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Chapter 15
NASA sala si Joaquin sa bagong tirahan ni Luna at kanina pa nakabantay si Monique sa kanya. Ang balingkinitang babaeng may malagong buhok at maiksing pananamit ay nakatayo sa pinto ng kwarto ni Luna at binabantayan siya. Nakahalukipkip ito at panay ang tapik ng talampakan sa sahig.
Nilinga niya ang paligid. Hindi na siya nag-aksayang maupo sa monoblock na in-offer ni Luna kaninang pagdating niya. Nakatayo lang siya sa gitna ng sala na walang kalaman-laman.
Tumikhim siya. “Is there anything else you need?” tanong niya sa dalawang babae.
Sumilip si Luna mula sa loob ng kwarto nito. “Sorry, just a bit more. Inaayos ko lang itong dala mong folding bed. Salamat pala ulit, ha?”
“No problem. And I’
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The Wayward Daughter Chapter 16
TATLONG BESES na bumusina si Joaquin at nagmamadaling lumabas ng bahay si Luna para pagbuksan ng gate ang bagong dating. Nang makapasok at mapatay ang makina ng motorsiklo ay nauna na si Luna sa loob ng bahay at hinintay si Joaquin na makapasok. Ito na ang nag-lock ng bahay. “How’s Monique?” she asked. “Always a handful,” he joked. Luna smiled nervously. She didn’t speak, she waited for him to start the conversation. Joaquin took a deep breath. “Okay, I’ll start. I wanted to talk to you, to apologize. I was crass.” He didn’t break eye contact. “Sorry sa nangyari sa pharmacy. You were acting like a child. I didn’t think you would take it too far. Will you be honest with me?” “I thought you wanted to apologize,” gagad niya. He couldn’t even apologize properly. Sinapo nito ang noo nito. “Right. I’ll get to it.” Pagak siyang natawa pero hindi na niya iyon sinundan. “Be honest. You know I’m here for you. Always. But, do you see yourself crossing this boundary that we have?” Mabi
The Wayward Daughter Chapter 17
“I HAVE an idea,” wika ni Monique sa kabilang linya. “Go on,” susog ni Luna. Hawak ang lighter na naka-emboss ang katagang CLIPPER, sinindihan niya ang nakarolyong maria. Hinithit niya iyon at saglit na pinigilan ang hangin sa dibdib. “Are you familiar with the concept of selling foot pictures online?” Napabuga siya ng hangin sa narinig sabay tawa ng pagkalakas-lakas. “My god, Monique!” hindi niya mapigilan ang mapalakas ang boses sa naging suhestiyon ng kaibigan. “Have you been online all this time selling pictures to strangers on the Internet?” she playfully asked. Luna heard Monique scoff. “No, dumdum. But this can pay your bills.” She shook her head. “I can apply in BPO or as VA and yet the first job you think I could do is sell foot pics online?” Luna said in disbelief, but didn’t try to hide her laugh. Monique laughed along with her. “You will be instant rich, hon.” Luna giggled. “Seriously, Monique?!” Bumunghalit na siya ng tawa. “Yes! Imagine the amount you will s
The Wayward Daughter Chapter 18
JOAQUIN MENDIOLA, isang English instructor sa isang institute sa Quezon City, madalas tuksuhin ng kapwa instructors na maraming estudyante ang nahuhumaling sa gandang lalaki niya. Kakaunti lang ang tinatanggap niyang klase dahil sa nature ng trabaho niya bilang isang musikero. Pagpasok niya lang ng building nila na may anim na palapag, marami na ang bumabati sa kanya mula sa guwardiya. ‘Sir Joaquin’ siya sa paaralan, pero madalas ay Sinatra Blue ang tawag sa kanya ng mga nakakakilala sa kanya sa labas. He chose not to talk about his career as a musician between his co-instructors but they are well aware of his reputation, however little it may be. He doesn’t engage his students with talks of gigs and which bar he frequents or what event he’s doing tonight. It doesn’t sit right with him that they are too close for comfort. Although his media presence doesn't hide the fact of his whereabouts, he kind of wanted to ignore those familiar faces just because. Sometimes he would nod, sm
The Wayward Daughter Chapter 19
