บททั้งหมดของ Marriage of Convenience: บทที่ 11 - บทที่ 20

"I-Is Lev gonna be coming over?" Tanong sa akin ni Kali.I'm in our kitchen, baking for our cake. Magb-birthday na kasi kami ni Kali bukas. It's actually my first time celebrating my birthday. Usually kasi lumalayo ako dito kapag birthday namin. Maliban sa hindi naman ako paghahandaan ni Auntie, I also don't want to remind myself how lonely I am. Wala akong mga kaibigan para i-greet ako. Not even my employees know. Si Kali lang yung nag-g-greet sa akin. It was enough though. Kahit through chats and calls lang."I didn't tell him," Sagot ko."Why not?" Nguso niya. "Isn't he like, so close to you?""I don't tell people my birthday," Iling ko. "Why not?""Because I don't celebrate," I smiled sadly. "And besides, baka busy siya bukas. He's always beside his mom.""But you should atleast invite him. Baka magtampo yun sa'yo," Sabi niya I chuckled. "Hindi na yun bata para magtampo.""Can you just invite him?" She insisted. "Madaming handa si Auntie. How are we gonna finish all of it?""Ma

I found myself on the bridge. Don't get me wrong. Hindi naman ako tatalon. It's just healing when I saw the place. Mahangin at walang masyadong tao. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako napunta dito. Hindi ko din alam kung nasaan na ako. I just drove my car, not knowing the directions until I found myself here. I didn't stop my tears from crawling down my cheeks. No one will judge me here. Gusto ko lang maibsan yung bigat sa aking dibdib. Life was never by my side and I guess it's too much for me to handle now. I look down the river and noticed how calm the current flow is. Pumikit ako nang mariin at huminga nang malalim. I knew that after this, I'll have to face everyone at the party. Hindi nga lang ako sigurado kung babalik ba ako ngayon or I l'll have to stay away from home muna. "I say broken bones. But death? Impossible."May biglang nagsalita kaya dali-dali kong pinahiran ang aking mga luha at nilingon yung tao. She's a she. She's wearing a black hoodie and without a make up on her fa

I stared at Kali's sleeping face from the mirror. Natutulog pa rin siya hanggang ngayon. I'm sure that this would be her first hangover. I'm worried kasi alam kong sobrang sakit ng first hangover niya kaya I prepared a pain reliever right by my side.Will everything be okay? Did I make the right decision? Letting Lev like Kali wouldn't cause any conflicts, right? I'm okay with it naman. Kung may makakakita man silang magkasama, then they would've thought that it was me. Except for Auntie, of course. She can differentiate us from one another.Inayos ko na yung buhok ko at naglagay ng kolorete sa mukha. I'm going to work today. Even though I am the boss and that I could choose to go and not to, I still chose to go. Kasi ayokong manatili dito sa bahay. Nakakabagot at nakakasakal."Kaia?" I heard Kali called my name.Napalingon ako sa kanya. She's trying to sit back up while holding her head. I can see how she flinched the moment she opened her eyes."You can stay in bed," Sabi ko at nila

"I am so sorry of how we acted earlier, hija. Akala kasi namin..." She paused. "It won't happen again."Nasa harap ko ngayon Mommy ni Seb while he is standing behind me. Papauwi na kasi ako. Ayokong maabutan ng hating-gabi kasi delikado na sa byahe. I overthink a lot and I am already thinking of a worst case scenario."It's okay, Tita. We all make mistakes," I smiled assuringly.Napanguso siya bago ako hinawakan sa pisngi. "Why can't it be you? Gusto ko ng manugang na katulad mo."Napangiti ako at hinawakan yung kamay niya sa pisngi ko. "I'm sure there's someone for Seb, Tita. Maybe someone better?""Who could be better than you?" Nguso niya. "Osya. Mag-ingat ka sa byahe. Are you sure you're going to be okay? You can stay here for the night.""I'll be fine po. Thanks for the offer.""Okay," She nodded. "I'm sure this is not the last time that we will be seeing each other. See you soon!""Until then, Tita," I smiled. Nag-beso muna kami bago siya tuluyang nagpaalam at iniwan kami ni Se

"I'm really sorry, Carol. I really must go," Paumanhin ko sa kasama."It's okay, Kaia. I understand."I tried so hard not to answer calls. I turned off my phone when Carol and I were talking— well, most of the time it was I who was talking. Palaging may tumatawag and it's usually Auntie or Kali. I don't want to talk to them pa kahit gaano pa kaimportante yung tawag. But my shop's landline rang. I thought it was from a customer. It turns out that it was my Auntie. Ibababa ko na sana yung tawag kaso she halted my by saying that the President invited us to lunch. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero ang sabi ni Auntie na dapat umuwi na ako.I feel sorry for Carol. Kasi iiwan ko siya. She's been with me the whole time, listening to my rants. Although I noticed how off she's been acting. "Are you sure you're okay? You don't seem okay," Sabi ko sa kanya.Umiling siya. "I'm okay, Kaia. You don't have to worry." She forced a smile.Tumango nalang ako, not fully convinced. "I'll call you later after