“Sa isang kama tayo matutulog?” gulat na tanong ko kay River. Well, okay lang naman pero... ewan ko ba.
His brows furrowed in confusion. Napaawang ang bibig ko at napatitig sa pintuan ng kwartong papasukan. Wala kasing ibang kwarto kaya no choice.
“If you’re uncomfortable, I can just sleep on the floor,” he said.
My lips parted and I shook my head. Tulog lang naman, Sandra! Walang masama roon!
“Ah, n-no... it's okay,”
“Ayos lang Sandra, pwede ring makitulog na lang ako sa villa nina David,” aniya.
“Tabi na nga tayo. I said it's fine, River!” I nearly shouted at him. Siya naman iyan at matutulog lang kami!
River looked at me and stopped what he's doing. Ngumisi siya at tinaasan ako ng kilay.
“No need, Darling. I can sleep on the floor—”
“Tabi tayo o makikitulog ako sa ibang kwarto?”
“Baka gusto mong itali kita sa k
“You don't have to worry. I'm here.” My lips parted at what River said. Kakatapos niya lang mag toothbrush samantalang ako ay nakaligo at nakapagbihis na nang maayos.Shit! What will Ma'am Roselle say? Baka mamaya ay pagalitan kami noon.“This is my fault! Dapat hindi na kita pinilit na matulog sa tabi ko! Shit!” I nearly cried.“Don't say that. Everything will be okay,” River told me and hugged me from behind. Naka buttondown polo siya at naka khaki pants. And I hate that he looks formal!“Paano kung pagalitan niya tayo? Oh my goodness, what if Ma'am Roselle will hate me to death? What if she'll ask me to leave you again?” naghihisterya na ako.I looked at the mirror in front of us. River was glaring at me with his brows furrowed kaya napanguso ako.“Don't say that. Besides, you can't leave me again. You won't leave me again. Hindi ka makakatakas sakin,” he said and buried his face
“You're not afraid of the sea anymore. Hindi mo na ako kailangan,” Sandra said while we're going down from the yacht. My brows furrowed as I look at her. Anong hindi kailangan ang pinagsasasabi nito?I need her most of the time! Kung puwede nga lang na sa tabi ko siya palagi ay gagawin ko. But this girl is so independent that she won’t even need my fingers!“Of course I need you,” tanging sambit ko.“No, I mean... you don't need me here at the Island as your pilot,” aniya.I pursed my lips and pulled her closer while trying to figure out an excuse. Ipinadagdag ko sa kontrata namin ang pagtigil niya rito, but I still need an excuse why she's staying. Natural ay hindi ko siya papaalisin!“Hmm, then we'll fly every day? Besides, we have to fly next week to Palawan,” I told her. Mabuti at nakahanap din ng palusot.“Really?! I'm excited! Lipad na lipad na ako,” Sandra said. She&rsq
I woke up that morning feeling heavier than usual. Nitong mga nakaraang araw ay napapansin kong madalas ang ganoong pakiramdam.Parang kahit anong tagal ng aking tulog ay ganoon pa rin ang pagod ko. Sa tuwing mumulat ang aking mata ay nahihilo ako.“Good morning,” River said huskily. Umirap lang ako at itinulak siya papalayo bago kinapa ang aking mata sa posibleng mga muta.“Oh? Bakit ang taray mo? Samantalang kagabi lang....” I glared at him while he bit his lip, tatawa tawa.Kagabi? What does he mean by that? After I drunk that piece of shit, I can't remember anything!“Kagabi? Anong kagabi?” gulat at nagtatakang tanong ko.Bagaman binalot ng kuryosidad, hindi maitatangging naiirita pa rin ako sa tuwing tumatawa na lang siya basta.Mas niyakap niya ako at inilapit ang mukha sakin. Tiningnan ko siya at nakitang nakahubad siya. My brows furrowed and I looked at my body. Naka sedang roba ako na hindi
“Aren't you happy?” nanghihina kong tanong kay River. Bakit ganito ang reaksiyon niya? Bakit parang wala man lang akong nakikitang katiting na saya sa mga mata niya?!“Are you?” he asked huskily. Napaawang ang bibig ko at parang gumapang ang sakit at pait sa sistema ko.Of course I am! Anak ko ito! Magkakaroon na kami ng anak kaya kahit hindi ko inaasahan ay masaya pa rin ako!Pero kung ganito ang reaksyon ni River, ibig bang sabihin....“So you're not happy,” I concluded. Pabulong kong sinabi iyon habang nakalaylay ang parehong balikat ko. This is unbelievable.Tumulo ang luha ko at nang tingnan siya ay nakakunot ang kaniyang noo at nakatingin sakin na para bang hindi niya ako maintindihan. Aba at ako pa talaga?Hinawakan niya ang pareho kong balikat at iniharap ako sa kaniya.“I am more than happy, Sandra! But are you?” Parang nasasaktan siya sa sinasabi kaya't kumunot ang aking
