Strawberries and Cigarettes

CHAPTER 1Muntik nang mapatalon sa gulat si Catalina nang madatnan niyang nakasandal sa hamba ng pinto ng kwarto si Hugo. Nakakrus ang braso nito habang nakakunot ang noo, halatang galit na nakatingin sa asawa.“I should’ve picked you up,” Hugo said, a bit mad.Catalina sighed. “I’m fine.”“Why are you late?”Umirap si Catalina sa hanging. “Hugo pagod ako, gusto kong maglinis ng katawan. Leave.”Ngumisi si Hugo. “You used to call me Sebastian…”“Get out,” turo ni Catalina sa labas ng pinto.“I’m already out,” ngising tugon ng binata.Napairap si Catalina. She harshly took the hair tie from her messy bun and tossed it on the bed. She seductively walked closer to Hugo. Nakasuot pa ng vest ang binata habang nakaipit ang necktie nito sa loob. Catalina slowly pulled the necktie from his chest while staring into Hugo’s eyes. She heard Hugo breathing heavily. Napaayos ng tayo ang binata dahil sa ginagawa ni Catalina. Slowly, Catalina lifted her hands up to caress his chest. Lalong uminit si

CHAPTER 3Sunod-sunod na putok ng baril ang binitawan ni Catalina. Hugo replaced the empty strawberry shake on her table as he watched her shoot all the dummies in a mile. Walang palya lahat ng baril ng dalaga, it was all bull’s eye, as if she was shooting with a sniper.Catalina was currently enjoying the shooting range in her parent’s mansion. Alas quarto na nang hapon pero abala pa rin si Catalina sa pagputok ng baril. It was like she was releasing her stress from something, she couldn’t tell.“Babe, sit down and drink your shake first.”Napatigil si Catalina sa paghila ng gantilyo, nilingon niya si Hugo at maliit na ngumiti. She sat down beside him on the bench and reached for her strawberry shake. Hugo pulled out a cigarette pack from his pocket and lit up one stick.“Anong lasa?” she asked him.“Mapait, it’s not for you.”“Sabrina smokes too… Though I rarely see her smoke,” saad ng dalaga. “May problema ba?”Umiling si Hugo. “No, babe, everything’s fine.”“Sebastian,” nagbabanta

Chapter 5“Sorry, I was late…” Bulong ng dalaga habang nakatayo sa harapan ni Hugo.Nakaupo si Hugo sa mahabang upuan sa labas ng courtroom ni Atty. Hidalgo dahil hindi pa tapos ang kaniyang hearing. Kitang-kita ni Hugo ang pagkurba ng katawan ni Catalina dahil sa hapit ng suot nitong damit. Hinilot ni Hugo ang sentido at huminga ng malalim.“Why are you wearing white?” Taka niyang tanong.“I decided to… Face my demons?” Patanong na sagot ni Catalina.Tunaas ang isang kilay ni Hugo. “You’re asking ‘cause you know you’re more like the devil than the demon,” sabat ni Hugo.Catalina smiled awkwardly. Tumango siya bilang pagsang-ayon sa sinabi ng asawa.“Akala ko ayaw mo pa magpakilala?”Huminga ng malalim si Catalina. “I… I think it’s time… Slowly. I won’t shock the public.”Hinilit ni Hugo ang sentido niya. “You’ll be in the headlines tomorrow."Alam ni Catalina 'yon. Kahit sabihin niyang doon lang siya sa loob ng meeting room nagpakil

Chapter 7Naalimpungatan si Catalina dahil sa kausap ni Hugo sa telepono. He was gently taking like he doesn't want to wake her up. Huminga ng malalim si Hugo."Yeah, I'm coming... No, you take care of it... I'll tell my wife... I'll call you later..."Marahang gumalaw si Catalina sa kunwaring pagtulog. She felt Hugo walking towards her. Maingat na nagmulat ng mata ang dalaga at unti-unting tumingin sa binata. He was standing beside the bed where she was sleeping, half naked."Good morning, Sienna," Hugo said and the blinds opened.Agad kumunot ang noo ni Catalina. Hugo bent down to kiss her forehead and smiled."Good morning, babe.""Good morning..." She answered. "Since when did you change my system's name?""Oh, four months ago when you'd suddenly throw a dagger at me," kibit balikat ni Hugo.Napairap si Catalina. "I'm washing up."Tango lang ang itinugon ni Hugo. He handed her her black satin robe as she went inside the bathroom to wash up. The bathroom was spacious, it had a sofa

Chapter 9Catalina stared at Hugo's dark face. Kakauwi niya pa lang sa bahay nila pero heto ang kaniyang asawa at lasing na lasing. He drank the whiskey straight and then he smoked his cigarette. Kanina pa umuusok ang kusina nila, even the lights were dimmed everywhere. Ilang araw nang hindi umuuwi si Catalina, hindi alam ni Hugo kung kailan siya maghihintay hanggang sa dumating ito.Hinagis ni Hugo ang hawak na kopita at kumuha ng bago. Catalina secretly gasped when he heard the glass shattered. Hugo poured the whiskey in and drank straight then ended up cracking the glass in his hands. Napamura si Hugo. "Fck!""Sebastian," he heard Catalina's voice.Tumawa si Hugo ng malakas. He's been hearing her here and there. Hindi alam ni Hugo kung totoo na ang naririnig niya at hindi niya rin alam kung totoo ang nakikita niya. He's been like this for a week, napailing na lang siya at muling kumuha ng kopita para sirain ulit.Before Hugo could even throw the glass, he heard noises from behind