Novel-novel oleh IamNellah

Special Chapter 2 Lisa POV Mula sa pagkakasandal sa dibdib niya umayos ako ng pagkakaupo, tiningnan ang mukha niyang proud sa kanyang mga ginawang kalokohan. “Ang sama-sama mo nga noon! Takot na takot ako sa drone na pinapalipad niyo. . .” Maktol ko. “Ang cute mo kasi inisin. Akalain mo, hindi mo alam ang drone.” Umiiling-iling siya, sinuklay ang buhok niya patalikod. “Akala ko talaga kung ano na iyon. Eroplano na maliit na may mga paa. Nakakatakot kaya tunog niya! Tapos may matang patay-sindi. Red pa nga. . .” “That’s a recording light.” Aniya. “May green pa sa gilid. Wala sa amin ng ganoon.” “Pini-picture-an ka namin ni John. He was taking a shot of you. Nasa akin pa ‘yata mga pictures and videos mo.” Pinalo ko nang malakas ang dibdib niya. Tawa lang siya nang tawa sa tabi ko. Hinuhuli ang kamay kong pinapalo siya sa kanyang kalokohan. Naglalako ako nang time na iyon, oras na rin iyon para pumasok ako sa kanila bilang isang katulong. Part time job ko iyon sa hapon

Special Chapter 1 Fier POV I had just ended my Zoom meeting when my sexy secretary entered the room with my 6th cup of ordered coffee for the morning. I opened my email and found the hundred unread emails waiting to be read. I looked up at her and smiled. She put the steaming hot coffee before me and sat on my lap. “You know I can’t finish what I needed to do when you’re tempting me like this.” She snuggled in me, and I was willing to encircle my hands in her waist. Pinching her a little makes her giggle. “What? Hinatid ko lang naman pinatimpla mo.” She said in an innocent tone. God! I know myself, I can’t control my inner clinginess na nakuha ko sa kanya. My hands are itching to feel her and to touch every inch of her whole being. I never complained though, I like the ways every time she does that. Since she got pregnant, naging mas malambing siya at mahilig sa lambingan. Sa tingin ko that her hormones getting on her nerves. Natawa ako, habang tumatagal, mas nagiging moody siya

Fier POV “Dude, she’s stunning!” Niyugyog ni John ang balikat ko, pilit pinapalingon sa babaeng nagpadala ng drinks sa table namin. Nginisihan ko siya, dahan-dahan nilingon ang babae. I drink up her gift, bottoms up. She smiled, and even with the loud music from the background, I could hear their giggles with her friends. “Not bad,” sagot ko kay John. She’s the type of woman I would love to bed. From her snowy-white skin, curvy body . . . oh men, I picture her moaning under me. Her little skirt caught my attention. “Kung ayaw mo sa akin na lang,” Hindi pa man ako nakakasagot, inabot na niya ang isang basong whisky, dinala iyon kung nasaan ang mga babae. Ngumingisi ako. Okay! I let my man do his thing. But I doubt he can. I always win, you know. Pinanood ko siyang naglakad hanggang sa kausapin ang mga babae. Tinuro nila ako, isa-isa silang tumayo para lumapit sa table namin. Napataas ang kilay ko nang akbayan ni John ang babaeng nagpadala ng madaming drinks. Try hard, bro. “Hi!

Fier POV “Your insane, Sabrina!” I shouted, greeting my teeth. “I’ve warned you enough and asked you to leave everything behind. But— you, you killed my wife!” Hinampas ko sa galit ang mahabang lamesa. Sinipa ko ang plastic na upusan sa harap niya causing her to cry loud. Even louder, that makes me more furious. “Fier. . .” Tangka niyang hahawakan ang kamay ko. Iniwas ko iyon at tinalikuran siya. Nagpipigil ilabas sa kanya ang galit ko. “I-I. . . I swear to God, hindi ko sinasadya.” Para akong lion na humarap sa kanya. Taas baba ang dibdib ko sa galit. God knows how I am hurt right now at the highest level I ever been mad. “Hindi sinasadya? The bullshit, Sabrina. Pumunta ka sa bahay para maghigante sa asawa kong wala namang ginawa sa ‘yo!” “Inagaw ka niya sa akin. Kinuha niya lahat ng dapat para sa akin!” Hysterical niyang saad. Humawak siya sa kanyang ulo. Murmuring words, I didn’t want to pay attention. “Wala siyang inaagaw, Sabrina. Ginawa mo—” “Sa akin ka una pa lang. Ta-ta

