"Ciara, ang tagal!"
"Teka nga lang!" she exclaimed, rushing to the gate, pausing from time to time as she seemed to be locking her flats. "Excited ka masyado, e!"Mahina lamang akong napatawa at hinigpitan ang hawak sa steering wheel bago ko siya nakitang lumabas na ng gate. "Ang bagal mo kasi gumalaw, late na tayo, oh.""Hindi kaya. Sabi ni Hannah, two-forty daw pwede tayong pumunta—""Tapos ano? Two forty ka naligo, malapit na kayang mag alas kwatro," sabi ko at nakita nang palakad na siya patungo sa 'kin. Sinamaan pa niya ako ng tingin bago binuksan ang pinto, at kaagad nang pumasok sa loob. "I won't be surprised if you're going to be late for your own wedding.""Hey! I wasn't sure about my outfit, okay? Sabi ni Mommy dapat daw 'yong madali lang mahubad para 'di ako mahirapan mag change, kaya ito, jumpsuit na lang.""Tumawag si Tita?" I asked. Kami lang nina Kuya ang tao roon, at nasa trabaho sina Tita and Tito kaya ako na lan"Angeline, buksan mo 'to!"Panicking, I look around the place, securing the place has been cleaned before I reach to the small pillows onnthe couch and threw one to the other side."Laure—""Wait lang!" I shouted, turning back to Shan to meet his smiling face. Tumango na ako bago siya mahagyang tumalon at tumakbo patungo sa pinto.Kaagad ko siyang sinundan, at nang makalapit ako ay nakabukas na ang pinto. Ciara peaks through the door with her attention focused on Shan. She enters the place and squatted down before hugging him tightly, while I believe women are outside, behind her."Ba't nandito kayo?" I asked, standing from a distance in front of her, causing her to look up. Her eyebrows rose before she stood herself up, holding onto Shan's head, and stretched out a smile."We're going out," she said, lifting her shoulders up, and my forehead crea
"Anong ginagawa mo dito? Bawal ka dito, ah!"My forehead creased before I opened my eyes. Kaagad akong napaayos ng upo bago napunta ang mga mata ko kay Niko na may ngiti sa labi. "And bawal din kayo mag drive. Where's Keira? Steia?"I blinked, and my eyes shifted to the empty spot beside me. A yawn escapes my lips before I lean my back on the rest, loosing up the built up tense in my body."I don't know… what time is it na ba, Love?" Ciara asked, groaning, as she stand up from the seat. Kaagad lumapit pa si Niko sa kaniya at inalayan hanggang makalabas ng table.I immediately looked away to the table, and saw a messy one. May ilan-ilang shot glasses na nakakalat, may beer bottle sa harap ko na parang walang laman at may kung ano-anong dumi malapit sa isang plato.Wala akong naalala pero hindi ko na lang 'yon pinansin at hinayaan ang sarili na iprosesso ang lahat-lahat, habang blankong nakatutok sa lamesa. Inaantok pa ako, ngunit
Nanatili ako doon hanggang maramdaman ko na ang init ng araw, pero hindi pa rin ako gumalaw. I wanted to figure things out, I wanted to fix the mess I have done. Yet my chest fluttered when I heard them continuing the rehearsal. I wanted them to do that, but I didn't get a chance to tell them.I continued focusing on my breathing exercise, slowly succeeding in calming myself down when my phone rang a notification. I didn't even know I had it in my pocket, yet I quickly checked who it was.From: Ciaracan i go there naim sorry:(i can call anyone to drive u home if u want toit's ok reallyi understandI'm really sorry:( A sigh escapes my lips. To: Ciaraim sorryim ok i was just overreacting HAHAHHSKaagad naman siyang sumagot.From: Ciarano you weren'tik it's hard and i understand okkkdo u want me to call brent or someone?To: Ciarano
Nandito na naman ako, at naroon na naman siya, nakatingin sa 'kin habang may maliit na ngiti sa kaniyang labi.Ngunit hindi lang siya ang nakatingin sa 'kin, at halos lahat ng tao rito sa Simbahan ay ang atensyon nakatuon sa akin. This isn't the same as the other day, I can no longer mess this up. I kept my focus on the altar from a distance as I started walking, slowly, holding a small bouquet of flowers as my dress flowed down to the floor. But until now, I still can't ignore the man standing beside the groom, he didn't look the same as the other day, too.He wears a suite. He looks formal. His hands are right in front of him, held together. I take a quick glance at him, meeting his gaze, before taking a turn to the right and quickly seated down on the bench. Tinuon ko ang pansin sa kung ano-anong pwede, ngunit ramdam ko pa rin ang madiin niyang pagtingin sa 'kin. Hindi nagtagal at nakarating na sina Keira sa bench namin, giving me distractions to help ignore his gaze. And it di
