"Are you sure you won't stood me up again?"  "No, babe. I won't. We're going to spend this day together," he smiled and brought his mouth to my hand. I smiled in return. We were at his condo today, he ordered food for us.  "Dwight. Sabi ko ayaw ko ng popcorn diba?" iritable kong sabi nang makita iyon sa inorder niyo kani-kanina lamang.  "Really? Sinabi mo ba dati? Hindi ko matandaan." aniya.  "I did. Noong nakaraang movie date natin, gano'n din; bumili ka rin ng popcorn. Just the smell of it irritates me,"  "Then let's have something else."  "Pizza na lang. I'm craving for it," sabi ko habang sine-set up 'yung papanoorin ko sa netflix.  After watching the movie, Dwight talked about a lot of things. I hoped he'd asked about me, too. But he didn't. Still, I just sat there listening to him. &nb

My heart contorted rigidly when Asher's face flashed my mind. Shit, Jezrel! I shouldn't be thinking about him. Pero, bakit ganito at palagi niyang ino-occupy ang isipan ko? "Let's talk." Asher walked towards me but I passed him by. Ito na nga ang naisip ko kaya ayaw kong pumasok.  "Ayoko," mariin kong saad. Huminga siya nang malalim. "We need to talk, Jezrel." His baritone voice was laced with authority. I faced him properly. "Ano? Ano'ng sasabihin mo?" "You didn't reply and you didn't come outside." basag ang kanyang boses. "Ano naman? Saka, p'wede ba, Asher 'wag mo akong pag-tripan." "Yeah, just forget about it. I was drunk last night. You know, the alcohol and shits, I told you nonsense things."  Sinalubong ko ang tingin niya. Was he just joking, then? Wala lang ang sinabi niya samantalang ako ay halos hi

"How's life there?" I asked Kiana when we finally got another chance to talk through the phone."Mahirap. Syempre, pero sinsubukan ko para sa amin ni Cholo. Mahal ko 'yung anak ko higit sa buhay ko. Ganoon yata talaga kapag may anak ka na. Alam mo sabik nga rin ako makita rin ang magiging anak niyo ni Dwight. For sure, they would grow up as fine as you were." I could imagine Kiana smiling from the other line. "Ikaw, kamusta ka?"Sandali akong napatahimik. "I am okay, Ki."I heard her sigh. "Well, I don't think you are. I'm your bestfriend! Ano ka ba? Judging your voice, feeling ko ang lala ng problema mo! Mas problemado ka pa sa aking may anak na!"I don't know what to say. "Ki..." I bit my lower lip. "Hindi ko alam... Parang okay nam

Was what I felt with Dwight still okay? I couldn't feel the butterflies in stomach anymore. I don't get nervous, too. It's like drinking a warm coffee. It felt like something was missing him. I excused myself to go to the comfort room. After a couple of minutes re-doing my make-up, lumabas na ako. Gusto ko muna sanang magpahangin bago umuwi. Naglakad lang ako ng naglakad. Tapos na ang pag-aayos sa buong lugar. Tahimik na rin dahil halos lahat ng guests ay umuwi na. Dwight might be probably worried right now so I walked towards where he was but I halted when I saw Asher and Naia's back. They were talking about something. I felt the need to listen but that would be rude of me again. Ayaw ko ng maulit 'yung nangyari noon. Nanigas ang

I'm pregnant.   The doctor told us a while ago. None of us spoke after the doctor's revelation.   Maging ako hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat na reaksyon ko. May bata na sa tiyan ko. That thought made my heart ache.   Pinilit kong pakalmahin ang sarili ko. Everything makes sense now. The heaviness of my body, the delay of my menstruation which I thought normal, the uneasiness, the discomfort, the roller coaster of my emotions, at lahat ng iyon ay dahil buntis ako.   Nagsalubong ang tingin namin ni Asher. He lowered his head to avoid my gaze.   "I'm sorry, Jezrel.." His voice cracked.   "I hate you, Asher. I hate you! I hate you so much!" He leaned forward and stopped me from moving hysterically. Ang sama sama ng loob ko! How could that one night ruined me like this? Hindi ko gusto ito! Ikakasal ako kay Dwight. Paano? Oh, God. How could we be so careless?