WEARING MY POWDER blue off-shoulder top that was neatly tucked in my high-waist denim midi skirt with a small slit and a pair of white Gucci sneakers, Chadleen and I graced the hall of our state college. I side-twisted my half-ponytailed hair and carried with me my white YSL chain sling shoulder bag. As usual, all attention was fixed on me. What’s new, anyway?
“Chadleen, pwede ba tayong mag-usap?”
Hindi pa kami nakakapasok ni Chadleen sa classroom namin ay mukhang inaabangan na siya ni Felix na noong una ay nakasandal lamang sa pader sa labas ng classroom namin at halukipkip. Nabuwag lamang iyon nang matanaw niya kaming papalapit saka umayos din siya nang tayo. He looked stressed and tired as I observed. I glanced at my cousin. She seemed serious as she slowly nodded her head. May problema ba ‘tong dalawang ‘to?
“Mag-uusap lang kami ni Felix, insan,” paalam niya sa akin.
“I will just go to t
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WE WERE HAVING our dinner when daddy opened up about something. He seemed to be in a good mood today. Actually, daddy and I shared the same attitude – ma-attitude. Tito Khalil and Chadleen, on the other hand, complimented each other. Masyadong seryoso at strikto si tito samantalang si Chadleen naman ay mahinhin at masunurin.“Everyone’s having a hard time these days, aren’t we?”Nauna namang umiling si Mignonette sa amin.“According to Confucius, life is simple, but we tend to make it complicated.”Napakunot naman ang noo ko sa kapatid ko. “Why do you sound like Chadleen now?”“I got to read one of Ate Chadleen’s books, ate. They were interesting!”“But you’re too young for that. You should be reading children’s stories.”“Elphie and Hermione got bored with the children’s stories. Guess, I have to level up. They
MAGKAKASAMA KAMI NGAYONG apat nina Felix, Chadleen, at Deon sa iisang lamesa sa isa sa mga karinderya sa labas ng state college namin at nanananghalian. Until now, I was still wondering if Chadleen told Felix about the relationship deal we had with Ruby Lane. Hanggang ngayon kasi rin ay mukhang clueless pa rin si Deon, and that all the more added guilt to my conscience. I love Deon, and we should not hurt the ones we love, right? Well, I guess I fucked up big time. This was so not fetch!“Masama ba ang pakiramdam mo?” Deon asked, his voice was laced with concern as his hand rested protectively at the small of my back.Maagap naman akong umiling.“E, problema? May problema ka ba?”“Marami, gusto mo isa-isahin ko?”He chuckled at my retort and then nodded as he smiled at me.“Sige, makikinig ako.”Sa halip na ngumiti ay napasimangot lang ako lalo. Kapag ganito kabait si De
YOU KNEW YOU were with the right people when they bring out the best in you. They will help you do the right thing even if you do not want to. Argh… I just hate being good sometimes. How does Chadleen and Deon (not Felix, of course, I knew that guy had some little evil residue inside) be and do good all the time?“Ge, we need to help her,” Chadleen repeated in a whisper, but I remained stubborn and just kept crossing my arms over my chest.She wanted us to help Ruby Lane na hawak no’ng holdaper ngayon at tinututukan ng patalim sa leeg habang sakay kami ng jeep pauwi. Kaming tatlo lang at iyong drayber saka holdaper ang nasa loob.Nakakatawa ngang kahit ganito na ang sitwasyon namin ngayon ay parang gusto ko pa ring hugutin iyong cellphone ko at kuhanan ng video iyong takot na takot na mukha ni Ruby Lane at sabihan pa iyong holdaper na, ‘more’ and ‘manong, ilapit niyo pa iyong kutsilyo&rsquo
