Novel-novel oleh jollybee

Sleep did not cradle her gently.It consumed her.Dragged beneath dark waters, Seraphine felt her rosary coiled around her palm like chains. But chains snapped easily in dreams.The chapel stretched into infinity—towering arches, stained glass bleeding rivers of color across cold marble. Crimson pooled like blood, sapphire dripped like midnight, gold blazed like fire. Incense smoke coiled thick and heavy, clinging to her lungs, to her skin.Barefoot, she walked the aisle. Each step echoed too loud, her habit brushing her ankles, veil trailing like spilled ink.Then—footsteps behind her.Measured. Steady. Certain.Her heart lurched. She turned—darkness veiled him. Only flashes reached her: the breadth of shoulders, the gleam of leather shoes, the curve of a hand flexing at his side. She couldn't see his face, yet she felt his gaze, searing through every layer of fabric.Her lips parted on a breath."Sister," he said.The voice slipped through the silence, low and velvety, wrapping her

The rest of the day passed in ritual. Scripture readings echoed through the chapel until her lips moved from memory rather than meaning. Chores blurred into one another—laundry in cold water, sweeping endless corridors, mending habits worn thin by years of use. The rhythm should have been grounding. Familiar. Holy.But everywhere she turned, the shadow of that man lingered.In the chapel, the stained glass poured crimson and gold across the pews, yet Seraphine felt only the heat of remembered words pressed low into her ear. Smooth. Commanding. As though they had been spoken just for her.During vespers, she caught herself stumbling, the syllables faltering on her tongue. Her voice, meant for God alone, betrayed her. Her mind wandered back to the stranger, back to the cadence of his tone. It clung to her like incense smoke, thick and sweet, seeping beneath her skin no matter how tightly she folded her hands.Her head bowed deeper, breath uneven. "Lord, cleanse me," she whispered, the w

Morning broke with the toll of the bells. The sound rang heavy through the monastery, echoing over stone and wood, pulling the sisters out of slumber.Seraphine opened her eyes slowly, her lashes brushing against the cold pillow. Her body ached with exhaustion, though she had barely slept at all. Each time she drifted close to rest, the memory of that voice seeped back into her mind, smooth and unyielding.She rose, forcing her bones to obey the rhythm of ritual. The veil over her head, the habit snug around her body—armor against thoughts that had no right to linger.By the time she entered the refectory, the air was alive with chatter. The younger nuns were gathered at the long table, their plates lined with simple bread and cheese. Laughter bubbled in the corners, scandalous whispers hidden beneath lowered voices."Seraphine!" one of them, Sister Agnes, called brightly, waving her over with crumbs at the edge of her mouth. She was barely twenty, with cheeks that flushed pink at eve

Mother Cecily's glare silenced them for a beat, but Sister Rosa, one of the novices, raised her hand timidly. "What if he is a benefactor?" she asked. "What if he came to give us land, or money for the poor?"Agnes snorted. "Benefactor? Did you see the way he carried himself? That's not a man who gives. That's a man who takes,"Gasps rippled, and Rosa turned crimson, bowing her head."Agnes," Seraphine finally spoke, her voice soft but firm. She kept her eyes on the table, not daring to meet theirs. "You speak too boldly. Be careful. Words have weight."Agnes leaned forward, studying Seraphine with a sly smile. "And you, Sister Seraphine, didn't you feel it? The air? The silence wasn't silence anymore when he entered."Seraphine's lips parted, but no words came. It's not that she's afraid or something, she just can't find the right word to say. She have her own opinions too, but keeping quite in times like this make it better. One wrong word, she's going to be on the hot seat—being t

The morning bells tolled with a solemn cry, spilling through the high stone walls of Saint Meridia. They pulled every sister out of slumber, their echoes threading through the halls like reminders of obedience.Sister Seraphine rose quietly from her narrow bed, the sheets cold against her skin. She wrapped her veil with steady hands, fingers brushing over her collarbone where the habit pressed—a reminder of the vow she wore like armor. Her reflection in the small, cracked mirror looked fragile: pale skin, lashes still damp with sleep, lips bitten from restless dreams. Yet her eyes—hazel and tired—were the only thing that betrayed her.She whispered to herself, as she always did."Today, no weakness."The convent demanded silence until after morning prayers, but silence had never been her refuge. It was her torment. Every quiet moment was a space where memory clawed back.She carried her rosary close as she walked toward the chapel, her sandals soft against the stone. The corridor sme

