Novels by ImVictorique

After five months...THIRD PERSON's POV. PAGOD na nagkatinginan sina Kaley at 'yong iba pang kaibigan ni Lucas sa kanya. Maging sina Luciana, Lucia at Luca ay nayayamot na habang pinagmamasdan ang kapatid na palakad-lakad sa harapan nila."Kuya, Can you just sit?! I'm feeling dizzy because of you!" Reklamo ni Lucia kay Lucas na napakagat na lang sa sariling kuko dala ng nerbyos. "She's right Lucas. Walang mangyayaring masama kay Rhea okay?" Paninigurado naman ni Rave. "I can't." Iling ni Lucas. "I did some research online and it says, masakit daw ang manganak. Baka nasasaktan ang asawa ko." Nag-aalalang dagdag pa nito. Nanggigigil na napatayo naman si Ruffa sa upuan at hinawakan ang magkabilang balikat ni Lucas."Calm down, Mars. She will be okay." Anya pa ng beki. Pagkaraan ay siya na rin mismo ang nagpaupo kay Lucas sa inupuan niya kanina. Lumipas ang ilang sandali ay lumabas na rin ang Midwife na nagpaanak kay Rhea kaya agad na dinalungan ito ni Lucas. "Kamusta ang lagay ng a

THIRD PERSON's POV. PAGKARATING ni Lucas ay agad niyang napansin ang asawa na nakayakap kay Rave. Dali-dali niyang hinablot ito mula sa kaibigan at mahigpit na niyakap. Mukhang nakilala naman siya nito sapagkat mas lalong dumiin pa ito sa kanya habang humahagulgol. "Ssh...I'm here. Tahan na..." Pag-a-alo ni Lucas sa asawa. Saglit siyang tumingin sa paligid habang nakayakap pa rin sa kanya sa Rhea. Napansin niya ang kanyang mga kaibigan na nakatingin sa kanila. At nagdilim ang mukha niya nang mapansin si Cristoff na walang malay habang nakatali.How dare him!Dahan-dahan siyang bumitaw sa pagkakayakap at kuyom ang kamao na lumakad sa kinahihigaan ni Cristoff para amabahan ng suntok nang biglang harangan siya ni Ruffa.May inis na tiningnan niya ang kaibigan. "Bakit mo ako pinipigilan? That b*st*rd deserve a punch! D*mn it!" Nanggagalaiting pahayag ni Lucas na hindi na makapagtimpi ngunit nanatiling kalmado si Ruffa. "Stop it, okay? Kanina pa iyan nabugbog ni Rave kaya nawalan ng m

RHEA'sNANDITO kami ngayon sa Condo ni Lucas. Hinahakot niya kasi iyong mga ibang gamit niya. Mga alas-dyis na rin mahigit dahil late rin kami nagising. "Hoy, Bilisan mo ngang mag-ayos diyan daig mo pa ko sa pagiging mahinhin mo eh." Reklamo ko. Paano ba naman magtiklop lang ng damit inaabot pa tatlong minuto bago matapos. In the end, nalulukot pa rinkapag ilalagay niya na sa maleta.At ang walang hiya, imbis na bilisan ang kilos, nginisian lang ako ng pang-asar."Edi mas maganda! Wala rin naman akong gagawin kaya standby muna tayo." Boses batang sabi niya.Umarko naman ang isang kilay ko."Ikaw Lucas! Tigil-tigilan mo ako ah! Namumuro kana kahapon ka pa sa mga kapilyuhan mo. Pasakan ko ng bulak yung bibig mo makikita mo." Inis kong saway sa kanya habang pinapakita ang malaking bulak na hawak ko. Hindi man lang siya natakot at pinagpatuloy lang ang pagtitiklop.Nanatili kaming tahimik hanggang sa putulin ito ng tumutunog na cellphone ni Lucas. Saglit na tiningnan niya ako bago tumayo

