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KABANATA 40
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Under His Possession KABANATA 41
RYUU'S P. O. VAFTER TELLING NIA THE GOOD NEWS, SHE WASTED NO TIME AND HURRIEDLY PREPARE TO GO TO HER FATHER'S ALLEGED LOCATION.Habang pinagmamasdan ko siya— kung gaano siya biglang sumaya at sumigla nang masabi ko na sa kanya iyong balita— hindi ko maiwasang maging masaya rin para sa kanya. She was smiling from ears to ears. Parang bigla niyang nakalimutan iyong mga nangyaring hindi maganda sa kanya kahapon. It was as if she just found her new source of strength and happiness. So while driving, I secretly wished for her luck. Sana, papa niya nga talaga iyong maabutan namin sa location na pupuntahan namin.Ako lang muna ang bumaba, iniwan ko lang si Nia sa sasakyang dala namin— kotse na hiniram ko lang sa kaibigan ko. I couldn't risk it to let her ride on my motorcycle. Mahirap na. "Tao po! Tao po!” Ako na ang nag-doorbell ang kumatok sa maliit na gate ng bahay pagdating namin. It was a two-storey house— hindi masyadong malaki pero hindi rin sobrang liit. The design was very modern.
Under His Possession KABANATA 42
JANIYA'S P. O. VTAHIMIK LANG KAMI NI RYUU HABANG NASA SASAKYAN. I LOOKED SO DUMBFOUNDED, I KNOW. BUT WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?Paano ba ako dapat mag-react after my father just betrayed me? Oo, betrayal na ang tingin ko sa ginawa niya. He left saying na para sa akin ang lahat ng iyon, para sa mas malaking oportunidad na siguradong makakatulong sa amin. And yet, I'll found him sa piling ng ibang babae. He's already building his brand new family without even thinking of me.Naputol ako sa pag-iisip ng malalim nang maramdaman ko ang paghawak ni Ryuu sa kamay ko. It was a gentle, yet reassuring touch."Sigurado ka na ba sa gusto mong gawin? You know, you can always stay with me, o kay Adrianne kung hindi ka pa kumportable sa mga nangyayari,” he said while smiling thriftly.Hindi ko rin alam kung sigurado na ako sa gusto kong mangyari. Sa ngayon kasi, isang bagay lang ang gusto ko— ang makasama si Papa dahil alam kong siya lang meron ako. Alam kong hindi niya ako tatalikuran. Hindi nga ba?Kibi
Under His Possession KABANATA 43
JANIYA'S P. O. VTEARS AUTOMATICALLY STREAMED DOWN MY FACE AFTER REALIZING EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED. AND WHEN HEAVEN'S SON SPOKE, THAT CONFIRMED EVERYTHING."She's my girlfriend. I don't see any reason why she couldn't be here,” sagot ng lalaki sa binitawan kong tanong kanina. The way he said that was so nonchalant. Parang wala pa itong kaalam-alam sa mga nangyayari. Kung bakit ako nandoon o kung anong koneksyon meron ako sa pamilya niya; at sa babaeng kaakbay niya na walang iba kundi si Adrianne.Dali-dali naman siyang humiwalay sa pagkakaakbay ng anak ni Heaven at mabilis niya akong nilapitan. She held my hand as she looked straight into my eyes. Nangingilid na ang luha sa mga mata niya. And just like me, she's trembling, too."N-Nia, let me explain, please. Everything isn't what it seems like. Please, hear me out—”"L-Layuan mo ako. L-Lumayo ka sa akin,” tulalang saad ko habang iniiwas ang kamay ko sa mga paghawak niya. Umatras din ako para lalo siyang maiwasan."N-Nia… I can expla
Under His Possession KABANATA 44
JANIYA'S P. O. VTHE APARTMENT WAS A BATTLEFIELD OF DISCARDED CLOTHES AND CRUMPLED PAPERS. IT WAS A REFLECTION OF THE STORM RAGING INSIDE RYUU, A STORM THAT HAD SWEPT AWAY HIS CAREER, HIS DREAMS, AND HIS SENSE OD OURPOSE. I STOOD IN THE DOORWAY, MY HEART SINKING WITH EVERY STEP I TOOK. Sa totoo lang, wala akong lakas ng loob na harapin si Ryuu ngayon. Especially after everything that happened to his career. Pakiramdam ko, nasira ang buhay, pangarap, at kinabukasan n'ya ng dahil sa'kin. Pero wala akong magagawa. Wala akong ibang choice. Si Ryuu na lang ang kaisa-isang tao na meron ako."Ryuu?" tawag ko sa kanya. Halos pabulong na 'yon at bahagya pang nanginginig ang boses ko.Nakaupo s'ya sa gilid ng bintana. His back to me, and he's staring out at the bleak cityscape. The setting sun cast long, mournful shadows across the room, highlighting the dust motes dancing in the dying light."Janiya," sabi n'ya naman. It was almost a sigh as his voice laced with exhaustion. "What are you doin
