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KABANATA 39
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2024-11-05 08:19:21Related chapters
The 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 : 2024-11-19The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 44
THEA'S P. O. VMinuto na ang lumipas pero tahimik pa rin si Ruan. Muhang desidido na talaga s'ya na huwag magsalita ng kahit ano sa akin.The moon casting a silver sheen on the tranquil lake. Napakaganda. Doon ko na lang pinagsawa ang mga mata ko. The silence between us was a stark contrast to the cacophony of emotions that had erupted at the restaurant, a symphony of anger, hurt, and resentment.I gently move my hand and put it at rest gently on his. I am hoping that this could urge him to speak, to release the burden of his past, to let the words flow freely."My father..." sa wakas ay sabi n'ya. Pabulong lang 'yon pero ramdam ko na punung-puno 'yon ng bigat at emosyon. Napalunok ako at naghandang makinig,"he cheated on my mother with Charlene. It was... messy. I was too young, I couldn't understand it. How could he do that to her, to us?"I listened intently, my gaze fixed on the water, my heart aching for him. I've known him since we were children. Pero kilala ko lang s'ya noon b
Last Updated : 2024-11-19The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 45
THEA'S P. O. VIlang minuto pa kaming nag-stay sa lugar na 'yon habang nag uusap ng kung anu-anong bagay lang.Hanggang sa manahimik na kami parehas at mag-decide na umuwi na.But as we prepared to leave, a sudden gust of wind whipped through the trees, rustling the leaves and sending a shiver down my spine. The sky, moments ago a canvas of vibrant colors, darkened ominously, the air growing thick with the promise of a storm."We should probably head back. Mukhang uulan na,” Ruan said, his voice laced with concern.Tumango ako habang nakatingin na rin sa napakadilim sa kalangitan. Katatayo pa lang namin ay nagsimula nang bumuhos ang malalaking patak ng ulan.Within moments, we were drenched, the rain pouring down on them in a relentless torrent. Natawa na lang ako dahil sa sobrang unexpected ng nangyari."Well, this is certainly unexpected," sabi ko pa. Hindi ko alam kung narinig ni Ruan ng maayos 'yung sinabi ko dahil sumabay ang boses ko sa tunog ng malakas na ulan.Ruan smiled, his
Last Updated : 2024-11-19The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 46
THEA'S P. O. VI woke with a start, a disorienting feeling of being adrift in a strange, unfamiliar place. I blinked, my eyes adjusting to the soft light filtering through the curtains, and realized I was lying in a bed, the crisp white sheets smelling faintly of lavender.A wave of confusion washed over me, followed by a rush of memories. I recalled the previous day, the chaotic family dinner, the unexpected trip to the lake, Ruan's confession, the rain-soaked drive home, and finally, my arrival at his house, where I had stayed to care for him.Nakatulog pala ako. Sinong naglipat sa akin dito? Si Ruan ba—wait, nasaan si Ruan?!I sat up, my heart pounding in my chest. I was in Ruan's bedroom, the walls adorned with framed photographs, the shelves lined with books, the air filled with the scent of his cologne. It was a space that felt both familiar and strangely foreign, a space that held the echoes of a connection that was both profound and impossible. The same room where we shared th
Last Updated : 2024-11-19The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 47
RUAN'S P. O. VI stepped out of the gym, myp body still buzzing with the afterglow of my workout. The air felt cool against my skin, a welcome contrast to the heat of my exertion. I stretched, my muscles protesting the sudden shift in activity, and headed towards my room, my mind already turning to the day ahead.As I was about to enter my room, I paused in the hallway, my gaze drawn to the portrait hanging on the wall. It was a painting of me, a younger, more carefree version of myself, standing beside a beautiful woman with long, flowing hair the color of burnished copper and eyes that sparkled like emeralds, dressed in an ancient Egyptian costume.Princess Alriadne.The love of my life.I had met her all so sudden, a chance encounter that had blossomed into a whirlwind romance. She was everything I had ever dreamed of, adventurous, spirited, and free—'yun nga lang, multo s'ya. So ourl time together had been cut short, a cruel twist of fate tearing them apart.I had never forgotten
Last Updated : 2024-11-19
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The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 85
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 s
The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 84
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,
The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 83
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 crispn
The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 82
1 year lager… 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 s
The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 81