The rosary slipped from her trembling fingers, beads scattering across the marble floor like broken prayers. Each echoing clatter felt like another vow shattering, like another piece of her sanctity crumbling at his feet."Cassian—" Her voice cracked, breathless, torn between pleading and surrender.The air between them was thick with candle smoke and something darker, something dangerous. In the abandoned corridor of Saint Meridia, where silence was meant to be sacred, his presence made every shadow pulse with sin.Her back was pinned against the cold stone wall, the rough surface biting through the thin fabric of her habit. Cassian Vale stood before her—towering, merciless, and far too close. His tailored suit smelled faintly of expensive cologne and something sharper, like fire on the verge of consuming her."Say it again." His voice was low, gravel rough, dripping with command. Storm-gray eyes burned into hers, daring her to deny what her trembling body already confessed. His hand

"Hindi ako makakasama 'Nay. Kailangan ako ng mag-ina ko da bahay," Panimula ng kaniyang pinsan at tumayo. "Pasensya na 'Nay. Hayaan mo sa susunod babawi ako sa inyo ni Mahalia," Paghingi nito ng paumanhin at habang nakangiti ng alanganin.Nanlumo naman siya nang dahil sa sinabi ng pinsan, pero nauunawaan niya iyon at wala silang magagawa dahil may pamilya na ito. "Ano ka ba anak walang problema..." Tugon naman ng kaniyang tiyahin."Sus!" Matulis ang ngusong ingos naman ni Jason at tumayo. "Huwag kang mag-alala Tyang Bebang. Ako ang sasama sa inyo ni Mahalia,"Nagsalubong naman ang makakapal na kilay ng pinsan niyang si Brandon nang dahil sa sinabi nito. Hinarap nito si Jason habang nakatiim bagang, na siyang hindi niya maintindihan."Magtapat ka nga sa 'kin Jason," Seryosong saad ni Brandon."Ano?" Kunot noong tugon naman ni Jason. "Pinupormahan mo ba ang pinsan kong si Mahalia?" "Huh?!" Bulalas niya sa gulat.Nanlalaking mga matang tiningnan niya ang pinsang si Brandon, gayon din

"S-sandali—Ahh..." Iyan ang tanging salitang namutawi sa kaniyang labi ng may maramdamang mainit at basang bagay sa dungot ng kaniyang dibdib.Pabaling-baling ang kaniyang ulo, hindi siya mapakali sa kadahilanang ang nararamdamang init at kiliti ng kaniyang katawan ay labis-labis."Ohhh..." Muli niyang halinghing, ng ango mainit na bagay ay bumaba patungo sa kaniyang puson.Gustohin niya mang dumilat ay hindi niya magawa, may kung anong bagay na nakalapat sa kaniyang mga mata at ang bagay na iyon ang dahilan kung bakit nahihirapan siya."S-sino ka—ughh ohhh..." Muli niyang halinghing ng may maramdamang mainit na bagay na humahaplos sa labi ng kaniyang pagkababae.Ramdam niya ang bahagya niyong pamamasa, tanda na ang kamalayan niya ay nabuhay. Ang mainit na bagay na iyon ay marahang sinalat ang kaniyang pagkababae, na siyang umani ng halinghing mula sa kaniyang mga labi. Ang likod niya ay napaarko, nang mayroong kumurot at bahagyang humila sa naninigas niyang dungot. Umawang ang kani

Samantalang ang pinsan niya naman ay hindi makapaniwalang nakatingin sa kaniya at bagsak balikat pa. "Akala mo ah?" Pang-aasar ni Jason dito. "Baka nakakalimutan mong bff kami nito," Napangiwi siya ng siya ay inakbayan nito. Ang bigat ng braso!"Lumayas ka na nga rito Jason! Nahahawa sa kagagohan mo ang pinsan ko," Pagtatakwil ni Brandon dito."Bleh, ayaw ko nga..." Saad ni Jason at dumila. "Ikaw ang umalis. Bumalik ka na sa dagat—bisugo!" Pang-aasar nitong muli.Lihim siyang napangiti nang dahil sa pagbabangayan ng dalawa, para silang mga aso at pusa pero kahit gano'n ay matalik pa rin silang magkaibigan. Naiiling na naglakad siya papalayo sa kadahilanang aabotin na naman ng siyam-siyam ang dalawa, paniguradong mamaya pa sila matatapos sa pagtatalo—wala namang saysay ang sinasabi nila.Nagsimula ng magwalis sa munting sala si Mahalia, komportable na siyang gumalaw-galaw kahit walang gaanong ilaw at bukas ang pintuan sa kadahilanang may dalawang mapagkakatiwalaang lalaki na siyang k

