Novels by FreyxiaGold

BELLAPalagi akong sumusulyap sa direksyon ni Zack. Gusto kong tumingin din sya sa direksyon ko at magtanong kung bakit ako nakatingin sa kanya. Pero mukhang manhid ang lalaking ito dahil hindi manlang yata nakakaramdam na may mga mata nang nakamasid sa kanya!Katatapos lang ng lesson namin ni Zoe at niyaya na nila ako na dito na mag-lunch. Hindi na ako tumanggi dahil bukod sa nagugutom na ako, ay pagkakataon ko na rin 'yon para gawin ang pakay ko."Ahh..." Natapos na kami sa pagkain at magpapalam muna sana ako para mag-CR saglit."What is it?" Biglang tanong ni Liam kaya naputol ang pagsasalita ko."Pupunta lang ako sa banyo." Paalam ko. Masuyo ko ring hinaplos sa buhok si Zoe at nginitian bago ako umalis sa harapan nila.Babalik na sana ako sa kusina para tumulong saglit nang makita ko si Zack na nakasandal sa pader na katapat lang ng CR. Naisip ko pang baka gagamit din s'ya ng banyo kaya hininatay n'ya akong matapos."Ahh.. Gagamit ka rin ba?" Ayaw ko pa sana syang papasukin sa loo

ZACKI’m currently in my office, reviewing my client’s data, when my daughter, Zoe, enters the room carrying a teddy bear. She’s wearing her usual pajamas, which look cute on her."Daddy." Saglit akong lumingon sa kanya para malaman nyang nakuha nya ang atensyon ko."Yes, sweety?" Tanong ko sa mababang boses. I gently pulled Zoe onto my lap and hugged her. She hugged me back."I can't sleep. Could you read me story until I fall asleep?" She sweetly asked. Bilang isang abogado ay kailangan kong tutukan at pag-aralan ang legal documents ng mga clients ko. I'm also managing multiple cases with its own sets of demands and deadlines. Also, I need to meet the clients, attend hearings and dealing with unexpected changes in case schedule.In short, I'm a very busy man. To the point, na nawawalan na ako ng oras sa anak ko. Masyado akong nakatutok sa trabaho at hindi ko manlang magawang bigyan ng kahit kaunting oras si Zoe. Somehow, I felt a pang of guilt in my heart."Alright. I'll read you s

BELLA"Mommy!" Agad akong lumingon sa batang babaeng tumatakbo palapit sa akin. Bakas sa mukha nya ang tuwa nang makita ako.Hindi ko akalain na pagtatagpuin ulit kami ng landas ng batang ito.—FLASHBACK—Napakainit dito sa Maynila! Kararating ko lang dito galing sa probinsya, kaya pumasok muna ako sa mall para magpalamig. Isang bag lang naman ang dala ko at puro damit ko lang ang laman kaya madali nalang sa akin ang makakilos at makagala.Busy ako sa pagwi-window shopping nang may makita akong batang umiiyak. Naka upo sya sa sulok papunta sa CR ng mga babae kaya wala masyadong nakakapansin sa kanya."Bata, nawawala ka ba?" Nilapitan ko sya at umupo rin ako sa harapan nya nang nakatalungko para magpantay lang ang mga mukha namin.Nag-angat sya ng mukha at mabagal na umiling habang sumisinghot. Ang cute naman ng batang ito!"I ran away." Aba! At english speaking pa!"Bakit naman? Baka hinahanap ka na ng mommy't daddy mo." Sabi ko sa malambing na tono."I don't have a mommy. I'm with my

