TARAH "Sorry for calling suddenly." aniya. Napakurap-kurap ako. "You weren't answering my texts back. And... Ezekiel said— he, told me last night that... he saw you crying. I was worried."Muli ay napakurap-kurap ako. "Uhm... are you okay? Obviously you're not ok. You were crying. Uhm... I just want to say, if there's anything I could do, tell me."Talaga ba? Kung sabihin kong magmeet tayo sisipot kaba? Haharapin mo ba ako?I should be glad he called, that he's worried and is offering me help but... I don't find it sincere. Siguro kung pupuntahan niya ako oo.I started walking my way to the kitchen. Inuuhaw ako. "I understand your silence." aniya."You don't know me. You probably don't find this sincere." Nagulat ako. "I want to start getting to know you, and get you to know me. It took me this long to finally contact you, talk to you because... I'm not... a confident man."Sumandal ako sa sink. Pinakinggan siyang mabuti. He does sound uneasy."The best way to know a person is by spe
TARAHTo Atarah Schneider Perhaps you didn't want to receive the money immediate today cuz you're thinking you'd have to have breakfast with me starting today. Don't worry it doesn't start today. I have errands to do. I won't be with you today. I left your allowance under this note. Take it, and have breakfast before leaving for school. – Ezekiel SchneiderPaulit-ulit kong binasa ang pangalan ko at ng kaniya. Then his voice and words echoed in my mind. "My surname is now your surname.""Your surname, and my surname are the same.""I took you from your family."Itinabi ko ang note. Nakita ng kabuuan ang sobreng kulay pink. "Please..." I remember him whisper. Hinawakan ko ang sobre pero hindi magawang iangat iyon. "Please..." he whispers inside my head again. Huminga ako ng malalim at dinampot na ang sobre. Binuksan ko, blue bills. Pinadaan ko ang kuko sa bawat piraso. Napakunot ng noo nang may makita sa likod ng pera. I took it out. I wa
TARAHHe was single all his life but got broken once. May niligawan siyang kaibigan. They were close but she only gave her mixed signals. Hindi naman pala siya gusto ni girl. When he asked her to be in a relationship with him, she declined. And from then on, she never talked to him again. He also never tried to get into a relationship dahil tingin niya, marereject lang ulit siya. Ito ang napag-usapan namin ni Gabriel kagabi."Here," ani Ezekiel. Tapos ng hiwain ang pakwan. Umuwi siya ngayong umaga."So my brother visited?" He asked as he sat down in front of me."Yes. But I didn't saw his face. He was in the dark."Sumubo siya ng pakwan. Rinig ko ang pagnguya niya. Sumusunod ang aking tingin sa galaw ng kaniyang panga. Anuba, Tarah! Kumain kana!Kahit hindi ko kita ang ilalim ng mesa ay alam kong nakakrus ang isa niyang paa."Want me to tell you how he looks?"Napatitig ako sa kaniya bilog ang mata. Hindi ako tatangi diyan."He's got a beard too. Got a body like mine. We sometimes wor
TARAHNauna siya sa bahay. Nanatili siya doon sa guest room. Nagbihis ako sa aking kwarto. It feels weird that he's in the house but cannot be seen around the house. I put on a tight shirt and a jogger pants. I want him to see that I am not dressing up for him because I'm not aiming to impress him. He will meet, me. So if he doesn't like the girl he met I would know that it was the real me he didn't liked. Nagkapalit kami ngayon ng pwesto. Siya doon sa may kama. Lumapit naman ako sa bintana. I don't mind if he sees me. Nakita na niya ako kaya ba't pa ako magtatago? Ramdam ko ang paninitig niya. On his last visit, I asked him if he knows what I look like. Baka nagsend si Ezekiel ng picture ko or ano. He was honest to admit, that he stalked me one time. Silang dalawa ni Ezekiel. Naaalala ko na ramdam kong may nakatingin sa akin doon sa park after kong pirmahan ang kontrata. Sila palang dalawang magkapatid ang nakatingin sa akin. Hindi siya nagpakilala agad at hindi nagsabi ng anong
