SLOANI almost killed him… I almost killed my own husband. I didn’t know. I didn’t know that he was allergic to shrimp. If I just know… hindi ko na sana siya pinakain no’n.Tahimik lang ako habang nakaupo sa sofa at nakatingin kay Dominic na nakahiga sa hospital bed. He’s stable now and has been transferred to the VIP room. The doctor said it’s a good thing he was brought to the hospital quickly before the situation got worse.Davina, Attorney Delmundo’s twin sister, was sitting next to Dominic’s hospital bed, holding my husband’s hand as she watched him sleep.Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling ang sakit na bumalot sa dibdib ko habang pinapanood siya. Ako dapat ang nandoon. Ako dapat ang may hawak ng kamay ni Dominic habang hinihintay siyang magising. Ako dapat ang una niyang makikita pagbukas ng mga mata niya pero pakiramdam ko ay wala akong karapatan pagkatapos ng nangyari.Ako ang nagdala sa kaniya sa ganitong sitwasyon. Gusto kong mainis kay Dominic dahil alam niya naman na all
SLOANDays had passed smoothly. A week after getting back from Pangasinan, we moved to the mansion Dominic bought in Forbes Park.Nauna na doon ang mga gamit namin at pinaayos niya na sa mga kasambahay ang mansion para raw wala na akong aalalahanin pa.“It’s not really necessary to have maids anymore, Dom. I can do household chores, can't you see?” I argued while he was driving.He sighed. “It’s a mansion, sweetie. It means it’s huge. You can't clean that mansion alone, okay? Besides, you're my wife, not my maid,” he said calmly.“Yeah, pero kaya ko naman kasi…” pagpipilit ko pa.“No.”“But—”“Sweetheart, no.”Ngumuso ako. Kanina ko pa siya kinukulit na huwag nang mag-maid dahil dagdag gastos lang iyon ngunit ayaw niya talagang pumayag. Yes, I know that he has tons of money, and the salary he'll give to the household staff is just a pittance to him, but still hindi ko mapigilang manghinayang.I took a deep breath. “Fine,” pagsuko ko.He smirked in victory. Ganiyan siya palagi kapag si
When I was young, my nanny used to ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I always told her that I wanted to get married in a church in front of God to the man I loved.As a kid, that might be the weirdest dream to hear instead of being a teacher, police officer, actor, or doctor. But not me. I had my sights set on the church’s aisle.“Bata ka pa kaya dapat hindi mo pa iniisip ang ganiyang bagay, Ma’am Sloan. Ayaw mo bang maging doctor o kaya negosyante kagaya ng Daddy mo?” Nanny Basya asked again.The seven-year-old me pouted. “No po. That’s really my dream, Yaya. I wanted to get married in the church because I wanted to promise Papa God that I could be a good wife to my future husband just like my mommy to my dad,” I said and smiled sweetly.Yaya Basya massaged her temple because of what I said. “Diyos ko kang bata ka.” I just chuckled and continued playing.I had a perfect and ideal family back then. Masaya at kumpleto. Masaya ako sa magulang ko kahit na wala akong kapatid.
