“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
DOROTHEA tried to push down her chuckle but couldn’t help it. Rence glared at her which made her smile innocently at him.“Binibiro lang kita,” marahan niyang sinabi. “Alam ko naman ang sinasabi mo. Pero kailangan ba talaga ‘yon? Hindi ka naman nagmamadali, ‘di ba?”Kumalma na ang mukha ni Rence pero umiling ito. Kinuha ang kamay niya saka pinaglaruan ang kanyang mga daliri. “Nagmamadali ako, Thea. But I’m willing to wait until you’re ready. I didn’t come this far only to push what I want with you. Kaya maghihintay ako hanggang handa ka na.”Uminit ang puso ni Dorothea. Hindi niya napigilang mapangiti kahit bumabaha na naman ang maraming pagdududa sa isip niya. She didn’t want to ruin the beautiful moment between them but she couldn’t help it. Rence must like her, she knew. Dahil sino ba naman ang aabot pa sa ganito kung hindi siya gusto nito? She’s trying to deny that to herself, remain unassuming but she couldn’t deny it now. Masyado nang maraming nangyari at tanga na lang ang hind
“SO you’ll supply Kampo with this plantation’s produce?” Tapos na sila sa usapan sa opisina and was finally able to discuss about the business Dorothea had with Rence. Wala talaga siyang ideya na ito ang kakausapin niya tungkol doon but well, here they are. Nakalabas na sila ng opisina ni Rence at ang lalaki na mismo ang nag-suggest na iyon ang gawin nila. Dorothea had a rough idea of why the man suggested that pero hindi na niya isinatinig at tinago na lamang ang kanyang ngiti habang papalabas sila ng opisina at masigurong maayos na ang itsura nilang dalawa. Walang bakas ng kung anong ginawa nila sa loob. Rence asked her if she wants a short tour in the plantation at pumayag naman siya. After all, it’s been a long time since she had herself in the middle of a field. It’s just nostalgic to be in a place that feels familiar kahit bago lang naman talaga siya rito. The memories of her childhood made her feel like she’s home, back in the fields of the Salvatore Palmas where she believe
MADILIM pa sa labas pero maingay na ang paligid. Nagising si Dorothea sa tunog ng humaharurot na mga sasakyan. Masakit pa ang ulo niya at hindi maimulat ang mga mata dahil doon. Mariin niyang naipikit lalo ang saradong mga mata nang subukang umupo. Wala sa sariling minasahe niya ang kanyang sintido. “Sakit!” she moaned while massaging her temple.Ano bang ginawa niya para sumakit ang ulo niya? Wala siyang matandaan. At isa pa, bakit ang lamig-lamig sa kwarto niya? It was usually not that cold in there kasi masyado nga siyang madaling lamigin. Sinubukan niyang imulat ang kanyang mga mata para hanapin ang kumot nang magulat siya sa kung ano. “Hmm…”Nanigas si Dorothea sa kinauupuan. Who…Mabilis pa sa alas kwatro ang naging pagbaling ng dalaga sa kanyang tabi. Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata nang matagpuan doon ang isang lalaking walang pang-itaas, nakatalikod sa kanya ngunit alam niyang hindi niya kilala. Malakas na kabog ang naghari sa dibdib ni Dorothea at hindi niya alam kung bakit, d