Novels by ForgetMeNot

GABRIEL I wasn’t expecting to see Reeyah in the kitchen when I stepped out of my room at seven in the morning. She was wearing an oversized white t-shirt that fell to mid-thigh, standing quietly in front of the electric stove, fully focused on cooking.I stood at the doorway of the kitchen, watching her every move. From her hair tied up in a messy bun, to her smooth, sun-kissed neck, my eyes slowly trailed down her back all the way to her legs.Damn. Ilang araw na akong may kakaibang nararamdaman sa puso ko. I know exactly what this feeling is, but I’m not ready to admit it to myself. I mean, it’s only been two weeks since we met—since I asked her to pretend to be my wife and move into the penthouse, but in those past few days, I’ve slowly started to get to know her. I know she’s a very stubborn woman. Halos lahat ng sabihin ko ay sinusuway niya, pero I know at nakita ko na may good side rin sa ugali niya. And I can’t deny na may kagandahang taglay rin si Reeyah. Kagandahang hindi n

Mainit ang sikat ng araw sa abandonadong warehouse kung saan kinukuhanan ang eksena. Pawis at usok ang sumasalubong sa bawat galaw ko, pero sa kabila ng init at pagod, mas magaan ang pakiramdam ng buong pagkatao ko ngayon kaysa kung nasa penthouse lang ako ni Gabriel at nakatunganga buong maghapon.“Take your mark!”Sumigaw ang assistant director habang hawak ang megaphone. I was wearing tactical gear, a harness strapped around my waist, standing on top of the scaffolding. Ang eksena: tumalon mula sa pangalawang palapag habang may sabog sa background.“Ready ka na, Reeyah?” tanong ng stunt coordinator.Huminga ako nang malalim, pagkuwa’y tumango. “Mas ready pa ako kaysa sa love life ko,” pabirong sabi ko na naging dahilan upang magtawanan ang mga crew na kasama ko. Sa mundo ng stunt work, ako ang kilala sa pagiging fearless. Lahat kaya kong gawin at wala akong inuurungang hamon ng characters na ginagampanan ko sa likod ng camera maging ng mga directors.“Okay, ready, Reeyah! One! Two!

Sa halip na dumiretso sa guest room, hinanap ko siya hanggang sa makarating ako sa kaniyang library. Nakaawang ang pinto niyon, kaya kaagad ko siyang nakita. He was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass wall, gazing at the city skyline. May hawak din siyang baso ng whiskey sa kanang kamay.“Where have you been?” tanong niya, hindi man lang lumingon.Nagbuntong hininga ako at tuluyang umalis sa pagkakasilip sa pinto. Pumasok ako. “Out,” tipid kong sagot.“Out where?”“Somewhere I’m not disposable.”Gabriel turned slowly. I could clearly see his brows drawing together in a deep frown.“You heard that.”“Loud and clear.”I saw his jaw clenched. He walked toward me with slow, deliberate steps. His face was still serious, almost unreadable. In the soft glow of the dim room, his eyes revealed nothing—no anger, no warmth, just a quiet intensity that made it impossible to guess what was going through his mind.“I didn’t mean it that way.”“Talaga?” tumawa ako nang pagak. “So may mag

GABRIEL“Do you really need to do this, Gabriel?” I released a deep sigh into the air. I was in the conference room with Aodhan, a close friend of mine who also is a mayor in Manila. I had asked him to come over so we could talk about the upcoming civil wedding between Reeyah and me.I had a meeting with the board earlier today, and during the discussion, they brought up some concerns. Since I suddenly introduced Reeyah as my wife without any prior notice or documentation, they’re now demanding a legal copy of our marriage certificate—one that’s officially registered with the Local Civil Registry Office. At dahil sinabi ko sa public conference na ginawa ko last week na private wedding ang naganap sa amin ni Reeyah nang nakaraang linggo, I need to secure a marriage certificate that’s officially registered on the very same day. It’s a crucial detail, and there’s no room for delays or mistakes. The only person I can count on to make that happen smoothly is Aodhan. He’s someone I trust c

PAGKALABAS ko sa banyo, sakto namang narinig kong tumunog ang cellphone ko na nasa ibabaw ng nightstand table. Kaagad ko iyong nilapitan at dinampot. I saw Gabriel’s message. Step out once you’re done showering.Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko. Paano niya nalaman na naliligo ako kanina? Bigla tuloy akong nakadama ng kaba at napatingin sa itaas ng kisame pati sa sulok-sulok ng kuwarto. Naghahanap ako ng camera. Baka mamaya, may secret camera pala ang guest room na ito at binubusuhan ako ng lalaking ’yon. Malilintikan talaga siya sa akin.Nagpaikot-ikot ako sa kuwarto habang hawak ko ang towel sa tapat ng dibdib ko. Wala naman akong nakita. Nagpunta rin ako sa banyo, wala rin naman akong nakita na camera doon. Or baka narinig niya lang ang lagaslas ng shower kanina?! Ipinagkibit ko na lamang iyon ng balikat, pagkatapos ay nagbihis na ako. Nang masigurong okay na ang hitsura ko, lumabas din agad ako ng guest room. I saw Gabriel in the living room, waiting for me. “Ano ang kailangan mo,

“Ate!” Kaagad na napatayo si Mien mula sa pagkakaupo nito sa mahabang sofa nang makita ako nitong pumasok sa kuwarto kung saan naka-confined na si mama. “Mien, kumusta? Kumusta si mama?” tanong ko, saka tinapunan ng tingin si mama na nakahiga sa hospital bed. May dextrose sa braso nito at may oxygen mask sa ilong at bibig na nagbibigay ng suporta sa kaniya para makahinga nang maayos. “Kahit papaano ay stable naman na ang kalagayan ni mama, ate,” sagot nito. Kinuha nito sa balikat ko ang shoulder bag ko, saka inilagay sa sofa. “Kumain ka na ba, ate? Gusto mo pong bilhan kita sa canteen?“Hindi na, Mien. Busog pa ako. Kumain ako bago umalis at magpunta rito,” sabi ko, saka nagsimulang humakbang palapit sa hospital bed. I took a seat in the chair next to her, my eyes fixed on Mama with deep focus. She’s still not okay, pero panatag na ako ngayon na kahit papaano ay magtutuloy-tuloy ang medications niya. I no longer have to stress about where to find money to cover our hospital expenses