DALAWANG BUWAN MAKALIPAS ay muling nagpakasal sina Rome at Cayson, but this time, it was held in the church. Natupad ang pangarap ni Rome na makasal sa simbahan at makapaglakad sa aisle. She was a happy bride, dahil naroon lahat sa simbahan ang mga mahal niya sa buhay, kabilang na ang lahat ng kaniyang mga kaibigan.
Including Jiggy—na noo’y tanggap na tanggap na ng buong pamilya niya. Her parents realized that Jiggy was more than just a friend to her. She was like a family. Kaya naman simula nang magkita ang mga ito noong mga panahong nasa ospital siya ay hindi na naging iba ang pagturing ng kaniyang mga magulang rito. Lalo at maliban kay Cayson ay isa ito sa mga nagpuyat noon sa ospital upang bantayan siya.
She had learned that she was unconscious for three days aft
"CONGRATULATIONS! You are six weeks pregnant." Rome's hands tightened on the armrests after hearing the doctor's announcement. She felt like her stomach turned upside down; she shivered as if her body was submerged in a drum of water full of ice. Her eyes blurred up in a mixture of panic and anxiety. Oh, God. Why did her life turn this way? "Are you alright?"
Rome slowly opened her eyes as she awoke to the gentle breeze blowing on her face. Upon waking up, the white ceiling was the first thing she saw. The wooden ceiling fan was rotating and blowing the wind at her. Where am I?she asked herself as she looked around. The place was familiar. Had she been here before? Wait… Am I still in the clinic? “Thank God, you’re awake!” She turned to the other side of the bed upon hearing the familiar voice. Jiggy— her best friend, was in the room with her. Beside Jiggy was Doctor Hernandez.&n
“Leave the guy out of th—” Jiggy let out a frustrating sigh. “Are you telling me that the guy isn’t willing to step up to the plate?” She couldn’t give Jiggy an answer. “Oh God, Rosenda…” Jiggy cursed under her breath. And for a long moment, they both remained quiet. She was nervous, while Jiggy was so pissed to utter a single word. The car sped up, too, scaring her in the process. “I had no idea that you have a boyfriend, Renz,” Jiggy said after a while. Her eyes were on the road, her breathing labored as she controlled her rage. &n
"I'll talk to you and Connie tomorrow at the same time about... what happened," Rome said as she got out of the car, peeking through the front seat window to bid her goodbye to Jiggy. Jiggy remained silent, but she could see the sadness and concern in her eyes. Jiggy could still not fathom how and why she fell into that devil's charm. Well— she did not. And she never would. Tomorrow, after the Sunday mass, she would invite her sister to go to their favorite coffee shop where Jiggy would wait for them. Her sister Connie and Jiggy were the only people she could trust in
Rome took a deep breath as she stood in front of her aunties. She needed to calm herself so they wouldn’t notice the anxiety that was filling her chest at the moment. As much as possible, she wanted to keep her distance from everybody before they noticed the distress on her face. She knew it wouldn’t take long for them to spot something was off about her. It was always so easy for them to feel that negative energy surrounding her. She couldn't take the risk. Not until she found a solution to her problem. What she was more worried about was her mom. She had a weak heart, and it would devastate her once she learned
Ten years ago... Back when she was fourteen years old. “Rome!” Muntikan nang mabilaukan si Rome nang tapikin siya sa likod ng kaibigang si Jiggy. Naroon siya sa likod ng classroom nila at nakaupo sa damuhan at nanananghalian. “Ano ba, Jigs!” singhal niya sa kaibigan bago niyuko ang baong hotdog na nahulog sa damuhan sanhi ng pagtapik nito sa kaniya. Sandali siyang nanlumo— tinipid-tipid pa man din niya ang pagkagat niyon kanina dahil nais niyang papakin iyon kapag naubos na ang baong kanin. Kung alam lang niyang mahuhulog iyon sa damuhan ay sana, inubos na niya kanina pa. Binalingan niya ang kaibigan saka tinitigan ito ng masama. &nb
HINDIkilala ni Rome sa hitsura ang Cayson Montemayor na iyon,subalit marami na rin siyang naririnig tungkol dito sa pamamagitan ni Dudz. Hindi niya inasahang ito ang mayamang manliligaw ni Precilla noon— ang lalaking siyang dahilan kung bakit niya isinuko ang nararamdaman para kay Precilla dahil nalaman niyang may gusto rin ito sa lalaki. Ang mga Montemayor ay isa sa mga mayayamang pamilya sa lungsod. Ang lola ni Cayson, the matriarch, ang nagmamay-ari ng pinakamalaki at prestihiyosong kolehiyo sa lungsod, kung saan nagta-trabaho ang mga magulang at mga tiyahin niya. Maliban pa roon, ay nagmamay-ari rin ng isang transport service business ang pamilya. At dahil si Cayson lang ang nag-iisang apo ay ito lamang ang na
“KAILANGAN mong humingi ng pasensya sa ginawa mo sa apo ni Mrs. Montemayor!” Napauklo sa kinauupuan si Rome nang muling suminghal ang Papa niya. Singhal na halos sumakop sa buong compound. Singhal na kasing lakas ng kulog. Singhal na nanunuot sa buong kalamnan niya. Kanina pa siya nito sine-sermunan at nag-uumpisa na siyang ma-bingi— literal— sa tindi ng pagsinghal nito. Si Dudz ay mabilis pa sa alas-sinco kung makapag-sumbong sa mga magulang niya! She was in her room then, staring at her test papers with a heavy heart when she heard her father shouted out her name. Halos magkanda-dulas-dulas siya sa pagbaba ng hagdan. Kapag ganoon ang tono ng ama ay nanginginig na ang mga tuhod niya. Pagdating s