Novels by hnjkdi

“CONGRATULATIONS, Mrs. Monteverde! You are 13 weeks pregnant!” kompirma ng ob-gyn na tumingin kay Danica isang umaga. Talagang hindi siya tinantanan ng kaniyang ama hangga’t hindi sila maihatid ng kaniyang Nanay Rosanna sa isang pribadong clinic sa lungsod ng Hilongos.Gamit ang isang modernong aparato ay kitang-kuta niya sa monitor ang maliit na pigura sa loob ng kaniyang sinapupunan. Bukod pa roon, rinig niya rin ang malakas na tibok ng puso ng kaniyang munting anghel.“Ay Diyos ko! Congrats, anak!” tuwang bulalas rin ng kaniyang ina na sinamahan siya sa kwarto para ma-ultrasound.Wala siyang makapang salita, at tanging mahinang paghikbi lamang ang nagawa niya sa mga oras na iyon. Hindi mapagsidlan sa tuwa ang puso niya dahil sa nakompirma. Magkaka-baby na sila ni Dylan. Magkakaroon na siya nang matatawag niyang kaniya mula sa katipan. Pero sa kabila no’n, may isang parte ng puso niya ang nalungkot. Alam niya kasi sa sarili na malabo nang magsama pa sila ni Dylan.MAS lalo pang sum

HINDI magkamayaw sa tuwa ang mga magulang ni Danica nang makita ang pagbaba niya mula sa tricycle. Mula sa maliit nilang tindahan ay napatakbo palabas ang kaniyang ina para salubungin siya, ganoon din ang kaniyang itay na nagwawalis sa kanilang bakoran.“Anak, bakit naman hindi mo sinabing uuwi ka?” ang masiglang tanong pa ng kaniyang Nanay Rosanna.“Oo nga naman, anak. Nakapagluto sana kami ng nanay mo ng mga paborito mong pagkain,” wika rin ng kaniyang Tatay Ernesto.“Eh, hindi na po sorpresa ‘yon.” Dunukot si Danica ng limang daan sa bag at ibinigay iyon sa tricycle driver. “Iyan na po ba ang bahay natin?” tukoy niya sa isang konkretong bungalow sa harapan. Dati sa bundok at maliit na kubo lamang sila nakatira, ngayon ay nakikita niyang mas maganda na ang kalagayan ng mga magulang niya sa baryo. “Oo, anak. Dalawa ang silid diyan. Pinasadya talaga ang isa para sayo,” tugon ng kaniyang ina na hindi na matanggal-tanggal ang ngiti sa mga labi. Alam niyang nasasabik din itong magkit

“HELLOOO?! Ang sabi ko, give Papa Dee a space, hindi ko sinabing mag-alsa-balutan ka!” Bahagyang nailayo ni Danica ang cellphone niya sa tenga dahil sa pagtaas ng boses ni Lily sa kabilang linya.“Por Diyos po santo naman, dzai! Anong sasabihin ko kapag hinanap ka sa ‘kin ng asawa at in-laws mo?”“Nagpaalam naman na ako kay Mommy,” tugon niya na muling ibinalik ang cellphone sa tenga. “Pinayagan ka?” “O-oo,” aniya na hinawi ang kurtina ng bintana para sumilip sa labas. Sakay siya ng isang bus pauwi ng Samar.Pinayagan naman talaga siya, basta’t magpaalam lang daw siya kay Dylan which was ‘di niya ginawa. Hindi niya rin sinabing uuwi siya ng Samar, ang paalam niya ay magbabakasyon siya panadalian kina Lily.Isa pa, para namang may pakialam si Dylan sa kaniya. Sa ngayaon ay lango na ito sa sarap sa piling ng iba.Hindi niya napigilan ang pagngilid ng mga luha sa mata nang maglaro sa isipan ang eksenang nadatnan niya kahapon.Limang araw na rin ang lumipas matapos ang launching ng DM.

