Alejandros'"Papa, are you still bakla?"I was going upstairs with Alba in my hands. Pikon nap ikon ako kay Elisha. Kung sino-sinong lalaki ang kinakausap niya. Inabot na siya ng tanghali sa labas! Hindi naman niya kasama si Eros. Kahit pa sabihing may baby sitter doon. Anong magagawa noong baby sitter?! Sasabunutan ko na talaga itong babaeng ito! Hindi siya nag-iisip!Ini-stress niya ako samantalang bukas na ang operation namin ni Rom! Hindi niya baa lam na bawal ma-stress ang beauty ko?!"Anak, stop asking me that." I plainly said to my daughter. She shook her head."According to google, baklas don't go around punching people if they're upset. They slap people around, pulling their hair, then they don't have kids. "Cause they're baklas. Papa, I don't think you're a bakla nymore. I think you love Momma that's why you punched Mr. Jarvis. He's Mommy's friend and he gave us two bottles of cow milk for Rom. You're jealous, Papa. You're in love with Momma."Hindi ako nakakibo. Tinitingnan
Elisha's"Momma is Papa gonna be alright?"Eros was sitting beside me. His hands were clasped together and he was looking at me with his wide almond shaped eyes."He is going to be fine, Eros. He promised you and Ate right?" Ginulo ko nang bahagya ang buhok niya. Nasa waiting area kami ng ospital at naghihintay sa kanila. Si Alba ay nasa kabilang couch at nagbabasa ng libro niya. Alba is a wide reader, isang bagay na namana niya sa Papa niya. I remember seeing a lot of books in his rooms when I was a teenager. He loves reading, mana si Alba sa kanya."But will we be able to eat the candies in his coat pocket after it's done?" Eros asked me."Of course! But Papa needs to eat many broccolis because he needs to get healthy after it's done." He smiled at me. Napangiti na rin ako."I miss him already Momma. After its done, I'm letting him hug you because he helped Rom. Rom's gonna be alright after this, too right?" He asked again. I could only hope. I am hoping and praying that everything
Alejandros'"You didn't tell Sabino you're back? Pinasundo mo lang siya papunta dito sa CLPH? Bakit? Dapat ikaw ang sumundo sa kanya, Alele. He cannot walk."I was having a morning walk with Ate Amal that morning. Kahapon ako dumating galing Seattle at kahapon ko rin nalaman ang tungkol sa katotohanan kay Sabi. Ang hindi ko maintidihan ay kung bakit kailangan niyang gawin iyon. I know, maybe it's about love or because he didn't want to feel alone.I feel responsible for whatever happened to him. Ako talaga ang may kasalanan noon kasi naman iniwanan niya ang pamilya niya para sa akin at kailangan kong harapin iyon. Kahit na hindi ko na siya mahal sa paraang nais niya, he is still my responsibility. Hindi ko siya pwedeng iwanan basta. Alam kong dapat akong magalit sa kanya but as I looked at him that day, I realized that he changed as I did.Pareho kaming nagbago. At sa pagbabagong iyon, naiwanan ko si Sabino."Ate, Sabi can walk. He's been trying to hide that for a long time. Not sure
Esmeralda Alba Vejar'sI could still remember that day when my Mom and Dad walked down the aisle. I was only ten years old back then and I am very much happy because I know for a fact that it's that day that will change everything in our lives.My dad told me that he had always adored my mom when they were younger. He had always seen her as a special girl. He was just too gay to even realize that.Their wedding was six years ago, and now, I am sixteen and I am watching them as they talk to each other in the gazebo while drinking tea. Momma smiled at Dad and they laughed again.I sighed."What are you doing, Ate?" Eros asked me. I looked back, I think he just got home from school."Look at them. They're so perfect for each other." Sabi ko pa."Oh yes. So perfect that they had two other kids." Tumawa si Eros. May dalawa pa kaming kapatid, si Alexandro at si Sarita. Sarita is our youngest, she's in kinder now, si Alexandro naman ay grade four. We have a semi - big family and my parents h
