Alex's Point of View
"I really don't know why you are still considering someone like this to enter our company, Mr. Estrellas. I think you will be making trouble when you let someone be part of Estrellas Group that is so improper, maniac, pervert and have a bad habit. I'm afraid I have to disagree with this, and I will be leaving. Find another company for this project, for I will not agree to this one. Not with this bastard."
"Vice Chair! Teka! Nagbibiro lang naman ako! Labas naman 'yong pinagsasabi ko kanina sa trabaho--"
"Did I even ask for your opinion? You were started that conversation freely in front of us without even thinking how formal this meeting is. Kung hindi mo magawang maging pormal sa ganito pa lang how can we trust you? Ikaw na rin naman ang nagsabing you are overwhelmed by our presence pero pinapakita mo rin sa min kung gaano ka karuming lalaki. I am so disappointed." I started leaving the hall when I felt that he
Alex's Point of View"HOLD it! Nabingi yata ako saglit, Alex. Anong sabi mo? Meganne Lou Laxa ang pangalan n'ya at ex-secretary siya ng kuya mo? Kailan pa naging ex-secretary ng kuya mo ang babaeng mahal mo? I am too late? Bakit hindi ko alam 'yan? Akala ko ba magkaibigan tayo?!" she yelled."Kailan lang.""Kailan lang?! At bakit? Anong nangyari bakit hinayaan mo siyang masisanti ng kuya mo? How could you be so irresponsible for your best friend and the woman you love? Akala ko ba pinaghirapan mong ilagay siya sa posisyon na 'yan noon?""Cruzette, kuya didn't fire her. She was the one who resigned by her own means. I am not irresponsible as I did my best to talk to her and help her sort things out. Ayaw ko rin namang malayo siya sa kin.""Oh? Anong nangyari at bakit nasa Escala na siya ngayon at naghahanap ng trabaho?""Wala na akong nagawa. Especially after I confessed to her everything change
Alex's Point of ViewI was smiling before putting my phone back in my pocket and started walking when Ate Pearl open the door for me. Tahimik kaming naglalakad at paminsan-minsan ay sumasagot ako sa mga pagbati ng mga empleyadong nakakasalubong namin o nakakasabay sa elevator hanggang sa marating na nga namin ang conference hall sa floor kung nasaan ang opisina ni kuya. Supposedly he will be also attending this presentation but I beg him not to. Mapre-pressure lang sa kan'ya si Meg.When I entered the expansive room, they were all there, and I saw the woman of my life standing in front of them. They all stand up to greet me pero hindi na ako nagpatumpik-tumpik pa and started the presentation immediately. Sa totoo lang pang-formality lang naman na 'to.I know that she is feeling nervous right now kaya ko siya nginitian para man lang mapalakas ang loob n'ya kahit kunti. Ate Pearl started looking at me wearing her. I know
Alex's Point of ViewWHEN finally I was able to open my eyes and see the people around me, it was my mother who I first saw who was looking at me while sitting near my hospital bed."Alex? Alex, gising ka na ba? Oh, my God! Doc! Alex is awake!" she started screaming before hugging me napangiwi pa ako n'ong masagi n'ya ang kamay kong may nakakabit pang hiringilya."Mom, teka lang po. Hindi ako makahinga," I said weakly."Sorry! Gosh! I'm sorry, anak," sambit n'ya sa kin bago ito umatras para makalayo and to make way for the doctor and nurse who responded for her call. My two brothers started entering my hospital room, and Kuya Hyjin was the one who held my mother.The doctor started to run simple things in me, such as looking at my eyes, reflexes, and another thing while my mother started crying."How are you feeling, Vice Chair?" the doctor asked me."I think I'm fine.""Thank God