Napakamot na lamang ng ulo si Mahalia nang dahil sa natamong pasa at sugat ni Jason mula kay Tatang Mayo, hinampas ito ni Tatang ng sagwan sa braso."Iyan kasi ang aga-agang mangtrip," Saad niya at pinatunog pa ang dila. "Sa lahat ba naman ng puwede mong pagtripan at sabihin, iyong buhok pa talaga ni Tatang Mayo ang pinansin—""Teka Mahalia," Pagputol nito sa kaniyang sasabihin. "Anong buhok ang pinagsasabi mo? Kalbo si Tatang Mayo ah? Ang kinis pa nga ng ulo," Walang prenong saad nito, dahilan para masapo ni Mahalia ang kaniyang noo.Saan kaya ipinaglihi ang isang 'to? Masyadong matabil at matalas ang dila, minsan nga'y gusto niyang lagyan ng duck tape ang bibig nito para sa gayon ay manahimik. Daig pa ni Jason ang inahing manok kung pumutak, walang tigil—talaga namang magdamag.Marahan niyang dinutdot ng asa nito dahilan para ito ay mapangiwi."Ang sakit Mahalia!" Atungal nito at bahagya pang tinapik ang kaniyang kamay.Si Jason ay kaniyang inismiran at sinabing, "Ang aga-aga mo kas

Napuno naman ng pag-aalala ang kaniyang dibdib nang dahil sa sinabi ng kaniyang tiyahin. Nasaan kaya ang isang 'yon? Madalas kasi si Jason sa bahay nila, kaya nakapagtataka na dalawang araw itong hindi nagpapakita. Hindi kaya umuwi ito ng Maynila? O baka naman pinagbantay ito ng baboyan? Nasan na kaya ang madaldal na kababata niyang 'yon? Napakamot na lamang siya ng ulo at muling nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Pagkaraan ng ilang sandali ay natapos na rin sila ng kaniyang tiyahin, nauna nanitong pumanhik samantalang siya naman ay ang nagsimula ng magligpit ng kanilang kinainan."Magndang umaga Pilipinas," Nakangiting saad niya kasabay ng malakas na pagtilaok ng manok, tanda na umaga na—madaling araw pala.Maliit lamang ang bahay ng Tiya Bebang niya, pero kahit gano'n kompleto naman ang mga gamit. Mayroong dalawang kwarto, kusina, banyo, at mayroon pang may kalawakang sala. Sa pagkakatanda niya'y rent to own ang tawag dito, kung tama siya. Habang naghuhugas ng pinggan ay marahang umiindayog a

Mabilis na napabalikwas si Mahalia mula sa pagkakahiga ng makaramdam ng mainit na hininga sa kaniyang leeg. Iyon ay kaniyang hinawakan at mabilis na napalinga-linga sa paligid, ngunit wala siyang ibang nakita kundi purong kadiliman lamang.Taas baba ang kaniyang balikat, siya ay kinilabutan ng tumama sa kaniyang mukha ang malamig na simoy ng hangin. Dagli siyang tumayo at isinarado ang munting kahoy na bintana ng kaniyang kuwarto, at kalauna'y lumabas upang uminom ng tubig.Mukhang hindi na naman siya makakatulog."Oh Mahalia, ang aga mo naman yatang nagising?" Gulat na tanong sa kaniya ng kaniyang tiyahin na si Bebang. "Mano po Tyang," Saad niya at dito ay nagmano."Kaawaan ka ng Diyos," Rinig niyang usal nito. "Gusto mo ba ng kape? Ipagtitimpla kita,"Mabilis naman siyang umiling at ginawaran ito ng masuyong ngiti. Kahit kailan talaga ang tiyang niya, masyadong maaalalahanin. E, siya nga itong galing pa ng trabaho at hindi pa nakakapagpahinga."Hindi na po kailangan Tyang. Ako na p