KABANATA 32 "Mom it's family day! Yohooo!" kagigising lang ni Joaquin pero full energy nakaagad ito dahil family day ng school ngayon. Oo, pinasok na n'ya si Joaquin sa regular school after his birthday dahil normal naman ang anak niya and she realize na kahit magtago man sila sa kung saang bahagi ng kasuluksulukan ng mundo kung magtatagpuin talaga ang mag-ama ay wala na siyang magagawa. "Yes love, but before that you need to take your bath and eat breakfast. You want me to help you?" Nakangiti n'yang tanong sa anak at hinalikan ito sa pisngi. "Nope. I'm already a big boy mom so you don't need to help me now." Ngiwi naman nito sa kanya pero yinakap pa rin naman s'ya kaya mas lalo siyang napangiti. "Wait… did I just heard you pronouncing the 'r' sound without stuttering love?" Nanlaki ang mata niya ng ma-realize na nabigkas nga ni Joaquin ang already with the 'r'. "Yup. Tita Gorgeous and I practice it yesterday and I now can pronounce words with r sound with no sweat. Easy pea
PART II I waited… for him to change. For him to love me the way I deserve. I'm no princess but I deserve to be treated right. To be loved and to be taken care of was my only dream. Pero hindi… hindi niya nagawang iparamdam sa'kin na mahal niya ako. He made me feel worthless at hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin magawang mahalin ang sarili ko katulad ng dati. I'm still broke and despite not wanting him anymore, I know he's my cure. "Mom, it's so hot!" Kitang-kita ko ang inis na rumehistro sa mukha ng anak ko. The sun is scornful making him grimace in annoyance as we headed out in the airport. I patted his head and smiled. "This is the Philippines, Quin. What do you expect?" I slowly laugh as I see him roll his eyes. "Can we go back in Norway now? I can't think I'll ever live here. It's so mainit, mommy." Ilang beses siyang nagpahid sa pawis niyang tumutulo sa Mukha niya kaya marahan ko siyang nilapitan at pinunasan. Habang lumalaki siya mas lalo siyang nagiging kamukha ni ano… h
Una Kanina pa ako ikot nang ikot sa upuan ko dahil sa sobrang kaba. "Ang ganda mo, madam!" Exaggerated na wika ng baklang nagmi-make-up sa'kin. "Thanks," I replied hesitantly. I know I'm pretty pero alam ko rin na hindi naman basihan ang kagandahan para hindi ka ipagpalit. No matter what a woman has become, she may wear the crown in the universe, possess the beauty and perfection pero hindi no'n mababago ang isang lalaki kung gago na talaga siya. Men should change because they wanted to, hindi dahil gusto naming mga babae. We only want to be valued and love pero minsan kahit gaano ka simple ang gusto naming mga babae hindi pa rin nabibigay sa'min 'yun ng mga lalaki. "Sigurado akong ikaw ang pinakabunga sa party mamaya" agap niyang sabi ng makita niya akong nakangiti ng malungkot. I'm nervous. Nervous because after so many years I will finally see those who believe in me again. Ang mga investors na nahakot ko dati, they organize a charity event and I'm invited. No one knew I'
2 Months being in the Philippines has been different. The way Joaquin entered in another school at kung paano s'ya nakatagpo ng mga kaibigan, he's enjoying his stay but I can't help but to get worried every single day na baka makita s'ya ni Miguel at magkakilala silang dalawa. I'm ready to face what the truth has to offer and its consequences but the mere fact that I still don't know how to explain everything to my son bothers me a lot. "Mom, let's go?" Kinalabit ako ni Joaquin ng makita n'ya akong nakatingin sa kanya ng matagal. I nodded and smiled as how excited he is to go to school everyday. Sana… kung dumating man ang araw na malaman n'ya ang lahat tungkol sa ama niya makita pa rin ako ng anak ko bilang mabuting ina. I can't endure the pain it will cause me if my son will hate me. "Wala ka na ba ang naiwan sa room mo? Are all your assignments done?" Binalingan ko siya ng tingin, he's busy looking around that he just nodded abruptly. Mabilis lang naman ang naging byahe nam
