Novels by Sham Cozen

“Hindi ko naiintindihan. Bakit naman gagawin ni Alesia ‘to?” Hindi mapakali si Mom.Pabalik-balik siyang naglalakad dito sa sala. Napatitig ako sa cellphone na nilapag ko sa mesa. Kalahating oras na simuna nang kunin ni Alesia ang anak ko pero hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin akong natatanggap na balita.“Damn it!” Marahas na sinara ni Lucero ang laptop. “Alesia’s phone’s is upstairs. She’s using a burner phone to call you. I can’t trace itband the tracking device on Xenon is not working.”“The heck, Lucero!” Binato ko siya ng throw pillow. “Paano kung malaman nila ang tungkol sa tracking device? You’re putting my son in danger.”“He’s in danger either way lalo na kung may galit sa ‘yo si Alesia,” inis na tugon niya.“And you think that makes me feel better?” Pabagsak akong umupo.My husband’s missing and now my son? Napasabunot ako sa sarili. What’s her reason? Is it because of Xeonne? Mabilis kaming napatingin sa cellphone ko nang sandaling tumunog ito. Agad ko itong dinampot. I rece

“Who the hell would kidnap Xeonne?” Lucero asked while driving.“Yeahh... Who?” I stared at my ring.I twisted the ring for I don’t know how many times and somehow I couldn’t figure out where I want it. I’ve been wearing this for a long time but it makes me uncomfortable lately. Napansin ko rin ang pagiging maluwag nito. Hindi ko alam kung nangayayat ba ako or ano. I just don’t feel this ring.“Anastasia,” tawag ni Lucero.“Ha?” Napatingin ako sa kaniya gamit ang rear view mirror.“Kanina pa ako nagsasalita but you’re not paying attention.” Sandali niyang ibinaling ang tingin sa ‘kin. “I feel like you don’t care.”Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko. “About what?”“About Xeonne being missing?” Tiningnan niya ako na may pagtataka.“Of course I care. It’s my Xeonne we’re talking about.” Mabilis kong pagtanggi. “I’m just not myself knowing that he’s nowhere to be found.”Hindi ko alam kung sino ang niloloko ko, si Lucero ba o sarili ko mismo. Xeonne’s gone for a day now and somehow I don’t feel

“How am I going to keep my distance when every time you’re out of my sight I feel like dying?”His voice was soft but carries immense pain.“How can they expect me to survive without you when even a single day of your absence shatters my sanity?”The pain in his voice receded and sheered sadness causing his voice to crack.“How can they ask me to let you go when I couldn’t even imagine a second of my life without you?”His sadness turned into desperation. He uttered each word with strong emphasis and strained defiance.Every time he spoke, he sounded more and more desperate. I could feel the heaviness in his words, the pain, and it shatters me. I slightly opened my eyes and saw his green eyes staring back at me brimming with tears.“Xeonne...” The moment I called his name, tears streamed down his cheek. I smiled at my barely opened eyes. “It’s nice to see you again kahit na sa panaghinip lang.”I know I was dreaming. Naaalala ko ang sariling nagtatrabaho pa rin sa madaling araw. Hin

“Why do you have to come back?”I heard Tremaine’s voice. I felt a sharp pain on the back of my head. My migraine is getting worse as time passes by.“Why come back, Anastasia?” She touched my cheek.I was stunned. It was indeed Tremaine’s voice. And her touch. It was gentle and warm like it used to be. Am I dreaming? “Sobrang liit ng mundo. Sa dinami-dami ng mga bata ikaw pa talaga ang na pusuan ko.” Hinaplos niya ang pisnge ko. “I know it’s not your fault but why do you have to look like her growing up?” Look like who?“It would have been easier if you don’t move like her, talked like her, looked like her.” Kinuha niya ang kamay ko at kinulong ito sa pagitan ng mga palad niya. Her warmth felt so real. I know I wasn’t dreaming. I want to open my eyes and let her know that I was awake but I want to hear from her more. I want to hear her the answers behind my whys. Why did she mistreat me, hurt me. I want to know her reasons, her real deep reasons and not that reputation bullshits.

“When?” Hinawi ko ang ilang hibla ng buhok sa noo niya. “When are you coming back to me?” Binaba ko ang palad sa pisnge niya. “To is?” Hinaplos ko ang pisnge niya gamit ang hinlalaki.Ramdam ko ang pagtusok ng patubong balbas niya sa balat ko. Pinagmasdan ko ang mukha niyang mahimbig na natutulog. Napakaamo ng mukha niya, napakatahimik.“I miss how your brows crease evertime you’re confused or bothered.” I ran my thumb across the gap between his brows. “I miss how your green eyes stare at me.” I brushed my thumb over his eye lids. “I miss how your nose nozzles against my neck.” My fingertip trailed down his pointed nose. “I miss how your lips call my name.” I touched his warm plumped lips.Hinubad ko ang suot na heels bago umakyat sa higaan niya. Umupo ako sa tabi ng ulo niya habang nakasandal sa headboard. Sinuklay ko ang buhok niya gamit ang mga daliri at nagsimulang magkuwento.“You’re dad is giving me a hard time. Madali lang sanang panatilihin sa tuktok ang Mont de Corp but he’s