Under His Possession KABANATA 45
A few months later… JANIYA'S P. O. VTHE AROMA OF FRESHLY BREWED COFFEE, A COMFORTING SCENT THAT USUALLY BROUGHT A SMILED TO MY FACE, DID LITTLE TO SOOTHE THE TURMOIL WITHIN ME. I sat at a corner table of a cozy little shop, the ultrasound image on the table beside me a stark reminder of the miracle growing inside me, and the source of my growing internal conflict. But even so, I am happy. This is the first time that I got to see my… children. Yes, children. I am carrying not one, not two, but three babies at once. I am expecting triplets! And the funny part is, hindi pa alam ni Ryuu ang tungkol do'n.The image was a blur of grays and whites, but it was clear enough to see the three tiny figures, each one a wriggling bundle of potential. One, the smallest, was curled up in a corner, its tiny limbs moving with a delicate grace. Another, a little larger, was stretched out, its tiny hand reaching out as if to touch the world beyond the confines of the womb. And the third, the most acti
Under His Possession KABANATA 46
7 months later…JANIYA'S P. O. VI WOKE WITH A JOLT, A SHARO PAIN SHOOTING THROUGH MY LOWER ABDOMEN. IT WAS LIKE A KNIFE TWISTING, A SENSATION SO INTENSE IT SOLE MY BREATH. Umupo ako agad. Sobrang bilis mg tibok ng puso ko na parang kakayanin na no'n na kumawala sa ribs ko. Pawis na pawis din ako—malamig na pawis. Lumipad din 'yung tingin ko sa bedsheet na hinigaan ko—basa 'yon na para bang naihi ako na ewan."Ryuu!" malakas kong sigaw. Nagpa-panic na 'ko, biglang hindi ko na alam kung anong gagawin ko. That's why I thought of calling Ryuu. Nasa kabilang kwarto s'ya at hindi ko pa alam kung maririnig n'ya 'ko at magigising s'ya agad. "Ryuu, gising!"Mayamaya pa, lumitaw na s'ya sa pinto. His eyes fluttering open, his face a mixture of sleepiness and confusion."What is it? Ang aga-aga pa," he asked, his voice thick with sleep."The babies," I gasped, my voice trembling. "The babies... they're coming!"The realization hit him like a wave. Suddenly, his eyes widened in alarm."Ngayon n
Under His Possession KABANATA 47
JANIYA'S P. O. VTAHIMIK SA KABUUAN NG BAGONG UNIT NA NALIPATAN NAMIN NI RYUU. HALOS TATLONG BUWAN NA RIN MULA NANG LUMIPAT KAMI RITO PAGKATAPOS NA PAGKATAPOS KONG MANGANAK. Amoy na amoy sa buong paligid ang halu-halong samyo ng baby powder, milk formula, at konting halimuyak ng lavender na choice of fragrance ko sa nursery room ng mga bata. There were three bassinets in total—one for each baby. As for me, my body is still recovering from the marathon of a pregnancy. Medyo matagal ang proseso ng pagpapagaling ko dahil na rin siguro sa bukod sa triplets ang naging anak ko ay normal delivery pa silang lahat.Napaupo ako habang pinapanood ang payapang pagtulog ng mga anak ko.Chase, the eldest, was a spitting image of SV, his dark hair already thick and unruly, his eyes the same piercing silver gray that had once captivated me. Cross, the middle child, was a mix of both SV and me, with his olive skin and his sharp cheekbones. And Cameron, the youngest, was a mirror image of SV, his feat
Under His Possession KABANATA 48
1 year later…JANIYA'S P. O. VTHE AROMA OF FRESHLY BAKED BREAD AND COFFEE BEANS FILLED THE AIR, A COMFORTING SCENT THAT HAD BECOME THE SOUNDTRACK TO MY LIFE. I stood behind the counter of Ryuu's bakery, my hands moving with practiced efficiency as I served customers, my mind a whirlwind of to-do lists and deadlines.It had been a year since the arrival of my triplets, Chase, Cross, and Cameron. A year of sleepless nights, endless diaper changes, and a constant battle against the chaos that came with raising three rambunctious toddlers. A year of juggling motherhood with my journalism studies, a year of balancing my dreams with the reality of my situation.Hindi madali ang lahat. Sino ba kasing nagsabi na madali? I was exhausted, my body aching, my mind constantly on edge. But I persevered. I have to. Fueled by a fire that burned deep within me, a fire that had been ignited by the cruelty of SV and the gruesome acts of his then-girlfriend, Giulia. I would never forget how they had tr
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