“Kamusta kayo dito? Sorry we weren’t able to greet you a merry christmas when the clock ticks twelve. Hindi kasi magkapareho ang oras ng Pinas at doon sa Paris,” mama explained.Nasa sala kaming lahat. My brother and papa were sitting on the each single sofa, while me and mama were in the long couch. Tahimik lamang kami ni kuya, ramdam ko ang minsang pagsulyap niya sa’kin na hindi ko nalang tinutugon ng tingin.“Anyways, I’ve bought something for our baby girl,” magiliw na sambit ni mama na ikinaungot ko.“I’m not a baby anymore,” I murmured and lifted my gaze on her.Mama chuckled. “Sure you’re not. You’re getting married after four months and that makes you a grown up woman.”“Being a grown up woman does not required to get married, ma," biglang sabat ng isang malamig na tinig. “Masyado pang maaga para ipakasal si Diana.”“What’s wrong with marrying your sister off? She’s already twenty-two, and I want her to have a stable future with someone we know who’s capable of giving her a go

I can feel the deadly glares from my brother habang sinusuotan ako ni Lucifer ng life jacket. I bit my lower lip to hide my fear. Feeling ko kasi makakapatay ang aura ni kuya. "You're afraid banana boat?" natatawang sambit ni Lucy na kasalukuyang nagkakabit din ng kanyang life jacket.Sinamaan ko ito ng tingin. "Alam mo, demonyo ka talaga, e." He just chuckled. Tumawag naman na ang isang lalaki para makasakay na kami. May iilang nakahanda na at kinakabahan, iilan ay tumitili sa excitement, habang ang ilan ay tumitili habang nakatingin kay kuya at kay satanas. Lucifer is a beautiful male. Kaso demonyo talaga, e. Nauna kaming lumapit sa banana boat ni Lucifer. The guy who called for passengers and Lucy helped me to ride. Hinawakan ako ni satanas sa bewang at inalalayang makasakay at sumunod naman siya. The instructor guides us where to held kapag umandar na. Nilingon ko ang pwesto nila kuya at napansing kasunod ko ay si satanas, kasunod naman ni satanas si Taliah at si Kuya. I was a

I heaved a deep breath. Masyadong mabilis lumipas ang mga araw na parang kahapon lang pasko pa, tapos mamaya bagong taon na. It has been two days since that conversation of the four of us happened. I agreed. Wala nang nangyaring pag-uusap sa amin ni kuya matapos ang senaryong ‘yon. He’s always in his office. Hindi niya na rin ako binibisita kagaya ng dati at hindi na rin siya dumadaan sa kwarto para halikan ako sa noo pagkauwi at pag-alis niya ng bahay. Sila mama naman, kahit nandirito na sa resthouse, buong atensiyon nila ay nasa negosyo. My monologue was cut when mama suddenly slammed my door open. “Get up, Vielle. We’ll go to chruch. The mass will start at exactly seven in the evening.” Tumango lang ako dito at ngumiti. Lumabas naman kaagad siya habang ako ay tumingin sa digital clock na nasa night-stand. May simba pala bago matapos ang taon, siguro kailangan ko na ring isimba ang sarili ko sa sobrang dami ng kasalanan ko. Bumangon ako sa kama at nag-inat ng katawan. Nagtungo

"Any questions regarding Miss Martinez's presentation?" the panel asked while looking around, eyeing for my classmates. Umiling sila at nag-thumbs up pa ang iilan na ikinangiti ko. The panels clapped with a smile on their faces while glancing at my power point presentation. Well, today is the fourth day of January, back to school. Sa unang araw pa lang ng pasukan, kinakailangan na naming i-presenta ang ginawa naming thesis. Mamayang hapon naman ay kailangan din namin mag-present sa isang subject para sa IATA Codes na minimorya namin. Mabuti nalang walang pasok mamayang hapon. "Congratulations, Miss Martinez," saad ng isang pannel at muli akong nginitian. I just nodded and smiled. Bumalik ako sa aking upuan at agad namang pumalit ang power point presentation ng kaklase kong si Fiona na simula nung tumuntong ako ng kolehiyo ay pinag-iinitan na ako. And who would have thought na magiging kaklase ko ang babaeng 'to? Before she proceeded in front, she took a quick glance at me and rol

Humihikab akong naglakad pababa ng hagdanan habang bitbit ang mini-backpack ko na pinagsidlan ng mga yellow pads at iba pang light school materials. My notebooks are on my room, masyadong mabigat kung ilagay ko pa sa bag ko. I didn’t had a good sleep. Of course, sinong makakatulong sa naging usapan namin ni kuya kagabi? He just confessed! He loves me, not just his sister but as a lover! Sinong makakatulog kakaisip doon? Dagdag pa ang tuwang nararamdaman ko nang marinig ko ‘yun kay kuya. Crap, Vielle. Get back to your senses! Iritado kong bulong sa’king sarili habang papasok ng kusina.“Good morning, baby,” papa greeted me. Ngumiti ako sa kanya at lumapit. I kissed his cheeks and said good morning before I went towards my mother’s direction who’s busy preparing sandwich, my favorite snack. Binati ko rin ito ng magandang umaga at hinalikan ang kanyang pisngi. She just replied me with a humm and told me to sit to eat. Pilit ang ngiti kong tumungo sa nakasanayan kong upuan. Nilagay ko