After months of struggles, Tala and Knoxx's story has finally come to an end. I'm sorry for making you wait this long. Naabutan ng story na 'to ang paghahabol ko sa deadlines sa mga traditionally published books ko, personal na problema at writer's block. Pero salamat dahil nandito pa rin kayo, always ready to look past my lapses and failures as a writer. Muli, maraming-maraming salamat po. On to the next story! Keep shining!
“Why are you doing this to me, Dad?” puno ng hinanakit na tanong ni Tala sa kanyang ama na noon ay kausap niya sa kanyang cellphone. Kasasabi lang nito sa kanya na kailangan niyang maghanda para sa meeting niya with her potential husband next week. Nasabihan na siya nito noon pang isang linggo tungkol sa plano nitong ipakasal siya sa anak ng mga kakilala nito. But still, hearing her father tell that to her again was only fueling the anger she had been trying to unfeel for the past days. “And why do you keep doing what you are doing, Tala? ‘Di ba nag-usap na tayo bago kita iniwan d’yan sa Paris? You promised that I will never hear another news of you going way overboard again. But here we are all over again, after you got drunk, you almost got arrested for DUI.” His father scoffed. “Not only that, you assaulted a police officer and called him fckin names! What were you thinking? Are you even thinking or have tried thinking straight?” Hindi siya umimik kahit na gusto niya sanang ipa
Gigil na nagmartsa si Tala patungo sa club. Pagkapasok na pagkapasok niya roon, agad siyang sinalubong ng ingay at usok ng lugar. She searched the place for a moment and made a beeline towards the bar where she saw Elle already enjoying her drink. She quickly took the seat beside her friend. “Four shots de téquila, s'il vous plait,” sabi niya agad sa nakaabang na bartender. Ngumiti ito at agad na inayos ang order niya. “Four? Are you that thirsty?” nanlalaki ang mga matang tanong ni Elle sa kanya.“No, I’m stressed and pissed,” aniya bago sinunod sunod tunggain ang apat na shots ng tequila na mabilis na isinilbi ng bartender sa harap niya. The drink burned in her throat, warming her insides but not enough to put off the emotions overtaking her. Nang maubos niya ang apat na shots ng tequila, muli siyang um-order ng apat pa. “Hey, what’s going on, Tala?” Elle asked, her voice filled with worry. She looked at her only trusted friend ever since she moved to Paris. She didn’t want to
“Un scotch avec des glaçons, s'il vous plait (One scotch on the rocks, please),” Knoxx said to the bartender as he settled himself on one of the stools surrounding the bar area of the club he was in.The bartender gave him a little nod and proceeded to get his drink. Two giggling girls passed by him, catching his attention, making his head turn towards their direction. One was clearly checking him out, and the other had her eyes elsewhere.The side of his mouth curved up as he studied the girl who still had her eyes on him. The girl has a nice face and curves in the right places. But she oddly moves a little but too childish for him, teen-ish.He doesn’t date girls anymore. Girls tend to be clingier and demanding—a thing he will never sign up for.He likes experienced women. He ain’t the wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am kind of guy though. He just likes to go to bed with women who understand what it meant to have fun— no other strings attached.But he hasn’t had any fun for a long time now.
