The Price Of a Sinner

“Cheers!”“So, what are the plans for this Christmas season?” Rein asked, raising her glass.Sab’s eyes lit up. “Oo nga! Are we traveling somewhere? Beach?”I took a sip of my cocktail and shrugged. Kahit saan, game ako. Basta sila ang kasama ko, walang problema.“Beach? Seriously, Sab? Ang lamig ng panahon!” Aicka chimed in with a teasing grin. “Mas maganda kung may kasama tayong pampainit.”“Bet ko ‘yon!” mabilis kong sagot. We all locked eyes for a moment, the kind of stare that carried a whole conversation without saying a word. Seconds later, we burst out laughing, as if our silent banter had been loud enough for everyone to hear.That’s how it was with us. Kilala mo na talaga ang isa’t isa kung kahit tinginan lang, gets nyo na. Lalo na kapag sabay-sabay kayong namimintas sa mga taong hindi niyo feel, lahat nasabi na sa tingin pa lang.“So, saan nga ba tayo this Christmas, habang wala pa tayong pampainit?” Sab pressed again.“Let’s try Baguio. What do you think, girls?” Rein sugg

I got to the bar early and pretended to be busy with work. Since all my friends were tied up because of Christmas break's coming, nothing was going to happen with us for weeks.My phone rang. It was my mom while I was typing away on my laptop."Mom?"[Can you come home for dinner tonight?]I froze when I heard her. Where did that sudden invite come from? We're not okay. I'm not okay with them."For what?" I asked.[Your dad wants you to have dinner with us—]"Is it for his business again?" pinutol ko siya agad. Alam ko na kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng tawag nila. Hindi nila ako tatawagan dahil lang sa miss nila ako. Tss.I heard her sigh heavily. That's why I left their house, because they kept using me for business. I left and we fought because I refused to follow in their footsteps and become CEO of our company. Because of that business, they lost time for me. They valued the company more than their child. And I hate it.[Will you come?] she asked again."I don't know. I'm busy."[Ok

Nagising ako na wala na ang lalaki sa tabi ko. Napangiti na lang ako sa kawalan habang unti-unting bumabalik sa isip ko ang mga nangyari kanina.God... his body was perfect. That tattoo on the side of his ribs looked insanely sexy. And...ugh! He was so damn good. So unfair.I bit my lip at the thought. I'd just woken up, yet here I was, already having indecent thoughts. Tss.My legs still felt weak as I pushed myself up from the bed in my office. My body was sore, probably because I'd been out of practice for too long. After going that hard with Dos, I felt like I'd been run over. I was about to stand when something on the bedside table caught my eye — a small sticky note. I picked it up and read what was written there.See you when I see you.Call or text me if you miss me.0997****** – Dos*Napangisi ako habang binabasa ito, at agad kong kinuha ang phone ko para i-save ang number niya. Mamaya ko na lang siya tatawagan. Baka isipin na-miss ko agad siya... kahit totoo naman.After tak

Bakit nga ba may mga magulang na parang bulag sa nararamdaman ng mga anak nila? Bakit may mga magulang na hindi man lang napapansin kung gaano kasakit para sa amin ang bawat maling desisyon na ginagawa nila? It’s selfish, isn’t it? Kids who have parents that actually listen and try to understand them… they’re lucky. They’re blessed. They have people who know them even in the smallest details because they care. Ako? Mapapa sana all na lang talaga. Tss.Nagmaneho ako palayo sa bahay. Wala akong plano, wala ring malinaw na destinasyon. Basta ang mahalaga lang ngayon ay makalayo ako at mapag-isa. Gusto ko lang huminga, kahit saglit.Ilang oras din akong nagda-drive kung saan-saan bago ako napadpad sa isang maliit na bar. Hindi naman ito mukhang tago, pero may kakaibang vibe. Maliit siya kung titignan sa labas pero classy, may dalawang bouncer sa pintuan, at ang pangalang Hide Out ay naka-neon lights na blue at red. Tahimik sa labas, walang ingay ng tugtugan o mga tambay sa paligid.Pinark

None of us, Mom, Dad, or I, said a word as we sat together at the dining table. We still hadn't started eating, all because we were waiting for the oh-so-important bastard. Tss. She acts like she's some kind of celebrity, making everyone wait.I could feel and see Dad trying his best not to meet my eyes, while Mom just kept smiling at me as if we hadn't just had that heated conversation earlier.She's really good at pretending that everything's fine...A few minutes later, my ever-dramatic sister finally arrived."I'm sorry, I'm late—""Hindi masyado halata. Malamig na nga ang pagkain, e."Napatigil siya sa pinto, halatang tinamaan sa sinabi ko. Dahan-dahan siyang umupo sa pwesto niya, parang napapahiya. Pareho namang nakatingin sa akin sina Mommy at Daddy."S-sorry..." mahina niyang sabi.Naghalukipkip ako at tamad siyang tinitigan. "Pwede na bang kumain? Habang may kaunti pa akong gana," sabi ko. Rinig ko ang malalim na buntong hininga ni Daddy."Y-yeah..." sagot ni Mili.Sinimulan