SLOAN“Sloan, anak, kumain ka na,” Yaya Basya said while knocking on my door.I stayed frozen in place, not even bothering to flinch or utter a word. My eyes were fixated on the wall, lost in a whirlwind of thoughts. I pondered relentlessly, trying to figure out what to do next. It was like a mental chess game, with every option weighed and analyzed. But at that moment, I was stuck, undecided, and unsure.I was completely wiped out. My body felt like it had run a marathon, my mind was running on fumes, and my heart felt like it had been through a rollercoaster of emotions. It was as if someone had sucked all the energy out of me, leaving me feeling like a deflated balloon.It's been two weeks since Yosef died. Hindi ko alam kung makakahinga na ba ako ng maluwag dahil hindi pa ako pinupuntahan ni Daddy para kausapin ako tungkol sa susunod kong papakasalan. Usually kasi pinagkakasundo niya na ako kagaad apat hanggang limang araw matapos mamatay ng mga naging asawa ko.Actually, that’s i
SLOAN“I-Ikaw?” bulong ko habang hindi makapaniwalang nakatingin sa kaniya. I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe that the person I just met a week ago is my fiance!“You know each other?” Daddy asked confusedly while looking at Dominic and me.Hindi ako sumagot. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from him. His expression was a perfect blend of seriousness and intensity, as if he were trying to unravel the mysteries of the universe just by looking at me. “We met a week ago, Mr. De Falco,” tugon niya pero ang mata niya ay nakatingin sa ‘kin. “So, she’s your daughter?” Bumaling siya kay daddy.He used to be all smiles and friendly, but now he’s all serious and cold when talking to my dad. Parang ibang tao siya habang kinakausap ang daddy ko.Daddy smiled. “Yes, Mr. Velasco, and she’s willing to marry you, right, dear?” Daddy turned to me. Hindi nakatakas sa paningin ko ang pagbabata sa mata niya.Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko dahil sa takot. Ganito ang palagi kong nararamdaman kapag nasa
SLOANNasa iisang sasakyan kaming umalis ni Dominic sa Manila Cathedral, kung saan ginanap ang kasal naming dalawa. We are now on our way to Luxe Haven for the reception. It is a five-star hotel located in Manila. Our guests are heading there too, using the vans provided by Dominic, while others are using their own vehicles.Binabalot ng nakakabinging katahimikan ang buong sasakyan. Abala si Dominic sa pagmamaneho habang ako naman ay nakatingin lang sa labas ng bintana. Nakikiramdam.I don’t know how to initiate a conversation. I don’t know Dominic that well yet, so I don’t know what to say to him.Ngunit kung ganito na lang ako palagi, laging natatakot, hindi ko talaga siya makikilala. Should I talk to him? Pero ano naman ang sasabihin ko? Tatanungin ko kaya siya ng mga common information about sa sarili niya? Pero hindi kaya magmukang ang random ko naman no'n? I just asked him out of nowhere, gano’n?“Are you okay? Do you have something to say?” he asked. My eyes widened as I looked
SLOANThe smell of something new hits my nostrils, making me wonder where I am. I’m still half asleep, trying to piece together the events of last night.Inadjust ko muna ang mata ko bago ko ito unti-unting binuksan. Kulay gray na kisame kaagad ang bumungad sa akin pagkatapos ang panlalaking amoy ng kama. The room is dark because the large glass wall near the bed is covered by thick gray curtains.I blinked when I remembered what happened yesterday.I am married… again.Bumangon ako habang kinukusot ko ang mata ko. Mag-isa lang ako sa kama. Walang bakas ng may tumabi sa akin kaya sigurado akong mag-isa lang ako ditong natulog kagabi.Where’s Dominic? I bet this is his condo.Nilibot ko ang paningin ko sa kwarto kung nasaan ako ngayon. It is a modern room designed with a color scheme of gray and white. The walls are painted a cool shade of gray, while the furniture and décor follow a minimalist aesthetic. Sobrang simple lang pero elegante.I remove the duvet blanket that covers my body
SLOANTwenty minutes na ang nakakalipas simula nang umalis si Dominic para sa meeting. I was left alone here in his luxurious office.I have been wandering around his office for quite some time now. I am amazed by the house miniatures displayed in the glass case. Halata talaga na iniingatan iyon.Even though Dominic’s business is in the metal industry, his acquired course is not irrelevant because I also saw various blueprints hanging on the wall, such as elevators, escalators, appliances, and ships! Siya ang may gawa no’n dahil may pangalan niya sa pinakababa.“Wow…” I muttered as I saw the blueprint of an aircraft. May nakalagay sa taas na Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.Malinis ang pagkaka-drawing no’n. Walang kalat na ink at detailed talaga. Sa unang tingin ay aakalain na printed ‘yon pero ang totoo ay hindi. Naka-sealed ‘yon para maprotektahan sa kahit na ano mang alikabok.I think this is the original blueprint copy.Nawala ang atensiyon ko sa mga iyon nang biglang bumukas ang pinto n