NAALIMPUNGATAN si Kimberly nang makaramdam ng wisik ng tubig sa kanyang mukha.Shocked to her hilt, bigla siyang napabalikwas mula sa pagkakahiga. Her heartbeat skyrocketed when the view before her slowly cleared. The whole place was dark except for a dim ray coming from a far light tower. Worse, napapalibutan siya ng... ‘tubig?’She was frantic when she scanned the whole place a couple of more times. She remembered falling asleep. She could also recall how much she wanted to avoid the pain on Jace’s face, thus, she closed her eyes. Pero hindi niya maalala kung kung kailan siya binuhat nito at dinala sa lugar na ‘yon.She was laying on a wooden floor. There was a railing surrounding the place. Madilim ang paligid at walang maririnig kundi ang naghahalinhinang pag

‘He said I'm good at this. Really good at this. I can draw real good! I can --’ "Kim?" Sandaling nanigas ang leeg ni Kim nang marinig ang pagtawag na yon kasabay ng mga yabag sa sahig. Her shaky hand moved fast to grab on all the pens that were cluttered above the bed. Pati ang hawak na lumang notebook na nakuha niya mula sa library ni Jace ay mabilisan niyang inipit sa ilalim ng kutson. "Kim, nakita mo ba -- Are you okay?" Huminto ito sa pintuan ng kwarto nang makita siyang patayo mula sa pagkakatalungko at nagpapagpag ng mga kamay sa suot na puting t-shirt, her usual attire - his plain white Hanes. "O-oo naman." She crossed her fingers behind her and kept her smile as sweet as she could, making sure that the eye contact doesn't break. Kahit na nga atat na atat yata ang mga mata niyang bumaba sa hubad na sikmura nito, maglaro sa garter ng suot nitong board shorts at makipaglaro sa kung ano mang laman noon. Not having to see him for two days should have been peaceful for her - ma

Nemesis... Nanlalatang binagsak ni Jace ang sarili sa swivel oras na makarating sa kanyang library. Both of his hand found its way to cover his face. His chest felt like falling off and yet all he did was sit there and try not to make any strange sound. Ang lapit lang ni Kimberly baka marinig siya. ‘Keep calm. Stay okay. You gotta to understand...’ Mayamaya pa ay nauwi sa pagkuyom ang mga palad na nakatakip sa kanyang mga mata. He felt his eyes heating up for the hundredth time, but just like any other days, he denied himself the right to cry. ‘Stop the drama... Kasalanan mo yan. Ginawa sa sarili mo yan. Pagbayaran mo---’ "D*mn!" Hindi niya napigil ang pabalibag na ibagsak ang dalawang kamao sa kaharap na lamesa. The impact made all the things on the top of the table shook causing some of the papers to fall off his desk. Hanggang sa lumitaw yung folder na sadyang tinakpan niya ng iba pang dokumento. ‘God, out of all people... why me? His throat burned in a want to throw that ho

"Good morning."Dagling nabitawan ni Kimberly ang hawak na ballpen kasabay ng marahas na pagbiling sa direksyon ng pintuan. Her other hand moved on its own accord to crunch and tear the notebook page she was drawing on. Agad na tinapon niya ang lukot na papel sa sahig. 'Damn it! Did he see?' "Ano na naman ba kailangan mo?"He didn't answer fast. Nanatili lang si Jace na nakatayo sa pintuan ng kwarto. Pinasadahan nito ng tingin ang mga kalat sa sahig bago walang ekspresyon na tumingin sa kanya. He raised his brow. "That's my inventory notebook.""And so?" She tucked the notebook under her crossed legs. Making an adamant childlike expression while staring at him. "We're wedded so it's a conjugal property now, Mr Mangino.""Oh really?" Hindi nakaiwas sa kanyang pandinig ang sarkasmo nito nang patamad itong sumandal sa hamba ng pintuan. "So you are finally swallowing the idea of getting tied up to me?"She raised her middle finger as an answer and gave him a sweet smile. He just laughed a

MABILIS ang mga hakbang ni Jace habang tinatawid ang distansya papunta sa pribadong kwartong nasa dulo ng puti at pahabang pasilyo.The smell of different medicines coating his nostrils was so strong, he could almost see himself swimming on it. Pero wala na siyang pakialam doon.It's been three fucking days of hell. A minute more of delay is going to kill him easily."Mr. Mangino, pakipirmahan po --" he shove the papers that were blocking his way. Ni hindi niya nilingon ang gulat na ekspresyon ng nurse na nagtangkang mag-abot sa kanya ng waiver ng ospital. Kumalat sa sahig ang hawak nito ngunit hindi man lang nagbago ang ritmo ng kanyang pagkilos. Wala rito ang kanyang atensyon, at mas lalong wala naman sa ilang mga matang napalingon sa kanyang direksyon dahil sa kanyang ginawa.Nang sa wakas ay marating niya ang dulo ng pasilyo ay kagyat na napahinto ang kanyang mga paa. Kabaligtaran sa kanyang sabik na paggalaw ay naging napakahirap naman para sa kanyang iangat ang kamay para abutin