เข้าสู่ระบบ
Year 2019
Pinaikot ni Sheilla Mae ang mga mata nang makita na naman niya si Kent Wilson na nasa paanan ng hagdan at tila ba may hinihintay. Hindi niya tuloy alam kung aakyat pa ba siya sa classroom o hindi na lang siya papasok. Makita pa lang kasi ang pagmumukha nito ay umiinit agad ang ulo niya. Kahit nga marinig lang ang pangalan ng lalaki ay nag-aalburoto na ang bumbunan niya.
Ewan din ba niya pero naiirita talaga siya sa presensiya ng binata. Palagay niya ay kumukulo talaga ang dugo niya kapag nakikita niya ang lalaki. At hindi niya talaga mapigilan ang sarili niya o kahit sabihan na lang ang sarili na kumalma. Hindi yata applicable ang word na ‘yon sa vocabulary niya kapag si Kent na ang pag-uusapan.
Hindi niya matukoy kung bakit siya galit dito o bakit siya nakararamdam ng inis. Wala namang ginawa ang lalaki na masama sa kaniya. Hindi nga rin sila close. Hindi nga rin siya sure kung kilala ba siya nito o hindi. O baka hindi nga rin nito alam na nag-e-exist siya sa mundo. Sa totoo nga ay hindi nga sila nagkausap kahit isang beses lang. Ni hindi nga siya nito napagtoonan ng pansin.
Baka iyon siguro ang ikinagagalit niya, ang hindi nito pagpansin sa kagandahan niya. Sa ganda ba naman niyang ‘to ay hindi pinapansin? Parang nakakababa ng dignidad ang ginawa nito sa kaniya. Napaismid na lang siya. Pakialam ba niya kung hindi siya nito kilala.
Really, Mae? Gusto mong mapansin ka ng isang playboy? Napaikot niyang muli ang kaniyang mga mata. Kailanma’y hindi niya inaasam na magtagpo ang kanilang mga landas.
Third year college na siya nang lumipat sa kanilang departamento ang playboy na si Kent Wilson Orquina. Yes, isa itong playboy! Paano niya nasabi? Base lang din sa mga kwento-kwento sa department nila. Sabi pa nga ng iba ay halos naging girlfriend na daw ng lalaki.
Hindi niya rin sukat akalain na lilipat ito sa departamento ng Education, kilala kasi si Kent na magaling sa larangan ng pagluluto.
At isa iyan sa talento ni Kent na kinahuhumalingan ng mga kababaihan sa paaralan nila. Muli niyang napaikot ang mga mata.
Patuloy sa paglakad si Mae hanggang sa humakbang siya upang umakyat na sa hagdan, nasa ikalawang palapag kasi ang classroom na gagamitin nila sa isang subject, nang bigla siyang harangin ng lalaki.
Heto na naman, bakit ako ang naisipan ng lalaking ito na harangan?
“Excuse me? Dadaan po ako, nakaharang ka,” wika niya pero parang walang narinig ang binata, sa halip ay ngumiti pa ito pagkatapos niyang sabihin ang mga kataga.
“You know what, may klase pa ko ako. Kung wala kang importante na sasabihin, please lang, huwag kang humarang,” dagdag niya nang hindi talaga tuminag si Kent.
“Ang cute mo pala,” saad nito sa kaniya. Napataas niya ang kaniyang kilay.
“Teka lang ha? Parang iba yata ang narinig ko eh—.”
“May ibibigay ako kaya kita hinintay dito,” sabi nito sa kaniya at may kinuha sa bulsa. “Poem ko 'yan, Mae. I am hoping na masama 'yan sa next published ng school publication natin. Nakita ko kasi na ikaw pala ang current Editor-in-chief sa campus,” dagdag nito. “Bye! See you around.”
Patakbo itong umalis at naiwan siyang nakatulala.
Marunong palang sumulat ng tula ang isang Kent Wilson Orquina?
Ilang minuto pa siyang nakatayo sa hagdan bago nakabawi sa pagkabigla. Naabutan pa siya ni Vanessa na hawak-hawak pa ang papel na binigay ng binata. Dali-dali niya itong ipinasok sa bulsa ng school uniform niya.
“Ano 'yon? Love letter?” intrigang tanong ng pinsan niya. Agad naman siyang umiling.
“Eh ano?” muling tanong nito sa kaniya at kumuha sa popcorn na hawak niya. “Sarap nito ah, saan ka bumili?”
“Literary works, may nagpasa,” agad niyang sagot. “Hindi na uso ang love letter ngayon, Vanessa. Oo, masarap talaga ang libre, 'no?”
“Sabagay. Tara na, nasa classroom na raw si Sir,” sagot nito at hindi pinansin ang biro niya.
