Lahat ng Kabanata ng Begging For Your Love : Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

NAALIMPUNGATAN SI Ruby Rose nang marinig ang tunog nang humintong sasakyan sa kanilang garahe. Hindi niya namalayang nakatulog siya sa sofa sa may sala habang naghihintay sa kanyang asawa. Sinulyapan niya ang may kalakihang wall clock na nakasabit sa dingding. It was almost two in the morning, the last time she checked the time, it was ten in the evening, she slept for nearly four hours. Tumayo siya at lumakad patungo sa pinto upang pagbuksan ang asawa. “Welcome home,” bati niya rito nang nakangiti. She could immediately smell the alcohol from him, the stench was too strong that she wanted to throw up. He walked pass her without saying anything and entered their room without looking back. Ni hindi man lang siya nito tinapunan ng tingin kahit sandali man lang. Isinarado niya ang pinto at nagmamadaling tumungo sa sink upang ilabas ang mga kinain. She felt sick when she smelt the strong scent of alcohol. She drank water after she throw up, her stomach felt so empty and she was famis

7 YEARS LATER MANHATTAN, NEW YORK "What do you think is the first step to unlove someone?" the host asked. "You should stop seeing them. Seeing them often will always remind you how deep your affection towards that person. It'll be easier to unlove them if they were out of your sight. Focus on other things, pursue your dreams, focus on yourself." "That's deep. I'm wondering if it's based on your personal experiences?" "Maybe." Ruby Rose smiled playfully and shrugged her shoulders. Pinatay ni Ruby Rose ang cellphone at inilapag sa lamesa. Dinampot niya ang shades at isinuot bago umayos ng higa sa beach lounge chair.She smiled bitterly when she remembered what she answered to that question from the host of that vlog, the one she was watching on her phone. It was already uploaded in the internet.She was invited by a famous vlogger, who had millions of followers in Youtube and in other social media platforms, to be featured in one of their episodes. Their YouTube channel was known

“ROSE…”“RUBY ROSE…”“Ha?” Nagtaas ng ulo si Ruby Rose nang kalabitin siya ng kanyang kapatid na katabi niyang nakaupo habang kumakain sila ng hapunan. Tiningnan niya ito habang nakakunot ang noo.Nang ilinga niya ang mga mata palibot sa kanilang dining table ay nakita niya nakatingin sa kanya ang mga kasama. Her mother and father and her two siblings.Hindi niya gustong lumabas ng kuwarto niya kanina pero wala siyang magagawa. Iyon ang unang beses na nabuo silang pamilya sa harap ng hapag simula nang umalis siya.“What’s wrong? Kanina ka pa tinatawag ng mama mo. You don’t like the food?” Malcolm asked.Napatingin siya sa kanyang mga magulang at ngumiti. “It’s just jetlag, Dad.” Niyuko niya ang kanyang pagkain na kaunti lang ang nabawas. Hindi niya napansin kaninang nakatulala siya roon at nilaro-laro lang ng kutsara. Sumubo siya ng pagkain kahit na para bang babara iyon sa kanyang lalamunan.Tahimik siyang nagpasalamat nang makumbinsi niya ang mga ito. “How’s school?” tanong niya sa

SHE FELT the ringing in her ears when she woke up. Hindi niya maimulat ang mga mata dahil sa sakit ng ulo. Pagkaraan ng ilang minuto ay unti-unti nang rumirehistro sa kanyang pandinig ang mga boses sa labas ng silid.The voices were inaudible at first, until they became clearer as minutes passed by. They were two voices, no, there’s three, three familiar voices.Gusto niyang buksan ang mga talukap pero tila kay bigat ng mga iyon. Maging ang katawan ay nahihirapan siyang igalaw. She could barely feel her body that it was starting to scare her. What’s happening to her?Hanggang sa marinig niya ang pagbukas ng pinto at ang papalapit na mga yabag ay nanatili siyang nakapikit at hindi makagalaw. Tanging mga ungol ang kumakawala sa kanyang mga labi.Naririnig niya ang mararahas nitong paghinga habang nakaupo sa dulong bahagi ng kama.Ilang beses niyang sinubukang buksan ang mga talukap at nang magtagumpay ay nakita niya si Russel. Nang luminaw ang kanyang paningin ay una niyang napagtuonan

THE NEXT DAY, Russel came home very late. Gising pa siya nang dumating ito dahil sadyang hindi siya makatulog. She couldn’t sleep with the fact that her husband was not at home. Nangangamba rin siyang baka hindi ito umuwi.Bahagyang napawi ang pangamba niya nang dumating ito. “How’s your day? You did not come home last night.”“I was busy.”Too busy to at least accompany your new wife on your wedding night? Iyon ang gusto niyang itanong dito pero hindi niya magawa. Alam niyang galit pa rin si Russel sa kanya sa mga ginawa niya.“Nakilala ko si Ate Judith kanina. I like her,” aniya. Judith was the stay-out househelper of Russel. Ito ang naglilinis ng bahay, nagluluto at naglalaba noon pamang bagong lipat ni Russel doon. The house was a bungalow at nag-iisa lang si Russel na nakatira doon noon kaya hindi kailangan ng maraming katulong para maglinis. There were only two rooms, a bedroom and a mini-library that was also his office. There was no maid’s quarters kaya stay-out si Judith.“G