PALIHIM na hinanap ni Dylan ang asawa. Hinayaan niya muna ito kay Lily kanina habang abala siya sa mga kausap niya. Matagal na hindi nagkita ang dalawa kung kaya’t gusto niyang sulitin ng mga ito ang oras na magkasama. Isa pa, alam niyang walang ka-amor-amor si Danica pagdating sa usaping negosyo. Baka mabagot lamang ito. Hindi siya nabigo. Nakita niya si Danica. Pero bukod kay Lily naroon din ang mag-asawang Francine at Andrie. At hindi niya nagustuhan ang ideyang iyon. Hindi pwedeng magsama ang dalawa, aniya. Nakaramdam siya ng pag-aalala nang mabanaag ang lungkot sa mukha ng asawa. At sa tingin niya ay si Andrie na naman ang dahilan niyon. Kaya nang tumayo si Danica at umalis ay hindi na siya nagtaka. Marahil ay magtatago na naman ito sa isang sulok para umiyak, at naiinis siyang isipin iyon. Pero ang hindi niya inasahan ay ang ginawa ring pagtayo ni Andrie. Lihim siyang napamura. No way! Agad siyang umalis sa kumpulan para sundan si Andrie. Ni hindi na siya nagpaalam pa sa

DUMATING na rin ang gabi ng grand event ng DM’s Apparel makalipas ang tatlong buwan, ang launching ng mga bagong designs nito with Venice. Naging matagumpay naman ang naturang event. Sa katunayan, mas dumami pa ang potential investors sa dalawang kompanya. “Hoy dzai, hinay-hinay lang, mukha kang dead hungry!” histerikal na saway ni Lily kay Danica. Nakadalawang plato na ito ng pagkain at mukhang magkakaroon pa ng pangatlo.Pero imbes na sumagot ay isang irap ang isinukli ni Danica kay Lily bago sumubo ng steak. Inimbitahan niya ito at si Sheila para hindi siya ma-out of place kung sakali pero hindi nakarating ang huli dahil sa may importante itong lakad.“Hay, Diyos ko naman! Hindi ka ba pinapakain ni Dylan?”“Hindi,” maikling sagot ni Danica para lang matigil ang kaibigan. Wala siya sa mood kanina pa at sa kinakain niya ibinubuhos ang sama ng loob.“Joke ba ‘yan? Hindi kasi halata.”Tumigil si Danica sa pagkain at napahalukipkip. Gusto niyang batukan ang kaibigan dahil sa kadaldl

MAY paghangang pinagmasdan ni Danica ang walong palapag ng DM’s Apparel. Tunay ngang napakaganda nito.Ang dahilan kung bakit siya napasugod ay sa kagustuhang sorpresahin si Dylan. Ipinagluto niya ito ng pagkain bago siya nagpunta ng salon kaninang umaga.Dahil sa kadal-dalan ni Aida kahapon ay napa-stalked tuloy siya sa I*******m ng ex-wife-to-be ni Dylan. Hindi niya maiwasan ang hindi makaramdam ng panliliit sa katotohanang wala siya ni sa kalingkingan nito.Jeanie Ferrer ang buong pangalan nito. Galing sa isang sikat, mayamang pamilya, at nag-iisang Anak. Nagtapos sa kursong nursing sa abroad. “Tatawagan ko lang po si Sir.”“Ay, huwag!” Naibulalas ni Danica na nilingon si Jenard.Nagtataka man ay tumango ang bodyguard at saka isnukbit sa bulsa ang cellphone.“M-maganda na po ba ako kuya Jenard?” Nahihiya pang tanong ni Danica sa bodyguard kapagkuwan.“Maganda naman po talaga kayo, Ma’am.”“Ibig kong sabihin, kumusta po hitsura ko?” giit niyang tanong. Tatlong oras ang ginugol niya

MAXINE’S eyelids fluttered, her eyes slowly opening. A red ceiling was the first thing she saw. She gently moved her gaze around the room, recognizing her surroundings. She tried to sit up despite her weakness.She was about to get out of bed when the door suddenly opened, revealing Lucas.“Don’t move,” he said softly, though it was a command. He approached her and sat on the edge of the bed. “How do you feel? Does anything hurt? Does your head still ache?” he asked, his concern evident in his tone.She stared at his face for a moment. She was sure of what she saw the previous night. Something was wrong. And for God’s sake, where did that creature that attacked them come from?“Maxine…”She flinched as his hand touched her shoulder. “H-huh?”“Are you okay?”“I-I’m hungry,” she whispered weakly.Lucas pressed a button on the wall near the headboard and spoke into it. “Nanny please bring me breakfast to my room. Now.”“Lucas…”He didn’t answer, but his questioning gaze met hers.“How d