Totoo namang masarap ang libre, bulong niya sa sarili.
PAGKATAPOS ng klase ay nagpaalam na siya sa pinsan na sa Blossom muna siya tatambay. Blossom ang pangalan ng school publication nila.
Kahit ilang oras na ang lumipas, hindi pa rin maalis sa isipan niya ang pag-uusap nila noʼng playboy na iyon. Sino bang mag-aakala na marunong pala iyong magsulat ng tula? Ni kahit sa panaginip niya ay hindi niya maimagine na nagsusulat pala iyon.
Nagbuga siya ng hangin bago itinulak ang pinto ng opisina ng Blossom. Sa loob ng isang linggo ay ngayon pa lang siya nakabisita sa opisina, wala rin naman kasi siyang gagawin pa. Kahapon pa siya nagbigay ng anunsiyo na nagbubukas ang pinto ng Blossom para sa mga nais magpasa ng mga literary works nila. Marahil, nabasa iyon ni Kent kaya naisipan nitong magbigay.
“Good morning, Chief,” bati ni Clark sa kaniya, ang Layout Artist ng Blossom.
“Clark, good afternoon.”
Tumawa naman ito sa naging sagot niya at napatingin sa cellphone nito. “Alas-dose na pala. Kumain ka na?” tanong nito.
Umiling siya. “Hindi pa nga eh,” sagot niya habang tumatawa.
“Halata nga, nababaliw ka na naman eh. Lika, kain tayo. Libre ko.”
“Wow, released sa 4Pʼs?” tumatawa na naman niyang tanong.
Kinurot siya nito sa braso. “Hindi uy, binigyan ako ni Tito. Birthday ko kasi kahapon.”
“Ay hala, happy birthday.”
“Himala, late ka sa balita,” sagot nito at humalakhak.
Kilala kasi siya bilang chismosa. Pero hindi naman talaga siya chismosa, medyo lang. Halos lahat ng mga balita sa campus ay alam niya. Siya kasi ang takbuhan ng mga estudyante upang ibalita ang mga pangyayari. Sa loob ng isang taon na pagiging Editor-in-chief niya sa Blossom, halos kilala na siya ng lahat.
“Tara na, libre mo diba?”
“Dios mio, Chief. Nagbibiro lang ako eh,” napakamot pa ito sa ulo habang tumatawa na sumagot sa kaniya.
“Huwag kang magbiro sa taong gutom, Clark.” Binuksan niya ang pinto ng opisina at inilahad ang kamay niya. “Lumabas ka na at kakain na tayo. Ako na ang lilibre sayo, nahiya naman ako,” humalakhak niyang wika.
Agad namang lumabas si Clark sa pinto.
“Chief, nakarecord 'yon. Walang bawian.” Tumakbo pa ito patungong canteen. Napailing na lang si Mae.
Bago pa siya nakalabas ng pinto ay nahagilap niya ang nakangiting si Kent Wilson. Nakangiti itong nakatingin sa kaniya. Nang magtama ang kanilang mga mata ay kumaway ito.
“Hi, Mae.”
The city was the same.That was the first thing Kent noticed as they stood at the edge of the sidewalk, the late afternoon sun spilling across the busy street in soft gold. Cars passed in a steady rhythm, people moved in hurried lines, and the familiar noise of Manila filled the air like it had never learned how to rest.Everything looked unchanged.But Kent wasn’t the same man who once ran through these streets with nothing but panic and a phone full of unanswered calls.Now, his hand was steady as it held Mae’s.And on the other hand, their daughter’s small fingers curled tightly around his, swinging lightly as she hummed to herself, completely unaware that this place once meant loss, fear, and almost-giving-up for her father.Mae followed his gaze.“You’re quiet,” she said softly.Kent blinked once, as if the present had just caught up to him. His grip on her hand tightened slightly, not out of fear, but out of something quieter. Something sure.“Thinking lang,” he answered.Mae ti
Kent kissed her again, slower this time, deeper, like he was trying to pour every unsaid thing into it.Mae answered him without hesitation, her hands sliding up to his shoulders, then around his neck, holding him close as if distance itself had become unbearable. The warmth between them grew with every second, with every touch, with every quiet breath shared in the small space between their lips.There was nothing rushed about it. No desperation. No stolen moments. No fear of being interrupted.For the first time, they had all the time in the world.Kent’s hand rested gently at her waist, his fingers tracing slow circles against the fabric of her dress, while Mae leaned closer, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her fingertips. It was strange how something so simple, standing here, kissing him without fear—could feel more intimate than anything else.She pulled back only enough to breathe, her forehead resting against his.“I still can’t believe this is real,” she whispered