All I askA novel written by xxakanexxSometime in the future..."Is Alejandros back?"It was Pan who asked me about our brother Alejandros. I don't know if he is back already. It's been a week since I last talked to him. I am actually waiting for him too because I am going to use the plane because Ada wants to go to Disneyland. Gusto ko naman siyang dalhin, silang dalawa ni Danielle para bago magsimula sa school ang panganay ko ay makapasyal pa kaming apat."I don't know. I haven't talk to him yet. Do you need anything? Anything that I can help you with?" Tanong ko kay Pan. She looked at me. Naupo siya sa chair ni Alejandros. I was grinning at my sister. Ngumuso siya."Hindi mo naman maiintindihan itong designs ko. Bakit ba kasi you're so business minded? You always think about the pros and cons. You always think about assets and liabilities, Kairos, why don't you just use your imagination and your heart?"I use my imagination. I used it by thinking about my future. A family and now
The stranger in our door.Kairos'"What? What? Hindi kita maintindihan, Kairos. Can you just sit down for a moment and calm your tits? Sumisipa iyong anak ko sa tyan ko dahil sa'yo."I was phasing uncomfortably in front of Telulah Consunji – Sandoval. She is my cousin. She is a very intelligent lawyer. Hindi nga lang siya nagpa-practice ngayon dahil buntis siya at medyo maselan ang kalagayan niya. She already has a son, seven years old na iyong bata, kasing edad halos ni Danielle ko."Can you calm down and tell me again what happened." She said calmly. Nakatingin siya sa dalawang marriage certificate ko. Hindi ko maintindihan kung paano nangyari ang kasal na ito! How the hell did it happen? How the hell can't I remember the fact that I marrid Catherine Fe?!"Paano ako nakakuha ng cenomar kung kasal na ako by that time! This is fake! So fake! Hindi kami kasal ni Cachi! Paano ang reputation ko? Ng company? Paano ang press! Tel, they're gonna have a field day! Hindi pwedeng maapektuhan a
ConfrontationKairos Gregor Rouvin Vejar'sCatherine let me in but she let Ody in too. I was watching Ody and the kid. It seems that they have known each other for a very long time. The kid was playful with Ody. He calls him Mr. Ody. They were laughing. Ody seemed to know his way around Cachi's home.I saw Catherine approaching. She told me to stay in the veranda and now she's walking towards me. She looked tired. Para bang kulang na kulang siya sa tulog. And I wondered why. She finally faced me."What's this?" I asked her."Kairos this---""What is Ody doing here huh?"Napaawang ang mga labi niya."Why do you care so much? What is it with you if Ody is here? He's a—""What is he doing here?" I was hissing by that time. She emitted a long breath."He's just here visiting the kids." Sabi niya. Lalong nag-init ang ulo ko. I looked away from her and the I exasperatedly sighed. And then I faced her again."You never tell me anything! He fathered your child and yet you didn't tell me! When
Round TwoKairos Gregor Rouvin Vejar's"I might not come home tomorrow, Iake."I was massaging my temples while talking to my wife on the phone. I am inside the coffee shop just in front of Catherine Fe's building. I was drinking black coffee without sugar or creamer. I hate sweets."Oh, that's sad. Nagluto pa naman ako ng favorite mong patatim." I just smiled."That's too bad. But you can still cook it for me when I get back next week." I continued sipping my coffee while talking to my wife while waiting for my other wife. That's how fucked up I am right now. "Where are the kids?" I asked."Danielle is asleep. Ada is watching tv, do you wanna talk to her?""Of course." I smiled. Maya-maya ay kausap ko na ang bunso ko sa phone."Daddy, I missed you when are you gonna come back?""Daddy misses you more, Princess. I love you. When I get back we're going to Disneyland." Sabi ko sa kanya. Nagthank you siya sa akin at saka nag-goodnight na. Ibinalik niya ang phone kay Mariake at saka na ak