Clifford's Point of View"PARE!" bulalas n'ong isa sa kapitbahay namin ng makita akong nasa balkonahe ng inuupuhan naming maliit na kuwarto malapit lang din sa condominium kung sana kami nakatira dati. Lintik kasi 'tong si Aikeen pakialamera. Imbes na wala akong prinoproblema sa buhay dahil sa sagot lahat ni Meg ay nangialam pa."Oh? Anong problema mo? Wala kaming ulam kaya sa ibang bahay ka na lang humingi ng pulutan mo," sagot ko naman bago ko ibuga ang usok ng sigarilyong hawak-hawak ko."Balita ko birthday ng bunso n'yo, ah? May pa-catering daw 'yong jowa n'yang may-ari ng Estrellas. Bakit hindi kayo humingi roon?""Sino naman ang nagbalita sa 'yo n'yan? Ano bang petsa ngayon? Birthday ba ni Meg ngayon, Patricia!?" pagkakausap ko sa kapitbahay namin bago ako sumigaw sa asawa ko. Lumabas silang tatlo kasama ng dalawa naming anak."28. Birthday talaga ni Meg ngayon hindi ba tayo pupunta roon? Nagsab
Meganne's Point of View"FINE! I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry. Nainis lang talaga ako. Uso namang i-manifest ang magandang pag-uugali ngayong taon."Sa kinahaba-haba ng prosisyon nina Boss Lennux at Ate Prim ay sa simbahan pa rin ang bagsak nilang dalawa. After ilang years na naging sila ay nagpakasal din silang dalawa. Isang church wedding at h-in-eld ang reception sa isa sa pinakamahal na five star hotel sa lugar namin. Nakahawak si Alex sa bewang ko habang naglalakad kami papunta sa table kung nasaan si Mommy Shin."Mom, si Meg muna ang sasama sa 'yo rito. Kausapin lang namin nina Kuya Hjyin at Kuya Lennux 'yong mga bisita," sambit ni Alex bago n'ya ako paghilahan ng upuan at ipaupo katabi ng mommy n'ya."Sure, anak," sagot naman ng mommy n'ya at hinaplos pa ang likuran ko."Kumain ka na ba, anak? Sabayan mo ako," paanyaya ni Mommy Shin sa kin na agad ko namang tinanguan. Tahimik sana kaming kumakain na dalawa sa table
Alex’s Point of View After 5 years… IT’S THE D-DATE. I was walking back and forth in the room with trembling hands and a pounding heart. “Alex, kumalma ka nga,” mom said. She was sitting comfortably on the white couch with white roses in her hands. “Nasaan na po ba sila kuya?” I asked. “Your Kuya Lennux is with Prim, so, and maybe they’ll be here soon,” mom explained. “How about Kuya Hyjin and his family?” I miss my niece, Melea Ferminelle. “Speaking,” mom said pertaining to Kuya Hyjin na nakatayo na sa may pintuan. “Hi, mom and bunso!” He gives me a peak in my cheek and my niece was running towards me, so I lowered my body para mabuhat ko siya. “Mimay, I saw Tita Meme awhile ago. She was beautiful!” Melea is telling with a smile. “Really? How beautiful is she? Is she l
NINAIS mo rin bang makawala sa buhay na hindi mo naman pinili pero kailangan?Ninais mo rin bang angkinin ang sarili mong buhay?Ninais mo rin bang makawala sa lilim ng punong hindi naman para sa ‘yo at nakisampid ka lang?Ninais mo rin bang mabuhay hindi bilang isang anak? Hindi rin bilang kapatid? Pinsan? Tiyahin? O kamag-anak ng kung sino man? ‘Yong nabubuhay ka para sa sarili mo lang?Ninais mo rin ba?Sampung taon! 10 fuckin’ years! After 10 years! Sa wakas! Makakalaya na rin ako sa utang, makakawala na rin ako sa responsabilidad, makakapag-isip na rin ako ng pangarap na para naman sa akin.Pagkatapos ng sampung taon na pagtitiis, sa wakas, masasabi kong hawak ko na rin ang sarili kong buhay.Akin na rin ang buhay ko.“Bunso, hindi mo ba sasagutin ‘yan? Kanina pa ‘yan tunog nang tunog!” sigaw ni ate mula sa labas.Sinuot ko nang maayos ang heels ko bago kinuha ang hand
“SINUSUMBAT mo ba sa akin ‘yan, Meganne? Baka nakalilimutan mong ako ang nagbu—” Hindi ko na hinayaang matapos pa n’ya ang dapat n’yang sasabihin dahil memoryadong–memoryado ko na ang linyahan n’yang ‘yan.“Na ano, kuya? Na ikaw ang bumuhay sa akin noong nagkasakit ako, na ikaw ang tumayong tatay sa akin noong bata pa ako? Ilang taon ‘yon, kuya? Isang taon? Dalawa o ‘di naman kaya tatlo? Bilangin mo! Kasi ako! Sampung taon, kuya! Sampung taon akong nagpakaalipin sa ‘yo! Kung dati takot na takot akong mawalan ng silbi sa ‘yo, ngayon, tapos na tapos na ako, kuya! Kaya kong hindi mo ako magawang suportahan sa gusto ko, bahala ka! Pagod na akong maghanap ng papel sa buhay mo, kuya! Kung isusumbat mo sa akin habang buhay ‘yang ginawa mong sakripisyo dati sana pinatay mo na lang ako! Sana pinabayaan mo na lang ako!” Humihikbi akong naglakad papasok ng k’warto ko.“Utot
