Lahat ng Kabanata ng Under His Possession: Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

RYUU'S P. O. VI CAN'T HELO NOT TO CLENCH MY FIST AS I STARE AT NIA'S HELPLESS STATE.Nakatulog siya dahil na rin siguro sa sobrang pagod sa pag-iyak, ilang minuto lang matapos niyang i-kwento sa akin ang lahat. And right now, I couldn't shake the feeling of hatred towards that SV guy. Hindi ako makapaniwalang nagawa niya lahat ng iyon kay Nia. My emotions swirled as I gazed upon her serene figure, peacefully lost in slumber. A profound sense of admiration enveloped me, filling my being with a warmth I struggled to convey to her. Damn, ganito ba talaga ang pakiramdam kapag nakita mo na iyong babaeng hinihiling mong makasama sa araw-araw, eh binabasura lang ng ibang lalaki na hindi yata alam ang salitang "pagpapahalaga"?Napamura ako sa sarili ko habang puno ng awang nakatitig kay Nia. May mga bakas pa ng luha sa mukha niya. Nakasimagot niya at kunot ang noo. Kahit natutulog siya, halata pa rin na hindi maayos ang pakiramdam niya. She looks so lost and empty. Poor Nia.But just as the

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

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

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

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