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 nawal

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

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

At that moment, with quiet but deliberate footsteps, a small group of judges approached Sean’s booth and focused on his painting. The soft murmur of the surrounding crowd seemed to fade, as if the world itself had taken notice of the artwork. They paused just a few feet from the canvas, eyes scanning every detail with careful, measured attention.A tall man with a neatly trimmed beard tilted his head slightly. "This is remarkable. The contrast between the two figures, the energy and stillness, is very evocative. Who is the artist?"Sean stepped forward, nodding politely, his chest steady despite the familiar flutter that came whenever an audience focused on him. "I am Sean. I wanted to portray two grandmasters from a tale that has inspired me, Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan. Their dynamic, the balance of light and shadow in their relationship, and their journey, is all captured here in this moment."A woman judge with sharp eyes and a thoughtful expression leaned closer, studying the subtle

The sun dipped lower, casting long golden streaks across the campus lawns as the festival carried on around them. Booths overflowed with handmade crafts, games, and colorful snacks, while the faint scent of popcorn and roasted corn mingled with the warm evening air. Lareina wandered from stall to stall, stopping to examine trinkets or sample sweets, Sean and Yvo flanking her as they moved. Their laughter blended with the music drifting from the main stage, carefree and bright, carrying a rhythm that mirrored the lightness of the fading afternoon.A few buildings away, Lucy weaved desperately through the throng of students, her ponytail bouncing with each hurried step. She wiped sweat from her brow, chest heaving as her heart thudded erratically. Her eyes darted across the crowd, scanning for Sean. The notice had come only minutes ago. The art exhibit schedule had been moved up, and the presentations were starting sooner than expected, in just twenty minutes. Panic prickled at her ches

As they walked through the festival grounds, the air shimmered with laughter, music, and the irresistible scent of grilled food and sweet pastries. Colorful banners fluttered overhead while students darted between stalls, their faces glowing under the afternoon sun. Yvo walked on Lareina’s other side, occasionally leaning in to tease her about how she had cheered too loudly during the game. Lareina laughed and playfully swatted his arm, but Sean noticed how easily she matched Yvo’s rhythm, how natural it all looked, as if Yvo were her childhood friend and not him.They stopped by a food stall, and Lareina stepped forward to order snacks for the three of them. For a brief moment, the noise around them seemed to fade, leaving only the hum of voices and the distant echo of a band playing somewhere in the plaza.“So,” Yvo said casually, his tone light but his eyes sharp. “You and Lareina seem pretty close lately.”Sean met his gaze evenly. “We’ve always been close. Even before you came in

Through the tall windows of the gym, sunlight streamed in, painting long streaks of gold on the floor. Outside, the festival continued with laughter and music, but inside, the air felt calm and strangely intimate.Lareina finally broke the silence. “You know,” she said softly, “it’s funny. I’ve known Yvo for a while, and I’ve seen him play a hundred times. But today felt different. He kept looking this way.”Sean’s brows drew together. “This way?”“Yeah,” she said, glancing at him with a small smile. “Toward you. I thought maybe you were the reason he was so fired up.”Sean blinked, unsure whether to laugh or deflect. “Me? He probably just wanted to show off.”“Maybe,” Lareina said, half-teasing, half-thoughtful. “But it looked like more than that. The way he played, it wasn’t just about winning. It was like he was proving something.”Sean gave a quiet laugh, though it lacked humor. “Then I guess he proved it.”Lareina gave a small smile. “You know, Sean, people act confident for two

Applause erupted when Yvo’s name was called. The sound roared through the gym like a wave of thunder, echoing off the high walls and polished floors. Yvo jogged up to the stage, confidence fully restored, a teasing grin plastered across his face as if the whole world had finally aligned in his favor. The bright gym lights glinted off the golden surface of the MVP trophy, throwing soft reflections across his sweat-damp hair. His teammates gathered around him, their cheers and laughter blending with the claps of the crowd. Cameras flashed, capturing the triumphant smile that seemed carved perfectly for the spotlight.He raised the trophy high, the gold plaque gleaming above his head, while the school’s name was chanted from the bleachers. It was a moment of victory — the kind of scene Yvo seemed born to live in.Meanwhile, at the far end of the bleachers, Sean sat quietly, elbows resting on his knees, gaze fixed on the stage. His face betrayed nothing, but inside, something twisted uncom

The game unfolded like a choreographed battle. Red surged, blue countered, and each score met with a calculated response. Sean remained silent, watching intently, letting every shift of movement and flicker of the rivals’ eyes wash over him. By the second quarter, the scoreboard was tight, red and blue neck and neck.Yvo’s eyes darted to Leo with every dribble and pivot, memorizing his movements and anticipating his next play. Leo, calm and focused, glanced toward Sean from time to time, each look carrying an unspoken awareness that the quiet observer somehow affected the rhythm of the match. Yvo noticed instantly, a thin grin forming on his lips.Students roared from the bleachers, stomping and shouting encouragements that echoed through the gym. Johnny, seated beside Sean, cheered loudly with infectious energy, but Sean barely reacted. His eyes were fixed on the court, following every feint, every counterattack, every silent rivalry that came alive in motion.As the game stretched in