Nakita kong naglilinis si Lola Nanding, tinatrapuhan ang mga picture frame sa dingding. Hindi ko masyadong nakita ang mukha nya. May pumatak na luha sa mga mata nya. Nabigla sya ng makita nya ako at pinunasan ang mukha nya. "O, gising ka na pala, apo." Inayos nya ang picture frame sa dingding. Nginitian nya ako. Why is she crying? "Lola, ayaw nyo po bang kumuha ng katulong?" I can't help but ask. "Hindi naman. Pero mas kaya ko naman kasi, at masaya ako sa paglilinis. Bakit apo?" "Baka po kasi madisgrasya kayo sa ganyan. Yung lola ko po kasi, nahulog sa hagdan at nahulog dahil ayaw nya rin kumuha ng katulong...baka po matulad kayo sa kanya." "Nahulog lola mo sa hagdan?" May bahid ng pag alala at lungkot sa mata nya. "Kilala nyo rin po sya?" "Medyo. Pero wag ka mag alala, kaya ko ang sarili ko. Malakas pa naman ako." "Sige po." "Mawalang galang na po pero asan po ang asawa nyo Lola Nandinf?" "Iniwan na ako, nauna na sa langit." "Teka, Sereia apo. May ipapakita ako sayo." Um

The next morning, I woke up early to pack my belongings. I have to leave. No matter what, I really need to. I have to disregard what I said to Phoenix yesterday. I may have a choice not to follow his parents' command of me, but it's also my decision. Para rin to sayo, Phoenix. I hope you'll understand. I really want him and his parents to patch things up and to do that, this is the only way. And that is leaving him. I tried hard not to make a sound while carrying my bag but I stopped at the staircase as I saw Phoenixstanding at the bottom, holding a cup of coffee with his hand. "Where are you going?" He asked. Guess I don't have a choice but to lie. "Uuwi na ako." "Why?" He asked. "Kasi natapos na ang gawa ko dito. Hindi ako habangbuhay dito mag stay, Phoenix. May trabaho ako dun at hinahanap ako ng boss ko." I lied. "Alam ko, pero bakit ngayon?" "Kailangan ko nang umalis." "But you said that you won't leave me." "Yes. Pero may kailangan na akong aasikasuhin." "No." "Pwede

Maraming customer ang pumunta para magpagamot sa kanilang mga alaga kaya buong araw ako sa clinic at di man lang napansing gabi na pala. Tinanggal ko na ang mask sa mukha ko hinilot ang sentido sa ulo ko. Umupo ako sa swivel chair at napapikit nalang sa pagod. There were sudden footsteps in the background. I didn't bother to open my eyes thinking it was my secretary. After an hour, di ko namalayan na nakatulog pala ako at nagising nalang na naglalaway pa. There was a sound of a chair squeaking and I saw a man. "Awake already?" I jolted in surprise. "Sir?" I fixed myself and stood up. Nakakahiya. Nakita nya kaya ang laway ko? "Goodevening, Sereia." He smiled. "You seemed tired so I didn't bother waking you up. Sorry for that." I nodded. "It's okay Sir Theon. When did you return sir?" He was on a business trip. Why is he here? "Just call me like last time. Remove the sir." "Okay po, Theon." He smiled, satisfied. "Just an hour ago." He replied. He was holding a coffee, reading

Hindi ako makatulog. Palagi kong naiisip ang mukha ni sir. And that's a distraction for me. Nagkape nalang ako at nanood ng tv nang may kumatok. I gaped at what I saw. It was Phoenix. "Phoenix? Ba't andito ka?"Akala ko ba iniiwasan nya ako? "Ang kapal mo Sereia para magtanong na g hindi mo man lang masagot ang mga tanong ko." I was shaking. I sniffed, he's drunk. "Bakit hindi ka pumunta sa exhibit ko." "Bakit ka lasing?" Tanong ko. Pinapasok ko sya at pinaupo. Humiga sya at inalis ang sapatos at pumikit. Kumuha ako ng tubig at nilagay sa mesa sa harapan nya. Kailangan nya sigurong matulog. I let him... *** Kinabukasan ay nakita kong nakaupo lang sya sa sofa. Nang makita nya ako, umayos sya. "Thanks." He said. "No problem." "About last night, I'm sorry I was drunk." "Bat mo nalaman ang bahay ko?" "Secret." "Sige alis na ako." I hold his hand. "Don't." "Why?" "Yung..hangover mo." "Wala na. I'm okay. I still have a meeting." "Meeting? But why did you drink last nigh

"What's the deal with you?" hindi ko maiwasang tanungin siya habang nakatingin sa kanyang mapupungay na mga mata, "Hindi naman tayo, Eion.” Bigla siyang napahinto sa aking mga binitawang salita, na parang hindi makapaniwala. Oh his eyes. Alam niyang kahinaan ko ang kanyang berdeng mga mata kaya’t ganyan sya makatingin. Mistulang umiilaw ito kahit na sa dilim. “Kung tayo man.." he paused, his jaw clenched,"then am I allowed to be angry?" “No way, Eion. I told you, meron na akong iba. He treats me nice….” I said to him, wanting to add, "at mas mabait pa sya sayo ," but my voice wouldn't let me. "Then say you love me as well," tumikhim sya habang sumandal ng konti sa akin upang parehas na kami ng tangkad. The air feels different as the tension circulates throughout the room, engulfing and suffocating me.His deep voice was commanding, but there was a hint of weakness in it as if he was begging me to listen. He clasped both of his hands around my neck, upang pigilan ako sa pag alis.