JANIYA'S P. O. V"WOW…”Hindi ako makapaniwala sa tanawing bumungad sa akin nang alisin na ni Ryuu ang piring sa mga mata ko. Pagbaba kasi namin sa sasakyan niya kanina ay piniringan niya agad ang mga mata ko. At ngayong tinanggal niya na iyon, hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko na mamangha sa ganda ng paligid. Maraming puno sa lugar na iyon. Madilim din, pero nang dahil sa liwanag ng buwan at sa iilang mga alitaptap ay parang nabuhay ang lugar. May sapa rin sa hindi kalayuan. May mga bulaklak at damo. "Ang ganda…” amazed na amazed kong sabi. "Hindi ko alam na may ganitong lugar pala na nag-eexist hindi kalayuan sa atin.” Sa tantsa ko kasi ay wala pang fifteen minutes ang ibiniyahe namin. At kahit mabilis ang sasakyan na ginamit namin ay masasabi ko na hindi pa rin ganoon kalayo ang lugar na pinagdalhan niya sa akin. "I'm so glad you like it here,” nakangiti ring sambit ni Ryuu. "Ako rin, eh. Hindi ko rin alam na may ganito palang nag-eexist dito. This is my first time going here as
JANIYA'S P. O. VHINDI KO INAASAHAN NA MAKASALUBONG SI STRIKE LALO NA'T MASYADO PANG MAAGA. Pero nangyari na at wala na akong magagawa. Sa tono pa lang ng pananalita niya ay halata nang hindi siya natutuwa. And I know in myself na nakita niya kung paano ako sinundo o hinatid ni Ryuu. Sa paanong paraan niya pa ba kasi malalaman na ito ang kasama ko? Nagkunwari akong naiinis at nilagpasan ko lang siya. Pero deep inside, unti-unti na namang nabubuhayan ang loob ko dahil sa nakikita kong reaksyon ni Strike. "I'm not f****ing done with you,” mariin niyang sabi at hinawakan ang kamay ko. He forcefully made me face him. Hindi ako kumibo. Hindi ko rin siya tiningnan sa mga mata niya dahil alam ko na sa ganitong paraan ay mas maaasar siya. "What did you do with that a**hole the whole night, huh? Did you two… f***?” Sinabi ko sa sarili ko na hindi ko ipapahalata sa kanya na apektado ako. Pero matapos ang sinabi niyang iyon ay awtomatikong nagpanting ang mga tainga ko. And sudden impulse
JANIYA'S P. O. VMABILIS ANG KABOG NG DIBDIB KO HABANG DAHAN-DAHAN KONG BINABAYBAY ANG MADILIM NA DAAN SA GILID NG BAHAY, PATUNGO SA MALIIT NA GATE SA LIKURAN— NA NATATAGO NG IBA'T-IBANG MGA PANANIM. Pasado alas diyes na ng gabi. Tahimik na ang bahay at alam kong tulog na ang lahat. Palabas ako ngayon, naghihintay sa akin si Ryuu dala ang motorsiklo niya. We're bound for our "safe place". Nang marating ko na ang maliit na gate ay buong ingat ko naman na binuksan iyon. Kahit alam ko na hindi naman na maririnig sa loob kung sakaling makalikha ako ng ingay ay mas pinili ko pa rin ang mag ingat. Better be safe and sure than whatever. Nang makalabas na ako ay natanaw ko agad sa hindi kalayuan si Ryuu. Nakapatay ang headlights ng sasakyan niya pero sa anino at tindig niya pa lang ay alam ko nang siya iyon. Pagkasara ko ng gate at nang masiguro ko nang maayos iyon ay tumakbo na ako agad palapit kay Ryuu. "What took you so long? Akala ko hindi mo na ako lalabasin dito,” tila nagtatampong
JANIYA'S P. O. VKUNG SAAN AKO DUMAAN KANINA PAG ALIS AY DOON DIN AKO DADAAN NGAYONG PAUWI NA AKO.Habang nasa biyahe ako ay sobra-sobra ang kaba ko. Lihim kong hinihiling na sana ay tulog pa si Strike o hindi kaya ay nakaalis na siya. Kahit ano, basta huwag niya lang mabuko ang mga ginagawa ko.As we traveled, the scenery shifted. Fields gave way to forests, forests to mountains. Bawat daanan namin ay nagdudulot sa akin ng kaba. Pakiramdam ko kasi, imbis na papalapit ay parang lalo kaming napapalayo.Ryuu drove carefully, his hands steady on the handlebars. I leaned back. I didn’t speak and Ryuu didn't either. Nang sa wakas ay huminto na ang sasakyan ni Ryuu, dali-dali na akong bumaba. Agad kong inalis ang suot kong helmet at inabot ko iyon sa kanya. "T-Thank you again, Ryuu. S-Sa school na lang tayo mag usap.” Tumalikod na ako pagkatapos noon at akmang lalakad na palayo. Pero bago ko pa man magawa iyon ay nahawakan na niya ako sa kamay at hinila ako palapit ulit sa kanya. "Ryuu—