Sabrina POV Nakangiting nakaharap ako sa salamin ng aming kwarto. Ang ganda talaga dito! Umikot ako, I slide the curtains para pumasok ang natural na liwanag, binuksan ko din ang salaming sliding door. The fresh air smell like freshly newly leaves. Ang daming stars! “What is this furniture?” I cringed, asking myself. So like promdi ng design. Out of trend na. Papatanggal ko kay Manang ‘to mamaya. I tossed my hair, and I remembered— Shss! Tulog pa pala siya! Well! Ano ba aasahan mo, tumatanda na. . . . Bumalik ako sa banyo para maligo, mamaya lang darating na si Fier ko. Ipagluluto ko siya ng paborito niyang sinigang na hipon. Oh, Em! May hipon kaya? Sitaw? Or tomatoes? Natatarantang nagpabalik-balik ako ng lakad. “What the hell! Bakit ang kalat? My Gad! Itong is Fier talaga, ang kalat, tsk!” Pinulot ko ang mga nahulog sa sahig, bottled of shampoos, bath salt and his razor. Even the towel. Tsk! Naligo ako sa aming bathtub na puno ng memories namin together. Kapag lasing kami at

Fier POV Mula sa likod ng puno, tinanaw ko ang itim na kotse-ng kanina pa namin minamanmanan. Inayos ko ang suot na cap. Kanina pa kami dito, mainit at talaga namang nakakainit ng ulo. I need water but I didn’t have any. Nilingon ko ang nagtitinda sa kabilang side ng kalsada at nakita is Anton na umiinom. “The jerk!” I hiss. Naka-disguise siya as Grab driver. Ako, isang street sweeper, nakasuot ng green long sleeves mula sa municipality ng Manila and black jogging pants. That asshole, provide everything we needed. And I almost, almost give him a punch for these yellow boots na suot ko. Masikip pa ito at hindi kumportable isulot sa ganitong sitwasyon. What most annoying is, the May Mickey Mouse sa magkabilang gilid. Palihim niya akong nilitratuhan at sinend sa e-mail ko with a caption, “Nice one, dude! What a great fashion trend! Need an advertisement; I knew someone named Fiero Madrigal. Just shoot me a mail.” With an emoji wink at the end. So, I sent him my grudgeful reply, “I’ll d

Danie POVIniiyak ko ang buong gabi.Ang haba ng gabing iyon para sa akin.Hindi ako lumabas ng kwarto buong araw at sinabi na lang na masama ang pakiramdam ko. Na partly true naman. I felt exhausted, drained and guilty.Ilang beses pumasok dito si Mamang para dalhan ako ng makakain. Maging si Liam, kumatok rin. Hindi ko siya pinagbuksan ng pinto.Mabuti na lang na ‘di siya nagpumilit. Tumawag ang Don sa telepono ko nang hapon na iyon para kamustahin ako. Sinagot ko iyon para hindi na siya mag-alala pa. Gusto niyang umakyat dito sa kwarto ko para siguraduhin ayos lang ako. Bawat sinasabi niya, pinapakinggan kong mabuti. Napapapikit. Na gu-guilty ako ng sobra. Hindi ko dapat ginawa iyon.Hindi ko naman balak itago. Hindi ko lang alam kung paano sisimulan.Binuksan ko ang laptop ko para simulan ang mga gagawin. Kahit na mabigat ang katawan, kailangan kong gawin ang mga trabaho ko. Naupo ako sa kama, nilagay sa kandungan ko ang nakabukas na laptop. Nag-type ako ng email sa unang-unang em

Danie POV Bawat pagsubo sa aking pasta, ang bigat sa lalamunan. Hindi ko malunok ito dahil sa pares ng mga matang nakatingin sa akin. Pasimple ko siyang sinulyapan at nahuling nakahinang sa akin ang mga mata niya. Binabantayan bawat galaw ko. Iniawang n’ya ang kanyang pagkain sa bibig habang wala man lang hiyang nakatitig sa akin, nakikinig sa mga sinasabi ng ama niya ngunit ang utak niya alam kong nasa akin pa rin. Kapal ng mukha! Tumikhim ako at inabot ang juice sa aking harapan. Nasa garden kami at nagmemeryenda. Nasa harap ko siya at sa kaliwa ko naman ang Don. Sa kanan ang attorney. Pasta, cake and plain toasted bread na request ng Don ang nakahain sa pabilog na lamesa. Tumutugtog ang isang kantang masarap sa tenga na paboritong pinapakinggan ng Don kapag gusto niyang mag-relax. Wala talagang pakiramdam ang taong ‘to. Wala man lang isip tumigil sa paninitig na akala mo ako ang kinakain niya. I cringed. Duh, may mga kasama kaming iba! At kahit wala kaming kasama, hindi siya da

