CHAPTER 20

Kinabukasan, maaga ulit akong nagising, not because of the sound of the bell in the convent and my alarm clock but because my phone rang. Sa una, akala ko si Cameron 'yon pero ibang pangalan ang nakita ko sa screen.And why would I expect him to call me early in the morning?"Head's up, Alya! Pumayag ka na! Saka this will be the first and last time na makakasama natin ang ating kaibigan!" I heard Jamaica yelled on the other line.Mabuti nalang at nilagay ko sa lamesa ang cellphone kung hindi, baka kanina pa ako nawalan ng pandinig. Inaayos ko ang belo sa aking ulo habang nakatingin sa sariling repleksiyon sa salamin. "I will go, Jam. Pero sa kasal na siguro, this time I cannot go with you para—"She cuts me off."What?! Ano ka? This is a girl's hangout! Kaibigan natin si Ella and we should at least be present sa mga gusto niyang gawin before her wedding! And she asked me to bring you kasi alam niya na hindi ka papayag kapag siya ang tatawag sayo!" One of our friends in college, Ell

CHAPTER 21

Being a servant of god is the only way I can find peace, where I could express my feelings, where I could feel the warmth of him. Pakiramdam ko, kapag malapit ako sa kanya, I am being protected, I am being heard and I am being loved. That's why, I chose this path even after the words of the people around me— I chose this.Umalis agad kami ni Jam sa convent. I was sitting on the front seat of her hilux while she is beside me, driving. She's busy talking to her phone, maybe business.I met Jam in college, siya ang kauna-unahan kong naging kaibigan. Hindi siya gaanong malapit sa mga kaklase namin dahil na rin sa pagkamaldita niya. Although, I found her really kind, kaso yong aura niya lang talaga, nakakatakot. Eventually, dumami naman ang mga kaibigan niya dahil sa sobrang dal-dal niya rin. She's managing their family's business right now. She's one of the elites, after all.Tinignan ko ang tanawin sa labas. I can't help but to think about what she told me lately. I have only one reaso

CHAPTER 22

Me:Bakit?I tap the send button and put my phone above the table. Panay pa rin ang bangayan ng dalawa kong kaibigan kaya hindi ko nalang sila binigyan pa ng pansin. My phone then suddenly vibrated, kinuha ko ito at tinignan ang reply niya.Cameron:Is it bad to ask? It is. Kung hindi naman tayo gaanong ka-close.Me:Not really. I'm outside the convent. Kasama mga kaibigan ko.After masend ang reply ko ay napaisip ako kung bakit ko ba siya nireplayan? And why did I even answer his question? I bit my lips. Well, it's a normal decency of a person. He asked and I just answered. Tama lang naman ang ginawa ko.Cameron: I see. That's great. You should enjoy."Bukas pala, pupunta akong batangas. I will be going to try the buffet and the two of you will come with me," narinig kong sabi ni Ella.I put my phone inside my bag and did not reply to Cameron. There's no need for a word naman. "Wow! Ano kami? Assistant mo? Saka nasaan ba yang fiancee mo? Why don't you bring him instead?" Jam prote

CHAPTER 23

I slowly lay down on my bed while holding the phone. "Ayos lang?" Hindi ko talaga alam, I am enjoying of course however, I just feel really drained. I heard him sighed on the other line. Before I let him say anything, inunahan ko na siya."Bakit ka napatawag? I thought you're in business trip? Marami kang oras para mag mukmok sa cellphone mo?" This time, I heard him chuckle."Well, Am I not allowed to call you? And yes, I'm still in a business trip also I always have time for my personal business," sagot niya.Napa-irap ako. Perosnal business? "You're not allowed to call me, that's not part of any agreement that we have. And your personal business does not include me," I fired back.Kusa nalang yan lumabas sa bibig ko. We have agreed on something, I agreed— voluntarily. I can't deny it, not now that I spill it on him. "You answered." he said as if it is the answer of all the problems in the universe.Tumahimik ako. Tama nga rin naman siya. If he is not allowed then why would I e

CHAPTER 24

"What do you think?" Ella asked after I ate one spoon of the food in front of me.Andito kami sa batangas para sa food tasting. Maaga kaming nakarating dito since maaga din ang call time ni Ella. As usual, Jam fetched me. Nakapag paalam din ako kay Sister Esther before leaving the convent.Tumango ako kay Ella."It's good," I commented."Masarap siya." Sagot ni Jam.Ella clapped her hands in excitement then gestured the restaurant's staff an approval sign. We have tried almost ten sample of foods from the appetizer up to the dessets and all of them was worth chewing. Ella told us this is her parents favorite restaurant kaya ito rin ang napili niya to serve for her wedding."Parang hindi naman to food tasting! Breakfast ko na to e'." reklamo ni Jamaica habang umiinom ng juice. Tumawa kami ni Ella."Sabing dalawang subo lang, nakaka-apat ka sa isang putahi!" "Sorry ah! Ginawa mo akong driver tas ititipid mo ako sa pagkain? Hanap ka ibang kasama mo sa susunod. Hayaan natin yan siya Aly

CHAPTER 25

Muntik na akong matumba sa aking kinatatayuan. My heart skip a beat, doble ang kaba ko at hindi ko matanto kung ano ang dahilan. I am scared, yet something inside me feels different."Where have you been?"Standing in front of my tiny square-shape window, wearing his usual suits but this time, he removed his coat the white polo shirt was being left. Nakita ko ang itim niyang coat sa rack, it was being well-hung there. Sa gilid ng aking kama, nakita ko ang silver rolex niya na nakalagay sa ibabaw ng maliit kong drawer. Kuwarto niya to?"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" pagalit kong tanong at isinara ang pintuan.Paano siya nakapasok? As far as I remember, I locked my door! Nag double check pa ako! Nag kibit balikat siya at lumakad palapit sa aking higaan saka doon komportableng umupo."I just came home from the trip," simple niyang sagot.As if I care? Ano ba itong ginagawa niya? Dito? He did not even answered my question!"Akala ko ba tatawag ka? Bakit andito ka?"He tilted his head and sta