로그인AKIA The moment the door clicked shut behind him, my knees gave way and I sank down onto the floor, pressing a hand over my mouth to muffle the sob that threatened to tear out of my throat. For so long I had grown used to his silence—his coldness, his sharp words, the way he always pulled away just when I thought we were finally getting close. I had told myself a thousand times that I was used to it, that I could endure anything as long as he was still there, even if only at a distance. But hearing him stand up for me like that—hearing him tell his own mother that I would not be treated that way again—felt like someone had finally reached into my chest and breathed life back into a heart I had thought was already broken beyond repair. I sat there for a long time, knees pulled to my chest, tears spilling silently over my cheeks. I had stopped expecting kindness from him. I had stopped hoping that one day he would look at me and see me—not just the girl bound to him by duty, not jus
DARIUSI let out a breath I felt like I had been holding for months, my shoulders slumping as every ounce of tension that had coiled tight within me finally began to unravel. The sharp, burning anger that had flared up moments ago drained away completely, leaving behind only a quiet, heavy certainty—one that had been growing in the dark corners of my mind for far too long. I could not wait another minute. I could not stand by and watch her carry every burden alone, while I stood on the sidelines pretending I did not care, pretending that pushing her away would somehow protect both of us.I walked quickly down the long hallway, my footsteps echoing softly against the polished floors, taking the back stairs two at a time toward the west wing where Akia had run off to. Every step felt like I was chasing after something I had already let slip through my fingers too many times before. I had spent so long building walls around myself—brick by brick, lock by lock—convincing myself that being
DARIUSI stood there long after she had left, the silence of the room pressing in heavier than any weight I had ever carried. My hands curled into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms—pain I welcomed, because it was the only thing loud enough to drown out the echo of her voice, sharp and wounded.I had watched her walk away, shoulders straight but every step heavy with exhaustion, and for a moment I almost called her back. Almost told her that every word she had said was true—that I was a coward, that I had built those walls not to keep her out, but to keep myself from shattering all over again. That when I looked at her, I admit it, hindi na si Amara ang nakikita ko kundi siya na mismo.I saw her.Kahapon lang nagsimula ang lahat. Ang pakiramdam na kakaiba sa tuwing nakikita ko siya. Dahil sa kanila ni Akhira, hindi ko na hinahanap ang presesnya ni Amara. Pero nalilito ako. Hindi pwedeng makaramdam ako ng ganito sa tatlong babae.But I swallowed the words down, thick and bit
AKIA Nanatili akong nakaluhod sa lupa matagal na panahon matapos mawala ang tunog ng kanyang mga yabag. Ang aking mga tuhod ay nanlamig at nabasa ng damo, at kahit na mataas na ang araw at nagbibigay ng mainit na liwanag sa bawat bulaklak at dahon, pakiramdam ko ay nakabalot ako sa dilim. Hinawakan ko nang mahigpit ang tangkay ng sampaguita hanggang sa matusok ako ng mga tinik — maliit at masakit, ngunit halos hindi ko na naramdaman kumpara sa bigat sa aking dibdib.Just business. Nothing personal.The words looped endlessly in my mind, mocking every quiet moment I had allowed myself to cherish. The way he had held me when I was sick. The way he had looked at me like I was something fragile, something worth protecting. The way his voice had softened when he told me I was worth more than any ruined shirt. All of it—nothing more than kindness out of obligation. All of it—just part of playing the part.Binitawan ko ang halaman nang makita kong tumulo na ang dugo sa aking daliri. Pinunasa
AKIA Nakatayo ako sa tapat ng p***o ng kwarto ko nang matagal, ang kamay ko ay nakahawak nang mahigpit sa sarili kong dibdib habang pinipilit kong pakalmahin ang mabilis at magulong tibok ng puso ko. Sa kabila ng saradong p***o, rinig ko pa rin ang kanilang mga boses mula sa kusina—ang mababa at kalmadong tinig ni Darius, at ang masiglang tono ni Reina—at ang bawat salitang tumatagos sa kahoy ay parang maliliit na bato na ibinabato nang direkta sa dibdib ko. I knew I should feel relieved. He said he only looked after me last night. He said he never took advantage of me. Then why does it hurt so much more? Why does my throat tighten every time I recall the way he looked at me earlier—that gaze holding a gentleness I have no right to feel, no right to expect from him?At ngayon, sinabi pa niyang “trabaho lang, walang personalan.”Tila may matalim na bagay na kumurot sa pinakailalim ng puso ko nang marinig ko ang mga salitang iyon. Alam ko naman iyon. Alam ko iyon mula pa noong unang
DARIUSNakatayo ako sa may pintuan ng kusina nang matagal, nakikinig sa kanilang usapan habang ang mainit na kape sa aking mga kamay ay unti-unting lumalamig. Ang liwanag ng umaga ay dumaloy sa sahig, at nakita ko ang pamumula ng pisngi ni Akia nang makita niya ako. Lumingon sa akin si Reina, nakataas ang kilay sa kanyang nakasanayang paraan. "Ang aga mong magising, Kuya. May nangyari ba kagabi?"I watched the colour drain from Akia’s face, then burn even brighter—spreading all the way to her neck and ears. She looked as if she wished the ground would swallow her whole. And if I were being honest with myself, a part of me was pleased to see her like this: unguarded, genuine, stripped of all pretense. So different from the quiet, obedient maid who once moved through my home like a shadow, afraid even to stir the dust.“Yes,” I said, my voice calm but teasing. “Someone hugged me—and then vomited on me.” wika ko. Ang aking tinig ay kalmado ngunit may halong pang-aasar na naging dahilan n







