The next morning, I woke up with no Zandrey beside me. I panicked so I looked for my phone to call him. But then I saw his text saying he has to leave because his class is early and he needs to go home to change. I stifle a sigh of relief.I thought he left because he already got what he wanted. Then I thought, of course not. He's not like that. If he's anything, he's decent. He may be intense in bed, but I know he's a good guy and I have the rest of time to get to know him even better.Naalala ko naman ang nangyari sa amin kagabi. After what happened, we ordered food and ate. We were so hungry after the deed. Hindi ko alam na nakakagutom pala 'yon.I felt my face heating up because of my thoughts.God...I tried to erase it in my thoughts as I start preparing for school. Wala na akong oras para maghanda ng breakfast kaya naisip kong sa school na lang bumili ng pagkain. I could just eat it while the class was going on. Thank God for not-so-strict instructors when it comes to eating o
"U-umuwi na tayo Ai.." Daisy grabbed my arm slowly. I could feel her hands were shaking. I'm also shaking. Kung sa kaba o galit, hindi ko alam.It's been six years since I last saw him. I was still in College, a young adult trying to make my way into adulthood. But now, a lot has changed. I'm no longer the naive Aira I was before. Marami na akong natutunan sa buhay. Marami na ring napagdaanan. That particularly event involving him made a huge impact on me. It changed my life forever.Hearing that he's back again made me anxious. And I thought it would take some time before our paths would cross again. Because who would have thought, right? Parang kanina lang pinag-uusapan lang namin. But here we are. Face to face. Same people, different levels of maturity. Same people, just a little older. It's been years since he made his way into my life and then left.It's been years, but how come I can still feel the fucking pain?I stared at his face... the face that has been my nightmare for the
"This will be your villa, Ma'am. Enjoy your stay," the woman said smilingly. I smiled in return.It's been more than a month since that encounter with Zandrey. Simula 'nong mangyari 'yon, parang hindi ako mapakali. Araw-araw, natatakot akong baka makasalubong ko siya sa daan, sa mall, kung saan. Natatakot akong baka bigla lang siyang sumulpot sa office o sa shop.I was so stressed because of that. Dagdagan pa ng stress ko mula sa trabaho. I couldn't eat well kasi madalas wala akong gana, causing me to lose some weight. So when the workload has become lighter, I went to this resort that Daisy suggested para makapag-relax.I looked around the place and I can say it's cool and it looks refreshing. Sana nga at makapagrelax ako."Thank you," I mumbled and the staff smiled at me before leaving.I looked around the villa. It was a huge room. Too huge for me, actually. Kompleto na lahat sa facilities. And there was even a private pool inside. Deprived talaga ako sa bakasyon kahit may naka-sep
I was so shocked I couldn't utter a word. It was like I could hear my heart drumming. Hindi agad ako nakagalaw. Heck, at this moment, I don't know what to do."Aira..." He uttered again. It's really him. It’s his voice.How could this happen? How did he get my number?"I just... I just want to talk to you,” he said softly. Parang may pag-iingat sa boses niya. I know he’s trying to be careful with his words. That’s good, but it’s still not enough.I don't know what to say. Pakiramdam ko parang nawala ang dila ko. My mind just stopped functioning."Aira, alam kong ang laki ng galit mo sa akin," he murmured. There was something in his voice I can't point out. It's like he's really sorry. But I thought about how he had already deceived me before. There's no way I'll let him get into me again. "That's why I want to talk to you."He was almost pleading. Dapat lang. Dapat lang na magmakaawa siya. But still, I won't give him the satisfaction of being able to explain himself. For what? What co
I didn't know they were planning on going home from the US. Wala silang nabanggit na bibisita sila kaya ganoon na lang ang gulat ko nang malamang nasa bahay na sila.After lunch pa sana kami uuwi ni Daisy pero after breakfast kami umalis. Masyado akong excited na makita ulit sila. Ilang buwan na rin 'nong huli kami nagkita nang personal."Ai, chocolates ha," sabi ni Daisy when we were just a few minutes away from home. Sa bahay kami dumiretso kasi makikisalubong din daw siya."Para ka namang hindi galing sa states," I said, chuckling."Biglaan 'yong uwi ko, Ai. Kaya hindi ako nakabili nang marami. Ubos na ngayon kaya bigyan mo 'ko," she murmured. I just shook my head smilingly at her.Nang matanaw ko na ang bahay namin ay parang gusto ko nang bumaba. But of course, I didn't. I can't afford to hurt myself right now.I almost ran inside our house, leaving my things in the car. Maging si Daisy ay narinig ko ring mabilis na nakasunod sa akin.When I entered the house, there were luggage a
When I reached home from work the next day, I saw Andrei sitting outside the house. Nakayuko lang siya while sitting there but when he heard me, he hurriedly stood up. Napangiti na lang ako. My son is very adorable."You're home! Let's go, Mommy! Let's go to Andres!" He excitedly said. Mas lalo akong napangiti sa sinabi niya. I know he still hasn’t understand fully the concept of death, but I love how he always seem so excited when we’re about to visit his brother. Pero minsan hindi ko rin maiwasang malungkot. For sure, sobrang magkakasundo ang dalawa kung nabuhay lang si Andres.I can’t help but think about the what ifs."Where's lolo and lala?" I asked. Kailangan kong ibahin iyong nasa isip ko bago pa ako mapahagulhol sa harap ng anak ko."They're inside!""Okay. I'll just change my clothes then we'll go," I said and he nodded. I hurriedly went inside the house and saw Mom and Dad sitting on the sofa."Kanina pa naghihintay ang anak mo sa labas," Dad murmured."Oo nga po eh. Masyado
Ilang minuto kaming nakaupo lang sa loob ng sasakyan niya. Nakahawak lang siya sa manibela at nakatingin sa harap. He's been asking me for a chance to hear him explain, but now that we're here, he can't seem to find that courage to give answers to my questions."My dad was abusive," I heard him say. Mabilis akong napatingin sa kanya. He was just looking ahead still. "I made myself believe that we're fine. Because in the eyes of other people, we're the perfect family. Kasi doctor siya at may anak siyang magdo-doctor din. No one wants to let the world know how he would hurt me and my mom everytime he would lose his temper because we think no one would even listen."I didn't know this part of his life. Well, I didn't know much about him before. We never got to that part where we got to know each other more because before we could even do that, he ran away."When my stepmom and I finally got the chance to leave him, we took it," he murmured. "I wanted to say goodbye but I wasn't able to,"
Chapter 23When Saturday came, Daisy asked if she could borrow Andrei for the day. Ang sabi niya ay ipapasyal niya lang sa mall kaya pinayagan ko na. I know she'll take care of my son. And it made her really happy when I said yes. Lately kasi nakikita kong malungkot siya.Daisy told me last week about her 'one night stand' that happened weeks ago. I didn't say anything because that's her life. She's an adult now. But still, nag-aalala pa rin ako sa kanya.She keeps on saying na gusto niya nang magkaanak at di bale nang walang ama. I wanted to tell her how difficult it is but I couldn't bring myself to say so.I was on my way home from the shop and it's almost 6 in the evening. I decided to call Daisy to ask where are they now. Pero nakakailang tawag na ako ay hindi niya pa rin sinasagot. I called home and asked if Andrei's there already pero ang sabi ni Mommy ay wala pa naman daw. Biglang sumikip ang dibdib ko when a thought came into my mind.God.I dialed Daisy's number again pero d