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KABANATA 47
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2024-11-14 15:25:06Kaugnay na kabanata
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 KABANATA 50
JANIYA'S P. O. VTHE HUMID AIR OF MANILA CLUNG TO MY SKIN, A STICKY REMINDER OF THE LONG FLIGHT AND THE WHIRWIND OF EMOTIONS I'VE BEEN BATTLING SINCE LANDING.Kahit naka-oo na ako kay Ryuu, hindi ko pa rin mapigilang makaramdam ng kaba at pag aalangan. But despite all those, naisip ko na lang na abalahin na lang ang sarili ko habang nandito pa ako. I have a mountain of tasks to tackle, a tight deadline looming over my head, and three rambunctious toddlers to juggle. The triplets, my own personal hurricane of energy, were thankfully safely tucked away with Ryuu, my ever-reliable “babysitter”. Ryuu, with his quiet strength and unwavering patience, was a godsend. He always understood the pressure I was under, and he always offered a helping hand, a shoulder to lean on, and a calming presence that helped me navigate the chaos.Today, I was scheduled to meet Ryuu's client, an older Italian-Filipino man named Mr. Alveoli. According to Ryuu, he was a prominent businessman, a potential invest
Under His Possession KABANATA 52
JANIYA'S P. O. V THE DAYS FOLLOWING MY UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER WITH SV HAS BEEN A BLUR OF UNSETTLING COINCIDENCES.SV seemed to have become a phantom, appearing at the most random of places, like a mischievous spirit playing a game of hide-and-seek with my sanity. Sa grocery store, sa park, minsan kahit sa bakery o sa kung saan pang lugar. Pasalamat ko na lang din na tuwing magkrukrus 'yung landas namin ay hindi ko kasama ang mga bata.I tried to dismiss the thought that SV has been following me intentionally. I am trying my best to think that everything is is just a product of my overactive imagination. But the frequency of these encounters, the way he seemed to appear at the most unexpected moments, was starting to feel deliberate. It was as if he was trying to send a message, to remind me of his presence, to draw me back into the vortex of our past.I couldn't shake the feeling that he was watching me, that he was somehow involved in my life again. It was a chilling thought, a feelin
Under His Possession KABANATA 52
STRIKE'S P. O. VTHE FIRST TIME I SAW JANIYA AGAIN, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, A FAMILIAR SPARK IGNITED WITHIN ME. It was a spark of curiosity, a flicker of something deeper, something I couldn't quite define. It was as if a dormant part of me, a part I thought I'd buried deep within, had suddenly awakened.She was different, of course. The youthful innocence I remembered was replaced by a womanly strength, a quiet confidence that radiated from her. But her eyes, those captivating eyes, held the same spark, the same mischievous glint that had captivated me years ago. Because yes, after having several thoughts about my past with Janiya and how I felt for her all these years made me conclude a thing—I indeed liked her. Or maybe, I loved her. For real. Masyado lang akong binulag ng galit ko sa ama n'ya at sa katotohanan na masyado pa s'yang bata noon.But now, I couldn't shake the feeling that she was a puzzle I needed to solve, a mystery I needed to unravel. My curiosity grew with each pas
Under His Possession KABANATA 53
JANIYA'S P. O. VKATITILA LANG NG ULAN. WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE LIVING ROOM—THE TRIPLETS LINED ASLEEP ON THE SOFA. Paalis na sana kami kanina; kaso hindi natuloy dahil sa malakas na ulan na biglang bumugso. I couldn't risk my children's health and I don't want to compromise our saftety. Kaya imbis na tumuloy ay nagpatila na lang kami ng ulan sa bahay. Hanggang sa nakatulog na nga ang mga bata at kami ni Ryuu ay tahimik lang na nakabantay sa kanila."I can't believe it," I whispered, my voice barely audible above the soft hum of the ceiling fan. "The audacity he had to introduce that woman to me again. As if hindi s'ya kasama sa mga sumira ng buhay ko no'n.”Ryuu reached out, his hand resting gently on mine. "I know," he said, his voice filled with a quiet strength that always calmed my anxieties. "And it's a lot to take in."He knew, of course. Lagi naman. Naiintindihan n'ya ako palagi at isa 'yon sa mga pinagpapasalamat ko."Anyways, about your business. What are we going to do?" I a