For a long moment, neither of them moved. The room was quiet except for the soft sound of the wind brushing against the glass balcony doors and the distant hum of the city far below. Somewhere outside, the lake stretched wide and still beneath the fading afternoon light, calm and endless, as if the world itself had decided to slow down for them.Golden sunlight slipped through the thin curtains, painting warm lines across the floor, across the bed, and across the white walls of the room that suddenly felt too intimate and too quiet at the same time.Mae stood in front of Kent, close enough to feel the warmth of his body and the steady rhythm of his breathing. For the first time in what felt like forever, there was nothing urgent waiting for them. No secrets. No fear. No one is trying to separate them. No need to explain. No need to run. Just silence. Just peace.It felt strange. Almost unfamiliar. Like happiness was something fragile she had to hold carefully, afraid it might disappea
The honeymoon happened three days after the wedding. Not immediately.Because apparently, according to Lola, “Hindi puwedeng umalis agad ang bagong kasal. Kailangan munang pakainin ang buong barangay na feeling ninong at ninang.”And according to Vanessa, “Honestly, valid yang naisip mo, Lola. Free food heals emotional damage.”So for three full days, Mae and Kent smiled through endless congratulations, entertained relatives they had never met before, accepted envelopes with suspiciously aggressive blessings, and listened to far too many stories that started with, “Noong bata pa si Kent…”By the third day, Mae was ready to escape.And Kent looked like he was one unsolicited marriage advice away from disappearing into the ocean.Which was exactly why, early that morning, they finally left.Just the two of them.Well, almost.Because leaving their daughter behind for the first time felt far more difficult than either of them expected.Mae stood near the doorway of Lola’s house, staring
Five months after giving birth, the wedding finally happened.It was held on a quiet afternoon beneath a soft golden sky, where the sunlight seemed warmer and gentler than usual, as if even the day itself understood how important this moment was. There was no grand ballroom, no luxurious hotel, and no extravagant decorations meant to impress people who had never truly been part of their story.There were no crystal chandeliers. No endless guest lists. No forced smiles for strangers. Just family and close friends. Just the people who stayed. And somehow, that made everything far more beautiful.After everything they had been through, the fear, the running, the silence, the pain, the island, the tears, the healing, it felt right that their wedding would be simple.Not because their love was small but because it was real.Every part of it had been fought for. Every part of it had survived. And now, they are finally here.Mae stood quietly in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection
A few months later, everything felt like it had slowed down… and yet, somehow, time still slipped through Mae’s fingers like water she couldn’t hold.Her body had changed in small, quiet ways she was still getting used to. The way she moved more carefully now. The way her hand always instinctively rested over her stomach even when she wasn’t thinking about it. The way Kent never let her walk too far without checking on her first, as if the world outside had suddenly become something he no longer trusted.And now, everything has led to this moment.The hospital room was bright but calm, washed in soft afternoon light that filtered through the blinds and painted gentle lines across the white sheets. The air smelled faintly of antiseptic and fresh linens, but it didn’t feel cold anymore. It felt, still. Like the world outside had been told to wait.Mae lay back against the bed, her hair damp against her forehead, her skin flushed from exhaustion. Her breathing was uneven, still catching
HINIHINGAL na napaupo si Sheila Mae sa isang plastic chair malapit sa swimming pool ng high school laboratory. Nakakapagod din palang habulin ang nagtitinda ng ice-cream. Kung may nakakita lang sa kaniya, siguradong pagtatawanan siya. Wala sa sariling pinaypay niya ang kamay para makaramdam siya ng
Itinaas ni Mae ang kaliwang kamay pagkatapos makuha ang chalk na gagamitin niya upang isulat ang mga maaaring maging agenda nila sa araw na iyon. Ikalawang araw na ngayon ng Intramurals na taon-taon ipinagdiriwang ng unibersidad.Maraming nangyari kahapon, halos pagod silang lahat. Hindi pala halos
Mabilis ang mga hakbang ni Mae habang palapit na siya sa gymnasium ng campus nila. Hindi na siya nag-abala na tumingin pa sa paligid upang tingnan ang mga nakakalat na booth sa daan na tinatahak niya. Maraming mga nagtitinda ng kung ano-ano, madalas ay mga street foods pa ang nakadisplay at nakakaa
“Chief, nakita mo na ba?” tanong ni Monique kay Mae na siyang ipinagtataka niya.Bitbit niya ang mga tela na gagamitin niya mamaya sa kanilang major nang tawagin siya ni Monique. Kahit na maiinit ang paligid ay nagawa niyang huminto para tingnan si Monique dahil parang may dala itong chismis. Paran







