"What are you looking for?"I took a quick glance at him before turning back to the small dresses in front of us. I shake my head. For Carlos sana. "I just thought about Carlos."He chuckles, softly. "Okay, let's buy him something. He did mention a lot about cars…"I turn my head back to him, giving him a glare. "Not too much. Please."His smile widens as he chuckles louder. "Not too much. Yes, of course--"As he turned around, he suddenly stopped. He takes a quick glance at me before looking back forward, and my gaze follows a toddler. He looks younger than Carlos, well-dressed, neat, and has red wet eyes. Parang mangiyak-ngiyak na habang may nguso sa labi."Hi," Christion greets, squatting down to level the Toddler's height. "Do you have someone with you?"But he doesn't answer and deepens his frown. Looking with sad puppy-eyes, tears began to fall from his eyes, causing me to step in closer and squat right beside Tion, holding onto the Toddle
"Paconfirm na lang po. Medium iced caramel macchiato, two honey and nut oatmeal cookies, and one strawberry cake?" I pressed my lips together and nodded before she shifted her attention back to the screen. It takes her a few moments before she tells me the amount, and I pay. Kaagad naman akong tumalikod pagkatapos ng transaction, dala-dala ang inorder ko.Nilibot ko ang mga mata ko sa paligid, at nakitang marami ang mga bakanteng upuan, ngunit hindi na ako nag-aksaya pa ng oras at nagsimula nang maglakad patungo sa exit. Hindi ako pwedeng magtagal dito, lalo na't si Inez lang at ang guard ang nakakaalam na umalis ako ng office na mag-isa."Angeline! Angel!" Napatigil sa paglalakad, hindi gaano kalayo mula sa exit. My head automatically turned around, along with my body as I then wander my gaze once more to meet a familiar pair.My eyes widened, and his lips stretched for a smile, showing his teeth. "Angel! Finally! How have you been?"I felt my sp
He's going to meet my only blood-family.Buong gabi, hindi ako halos makatulog. Ayaw mawala sa isip ko ang mga posibleng mangyari, dala sa masyadong pagkaka-excite, siguro. Maaga akong nagising, at naabutang naliligo na si Tion. Sa kwarto niya na naman ako pinatulog, at parang magiging kwarto ko na rin siguro siya mula ngayon.Pagkagising ay dumeretso ako sa kwarto ko para maligo, at mag-ayos. We finished getting ready for work right on time, with plenty of time to spare for Tion having a chance to cook us lunch. Spam Sushi."What can you not cook?" I ask, and put another sushi in my mouth, causing him to chuckle.Nasa office niya kami, kumakain ng Lunch. Request niya 'to palagi, at magsisinungaling ako kung sasabihin kong ayaw ko 'yon. I like it here, with him. "How is it?" he asks before taking a drink from his water bottle. I swallow my chewed food before parting my lips."Yummy," I said, beaming a smile. "Chef's kiss." Putting my finger ti
I imagined everything. From how it could have possibly happened, to why would they do that. And I asked him, "totoo?"He didn't look at me, and just nodded like it wasn't a big deal. He wasn't scared, and kept a blank emotion in his face. He admitted it straight forward, and didn't even ask for a chance to explain and let me leave.It was like he gave up immediately… A door closes, then a window opens. But a lot of windows opened in my case."Woah!" Shan exclaimed as he hops out of the van, followed by me. "Mommy, I want to swim!"I step on the ground with Shan holding my hand, his attention is focused on the beach in a distance from us as he softly pulls me towards there, showing excitement. "After Daddy Brent's meeting."Nilingon ko ulit ang Van at inabot 'yong bag ko. "Why!" he whines, and I turned to him to see he's already facing me. "No one will look after you," I said, softly, causing him to pout. "How about you!" he groaned, and s
"A-ay, Sir, wala pa pong wedding."I have always told him that I'm still not ready yet, knowing how much he wanted to have his own family. We met in Bataan. Doon ako lumipat no'ng kailangan kong ipakalma ang sarili. Because somehow… even my family's hometown was a lie. I grew up there, Tito said. Lumipat kami nina Lolo nang namatay si Ate, we tried to begin again in Manila.Alala ko pa ang sinabi ni Tito na nakapangilabot sa 'kin, "we would constantly tell you about the truth, but would forget and believe something that isn't true. We gave up and let it be, thinking it would be best for you."Ever since that day, I started remembering more. Until I found myself, one day, knowing all of the answers to my questions before. The hows and whys. [In italic]'"That's what happens if you let greed get into you," Tito said, driving. Hindi ko siya sinagot at hinayaan ang atensyon mapunta sa blanko. I should've shouted at him, I should've confronted him
"Shan!" Brent called, and turned to the right with a huge smile on his face. "Mommy said yes!" Shan gasped, and put his open hand to his mouth before raising both arms in the air. "Yay!" he shouted, and the room was immediately filled with laughter.Bumalik na kaagad sa akin si Brent at inangat pa ang aking kamay tungo sa kaniya bago sinuot doon ang isang sing-sing. DejaVu kicked in, but pretend that it wasn't there.Rings, marriage, and me, a wife. How can simple worlds be this painful?"I love you," he said, almost in a whisper, before he leans closer for a kiss. It was a deep one, and his hand eventually travelled to my waist and pulled my body closer. Lumakas pa any hiyawan, dahilan para pareho kaming mapatawa bago siya dahan-dahang lumayo. I slowly open my eyes and immediately met his gaze."Inuman na!" Tito Luis exclaimed, causing both of us to flinch. We turned to him and started to laugh again.Am I really ready? I asked myself. Was it pres
Weddings, marriage, ceremonies. "Babe, pupunta tayo sa Herra ngayon, ah?" Brent reminded me. Tumango lamang ako habang sinusuot ang T-Shirt ni Shan. "We're meeting Clarisse, our wedding coordinator."Kaka-propose niya lang, at kasal na kaagad. Request iyon ng parents niya, dapat in 6 months ay may kasal na raw kasi hindi rin sila magtatagal dito sa bansa. At wala naman akong magawa, ayaw ko silang biguin."Sama ako, Daddy," Shan suddenly spoke, looking up to Brent to the right as he swung his feet in the air, sitting on the corner of the bed. Brent chuckles. "Hindi pwede 'yan, Baby. You will be with MommyLa, like I told you yesterday, 'di ba?""But I want to go with you and Mommy," Shan replied. Inayos ko na ang damit niya bago lumingon kay Brent. He wears a soft expression on his face, halatang hindi rin alam kung paano sagutin ang bata. "How about this."Lumapit siya sa amin at umupo sa tabi ni Shan. He takes a quic
"I want an annulment."Hindi siya natagalan para makababa, ilang segundo lang ang lumipas bago ko siya nakitang naglalakad na sa hallway, patungo sa 'kin, hawak-hawak ang isang malaking ngiti.Kaagad siyang lumapit sa 'kin, nasa bulsa ang dalawang kamay. Suot-suot ang napaka pormal na damit, gaya lang noon.He snickers, and the left corner of his lips rose. "It's nice to see you again, Love—"I was quick to be brought to reality, and I began to feel my emotions once more. Rage with a hint of broken pride."Do not call me that," madiin kong sabi, "Let's file an—""Why?" he asked, with his forehead creased. "I gave you space thinking that was all you needed, and after what? Six years? Five? 'Yan lang pala gusto mo?"My eyebrows rose, and he let out another snicker before taking a quick glance to the right before returning to me. I chose to ignore his words and focused on the last, I wanted to nod but I didn't. "