Danie POV Paglabas ko ng kwarto ng Don, nakasalubong ko ang Donya paakyat ng hagdan, looking so elegant and young at her age. Mayroon na naman siyang dalang mga paper bags na hindi mabilang sa dami. Nakangiti siya habang naglalakad, sayang-saya, ngunit nang makita ako, para bang nilipad ito ng hangin at napalitan ng kung ano. Bahagya akong yumuko bilang paggalang sa kanya. “Nandito ka pala. I heard nagpatawag si Samuel ng party para sa graduation mo. Wow! Magsasayang pa ang matanda para lang sa palamunin niyang scholar.” Tumawa siya matapos sabihin iyon. Hirap na hirap siyang pinaglipat sa kabilang kamay ang mga paper bag na dala. I wonder kung hindi pa napupuno ang kwarto niya sa dami ng mga pinagbibili simula ng umuwi sila dito. “Oh, by the way! Kamusta pala ang mga investors? Nagpadala ka na ba ng mga bagong contracts?” Excited siyang humarap sa akin. May mga ningning ang mga mata niya na parang sigurado na sa isasagot ko. “Yes, ma’am. But some of them hindi pa nakakapirma. Baka

Danie POV“Bakit ang baho dito?”Napabaling ang tingin naming lahat sa taong nasa pintuan. Hindi niya maituloy ang pagpasok sa loob ng kusina, hawak ang ilong niyang napapaatras. Naibaba ko ang sandok sa katabing platito malapit sa kalan. Sa masayang pagku-kwentuhan namin, hindi namin napansin ang pagdating niya. Lahat kami may kanya-kanyang ginagawa, pinagtutulungan ang pagluluto at paglilinis dito sa kusina.“Ma’am, good morning po,” alanganing bati ng isang kasambahay malapit sa kanya. Nanliliit ‘tong yumuko.“Ano bang niluluto niyo? Basura?” aniya, pinaypayan ang mukha.“Ah, ma’am, nagluluto po kami ni m’am Danie ng binagoongang karne.” Mahinang saad niya after ng ilang minutong walang sumagot, nagkakatinginan kami. Nag-aalangan akong patayin ang apoy sa kalan, itago o itapon ang niluluto ko para hindi na siya mabahuan.Pero hindi naman mabaho! Ang sarap nga ng amoy. Sa sarap nito, hindi na namin mahintay maluto pa. Sinigurado din ni Manang na maraming kanin para hindi magkulang

Danie POVNangyari na nga ang kinakatakutan ko.Hindi ako handa. Walang may handa sa ganitong problema.Lumalala ang kundisyon ng Don. Makailang beses kaming pabalik-balik sa hospital. At ngayon, nandito na naman ako sa labas ng malaking salamin. Sarado. Tanging kulay blue-ng kurtina ang makikita sa loob. ICU. Tatlong letra. Sa tuwing madadako ang mga mata ko sa taas ng pinto, itong mga letrang ito ang nakikita ko. Yumuko ako’t muling nagdaos ng dasal.Pinagsalikop ko ang mga kamay ko sa aking baba. “Iligtas mo po siya. H’wag mo po muna siyang kukunin sa akin. Siya na lang po ang meron ako. Sa kanya na lang ako kumukuha ng lakas ng loob sa araw-araw.” Usal ko. Pumikit ako’t mas lalong kinausap ang D’yos para magmakaawa.“Danie, uminom ka muna.”Tinapik niya ang balikat ko. Inabot sa akin ang isang boteng mineral water. Ayaw ko man, hindi man ako nakakaramdam ng uhaw, kinuha ko na lang ito. Inipit ko sa dalawang kamay ko ang bote. Nakaka-relax kahit papaano ang kaunting lamig nito sa k

Danie POV“Son . . .”Nilibot ng mata ko ang buong kwarto, iba’t ibang ekspresyon ang nakikita ko sa mga mukha nila. Si Manang, ngumiting nakakaintindi sa kanyang kaibigan, walang nang pagkabigla sa kanyang mukha. Ang isang kasambahay, gulat pati na rin ang doctor. Ang abugado tumango lang siya sa Don, hindi na nagulat sa sinabi nito. Nagtagal ang tingin ko kay Liam na hindi pa rin ma-proseso ang sinabi ng kanyang ama.Maging ako, hindi ko akalaing— akala ko, mahal niya ang Donya. Na kahit may iba na siya, hindi niya magawang maghanap ng iba.“The fvck! Totoo ba ‘to?”Hindi malaman ni Liam kung kanina niya itatanong. Panay ang taas ng kamay n’ya at maingay na ibaba ito sa kanyang tagiliran. Magpapamaywang at muling magsasalita ngunit naiipit ito sa kanyang lalamunan.Walang sign akong nakita. Aware ako sa mga baklabush na kilusan at salitaan sa bar noon. Ngunit sa Don, wala akong nakita. Maliban sa gusto n’yang malinis lagi. Maging organize lagi na tinuro niya sa akin na nadadala ko