BELLA"Hmmp!... Good morning!"Nasa second floor ang kwarto ko sa boarding house na inuupahan ko, kaya kitang-kita sa bintana ko ang bubong ng mga katabi naming bahay. Ilang segundo pa akong nag-inat bago saglit na inayos ang magulo kong buhok."Huy, Bella! Bumaba ka na at maki-agaw ka na ng almusal sa kusina! Mauubusan ka nanaman, bahala ka!" Si Ate Beth, may-ari ng boarding house.Tuwing umaga ay ipinagluluto kami ng almusal ni Ate Beth. Nag-aambag lang kami para sa pagkain. Maswerte ako at nakita ko 'tong paupahan nya at nakilala ko sya. Kahit papa'no ay nakakatipid ako sa gastos."Huy, Kristina! Magtira ka naman. Meron pang mga hindi kumakain!""H'wag kasi masiba, Tinay!""Anong masiba? Binabawi ko lang 'yong mga pagkaing inubos n'yo na dapat ay sa'kin, 'no!""Natural! Hindi ka naman nag-aambag eh!""Hoy! Tumigil na kayo! Magsikain na nga lang kayo dyan!" Saway ni Ate Beth. Nakasunod naman ako sa kanya na kabababa rin lang ng hagdan."Huy, Bella kumain ka na dito. Mauubusan ka na

BELLA"Sigurado po ba kayo na dito po ang tamang address," tanong ko sa ale'ng pinagtanungan ko. Kanina ko pa kasi hinahanap ang tamang location ng address na binigay sa akin.Mag-iisang linggo na ako dito sa Maynila at katatapos lang ng shift ko sa pangalawa kong trabaho. At ngayon nga ay papunta naman ako sa bahay ng batang chu-tutor-an ko."Oo. D'yan 'yon. Iyong may pinaka malaking gate. Ano bang sadya mo dyan, ineng? Nag-aapply ka bang katulong?" Usisa pa ng ale."Ay, hindi po, Ate," naka-ngiwi akong nagkamot ng ulo. "Dito po kasi nakatira yung tutee ko po,""Anong tutee? Tuta ba 'yon?" bakas sa mukha nya ang kawalang ideya sa sinabi ko. Bahagya akong natawa sa pag-aakala nyang tuta ang ibig kong sabihin."Hindi po, Ate," natatawa kong sagot. "I mean, tutor po kasi ako ng batang nakatira d'yan," sabay turo ko sa malaking bahay."Ahh, 'yon ba 'yon? Hindi ko kasi alam 'yon eh," saglit syang nagkamot ng ulo. "Sya sige na. Mauuna na ako, ha. Mag-doorbell ka nalang do'n pag nasa tapat

"Pasensya na po talaga kayo, ma'am. Kailangan po naming kuhanin ang ilan sa mga gamit n'yo para kahit papa'no ay makabawas po sa utang na meron kayo.""Bigyan n'yo nalang po kami ng konti pa'ng panahon para makahanap ng pera. H'wag n'yo lang po'ng kunin ang mga gamit namin.""Pasensya na po talaga, ma'am. Sumusunod lang po kami sa utos."Yakap ko ang Mamang at masuyong hinahaplos ang kanyang likod habang pinapanood kung paano hakutin ng mga lalaki ang ilan sa mahahalaga naming gamit. Umiiyak si Mamang sa balikat ko dahil mahalaga para sa kanya ang mga gamit na 'yon. Bukod sa bahay na tinitirhan namin, ay kasama sa mga naipundar nila ni Papang ang mga gamit na ngayon ay nasa loob na ng malaking truck."Tahan na po, Mamang," pang-aalo ng nakababata kong kapatid sa nanay namin. Bilang panganay, ay naaawa rin ako sa kapatid ko dahil baka mapahinto na rin sya sa pag-aaral.Maayos naman ang pamumuhay namin noon. May sarili din kaming sari-sari store na naipundar dahil sa pangingibang bansa

