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KABANATA 35
Last Updated:
2024-11-05 08:16:22
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The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 36
RUAN'S P. O. VI don't know how long was I here.Sa bar ni Tristan. I am wearing my usual get up—long sleeved polo at pants. Malayung-malayo sa dapat na suot ko sa Halloween party na ginaganap ngayon ng kumpanya.I know, everyone was expecting me there. Pero anong magagawa ko? I don't fucking go. At wala sa ugali ko na ipilit ang mga bagay na talagang hindi ko gusto."Sir, kayo na lang 'yung last customer namin. 'Di pa ba kayo uuwi?”Tumingin ako kay Jako. Hindi na n'ya suot 'yung apron na part ng unifor n'ya. Naka-t shirt na lang din s'ya. Mukhang nakapagpalit na."Aren't this bar open for twenty-four hours? Umuwi ka na, hihintayin ko na lang dito 'yung kapalitan mo rito. I'm sure, mayamaya lang din may customer na kayong darating. Anong oras na ba?”Jako took a glimpse of the wall clock behind the counter."Alas dos na ng madaling araw, Sir. Tsaka walang darating na kapalitan ngayon dahil bilin ni Sir, hanggang alas dose lang 'yung bar ngayon dahil nga Halloween at may event sila na
Last Updated : 2024-11-05The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 37
RUAN'S P. O. VLast night, I saw Ariadne. I kissed her, I made love to her. I felt her.Fuck.Napabalikwas ako ng bangon dahil sa naisip ko. Pero napatigil din ako agad dahil biglang kumirot 'yung ulo ko. Nasapo ko tuloy 'yon habang nakapikit ako ng mariin. I secretly wished na sana, mawala na 'tong nakakagag*ng sakit na 'to.Last night with Adriane seems so real. Kahit alam kong napakaimposibleng mangyari, may parte pa rin sa'kin na nagsasabing totoo talaga lahat ng naganap at nangyari kagabi. O kung hindi man, ewan ko. Maybe that was really just a dream.Fuck, hindi ko na alam. Hindi ko na alam kung ano pa sa mga nangyari kagabi 'yung totoo at hindi.I look at the space beside me. It was empty. So, hindi nga totoo 'yung nangyari kagabi.A part of me was disappointed. Pero mas lamang 'yung natatawa dahil pakiramdam ko, para na 'kong tanga. Nababaliw. Umaasa na totoong naikama ko si Ariadne kagabi.'Yung bumalik pa nga lang s'ya ay imposible na. 'Yun pa kayang maikama ko s'ya? Kalokoh
Last Updated : 2024-11-05The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 38
THEA'S P. O. V"OMG… OMG… OMG…!”I was left no choice but to send my address to Ruan; and now I know, anytime pwede s'yang sumulpot sa labas ng bahay ko. At hindi ko alam kung paano ko s'ya haharapin!How can I face the man who just joined me in bed last night?!Hanggang ngayon, naglalaro pa rin sa isip ko lahat ng nangyari kagabi. Lahat ng nangyari na hindi naman dapat nangyari.Last night after the party, imbis na dumiretso ako ng uwi ay naisipan ko na daanan muna si Ruan. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit ko ginawa 'yon. Siguro dahil sa bahagyang tama ng kaunting alak na nainom ko kagabi? Hindi ko alam. Basta, naisipan ko lang dumaan sa bahay n'ya para asikasuhin s'ya dahil alam kong lasing s'yang uuwi.Hindi na 'ko nakapagpalit dahil doon ako dumiretso sa bahay n'ya imbis na dumaan muna sa bahay ko. I am still wearing the Egyptian costume I got. Naisip ko na rin na sorpresahin s'ya dahil nalulungkot ako na 'di n'ya man lang nakita 'yung effort ko sa pagbuhay sa imahe na ina-idolize n'y
Last Updated : 2024-11-05The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 39
THEA'S P. O. VHabang hinihintay ko ang pagdating ni Ruan, naisipan kong bumangon para mag ayos kahit papaano.Ayokong harapin s'ya na mukha akong lantang gulay na malapit nang mabulok. Masakit pa rin ang katawan ko; pati 'yung ulo ko dahil napainom din ako sa party. Kaunti lang 'yon pero hindi naman ako sanay uminom kaya tinablan pa rin ako no'n kahit papaano. Isa pa, kailangan ko ring practice-in 'yung sarili ko na kumilos ng maayos. Ayokong mahalata n'ya ma may iniinda akong sakit—lalo na sa dibdib at maselang parte ko—dahil baka maghinala pa s'ya at isangkot pa 'ko sa totoong nangyari kagabi.Habang nag aayos ako, napansin ko 'yung hikaw na suot ko kagabi. Part 'yon ng Egyptian costume ko. Pero nakakapagtaka na iisa na lang 'yon. Hindi ko naman maalala na nawala ko 'yon o naihulog sa kung saan.Natigilan ako sa pag nang makarinig ako ng sunud-sunod at malalakas na busina galing sa labas ng bahay ko. Lumapit ako sa bintana. Binuksan ko 'yon para silipin kung sino ba 'yung bumubusin
