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KABANATA 43
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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
Under His Possession KABANATA 49
5 years laterJANIYA'S P. O. VFIVE YEARS. FIVE YEARS SINCE THE CITY LIGHTS REFLECT IN OUR EYES, A TESTAMENT TO OUR SHARED SUCCESS. Sa loob ng limang taon na lumipas, masasabi ko na lalo pa kaming nag-grow. I finally finished my degree in journalism; and I am now working for the largest and prominent news network in all of the world. Puro pa controversial news and cases ang naa-assign sa akin—bagay na pinapangarap ko lang noon. As for Ryuu, bukod sa coffee shop na dating business n'ya ay nag-venture rin s'ya sa iba pang business. And eventually, most of the risks that he took eventually succeed. At sa mga anak ko naman, they grew to be handsome and kind. Although iisang problema lang ang nakikita ko—habang lumalaki sila ay lalong nagiging significant ang similarity ng features nila kay SV. Hindi nagkatotoo 'yung sinabi ni Ryuu na hindi magtatagal at s'ya na ang magiging kamukha ng tatlo.As of our status, we're still just friends. Single friends.That day, I went home feeling puzzled
Under His Possession PROLOGO
"NUMBER 143, DIAMOND STREET. 'ETO NA IYON, NANDITO NA TAYO.” Pagkarinig ko sa sinabi ng driver ay agad akong dumungaw para iabot sa kanya ang isang buong 100 peso bill. Hindi ko na kinuha ang sukli at bumaba na ako. Sumunod naman agad sa akin si Yella. Inilibot ko ang paningin ko sa paligid—malaki ang bahay kung saan kami ibinaba ng driver. Apartment style iyon, iisa ang pasukang gate pero may tatlong magkakadikit na unit. Tabing kalsada lang din ang area na kinatatayuan ng bahay. "This is place is not bad kung mag isa lang ang tita mo na naninirahan sa isa mga unit na iyan,” komento ni Yella, gaya ko ay pinagmamasdan niya rin ang paligid. "Kung mag isa siya, not bad nga. Pero paano kung may asawa siyang lasenggo, may mga anak, at nuclear family na riyan din nakatira—” "OA na iyan, beh,” putol ni Yella sa mga sasabihin ko pa. "Why don't we just go in para malaman natin?” Tumango ako at nauna na akong maglakad palapit sa gate. Pinindot ko na rin ng tatlong beses ang nakita kong d
Under His Possession KABANATA 1
JANIYA'S P.O.VILANG BESES NA NAGPALIPAT-LIPAT ANG TINGIN KO SA PAPEL NA HAWAK KO AT SA MALAKING ARKO NG BAHAY— NG MANSIYON NA NASA HARAPAN KO NGAYON."Mansion de Castillejos"Ito na nga iyon. O ito na nga ba iyon?Pareho ang pangalan na nakalagay sa arko sa taas ng malaking gate at ang address na nakasulat sa papel na iniwan ni Papa. Hindi ko lang siguro in-expect na literal na mansiyon pala talaga ng lugar na nag-aabang sa akin. Akala ko noong una ay larong pangalan lang ang "mansiyon" kineme na iyon, thinking na babae ang hinahanap kong kaibigan ni Papa at base pa lang sa pangalan niyang "Yvonne“, halata nang kikayin siya. Iyong tipo ng babaeng naniniwala na totoo ang fairy tale at laging may "they lived happily ever after" ang bawat istorya.Napahinga na lang ako ng malalim at agad ko nang hinanap ang doorbell ng mansiyon. Kung meron man.Bigla ay parang gusto kong matawa nang imbis na doorbell ang makita ko ay isang lumang (Old style doorbell) ang bumungad sa akin. Sabagay. What
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