Athena's POV
I was looking at the two card I'm holding, magkaiba man Ang disenyo but the penmanship is the same, walang pinagka- iba. "Hhmmm, parang sa malayo pinalipad ng cards na iyan ang isip mo ah"- it was my no other than best friend Czareenah holding a bouquet of chocolates na sa pinaka gitna non ay Stick-O. Napakunot naman ako sa dala niya. I looked at her from head to toe kasunod noon ang pagngisi ko sa kanya. I saw her changed expression at ang pag angat ng isang kilay nito. "Mukhang may magandang nangyari sayo ngayon ah"- I said teasing her. Hindi nga ako nagkamali dahil mabilis ulit nagbago ang mukha niya. Now she's blushing! Mas lumapad ang ngiti ko sa naging reaksyon niya kasabay non ang waring paghampas niya sa akin. "Stop that look, will you! Ikaw din naman dalawa pa nga invitation cards mo eh"- pagbabalik asar niya sa akin as she put down her bouquet in the table.Athena’s POV Weeks passed after Justin’s recovery, and although we’d had that heart-to-heart, things didn’t magically get better. Justin tried—oh, he tried so hard to make it up to me. Every time he’d come home early from work, he’d bring me flowers, my favorite food, or sometimes just a simple note telling me how much he loved me. Ilang araw din matapos ng paggaling niya ay bulamik ulit siya sa dati in terms of his work. Mas madalang narin. Siyang umuwi kaysa dati which made me more worried. Madalang narin nagkakasalubong ang oras namin. Days turned into weeks, and the stress of our situation started to weigh heavily on me. I found myself overthinking everything—every time Justin was late, every time he couldn’t explain where he’d been, my mind would spiral into worst-case scenarios. I knew I needed to stop, to trust him like I said I would, but it was easier said than done. Because of this constant anxiety, I stopped taking care of myself the way I used to. Meals became someth
Athena’s POVNatapos na ang operasyon ni Justin and I could still feel the tremor in my hands as I took off my gloves. Justin was finally stable, nagawa king natanggap ang mga balang nakabaon sa kanya, he's still unconscious at hindi pa namin alam kung kailan siya magigising. The thought of him lying on that stretcher, covered in blood, still haunted me. I had to stay strong, but my heart felt like it was breaking into a million pieces.Tito and Tita is out of the country, nasabihan ko na rin sila about Justin pero pareparehas kaming walang alam sa nangyari. I still don't have any idea on what exactly happened, kung bakit siya nabaril and so on. As I walked out of the operating room, I leaned against the wall, trying to catch my breath. My mind was racing. Paano ito nangyari? Sino ang gumawa nito kay Justin? “Athena,” It was Micka na siyang sumalubong sa akin. "How was it? Are you okay? Si Justin?"- tuloy tuloy niyang tanong. "Na-nagawa kong matanggal ang mga bala sa katawan niya
Athena’s POVI never imagined that just days after our wedding, life would take such a sharp turn. Few days after the wedding ay naglipat bahay na kami sa bagong bahay na titirhan namin —our own space, our sanctuary. Simpleng bahay lang din, which is Justin let me decide about it. Hindi masyadong makali, hindi masyadong maliit, sakto lang talaga siya at elegante tignan. Even the appliances Justin let me decide it, hindi ko nga alam kung bahay namin ito o bahay ko lang eh. If you're asking about us? Well ...*Flashbacks*"Paano ang kwarto?"- I asked him"Alam ko namang hindi ka parin komportable sa akin so I can use one of the guest rooms"- Justin. Lagi nalang siyang nakarely sa desisyon ko which is I know na nirerespeto niya ako but I also want his opinion pero..."Ok ..."- sagot ko nalang."So if ever our parents will be visiting we can pretend then"- pagpapatuloy ko. Tinitigan niya ako ng ilang segundo bago tuluyang sumagot. His eyes are blank which is mas nasasanay na ako kesa s
Athena's POV Nakaharap ako sa salamin, pinagmamasdan ang sarili sa puting gown na suot ko. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mararamdaman? Ang kasal na ito ay hindi ko pinangarap na ganito. I may once wished na si Justin ang mapakalasalan ko but not this kind of set-up. “Okay ka lang, Tina?” Enah asked me, maid of honor."Yeah..."- tumango ako sa kanya. She gave me a smile Saka lumapit sa akin. "You're beautiful"- Enah.Ngumiti lang ako sa kanya. "Nagdadalawang isip ka parin? Ngayon pa na isinuot mo na yan?"- tuloy nito sa suot ko"Masyado lang mabilis ang mga pangyayari, hindi kapanipaniwala"- mahinang sabi ko."You have your time after this Tina... Hindi mo naman isusuot iyan ang waiting here if hindi mo gustong mangyari to eh, you will have your time after this. You're here now"- Enah.Napatingin kaming pareho sa pinto dahil sa pagkakakatok. "Ohh my gosh!!! My darling... You're so pretty "- emotional na wika ni mom. Sunod namang pumasok si Nanay Tina (mommy ni Czareenah)"Napakagan
Content WarningThis chapter contains descriptions of prohibited drug use and explicit sexual content. These themes may be distressing or triggering for some readers. Reader discretion is advised. Athena's POV I was expecting na mamayang gabi pa dating si Justin, nagulat nalang ako nang makita ko siyang hingal na hingal sa tapat ng apartment ko 15 minutes after ko siyang tinawagan. "Ju-Justin..."- meHe finally burts a sign"Tama ang dinig ko kanina right? You're finally willing to listen... What happened 5 years ago? And... And you called me name?"-- mangiyak ngiyak nitong tanong sa akin. "Pasok ka"- sabi ko matapos kong tumango sa kanya. I felt him follow me, dumeretso ako sa kusina para magtimpla ng kape, umupo naman siya sa sofa. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang pagtitig nito sa akin kahit na medyo nakatalikod ako sa kanya. Hindi ko alam kung anong maririnig ko sa kanya ngayon, I clear my mind so I won't expect
Athena's POV 'I felt someone kissed me in my forehead kaya tiningala ko kung sino. When I saw it was Justin I kissed him. It maybe a dream but atleast kahit sa panaginip manlang I can taste his lips again.' I woke up with a heavy head at parang pinipiga ang ulo ko sa sakit. "Drink this para mabawasan ang sakit ng ulo mo"- I heard a familiar voice. 'Nananaginip parin siguro ako' Unti unti kong ibinukas ang mga mata ko when I saw a blurry face. Inilagay nito ang gamot sa kamay ko at tinulungan akong isubo iyon. Pang apat na lagok ko ng tubig ay unti unting naging klaro ang mukha ni Justin sa harap ko. *Burrsstt* (naibuga ko ang tubig sa tabi ng kama ko) *Cough* *cough* "Hey, careful"- hagod ni Justin sa likod ko saka nagsalin ulit ng tubig sa baso and gave it to me. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?"- tanong ko Napansin ko rin na iba na ang