JANIYA'S P. O. VKAHIT HIYANG-HIYA SA NANGYARI NANG MAHULI AKO NI STRIKE AY NANATILI PA RIN AKO SA BAHAY NIYA. Hindi na rin naman niya in-open pa ang tungkol sa nangyaring iyon. Malakas din ang pakiramdam ko na hindi na nakaabot kay Mamay ang tungkol doon. He also never spoke to me ever since. Halata rin na iniiwasan niya ako. I am ashamed of what I did. But what choice do I have? Kung sana, makabalik na si Papa one of these days, mas magiging okay iyon dahil hindi ko na kailangang magtiis ng hiya dahil lang sa wala akong ibang pwedeng puntahan. I could live in Adrianne's place, yes. Pero as of now, si Strike rin ang may sagot ng expenses doon at magmumukha lang akong tanga sa gagawin ko. So, yeah. I got no choice but to swallow my freaking pride and continue living with him. And depending upon him. Ginagawa ko na lang din ang lahat para iwasan siya gaya ng ginagawa niyang pag iwas sa akin. And as or Ryuu, I am avoiding him also to my very best. Pagkatapos ng nangyari noong umaga
WARNING: MATURED CONTENT AHEAD!!! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!JANIYA'S P. O. VEXACTLY ONE WEEK HAS PASSED SINCE STRIKE CAUGHT ME GOING OUT AT NIGHT.Everything was still the same. We tried our best to avoid each other; I also avoided Ryuu. My life rotated just on school and home. I never went out again, not even with Adrianne. Inabala ko na lang ang sarili ko sa pag aaral gaya ng dati. Kaya ngayon, kahit dis oras na ng gabi ay gising pa rin ako.Paulit-ulit kong inaaral ang mga lectures ko kahit pa halos nakabisado ko na ang lahat ng iyon.Unti-unti kong naramdaman ang antok paglipas pa ng ilang minuto kaya napagdesisyunan ko na iligpit na ang mga materials na ginamit ko. Bababa na rin muna ako para kumuha ng tubig. In case lang iyon na mauhaw ako mamaya, hindi na ako bababa pa ng kusina para paulit-ulit na kumuha ng tubig.Nasa kalagitnaan na ako ng pagsasalin ng tubig sa baba saging pitsel ko nang bigla ko namang marinig ang pagbukas ng pinto. Sino iyon?Si Mamay agad ang una kong nai
JANIYA'S P. O. VAFTER EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED, I REMAIN IN SILENCE AS I LISTEN TO STRIKE'S RYHTMIC BREATHING.He had fallen asleep. While me, I was busy rethinking all the decision I did just because of my stupid desire."Tama na ang panga-gaslight mo sa sarili mo, Janiya. What happened already did happen. Wala ka nang magagawa kahit sisihin mo pa ang sarili mo. You could never bring back the time just by wishing you could so. And Strike here clearly enjoyed what you two did, as well.” Wala sa loob ko na napalingon ako kay Strike. Tulog na tulog siya. His body was half covered by a mattress. Nakatagilid siya at nakadantay sa katawan ko ang braso at hita niya. Kaya gustuhin ko mang umalis ay hindi ko rin magawa. I was too afraid to wake him up. Hihintayin ko na lang siguro na umayos siya ng higa. Once I'm free, aalis na ako agad. I waited for hours but it seems like he don't want to let go. Kung gagalaw man siya ay para lang higitin ako lalo palapit sa kanya. Hanggang sa ako na l
JANIYA'S P. O. V"HEY, WHERE DID YOU GO? I'VE BEEN CALLING YOU BUT YOU DIDN'T ANSWER, NOT EVEN ONCE. GO HOME BY 6, WE HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE. BE ON THE DOT.”"Hoy! Ano na namang nginingiti-ngiti mo riyan? Nababaliw ka na ba?”Binalingan ko ng tingin si Adrianne. A smile still flustered on my lips.Nilapag ko ang cell phone ko kung saan kita ang mensaheng natanggap ko kanina galing kay Strike. Nilapit ko iyon sa kanya.Kung kanina ay pinagbabawalan niya ako, ngayon ay siya naman ang tila nag-over react at napatili pa nga. Kinailangan pa tuloy niya na mag-"sorry" sa ibang kasabay namin na kumakain sa restaurant dahil halos lahat ng atensyon ng mga ito ay napunta sa amin. "Bakit parang ang bait niya na sa iyo lately, ha? Anong pina-take mong gayuma sa kanya?” nanunukso at halatang kilig na kilig na sabi pa ni Adrianne. Hindi ako nagsalita. Ngumiti lang ako ng makabuluhan bilang tugon. Tila lalo naman siyang naintriga dahil sa ginawa ko. Lalo pa siyang naging mapang-asar at matanong. "G