Is she insane? Wala naman siyang alam, pero bakit kung umasta siya ay ganito? I get that she needs an heir, but she should know which men are available! Dahil akin lang si River! May anak man kami ngayon o wala, akin lang si River! “Bakit, Stacey? Sigurado ka bang kahapon lang may nangyari samin?” I was about to defend myself when I saw River behind her. Siya iyong nagsalita kung kaya't napalingon si Stacey sa kaniya. Sa halip na tingnan si River ay reaksyon ni Stacey ang sinilip ko. Nanlalaki ang mata niyang singkit at namutla siya. Sinulyapan ko si River na halos patayin na sa titig si Stacey. Oh my gosh, she’s so afraid. I am too! “R-River!” “And you put that tonic, right?” River asked, almost like interrogating. Napatungo si Stacey at halos maluha. Napanguso ako at bahagyang naawa sa kaniya. Parang ako ang naiiyak sa ginagawa ni River kay Stacey, eh. “Answer me, Stacey!” River's ruthless side showed up. Seryoso ang tingin niya
“Nahihibang ka na ba, Roselle? Ano namang pumasok sa isip mo at sinabi mo iyan?!” tanong ng Mama.“Walang nangyaring kahit ano samin ni Alondra,” may kahinaan na sabi ni Tito Lucio sa asawa. Bumuntonghininga si Ma'am Roselle. Maging ako ay nakaluwag sa paghinga dahil sa sinabi ni Tito Lucio. Akala ko ay kung ano na.“I am not Dad's son, Sandra. Kung iniisip mong baka magkapatid tayo, ay hindi.” Napatalon ako nang may bumulong at pumulupot na kamay sa aking baywang. Nagulat ako sa presensya ni River at lalo na sa kaniyang sinabi. “Mom and Dad's marriage is fixed by my grandfather. May boyfriend noon si Mom at noong ikasal sila ni Dad, nalamang buntis si Mom at sa akin. My dad wanted me to become a Costales dahil marupok siya at minahal ang asawa.” Napangisi siya habang nagkukwento.Doon ko siya hinarap gamit ang gulat na mga mata. I didn't know that! Bakit ngayon ko lang nalaman? Fuck.“W-What? What abo
“You two... are engaged?” tanong ni Lionel. Gulat ang mata niya at nakatingin sa akin. I don't know if it's just me or the pain in his eyes is really evident.“And... you’ve married?” nakangiting tanong ko at itinuro silang dalawa. Hindi ko akalain. Hindi ko alam na kasal silang dalawa! But why the hell is Lionel telling me that he likes me if he's married to CK?And CK is okay with that?! Oh my goodness, ayoko nang manghimasok pa sa kanila.“You know each other?” River asked. Ngumiti ako at tumango sa kaniya. I pointed at Lionel before talking. “He's my batchmate in the Cadet Pilot Program. We're workmates... tapos si CK ay aircraft mechanic din ng airlines,” I said.Tumango tango si River at tumingin sa kapatid. Nakatitig sa akin si Lionel kung kaya't muli akong napasulyap kay River na ngayon ay kunot noong nakatingin kay Lionel. Surely, River can already sense something.Napatingin ako kay CK
“I like you,” I said while smiling at Estelle. She smiled back at me sweetly, pero hindi tumagal ang titig ko sa kaniya at bumaba sa katawan niya. I honestly don’t like her romantically, but I’m bored. Subukan ko kayang mag-girlfriend? Maganda naman si Estelle, eh. Puwede na.“Do you want to court me?” she asked.“Of course,” I confirmed and smirked wider. She looks sophisticated. Kung papasa ako sa standards nito ay may chance siguro ako sa babaeng gusto ko. “Then you should lift your grades higher.” Napatigil ako sa pagtitig at nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya. My brows raised at what she said.I should what?“What?” tanong ko muli.“You're smart, River. Hindi mo lang sineseryoso kaya't babagsakin ka ngayong college,” Estelle said. I groaned at her. Talaga bang sinabi niya iyon sa harap ko?! Unbelievab
“I'll stay here for a bit. Iuwi niyo na lang muna si Jordan. Susunduin ko na lang siya bago ako umuwi sa bahay,” sambit ko at inihiga ang natutulog na si Jordan sa backseat ng van kung nasaan si Aubree. “Alright. We'll go home already. Umuwi ka rin agad at magpahinga…” Dad said. Tumango ako at hinawakan ang pinto para isara. I closed the door and watched them go. Tahimik na ang lugar. The tent was still built, but the chairs were gone already. Bumuntonghininga ako at saka nilingon ang sasakyan ng taong alam kong kanina pa nanonood. “You can come near if you want to. Hindi kita bubugbugin ngayon,” I said after sitting in the grass in front of the grave, knowing that someone can hear me.
I woke up the next day, feeling more tired than usual. Rinig ko ang pagiging abala ng lahat sa labas kaya't tumayo na ako mula sa pagkakahiga.Napabaling ang aking tingin sa kabilang bahagi ng kama. My tears fell once again at the sight of it.“Dad,” I heard Jordan knocking on the door.Pinunasan ko ang aking mga luha at nilingon ang pinto. Jordan managed to open the door and ran immediately to hug me.“W-What's wrong, Jordan?” I asked him.Umiyak siya at mas humigpit ang yakap sa akin.“H-Have you had breakfast?” tanong ko sa kaniya. Umiling siya at narinig ko ang kaniyang hikbi habang nakayakap sa akin.
