Pretence Novels & Stories

“This animal happens to be a certain lawyer you’re pretending not to have feelings for?” Napakurap-kurap ako. Pretending? Paano niya nasabing nag-pre-pretend ako? Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. “I’m not pretending…” Kontra ko sa sinabi niya, kaya lang, parang tumututol naman itong puso ko. Kumabog bigla nang sumagi na naman sa isip ko ang ginawa ni Onse kanina. At hindi lang lang ‘yon, pati mga ginawa niya—mga effort parang slideshow na nag-fa-flash sa isipan ko. Hindi sadyang napahawak ako sa aking dibdib. Gusto kong pigilin ang nagwawalang tibok ng aking puso.

Almost “Good morning, Roxanne. What can I do for you?” Heather gave her a very fake smile the moment she turned her chair around. “You can’t do anything for me but you could definitely do something for Primo.” Umuklo siya para magpantay ang tingin nila saka nagbabantang nagsalita, “Stay away from him. I know you’re just using him as a passing fancy dahil hindi kayo magkaayos ng boyfriend mo. That, or namamangka ka sa dalawang ilog,” nang-aakusa nitong turan.

Why? Para akong binagsakan ng lupa at langit. Hindi ako makagalaw. Hindi ako makapaniwala. Paulit ulit pinoproseso sa utak ko ang sinabe ni Lucas. Paulit ulit tumatatak sa isip ko ang sinabe nito. Hindi matanggap ng sistema ko. hindi totoo sinabe ni Lucas. "I'm just pretending" "I'm just prentending" "I'm just prentending"

So I put on an act, one I hated with every fiber of my being. I brought another woman to the bachelor party, and saw Elaine with Kaizer. I almost forgot what I needed to do, but when the woman I brought hurt Elaine, I did everything to make her pay. I pretended not to notice the hurt in her eyes everytime, even whent it tore me apart. When one of the women tried to touch me, I pushed her away, whispering a harsh warning, “Don’t. You’re just here for show.” Still, the damage was done. Elaine believed the facade, and it killed me.

I don't want to pretend to be a straight shooter. Pretending is the thing I hate the most aside from betrayal. No matter how I try to be a good person I'll still return to my true self. I can fake my expressions and tell lies but if it's only necessary. Kahit sa sarili ko mismo ay hindi ko kayang mag-ipon ng sobrang kasinungalingan. Whenever I drown in lies, I feel suffocated.

No pretending to love everything. Just… real. And it was intoxicating. “Salamat ha,” sabi niya as she puts down her fork. “Ang boring ko ka-date noh. Wala man lang akong alam sa wine or fancy food.” “Stop,” sabi ko, malumanay lang naman. “You’re exactly what I needed tonight.” “Anong ibig mong sabihin?” “Honesty. Realness. Lahat sa mundo ko nagpapanggap. Pretends to like things they don’t. Pretends to understand things they don’t. Pretends to be things they’re not.”

Masyado. Pero sa tuwing tahimik, lalo kong naririnig ang mga tunog na gusto kong kalimutan—ang paghinga niya, ang panginginig ng boses niya kanina nang sabihin niyang ‘Then maybe stop pretending.’ She was right. I have been pretending. Pretending that I could still control myself. Pretending that Cynthia’s ghost was enough reason to stay away. Pretending that every time I look at Liza, I don’t feel something… forbidden.

"My very soft... and little Jocelle." Kakaibang kilabot ang bumalot sa buo kong katawan pero iyong klase ng kilabot na nagpabagal sa paghinga ko at nagpakislot sa sentro ng pagkababae ko. "We're just pretending!" nataranta kong pahayag. "Hindi pwede 'to."

Bahala na si Batman! Gara's Point of View I woke up before 5 a.m. at isang himala dahil ang aga kong nagising ngayon haha. "This is the day." Medyo bongga nga itong prank na magaganap dahil madadamay pa si Tito Pong at si Mr. Abs ang dakilang victim. Gising na kaya silang dalawa? I need to wear make up kahit papaano para mas ma-shock siya kapag nakita at nalaman niyang ako ito, ang babaeng nakasagutan niya sa coffee shop.

I shivered on that thought, at mabuti na lang at tagong-tago ako, naka black cap at mask, kaya hindi nila malalaman ang katauhan sa likod nito na posibleng maibenta sa iba pag hindi ko matutupad ang usapan ng boss nila. Pinaupo ako ni Sarge, ang bugaw at manager ng online sex trafficking dito sa amin. Makikita sa kanyang mukha ang pagkagulat at tuwa nung hinubad ko na ang aking mask at nakita niya ang imahe ng babaeng kilala sa pagiging ulirang anak ng buong baranggay.