“Tita, I told you! It’s not what you think it is!” sigaw ko dahilan upang matigilan siya. “He’s an investigator, Tita!” pag-amin ko na siyang nakakuha ng buong atensyon niya. “What do you mean, Jade?” aniya. I reach for her arm before speaking up, “Just please, let me explain first, Tita. Sa loob na tayo,” sambit ko sabay hila sa kaniya papasok ng exclusive room kung nasaan ako kanina. Tahimik kami sa loob habang nilalapag ng mga waiters ang pagkain namin sa table. Nang makalabas silang lahat ay saka lang umayos nang upo si Tita Cecil at mariin akong tinignan. “Speak,” she commands. Bumuntong hininga ako at nag-isip saglit kung paano ko ipapaliwanag sa kaniya ang plano ko. I don’t want to tell her about my investigating my husband’s father. But I cannot tell her just the minor details dahil paniguradong hindi niya ako paniniwalaan. “As I said, that man is an investigator I hired from U.S., Tita,” sambit ko. “Why did you hire an

I still cannot believe that Tita Cecil is probably involved with whatever is happening with her husband, his son, and Zachariah Ricaforte. But it’s already right in front me. Kitang kita sa ekspresyon ni Tita Cecil ngayon na may tinatago siya. Hindi kaya totoo ang sinbii ni Klaus na maaari talagang may kinalaman ang ilang mga Salazar sa nangyari sa parents ko? If yes, then I need to find out about it quickly before they learn what I’m up to. Dahil alam kong hindi permanente ang pagtatagong ‘to. Kalaunan ay alam kong mare-realize din nila o ni Tita Cecil na hindi talaga ako tumigil sa pag-iimbestiga. “I still have a lot of paperworks to finish, Tita. I better be going and finish everything, so I can post a memorandum about my taking a break for a while,” sambit ko at tumango sa akin si Tita Cecil. “Y-Yes, please. Take care on your way to your company,” aniya. Hindi ko na ‘yon pinansin pa at dumiretso na lang palabas ng restaurant. Sumakay ako ng sasaky

It has been months since that day in the hospital. I started wearing hearing aids again but I would remove them whenever I’d meet my family. I started working behind the scenes while my cousin is competently leading the company. I also started seeing Tita Philomena every 2 weeks in a month for my sessions. We just usually talk about my anxiety and how it started and why it started attacking again. She was also my psychiatrist back in States so she already knew how to deal with my trauma. It just started coming back, so I really needed her help again. Pagkatapos ng session with Tita Mena, I go back to my house. Sa bahay ng mga magulang ako umuuwi simula noong nakalabas ako ng hospital. Zachary suggested it because he knew that he’s one of the many reasons why I’m anxious and annoyed. But he’d still visit me at home from time to time only to receive such cold treatments from me. Lumipat sa Manila ang tagapangalaga ng bahay namin sa Davao na si Manang Lucinda da

I wake up at the feeling of my hair being caressed softly. Ramdam ko ang mararahang halik ni Zachary sa buhok ko habang nakaunan ako sa kaniyang dibdib. I can hear his soft breathing. And I can feel his calm heartbeats.They are everything I want to always wake up to. But I know I cannot just wish for something like that because it’s unattainable. It’s too good to be true. And I know, deep in my heart, that he deserves something more.Gumalaw ako nang marahan at mas lalong dumikit sa kaniya, trying to savor every minute of us in this position. I feel secured, safe, and happy. But I also know this is only temporary. This will never last. Thinking about this so early in the morning is ridiculous, but I should at least remind myself of how undeserving I am of him before I start to become more selfish and just claim him mine... even though I knew clearly like the morning skies who actually owns his heart.Maybe I just own his body for now... but his hear

I was confident that I will never fall in love with him. Maybe because I had everything I needed, except of course, for my parents. I just did what they wanted me to do. My parents wanted me to marry Dr. Ricaforte. And I did.It was not my intention to fall in love with him. It wasn’t in my plan to be this madly in love with him. But I am. And I can’t hate myself for it now despite the pain I always face because of my love for him.I am not asking for more. Loving him is already more than enough for me. Pero hindi ko pa rin maiwasan ang masaktan sa katotohanang hinding hindi niya ako titignan. His eyes are fixated on someone else. And I am fine with that. But it is still hurting me.Weeks have passed and we are indeed taking a break from our relationship. Zachary never visits again kahit madalas siyang tanungin sa akin ni Manang. Dinadahilan ko na lang na busy sa trabaho at hindi makauwi o dalaw rito.I miss him, though. Ako naman ang may kagu