Chapter 21 Locked "Pakawalan n'yo ko. I'll visit my brother," hindi ko alam kung pang-ilang beses ko nang sinabi ang palusot na 'yon. But I believe it would be the best excuse because I feel well now. These two... they sedated me! Maiintindihan ko pa sana kung dahil iyon sa nag-panic ako pero pagkagising ko, nakakita kaagad ako ng maraming guwardiya sa labas. They obviously want to trap me here and I don't know why! "There's a thunderstorm outside. And you'd leave our son here?" taas-kilay ni Ivan. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko pang nasikmura na makipag-agahan kasama siya at ang kaibigan niya may parehas na kalibre na gaya sa kaniya. I don't know what to call them but I feel awfully mad at them. Sinadya pa nga yata ng panahon na makulong ako rito. Malakas ang bugso ng ulan sa labas. Based on the weather forecast I heard from the TV, it's not safe outside. But I'm very willing to risk it just so I could get out of here with my son! I don't feel safe anymore. Pakiramdam ko, bihag a

Chapter 23LonelyIvan's wound bled. Right after we entered the house again, I was forced to go out of my reverie because he was already wincing in pain. Doon lang din nagbitiw ang mga kamay namin.Creed treated him on the sofa. Ang sinabi niya noon, maayos na at hindi rin naman niya inda. For a moment, I thought he's able to be left alone because he's healed. Kaya nga nag-alok na rin ako ng annulment. Pero heto siya, ginagamot ni Creed dahil bumuka ang sugat."T-in-arget talaga 'tong stab wound mo, brad. Gusto mo bang lagyan ko rin siya nito, mga fifty times?" Creed asked seriously while dressing Ivan's wound.Malamig siyang binalingan ng kausap. "Don't bother. It's just a waste of time."We were all soaking wet. Hindi naman ako makapagreklamo dahil nag-uusap pa sila. I was shaking because of the cold and I'm afraid it might trigger my flu again. Kahit pakiramdam ko naman, hindi na 'yon babalik."Rigella," Ivan called.Halos mapatalon ako. "Y-Yes?"Nasa tabi lang ako ng kaharap niyang

Chapter 25AdamantDid he really think I would believe him and his words? That I will, yet again, yield to whatever lie he's telling me?I watched Ivan packed his clothes... including mine. Tulala lang ako sa isang tabi habang iniisip ang nangyari kagabi. It was a good thing he let go of me. Ang akala ko'y hindi na. And so after that, I ran with the fastest speed I could.Pero nahabol niya ako at dinala sa aming kuwarto. Hindi na rin ako nakapanlaban pa dahil sa pagod hindi lang ng katawan ko kundi pati na rin ng isip. I felt so worn out that I immediately slept right after seeing him settling himself on the sofa to sleep.Hindi sapat sa akin na ginawa niya iyon — na alam niya ang galit ko sa kaniya. I want him to be on the same page with me. I want him to declare our separation. Dahil ako, siguradong-sigurado na.I still love him but unlike before that I keep my quiet even though there's a huge hurricane between us, now it feels like that hurricane crushed my tiny, remaining particle

Chapter 27UnsaidAbala ako sa paglilibot ng tingin sa lugar mula sa terasa nang may marinig akong pagkabasag. I was startled on my feet. Nagmadali akong pumasok sa loob ng bahay."What's that?" tanong ko sa sarili.Walang katok akong pumasok sa isang kuwartong pinagmulan ng tunog. Naabutan ko si Ivan na hindi maganda ang ekspresiyon habang nagpupulot ng mga bubog sa sahig. He was holding a broken picture frame.Kumunot ang noo ko. "What happened?"He was taken aback. Matagal bago siya nag-angat ng tingin sa akin. He cursed probably when he realized I was really near him."Anong nangyari, Ivan?" ulit ko.He didn't speak a word. Humugot siya ng isang malalim na buntonghininga. Tumigil siya sa kaniyang ginagawa.Laking gulat ko nang humakbang siya nang malalaki papalapit sa akin. He hugged me afterwards. Halos mahigit ko ang aking hininga habang nakabalot ang kaniyang mga braso. My lips parted but no voice came out.Wait... what's this? Is he really hugging me? O hallucination lang 'to?

Chapter 29Special"Gaano tayo katagal dito?" banayad kong tanong habang pinapanood siyang palitan ng benda ang kaniyang sugat sa paa.He treated his wound before dinner last night. Sa umagang ito naman, pinalitan niya dahil may pupuntahan daw kami kasama si Ice. I want to ask if there will be guards around us but I chose not to. "H-Hindi ba masakit ang paa mo?" I asked warily.Isang malaking biro nga yatang maituturing na nagagawa ko pang makipag-usap sa kaniya nang kaswal. After last night, I don't know. Everything seemed to feel lighter.But doesn't mean it affected me, I don't plan on leaving anymore. Hindi. Siguro, nasa sulok lang ng mga iniisip ko ang kagustuhan kong umalis. Nandoon pa rin iyon at hindi nawawala. Lalo pa na mas iniisip ko ang posibilidad na buntis ako.God knows I want to confirm it so bad. Kahit naulit ang pagsusuka ko kanina, gusto ko pa rin ng ebidensiya. I cannot act the way that I did anymore, if it's true.He brought down his foot when he's done. Bukas pa