“MAKE SURE na ang dokumentong ipadadala mo sa akin ay kompleto na, Mitch. Ayaw kong pa-istorbo sa buong linggong pahinga ko.”
“Yes, sir. Naayos ko na po ang folder. Ako po ang personal na magdadala sa mansion.”
“Good. See you tomorrow—oh, and please come around lunchtime. Ayaw kong gumising nang maaga.”
Tinapos na niya ang tawag at akmang i-iitsa ang cellphone sa front seat nang makitang 1% na lang ang battery niyon. He looked for the charger while his eyes still focused on the road, subalit hindi niya iyon makapa sa kahit saan.
Tahimik siyang nagmura saka itinuloy na lang ang pagmamaneho. I
“SA TINGIN ko ay kailangan na natin siyang dalhin sa ospital, Connie,”suhestiyon ni Selena nang lumabas ito sa guest room na okupado ni Rome sa bahay ng mga ito. Inisara muna ni Selena ang pinto at hinarap si Connie na nag-aalala na rin. “Nilalagnat na naman siya, at wala tayong gamot na pwedeng ipainom sa kaniya.” Sinulyapan ni Connie ang oras sa relos. It was only 7PM. Napabuntonghininga ito. “Kanina ko pa sinasabi ‘yan sa kaniya nang makipagkita siya sa amin ni Jiggy matapos lumayas sa bahay ng asawa. Ilang araw nang masama ang pakiramdam niya at kaninang umaga pa lang ay nilalagnat na siya. Pero ayaw niyang magpahatid sa ospital.” “We can’t take risks, Connie. Bun
HINDI MAINTINDIHAN NI ROME ANG NARARAMDAMAN. She was trying to open up her eyes, but she had no strength no matter how hard she tried. Kapag nabubuksan naman niya ang mga mata’y kaagad ding sasakupin ng dilim ang kaniyang paningin. At kung may nakikita man siya ay hindi malinaw. Hindi malinaw na imahe ni Cayson. Wait… Cayson? Oh. Right… Ang huling naalala niya ay nakita pa niya ito sa bahay nila Baron. And then, she c
“IPINALIWANAG KO NA sa buong pamilya ang tungkol kay Precilla, at nakahanda akong muling magpaliwanag sa harap mo ngayon. So, I need you to listen, okay?” Para siyang batang tumango. Handa siyang pakinggan ang lahat ng paliwanag nito at patawarin ito kahit hindi pa man ito humihingi ng patawad. Dahil bakit hindi? Hindi pa ba sapat ang pag-alalang nakita niya sa anyo nito? Ang pangingitim ng paligid ng mga mata nito, ang maputla nitong mukha? Hindi pa ba sapat na pinabayaan nito ang sarili para sa kaniya? At hindi pa ba sapat ang pangongompisal nito? Cayson just
DALAWANG BUWAN MAKALIPAS ay muling nagpakasal sina Rome at Cayson, but this time, it was held in the church. Natupad ang pangarap ni Rome na makasal sa simbahan at makapaglakad sa aisle. She was a happy bride, dahil naroon lahat sa simbahan ang mga mahal niya sa buhay, kabilang na ang lahat ng kaniyang mga kaibigan. Including Jiggy—na noo’y tanggap na tanggap na ng buong pamilya niya. Her parents realized that Jiggy was more than just a friend to her. She was like a family. Kaya naman simula nang magkita ang mga ito noong mga panahong nasa ospital siya ay hindi na naging iba ang pagturing ng kaniyang mga magulang rito. Lalo at maliban kay Cayson ay isa ito sa mga nagpuyat noon sa ospital upang bantayan siya. She had learned that she was unconscious for three days aft
"CONGRATULATIONS! You are six weeks pregnant." Rome's hands tightened on the armrests after hearing the doctor's announcement. She felt like her stomach turned upside down; she shivered as if her body was submerged in a drum of water full of ice. Her eyes blurred up in a mixture of panic and anxiety. Oh, God. Why did her life turn this way? "Are you alright?"
Rome slowly opened her eyes as she awoke to the gentle breeze blowing on her face. Upon waking up, the white ceiling was the first thing she saw. The wooden ceiling fan was rotating and blowing the wind at her. Where am I?she asked herself as she looked around. The place was familiar. Had she been here before? Wait… Am I still in the clinic? “Thank God, you’re awake!” She turned to the other side of the bed upon hearing the familiar voice. Jiggy— her best friend, was in the room with her. Beside Jiggy was Doctor Hernandez.&n
“Leave the guy out of th—” Jiggy let out a frustrating sigh. “Are you telling me that the guy isn’t willing to step up to the plate?” She couldn’t give Jiggy an answer. “Oh God, Rosenda…” Jiggy cursed under her breath. And for a long moment, they both remained quiet. She was nervous, while Jiggy was so pissed to utter a single word. The car sped up, too, scaring her in the process. “I had no idea that you have a boyfriend, Renz,” Jiggy said after a while. Her eyes were on the road, her breathing labored as she controlled her rage. &n
"I'll talk to you and Connie tomorrow at the same time about... what happened," Rome said as she got out of the car, peeking through the front seat window to bid her goodbye to Jiggy. Jiggy remained silent, but she could see the sadness and concern in her eyes. Jiggy could still not fathom how and why she fell into that devil's charm. Well— she did not. And she never would. Tomorrow, after the Sunday mass, she would invite her sister to go to their favorite coffee shop where Jiggy would wait for them. Her sister Connie and Jiggy were the only people she could trust in