KANINA pa pilit iniiwasan ni Dorothea ang nang-iintrigang tingin sa kanya ni Rita habang kumakain sila pero mukhang buong araw yata siya nitong hindi titigilan hangga’t hindi niya sinasabi kung anong nangyari at bakit umaga na siya umuwi. “Aba, aba! At saan ka naman nanggaling, ineng?” ang salubong sa kanya ng kaibigan kanina nang pumasok siya sa bakuran nila at nakasandal ito sa hamba ng pintuan na para bang inaabangan talaga ang pag-uwi niya. “Rita…” she called smiling and shook her head. “Si Raisen?”Nagtaas lamang ng kilay ang kaibigan niya, sinisilip ang likuran niya. Dorothea thought it was a good idea to convince Rence not to take her home. Pumayag naman ito pero halatang napipilitan pero ang mahalaga ay hindi na ito nagpumilit dahil… “Naglakad ka pauwi?” tanong na naman ni Rita nang lumapit na siya rito. Pinasadahan nito ng tingin ang kanyang kabuuan at kahit walang sinasabi, alam niya kung anong iniisip nito. “Tricycle.”“Tricycle?” Parang hindi pa ito kumbinsido. “Nasaa
Content Warning:Mention of rape, violence and sexual harassment. DOROTHEA tried not to dwell on things too much dahil alam naman niyang wala ring pupuntahan ang masyadong pag-iisip sa mga bagay-bagay na wala naman siyang maisasagot. She focused on fixing Raisen’s files instead and occupied herself with work the next days. From: RenceHave you gone home?The man didn’t visit Kampo even after he brought her to his penthouse. Mukhang busy talaga ito sa inaasikasong trabaho sa biniling lupain at ayos lang naman iyon kay Dorothea. It’s not like she had a particular right to demand for his presence. Hindi nga lang niya alam kung bakit panay ang pagte-text sa kanya ni Rence sa nakalipas na mga araw na hindi ito nagpapakita. She worried that the man maybe took her too seriously when she lashed out about his absence in Kampo kahit sinabi na niyang dahil lang naman iyon sa nainom. Kaya naman kinuha nito ang numero niya at heto ngayon ang sitwasyon nila. To: Rence Nakauwi na. From: Rence
“IS THIS okay with you?”Dorothea was pulled back to reality when she heard Rence asked. She straightened on her seat kahit alam niyang alam naman na ni Rence na hindi siya naka-focus sa pinag-uusapan nila. “Ako dapat ang nagtatanong n’yan.” She cleared her throat and tried to focus under the man’s gaze. “Busy ka sa inaasikaso mo kaya… baka nakakaabala sa ‘yo ang ganito.”“I won’t be here if it is, Thea. At hindi ba sinabi ko na? Hindi ka kailanman naging abala.”She nodded, wala nang maisip na sasabihin pero hindi gustong matahimik sila kaya nagbukas ng pag-uusapan. “Kumusta nga pala ‘yung inaasikaso mo? Hindi ko alam kung ano ‘yon. Narinig ko lang na may binili kang lupa? ‘Yung plantation?”“It’s okay. We’re just trying out ano pa ang itatanim doon. You remember our products back in La Union, right? Sinusubukan naming ibahin sa mga nandoon na ang itatanim dito. We’re trying sugarcanes if possible. I heard that’s profitable too.”“Oo. Marami ang tubuhan dito sa Visayas lalo na sa N
“HA!”Dorothea immediately erased her smile and straightened on the hard sofa when she heard her stepmother’s scoff. Napatay niya ang tinitingnang cellphone at ibinaba ito sa kanyang kandungan. The woman was already in front of her, scanning her with the its eyes full of judgement and disdain. “Tuwang-tuwa ka na naman sa pambobola niyang mayaman mong boyfriend? Hindi ka talaga naniniwala, ano? Kung sabagay, matagal ka na nga palang uto-uto.”Napaglapat ni Dorothea ang kanyang mga labi. She didn’t why her stepmom always had something to say to her kahit na hindi naman niya nakikita ang kahalagahan ng mga gusto nitong sabihin. She’s always so scornful and mean. So full of anger and judgement towards Dorothea anuman ang gawin niya rito. She had long accepted that her stepmom would never truly accept her as if she’s her own but she didn’t understand why the woman couldn’t even keep their relationship at least civil. Lagi itong iritado. Laging nagagalit—may gawin man siya o wala. It’s li
DOROTHEA woke up with a light heart. Despite all the bad things happening around her, she could still somehow feel at peace. Siguro dahil sa kabila ng lahat, those people who are judging her are still nothing but just mere coworkers to her. They are just those people who she met along with her job and the things that are convenient as long as her job persists. Kung aalis siya sa Kampo, she figured that she’ll maybe long for the feeling of working there but never for them. She’ll long for the homeliness Kampo made her feel, but definitely not for the people who went along with the establishment. Never for them, except for Lucas and the very few people who made her life a bit more lively working there. Matapos maghilamos at magsipilyo, she decided to cook first before taking a bath. Tulog pa si Raisen nang silipin niya ito sa kwarto nito. Her son’s sleeping face made her smile, making her remember the things she values more than any rumor some coworkers are talking about behind her.
