His bare chest was now visible, and I saw how the water droplets trail from his sharp jaw to his chest and down to his abs.“What are you looking at, princess?” I swallowed. “A-anong ginagawa mo?”“What else? Tinatanggal ko ang tshirt ko para di magkasakit.” I nodded, dropping my gaze to the ground. What is this temptation! I feel strange. I stole a glance and saw him folding his shirt and gripped it tightly to let the droplets fall. He then wiped the water from his body and shook his hair. Nakita nya akong nakatingin and he smirked. “You should remove your clothes too.” He suggested.“Ano?”He shrugged, “What else? Matagal pa atang huminto ang ulan, princess. And I see that you got a bit wet.”I snorted at him, “I’m fine.”“If you say so.” Once finished in his business, he settled himself on the ground and sat beside me. “So, anong gagawin natin ngayon? Stuck in this place because of the rain, it feels like a scene from the movie.” He started to speak as he played around with hi
When we were finished doing our business, a farmer came into the nipa hut as the rain also stopped from falling. Good thing that na nakapagbihis na ako so we walked towards the car hand in hand. It's a good thing that a car mechanic happened to pass by and he helped to fix Phoenix’s car. Now on the way home,tahimik lang si Phoenix. We acted as if nothing happened but the red marks on Phoenix’s neck were evident and the smile on his face was plastered the whole ride. He kept on taking a glance at me, and while his other hand was on the steering wheel, his other hand was on mine. He clutched my hand and he kissed it. He never dared to bring what happened and I’m thankful for that. I’m afraid that I would burst into embarrassment if he did. Well, it all went well right? **** I hadn’t had the chance to talk with Phoenix the next day as he stayed in his room the whole day. I wore a hoodie to hide a hickey from my body. Good thing that Lola Nanding didn’t notice something s
Phoenix never spoke to me after that. And I still stayed at the mansion the next day. Nang makarecover na sya, he locked himself in the room all day. He refused my help, saying that it was his fault from the start so he has to fix this. He said that he’s the one to be to blame for everything in the first place so he is the only one who should fix it. I sighed. He is really stubborn when it comes to his land. Nakita kong kagagaling lang ni Aling Nanding sa palengke. "Maaga po kayo ngayon Lola ah." Sabi pa ni Phoenix. "Naubos na kasi ang mga ulam natin. Kaya heto." Sagot ni Lola Nanding. Tumango lang si Phoenixat saka umalis na. Dali dali ring lumapit sakin si Lola Nanding. "Bumili ako ng regalo kay Phoenix." "Regalo? Para san po?" "Hindi mo alam? Birthday nya bukas." Napaawang ang bibig ko. "Nakabili ka na ba ng regalo nya?" "Wala pa po eh." "Sus ikaw bata ka. Hali at sasamahan kita." Pumunta kami ni Lola Nanding sa pamilihan at bumili. Iopted for the easiest choice, a
Nakita kong naglilinis si Lola Nanding, tinatrapuhan ang mga picture frame sa dingding. Hindi ko masyadong nakita ang mukha nya. May pumatak na luha sa mga mata nya. Nabigla sya ng makita nya ako at pinunasan ang mukha nya. "O, gising ka na pala, apo." Inayos nya ang picture frame sa dingding. Nginitian nya ako. Why is she crying? "Lola, ayaw nyo po bang kumuha ng katulong?" I can't help but ask. "Hindi naman. Pero mas kaya ko naman kasi, at masaya ako sa paglilinis. Bakit apo?" "Baka po kasi madisgrasya kayo sa ganyan. Yung lola ko po kasi, nahulog sa hagdan at nahulog dahil ayaw nya rin kumuha ng katulong...baka po matulad kayo sa kanya." "Nahulog lola mo sa hagdan?" May bahid ng pag alala at lungkot sa mata nya. "Kilala nyo rin po sya?" "Medyo. Pero wag ka mag alala, kaya ko ang sarili ko. Malakas pa naman ako." "Sige po." "Mawalang galang na po pero asan po ang asawa nyo Lola Nandinf?" "Iniwan na ako, nauna na sa langit." "Teka, Sereia apo. May ipapakita ako sayo." Um
