JENNAHE MOVED and I became aware. Not fully awake or right away, pero namalayan ko siya agad. Naging conscious ako agad sa posisyon namin sa pagtulog.It hadn’t changed since I fell asleep. His arms were still around me, my head was laying on one of his upper arm, his other arm was around my waist, and his other thigh was over one of mine, which was securely wedged between his. I was sleeping deeply and it wasn’t even my bed, nasurpresa akong naisip. Pero ni hindi ko nga ito prinoblema kanina bago kami matulog. There were times when I wasn’t comfortable in other beds. Actually, the only other bed that didn’t disturb me from sleeping were houses or any other places where my mother happened to be staying wherever in the world she happened to be at whenever I visited her. Bukod doon, namamahay ako. Kahit sa guestroom sa bahay ng Uncle Markus, hindi ako nakakatulog nang maayos.But I felt so comfortable here. And I was warm in his arms, covered by his naked body. I slept without a c

TOPHERI WATCHED her as she walked inside the doors to the big hall, my hot and beautiful Christmas gift last night in a sexy and chic off-the-shoulder burgundy dress and high-heeled sexy and strappy stilettos. Jenna’s beauty and elegance made her glow tonight. Nakita ko pa ang pagkatulala sa mukha ni Keith noong pumihit ito at nakita ang babaeng pinaniniwalaan nitong fiancée pa rin nito, since he still didn’t know he’d been fired from that privilege. Kahit ako, hindi ko pa nakita si Jenna na ganito.And I felt proud of her… and of myself, dahil nakikita kong malayong malayo siya sa babaeng iniuwi ko sa bahay kahapon, drunk and defeated.Instead, she bloomed. Like a woman thoroughly loved. I might have helped put that beautiful blush on those cheeks. At gusto kong tumayo at bayuhin ang dibdib ko sa pagmamalaki.Gusto ko lang… nangingiti kong naisip. Jenna had always been pretty, but subtly, because she never deliberately tried to get attention to herself. Sa kabila niyon, napansin

TOPHERSHE was dancing with another man, at patapos na ang tugtog. Napansin ko siya dahil bumunggo ang likod niya sa akin, and when I looked, she seemed surprised.Pero alam kong sinadya niya.“Topher!” sambit niya. “Jenna,” sambit ko. “Hi. Thank you for coming. Tinuro ka ni Uncle kanina, lagi kang nasa tabi.”Hindi ko mapigil ang ngiti sa mga labi ko. Like an idiot. “I didn’t come with a date.”“Talaga? Then dance with me.”“Wait—” sinasabi ni Barnacle. Mas gracious ang partner ni Jenna. Tumango itong nakangiti noong nag-excuse ang babae sa last notes ng tugtog. I wondered, if Jenna was known to be single, if he would be as smooth in letting her go with his hands, kahit hirap nitong alisin ang mga mata nito sa mukha ng dalaga.Binitiwan ko si Berlin. Beryl. I slid in front of Jenna as she gave me her hand. Pumihit siya in a way na matutulak ang lalaki niyang dating partner sa sayaw kung hindi ito uurong, directly putting him in front of Berna.Na nakatayo roong mistulang naiwan ku

JENNAHABANG kausap ko si Uncle Markus, napansin kong lumabas sa ballroom si Laurel. Napansin ko ring hindi nagtagal at lumabas din si Keith.“So, are you sure? Hindi ka pa sigurado na gusto mo nang ma-engage kaya walang proposal tonight?”Tumango ako sa kanya. “Yes, Uncle. I just… nagising ako kaninang umaga with this giant hangover and my mind made up na ayoko pa. Masyado pa akong bata. Marami pa akong gustong gawin.”Napapailing si Uncle Markus. Good thing, he took my excuse na kaya ako biglang attentive magsaya sa party tonight with other men kasi na-pressure ako ng napipintong pagpo-propose ni Keith. Na nahihirapan akong sabihin sa kanya na hindi pa ako handa maging ganoon kaseryoso.“I thought you really have decided kaya…” Saka siya nagbuntunghininga. “Frankly? I’m also relieved. Hija, alam kong noon ay boto ako kay Keith but I realized I really don’t know him enough. Kung naalala mo pa ‘yong pag-bypass niya sa directors dati, ‘yung joke niya na since magiging kapamilya na nat

TOPHER“SO, as I understand it correctly, Keith and Laurel were both fired?” I asked as an opener when Jenna arrived. Nakaupo ako sa bench na kahoy sa gitna ng garden kung saan ko siya hinihintay, napapalibutan ng mababangong mga bulaklak at mga puno at marahang mga liwanag mula sa mga solar na strategically located para makapagbigay ng dramatic na aesthetic sa lugar.Tumango siya. “I don’t think they had to get fired. Kung may mukha pa silang ihaharap pagkatapos nang klase ng pagkabisto sa kanila, ewan ko na lang…” Nagbuntunghininga siya. “I actually pity them now. Pero ako ba ang gumawa nang ginawa nila? In my uncle’s house pa talaga.” At wala nang awa sa tinig nito, kundi nagagalit na naman. Umabot ang kamay ko na nakapatong sa likod ng bench at hinaplos ko ang pisngi niya. “Are you okay?”Kumiling ang ulo niya palapit sa kamay ko at humilig. “Okay lang ako kasi nawala ‘yong pag-aalala sa magagawa niya laban sa akin if hindi nangyari itong gabing ito. But… I still don’t know kung