1 month later… JANIYA'S P. O. VThe courtroom was a symphony of whispers and hushed conversations. The air crackled with tension, a palpable energy that vibrated through the room. Giulia, the woman who had orchestrated the accident that had nearly taken my life, sat before the judge, her face a mask of defiance. "Your Honor," the prosecutor began, his voice a steady drone. "The evidence is clear. The defendant, Giulia, acted with malice aforethought, deliberately causing a car accident that resulted in serious injuries to the plaintiff, Janiya.”He recounted the events, the meticulous planning, the calculated actions, the chilling indifference to the potential consequences. I sat in the witness stand, my heart a heavy stone in my chest, reliving the terror of that fateful day."The defendant," he continued, "has shown no remorse for her actions. She has exhibited a complete disregard for the law and the well-being of others. She is a danger to society and must be held accountable fo
JANIYA'S P. O. VThe air crackled with anticipation, a symphony of laughter and whispered secrets. The sun, a benevolent witness, bathed the garden in a golden glow, illuminating the scene with a warmth that mirrored the love that pulsed through the air. It was my wedding day, a culmination of a journey filled with heartache, healing, and ultimately, a love that had triumphed over every obstacle.My reflection stared back at me, a vision of happiness in a white gown that flowed like a gentle waterfall. My heart, once burdened with pain, now swelled with a joy so profound it threatened to spill over.Earlier that day, as I stood before the mirror, my hand resting on my swollen belly, the doctor had uttered the words that had sent a wave of pure bliss through me. "Congratulations, Janiya," he had said, his smile mirroring the joy that illuminated my face. "You're going to be a mother of four.""Four?" I echoed, my voice filled with disbelief and delight. "Are you sure?""Absolutely," he
JANIYA'S P. O. VOras matapos ang naging pag uusap namin ni Ryuu, si Strike naman ang hinarap ko. The hospital room, once a sterile haven of recovery, was now transformed into a haven of love. The air was thick with the scent of lilies, their white petals mirroring the crisp white sheets that enveloped me. My body still bore the scars of the accident, my spirit felt stronger than ever.Strike sat beside me, his hand gently holding mine. His eyes, filled with a love that could melt glaciers, held mine captive."Janiya," he began, his voice a soft melody that resonated deep within me. "You know, I've been thinking..."I chuckled, a light, tinkling sound that echoed in the quiet room. "You're thinking again? Baka maubos na braincells mo n'yan, ha?” I teased, my voice laced with affection. "Anywats, what's on your mind?"He smiled, a smile that could rival the sun's brilliance. "Well, I've been thinking... about us.""About us?" I echoed, a playful eyebrow raised. "You know, I've been th
JANIYA'S P. O. VPag alis ni Strike ay dumating din agad si Ryuu. Hindi ko alam kung tinawag ba s'ya ng una, but whatever happens, I'm glad that he's here. Para maayos na ang lahat once and for all. Ryuu sat beside me, his hand resting on mine, his eyes filled with a warmth that soothed the ache in my heart."Janiya," he began, his voice soft and gentle. "I'm so glad that you're awake now. At masaya 'ko na nakakabawi ka na ulit ng lakas mo kahit papaano.”Ngumiti ako ng tipid.I squeezed his hand, tears welling up in my eyes. It felt like an eternity since I'd last seen him, since I'd last felt his presence."Ryuu," I whispered, my voice hoarse from disuse. "I… I have something to say. M-May gusto 'kong sabihin pero hindi ko alam kung paano ko sisimulan. I'm… I'm aso sorry. I'm so sorry for everything."Agad na kumunot ang noo ni Ryuu. Parang nagtataka s'ya sa mga sinasabi ko."S-Si Strike,” banggit ko. "He's… He proposed.”Suddenly, his smile fade. Kitang-kita ko rin kung paano bigl
JANIYA'S P. O. VThe hospital room was a haven of quiet, the only sound the rhythmic beeping of the machines monitoring my vitals. Strike sat beside me, his hand resting on mine, his eyes filled with a tenderness I hadn't seen in years. "Janiya," he began, his voice husky with emotion. "I know you're awake now. I know you can hear me."I squeezed his hand, a wave of warmth spreading through me. It was strange, this feeling of comfort, of safety, in his presence. It had been so long since I had felt this way.He talked about the weeks we'd been apart, the fear, the uncertainty, the overwhelming love he felt for me. He talked about the triplets, their constant chatter, their innocent faces filled with longing for their mother.Sinabi n'ya rin kung ga'no s'ya nagsisisi ds mga maling nagawa n'ya at sa lahat ng sakit naiparanas n'ya sa akin. He apologized for everything, his voice thick with remorse."I know I messed up, Janiya," he said, his eyes pleading. "I know I hurt you. But I never