We were in the living room, so awkward. Hindi naman ako parte sa pamilyang to pero bakit andito ako? Hindi kampante si Phoenix kung hindi ako kasama. I have no choice. I hold this family's fate. "Anak, salamat at binigyan mo kami ng chance." "Don't beat around the bush. Speak now. Sabihin nyo na kung ano ang gusto nyo king ayaw nyong lumayas naman ako." "Son, we want to apologize for everything we done. Nagising na kami. Hindi namin na realize na mali pala kami kaya patawad anak." "Oo anak. Sorry talga. Kaya please, sana mapatawad mo kami. Hindi ka namin pipilitin pero anak, namiss ka na namin. Please, umuwi ka na." "Yan lang ba? Sige, pwede na kayong umalis, may tatapusin pa akong trabaho." "Anak sana naman-" "Wag mo akong matawag tawag na anak dahil alam nating lahat na hindi nyo ako tinuring nyan dati. I was only your slave for your dignity. I was never your child to begin with." "Anak hindi ka namin pinalaki-" "Tama na! Ayoko na, please. Kung ano man ang nakain nyo para
The next morning, I woke up early to pack my belongings. I have to leave. No matter what, I really need to. I have to disregard what I said to Phoenix yesterday. I may have a choice not to follow his parents' command of me, but it's also my decision. Para rin to sayo, Phoenix. I hope you'll understand. I really want him and his parents to patch things up and to do that, this is the only way. And that is leaving him. I tried hard not to make a sound while carrying my bag but I stopped at the staircase as I saw Phoenixstanding at the bottom, holding a cup of coffee with his hand. "Where are you going?" He asked. Guess I don't have a choice but to lie. "Uuwi na ako." "Why?" He asked. "Kasi natapos na ang gawa ko dito. Hindi ako habangbuhay dito mag stay, Phoenix. May trabaho ako dun at hinahanap ako ng boss ko." I lied. "Alam ko, pero bakit ngayon?" "Kailangan ko nang umalis." "But you said that you won't leave me." "Yes. Pero may kailangan na akong aasikasuhin." "No." "Pwede
Hindi ko matuon ang pansin ko sa kabaong ni lolo. Nakatingin lang ako kay lola na nakatulala lang sa puntod ni lolo. "Bakit?" Tanong ko sa kanya. "Anong bakit, apo?" "Lola, wag ka na magmanhid manhid pa. Kinwento na sakin ni Lolo ang lahat." Ngumiti lang sya sakin. "Iba kasi pag mahal mo ang tao, apo. At mahal na mahal ko sya. Sobrang mahal na kaya kong tiisin lahat. Oo mahal nya ako, pero mas hihigit pa yun sa mahal nya sa babaeng yun. At kahit anong gwin ko, sya pa rin ang laman ng puso nya. Kaya Sereria, humanap ka ng mamahal sayo." Kung kanina ay hindi magawa ni lolang umiyak, ngayon ay hindi nya na napigilan ang pagpatak ng mga luha na umaagos sa mata nya. I hugged her tight. Hindi ko kailanman maiintindihan kung bakit may mga taong pipiliing masaktan at magsakripisyo, makasama lang ang mahal nila...kahit na nasasaktan pa sila. Sa tagal ng taong magkasama sila lolo at lola, halos di ko maisip na may nakaraang matagal nang nakabaon sa lupa ngunit di kailanman malilimutan. Ma
Maraming customer ang pumunta para magpagamot sa kanilang mga alaga kaya buong araw ako sa clinic at di man lang napansing gabi na pala. Tinanggal ko na ang mask sa mukha ko hinilot ang sentido sa ulo ko. Umupo ako sa swivel chair at napapikit nalang sa pagod. There were sudden footsteps in the background. I didn't bother to open my eyes thinking it was my secretary. After an hour, di ko namalayan na nakatulog pala ako at nagising nalang na naglalaway pa. There was a sound of a chair squeaking and I saw a man. "Awake already?" I jolted in surprise. "Sir?" I fixed myself and stood up. Nakakahiya. Nakita nya kaya ang laway ko? "Goodevening, Sereia." He smiled. "You seemed tired so I didn't bother waking you up. Sorry for that." I nodded. "It's okay Sir Theon. When did you return sir?" He was on a business trip. Why is he here? "Just call me like last time. Remove the sir." "Okay po, Theon." He smiled, satisfied. "Just an hour ago." He replied. He was holding a coffee, reading