HINDI MAPAKALI si Clip sa kanyang pagkakaupo. Exam nila ngayon at pakiramdam niya ay hindi niya ito napaghandaan ng maayos. Nagpuyat na nga siya kagabi para lang maabsorb ng kukote niya ang dapat makabisado dahil isa iyon sa hinihingi ng examen. Isa rin sa dahilan kung bakit hindi siya mapakali ay dahil ramdam niya ang mga matang nakatutok sa kanya. Tila iyon mga karayom na bumabaon sa balat niya. Pero baka gawa-gawa lang iyon ng isip niya, pagkumbinsi niya sa sarili. Hindi ba’t normal naman ang pag-aakala na ikaw ang centro ng atensyon kahit ang katotohanan ay wala namang may pakialam sa iyo, sadyang malakas lang ang hatak ng insecurity ni Clip ngayon dahil alam niyang hindi maayos ang itsura niya ngayon. Lukot ang uniform niya, halata iyon dahil wala naman siyang plantsa at maski ang palda niya ay bakat ang pagkalukot niyon. Alam niya ring nangangamoy sabon panglaba siya. Nag-handwash lang siya at hindi siya gumagamit ng fabric conditioner dahil ayaw niya ang mga amoy niyon, isa
The Wayward Daughter Chapter 20
CLIP LET her feelings sit idly, making her feel the biggest idiot that walked the planet. She wasn’t insulted by what Monique said. It’s so typical of Monique her immediate reaction when she left Romano was to roll her eyes. Of course, Monique truly cared. In her own twisted ways, Clip knows she cared for her. It’s just that… Clip associates it with weakness. Hindi siya kumportableng magpakita ng kahinaan sa harap ng ibang tao lalo na ngayon na pakiramdam niya ay nasa rock bottom siya. Only to find that there’s another rock underneath and it goes on, and on, and on. She’s tired of asking for help from these people. Monique, Joaquin, Alex, Romano. Her parents? Nah, they’re fine and busy with their own lives. She misses them, especially her Mommy. Her father, she couldn’t care less. Every time she asks for her friends’ help, they always come through. It was always her asking for help. At nakakahiya na. Hindi na siya natutuwa na palagi na lang siya ang mukhang kaawa-awa ang buhay.
The Wayward Daughter Chapter 21
CLIP TRIED TO eat slowly and savor her food. She’s happy she’s eating real, real, as in real freaking food that she could stomach. Nothing beats hot soup with rice. This is one of the meals her Mommy would cook when she’s sick. This could honestly cure her, plus placebo taking effect. Hindi siya marunong magluto ngunit sinusubukan niya. Kung hindi, masasayangan lang siya ng pagkain, lalo na noong binilhan siya ng stock ni Monique ng unang gabi niya sa bahay. Ngayon ay puro siya protein bar at canned goods. Mas inuuna niya ang maria kaysa sa masustansyang pagkain. Hindi na rin naman siya makakapagluto dahil wala nang laman ang LPG tank
The Wayward Daughter Chapter 22
THEY ARE NOW eating dessert. Clip happily danced when she downed her last halo-halo. Natawa si Sinatra na nakakalahati pa lang ang halo-halo nito.“Thank you so much for the treat, Mr. Blue.”“Anytime, Luna. Anytime.”“Do you want to talk to me about something? Why else would you take me out for lunch?” tanong niya rito.“Can’t I just take you out for lunch? Masama na ba iyon?”Nagkibit-balikat siya. “I know you think you’re the father figure in my life…” she trailed off. Parang papunta na siya sa pakikipag-away. Kakakain lang nila pero ang tono niya ay napaka-ungrateful na.
The Wayward Daughter Chapter 23
HINDI NA ALAM NI Clip kung saan siya dinadala ni Sinatra. Basta ay sumasama na lang siya rito. Naka-turn off ang utak niya kapag may kasama siyang iba, lalo na ito. She doesn’t have to stress or think about others. Mas gusto niyang siya ang inaasikaso. Inunahan niya agad ito na magsalita pagkatapos nilang um-order.Nasa corner booth sila. Very cozy ang lighting ng paligid. They don’t use big lights inside the establishment. She’s all for that. She approves of that. She could melt right in this seat because of how warm the place looks.“What’s your regular, day job?” usisa niya rito. Nilaro niya ang napkin dispenser sa gitna ng mesa.Huminga ito n
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