JANIYA'S P. O. VThe sterile white ceiling seemed to mock me, a stark reminder of my predicament. My body felt like a leaden weight, each breath a struggle. I was trapped, a prisoner in my own mind, watching the world go by from a distance. The weeks blurred into one another, a hazy tapestry of whispered conversations, hushed footsteps, and the constant hum of machines. I knew they were there, hovering over me, their faces etched with worry, their voices filled with hope. Strike, Ryuu, Mamay, my father, his new family, even my best friend, they all came to visit, to tell me stories.But I couldn’t respond. I couldn’t even open my eyes. I was a ghost, a silent observer in a world that seemed to be moving on without me.One day, a familiar voice, gentle and laced with concern, broke through the fog. Ryuu. He was sitting beside me, his hand resting on mine.“Janiya,” he said, his voice soft. “I know you can hear me. I know you’re in there.”He spoke of the triplets, their laughter echoi
The hospital room was a sanctuary, a haven of quiet calm amidst the storm that had ravaged their lives. Janiya sat by the window, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the sterile white walls. She watched the city unfold below, a bustling tapestry of life that seemed to mock the stillness of her own world. Two weeks had passed since the accident, two weeks since the world had almost ended for her. She had been given a second chance, a miracle that had left her reeling, her heart a fragile vessel, her mind a swirling vortex of emotions. She had woken up to a world of love and support, a tapestry of faces that had become her lifeline, her anchor in the storm. Her mother, Mamay, her unwavering rock, her source of strength and unconditional love. Her triplets, her reason for being, her tiny miracles, their innocent eyes reflecting a love that transcended words. And then there was Ryuu, his presence a constant in the chaos, his love a quiet, unwavering force that had held her
Parang nag-aapoy ang hangin, puno ng tensyon, isang nakakakuryenteng pakiramdam na mabigat sa paligid. Ang ambulance bay, na karaniwang magulo pero kontrolado, ay naging parang digmaan, isang kumukulong kaldero ng galit at lungkot. Si Ryuu, galit na galit, ay nakatayo lang ilang dangkal ang layo kay SV, nakakuyom ang mga kamao, at nag-aapoy ang mga mata. “Tanga ka!” sigaw niya, parang ungol ang boses niya. “Ikaw dapat ang nagbabantay sa kanya! Ikaw dapat ang nagpoprotekta sa kanya!”Si SV, maputla at payat, puno ng guilt at takot ang mga mata, ay hindi umatras. “Hindi ko alam,” nauutal niyang sabi, halos pabulong lang. “Hindi ko nakita ang trak. Napakabilis ng pangyayari.”“Hindi 'yan dahilan!” Singhal ni Ryuu, lumapit pa siya, amoy na amoy ang dugo at pawis sa hangin. “Ikaw dapat ang nasa tabi niya! Ikaw dapat ang nag-iingat sa kanya!”“Alam ko, alam ko,” pagmamakaawa ni SV, nakataas ang mga kamay na parang sumusuko. “Pasensya na. Pasensya na talaga.”Pero parang bato ang tainga ni
Ang hangin parang nag-aapoy, puno ng hilaw na emosyon—kalungkutan, galit, at desperasyon. Ang ambulance bay, na karaniwang magulo pero kontrolado, ay naging parang digmaan, isang kumukulong kaldero ng galit at lungkot. Si Ryuu, galit na galit, ay nakatayo lang ilang dangkal ang layo kay SV, nakakuyom ang mga kamao, at nag-aapoy ang mga mata. “Tanga ka!” sigaw niya, parang ungol ang boses niya. “Ikaw dapat ang nagbabantay sa kanya! Ikaw dapat ang nagpoprotekta sa kanya!”Si SV, maputla at payat, puno ng guilt at takot ang mga mata, ay hindi umatras. “Hindi ko alam,” sabi niya, halos pabulong lang. “Hindi ko nakita ang trak. Napakabilis ng pangyayari.”“Hindi 'yan dahilan!” Singhal ni Ryuu, lumapit pa siya, amoy na amoy ang dugo at pawis sa hangin. “Ikaw dapat ang nasa tabi niya! Ikaw dapat ang nag-iingat sa kanya!”“Alam ko, alam ko,” pagmamakaawa ni SV, nakataas ang mga kamay na parang sumusuko. “Pasensya na. Pasensya na talaga.”Pero parang bato ang tainga ni Ryuu. Dahil sa galit,