I wake up to the feeling of coldness coating my skin, body. I could barely move, forcing myself to fully awake before I managed to open my eyes.I notice the thick blankets covering me and Shan beside me before I notice touch on my upper waist, hugging my skin tightly. My forehead creased, lifting myself as I attempted to turn my head around. I struggle until the weight lightens, and I finally manage to take a look to find Brent.I ignored the disappointment in my chest, and turned to him before resting my body on the bed once again. I started to take deeper breaths out of exhaustion from the effort, looking directly at his face. My stomach fluttered when he opened his eyes.His gaze immediately met mine, causing a bigger smile to appear on his tired face. He blinks slowly before letting out a soft sigh. "Good morning.""You said be home until next week?" A hoarse voice escapes my lips, and he chuckles."Surprise?" he said, softly laughing. "Uhm, Papa asked a favour if I could focus o
tw // mentions of injury—————Kaagad kong sinalub Brent sa labas ng Cottage habang bitbit niya si Shan. Hinawak ko ang kamay ni Shan habang nagpapatuloy kaming pumasok and I quickly noticed how he flinched as my hand landed on his skin.A huge spot of his rash guard is covered with blood, and he sat on Brent's shoulder still. Hindi siya gumagalaw, hindi siya umiiyak. Nanatili lang sa akin ang kaniyang mga mata hanggang pinaupo na siya ng Brent. Halos mangiyak-ngiyak na ito, may maliit na nguso sa labi, pero hindi umiimik. I felt my senses were scattered everywhere and I couldn't think straight.He's in pain but he isn't saying anything. My chest tightened, and I shifted my hands to his thighs. I give him a small smile before Tita Christy appears beside me.She sat beside Shan, facing him, holding a fabric on her hand as she tries to get a hold of Shan. Nang hinawakan na niya ang braso ay kaagad lumingon ang bata sa kaniya ngunit hindi pa rin ito kumibo, may ilang pagpikit lamang ang
"He's a Luciano…?"At that moment, I felt helpless. Fear immediately invaded my mind, and I wasn't able to answer him immediately. He stared at me for a long minute before snapping me out of my thoughts."Please tell me the truth—""Cousin."His eyebrows rose. "Hm?"I looked back at him directly into the eyes. "He's a cousin."His face loosened up before he slowly nodded his head. "Binalitaan ka ba niya kung kumusta na ang kaniyang pinsan?"I slowly suck a part of my inner lip. My chest is pounding like crazy and I felt my hands are beginning to sweat. Napalunok na lang ako bago huminga ng malalim. "He… is dead."Brent didn't manage to ask another question when Shan suddenly cane out of nowhere, holding three packed ice cream cones.He didn't bring it up after, and we just continued on with life. Three days later, umalis na naman kami. Hindi para magbakasyon, kundi para bumisita. Matagal na rin nong huli kong pagbisita sa kanila."Mommy…"I turned to Shan as I placed the tote bag on
"I forgot to ask… how's the papers?"Binigyan ko ng isang matamis na ngiti si Brent. "It's being processed.""That long?" he asked before reaching for his glass beside his plate. "Akala ko mga less than two months lang yan?"A chuckle escapes my lips. "Wala pa nga two months. Excited ka masyado, e."My head automatically turned to Shan beside him as I heard him giggle, causing my stomach to flutter. I just love it when he does that: shows happiness, lalo na kapag alam kong ako ang dahilan kung bakit siya masaya. Nakakataba ng puso."Wala… akala ko lang. Malapit na kaya mag two months.""Wala pa ngang isang b'wan," I said, taking another spoonful of my breakfast. "Aba natural lang na ma-excite akong pakasalan ang babaeng mahal na mahal ko." He turns to Shan. "'Di ba, Shan?"Inilipat ko muli ang mga mata sa anak at nakita itong palipat-lipat ang tingin sa 'min dalawa, parang hindi sigurado sa isasagot. "Sagot," Brent said, softly, catching Shan's attention. It takes him a moment befo