LOGIN“But I have a question though. You don't feel awkward with how things turned? Sa iba ikinasal si Luca?” I asked Yana.Umiling siya at saka bahagyang umismid. “I don't mind.”“So you don't feel anything with Luca?” pinanliitan ko siya ng mata.“Zaria, it's all in the past. Maybe I did at some point? But I've moved on,” casual niyang sinabi.“Liar!” Tumawa ako. Natigilan siya. She looked at me weirdly.“You know when I started stalking Matteo? Palagi akong nasaan kung nasaan siya,” I whispered to her. Lumapit ako sa tenga niya. “I saw you once crying. Akala ko ang lalaking nilalapitan mo ay si Luca. You were his girlfriend. But I was so shocked when I saw it was Miguel.”Bayolente siyang suminghap.“And you two kissed! I was like, what was happening? You were so loyal to Luca and then I saw you kissing his cousin?”Nanlalaki ang mata niya habang tinitignan ako.“When was this?” namumutla niyang sabi.“I don't know, seven years ago?” I chuckled at her. “You know, we're just the same. I w
Nanatili ako sa living area habang pumanhik si Matteo sa taas, sa master’s bedroom.Maliligo ata siya. I was scrolling through my phone when I heard someone ringing the doorbell. Napalingon ako sa pintuan. Tinignan ko ang monitor at nakitang si Miguel ang nasa labas.Lumapit ako sa pintuan at saka siya pinagbuksan. Kita kong natigilan siya nang makita niyang ako ang nagbukas at hindi ang pinsan niya.“Nasa taas si Matteo, naliligo siguro.”He hesitated to enter, pero nang umalis ako sa pintuan para makapasok siya, tumuloy din siya. He was wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants. Hindi ata siya nagtrabaho.Bumalik ako sa kinauupuan ko kanina at saka nagpatuloy sa pag-scroll sa cellphone ko. Si Miguel ay dumiretso sa refrigerator at saka kumuha ng inumin doon.We stayed silent for a few minutes. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang ginagawa niya sa kusina at kanina ko pa naririnig na may kinakalikot siya doon.Nang marinig namin na sumara ang pintuan sa taas, doon pa siya nagsalita.“Matt!” he called.“
Tumahimik ako nang sabihin niyang ako ang mapapahamak kung makakapasok man ako sa ancestral mansion nila at hindi niya gusto iyon. Nakaramdam ako ng guilt. He didn’t want me to get in trouble. Hindi naman ako nakakaramdam ng guilt dati. Ngayon lang, na parang nawawala ako sa landas.While staying at Sanctuary, I told myself I should just stop this and let other people do the spying, para hindi na rin ako mapahamak. Pero ang hirap nang tumigil ngayon. Thinking that I would stop seeing him didn’t sit well with me.This shouldn’t be happening, for God’s sake! Kapag nalaman ito ni Papa, he would put chains on me just so I’d stop this nonsense!I let out a low sigh. Hindi ko agad napansin kung saan kami papunta. Namalayan ko lang na parang sa condo niya kami nang mapansin kong nasa familiar kaming kalsada.“Saan tayo?” tanong ko nang bumalik ang diwa ko.“Sa penthouse,” bulong niya.I was still on his lap. Hindi na niya ako hinayaang maupo sa tabi niya. His strong arms were my seatbelt.“
“Everyone is looking at us, Matteo. Baka isipin nila na girlfriend mo na ako. You don’t do girlfriends.”Pero hindi niya kinalas ang yakap niya. I could feel people staring at us. I let out a low sigh at saka siya niyakap pabalik.“Where were you? I went to your condo. Wala ka doon. You left everything in your office,” paos niyang tanong.“What do you think? After you chose that girl in your office, do you expect me to stay?” umiirap kong tanong.“We always fight, Zari!”“But not like that! You made me leave your office!” mariin kong sabi, enough just for us to hear. “Mas pinili mo yong babaeng yon! You already know that I’m not really kind to girls na umaaligid sa’yo. You chose her despite knowing it would make me think she’s important!”“She is important,” he answered.I groaned. Itinulak ko siya pero hindi siya natinag.“Let’s go out. I have something to tell you,” pang-aalo niya.Ayaw kong sumama pero hinigit niya ako palabas ng mall. Lahat ng dinadaanan namin ay kuryosong nakatin
Akala ko three weeks lang akong mawawala. Pero ginawa ko ng one month. The one month I was out of this civilization somehow cleared my mind. It served its purpose. Though I don't know anymore what happened to my work.If I got AWOL, then I guess I have no choice but to look for another company?I tapped my steering wheel impatiently as I waited for cars to move forward. Ito din ang mahirap sa kabihasnan na ito, masyadong traffic. Idagdag pa ang air pollution.Kakalabas ko lang galing sa Sanctuary at ngayon lang ulit nagka-signal ang cellphone ko. Nakita ko sa story ni Jasmine na may opening ang isang luxury jewelry brand sa isang mall—may mga pieces silang karaniwang sa ibang bansa lang makikita. I’m planning to go. But the traffic is slowing me down!Ilang minuto pa ako naghintay bago umusad ang traffic. Dumiretso na ako sa mall.Pagdating ko, maraming mga socialite ang dumalo. I even saw some celebrities.Hinarangan ako sa entrance. Apparently, there is a guestlist for the grand ope
Pagbaba ko sa ground floor, doon ko na-realize na hindi ko dala ang susi ng kotse ko. Pero ayaw ko ring balikan. What I only have is my wallet. My phone is in my office, as everything else.Pumasok ako sa lobby at sa main entrance lumabas. Naghanap ako ng taxi at nagpahatid sa condo ko.I was so quiet the entire time. Hindi ako makapaniwala na pinili ni Matteo ang babae na yon kaisa sa akin.But I was also bothered kasi hindi ko mabaliwala ang sinabi niya. Dati, nababaliwala ko yon. Wala akong pakialam kung magsisigaw siya.Now, I can't help but get hurt about it. And that is really scary!Pagdating ko sa tower ko, mabilis akong nagbayad sa taxi at pumasok sa loob. Derederetso na ako sa condo unit ko. Padabog kong isinara ang pintuan pagpasok ko.I threw myself on my couch and screamed on my throw pillows.“Why am I hurting?” I screamed. Gulong-gulo ako and it's making me frustrated. Hindi ko alam kong ilang minuto akong nagwawal sa couch ko. After letting out my frustration, I lay o







