putol ko sa kanya. Then I look at him. "Bakit ba?”Tiningnan n'ya 'ko ng mataman bago s'ya napabuntung-hininga."Remember the meeting I told you earlier? 10 a.m. sharp?” aniya.Meeting—shocks! Oo nga pala!Nataranta 'ko nang maalala ko 'yung tungkol sa bagay na 'yon. Pero imbis na ipahatala ko sa kanya 'yung pagkawindang ko ay
Last Updated : 2024-10-02The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 25
RUAN'S P. O. VOut of my frustration with that woman Thea, I thought of going out earlier than usual.Wala 'kong balak mag-cut off ng oras ko ngayon sa office pero nang dahil sa nakakainis na babaeng 'yon, 'eto ako ngayon. I am walking out of my building; going straight to the parking with my mind fixed on my destination—sa bar ni Tristan. I know, it was still so early to drink. Pero wala, eh. That woman already ruined my day. Therefore, I am certain that there's nothing left for me for this day.'Yon nga lang, paliko pa lang ako sa parking lot ay hinarang na 'ko ng isang babae."Sir Ruan! Sir Ruan!” she called.Ayoko sanang pansinin s'ya but she left me no choice. Humarang na s'ya sa harapan ko at bago pa 'ko makaiwas ay na-corner na n'ya 'ko."What?” inis na sabi ko na lang.The woman probably in her twenties just smiled at me. 'Tapos nilahad n'ya bigla 'yung kamay n'ya."Wala 'kong barya, Miss. Sa iba na lang.” sabi ko. Na-realize ko kasi na nanlilimos s'ya.Iniwasan ko na s'ya at
Last Updated : 2024-10-02The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 26
THEA'S P. O. VKinabukasan.Kulang na lang ay takpan ko ang mukha ko at buong katawan ko habang naglalakad ako sa hallway—hinihiling na sana, 'wag kong makasalubong si Ruan. Kung pwede lang na hindi rin muna s'ya pumasok ngayon, mas maganda. Kaso, mukhang imposible 'yon. Knowing na s'ya ang boss ang base kay Zara, nagbabawi raw ngayon ng trabaho ang kumag dahil matagal daw nitong napabayaan ang kumpanya.Kahapon, paglabas ko para magbayad kay Bechay ay may nalaman akong sobrang ikinakahiya ko ngayon."Oh, Ma'am, bumalik kayo agad. Kakain kayo?” bati sa'kin ni Bechay pagkalapit n'ya sa'kin. Ngiting-ngiti pa s'ya at parang tuwang-tuwa na nakita ako. Nginitian ko rin naman s'ya pero umiling ako bilang sagot sa tanong n'ya."Hindi. Babayaran ko lang sana 'yung nakain ko kanina. Tsaka 'yung pinangako ko na dagdag—”"Ho? Ano ba 'yan. Akala ko pa naman miss n'yo na agad 'yung luto namin dito kaya kakain kayo ulit.” parang nanghihinayang na sabi n'ya. "Pero 'yung sa kinain n'yo kanina, okay n
Last Updated : 2024-10-06
Latest chapter
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
![Hiding The Fuckboy‘s Children [TAGLISH]](https://acfs1.goodnovel.com/dist/src/assets/images/book/43949cad-default_cover.png)