THEA'S P. O. VKalat na sa balita ang pagkakahuli nina Tiyo Berting ar Tiya Purita. Kasama sa mga nahuli si Tejada—ang drug lord na dapat ay pagbebentahan sa akin ng mga walanghiya kong tiyuhin at tiyahin. The news of their arrests, of the drug lord and my relatives, had hit me like a tidal wave. Relief, so immense it was almost painful, washed over me. For years, the weight of their actions, the fear of what they might do, had been a constant shadow, a suffocating presence in my life. Now, that shadow was gone. Makakahinga na ako ng maluwag sa wakas.I sat on the edge of my bed, the worn, floral-patterned sheets a stark contrast to the sterile white walls of my room. The sunlight streamed through the window, casting long, dancing shadows across the floor, but it couldn’t penetrate the gloom that had settled over me. The air hung heavy, thick with the weight of the past, the echoes of whispered secrets and hushed conversations.I stared at the phone in my hand, its sleek surface cold
The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 80
Mabigat ang hangin sa kapilya, puno ng amoy ng mga liryo at kalungkutan. Ang mga bintana ng salamin na may kulay ay naghahagis ng mga makukulay na pattern sa makintab na sahig na marmol, isang matinding kaibahan sa malungkot na kapaligiran na mabigat sa hangin. Nakatayo si Ruan sa altar, ang kanyang mga mata ay nakatitig sa masalimuot na kabaong sa harap niya. Ang kanyang puso ay nasasaktan ng kalungkutan na napakalalim na nagbabanta na lamunin siya.Althea. Ang kanyang Althea. Wala na.Hindi niya kailanman naisip ang isang mundo na wala siya. Ang araw ng kanilang kasal, isang araw na dapat sana ay puno ng kagalakan at pag-asa, ay naging isang bangungot. Ang aksidente, isang malupit na pag-ikot ng kapalaran, ay nag-agaw sa kanya sa isang kisap-mata.Naalala niya ang huling pagkakataon na nakita niya siya, ang kanyang mukha ay nagniningning sa kaligayahan, ang kanyang mga mata ay kumikislap ng pag-ibig. Napakasaya nila, ang kanilang mga kamay ay magkakaugnay, ang kanilang mga puso ay t
The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 79
Sumisikat ang araw sa bintana ng nursery, naghahagis ng mainit na sinag sa dalawang kuna na magkatabi. Isang mahinang tunog ng pag-iyak ang pumuno sa hangin, isang simponya ng walang-sala na kasiyahan. Nakatayo si Ruan sa tabi ng bintana, ang kanyang puso ay umaapaw sa pag-ibig na kanyang inisip na hindi na niya mararanasan muli.Tumingin siya kay Ariadne-Althea, ang kanyang mukha ay payapa habang karga niya ang kanilang bagong panganak na anak na babae. Siya ay isang bagyo ng mga emosyon mula nang dumating ang mga kambal, isang halo ng kagalakan, pagod, at isang tahimik na kasiyahan na nagmumula sa kanya na parang isang tanglaw ng liwanag.Tinago niya ang katotohanan ng kanilang pagsasama. Walang nakakaalam na ang babaeng kanyang minamahal, ang babaeng kanyang asawa ngayon, ay isang sisidlan para sa dalawang kaluluwa, isang nakakagambalang paalala ng trahedyang naganap. Tinago niya ito, hindi dahil sa takot o kahihiyan, kundi dahil sa pag-ibig at paggalang.Natuto siyang mag-navigate
The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 78
Ang puting pader ng silid ng ospital ay parang nagsara kay Ruan, sinasakal siya sa pagiging malungkot nito. Mabigat ang hangin sa amoy ng antiseptiko at kawalan ng katiyakan, isang patuloy na paalala ng imposibleng sitwasyon na kanyang nararanasan. Nakaupo siya sa tabi ng kama, ang kanyang kamay ay mahigpit na nakahawak sa kamay ni Ariadne-Althea, ang kanyang puso ay isang magulong buhol ng mga emosyon.Napakasama ng loob niya sa kalungkutan ng pagkawala ni Althea, ang babaeng kanyang minamahal nang may matinding, hindi matitinag na debosyon, na hindi niya napansin ang banayad na paglilipat sa kanya, ang pagbabagong naganap nang ang kaluluwa ni Ariadne ay nagkaroon ng kanlungan sa kanyang katawan. Napakasama ng loob niya sa imposibleng katotohanan ng kanilang pagsasama na hindi niya napansin ang pinakamalalim na pagbabago sa lahat.Napakasama ng loob niya sa babaeng kanyang minamahal, sa babaeng hindi na pareho, na nakalimutan niya ang buhay na lumalaki sa loob niya.Pumasok ang dokto
The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 77
Ang silid ng ospital ay isang malungkot, malinis na paalala ng trahedyang naganap. Nakaupo si Ruan sa tabi ng kama, ang kanyang mga mata ay nakatitig sa babaeng nakahiga roon, ang kanyang mukha ay isang maskara ng katahimikan, ang kanyang paghinga ay mababaw at pantay. Si Althea iyon, ang kanyang Althea, ngunit hindi naman talaga.Nakita niya ang pagbabago, ang banayad na paglilipat sa kanyang kilos, ang paraan ng pagtingin ng kanyang mga mata na parang may alam na hindi pa niya nararanasan kailanman. Nadama niya ito sa kanyang paghawak, isang lamig na pumalit sa init na kanyang palaging kilala. Si Ariadne iyon, ang kanyang Ariadne, na nakulong sa katawan ni Althea.Napakadesperado niyang hanapin siya, ibalik siya mula sa libingan. Nanalangin siya, naghanap siya, kumapit siya sa isang piraso ng pag-asa na maaaring siya ay buhay pa rin. At pagkatapos, bumalik siya, ngunit hindi tulad ng kanyang inaasahan.Siya ay isang pagsasama ng dalawang kaluluwa, isang nakakagambalang, imposibleng