RHEA's"Ano na?" Maang kong tanong kay Lucas. Kasalukuyan kaming nakaupo dito sa sofa habang nanonood ng TV. Akbay-akbay niya ako habang nakasandal naman ang ulo ko sa dibdib niya. Habang si Mama naman ay kasalukuyang nang nagpapahinga sa kwarto niya. Alas-otso na rin kasi ng gabi at masamang magpuyat lalo na at kaga-galing niya lang."Anong ano na?" Takang tanong niya pabalik. "Iyong about sa bahay, hindi naman ako pwedeng bumalik sa Condo mo at ayaw kong iwan ang Mama ko hanggang hindi pa siya fully recovered." Turan ko. "About that, I think itong bahay mo na lang ang maging official house natin but sumama muna kayo sa akin sa Condo. Gusto ko kasing ipa-renovate itong bahay mo at palakihan since magkakaroon na tayo ng anak." Atat na wika niya saka tumayo kaya napaayos ako ng upo. "Where are you going?" Tanong ko ng akmang aakyat siya ng hagdan patungo sa second floor. "To your room." Payak niyang saad at umakyat na. Naiwan naman akong nagtataka. Sa room ko? Ano namang gagawin

RHEA'sDAHIL nga sa sinabi ni Mama no'ng isang linggo napagdesisyunan ko na magpa-check up ngayon. Kung bakit ngayon lang? Ewan ko. Kinakabahan din kasi ako sa magiging resulta at medyo naging busy sa work. Si Lucas, ayon kay Mama ay palagi raw dumadalaw sa bahay. May dala-dalang mga flowers and gifts na si Mama lagi ang tumatanggap. At nang dahil sa kanya, nagmistulang garden na ang bahay namin. Hindi naman makatanggi si Mama kasi sayang naman daw. If I know, nasuhulan na 'yan. Obviously, hindi pa rin kami nagkakaayos. Sa tuwing pumupunta kasi siya, timing na wala talaga ako sa bahay kaya ang lagi niyang nakikita si Mama. It's a good thing though, wala pa rin kasi akong lakas ng loob para kausapin siya. Anyways, kasalukuyan akong nandito ngayon sa opisina ni Doctor Rachelle, ang aking OB-gynecologist. Tapos niya na akong chineck kaya ang hinihintay ko na lang ay iyong resulta ng PT na pinagamit niya sa akin kanina. Medyo kinakabahan pa nga ako pero ganito talaga siguro kapag fir

LUCAS'MARIING napalunok ako nang tuluyang makaupo si Papa at Lolo sa upuang nasa harapan ko. Feeling ko para akong kriminal na kailangan parusahan."What the hell is this?" Walang paligoy-ligoy na panimula ni Lolo sabay bato sa akin ng isang sobre. Kinakabahang inabot ko naman iyon at dahang-dahang binuksan. Pagkakita ko ay literal na namutla na lang ako sa takot at sabay na napasinghap dahil bumungad sa akin ang mga picture namin ni Cristoff na magka-holding hands at meron pang iba. Mukhang kinuha ito noong time na active pa kaming dalawa sa pag-d-date."Hindi ba't sinabi ko sayo na tigilan mo ang pagigiging bakla mo ha? Bakit hindi ka marunong makinig. Where's your wife I need to talk to her! Bakit pinabayaan ka niyang magloko? Alam niya ba ito?" Galit nitong bulyaw na nagpatahimik na lang talaga sa akin. Si Papa naman tahimik lang sa tabi, hindi ko naman siya masisisi dahil alam kong pati siya tiklop kapag si Lolo na ang nagsalita. Batas kasi si Lolo at lalo lang lalaki ang probl

For the next three days, Lareina deliberately kept her distance from both Sean and Yvo. She needed space to reflect on everything that had happened, especially the sudden confessions from her two closest friends. At first, she felt hesitant to avoid them, but the more she thought about it, the more awkward it would have been to pretend that nothing had changed between them. How could she act like everything was normal when her heart and mind were in complete disarray?She never imagined that she would ever find herself in such a complicated situation. Receiving confessions from two undeniably attractive men who also happened to be her best friends. It all felt so surreal. Anyone else might have called her lucky, even envied her. But to her, it was nothing short of a dilemma. She was fully aware that if she chose one, she would inevitably hurt the other. She could not bear the thought of losing either of them. That was why, for now, she decided that keeping her distance was the best co

The moment Yvo stepped into Sean’s room, his eyes instinctively roamed around, taking in every detail like an investigator surveying a crime scene. The first thing that caught his attention was the glossy porcelain floor, reflecting a soft golden hue under the warm lighting. The walls were adorned with white and earthy brown wallpaper, simple yet elegant, complemented by sheer white curtains swaying lightly by the glass door that led to a balcony.His gaze then drifted to the walls decorated with accolades, plaques, certificates, and trophies neatly displayed like prized jewels. There were framed photos too: a family portrait, candid shots of Sean with friends, Lareina included, and lastly, a striking picture of Sean on stage, beaming proudly with a trophy clutched in his hands.For a man’s room, Yvo thought, it was surprisingly immaculate and precisely organized, so much so that it felt like a sin to disturb even a speck of dust.While Yvo continued his silent observations, Sean casua

