Stand-off Novels & Stories

I just want my existence to be acknowledged. “What?” tanong niya, halatang hindi na makapaghintay na umuwi. Inabot pa ng ilang sandali pero wala pa rin akong maisip na pag-uusapan! “I have no time for this,” he said to finally end the conversation. Doon lang yata ako natauhan kaya agad ko siyang hinabol patungo sa parking lot. Damn, nakakahiya itong naiisip ko!

He nods slowly. Then, unexpectedly, he steps forward and presses his forehead lightly to mine. No grabbing. No urgency. Just contact. “They’re going to try to break us apart strategically,” he murmurs. “They already are.” “Then don’t let them turn this into a battlefield where we’re on opposite sides.” I pull back slightly. “We are on opposite sides.” “No,” he says firmly. “We’re on opposite reactions.” That lands differently. He reaches for my hand. Interlaces our fingers.

Habang magkasama silang dalawa sa opisina, nakatayo sa harap ng malaking glass window overlooking Manila, hinawakan ni Liam ang kamay ni Celine. “Do you feel that?” tanong niya. “Feel what?” “The shift. The war isn’t over… but the tide is turning. And this time, it’s in our favor.” Ngumiti si Celine. “Then let’s finish this—together.” ---

Paano iyon ngayon kung magtataxi lang pala ako? "What's wrong?" Baritonong boses ng lalaki ang narinig ko sa aking likod. Kung hindi ko lang agad nalingunan ay baka inatake na ako sa puso. André Roble Coleman is standing behind me. Hanggang ngayon! Hindi ko inakala na nanatili siya doom Why would I took in his serious features. His properly chiseled face and masculinity made me forget that he's an enemy to me. This devil wants an arrangement! Magulo na nga ang buhay ko, mas Ialo niya pa yatang paguguluhin!

“The kind people pretend doesn’t exist so they can sleep at night.” She followed hesitantly — or rather, was dragged by him. Each echo of boots on metal grated against her nerves. She caught glimpses: boxes stamped with foreign markings, the glint of gun barrels, the faint clatter of cash. One man approached, nervous but respectful. “Boss. Shipment’s late. The Russians held the last container.” Hades didn’t even blink. “Call them. Tell them if they’re not here in fifteen minutes, I’ll sink their next one.”

Julian’s eyes snapped to him. Cold. Deadly. “Careful.” “Why?” Adrian challenged quietly. “Because you’re crossing a line.” Adrian stepped closer. “Then maybe it needed to be crossed.” My heart pounded wildly. Because this wasn’t subtle anymore. This was open war. ~~~ The tension broke when the stranger finally stepped back. Relaxed. Unbothered. “I’ve said what I came to say.” Julian’s voice was sharp. “You said nothing.” “I said enough.” His eyes flicked to me one last time.

“kahit ano.” “For a month?” hirit pa niya. “Nope. Two weeks lang.” “What? Ang mo naman! Bakit sakin two months? Sayo two weeks lang?” tutol niya. “take it or leave it?” “Fine. take it.” “”Deal?” “Okey, deal. sabi niya at tinaas niya ang kamay nila na magakahawak. “Fighting

palusot ko, sabay ngumiti ng hilaw. Ngumiti lang ito habang nakatitig sa akin. Nang matauhan naman ako, kaagad kong kinalas ang yakap nito sa akin. Ngunit kung mahigpit ang yakap niya kanina, mas lalo pang humigpit ngayon. “Can we stay like this for five more minutes?” said Gino. Napakunot ang noo ko. “Gino nahihibang ka na ba?” Pilit kong tinatanggal ang braso nito sa baywang ko. “Hindi pwede ito.”

Hindi ko alam ang isasagot ko at parang natakot ako sa kanya dahil parang wala siya sa mood na makipag-usap. ‘’Pwedi bang lubayan mo ako? Pwedi bang gumawa ka ng boundaries between us kahit dito man lang sa Academy? And please, huwag mo akong kakausapin…!’’, sabi niya at pagkatapos ay nagpatuloy na siya sa paglalakad.

"Stop it, papa; you medling in my life is never good. It will ruin me and us. So don't try, just don't." "Henry you don't understand." Rinig niya ang malambot sa boses nito. Mariing niyang pinikit ang mata at madilim na tinignan ito. Napalunok nalang sa takot si Shane. "I don't think you're the one who doesn't understand. I only told you this. We talk about this matter. I already told you, I don't want to marry you Shane."