Last Updated : 2024-11-05The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 40
RUAN'S P. O. V"Ang sarap! Thank you, ha?”I answered nothing but a grin and slight nod as I watch her eating still. Saglit lang s'yang tumingin sa'kin no'ng nagpasalamat s'ya sa pagkain. 'Tapos do'n na ulit 'yung tuon ng atensyon n'ya.I don't even know what I am doing here. Why did I exert such effort to do this for her? Napakarami ko pang importanteng bagay na gagawin kung tutuusin pero here I am, keeping my secretary company after I just learned that she's sick. How weird is that? I even bought and tried foods that I was not used to before; para lang masabayan s'yang kumain at hindi s'ya ma-feel bad na binili ko lahat ng pagkaing 'yon at gumastos pa ako ng hindi birong halaga just for her. Nakakatanga."Anways, hindi ka pa ba aalis after nito? I mean, it's not that I don't want having you around. Baka lang… may mga gagawin ka pa. With all the meetings scheduled today…” she said before sipping to her glass of cold fruit juice."Those meetings… I cancelled them all. I just said that
Last Updated : 2024-11-05The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 41
THEA'S P. O. V"A-Anong gagawin natin dito?”The place where Ruan brought me take me by surprise. Nakatayo kami ngayon sa gitna ng shelves na naglalaman ng mga diapers, milk formula, feeding bottle, at kung anu-ano pang mga gamit na pang baby.Kinakabahan tuloy ako. Is this his hint, his way of telling me that he already know what happened to us last last night?"Jusmio! Bakit naman baby agad?!” sigaw ng isip ko."Bibili tayo,” anunsyo n'ya.Lalong nanlaki 'yung mga mata ko. "H-Ha?! B-Bakit? P-Para saan—”"Basta. Just take everything in small sizes,” utos n'ya. 'Tapos kumuha s'ya sa shelf ng isang pack ng diaper. Malaking pack 'yon, parang nasa one hundred pieces yata ang laman per pack. Inabot n'ya 'yon sa'kin. "Check this if this is in small.”"S-Small?” tulala ko pa ring tanong."Yeah. For newborn babies. Aren't they fit for small?” sagot n'ya naman. Abala pa s'ya sa pagtingin sa mga milk formula habang nagsasalita."D-Depende,” sabi ko."Depende sa'n?”"Depende sa laki ng bata. Ma
Last Updated : 2024-11-19The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 42
THEA'S P. O. VThe air hung heavy with the scent of antiseptic and the faint hum of hospital machinery as we walked out of the maternity ward. Bago kami umalis, nangako pa kami kay Jako na babalik para bisitahin naman ang asawa nito at syempre, 'yung baby. Nagbiro pa si Jako na kukuhanin n'ya bilang ninong si Ruan. Nadamay pa ako dahil kung si Ruan daw ang ninong, ako na lang daw ang maging ninang tutal ay parehas naman daw kaming single at magkasama naman palagi.The weight of the past few hours, the whirlwind of emotions, the unexpected turn of events, all settled upon me like a thick fog.Ruan, ever the stoic, seemed unaffected by the emotional roller coaster we had just experienced. He walked with a quiet confidence, his gaze fixed on the bustling streets outside. I, however, felt a strange mix of relief and confusion. The relief came from the realization that Ruan wasn't using the baby stuff as a way to subtly acknowledge their one-night stand, a fear that had been gnawing at me
Last Updated : 2024-11-19The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 43
THEA'S P. O. VWhen the clock hits five, I immediately stood up and prepared to go. My shoulders slumped with exhaustion as I stepped out of the office building. The day had been long, but the unexpected kindness Ruan had shown me had left me feeling strangely energized. As I walked towards the building's exit, a familiar voice called out to me.“Thea, wait!”Napalingon ako agad sa direksyon na pinanggalingan ng boses. Ruan was standing by his car, a slight frown on his face.Lumapit ako sa kanya."Bakit?” tanong ko.“Sorry to stop you. May lakad ka ba pag uwi mo?” tanong n'ya rin sa akin.Nagtaka ako. It was not usual na tanungin n'ya ako kung may lakad ba ako o ano. Pero kahit nagtataka ay umiling ako."Wala naman. Bakit?”"I… I was just wondering if you’d like to join us for dinner. It’s a family thing.”I hesitated, my mind racing. A family dinner? With Ruan? Sa iilang pagkakataon na sumama ako sa family dinner nila ay wala pa akong matandaan na kahit isang nagtapos ng maayos. La
Last Updated : 2024-11-19
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
