Hindi matanggap ni Gabriella ang kapalaran na sinapit niya kay Alejandro. They were friends. They grew up together. She can't believe that after everything, he would do such a horrible act to her. It wasn't even because he loved her. Love isn't selfish. Love doesn't envy. Alejandro was blinded by his hate and jealousy to Alessandro. At his young mind, it was instilled that he has to do better so he would be Don someday. He gained it by birthright, but even that wasn't real. "I want a divorce." Gabriella's voice was firm. Napatawa si Alejandro. "You really think you'd be free from me, Gabriella?" "I will do whatever you want, just set me free. I will not tell a soul about your family's secret." She was hoping she would be able to persuade him. Ayaw na niyang makisama sa asawang hindi niya kayang pagkatiwalaan. Masyadong mahaba ang habambuhay. At kung hindi siya pakakawalan nito ay mas nanaisin pa niyang wakasan ang buhay niya. Sa imp'yerno rin naman ang tungo niya. How her life
P was very patient with him and held his hand every step of the way. Ang hindi niya lang ginawa ay ang pagkonsulta sa doktor. He doesn't need it. What he needs is someone who will listen to him. He realized how he bottled up everything inside and now he's paying for it. He told P every single memory he has growing up— good or bad. P is the only therapist he needs. "So he wasn't always bad to you?" Umiling siya. "He is not really. It's hard to explain. Think of it as I will never be good enough as his son.""Well, that's because you're not his." They were out in the balcony and it's been a couple of months since Alejandro and Gabriella's death.May routine sila ni P na uminom ng tsa sa gabi sa balcony at saka mag-uusap. They had talks before but never like this. This time, he's pouring everything out. Mas madaling maging masaya kapag ni-let go na niya ang lahat ng masasamang pangyayari sa buhay niya. Hindi niya makakalimutan, pero hindi rin niya kailangang alalahanin pa at pabigatin
The smell of ammonia was what woke him up. He found himself still on the floor and P was on the bed waiting for him to open his eyes. Ang doktor na tinawag niya ay nagpunta sa bahay para i-check si P. May kasama rin itong isang nurse. Umupo muna siya sa sahig at kahit hilo ay tinangka na lumipat sa kama. Hinaplos ni P ang pisngi niya saka siya ginawaran ng halik sa labi."What happened?" Tumawa si P. "Hinimatay ka." He made a sour face. "I meant—""I'm pregnant. I need to get an ultrasound done but the doctor is thinking I'm about five to six weeks along." He was so happy he couldn't speak. He is going to be a father... Hindi siya marunong humawak ng bata. Paano ba magpalit ng diaper? Okay naman siya sa pagpupuyat. Kahit huwag na siyang matulog sa pagbabantay at—"Ale?" His train of thoughts were suddenly stopped when he heard P's voice."Sorry. You were saying?"Tumikhim ang doktora. "We will give you a few minutes before we take your blood samples." Lumabas ito ng silid kasunod a
AUSTRALIADean's Office M. Wagner, the Dean of Engineering has been whipping their ass with words that even a street dog can't chew. Tinatanong ni Ale kung bakit siya nakipagkaibigan kay Taylor Barlowe. He had this evil glint in his eyes. Ikinukubli lang 'yon ng salamin nito. But then again, so does he. He wasn't born in the Gambino family for nothing. "Sulfur and potash? What were you trying to accomplish?" Matigas ang tinig ni Dean Wagner. Taylor showed no remorse habang si Ale ay sumasakit ang ulo dahil baka ipatawag ang mga magulang niya. His mother would come pero walang tigil sigurado ang bibig nito. If he was Antonello, baka nakipag-away pa ang kaniyang ina. "Gambino. Do you have anything to say? You were doing so well in class and now, you're giving me a headache!" "My apologies, Sir. It wasn't our intention to make a mess—" "Make a mess? Make a mess?! Half of the furniture in the lab were ruined!" Napalunok si Ale. "I will replace it, Sir. Just send me the bill." "Mone