TARAHTumunog ang bell hudyat na may pumasok. Nag-angat ako ng tingin. Napamura ako. Mabuti nalang ay hindi mainit na kape ang sinasalin ko. Kundi ay baka napaso ako. Bakit siya nandito? Alam niya bang ito ang cafe na pinagtatrabauhan ko? Deretso siya sa counter. Thankfully katulong ko ngayon si Neana. Siya ang kumukuha ng order. Rinig ko ang boses niya mula rito. Ilang hakbang lang naman kasi ang layo ko. Sana ay natatabunan ako ng menu board. He ordered iced americano. Para bang nanahimik ang buong cafe para marinig ko siya. Or it really turned quiet 'cause almost all the customer where gawking at him. Pinanatili ko ang tingin sa ginagawa. I can't mess up. Manginginig lalo ako kapag nakita kong nakatitig din siya."Shit!" Mahinang mura ko. Unti-unting bumabalik sa akin ang alaala kagabi. Abala ako sa pagluluto. Akala ko ay wala pa siya. Sa pag-ikot ko ay nakita ko siyang nakatayo doon. Walang saplot pangitaas. Kumakapit sa kaniyang buhay ang kaniyang pantalon. Nasa akin ang kaniy
TARAHNapaangat agad ako ng tingin nang makarinig ng sipol. Si Neana pala. Dito na ako sa cafe nagbihis. Kaysa umuwi pa ako. "Ngayon palang kita nakitang nagsuot ng ganiyan. Ang seksi!" Biro niya. Natatawa kong inirapan. I'm wearing a black ruched bodycon t-shirt dress. Abot hanggang tuhod. Ayoko magsuot ng revealing. Ayoko din naman ng sobrang manang. Strap dress iyong isa kong dress. Iyong isa naman ay longsleeve. Ayokong magsuot ng mini skirt kaya kahit may magandang top na pares doon ay ito nalang ang pinili kong suotin. Kita ang hubog ng katawan ko kahit pa balot hanggang tuhod. Wala akong stilettos, at nakalimutan kong magdala ng sandals kaya itong puting sapatos nalang ang isusuot ko. I wish it doesn't look bad. Hindi ko naman talaga pinaghandaan. But I wanna blend in even just a little. Baka sosyal pala ang mga nandoon. Parang ayoko na tuloy tumuloy. Pumayag pa ako wala naman pala akong maisusuot."Alis na ako." Paalam ko sa kaniya. Tumango siya. Nginingisian ako. Kinakalk
EZEKIELSo this is how it feels like having you in my arms? I smiled like an idiot. Its been five minutes since you completely doze off to sleep as we kiss. I still have you in my arms. Sleeping. Your face burried on my chest. "Oppz!" You're slipping down. Off to a deep sleep. I don't want to let you go yet. Yakap kita. Ayokong gumalaw. I know I should put you to bed, but just a little more. Let me hug you just a little longer. You perfectly fit on me. Your hair smell so good. I smiled like an idiot again when you squeeze yourself on me. Darling are you comfy? "Fuck!" I cursed when your nose touched my neck. And felt your soft mounds crashing on my chest. I need to put you to bed. Have you off of me because it's starting to get hot. You were sound asleep as I carry you up the stairs. Groaned when I lay you down your bed. Don't want me to let you go? Me too. I covered you with the bed sheet bago ko pa pasadahan ng tingin ang iyong katawan. That dress shows your curves. I must not
TARAHHindi ako hinayaan ng dalawang magkapatid na maglinis sa kusina kagabi. Natulog ako agad kaya maaga din ang naging gising ko. And it's monday. I have early class. Hindi ko pa alam kung paano ako papasok neto. Kung susunduin ba ako ni mang Marlon, o ihahatid ako ni Ezekiel? Or commute? Uunahin ko na munang iisipin ang almusal. I don't know if Everest prefer heavy over light breakfast. I don't know as well if Ezekiel brought his protein shake. Nahihiya akong pakialaman ang kusina. Pero gusto kong ipaghanda sila ng agahan. Una kong binuksan ang fridge. May makakain naman pero mukhang hindi na aabutin hanggang bukas ang pagkain. Maybe Eve always order his food. Or sakto lang na hindi pa siya nakapaggrocery? I will prepare light and heavy breakfast. Yon lang din naman ang choice ko. Bahala na kung anong kainin nila. Naninibago ako sa kusina. Nasanay na ako doon sa bahay. Nagulat ako nang sa pag-ikot ko ay nakamasid pala si Eve. Ang haba ng Everest, kaya Eve nalang. Patagilid siya