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KABANATA 44

Author: Eyah
last update Huling Na-update: 2024-11-19 15:03:34

THEA'S P. O. V

Minuto 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
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  • The 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

    Huling Na-update : 2024-11-19
  • The 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

    Huling Na-update : 2024-11-19
  • The 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

    Huling Na-update : 2024-11-19
  • The Rebirth of Love   KABANATA 48

    RUAN'S P. O. VI sat at the bar, my gaze fixed on the swirling amber liquid in my glass, my mind still replaying the scene in Hope's house, the accusing words, the look of pain in her eyes. Paulit-ulit. I took another sip of my drink.As I sat there, lost in my thoughts, a familiar voice cut through the noise of the bar."Ruan?"I looked up, my heart skipping a beat. It was Thia, a woman I had known briefly, a fling from a time when I was still lost in the haze of real life, seeking solace in fleeting encounters.She smiled, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint."Long time no see," she said, her voice a seductive purr. "Fancy meeting you here."She slid onto the stool beside me, her body pressed against mine, her perfume a heady mix of vanilla and jasmine."What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice flat, my gaze avoiding hers."I'm here for you, Ruan," she said, her voice a soft caress. "Napansin ko kasi na mag isa ka lang. Parang ang lungkot mo pa. You look like you could u

    Huling Na-update : 2024-11-19
  • The Rebirth of Love   KABANATA 49

    THEA'S P. O. VTHE NEXT MORNING. I sat at my desk, my gaze fixed on the computer screen, but my mind was a million miles away. The events of the past few days had left me feeling drained, my heart heavy with a mixture of heartbreak and determination. Kahit hindi kami okay ni Ruan ay pinili ko pa ring pumasok ngayon. Hanggang ngayon lang.I had finally made up my mind. I was leaving Ruan's company. I was going to start my own league, using the money I had inherited from my parents, a legacy that had been both a blessing and a burden. Lately ko lang din nalaman ang tungkol do'n kina Tito Roldan.I had always dreamed of starting my own business, of creating something of my own, of being my own boss. But I had also been afraid, afraid of failure, afraid of the unknown, afraid of leaving the comfort and security of my current job.But the pain of Ruan's betrayal, the shattering of my illusions, had given me a newfound sense of purpose. I was done being a pawn in someone else's game. I was

    Huling Na-update : 2024-11-19
  • The Rebirth of Love   KABANATA 50

    RUAN'S P. O. VI have to admit, I've been a jerk. Ilang araw ko nang tinitiis si Hope. I've been making out with other woman. Ginagawa ko 'yon sa office. Sa harapan mismo ni Hope. I can see her emotions—she seems hurting. Pero hindi ko 'yon pinansin.Pumapasok pa rin naman s'ya sa trabaho.Not until this day. The office felt strangely quiet, the usual hum of activity replaced by a disconcerting silence. I sat at my desk, my gaze fixed on the computer screen, but my mind was elsewhere. I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled over me since Thea's sudden disappearance."Where is she?" I thought, my fingers drumming a nervous rhythm on the desk. "Is she sick? Did something happen?" I tried to rationalize her absence, telling myself that she was probably on a personal leave, but a nagging feeling of unease refused to subside.I had tried to reach her, calling her phone, sending her texts, but she remained unresponsive. Her silence was a deafening roar, a constant remin

    Huling Na-update : 2024-11-19
  • The Rebirth of Love   KABANATA 51

    THEA'S P. O. VI watched Ruan sleep, his face flushed, his breathing shallow, his body sprawled across the couch. I had spent the past few hours tending to me, a familiar routine that had become a burden I couldn't seem to shake off.I had helped him undress, his clothes smelling of stale beer and cigarette smoke. I had cleaned him up, his skin clammy and slick with sweat. I had tucked him into bed, his body limp and unresponsive.I had tried to leave, to escape the suffocating feeling of being pulled back into his world, but something had held me back."I can't just leave him here," I thought, my heart aching with a mixture of frustration and compassion. "He's vulnerable. He needs me."I had been trying to move on, to focus on my own life, to forget about Ruan. But here he was, once again, dragging her back into his messy world.I had tried to ignore him, to pretend that he wasn't there, but his presence was inescapable, his actions a constant reminder of my heartbreak.I had tried

    Huling Na-update : 2024-11-21
  • The Rebirth of Love   KABANATA 52

    THEA'S P. O. VThe smell of burnt toast and something vaguely resembling scrambled eggs hit me as soon as I woke up.I stumbled out of bed, my head still fuzzy from sleep, and followed the aroma down the stairs.My kitchen, usually a haven of order and delicious smells, was now a scene of culinary disaster. The countertop was covered in a chaotic mess of burnt pans, spilled ingredients, and a lone, blackened spatula. And there, in the midst of the chaos, stood Ruan, his face flushed, his hair tousled, his eyes wide with a mixture of embarrassment and sheepishness."Ruan?" I asked, my voice laced with a mixture of amusement and concern. "What on earth are you doing?"Lumapit agad ako sa kanya at inagaw ang sunog nang wooden spoon.He turned, his eyes meeting mine, his cheeks flushing a deeper shade of red. He looked like a lost puppy, his usual confidence replaced by a shy awkwardness."I... I wanted to make you breakfast," he mumbled, his voice barely a whisper. "To thank you for... f

    Huling Na-update : 2024-11-21

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  • The Rebirth of Love   KABANATA 84

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  • 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

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  • The Rebirth of Love   KABANATA 80

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  • The Rebirth of Love   KABANATA 79

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  • 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

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