Under His Possession KABANATA 54
JANIYA'S P. O. VTHE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED WERE A BLUR OF WHISPHERED CONVERSATIONS, FRANTIC PHONE CALLS, AND A CONSTANT SENSE OF UNEASE. Strike, despite the revelation, seemed to have accepted the situation with a strange, unsettling calm. He didn’t push, didn’t demand answers, didn’t try to force his way into our lives. He simply observed, his gaze lingering on the triplets, a flicker of something akin to longing in his eyes. Malayung-malayo sa reaksyon nito no'ng tinaboy n'ya ako maraming taon na ang nakalipas.Pinili ko na rin na iwasan na lang si Strike. We had already hired a new assistant, a young woman named Maria, to handle the day-to-day operations of the business. Kahit baguhan ay nakikita naman namin na magaling s'ya. She became our shield, our buffer, our way of keeping Strike at bay.But it was a delicate dance, a constant struggle to maintain the illusion of normalcy. The triplets, despite their young age, were perceptive, their innocent eyes noticing the tension, the awkw
Under His Possession KABANATA 55
JANIYA'S P. O. VPAGKATAPOS NG LAHAT NG NANGYARI, NAG USAP KAMI NI RYUU. WE BOTH AGREED THAT WE'RE NOT SAFE HERE ANYMORE. LALO NA ANG MGA BATA. "A-Ano kamong sabi mo? Aalis na kayo ulit?”Tango lang ang nasagot ko kay Papa. Bukas, aalis na kami pabalik sa bansa kung saan kami nakatira. Naisip lang namin ni Ryuu na dumaan dito para makapagpaalam ng maayos at makasama pa sila sa maikling oras."Bakit biglaan naman yata? May naging problema ba?” tanong ulit ni Papa.Nagkatinginan kami ni Ryuu. Hindi ko pa nasasabi sa kanila 'yung totoong rason ng pag alis namin. Hindi ko pa nasasabi sa kanila 'yung lahat ng nangyari."Eh, paano 'yung business na sinimulan n'yo rito?” It was Kuya Haru. Tita Heaven's first born and eventually, my stepbrother. Asawa na rin n'ya si Adrianne ngayon."I'll be staying here for a a little more while. I'll be the one to oversee the business. Susunod na lang ako ro'n kapag stable na lahat dito,” sagot ni Ryuu.Hindi na sila nagkomento pa.Before we left, I felt a
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Under His Possession KABANATA 62
JANIYA'S P. O. VMAGDIDILIM NA NANG MAGPASYA AKONG UMUWI KASAMA NG MGA BATA. No'ng una, ayaw pang pumayag ni Strike dahil gusto n'ya na sa mansyon na lang kami magpalipas ng gabi. Pero syempre, hindi ako pumayag dahil bukod sa alam kong lalong ikapuputok 'yon ng butse ni Giulia ay nakapangako na rin kasi ako kay Ryuu na lalabas kami at sabay-sabay na magdi-dinner bago dumiretso sa sea side para sandaling maglakad-lakad bago tuluyang umuwi.As we prepared to leave, Giulia, her face a mask of fury, clung to SV's arm like a possessive vine. Turns out, hindi pala s'ya umuwi kanina nang 'palayasin' s'ya ni Strike. Mukhang nagtago lang s'ya sa kung saan at wala na lang nagawa si Strike nang malaman na nandito pa rin pala ang babaeng over obsessed sa kanya.Her eyes, burning with jealousy, darted between me and the children, her voice a venomous hiss. Kahit hindi s'ya nagsasalita at tahimik lang, ramdam na ramdam ko ang lakas ng negative energy n'ya. Daig pa n'ya 'yung multo na ligaw ang ka
Under His Possession KABANATA 61
