“Yes po, Madame. H-Hindi ni’yo po ba alam?” tanong niya. She was a bit shocked that I did not know about that. I sighed. Guiltiness filled me. I didn’t even think about that. “What does he do on his birthday?” She sadly smiled. “Wala po talaga siyang ginagawa tuwing kaarawan niya. Nasa loob lang po siya ng kuwarto na ‘yon buong araw. Doon lang po siya nagpapahinga. Hindi ko nga po alam kung bakit tuwing kaarawan niya ay naroon siya. May mga araw naman po na umaalis siya pero bumabalik din po siya agad,” she paused, thinking about something.“Is he not spending his days with his friends?” I asked. “Hindi po. May isang beses po na pinuntahan siya ng mga kaibigan niyang galing pang ibang bansa at nagtungo dito para sa kaniya pero hindi niya po pinapasok. Ang sabi niya ay may pupuntahan daw po siyang importante.”“Really? Ano naman ang pinuntahan niya para gawin ‘yon sa mga kaibigan niya?” “Ang natatandaan ko po ay sinabi niyang may pupuntahan po siyang… graduation?” she said, unsure
“Mom… C-Can you please enlighten me? What’s really happening? W-Why do you want me to leave this place?” “Sadie. Just listen to me! It is for your sake! I will explain it to you once you are here,” she said. Sa pananalita niya ay parang nagmamadali siya. Ang aniyang boses ay parang bumubulong. Sumulyap ako sa pintuan at agad na nagtungo sa walk-in closet ko. “M-Mom… I” I held my hand that was holding my phone because it was shaking so bad. Huminga ako ng malalim at handa nang sabihin sa ina ang nakita kanina. “What— I’ll end the call now. Your father is here.”“Mom–” I sighed and bit my lower lip. Napahilamos na lang ako sa mukha at pabagsak na umupo sa single couch. "Doll." Napatayo ako nang marinig ang marahang boses ni Accius. He sounds so gentle. "Doll, please. I love you so much. I'm not going to do anything that will hurt you. I'll apologize if I kept a secret from you. I'll kneel if I need to.""Please, Wife. Open the door. I'm begging you," his voice cracked. Para akong m
“F*ck, Dollina!” his voice roared. I started shaking because of him and the cold.“Please!” I shouted. Humigpit ang braso niya sa baywang ko. Gamit ang isang braso ay nagawa niya akog ilagay sa kaniyang balikat na parang isang sakong bigas. Gusto kong lumaban para lang makalayo pero hindi ko magawa dahil hinang-hina na ‘ko. My body was shaking. But Accius' body was warm. I wanted to hug him and hide inside his big body to feel his warmth. “Let me go…” I mumbled. Hinang-hina na ang katawan ko na pakiramdam ko ay bibigay na. Bago magdilim ang aking paningin, nanlumo ako sa huling binitawan na mga salita ni Accius. “I will never let you go, Dollina. Not on my f*cking watch.” My body was numb when I woke up. Para akong binagsakan ng mabigat na bagay. I bit my lower lip and sobbed when I realized that I’m back here in our huge room. I pulled my hair out of frustration. Dali-dali akong umalis sa kama. Iba na ang suot ko at malinis na ang katawan ko. I’m now wearing a black night gown.