—MAGGIE ELIZABETH SMITH—"Look, love. Try this one. Bagay sa'yo 'to." Kinuha ko ang isang long sleeves na naka-display at itinapat ito kay Liam. Bagay na bagay sa kanya ang kulay, maroon. Sa bagay, kahit anong kulay at style naman ay bagay sa kanya.Kalahating oras na kaming nag-iikot dito sa mall para mamili ng isusuot namin para sa dadaluhan naming engagement party ng isa sa mga business partner ni Liam. Bukas na kasi gaganapin 'yon sa isang exclusive villa somewhere in Batangas at kailangan na rin naming umalis mamayang hapon. Tiyak na gabi na kami makakarating doon. "I'll get this, since ikaw ang pumili nito." Sabi ni Liam at nakuha pa akong kindatan. Mahina nalang akong natawa dahil sa inakto nya. "Nakapili ka na ba ng isusuot mo?""Not yet. Naghahanap ako ng medyo comfortable isuot. Ayaw ko ng fitted dahil baka maipit si baby." Aaminin kong medyo nadagdagan ang timbang ko nitong mga nakaraang araw. Paano ba naman kasing hindi ako tataba, wala akong ibang ginawa kundi kumain ng

—MAGGIE ELIZABETH SMITH—"Is it a boy or a girl?" Lolo Enrico's very excited to hear the news. Lumuwas kaagad sya ng Manila nang malaman n'yang nagdadalang tao na ako.Nang ma-confirm naming buntis ako, Liam excitedly call Lolo to tell the news. Andrew also knows it because I texted him, and is also happy na magkakaroon na sya ng pamangkin."My wife is just 6 weeks pregnant, grandpa. Wala pang gender ang baby namin." Natatawa namang sabi ni Liam. It's too early para malaman na agad ang gender."Whatever the gender is. May bago na akong ipagmamalaki sa lahat." Lolo exclaimed proudly.Masaya ang lahat, pero higit na mas masaya ako. Hindi ako makapaniwalang magiging mommy na ako! Ganito pala ang feeling. Magmula nang malaman namin ni Liam ang resulta, mas naging mas maingat na sya sa lahat ng bagay. Ultimo sa kakainin ko or kahit na ang simpleng pagkilos ko ay nandyan sya sa tabi ko para umalalay. Somehow, I feel special.Ano kaya ang magiging reaksyon nina mom and dad kapag nalaman nila

—KEVIN LIAM ANDERSON—I took a glance to a person who entered my office. It's Bobby, my Executive Director and a friend. Muli kong itinuong ang atensyon ko sa mga papeles na kailangan kong pirmahan. Kanina pa masakit ang ulo ko dahil sa puyat at mas lalo lang din sumakit dahil sa mga papel na hawak ni Bobby.Kanina ko pa kasi minamadali ang ginagawa ko para matapos na kaagad. Gusto ko muna sanang matulog kahit na dalawang oras o higit pa."Mukhang masama ang timpla mo ngayon, ah. May nangyari ba?" He said with a funny tone. I put down the executive pen I was holding and pondered the bridge of my nose."Nothing. I just want to sleep more dahil wala pa 'kong masyadong tulog." Maggie seems weird this morning, simula pa kaninang madaling araw. Nagpabili ba naman ng sandamakmak na kwek-kwek tapos hindi rin naman pala kakainin!Late na nga ako pumasok dahil nanghintay pa ako ng mga nagtitinda ng street foods! She even keep on texting me na h'wag uuwing walang dalang kwek-kwek! What is happe

—MAGGIE ELIZABETH SMITH—"So kelan pa, Ate? Kelan ka pa nag-asawa? Is he the reason why you left?" Sunod-sunod na tanong ni Andrew nang makapasok kami sa loob. We're in the living room at magkakaharap kaming tatlo.Hindi ko ito napaghandaan. Masyado akong naka-focus kay Liam at nakalimutan ko na ang family issue ko."We got married 3 years ago and he's not the reason why I left. You know my reason, Drew." Sagot ko. Tinitigan ko sya with a dig-up-your-memory look para ipaalala kung ano ba talaga ang totoong rason.—KEVIN LIAM ANDERSON—"Did he know?" Nakikinig lang ako sa usapan nila na akala mo'y wala ako sa harapan nila.So, this is her brother. I can tell because of the resemblance, but the way he look at me, screams judgement.Maggie slowly shake her head while biting her lips. The way she bites her lip taunts me. Gusto ko tuloy syang halikan ngayon."Pero bakit hindi mo manlang kami sinabihan?" Bakas sa boses ni Andrew ang hinanakit."Mom and dad won't allow it. You know them, Dre