The cinema was shrouded in darkness, the only light flickering from the large screen that illuminated flashes of horror and eerie shadows. Amid the tension, Sean sat relaxed, chewing popcorn, his eyes glued to the screen. He was engrossed in the movie when suddenly, he felt the seat beside him creak. Out of nowhere, a figure plopped down forcefully next to him. Sean flinched in surprise."What the hell?!" Sean snapped, squinting to identify the figure. When his eyes adjusted, his expression turned darker. "What are you doing here, Yvo?!"Yvo’s presence ignited a spark of anger in Sean, the reminder of their recent argument still fresh. But just as Sean was about to lash out, he noticed something strange. Yvo’s normally cold and composed face looked... shaken. His lips were tight, his body tense, and his gaze kept darting nervously toward the screen."I'm watching," Yvo replied curtly, though his trembling voice betrayed him. Without warning, he reached for Sean's hand and entwined thei

"What are we going to do now?" Yvo asked, turning his head and raising a brow at Sean. Then, with a sly grin, he added mockingly, "Since your cousins have left, why don’t you leave too? That way, Lareina and I can go on a date."The words slipped out before Yvo could stop himself. Moments ago, he had decided to postpone his confession, thinking it was not the right time. But somehow, his mouth moved on its own, betraying his restraint. And now that the statement was out in the open, there was no taking it back. He would just have to roll with it."Wait—W-What?! D-Date?!" Lareina stuttered in disbelief, her eyes wide. She rubbed her ears as if trying to clear them of some dirt. "I must have heard that wrong, Yvo," she muttered, unsure if her mind was playing tricks on her.Sean, on the other hand, clenched his fists tightly, his jaw tensed, and his teeth ground together. His entire body stiffened with jealousy and frustration. He stepped forward abruptly, his grip finding Lareina's wris

"Why are you with her?" Sean demanded coldly, his glare sharp as a blade as he stared at Yvo. He spoke without hesitation, not even bothering to lower his voice, even though they were standing in the middle of a bustling mall, with people passing by on all sides.Yvo had anticipated this kind of reaction from Sean. What he hadn’t expected, however, was to run into him here of all places. Out of all the places and all the days, this had to happen now. Just when Yvo was planning to confess to Lareina. But of course, fate seemed to have other plans."Like she said, we came here to eat," Yvo answered coolly, shrugging his shoulders with nonchalance. But then he grinned slyly, leaning a bit closer to Sean and lowering his voice enough to sound like a tease. "Though I was planning to confess too. Too bad you're here to ruin it."Sean’s temper snapped like a twig. "What the hell? I won't let that happen!" he shouted, his voice sharp and loud enough that several passersby glanced at them curio

"I think this will do," Yvo muttered as they sat in the middle of his studio, listening to the final version of the song. The melody played smoothly from the stereo. The sound of their voices was layered with the soft strums of the guitar and gentle keyboard harmonies.They had spent hours arranging, tweaking, and polishing the piece, and now they were finally at the point of satisfaction. Both of them listened intently, each note feeling like a reward for the effort they poured in."Yeah, I think so too!" Lareina agreed enthusiastically, her face lighting up with relief and pride. She felt a weight lift off her shoulders, knowing their project was finally completed after days of hard work. "The harmony and melody blend perfectly. It feels vibrant and youthful. I hope the class will love it once we perform."Their song was bright and lively, narrating a story about a boy and a girl whose paths crossed by chance, leading them into a whirlwind of romance. It was playful yet heartfelt, c

Three Months Later…The soft afternoon light filtered through the sheer curtains of the Villareal home, painting the living room in shades of gold and rose. Dust motes drifted lazily in the glow, moving as if time itself had slowed to match the gentle rhythm of this new life. The once-quiet house, once too large and empty, now carried a different music—the tender cries of a newborn, the shuffle of tired but eager footsteps, and the mismatched lullabies of a man who had discovered a part of himself he never knew he had.Lucas sat on the couch, his shirt wrinkled, one sock missing, and a burp cloth hanging crookedly over his shoulder. His tie lay abandoned somewhere hours ago, and his hair was disheveled beyond repair, yet he looked more whole than ever before. In his arms, baby Louis wriggled, fighting sleep with tiny protests until his father’s low, steady hum began to soothe him. The melody was off-key, half-forgotten, but full of love."I think he likes it when you sing badly," Rhea

