ILANG ulit nang napatingin si Triana sa kanyang gintong wristwatch dahil tanghali na wala pa rin si Grady. She had to cook their meals on whatever ingredients were available. May pakiramdam siyang inutusan si Grady ng kanyang father-in-law na sadyang tagalan para silang dalawa lang ng asawa ang naroon. Lihim siyang napangiti sa naisip. Devance had no choice but to stay with her and no matter how he played hard to get; she knew his soft spot. But just like before, Devance never touched the food she had prepared for him. Nanatili lang ito ulit sa likod ng cabin habang tulala. Napabuntong-hininga na lang si Triana habang pinagmamasdan ito. Kung ganito lang lagi ang ginagawa ng asawa, natatakot si Triana sa isipin na baka dumating ang araw na sukuan na rin nito ang buhay. It will never happen, and I won’t let him. Triana told herself. Kaya nagdesisyon siyang agawin ang atensyon nito. Naligo siya sa man-made pool kung saan kitang-kita siya ni Devance mula sa kinaroronan nito. There was

NAGISING si Triana na wala na si Devance sa tabi niya. Dali-dali siyang bumangon para tingnan kung saan ito nagpunta. Nakahinga siya nang maluwag nang makita ito sa paborito nitong tambayan sa likod ng bahay. It appeared that Devance’s upper body was strong enough to manage himself. Kaya nito ang sarili sa tulong ng customized wheelchair nito. She quickly freshened up, and she was relieved upon hearing the buzzing sound of the chopper. Mukhang nakabalik na si Grady dala ang kanilang supplies. “Sorry for the delays.” Grady was apologetic when he entered the cabin. “I understand.” Tipid na ngumiti si Triana. Ipinasok ni Grady ang mga supply ng pagkain at tinulungan ito ni Triana na ilagay sa cupboard. “This is good for a month’s supplies. Thanks for this.” Triana grinned as she put on approximately ten kilograms of mutton meat and chicken in the freezer. “Your mom insisted on that. Anyway, your father-in-law said you must convince your husband to go back home. They are all worried.

“IMPOSSIBLE!” parang bombang sumabog sa harapan ni Eshvi ang sinabi ng doctor. How could the twins not match to become Eashta’s bone marrow donor? “I don’t believe it!” Natuptop niya ang bibig sabay ng panlalaki ng mata. Even Triana was also shocked. The doctor explained why the twins did not meet the criteria to be the donor since they were only around twenty-one percent matched. “It happened every time. Not all siblings are a match to be a donor. We could try her father,” anang doktor matapos nitong maipaliwanag kung bakit hindi puwedeng maging donor sina Ravi at Rini. “There must be a mistake!” nataranta si Eshvi. Para siyang pinagsakluban ng langit at lupa dahil sa resulta. Buo pa naman ang tiwala niya na isa sa kambal ay magiging positibo maging donor. Kung hindi match sina Ravi at Rini, saan siya kukuha ng ibang donor para sa bone marrow ni Eashta? Eshvi looked at Triana. She wanted to consider the thought of getting her tested. Pero agad niyang kinalimutan ang isiping

NAGANAP ang kasal nina Caleb at Anya. It was held at their private resort in the province of Camarines Sur. Iyon din ang resort na minsang napuntahan nina Triana at doon nila unang nakilala si Anya. The couple chose this place since it was memorable for them. Doon daw kasi talaga nagsimula ang pag-iibigan nila. It was a sunrise beach wedding. Tila nakikisama ang panahon sa pag-iisang dibdib ng dalawa. Banayad ang paghampas ng alon sa dalampasigan habang hindi maulap ang kalangitan. Kagaya ng kasal ni Lara, the guests, were no more than thirty. Anya wore a simple white off-shoulder wedding dress. Para itong dyosa ng karagatan. Samantalang si Caleb naman ay nakasuot ng puting three-piece suit. Bakas ang matinding saya sa mukha ng dalawa habang naglalakad patungo sa altar. Napapalibutan ng mga sunflower ang venue at sea colors ang motif ng kasal. The sound of the violin reverberated along with the crashing of the waves when they started the wedding entourage. Bukod kay Triana, naroon d

BIGLANG lumundag ang puso ni Triana nang makita ang asawa. Akala niya talaga namamalikmata lang siya pero nang nilapitan ito ng kambal at maluha-luha itong yumakap sa mga anak saka niya napagtantong hindi siya dinadaya ng kanyang paningin. Especially that he saw Grady showed up from the dining room holding a cup of tea. “Dev!” Hindi napigilan ni Triana ang sarili at patakbong lumapit sa kinaroroonan nito. He was comfortably sitting in his wheelchair. Maaliwalas ang mukha nito kumpara nang huli silang magkita. He was clean shaven and wasn’t looking that much miserable compared when he was in his cabin. Pero nanatili ang kaseryosohan ng mukha nito pagdating sa kanya. “I miss you so much, Baba!” halos magkasabay na wika ng kambal na parang ayaw bumitaw mula sa pagkakayapos sa magkabilang braso ng ama. “I thought you broke your promise to come home with Nanay.” Nakangusong anas ni Rini. “But here you are now! Your wheelchair is cool!” inosenteng bulalas ni Ravi matapos ay pinagmasdan a