—MAGGIE ELIZABETH SMITH—Ilang araw na ang nakakalipas pero paulit-ulit paring nag-e-echo sa tenga ko ang sinabi sa akin ni Liam.'Because I love you'.Kapag naaalala ko 'yong mga katagang 'yon, hindi na matanggal ang ngiti sa mga labi ko! Minsan magugulat nalang ako nakangiti na pala ako. Katulad ngayon."Huy, ma'am! Kanina pa po kayo nakangiti dyan. Hindi naman po joke yung kinikwento ko ah!" Si Andeng, isa sa mga kasama namin dito sa bahay. Kanina pa sya nagsasalita pero hindi naman pumapasok sa utak ko ang mga sinasabi nya. Masyado kasing occupied dahil sa 'I love you' ni Liam."Ah, a-ano nga ulit yung sinasabi mo, Andeng?" Tanong kong napapakamot sa sintido. Alanganin din akong ngumiti dahil sa hiya."Naku, ma'am ha... In love ka 'no?! Sino 'yan, ma'am? Isusumbong po kita kay sir Liam!" Pananakot nito na alam ko namang biro lang kaya natawa ako. Bukod kay Manang Melba, isa rin si Andeng sa malalapit sa akin."Tangëk! Kung may kai-inlove-an man ako eh 'yong asawa ko 'yon!" Natataw

—MAGGIE ELIZABETH SMITH—"Li!" Nasa meat section kami at natigil sa pagpili ng karneng bibilhin nang may babaeng tumawag kay Liam. Sa tinis at timbre ng boses nito ay kilalang kilala ko na agad kung sino. Sabay kaming lumingon ni Liam kay Lexie."Lex?" Mahinang sambit ni Liam.""I'm not expecting to see you here." Bakas sa mukha nya ang tuwa nang makita si Liam. Ni hindi manlang nya ako tinapunan ng tingin. "I missed you!" Bigla nalang syang yumakap kay Liam at ipinulupot pa ang dalawang braso sa leeg nito. Sinadya pa nyang idikit ng husto ang katawan nya sa katawan ni Liam!'Nananadya na talaga 'tong bruhang 'to!'Galit akong tumingin kay Liam at nakita kong alanganin ang itsura nya. Mabilis pa sa alas-kwatro nyang tinanggal ang mga braso ni Lexie sa leeg nya at agad ding lumapit sa akin. Agad nawala ang ngiti sa pagmumukha ni Lexie nang magtagpo ang mga mata namin."Oh! Nandyan ka pala? Hindi kita nakita." Gusto ko syang sugurin right now. Nanggigigil ako! But I still managed to com

—MAGGIE ELIZABETH SMITH—I woke up because of the noise I heard coming from outside the window. It was already 3 pm when I looked. My stomach was also growling because I hadn't eaten yet. I skipped two meals because of locking myself in this room! All I did was sleep.When I peeked through the window, my eyes immediately hurt from what I saw. It was just Lexie clinging to Liam's arm while picking mangoes. There's a mango tree near the gazebo and right across from our room. From up here, I could even hear her annoying cheers for Liam. He's just picking mangoes, does she really need to cheer him on?Lexie's smile was so wide while Liam looked serious and obviously struggled to pick the mangoes. And who wouldn't struggle, with that huge snake wrapped around him!"Almost there! Almost there! You can do it, Li!" Lexie cheered."I think it's enough, Lex. We've already gotten a lot. You can't finish all of this." Liam said with a complaining tone on his face. The basket for the mangoes was a