“IT’S beautiful…!” Maxine murmured, sitting cross-legged and looking up at the sky. She and Lucas were currently at the oval for stargazing. He suddenly suggested they leave the social hall.“Very,” she heard Lucas agree.“The biggest one’s mine!” she pointed to a particularly prominent star.“The pitch one’s mine.”She frowned, turning to Lucas, who was lying down with his head resting on his arms. He wasn’t looking at the sky, but at her.“Are you teasing me?”Lucas didn’t answer; instead, he pulled her down to lie beside him.“They’re more beautiful when you gaze at them like this.”He was right. They shimmered brilliantly.“Maxine…”“Why?” She was still looking at the sky.“Are you disappointed?”She looked at him. Only then did she notice how close their faces were.She secretly swallowed, unable to open her mouth. She felt hypnotized by his eyes.“Because Hevo didn’t ask you to dance.”She turned her attention back to the sky. She felt awkward.“N-no.”“You don’t seem to be hidi

EVEN Maxine couldn’t believe the reflection she saw in the mirror. She didn’t think she could get any prettier. The pitch-black strapless, heart-shaped-chest cocktail dress that fell above her knees suited her perfectly, and she paired it with silver stilettos.Tonight was the acquaintance party, so Meghan invited her to her house to get ready.“You’re beautiful, Maxine,” Meghan complimented, also looking at her in the mirror.She smiled at her. “T-thank you, Meghan!”Meghan shook her head. “Nah, don’t mention it. Just think that this is our last year. Let’s enjoy the night. No killjoys, okay? I know you.”She smiled again in response before returning her gaze to her own reflection.IN the hallway of the COM building, all the students under the College of Management gathered, by department, as the catering was department-based.“Hey, Maxine, stop,” Meghan scolded her, widening her eyes.“What? I’m just making the most of what I paid for,” she reasoned. It would be a waste of the Alfon

“MAXINE, get up, you might be late.” Maxine lazily got up. But she allowed herself to sit for a few minutes with her eyes closed. “Come down so you can take a bath,” her mother added. “I don’t have classes today, Mom.” She remained with her eyes closed. “Oh, that’s good. You can go grocery shopping then. I still need to clean the master’s bedroom.” That’s when she opened her eyes and looked at her mother. “Okay, Mom. But I might be a bit late. I have a date with a classmate today.” “Why? Where are you going?” “Meghan wants me to help her buy an outfit for our acquaintance party. It’s tomorrow night.” She folded her blanket before getting off the deck. “Oh, okay. Never mind then. Just go ahead with your date; that’s more important.” “It’s okay, Mom, I can do both,” she insisted. “No, honey. I’ll do it later.” She felt guilty. She didn’t help her mother much with the chores in the mansion. “Okay, Mom. I’ll make it up to you next time.” Her mother just smiled before saying,

“HEY..!”Maxine let out a deep sigh before turning to Lucas. She didn’t understand him. He didn’t want to see her, but what was he doing here? It irritated her.“What?!” she asked, her voice sharp.Lucas took a while to speak.“Actually…” He paused. Confusion was evident on his face. After a while, he started walking towards her.He looked into her eyes.She frowned. He probably intended to just stare at her the whole time?“I just want to confirm something,” he said in a low voice.She frowned even more. What was this arrogant guy’s drama?But she didn’t expect what he did next.He slowly bent down.She couldn’t react or even move. She felt like a post rooted to the ground. Her eyes wide open, staring at his face, his eyes closed as he kissed her.Lucas paused for a while but didn’t move his face away from hers.His eyes dropped back down to her lips. Even if she wanted to move, her body wouldn’t cooperate. Until he claimed her lips again.“Another rule to be added.” She held her bre

A week passed, and Lucas didn’t show up to see Maxine. After that scene at the university, the young man didn’t contact her again.“I thought I’d be his slave,” Maxine muttered to herself in front of the mirror, combing her shoulder-length hair. “Well, this is okay too. Besides, maybe he won’t continue the contract.”“Who are you talking to?”“Oh my gosh, Mom! You scared me,” she exclaimed, turning to her mother. She hadn’t noticed her mother’s arrival.“Who were you talking to?”“No one. I was talking to myself.”“You silly girl.”She applied a little lipstick and powder to her face.“Okay, Mom, I’m leaving.” She kissed her mother.“Be careful.”“Yes, Mom.”SHE got her books from her locker when she arrived at the university for her class that day. As soon as she closed her locker, Hevo’s face appeared before her.“Why do you always pop up wherever I am…?” she jokingly asked him.“Because I’m stalking you,” he replied nonchalantly, then smiled. To be fair, he was cute.“Crazy…!”He w