I ALREADY WOKE up yet I still could not get myself to stand up and get out of my room. Wala pa rin kaming imikan ni Chadleen since kagabi pa at kahit na nakauwi na kami. Nakakatakot kasi siyang lapitan. Mukhang wala talaga siya sa mood at sa sarili niya. Maybe it was really true that the kindest people were also the scariest people.Alam kong may hindi at ayaw siyang sabihin sa akin kaso ay ramdam ko ring may bagay na bumabagabag sa kanya. Natitiyak kong kung anuman iyon ay napakalaki no’n kaya gano’n na lamang kung makapag-react si Chadleen. Sobrang bait no’ng pinsan ko, e. Bihira lang siyang magkaganito lalo na kung… talagang nasagad na siya. Pero ano nga ba ang dahilan at bakit nasagad na si Chad?While lying face down, I tried reaching for my phone atop my bedside table. Humiga ako pagkakuha ko no’n at agad na tinipa ang numero ng boyfriend ko at dinayal iyon. It did not take him a minute to answer my call.&ld
WE WERE CURRENTLY at the place where we were having our retreat. Bilang simula ay nagkaroon kami ng groupings for a certain activity. Chadleen and I were not still on good terms. I mean, I am still on good terms with her. We were civil with each other, but she was… unusually quiet, short-tempered, and withdrawn.Nagulat din ako kanina kasi nagkainitan nang sobra silang dalawa ni Ruby Lane sa laro. Mabuti na lang at naawat naman namin agad iyon. ISTG, that was the first time I saw her that easily pissed at pumatol pa talaga. It was shocking because that was my usual doings and not hers. Kaya nga natulala lang ako habang inaawat na sila ng mga kasama namin. I could not help but wonder on what really happened that night when I was out of mind. Before we saw the fugly creature that time, Chadleen was so protective of Ruby Lane and was always making sure to include her in the safe zone. Right now, parang gusto niya na lang itong kalbuhin at ipakain doon sa
WARNING: Contains scenes not suitable for young audiences. Reader discretion is advised.NAPABALING AKO SA taong nasa likuran ko nang maramdaman ko ang pagpulupot ng mga braso niya sa beywang ko. I smiled when my nose touched Deon's cheek.“Bakit nandito ka? It's already late.” I narrowed my eyes into slits. “Tumakas ka sa quarters niyo ha no?”He chuckled and pecked on my lips. His dimpled smile show when he withdrew from the kiss.“Nagpaalam ako.”“Sa facilitator niyo?”“Kay Felix.”Tinampal ko siya sa may braso niya dahilan para mahina siyang mapahalakhak. He hugged me tighter from the back, so I just returned my attention onto the overlooking view of the entire province from where we were both standing.“Congrats nga pala, Baleleng.”“Sus, nagpatalo ka ata, e.”He chuckle
I GROANED WHEN I moved my body but with my eyes still closed. My down there was sore. I quickly opened my eyes when I remembered what happened last night. Napabalikwas naman agad ako sa gulat dahil mukha ni Chadleen na nakayuko habang nakatanaw sa akin ang nabungaran ko. We even bumped our heads and tended to them right after.“Chadleen Iya!” sigaw ko habang sapo iyong natamaang parte ng noo ko. “Bakit kasi ang lapit mo?! Ayos ka lang?” nag-aalalang tanong ko sa kanya kapagkuwan.Tumango-tango naman siya habang hawak din iyong noo niya. I silently hissed when I felt my soring bud again. Gosh… I admit that the sex was so fetch but the consequence when you wake up the next day, you lost all the fairytales. Sakit na lang talaga ang naiwan.“Anong oras ka na nakauwi kagabi?” she asked me.Napatitig ako sa kanya dahil hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko. I raised my arms to check on it. Napakunot ang noo k
AGAD AKONG NAPANGITI nang maamoy ko ang pamilyar na lalaki na iyon. I held his hands that were covering both of my eyes while he was at my back. I really waited for him after his training. Nasa may canteen ako ngayon kasama si Chadleen habang hinihintay namin siyang matapos mag-shower at magpalit.“Hulaan mo kung sino ako.”Natawa pa ako kasi nag-effort pa talaga siyang baguhin ang boses niya para hindi ko mahulaan. Sus, ang cute-cute naman ng labs ko.“Ang pinakamamahal ko,” I said and he chuckled. It died down immediately when I have given my follow-up remark. “Si Gong Yoo.”“Si Gong Yoo ba? Akala ko si Gideon?” pambawi naman niya.Napahalakhak ako at bahagyang kinurot saka inalis na sa pagkakatakip sa mga mata ko iyong mga kamay niya saka siya inayang maupo sa tabi ko. He crouched first to peck on my lips before sitting beside me.“Si Felix, hindi pa bumabalik?”