—MAGGIE ELIZABETH SMITH —Should I believe him? That's the question that's been lingering in my mind since last night. That question still hasn't been answered. I was speechless. How can I believe him, when just recently, he was talking about annulment? So even though I love him, I've prepared myself for the separation that's going to happen.Isn't it too fast for him to like me? I should be happy about that, right? That finally, he's taken a liking to me."What's wrong with you, Maggie? That guy is drunk. Are you going to believe him?" I lectured myself."But isn't it true that people's true feelings only come out when they're drunk?" I thought."Don't be too sure, Maggie. Most people who are drunk don't know what they're saying, and when the alcohol wears off, that's when they'll regret it!" I let out a deep sigh as I thought this again.I'm trying to convince myself to be cautious and not take Liam's drunk words seriously, but I can't help but hold onto hope that his feelings might

—MAGGIE ELIZABETH SMITH—Liam threw himself on the bed when we got to the room. He must have been feeling terrible."I-I'll go get some porridge. It's probably ready by now." I said goodbye. I was still hesitant whether I should go out again or not. I felt like I couldn't face them anymore because of what they witnessed."No need. Just help me take off my shirt. It's hot in here." I swallowed my saliva twice because of his request. Here we go again! Should I comply?"O-okay. I-I'll help you with that." In the end, my obedient nature prevailed. I think it's normal, anyway, since we're married. But, the first time is always the hardest, so my hands were shaking while I slowly unbuttoned his long-sleeved shirt.I thought he was already asleep, but I was startled when he suddenly gripped my hand tightly as I was about to pull off his clothes."Enough. Go to sleep now, Maggie." I noticed the tightening of his jaw and his deep breathing. Is he mad? Why did his mood suddenly change? He could

—MAGGIE ELIZABETH SMITH—"I'm hungry." Liam announced as we entered the house. He still had his arm around me, and he was the one who placed my hand on his waist. The household staff of Grandpa were thrilled to see us in that intimate pose.How am I? Well, I'm still wondering about Liam's behavior. He's never been like this with me before. When he'd come home in the past, I was practically invisible to him. It was as if he didn't even see me."Aren't you eating yet?" I asked. Usually, when he comes home from work, he eats out."Not yet," he replied briefly."Okay. Wait here. I'll cook something for you," I said, pointing to the sofa in the living room for him to sit while he waits for me to finish."I don't want food," he said, causing me to stop in my tracks and furrow my brow as I turned back to him. I was suddenly confused about what he wanted. He said he was hungry, but now he doesn't want food. What does he want, then?I stared at him intently and only now noticed something unusu

—MAGGIE ELIZABETH SMITH—In three days, Liam and I will be heading back to our home in Manila. Everything has gone smoothly between us during our stay here so far. I'm happy here as long as Liam and I are together. I've suddenly felt his presence in my life as my husband.When we were at home, we rarely saw each other, so I guess that's why I didn't feel like I had a husband. I even thought that maybe he was intentionally locking himself in his room to avoid me because he doesn't like me. But now? I don't know.Things are happening too fast if he's going to suddenly like me, right? I love the idea, but I can't read his mind, so I have no idea what's going on.Maybe I'll just take advantage of our time here in the mansion to get to know each other better. Yeah, that's exactly what I'll do!"It's getting cold outside, grandchild. Why haven't you gone inside yet?" I looked back when I heard Lolo Enrico's voice. It's already mid-November and the wind has a chilly bite. Actually, I've been

CHAPTER 5—MAGGIE ELIZABETH SMITH—I felt an intense, heavy sensation. It was as if something massive was weighing me down. I couldn't move either, feeling as if I was tied up.My eyes snapped open to find Liam's face mere inches from mine, his features soft in slumber. I was shocked to discover why I couldn't move: his arms were wrapped tightly around me, holding me close. His leg was even draped over my hips, pinning me in place. And in that moment, I also realized that I was clinging to him just as tightly!I distinctly remembered him putting a pillow between us as a barrier before dozing off last night. But now, it was nowhere to be found! It seemed he'd gotten comfortable enough to think I was the pillow! He looked utterly relaxed, snuggled up against me.But I have to admit, being in Kevin Liam Anderson's arms felt unexpectedly wonderful. I found myself wondering if he'd ever had a girlfriend before. It was hardly unlikely, given his captivating presence and stunning looks. He w