Three I hate how fate play. Palagi nalang itong nagwawagi. Palaging nasusunod. Palaging dahilan ng mga sakit at lungkot. "You're alone?" Aaric asked. "Mukha ba akong may kasama?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Galit agad? Nagtatanong lang, a." Mabilis siyang umupo sa harapan ko which made me rolled eyes again. "Ano na naman ba ang kailangan mo attorney, Maur?" Naiinis kung tanong sa kanya. Kung saan-saan nalang siya sumusulpot na parang kabute! "Sabing Caed nalang, e." Kamot-kamot niya sa ulo. "Bakit sinusundan mo na naman ako, ha?" Free time ko ngayon at dahil wala pa naman kaming maraming case na hina-handle ngayon ay marami akong oras. "Grabe ka naman, miss attorney! Hindi mo ako stalker ha!" "Ano nga ba kasi ang kailangan mo? Huwag mong sabihin may gusto ka sa'kin? Sinasabi ko sa'yo hindi kita type!" Malakas siyang humalakhak na may kasama pang paghawak sa tiyan at naluluha na. "Hindi din kita type, Miss Attorney! Baka mapatay pa ako." May pa waksi-waksi pa si
KABANATA 1 "Love, ano ba! nakikiliti ako!" Natatawang iwas ko kay Miguel na ngayon ay natatawa din sa reaksyon ko. I am happy being married to this gorgeous guy. He looks like a morning star to me. His eyes are my temptation. His love is my weakness. "Let me kiss you, baby…" he groaned. I abruptly laughed at his reaction and ran away from him. "Cleopatra… c'mon. Just one kiss hon." He mutter at marahan akong nilapitan. "You already have your kiss this morning, Miguel." Nakakaloko ko siyang tinawanan at hinawakan ang labi niyang papunta na sana sa'kin. My husband is indeed a gorgeous masterpiece that God ever created. Gorgeous licking good. Miguel, Gad! You corrupted my innocent mind. "Ang damot isang halik lang naman." Masama niya akong tiningnan at padabog na umupo sa sofa na kinauupuan ko. "Pahalik na… isa lang naman, ah." Nahihimigan ko ang pagtatampo sa boses niya. I can't help but mock him because of how cute he is. Para itong baby na hindi nabigyan ng gusto
Kabanata 2 "Miguel… papasok ka ba ng opisina?" I ask him fearfully. Kakagising niya pa lang pero nakikita ko na siyang may hawak na isang bote ng alak. My Miguel won't drink early as this. He want me to make him his coffee and eat breakfast with me in the table, serving me and taking care of me not this, walang emosyon at tanging masasamang titig lang ang binibigay sa'kin. He kick the table making me jump in fear. "You go there if you want!" "Sige… a-ano, a-ako nalang ang papasok ngayon." I shakingly whispered. Mabuti nalang at nakaligo na ako ng maaga kanina. I know he won't go to his office today, I was also the one who attends the company yesterday and the other weeks dahil siya ay palaging busy sa pagsusugal. Wala pa rin siyang pakialam at nakatunga parin sa alak. I prepare his breakfast before going upstairs to change clothes. "Kumain ka na, Miguel." Mahina kung wika sa kanya pero ni isang salita ay wala man lang akong nakuha. I stare at my reflection in the mirror
KABANATA 3 Night falls yet I am still busy in my office, doing paper works. Madilim na sa labas, kita ko sa bintana ng opisina at unti-unti ng nagsi-uwian ang mga empleyado pero busy'ng-busy pa rin ako rito. "Hindi ka pa uuwi, Clea?" Nakasilip ni Karen sa pintuan ng opisina. Her eyes are curious and knowingly. I averted my gaze and slowly shook my head. "No. I still have papers to read and sign" I said. "Mauna ka na…" I added. She entered my office with her cocky looks, bore her gaze in me and glared at me with so much sinister writing in her face. "No! You stop working and we will go clubbing!" Malakas niyang hinampas ang lamesa making me flinch in shock. The hell with this woman! I look at her with awe and bewilderment, she's still looking at me furiously. Mabilis niyang hinablot sa'kin ang mouse ng computer, turn it off and fix my dissarange things at the top of my table, putting them all inside my bag. She humped and wiped the sweat forming in her forehead. I mass