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK Years later… Ale was out for his early run at McCarren Park. Sa dami ng ipinagagawa ng kapatid sa kaniya ay ngayon lang siya nagkaroon ng oras para sa sarili. At twenty-nine, he still lives at home. Pero ang bunsong kapatid niya na si Anton ay nakabukod na. May pamilya na ito at isang anak. Naunahan pa silang dalawa ni Alejandro na mag-asawa. Ganoon yata kapag walang masyadong responsibilidad. Madalas, ang apple of the eye ng ina ay ang bunsong anak at ang panganay naman ay sa ama. Sa malas, Ale is the middle child at naaalala lang siya ng mga ito kapag may kailangan."Fuck!" sambit niya sa gulat. Bumangga sa dibdib niya ang isang petite na babae at kung hindi maayos ang panimbang niya ay pareho silang lumagapak sa concrete. Tumingala ito sa kaniya at kunot noong tumitig. Her dark eyes looked lost pero kaagad din 'yong kumislap."Sorry. Are you hurt?"Hinaplos ng babae ang dibdib niya and Ale didn't know what to do with her. Dapat ba siyang makaramdam ng insulto? S
Nang makarating sa airport si Ale ay ipinarada niya ang sasakyan at iniwan ang susi sa loob. He doesn't care if someone steals his car away. All they need to do is pay the parking ticket dahil hindi nila mailalabas ang kotse kung hindi bayad 'yon. He doesn't have a sentimental bone in his body. Naniniwala siya na temporary lang ang lahat sa mundo. At katulad ng kotse niya, kahit mawala 'yon ay wala siyang pakialam. He can always buy a new one. He would have booked his ticket online but there was a better chance that he would get a ticket this way. He approached the ground stewardess at the counter. She's slightly older than him but nevertheless, pretty. "Good evening. One way ticket to Manila, please." "Good evening, Sir. I would have to check as we have a lot of passengers tonight. It's peak season." She started typing while looking at the computer screen. Ale waited patiently. "I'll triple the fare if someone would give up their seat. I need to leave tonight," dagdag pa niya.
She didn't answer him and Ale felt irritated. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit ganito ang reaction niya sa babaeng ito. Granted— she's pretty. Very pretty. But she is the most annoying woman he has ever met! Naiinis ba siya sa babae dahil hindi ito interesado sa kaniya? Is it because she wounded his ego? Nagpakawala si Ale nang isang malalim na hininga at isinandal ang likod sa upuan. The other passengers were still trying to get into their seat at dahil punuan ay crowded ang aisle. The overhead compartment remained open for the others to put their carry on. Sapul sana sa ulo ang masungit na babaeng katabi niya kung hindi siya naging maagap na masalo ang backpack ng isang pasahero. Inis na ibinalik 'yon ni Ale sa lalaki. "I'm sorry, Miss. Are you okay?" apologetic na wika ng isang foreigner kay P. "I'm fine." Ngumiti si P sa estranghero at iyon ang nagpakunot ng noo ni Ale. Halos magdikit ang mga kilay nito sa inis. How can she smile at that careless man, pero sa kaniyang sumalo
Kindat lang pala ang katapat ni P. Hindi na ito nakapagsalita at lihim s’yang natuwa. The woman was a puzzle to him. It fascinated him how P can rile so much emotions in him so quickly. She has a smart mouth. Naisip niyang baka lawyer ito dahil napakatabil. Pero napailing din s’ya pagkatapos. Parang napakabata pa nito para maging abogada. Baka nga nasa kolehiyo pa ito. Dear God, Ale. Magiging cradle snatcher ka pa yata. Tulog. Kain. Tulog. Kain. Iyon lang ang ginawa niya sa natitirang oras sa loob ng eroplano. Hindi na muling yumakap si P sa kaniya. Still, having her near helped him sleep quicker. Naisip niyang baka ang amoy ng shampoo nito ang dahilan. Or maybe it was her presence. Whatever it was, he liked it. Pansamantala niyang nakaligtaan ang sakit na naramdaman sa pagpapakasal ng kapatid sa babaeng itinatangi niya. Time heals all wounds, they say. Pero para sa kaniya, hindi naman talaga 'yon naghihilom. You just learn to live with the pain and hope that tomorrow would be bett