Lisa’s POVI sat quietly at our table while the rest laughed and chatted cheerfully. I smiled every now and then, only speaking when someone asked me a question. I couldn't keep up with everything they were talking about. I was having a hard time understanding, especially since most of them were speaking in English—and too fast at that.It’s not that I don’t understand English at all, but I’m just not used to hearing it spoken that quickly and casually, like it’s their everyday language.We’re at a bar tonight. There’s a band playing live up front, and I think you can even request songs from them. It’s actually okay here—better than I expected. The only kind of bar I knew before was the noisy, wild kind, with drinking, flashing colored lights, and, if the rumors were true, even half-naked dancers. That’s what people back home usually say.But this place is calm. We’re on the rooftop of a building, the wind is cool, and the stars above us are clearly visible. There are only a few table

Lisa's POVIt’s been a few days since Mom was confined in this hospital. The nurses taking care of us are amazing. I found out they were topnotchers in their board exams. Apparently, not just anyone can work here—you either have to be a top passer or have studied abroad. I was in awe. No wonder the rates for staying here are so high. Thankfully, Mom's test results came out well. Good thing we brought her in early—it lessened the complications and the pain she could have felt.She already started chemotherapy along with several medications she has to take. I never left her side during those days. I even sleep on the couch here. Everything is here—food, clothes, and someone even picks up laundry. Fier arranged all of it.Someone also arrived to stay with us—Mom's assistant, who also runs errands for us. She’ll also be our house helper in our new home here in Manila. She’s been helping me look after Mom every day.But tonight, I had to leave to go with Fier to a party hosted by his frien

Lisa’s POV“I know this may be too late, but I wanted to do it the right way. Lisa and Mrs. Cortez, forgive me for being selfish—for proposing marriage to your daughter without your blessing, all because I loved her so much. Now, I want to make everything right.” He swallowed hard and took a deep breath.“Lisa, like I told you before, you're the only woman who ever caught my attention. The woman who appears in my dreams every night. The woman I look for first thing in the morning. I don’t know how or when it started—before, I just wanted to tease you. Laugh at your silly moments. But—I didn’t realize I was falling for you. And now, I want to ask you, in front of the mother you love the most. The mother who brought Lisa into my life.”He slowly opened a red box. Inside was a ring that sparkled every time it caught the light.“Lisa, will you be my companion for the rest of my life? Will you be my source of happiness? Will you marry me, Babe?”I saw a gleam in his eyes. He gave me a hesi

Lisa’s POV“Forget about it, kuya. Come inside.”Lara helped me carry my things. I glanced once at Liro, walking away from their house with his guitar slung over his shoulder, his head low, shoulders drooping.“These are all the notes we wrote. There aren’t any quizzes.” She gestured toward the notebooks that I’ll just copy later.There were four notebooks stacked on their table. It’s been taking me longer to finish school because I only took ten units this year. I’m already in my second year of college, lagging behind my peers who are graduating this year. Marie also shifted her course, so we’re both still in our second year. She originally took HRM, but her parents didn’t approve because it was too expensive. So she ended up choosing my course—education.Copycat, even though she doesn’t like it and has no patience for teaching. She’s so grumpy with kids!Ever since I was little, I’ve wanted to teach. Even with my playmates, I always pretended to be the teacher, even if we each had o

Lisa’s POV“Just admit it to me, are you pregnant?” my mother said calmly, but her eyes were red with anger. What have I done? She might get a sudden high blood attack right here.“Nanay, please have some juice first. Hold on, calm down.” I stood up to pour her a glass of juice.“Why? So it’s true? Lisa, you barely even know that man. And you already gave yourself to him!?”She shook her head and rubbed her temple. I handed her the glass, which she just looked at but didn’t take. I stood in front of her, looking at her flushed face. I was worried seeing the anger and disappointment all over her weary expression.“I know you’re an adult now, you can think for yourself. But—my child! I never stopped you from being in a relationship as long as you introduced the guy to me first. Get to know him well. Think carefully if he’s really the one before you give everything, especially your…” She bowed her head and covered her forehead. “Lisa, it’s not easy being a mother, you know that. So many

Lisa’s POVI stood there with my head bowed, hands clasped nervously in front of me. I wasn’t sure if it was fear, embarrassment, or something in between, but my heart was pounding. He was here—right outside our humble bamboo house—holding a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates like some romantic scene out of a teleserye. Our neighbors were already peeking out from their windows and peering over fences, whispering, giggling, even shrieking with glee like they'd just been zapped with electricity.One of them was Marie, my supposed demure best friend, who was clearly holding back an excited scream as her lips quivered and her eyes sparkled with delight."Good morning! Hi, Lisa!" he greeted sweetly as he approached our wooden gate. He gave a slight, courteous bow that made him look even more charming—too charming, if you asked me."Lisa, introduce us to your handsome boyfriend!" teased Aling Minda, who was sweeping the yard with a broom made of twigs."You didn’t tell us you had a