Hindi akalain ni Dane kung gaano kahirap ang dinaranas ni Chantria sa kamay ng ama nito. She was suffered a lot. Ngayon alam na niya kung gano kasama ang ama nito. Nanginginig ang kamao ni Dane sa sobrang galit na nararamdaman. Nagtatagis ang bagang niya at gusto niyang sumigaw sa sobrang galit pero pilit niya iyong kinimkim. Kahit magalit pa siya, wala na ang lahat ng taong nanakit dito. But how could they do this?! How could they hurt Chantria like that? How?! The anger he felt turned into a lone tear in his eyes. "Those monsters...how could they?" Nagbaba ng tingin si Dr. Jacob saka malalim na napabuntong-hininga. “You know what, Mr. Gregore, I salute her. Buhay pa siya pagkatapos ng mga pinagdaanan niya. She must be a very strong woman to endure such hardship and monstrosity in her life." Dane was silent. His anger was too much that his body was shaking. Chantria... his innocent Chantria. She had really been through too much. Too much to bear

Dane chuckled. "Oh, so you watch TV now? You seem so very well. Natutuwa ako sa mga simpleng bagay na ginagawa mo na.” "Yes." She smiled. "It's entertaining. Saka wala naman akong ginagawa dito sa bahay mo. So to stop thinking about cutting myself, I watch TV to pass the time. Nakakatuwa rin pala kasing manuod ng mga movies.” "And what have you watched so far?" "Ahm..." nag-isip siya, "ahm, like what you did. The guy kissed the woman on the forehead and he said he likes her." "Yeah. I like you." She frowned. "Yes. But not romantically," "How can you tell? You're not me." Tinitigan niya si Dane. "Huwag mo akong bibiruin. I know I'm naïve in some things but I do understand what you're saying and you're married so stop that." Pangiti-ngiti lang ang kaharap. "Okay." Nakahinga siya ng maluwang. "Thank you-" "I really like you, Chantria, everyday, tuwing nakika kita ng paunti-unti. Not because kamukha ka ng ex wife ko but because you’re such a pure woman. You’re so k

WALA SA SARILING nakatitig lang si Chantria sa kawalan habang nakaupo siya sa duyan na nasa roof top ng bahay ni Dane. Paulit-ulit na bumabalik sa alaala niya ang paghalik nito sa kanya at ang pagtulak niya dito palayo dahil sa takot na naramdaman niya ng maglapat ang mga labi nila. She can bear his touch, his chin on her shoulder and his closeness but that kiss... “Alright, hopefully this sunday matuloy na.” Habang si Dane na man ay abalang katawagan ngayon si Mrs. Del Fierro sa kabilang linya. Sunday lang daw ang bakante nitong araw. She loves it too but she was in Cebu for business. Kasama nito ang asawa na si Law. Ang pinakasikat na Ceo dahil sa kagwapuhan nito at galing nito. No wonder that Dane wanted to have a tattoo on. Kasama ang sumisimbolo sa anak niya at ngayon ay nadagdagan pa siya ng plano na ipapatatak niya sa kanyang braso. He wanted to put Chantria on his chess. Mariing ipinikit ni Chantria ang mga mata saka napasabunot sa sariling buhok. Si Dane 'yon! Hindi

"I didn't made love with her, at hinding hindi ko gagawin yon kahit wala ka pa non.” anito na nakapagpanatag sa loob niya. “Berry made it up. I am in love with one woman,Chantria. I don't cheat. Kahit noong niloko na ako ni Chantria, hindi ko naisip na mambabae para makabawi sa kanya. I have a daughter, I don't want her to see me like that. At ayokong may trumatong gano'n kay Snow paglaki niya-" "You're lying." Putol niya sa iba pa nitong sasabihin. "You cheated on your ex wife." Dane frowned. "When?" "Yesterday..." she looked away, "when you kissed me." "Oh. That." He chuckled. "Well, technically, we're already annulled yesterday. Pero ngayon lang bumaba ang mga papeles mula sa korte.” Gulat na ibinalik ni Chantria ang tingin kay Dane, "Y-you annulled with you wife?" "Ex wife.” She frowned. "Hindi ba matagal ang proseso no'n?" "It was a consensual decision," anito. "She signed it first and I signed it just a week ago. I have connections so it was a sho

"Do you want me to kiss you again?" Hindi alam ni Chantria ang isasagot niya. Iniisip nito na baka maitulak na naman niya ito pag pumayag siya. "Akala ko ba nagustuhan mo ang halik ko?" May pagtatampo ang boses niya. "Tapos ayaw mo akong halikan ka ulit? Baby, I'm insulted. VERY INSULTED.” Kaagad itong umayos ng upo saka nagpaliwanag, "I'm still scared. But my fear got sidetracked when you, ahm," she blushed again, "when, ahm, you t- tease my t-tongue and m-my lips and ahm-" "--you moaned." Chantria quickly looked down. "Was that a bad thing?" "No. But you didn't kiss me back. That's a bad thing." Kaagad na bumalik ang mga mata ni Chantria sa kanya. “But I don't know how." "'Di ba sabi ko kanina sa 'yo, tuturuan kita." "Paano?" Tanong nito habang napaka-inosente ng mukha na nakatitig sa kanya. "Hahalikan ulit kita." Para itong nagulat sa sinabi niya dahil napatalon ito at nagmamadaling umalis sa sofa at lumayo sa kanya. Tumayo siya mula sa pagkakaluhod saka hinarap ang