JANIYA'S P. O. VPAGKATAPOS NAMING KUMAIN, DUMIRETSO NA AGAD ANG MGA BATA AT SI STRIKE SA TAAS PARA MAGLARO. NAIWAN NAMAN AKO KASAMA NI MAMAY DAHIL NAG-VOLUNTEER AKO NA TULUNGAN S'YANG MAGLIGPIT.As of Giulia, hindi ko alam. Baka umalis na. Sana nga, umalis na.Pero mukhang hindi talaga ako malakas kay tadhana. Kahihiling ko pa nga lang na sana talaga wala na s'ya, 'eto at bigla na naman s'yang sumulpot mula sa kung saan. Mukhang sinakto n'ya pa na umalis si Mamay saglit.Hindi gaya ng kanina na nakangiti pa s'ya kahit peke, now her face is contorted with fury, her eyes blazing with a mixture of jealousy and hatred, stood before me, her voice a venomous hiss that sent shivers down my spine."I'm glad, alam mo pa rin naman pala kung saan ka nababagay. Somehow, marunong ka pa ring lumugar,” sabi n'ya.Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa hinuhugasan kong plato dahil parang gusto ko nang paliparin 'yon at pag-landing-in bigla sa mukha n'ya."What again this time, Giulia? Ano na namang lagim ang pi
Under His Possession KABANATA 60
JANIYA'S P. O. VHINDI KO NA HALOS NAMALAYAN ANG MABILIS NA PAGLIPAS NG MGA ARAW. I was busy proofreading my article when suddenly, a call came. And to my surprise, it was Strike, his voice a mixture of concern and desperation."How's our sons doing?” bungad n'ya agad pagsagot ko pa lang sa tawag. Hindi man lang ako nakapag-"hello" muna.Napangiwi ako. Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin ako sanay tuwing sinasabi n'ya ang mga katagang "anak natin" o iba pang kagaya no'n."They're… fine. Thanks for asking. Medyo matamlay lang sila. Hinahanap ka kasi,” pag amin ko."Oh, hell. Really?” Biglang naging puno ng pag aalala sa boses n'ya. He really had change. Lagi ko na s'yang kinakakitaan ng emosyon. Hindi na gaya ng dati na laging blangko 'yung ekspresyon n'ya.Tumango ako bilang sagot kahit hindi naman n'ya ako nakikita."Saktong-sakto. I was just about to ask you if… if you could drop by again? Kahit ipasundo ko na lang kayo.”Napakagat-labi ako."B-Bakit? Anong meron?”"Nothing. Wala naman.
Under His Possession KABANATA 59
JANIYA'S P. O. V"GUSTO N'YO BA, I-TAKE OUT N'YO NA LANG 'YUNG MGA NALUTO NATIN? SAYANG NAMAN 'YON. GUSTUNG-GUSTO KO PA NAMAN MATIKMAN NG MGA BATA ANG LUTO KO.” Napabuntung-hininga na lang ako dahil sa sinabi ni Mamay.Nandito kami ngayon sa salas habang naghihintay sa pagdating ni Ryuu. Hindi pa rin lumabas si Strike at Giulia; pero wala na akong pakialam sa kanila.We had been talking about the meals we had prepared, the feast that had been interrupted by the arrival of Giulia, the woman who had stormed into our lives like a whirlwind of anger and jealousy. The aroma of adobo, the tangy sweetness of sinigang, the savory richness of kare-kare, still lingered in the air, a reminder of the normalcy we had been trying to reclaim, the life we had been trying to rebuild. Pero ang buong akala ko na matitikman ko na ulit 'yon ay naudlot pa. All because of that witch Giulia. Pati ang kasiyahan ng mga anak ko ay naputol din nang dahil sa immaturity n'ya."Mom," Chase, the eldest of the tripl
Under His Possession KABANATA 58
JANIYA'S P. O. VPANAY ANG TAWA NAMIN NI MAMAY HABANG MAGKATULONG KAMING NAGLULUTO SA KUSINA. And of course, nagkwekwentuhan din kami. Marami-rami lang kaming lulutuin ngayon dahil bukod sa miss na miss ko na ang mga luto n'ya, gusto n'ya rin daw ipatikim sa mga anak ko ang luto n'ya."Baka kasi sakaling kapag natikman nila ang luto ko, baka hindi na sila umalis. Baka gustuhin na lang nilang dumito at mabuo ang pamilya n'yo.” Sinundan pa ni Mamay ng paghagikhik 'yung sinabi n'ya. Hindi ko naman s'ya masabayan dahil hindi ko talatang gustong mangyari 'yung sinabi n'yang 'yon. I still don't like the idea of staying here with my sons. Isa pa, wala ang "pamilya" na sinasabi ni Mamay na mabubuo. It just doesn't exist. Pero kahit na gano'n, hindi na lang ako nagprotesta dahil ayokong masira ang mood. Hinayaan ko na lang s'yang isipin ang mga gusto n'yang isipin. Besides, ngayon na lang kami nagkita ulit at ayokong magtampo pa s'ya.Habang nagluluto kami, rinig na rinig ang tawanan ng mga a
Under His Possession KABANATA 57