“What do you know, Ella?”Napahilamos siya ng mukha. Mula sa mukha ay pinasada niya ang palad pataas sa buhok. Pagkatapos ay huminga siya nang malalim.“After we bailed her out of prison, she told me he was there, he was everywhere.” She started. “I saw cuts all over her body hidden under her clothes.” Tears welled to the brim of her eyes.Inabot ko ang kamay niya. “I saw it too. I’m sorry.”“No, Anastasia, I wasn’t talking about scars.” Napatakip siya sa bibig.“What?” Nagbangayan ang mga kilay ko.“They were fresh, Anastasia.” Napayuko siya at napatitig sa sahig. “It started the day they took her in. I asked her patrol officer, Officer Torres, and I was told she did to herself.”“And they didn’t inform the family?” Napaangat ang kaliwang kilay ko.“They did.” Malungkot niya akong tiningnan.“Tremaine?” Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mga mata. Tumango siya bilang tugon.Napahilot ako sa sintido. That old witch. I know she’s goddamn manipulative but I didn’t know she could let her daughter g

SERRA “Dad,” I called him.It has been days yet he was still sad and listless.“What can do for yoy, sweetheart?” He forced a smile but the sadness in his eyes was visible.“I-I want to ask you about someone.” I lowered my head.“Come here.” He tapped the space beside him. I obliged and sat next to him. “About who?” he asked.“About my mom,” I stuttered.Hearing the last word he was grief-stricken. I felt bad asking about it.“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t feel like it, dad,” I sincerely said.He shook his. “It’s about time.” He smiled genuinely. “What do you want to know about her?”“What does she look like?” I asked even though I already knew.He moved away and pulled something out of the drawer of his bedside table. He gave me a round object. It was metal-like and silver in color with gold Vines and red roses all over.“Open it,” he told me after handing it over.I ran my thumb tracing the vine and pulled the top part upward. I saw myself, my reflection.“You’re a carbon

The moment the water swallowed me I held my breath. There’s no way I’m letting the cold enter me. I looked up but it’s all water above me. My hair floats over my head like seaweeds. In the rashness of the moment, I began flinging my arms out.I expect to come back out and I did. I gasped for air before sinking again. I kicked my legs and flapped my arms and I was back to the surface again. But each chance to breathe became further apart. Each breath was less than the last.I tried once more. The more I struggle the more disoriented I became. I felt like I’m trashing inside an invisible prison. My first instinct was to get some air but there should be something else. I couldn’t fight for air forever. I need to find a way out.I pushed with my legs and arms and when I was able to bob my head out of the water, I breath as deep as I could. The water pulled me again. I looked around and saw a wall. The fear I felt was overlain by hope. I flicked my feet and tried to reach the walk. It was

“No... That couldn’t be.” Kate staggered backward. “It should be there. I should be there,” she repeatedly uttered pulling her hair.I run towards her. “Don’t worry, Kate. We are going to find Lulu’s body.” I assured her and patted her shoulder.She yanked her shoulder away from my grasp and took a few steps backwards. She kept on pulling her hair and her eyes were restless. She didn’t know where to focus them.“W-What if that thing took it? W-What if that thing swallowed it?” Her breathing turned shallow and fast. She punched her head with boths hands wandering with little steps. She’s mentally unstable. I walked near her and caught her hands stopping her from hitting herself.“Stop it, Kate. You’re hurting yourself,” I told her.She already suffered enough. I couldn’t bear watching her like this.“That thing swallowed Lulu whole!” she squealed oogling her eyes at me.I grabbed her cheeks and made her look at me. “What thing, Kate? What thing?”After a moment of touching her face m

“I am sorry for ignoring you, guys.” Kate lowered her head. “I was just scared of Lulu. I’ve known her for years and I didn’t know she was capable of any of that. I know she won’t hurt any of you though. She was just after me.” Her voice cracked. I moved closer to her and rubbed her back. Comforting her is the only thing I could do for her right now. “Nothing of that is your fault, Kate. Monsters are made. Envy made Lulu into one.” I pulled her making her lean into me as she sobs. “But she is still the Lulu that we know. She’s a beautiful flower,” I added. She lifted her eyes to meet mine. “Will she become a flower forever? Are we going to meet her, the real her?” “No.” I shook my head. “In the next life I could be an animal or a plant or I could be in your body and you could be in mine. It depends on the decisions we make at this lifetime. That doesn’t mean we aren’t real. The real us is not our flesh but our soul.” I wiped her tears away. She nodded and smile. She leaned against

I dropped my phone after hearing what she said. I hastely went back to the elevator and ran again toward the gym. It was passed two in the afternoon already. “Serra, here!” Mandy waved her hand at me. I ran in thier direction. I gasped for air. “Where is Amanda?” “Amara called and they were together at the moment. What’s going on?” She looked both worried and confused. I looked at Lulu’s direction and Mandy already got what I meant. “Lulu!” I approached her. She turned around and faced me. She was wearing an ice-cold expression, far from the Lulu that I knew. Something was really not right here. I saw Kate died but her name wasn’t carved at the black scroll. I shook the doubt in my mind and focused to the present. “Lulu, grab my hand and get out of the body.” I lend my hand to her but just like before she just stared down my hand. “Yes, Lulu. Do it. Trust her,” Mandy encouraged. She looked at me and smiled. I was relieved to see her smile but my heart started to race pushing m

“Are you sure about that?” Grip asked. “Yes, bring me back to the mansion. I chose to front my fear.” I firmly said. He nodded and smiled. He was proud. He grabbed my waist and pulled me nigh him. Lulu’s and Dorothy’s name was already written on the scroll of death and today was the thirteenth day from Xyrus’ supposed to be death. I wanted to save them, to do that I need to watch dad’s every move. I was not certain if my plan would work but I have to try at least. “Grip, something’s off–” I turned around but he wasn’t here anymore. “Grip?” I sighed and just walked the long way toward the mansion. He was vanishing from my sight very often this days. It was a sign that he would leave and cross to the other side very soon. As I walk the garden I came across with bronze maids. They would avoid taking the same way as I do. They would even avoid staring in my eyes. I stared at the huge closed door before me. Just by thinking of going inside gave me goosebumps. I took a deep breath. I p