Alex’s Point of View After 5 years… IT’S THE D-DATE. I was walking back and forth in the room with trembling hands and a pounding heart. “Alex, kumalma ka nga,” mom said. She was sitting comfortably on the white couch with white roses in her hands. “Nasaan na po ba sila kuya?” I asked. “Your Kuya Lennux is with Prim, so, and maybe they’ll be here soon,” mom explained. “How about Kuya Hyjin and his family?” I miss my niece, Melea Ferminelle. “Speaking,” mom said pertaining to Kuya Hyjin na nakatayo na sa may pintuan. “Hi, mom and bunso!” He gives me a peak in my cheek and my niece was running towards me, so I lowered my body para mabuhat ko siya. “Mimay, I saw Tita Meme awhile ago. She was beautiful!” Melea is telling with a smile. “Really? How beautiful is she? Is she l
Meganne's Point of View"FINE! I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry. Nainis lang talaga ako. Uso namang i-manifest ang magandang pag-uugali ngayong taon."Sa kinahaba-haba ng prosisyon nina Boss Lennux at Ate Prim ay sa simbahan pa rin ang bagsak nilang dalawa. After ilang years na naging sila ay nagpakasal din silang dalawa. Isang church wedding at h-in-eld ang reception sa isa sa pinakamahal na five star hotel sa lugar namin. Nakahawak si Alex sa bewang ko habang naglalakad kami papunta sa table kung nasaan si Mommy Shin."Mom, si Meg muna ang sasama sa 'yo rito. Kausapin lang namin nina Kuya Hjyin at Kuya Lennux 'yong mga bisita," sambit ni Alex bago n'ya ako paghilahan ng upuan at ipaupo katabi ng mommy n'ya."Sure, anak," sagot naman ng mommy n'ya at hinaplos pa ang likuran ko."Kumain ka na ba, anak? Sabayan mo ako," paanyaya ni Mommy Shin sa kin na agad ko namang tinanguan. Tahimik sana kaming kumakain na dalawa sa table
Clifford's Point of View"PARE!" bulalas n'ong isa sa kapitbahay namin ng makita akong nasa balkonahe ng inuupuhan naming maliit na kuwarto malapit lang din sa condominium kung sana kami nakatira dati. Lintik kasi 'tong si Aikeen pakialamera. Imbes na wala akong prinoproblema sa buhay dahil sa sagot lahat ni Meg ay nangialam pa."Oh? Anong problema mo? Wala kaming ulam kaya sa ibang bahay ka na lang humingi ng pulutan mo," sagot ko naman bago ko ibuga ang usok ng sigarilyong hawak-hawak ko."Balita ko birthday ng bunso n'yo, ah? May pa-catering daw 'yong jowa n'yang may-ari ng Estrellas. Bakit hindi kayo humingi roon?""Sino naman ang nagbalita sa 'yo n'yan? Ano bang petsa ngayon? Birthday ba ni Meg ngayon, Patricia!?" pagkakausap ko sa kapitbahay namin bago ako sumigaw sa asawa ko. Lumabas silang tatlo kasama ng dalawa naming anak."28. Birthday talaga ni Meg ngayon hindi ba tayo pupunta roon? Nagsab
Alex's Point of ViewWHEN finally I was able to open my eyes and see the people around me, it was my mother who I first saw who was looking at me while sitting near my hospital bed."Alex? Alex, gising ka na ba? Oh, my God! Doc! Alex is awake!" she started screaming before hugging me napangiwi pa ako n'ong masagi n'ya ang kamay kong may nakakabit pang hiringilya."Mom, teka lang po. Hindi ako makahinga," I said weakly."Sorry! Gosh! I'm sorry, anak," sambit n'ya sa kin bago ito umatras para makalayo and to make way for the doctor and nurse who responded for her call. My two brothers started entering my hospital room, and Kuya Hyjin was the one who held my mother.The doctor started to run simple things in me, such as looking at my eyes, reflexes, and another thing while my mother started crying."How are you feeling, Vice Chair?" the doctor asked me."I think I'm fine.""Thank God
Alex's Point of ViewI was smiling before putting my phone back in my pocket and started walking when Ate Pearl open the door for me. Tahimik kaming naglalakad at paminsan-minsan ay sumasagot ako sa mga pagbati ng mga empleyadong nakakasalubong namin o nakakasabay sa elevator hanggang sa marating na nga namin ang conference hall sa floor kung nasaan ang opisina ni kuya. Supposedly he will be also attending this presentation but I beg him not to. Mapre-pressure lang sa kan'ya si Meg.When I entered the expansive room, they were all there, and I saw the woman of my life standing in front of them. They all stand up to greet me pero hindi na ako nagpatumpik-tumpik pa and started the presentation immediately. Sa totoo lang pang-formality lang naman na 'to.I know that she is feeling nervous right now kaya ko siya nginitian para man lang mapalakas ang loob n'ya kahit kunti. Ate Pearl started looking at me wearing her. I know
