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KABANATA 58
Huling Na-update:
2024-11-27 12:34:20
Kaugnay na kabanata
The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 59
RUAN'S P. O. VIt's been a week since that f*cking chaotic birthday party. A week since Thea had managed to turn what should have been a celebration into a battlefield. The stale air hung heavy with the scent of spilled beer and regret. Each ice cube clinking in my glass echoed the icy chill settling in my heart."One more,” utos ko sa bartender tsaka inurong padulas ang shotglass ko."Sir, lasing na ho kayo—”"Come on, Jako! Give me one more!”"Sir, hindi ho ako si Jako. Ako po si Rey—”"I don't f*cking care just… just give me another more!” sigaw ko.The bartender looked scared as he poured another shot of liquor on my glass.As I was about to take the glass, when suddenly, phone buzzed again. The insistent vibration a physical manifestation of Thea’s relentless calls. I ignored it, letting it fade into the background hum of the bar.The neon glow of the bar signs painted the room in sickly hues, mirroring the sour taste in my mouth. Every corner of this dimly lit dive felt more com
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-27The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 60
RUAN'S P. O. VThree weeks. Three days since the phone had vibrated against my thigh, a silent scream swallowed by the din of the bar. Three weeks since Thea’s voice, faint and strained, had whispered my name across the miles. Three days since I’d let my anger, my stupid, self-righteous anger, silence me.Tatlong linggo na ang nakalilipas mula no'ng bigla na lang daw nawala si Thea. Pero hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring update kung nasaan s'ya. I've already spent almost a million to pay for several investigators that might find her. Pero wala pa rin. Wala pa rin.Paano kung 'yung mga huling tawag n'ya, ginawa n'ya na lang para ma-contact ako so I could save her by chance? The memory of that call, a fragmented echo in the vast expanse of my regret, clawed at my conscience. I replayed it in my mind, a broken record stuck on repeat: the static, the breathless urgency, the barely audible plea for help. A plea I had ignored. A plea I had dismissed as another one of her dramatic outbursts, ano
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-27The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 61
THEA'S P. O. VThe days bled into each other, a monotonous cycle of fear and despair. The small, dimly lit room became my world, the rough concrete floor my bed. Nawalan na ako ng gana sa pagkain. Kahit sa tubig. Pinipilit kong daanin na lang sa tulog ang lahat, pero hanggang do'n, binabangungot pa rin ako.My captors, two hulking men with eyes devoid of empathy, treated me with a chilling indifference. They were brutal, efficient, and utterly devoid of any human compassion. Any attempt at conversation was met with silence or a curt, dismissive gesture. My defiance, my aggressive refusal to cooperate, only seemed to amuse them. Parang tuwang-tuwa pa sila na nahihirapan ako. Parang siyang-siya pa sila kapag nakikita nilang nagmamakaawa ako.But there was one who was different. Iyong mismong druglord na bumili sa akin mula kina Tiya Purita. Ang matandang pangit na druglord na 'yon.One evening as I was staring at the blank ceiling of the room where I was in, he entered my cell, his pres
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-27The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 62
RUAN'S P. O. VJulia's directions were sparse, cryptic, barely enough to guide us through the labyrinthine streets to Thea’s aunt’s house. Maraming mga bahay ang sira-sira na parang pinipilit na lang na itayo. Dikit-dikit 'yon at maraming mga bata na parang batang kalye ang nagkalat sa daan. I can't believe Thea was raised in this kind of place."Pasensya na kayo sa lugar namin—”"Your place isn't what took us here. It's Thea,” mariin kong putol sa kJulia."'Wag ka ngang masyadong masungit d'yan. Mamaya, baka magbago pa 'yung isip nitong si Julia, bahala ka,” sabi ni Tristan. He almost laugh. S'ya ang napili kong isama sa paghanap kay Thea. S'ya rin ang driver. Nasa tabi n'ya si Julia habang ako naman ang nasa backseat.Minutes after and we stopped in front of an old Victorian building loomed before us, a decaying monument to a dark past, its shadowed windows like vacant eyes staring out at the world. It was a place I’d never imagined I’d set foot in.“'Eto 'yung warehouse ni Tejada.
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-27The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 63
THEA'S P. O. VI was in the middle of a peaceful sleep—finally after days—when I suddenly felt something rummaging my body. My breath hitched, trapped in my throat like a frightened bird. His hands, rough and calloused, were everywhere, violating the sanctity of my body, my very being. I tried to scream, but the terror constricting my chest choked the sound before it could escape. His eyes, cold and predatory, held no hint of remorse, only a burning, animalistic lust. He was a monster, a shadow of humanity, and I was his prey. The stench of cheap cologne and something else, something darker and more sinister, filled my nostrils. I squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself to disappear, to become invisible, anything to escape the suffocating dread."B-Bitawan mo 'ko! Go away from me!” sigaw ko sa kanya nang tuluyan na akong magising.Nagsimula na rin akong pumiglas pero wala akong magawa dahil hindi hamak na mas malaki at mas mabigat s'ya kumpara sa akin. But even so, I tried. Hanggang sa
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-27The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 64
RUAN'S P. O. VThe air crackled with the energy of a thousand volts, gunfires and screams. I, with the chosen officers I have trusted, fought with the ferocity of cornered wolves, their weapons spitting death into the heart of the druglord's army. Kasama ko rin si Tristan, which surprisingly was also nice with weapons and unarmed fighting. We pushed forward, a wave of steel and fury against a tide of desperate resistance. The mansion echoed with the thunder of gunfire, the shattering of glass, the guttural cries of the dying.I moved through the chaos, a whirlwind of controlled aggression, my senses honed to a razor's edge. Each gunshot, each yell, each grunt of exertion, was a piece of a larger puzzle, a symphony of violence that I had to orchestrate. My eyes scanned the battlefield, assessing, calculating, adjusting my strategy with the fluidity of a seasoned general. I had to protect myself and everyone, to ensure our survival, while simultaneously eliminating the threat posed by t
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-27The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 65
RUAN'S P. O. VHinayaan na namin ang mga awtoridad na umasikaso sa mansyon ng Tejadang 'yon. Thea promised to give a statement the next day but after that, we went home.The air in my father's home felt different now. Kahit pa nando'n sila Mama, 'yung half-brother ko, si Dad, at ang pangalawang pamilya ni Dad. It felt lighter, less burdened by unspoken resentments and years of simmering conflict. The tension that had always hung heavy between us, a palpable barrier, had finally dissipated. It was a fragile peace, but it was a peace nonetheless. I sat across from my father, the man who had always seemed distant, unreachable, now finally open and vulnerable."Anak—”"I'm… sorry,” una ko sa kanya bago pa s'ya makapagsalita. "I'm sorry… Dad.”The usual serious facade of his face suddenly changed. Parang maiiyak pa yata s'ya.He began to speak, his voice low and measured, his words carefully chosen."That's… so nice to hear, anak. I missed that,” sabi n'ya. "But since we're here, let's mak
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-27The Rebirth of Love KABANATA 66
THEA'S P. O. VKinabukasan. Kalat na sa balita ang pagkakahuli nina Tiyo Berting ar Tiya Purita. Nasa headline rin ang pagkamatay ni Tejada—ang drug lord na dapat ay pagbebentahan sa akin ng mga walanghiya kong tiyuhin at tiyahin.The news of their arrests and death, of the druglord 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 i
Huling Na-update : 2024-11-27
Pinakabagong kabanata
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