JANIYA'S P. O. VHINDI KO INAASAHAN ANG LUGAR NA PINAGDALHAN SA AMIN NI STRIKE. Thousands of memories came back as I stare at the old Castillejos mansion loomed before us, its faded grandeur a stark contrast to the bustling city that surrounded it. It was a place steeped in my history, a place that held both happy memories and a sense of foreboding, a place that had witnessed the rise and fall of a family, a place that had been both a haven and a prison.Strike, his face a mixture of determination and a hint of something akin to hope, led us through the imposing iron gates, his steps echoing in the silence of the overgrown courtyard. Hawak ko sa kamay sina Chase at Cross habang buhat naman ni Strike si Cameron. Their innocent eyes wide with wonder, seemed to be oblivious to the weight of history that hung heavy in the air.As we stepped inside, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. The scent of old wood and dust, the faded grandeur of the high ceilings and ornate chandeliers, the echoe
Under His Possession KABANATA 56
JANIYA'S P. O. VILANG MINUTO NA ANG LUMIPAS PERO HINDI PA RIN KAMI MAKALABAS SA KWARTO NA PINAGDALHAN SA AMIN KANINA. Nandito pa rin ang mga lalaking binayaran ni Strike para harangin kami. And even Strike is still here. Nakapalibot na sa kanya ang mga anak ko habang ako, nakaupo lang sa isang sulok at pinapanood sila.Hanggang mayamaya, biglang lumapit sa akin si Strike."Niya," tawag n'ya sa akin pero hindi ako kumibo. "I know we have a lot to talk about. But I'm asking you to trust me, to give me a chance, to let me be a part of their lives."Tinitigan ko lang s'ya.Kung ako lang ang tatanungin, ayoko na. Ayoko nang magtiwala ulit sa kanya. But as I looked at my triplets, their tiny faces filled with a mixture of curiosity and a hint of something akin to affection as they gazed at Strike, a wave of something akin to doubt washed over me.They were too young to understand the complexities of the situation, the tangled web of relationships that had brought us to this point. But the
Under His Possession KABANATA 55
JANIYA'S P. O. VPAGKATAPOS NG LAHAT NG NANGYARI, NAG USAP KAMI NI RYUU. WE BOTH AGREED THAT WE'RE NOT SAFE HERE ANYMORE. LALO NA ANG MGA BATA. "A-Ano kamong sabi mo? Aalis na kayo ulit?”Tango lang ang nasagot ko kay Papa. Bukas, aalis na kami pabalik sa bansa kung saan kami nakatira. Naisip lang namin ni Ryuu na dumaan dito para makapagpaalam ng maayos at makasama pa sila sa maikling oras."Bakit biglaan naman yata? May naging problema ba?” tanong ulit ni Papa.Nagkatinginan kami ni Ryuu. Hindi ko pa nasasabi sa kanila 'yung totoong rason ng pag alis namin. Hindi ko pa nasasabi sa kanila 'yung lahat ng nangyari."Eh, paano 'yung business na sinimulan n'yo rito?” It was Kuya Haru. Tita Heaven's first born and eventually, my stepbrother. Asawa na rin n'ya si Adrianne ngayon."I'll be staying here for a a little more while. I'll be the one to oversee the business. Susunod na lang ako ro'n kapag stable na lahat dito,” sagot ni Ryuu.Hindi na sila nagkomento pa.Before we left, I felt a
Under His Possession KABANATA 54
JANIYA'S P. O. VTHE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED WERE A BLUR OF WHISPHERED CONVERSATIONS, FRANTIC PHONE CALLS, AND A CONSTANT SENSE OF UNEASE. Strike, despite the revelation, seemed to have accepted the situation with a strange, unsettling calm. He didn’t push, didn’t demand answers, didn’t try to force his way into our lives. He simply observed, his gaze lingering on the triplets, a flicker of something akin to longing in his eyes. Malayung-malayo sa reaksyon nito no'ng tinaboy n'ya ako maraming taon na ang nakalipas.Pinili ko na rin na iwasan na lang si Strike. We had already hired a new assistant, a young woman named Maria, to handle the day-to-day operations of the business. Kahit baguhan ay nakikita naman namin na magaling s'ya. She became our shield, our buffer, our way of keeping Strike at bay.But it was a delicate dance, a constant struggle to maintain the illusion of normalcy. The triplets, despite their young age, were perceptive, their innocent eyes noticing the tension, the awkw
