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KABANATA 50
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2024-11-19 15:06:32Related chapters
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
Last Updated : 2024-11-21The 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
Last Updated : 2024-11-21The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 53
THEA'S P. O. VPagbaba namin, hindi ko na hinayaan na pumunta sa parking lot si Ruan para kuhanin 'yung sasakyan n'ya. Instead, I pulled him across the road, down on the bustling street, casting long shadows over the small eateries that lined the sidewalks. Ruan stood beside me, his gaze fixed on the brightly colored banners and the tempting aromas wafting from the stalls."Are you sure about this?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of uncertainty. "I mean, it's not exactly... five-star dining. I can bring you somewhere much better."I chuckled, my heart warming at his hesitation. He was so used to the luxury of fine dining, the exclusive restaurants, the lavish buffets. This was a far cry from his usual world, a world of simple, homemade food, served on plastic plates and eaten with disposable utensils."It is the 'much better', Ruan. So, relax, I said, taking his hand. "It's just food. Pare-parehas lang naman 'yan, eh. The only difference was, mas mura rito. But trust me, sobra
Last Updated : 2024-11-21The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 54
THEA'S P. O. VSeveral weeks passed by since everything happened. The chaotic night, the whirlwind of emotions. We were back in a rhythm, a comfortable, familiar rhythm that felt strangely new. Ruan had been showering me with attention, taking me on dates, making me laugh, trying his best to win back my trust and my heart. And I, in turn, was falling for him all over again, my heart softening with each passing day.Ruan's birthday was approaching, and I found myself consumed by the task of finding the perfect gift. He had everything money could buy, every luxury imaginable. A new car, a designer watch, a trip to a private island—those were all things he could easily acquire. But I wanted something more, something meaningful, something that would truly touch his heart.I spent days brainstorming, scouring the internet, asking for advice from friends and colleagues. But nothing seemed quite right. Then, one afternoon, as I was staring out the window, my mind wandering, an idea struck m
Last Updated : 2024-11-21The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 55
RUAN'S P. O. VHope had become a puzzle, a captivating enigma wrapped in a sleek black dress and a pair of sparkling eyes. She was always busy, her fingers flying across the keyboard, her phone glued to her ear, her mind seemingly miles away. It wasn't the usual Hope, the one who could always find time for a quick chat, a shared laugh, a playful banter. This Hope was focused, determined, her energy directed towards something I couldn't quite grasp."Hope," I said after several minutes of just watching her. I am trying to catch her attention as she hurried past my desk. "What's keeping you so busy these days?"She paused, her smile a little strained, her eyes flickering with a secret she wasn't willing to share."Oh, you know," she said, her voice a little too light, a little too evasive. "Just girly things."Girly things. Kailan pa s'ya natuto at na-involved sa girly things girly things na 'yon? She's always simple. And I love her just like that.Girly things. The phrase grated on my
Last Updated : 2024-11-21The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 56
THEA'S P. O. VThe day had finally arrived. Ruan's birthday. My heart thumped a nervous rhythm against my ribs as I watched him from across the office. He was engrossed in a phone call, his brow furrowed in concentration, his voice a low murmur. He looked so handsome, so powerful, so… unattainable. But I knew better. I knew that beneath that confident facade, there was a man who longed for love, for connection, for a family. And I was determined to give him all of that."Ruan," I said, my voice a soft whisper, as he hung up the phone. "Are you free for dinner tonight?"He looked up, his eyes meeting mine, his expression a mixture of surprise and delight."Dinner?" he said, his voice a low murmur. "I thought you were busy tonight.""I am," I said, my smile a little mischievous. "But I have a special date planned. Just you and me. At do'n ako busy.”He raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued."A date?" he said, his voice laced with a hint of amusement. "Where are we going?""In the lak
Last Updated : 2024-11-21The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 57
THEA'S P. O. VThe room was silent, the echoes of anger and disappointment still lingering in the air like a heavy cloud. Ruan's outburst had left me reeling, filled with a sense of guilt and regret that weighed heavily on my heart. Zara approached me with a gentle touch on my shoulder, her eyes filled with understanding and compassion."Thea," she said softly, her voice a soothing balm to my troubled soul. "This isn't your fault. You had the best intentions, and sometimes things don't go as planned."Her words brought a small measure of comfort, but the weight of responsibility still pressed down on me like a heavy burden. Nauna nang umalis sina Tito Roldan at Tita Charlene kasama ang anak ni Zara; maybe to help settle the aftermath of Ruan's outburst, leaving a palpable tension in their wake.Jenica, Ruan's mother, stood alone in the corner of the room, her eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and regret. I could see the pain etched on her face, the guilt that clouded her eyes. She
Last Updated : 2024-11-21The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 58
The rain hammered against the windowpane, each drop a miniature explosion of sound in the suffocating silence of Ruan’s study. He sat hunched over his desk, the mahogany surface cold against his forearms, his gaze fixed on the blank page before him. The words that should have flowed effortlessly, the words he’d been planning to write for weeks, had dried up, leaving behind a desolate landscape of empty space. Ariadne. Her name, whispered on the wind, echoed in the cavernous emptiness of his heart. The fear, a serpent coiling tight around his chest, constricted his breath, making each inhale a struggle. He hadn't slept in days, his mind a relentless carousel of images, each one a cruel replay of the day she vanished. The park, the laughter, the sudden chilling silence, the empty space where she had stood moments before.He had been so careful, so vigilant. He had built a fortress around her, a sanctuary against the world's cruelties. But it wasn't enough. The world, it seemed, had a w
Last Updated : 2024-11-27
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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
