9 Muses Series #2: Love & Lies

“Mommy! Ayoko kasing mama! Can I stay here?” Erato pleaded with her mother, who was frantically packing their things along with the maids for their trip to Italy. Their father had business in Sicily, and the whole family was supposed to go.“Huwag nang matigas ang ulo, Era! All your sisters are coming! Please stop whining! Sumasakit ang ulo ko sa’yo.” Mnemosyne snapped back, clearly overwhelmed. She was heavily pregnant with her ninth child, and Era’s constant fussing was only adding to her stress.Mnemosyne’s frustration was palpable as she tried to juggle the logistics of the trip and manage her household. Her energy was already stretched thin from her pregnancy, and Era’s resistance to the trip was just one more thing she didn’t have the patience to deal with.Era’s little face crumpled in frustration, but she tried to reason with her mother. "Pero, Mommy, I don’t want to leave the house! I’ll be bored there, and I don’t know anyone in Sicily!”Napahinga nang malalim si Mnemosyne, t

Mr. Gomez is already teaching us his subject—Filipino. Sobrang hot niya lalo na kapag nagsasalita ng puro at malalalim na tagalog. It was required for us to speak Tagalog during his class, at kapag hindi, may parusa. Kada salita ay kapalit ng ilang homework.At mukhang sinasadya ni Rian na mag English para mapansin ni Mr. Gomez.“Sir, that tongue twister is hard to pronounce.” Rian said in a seductive tone. Na ako lang ang nakakaalam ng tono ng pananalita niyang iyon.“This is an international school, sir. Why do we have to speak Tagalog though?” Dugtong niya pa.Umigting naman ang panga ni Mr. Gomez, tila nanggigigil sa panunukso ni Rian sa kanya. I smirked as I saw Mr. Gomez gulp and avert his gaze away from Rian.At ang malandi, sobrang lawak ng ngisi habang nilalaro ang mahabang buhok. Nice ka, Rian.I turned my gaze to Josh, who was completely clueless about our Filipino subject.Nag-taas naman ako ng kamay kay Mr. Gomez. “Ginoong Gomez, paano naman si Josh? Hindi niya naman naiin

I was about to lean even more to kiss him pero tumayo siya kaagad tsaka tumikhim. Napatawa ako ng mahina at umayos sa pagkakaupo. I knew it. Hinding-hindi siya bibigay kaagad sa akin.I smirked. “Are you a gay?” I asked and teased.He looks at me with a disgusting look. “What?!” His irritation is evident.Napasandal ako sa upuan tsaka napahalukipkip habang malawak ang ngiti na inaasar si Josh. His reaction was priceless. Tila nawala bigla ang pagiging malamig niya nang sabihin ko sa kanya ang katagang iyon.I crossed my legs and played with my hair, maintaining a smug smirk. “Oh, come on, Josh. You keep avoiding my kiss. Is it that hard to kiss a girl?”Mas lalong lumawak ang ngisi ko nang lumakad si Josh papalapit saakin, inilapit niya ang mukha niya sa akin at ilang pulgada nalang ang namamagitan sa aming dalawa.He glanced at my lips and then gently cupped my chin, tilting it up. The touch of his hand made my heartbeat accelerate even more. I feel excited. Hahalikan na niya ba ako?

Nagising nalang ako na nasa isang kwarto. This is not my room. Where could I be? I am not even familiar with it. Ano bang nangyari?Nakaramdam ako ng kirot sa kamay ko nang mapaupo ako sa kama. Shit. This can’t be! I have an upcoming cheer dance competition! Napangiwi ako nang makita kong namumula pa iyon. Damn that guy! I swear I will kill him once I see him again!“You’re awake.”I nearly jumped out of bed at the sound of Josh’s deep, husky voice. Damn it, Bakit kailangang manggulat?! My heart was pounding, and as I took in my surroundings, the realization hit me. Wait a second... Is this his room? Bakit niya naman ako dadalhin dito, e iwas nga siya sa akin? Wait! Magpapatikim na ba siya? Then, a mischievous grin started to creep across my face. Was this it? Was Josh finally going to make a move?I glanced at him, trying to gauge his expression, wondering if this was the moment I’d been waiting for. My mind raced with every possible scenario, each one more daring than the last. I co

“Niente di cui preoccuparsi, mia regina. Ti proteggerò a tutti i costi.”“Niente di cui preoccuparsi, mia regina. Ti proteggerò a tutti i costi.”“Niente di cui preoccuparsi, mia regina. Ti proteggerò a tutti i costi.”“Niente di cui preoccuparsi, mia regina. Ti proteggerò a tutti i costi.”Halos mabaliw na ako kakaulit ng katagang iyon sa isip ko. “Nothing to worry about? Saan? Tapos ano daw, my queen? What about the Ti proteggero a tutti i costi? Poprotektahan?! Saan?!” Inis na inis akong pagulong-gulong sa kama ko dahil hindi ko talaga siya ma-gets! Nakakabaliw.“Ahhh!” Napatili ako nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan ng kwarto ko at nakadungaw doon si Mel na may green na face mask sa mukha.“Melpomene!” Irritableng tawag ko sa kanyang pangalan. Muntikan ko pang mabato ng unan dahil sa gulat.Natawa naman ang babae tsaka tinanggal ang mask sa mukha, nilukot at itinapon sa basurahan na nasa gilid ng study desk ko.“Kanina ka pa sigaw ng sigaw d’yan, Era. Rinig na rinig ko sa kwarto ko