Drunk   Tahimik lang si Heather habang panay ang pag-igting ng panga. Her fists were clenching and unclenching simultaneously as breathing ragged. Pinipigilan niya ang sariling sumigaw at umiyak sa sobrang frustrasyon, hindi siya makahinga.   “If you want to say something, spill it.” Those words were like the switch that made Heather go off.   “I can’t believe that we stopped at a bar just to fetch her! Are you out of your mind, Aidan?” Ni hindi man lang ba nito naisip ang mararamdaman niya? When he said na may dadaanan lang sila, Heather thought it would be something—a thing! But hell no, it was a person. One of her most hated person!   “She’s drunk. ‘Di niya kayang mag-drive mag-isa,” paliwanag nito sa kaniya.   “And how come that become our problem?” sarkastikong tanong ni Heather. Kaya naman pala alalang-alala ang hitsura nito kanina. He’s worried sick of Cali.  

Reason Heather was drowning with her tears when her phone rang. Ayaw niya sanang sagutin iyon pero nang makita niya kung sino ang tumatawag, mabilis pa sa alas-kwatrong tumayo siya at kinuha ang cellphone. “Aidan!” she called him out as she cried. It took him a few seconds to answer. “I’m outside your apartment.” Nanlaki ang mata niya. “O-Okay. I-I’m coming.” Binaba niya ang tawag saka mabilis na inayos ang sarili. She can’t hide her reddish eyes so she just combed her hair and fixed her crumpled shirt before she rushed outside. When she saw him leaning on his car’s door, Heather ran fast and hugged him tight. Malalim na ang gabi kung kaya’t tulog na ang mga tao. At kung sakaling may gising pa at makakita sa kanila, wala na siyang pakialam. “I-I’m sorry…I’m so sorry. Pl

Batangas “That’s kind of big,” Primo commented as he look at Heather’s travel bag. “Baka kasi abutin tayo ng kinabukasan do’n. We’ll never know what to expect kaya nag-impake ako ng extra clothes,” Heather explained as she put her bag in the backseat. Tumaas ang kilay niya nang makitang ang daming chips at cookies sa likod. “Snacks,” Primo said when he observed Heather’s wondering expression. Tumango naman si Heather at nagkibit-balikat bago pumasok na sa loob. Habang umiikot si Primo patungong driver’s seat, nag-iwan siya ng text kay Aidan na naglalaman kung saan siya pupunta, kung sino ang kasama niya at kung anong gagawin niya sa Batangas. She doesn’t want Aidan to be as suspiscious as her—but I’m already toning it down, okay? Napansin din niyang kaya nasabi ni Aidan na pagod na ito ay da

Story “That night…was also the night I met your father, Heather.” Napatitig si Heather sa ina matapos marinig iyon. She was smiling. But not a smile of happiness. It was a smile of sadness. “Siya ang nag-table sa ‘kin noong gabing ‘yon. He said he was broken. He said that his wife was cheating on him. Well, iyon ang tingin niya. Kaya siya naroon. At gusto niya akong gamitin para gumanti.” Umiling ang Mama niya. “Basically, we used each other. He’s a doctor. He’s rich. Kailangan ko ang pera niya at siya, gusto niyang gumanti sa asawa niya. Alam kong napakamali ng ginawa ko. Pero hindi ko naman siya matanggihan lalo na nang nagbigay siya ng malaking halaga. Nagpasilaw ako sa pera. Ulit. Pero ngayon, may sapat na dahilan na ako para magpasilaw sa pera. Iyon ay para sa bahay na pinaghirapang ipundar ng magulang ko noong mga panahong naglayas ako. I know that that h

Let me   “I can’t bear you being broken like this, Primo. Ni hindi na nga kita makausap ng matino. I hate that girl for hurting you and not giving a shit,” mariing bulong ni Margot kay Primo.   Primo did not answer. Sa halip ay humigpit ang hawak niya sa mga braso ng dalaga. Just when he heard the door opened and closed is when he let go of Margot’s arms.   “Ouch!” d***g nito nang pabagsak niyang bitiwan ang mga braso nito. He pointed Margot.   “I am warning you, Margot. Stop messing with Heather!” he growled.   “Why are you being like that? One second you were so calm and gentle tapos ngayon biglang…” She stilled. “You did that so she’d leave?” Tinuro niya ang sarili. “You used me?” she exaggeratedly asked.   Primo sneered at her. “Stop being so overdramatic, Margot.”   “How can I not be dramatic? You just used me—well at least, that gir