A persistent buzzing sound from somewhere woke Tala up the next day. With her eyes still closed, she reached for her phone on the bedside table, wanting to make a stop on the annoying sound. Kaya lang hindi niya makapa ang bedside table. Napilitan siya tuloy na iungap nang kaunti ang kanyang mga mata.Darkness greeted her. But the small amount of light seeping through the sides of the heavy curtain was telling her that it was already morning.The buzzing sound continued. Iritable niyang hinanap sa bedside table ang cellphone at in-off iyon.Finally, blessed silence.Muli niya sanang ipipikit ang kanyang mga mata upang bumalik sa pagtulog subalit naramdaman niya ang bahagyang paglundo ng kabilang bahagi ng kama na kinahihigaan niya.Agad siyang napamulat. She was sleeping on her side, like she usually does. Her back was facing the usually empty side of her bed.Empty?She heard a quiet groan. She froze. Now she’s more than sure that the other side of her bed wasn’t empty at all!Agad n
Kabado si Tala habang pinapanood ang pagtipa ng babae na tumatao sa ticket counter ng Star Airlines. She had been waiting in there for a few minutes now, hoping that a seat would open up for her. And the she must admit, the waiting is killing her.Hindi mawala-wala ang tensiyon sa dibdib niya na baka nariyan lang sa tabi-tabi si Knoxx o kung sino man sa mga tauhan nito at bigla na lang siyang dalhin pabalik sa hotel ng lalaki. She doesn’t want to make a scene right now. And she’s more than sure, should what she feared of happens, she’d make the biggest scene she could ever come up to in her lifetime.She huffed, gently massaging her temples. Masakit pa rin ang ulo niya at naguguluhan siya. Idagdag pa ang mapangmatang babae sa kabilang lane na kanina pa panay-panay ang tingin sa kanya!She would’ve ignored the woman who has been taking some mocking glances at her for some time now, kaya lang, bumulong ang babae sa kasama nito. Well, it’s not actually a whisper, she clearly heard that
Tensyonado si Tala habang hinihintay niyang sagutin ni Elle ang tawag niya. She had been calling her friend for hours now mula nang dumating siya sa Germany. Kaya lang, ring lang nang ring ang cellphone nito. And truth be told, she's annoyed and at the same time worried. Imposible namang tulog pa ito. Pasado alas dos na ng hapon! Elle can’t be in bed still! Nasapo na niya ang ulo na kanina pa bumalik ang pananakit. Kailangan niyang makausap si Elle. Kailangan niyang malaman kung ano talagang nangyari kagabi. She closed her eyes and patiently waited for the ringing on the other end to stop until the automated voice prompt enters. Subalit biglang umangat ang kabilang linya, agad siyang napamulagat. “E-Elle?” “O-oui? Q-qui c'est ?” anang paos na tinig ng kaibigan sa kabilang linya. Agad na nalukot ang mukha niya. Was Elle just waking up? “C'est moi, Tala. (It’s me, Tala)” “T-Tala? Shoot!” She heard ruffling sounds. Then she heard a familiar male voice on the background. “Are you
"Why can't you just chose one path and stay on it, Tala? When you told me you wanted to take a masters on that 'craft' of yours, pumayag ako kahit na labag sa loob ko. But here you are now, just three months into it and you've ran away again! Ano ba talagang gusto mong mangyari sa buhay mo? Or was this about that date with Quinton? I've said it before and I'll say it again, makikipag-date ka kat Quinton sa ayaw o sa gusto mo!" Tala rolled her eyes secrety as she averted her gaze from her father. Magkaharap sila ngayon sa library at nag-uusap. Ilang minuto pa lang mula nang dumating ito sa Germany kasama ang ibang mga kaanak niya in time for the wedding of Gael and Charlie tomorrow. And her father did not waste any time to confront her with her recent stunt. He didn't even say hi nor checked on how she was.Gusto niyang magtampo kaya lang, wala namang bago doon. Laging gigil ang Daddy niya pagdating sa kanya. Para dito wala na siyang ginawang tama. Para dito si--"Mayumi will never d
Kabado si Tala habang hinihintay niyang mag-load sa screen ng cellphone niya ang app ng banko niya. She had just entered her bank details, hoping that at this time, maari na niya iyong magamit gaya nang dati.Halos dalawang araw na mula nang makaharap niya si Quint sa kanilang supposed date. Ganoon na rin katagal na nagkukulong siya sa kanyang hotel room because of some unexplained dizziness.She’s been living off to egg drop soup and clam chowder from the hotel’s restaurant for two days now. And though she would want to order for some other food from her favorite restaurants within Milan, hindi niya magawa dahil naka-freeze pa rin ang mga bank accounts at credit cards niya. But today, she’s hopeful na baka inayos na ‘yon ng Daddy niya dahil nagawa na naman niya ang pinapagawa nito, ang katagpuin si Quint.However, when the ‘declined’ message popped up on her phone’s screen again, she almost threw her phone off the window! Bakit ayaw pa rin niyong gumana? What does her father want to