The couple made their way straight to the mall, just as Lucas had promised. Inside the baby store, Lucas quickly found himself giving the sales associate specific instructions like a man on a mission.“I want that crib and that walker. Set them aside for me. I’ll pay for those now. Follow us after — we’ll choose more.”Then he darted toward a rack of clothes and held up an outfit far too large for a newborn.“What do you think, baby girl? I think this one suits him.”Rhea gave him a look, one eyebrow raised. He truly had no clue.“Um, sir?” the sales associate asked cautiously. “How old is your baby?”Lucas scratched his head, frowning. “He’s not born yet. He’s only four months along. Still inside the womb.”Rhea stepped in before things got any more awkward. “Where are the clothes for newborns?”The associate smiled with understanding and led them to a different section.Lucas followed, though he looked a bit grumpy.“What’s with the face?” Rhea asked quietly.“I just realized it’s st

The car screeched to a violent stop in front of the building. Lucas didn’t wait. He flung the door open even before the vehicle had fully halted and bolted toward the entrance, his shoes pounding against the pavement. A guard called out his name, startled by the sudden arrival, but Lucas didn’t slow. He barely registered the world around him. All he could think about was Rhea.He slammed the elevator button with trembling fingers. The light blinked back at him, maddeningly slow.Come on. Come on!Each second dragged like an eternity. His heart pounded in his chest, a rapid, painful rhythm that matched the chaos in his head. He was consumed by images of Rhea—her laughter, her cries, the way her body crumpled when she clutched her stomach. The panic rising in his throat nearly choked him.Please let her be okay. Please… both of them.The elevator finally arrived with a soft ding. Lucas rushed inside and stood rigidly as the doors closed. He paced, unable to stand still, his fists opening

The morning light filtered softly through the curtains of Lucas’s high-rise condo, casting a warm, golden hue across the polished floors. The air inside was calm but tinged with the quiet busyness of a couple preparing for a transition. Cardboard boxes sat half-filled on the floor, and an open suitcase lay on the bed, only partially packed with wrinkled clothes.Lucas sat cross-legged on the carpet, a shirt awkwardly crumpled in his lap. He stared at it as if trying to unlock the mystery of folding. Every attempt ended the same way: clumsily folded fabric that looked worse than before. With a shrug, he stuffed it into the suitcase anyway.Across the room, Rhea was watching him with an amused frown as she folded his jeans with far more grace. She had already filled two small boxes with his toiletries and books while Lucas was still struggling with his second shirt."Hurry up with the packing. You’re moving slower than I am, and I’m the one who’s supposed to be dainty here," she quipped,

Later that afternoon, Rhea returned home and found Lucas sitting in the living room, chatting with her mother. She didn’t know what they were laughing about, but Mama was chuckling like a teenager. Both of them froze the moment Rhea entered.She didn’t say a word. She just looked straight at Lucas."Let’s talk," She said firmly, then turned around and walked outside.She made her way to the small garden. The scent of flowers filled the air. Moments later, she felt him behind her. She turned to face him, her expression unreadable.“I’m so—”“Here.” She cut him off, handing him a brown envelope.Lucas took it hesitantly and opened it. Inside were the test results and the pregnancy kit.He stared at the contents for a long time, his hands beginning to tremble. Then he looked up at her, his eyes filling with tears.“I’m pregnant,” Rhea said quietly. “And yes, you’re the father.”Lucas covered his mouth with one hand, too stunned to speak. “Father? I’m going to be a dad? Oh God. Thank You.

Because of what her mother had told her a week ago, Rhea finally gathered the courage to schedule a check-up today.Why only now?She wasn’t entirely sure. Maybe it was fear. The unknown had always terrified her. A part of her was deeply afraid of what the results might reveal. Another part of her had been swamped with work, using it as a distraction. And then there was Lucas. According to her mother, he had been visiting their house often, never arriving empty-handed. Flowers, fruit baskets, home-cooked meals, and even simple handwritten notes. He never asked to see her. He only left gifts, like quiet offerings of apology. Mama was the one who always received him at the door. What used to be a plain family home had now turned into a sanctuary of fresh blooms. Her mother never declined the gifts, often saying it would be a shame to waste them. But Rhea knew better. Lucas had slowly and surely charmed his way back into her mother’s good graces.But not into hers. Not yet.Their relation