บททั้งหมดของ WHEN DESIRE BECOMES A SIN: บทที่ 51 - บทที่ 60

Lyra’s POV Hindi ko alam kung alin ang mas malakas ang tibok ng puso ko o ang init ng galit na kitang-kita ko sa kanya. Ngunit nang hinawakan niya ako kanina… naramdaman ko na kahit paano, hindi iyon tungkol sa akin. Ito ay galit na matagal niyang kinikimkim galit na limang taon niyang tinatago. Tahimik lang siya ngayon, pero ramdam ko ang bigat ng presensya niya, parang bawat hininga niya ay panuntunan, bawat paghipo niya ay paalala kung sino ang may hawak ng lahat. Parang ang galit niya ay nakaka-apekto sa lahat ng paligid at ako lang ang sentro. “Lyra…” bulong niya, mababa, may poot, may init. “Do you even know what you’ve done?” Hindi ko masagot. Hindi dahil gusto ko o hindi ko kayang sabihin. Kundi dahil ramdam ko ang intensity ng galit niya hindi biro. Hindi ito basta galit sa nakaraan ito ay galit na sinasabayan ng pananabik, frustration, at control. Ramdam ko ang pressure, kahit pakiramdam ko ay wala akong puwang na huminga… hindi ko maiwasang m

Lyra’s POV Kagaya ng napagkasunduan namin ni Caleb, hindi na ako nagtanong kung saan kami titira pagbalik namin sa Pilipinas. Hinayaan ko na lang siyang magdesisyon para sa amin, kahit na sa isip ko, napakaraming tanong ang naglalaro kong paano kami magsisimula? Kong kakayanin ba naming ipasok ang lahat ng mga alaala sa bagong simula? Nang huminto ang sasakyan na sumundo sa amin sa harapan sa harap ng isang modernong bahay, bigla akong natigilan. Dahil iyon ang disenyo ng bahay na plinano namin ni Caleb ipatayo noon para kay Liam ang bawat sulok, bawat espasyo, ay halatang pinag-planuhan. Pagbaba namin ng sasakyan, ilang staff ang nakaabang na sa amin housekeeper, chef, gardener, at nanny para kay Liam. Tahimik sila pero ramdam ko ang kanilang professionalism. Halata sa bawat galaw nila na sanay silang sundin ang mga utos ni Caleb. Ang kanilang katahimikan ay hindi awkward; sa halip, nagpapakita ito ng respeto at dedikasyon. Para bang bawat tao sa paligid ay may sa

Lyra’s POV I lingered in Liam’s room a moment longer, taking in every detail. The sunlight poured through the tall windows, illuminating the carefully arranged furniture and the small toys placed just so. Everything from the bed to the bookshelf to the colors on the walls had clearly been chosen with thought and precision. I realized then that Caleb had designed this room entirely on his own. None of my opinions, none of my suggestions, had been part of this process. And yet, as I looked around, I could see his intention in every corner: a space that felt safe, welcoming, and full of quiet joy for a five-year-old boy. It was meticulous, controlled, and perfect. Even though Caleb wasn’t here with me he was in his office, immersed in his work I could feel him everywhere. The way the furniture was aligned, the way the toys were positioned, the balance of color and light: it all spoke of him. His care, his attention, his desire to create a space where Liam could feel happy and se

Lyra’s POV It had almost become routine for Caleb to claim me whenever he wanted. Sometimes, I’d wake to find myself without clothes, and him lying over me, his body warm against mine. Other times. I was awake, but I had no right to protest. I let him. Honestly… we both enjoyed it. Even when part of me wanted to resist, the rest of me couldn’t deny the pull I felt toward him. And yet, some moments hurt. Moments when I’d wake up and he wasn’t there. The emptiness of the bed, the silence of the room it was a reminder that no matter how close we were the night before, I had been the one who left him five years ago. The memory of my departure, of walking away from everything we had, still haunted me. Even briefly, even for hours, it left a pain in my chest I could never quite shake. I couldn’t understand why he had such power over me. Maybe it was because I still loved him more than I dared admit, even to myself. Every morning, my mind drifted to his kisses from the night bef

Caleb’s POV Hindi ko alam kung gaano na ako katagal nakatitig sa laptop screen ko, pero halos wala akong naiintindihan sa mga dokumentong nasa harap ko. All I could process was one sentence Yaya Mila said “Ma’am Lyra po, umalis na.” Umalis. Hindi nagsabi. Hindi nagpaalam. My jaw locked so hard I felt something strain. At hindi ko alam kung saan siya nagpunta. “Did she say where?” tanong ko, kahit alam kong hindi ko dapat ginagawa ’to kay Yaya Mila. My tone was clipped, sharp pero hindi ko mapigil. “Sa ano raw po, Sir… reunion nila. Sa Atria Grand Hall po sa Quezon City.” Atria Grand Hall. Reunion. "Damn it. I leaned back on my chair and exhaled through my nose, slowly, trying not to explode. Hindi siya nagpaalam. She could’ve. She should’ve. And the worst part? She tried I knew she did. Naalala ko pa kung paano siya pumasok kanina, kung paano siya nagsalita. The small, almost trembling voice. The way she stood there, hoping hoping na makikinig ako