Alex's Point of View"HOLD it! Nabingi yata ako saglit, Alex. Anong sabi mo? Meganne Lou Laxa ang pangalan n'ya at ex-secretary siya ng kuya mo? Kailan pa naging ex-secretary ng kuya mo ang babaeng mahal mo? I am too late? Bakit hindi ko alam 'yan? Akala ko ba magkaibigan tayo?!" she yelled."Kailan lang.""Kailan lang?! At bakit? Anong nangyari bakit hinayaan mo siyang masisanti ng kuya mo? How could you be so irresponsible for your best friend and the woman you love? Akala ko ba pinaghirapan mong ilagay siya sa posisyon na 'yan noon?""Cruzette, kuya didn't fire her. She was the one who resigned by her own means. I am not irresponsible as I did my best to talk to her and help her sort things out. Ayaw ko rin namang malayo siya sa kin.""Oh? Anong nangyari at bakit nasa Escala na siya ngayon at naghahanap ng trabaho?""Wala na akong nagawa. Especially after I confessed to her everything change
Alex's Point of View"I really don't know why you are still considering someone like this to enter our company, Mr. Estrellas. I think you will be making trouble when you let someone be part of Estrellas Group that is so improper, maniac, pervert and have a bad habit. I'm afraid I have to disagree with this, and I will be leaving. Find another company for this project, for I will not agree to this one. Not with this bastard.""Vice Chair! Teka! Nagbibiro lang naman ako! Labas naman 'yong pinagsasabi ko kanina sa trabaho--""Did I even ask for your opinion? You were started that conversation freely in front of us without even thinking how formal this meeting is. Kung hindi mo magawang maging pormal sa ganito pa lang how can we trust you? Ikaw na rin naman ang nagsabing you are overwhelmed by our presence pero pinapakita mo rin sa min kung gaano ka karuming lalaki. I am so disappointed." I started leaving the hall when I felt that he
Alex's Point of ViewWHEN I entered the main entrance of Estrellas everything seems so normal and outgoing. Parang walang nagbago o kung ano man, napakabilis pa rin ang kilos ng lahat at abala sa kan'ya- kan'ya nilang mga ginagawa."Vice Chair, sa conference hall na po ba tayo sa 15th floor didiretso o may kukunin pa kayo sa opsina?" Ate Pearl asks me before closing the elevator."Diretso na nandoon na raw si Kuya Lennux, ate. Baka umapoy na naman ang ilong n'on kapag nagtagal pa ako," I replied before looking down at my phone. Tinignan ko ang wallpaper kung kami lang naman dalawa ni Meganne. The selfie was taken when we attended a product launching of Esterllas last few months ago.Simula n'ong hindi na pumapasok si Meg dito sa Estrellas papalit-palit na ako ng wallpaper ko pero lagi namang kung hindi kaming dalawa ay mukha n'ya lang. Alam kong napaka-cringe at parang napaka-corny pero kailangan kong tignan
Alex's Point of View"MEGANNE Lou Laxa, mahal kita, mahal na mahal kita higit pa sa pagiging kaibigan." There you go. I already drop the bomb and I all I can do right now is to wait for her reaction and reply.As expected, nagulat siya. Inabot ko ulit 'yong batok n'ya para halikan siyang muli pero tinulak na n'ya ako palayo sa kan'ya this time. She immediately grabs her bag and started walking away from me.Pero hindi ko rin naman hahayaang matapos ang gabi na 'to na hindi ko mapatunayan sa kan'ya na mahal ko talaga siya at hindi ako nagbibiro.Even if nakalayo na siya sa kin nilakasan ko pa rin ang loob ko pati na rin ang boses ko to shout my feelings for her. I know that she is starting to be confused right now kaya mas pinili n'ya na lang na lumayo sa kin but a ray of hope strike my heart again when she stopped from walking at nagawa ko ng takbuhin siya para mayakap siya mula sa likod.When I was able to hug her ti