I ran as fast as I could. I could hear his voice calling my name. I wanted to look back, but I can’t. “Dollina!” His voice was so loud and deep. Dahil sa mahahaba niyang biyas ay alam kong mahuhuli niya ako. “Please… Don’t. Don’t run away from me,” his voice cracked, and the pain and panic in his voice mixed up. Kinuha ko ang aking phone at tinawagan si Kyle. I couldn't reach him, his phone was in airplane mode. Si Reed ang sunod kong tinawagan. It took so many rings before he finally answered. Patuloy ako sa pagtakbo. Hindi ko na maramdaman ang hapdi sa aking paa na wala ng suot na sapatos. My feet are now numb from running nonstop. I heard the tiredness in his voice as he answered. “I’m sorry, I just came out from work— Wait, are you okay? Why is your breathing so fast? What’s the matter?” “R-Reed. Can you come and g-get me? N-Now. I need your help, Reed. Come here faster.” “F*ck— Where the f*ck are you? Tell me. I’ll go there,” he said. “I… I don’t know,” I cried. Lumibot an
“We finally… came back,” Mom said with a small smile on her lips. She turned to me and smiled. I smiled back and looked around the place. It's been years. “Ah. You’re just a little girl back then when we were still here. I guess you can’t remember your memories here,” aniya at hinawi ang hibla ng aking buhok na nakaharang sa aking mukha dahil sa hangin. You’re wrong, Mom. Even when I was just a kid back then, I can still remember your sweet smiles, your sweet words, and the comfort you’re giving to me. All of it when you’re still treating me like a princess. I forced a smile and looked down. “Let’s go?” ani Dad nang makalapit na sa amin. Pumasok na kami sa aming sasakyan patungo sa dati naming mansyon. Reed, Kyle and Levi called me as I arrived here in Spain. “Your Abuela called, Sadie. She wants to see us,” Mom said. Nilingon ko siya at dahan-dahan na tumango. “Is that okay?” I nodded and smiled, assuring her. She nodded and I looked away. I pursed my lips and unconsciously b
Sa pagtira ko rito sa Spain sa mga nagdaang linggo, kahit paano ay maayos naman ang buhay ko. Mom is now extra taking care of me. Alam ko na bumabawi siya sa akin. Nang makabangon ako mula sa paghiga ay agad ako nakaramdam ng hilo. Nanlalamig ang loob ng katawan ko. Sa bilis ng pangyayari ay nahanap ko na lang ang aking sarili sa banyo, nagsusuka. Ito na naman. Naulit na naman. Hindi lang ito ngayon nangyari sa akin. Ngayon ay balak ko nang magpa check-up kung ano ba itong nangyayari sa akin. It's always like this. Laging masama ang pakiramdam ko. And I once felt scared. Scared that maybe… I am sick. Hindi na normal ang nangyayari sa akin. "Buenos días, Doc." Nakangiti rin sa akin ang doktora at bumati pabalik. "So how are you feeling these days?" I sighed. Sinagot ko ang unang tanong niya. Marami pa siyang tanong na sinagot ko. Sa huling bitaw ko ng salita ay doon lang ako nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya. That's when I noticed her expression. Nakakunot ang kaniyang noo habang titi
Sa dalawang buwan na pagbubuntis ko ay nahirapan ako. Kaya nang mag siyam na buwan ay mas dumoble ang hirap ko. “You still looked beautiful as always, Sadie.” Umirap ako at binato ang unan kay Levi. The three idiots filled my room with their laugh. Napahikbi ako at inayos ang buhok ko. “Stop!” I cried. Agad naman na naalerto ang tatlo at inalo ako. “F*ck. Sadie, I’m not—” “No! You’re saying I’m ugly!” “That’s not true, Sadie,” Kyle held my hand and kissed the back of my hand. “You’re never been ugly, Sadie.” “I’ll punch Levi for you. You want that?” Reed smiled playfully. “Hey! Motherf*cker—” “Levi!” Binatukan siya na Daven nang makapasok sa silid ko habang may hawak na tray ng pagkain. I was craving for adobo and Daven cooked it for me. “Serves you right,” Reed smirked. “Why are you hurting me?” Levi pouted at him. Nairita ako roon kaya akmang ibabato ko ang maliit na pillow sa tabi ko nang hawakan iyon ni Kyle at nilayo sa akin. “Don’t mind him. You’ll just lose
“Mom?” Sirena’s call made me focus my attention on her. She took a glance at her brother who’s quietly eating. “Archer and I will not be going to school tomorrow,” panimula niya. Nangunot ang aking noo sa narinig. “And why is that, Sirena?” Nabaling ang tingin ko kay Archer na ngayon ay sa amin ang tingin, para bang naagaw ang kaniyang atensyon.“It’s because… there’s an event tomorrow with–”“Sirena,” mariin na tawag ni Archer sa kaniyang kapatid. Ayaw nitong ituloy ang sasabihin ng kakambal. “What is it, Sirena? Tell me,” I said in a serious tone. That made Archer look down like he surrendered from stopping her sister. “W-We are having an event tomorrow at school and should come… with a father.” Ramdam ko ang lungkot sa kaniyang huling salita. Para akong tinanggalan ng hininga sa sinabi nito. I felt my chest tightened at their sad faces. Nagbaba ako ng tingin dahil wala akong maibigay na sasabihin. This is not the first time they open up about this. Tinanong nila ako noon kung