DOROTHEA didn’t tell Rence about her visit sa Hinubawon. She was thinking na trabaho naman ang ipupunta niya roon kaya bakit niya pa sasabihan si Rence? It would feel like she’s going there for him. Hindi niya alam kung bakit ganoon ang naisip niya pero nagdesisyon na lang siyang huwag sabihin sa huli. Baka wala rin naman ito roo dahil nagsabing may aasikasuhin. “Bye, mommy! Take care!” paalam sa kanya ni Raisen nang papaalis na siya. Her son kissed her cheek and smiled innocently. “Please bring me pineapples?”Natawa siya. Nasabi niya sa anak na sa pineapple plantation siya pupunta ngayon. At dahil paborito nito ang pinya, excited na excited ito at gusto pang mag-uwi siya. She didn’t know how her son developed his fascination over pineapples. Basta na lang itong nagre-request ng Hawaiian pizza sa tuwing lumalabas sila, o ng mismong prutas sa tuwing maggo-grocery siya. “Okay, baby. I’ll bring you lots pag-uwi ko. Basta good boy ka at huwag masyadong pasaway kay tita-ninang ha?”“I’m
GUSTONG pagsisihan ni Dorothea ang iniaakto niya pero masyado siyang pinapangunahan ng kanyang iritasyon. She’s now already seated on Rence’s couch, her arms crossed in front of her chest and her face giving away all the emotions she’s feeling. Nang marinig ang pag-click ng lock ng pintuan, her heart boomed and silently wondered why Rence locked the door. Pero sa inis niya, hindi na siya nagtanong at hinintay na lang ang pag-upo rin nito. “Now that were alone…” the man trailed off. Nahigit niya ang hininga nang maramdaman ang paglubog ng space sa tabi niya sa mahabang couch at ang brasong dumantay sa likod niya. “pwede mo na bang sabihin kung bakit ka nagagalit? Hmm, Thea?” She refused to look at Rence but she could feel his eyes on her. Lalo siyang sumimangot, feeling her immaturity at this situation. “Hindi naman ako nagagalit. At akala ko ba magmi-meeting?” “We’ll get to that later after we deal with the more important topic on our hands now,” mahinahon nitong sinabi. “Look at
“AH!” Dorothea’s grip on Rence’s arm tightened as his fingers delved deeper in between her legs and to the core of her femininity. She was almost breathless as waves of pleasure she had almost forgotten in the past several years registered to her body and she’s now only remembering.“Feels good?” Rence whispered under his breath, enjoying himself on Dorothea’s neck. She was unable to answer. The pleasure was too much for her. Her throat was drying, her body felt like it wasn’t hers anymore. The only thing she could think of was getting through that blissful ride. “R-Rence!” she moaned as Rence’s fingers fastened its pace. “Y-Yes… please!” Hindi na siya mapakali. All she wanted was to taste ecstasy. A few more ins and outs, her body convulsed in pleasure, her arms losing their strength. Hingal na hingal siya sa kandungan ni Rence habang bumababa ang kanyang isip sa r***k na pinagdalhan sa kanya ng mga daliri ni Rence. There was a long silence inside the office. Tanging paghingal lang