“You’re marrying Charlotte, and that’s final.” Napatanga ako sa sinabi ni Mom sa kabilang linya ng telepono. What the fuck?“Mom, I thought we’re on the same side? You promised me that we’ll convince Dad that I will never marry Cha!”Damn it. It’s been days since I went to Batanes with Cha. Pumayag akong pumunta rito, and even lied to my love that I have a business trip with Dad dahil nangako si Mom na tutulungan niya akong kausapin si Dad basta sumama muna ako pero…“I don’t like that girl, River! Kung ayaw mo siyang hiwalayan… ako ang maghihiwalay sa inyo.” Before I could even argue, ibinaba niya na ang telepono. This is frustrating!Pero hindi
She never really took me seriously at first. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero sa palagay ko ay dahil iyon sa lahat ng katarantaduhang nagawa ko noon.It felt like all of my sins were recorded, and she became my punishment.“I don’t believe you, River. I’m sorry, but you’re unbelievable.” I couldn’t remember how many times Sandra replied this statement to me every time I told her that I like her very much.Kalimitan ay dinadaan ko na lang talaga sa pagbibiro ng pamimilit o di kaya’y pagsuyo sa kaniya. But deep inside, it’s slowly hurting me. It’s like she never trusted me.Imagine? She even tried to turn me into a gay just so her family wouldn’t know about it!
I ran to the hallway quickly and quietly. I don't want to attend the philosophy class. It's boring.“Hey, River,” Alice greeted me nang malampasan ko siya sa hallway.I winked at her and she held my arms. But damn, this isn’t the time for flirting.“I'll catch up with you later at the party. Right now, I just need to run away from class,” I said and kissed her cheeks.“Alright, see you later,” she said.I smirked and continued running. Surely, the lecturer will catch me in no time kaya mas dapat ko pang bilisan ang takbo. Madaya naman kasi at foundation day tapos may klase siya sa amin.
“I'm sorry, the patient died due to the wound in her chest and internal bleeding. Her ribs are broken, and it affected her lungs. Kung nabuhay siya… she won't be able to walk. Her legs are fractured badly.”That’s what the doctor told us.I stood up slowly and noticed Kuya Angelo wiping his tears.I bit my lip. I remembered our youth. She was blooming like a flower, and her brother was already building fences so no man could touch her.I had that flower. But somehow… I failed to protect her.“Gusto kong makita ang anak ko… pupuntahan ko si Sandra,” Mama Alondra told Kuya Angelo.“Makikita rin natin si Sandra. Konting tiis la
“River! What the hell happened? What did that bastard do to Sandra?” salubong sa akin ni Lionel nang makarating ako sa kanila.Bumaba ako ng sasakyan at ngumiti sa kaniya. He looks so worried and behind him is his wife. Nakita ko ang galit at panggigigil sa kaniya. It seems like Alejandro wronged them as well.Subalit nang makita niya kung gaano ako kalugmok ay unti-unti niyang ikinalma ang sarili. Dapat lang niyang ikalma dahil pinapahanap ko na si Alejandro. Ang gusto ko munang tutukan sa ngayon ay ang aking asawa.When Lionel sensed my mood, wari ko ay naintindihan niya na agad ang nangyayari. M-Maybe he already has an idea.“I-Is the news… t-true?” tanong niya sa akin. Ramdam ko ang pag-aalinlangan sa boses niya.
Without any hesitation, nag u-turn ako kaagad at mas binilisan ang takbo ng aking sasakyan dahil sa sinabi sa akin ni Vincent. I’m not sure what it is pero kung mula sila sa tower control at hinahanap nila ako ay paniguradong may kinalaman ito kay Sandra!“C-Come quick.” Iyon ang huling sinabi ni Vincent bago ko narinig ang hikbi niya at pagpatay niya sa tawag.I was too excited to go back. Thinking that Sandra is already there excites me. Goodness. Sana ay naroon na siya dahil kung wala pa ring balita ay hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko! Masisiraan na yata ako ng ulo.Gustong-gusto ko nang bilisan ang takbo ng aking sasakyan at makarating doon kaagad.The sun is already shining. I haven't slept or eaten yet. Gusto ko lamang makita ang aking asawa. Mabut
The storm is still preventing us from searching the sky clearly. Wala kaming ideya kung anong aircraft ang ginamit ni Alejandro... o kung talaga bang ginamit niya iyon.“Why are you still awake? Hmm?” I asked Jordan when I visited him.“I can’t sleep properly. Have you eaten?” he asked.I smiled weakly and shook my head.“You should eat. If Mommy comes back, she'll be angry if she'll know that you didn't eat,” he said and held my hand.Nag-angat ako ng tingin nang makita sa likuran niya si Dad.“How is everything going?” Dad asked.“The authorities are helping us too. Sinisimu