Aireen and I were both speechless when we got to her apartment. My mind was still confused, which is why I didn't drop off at Nanay Victoria's house first. Besides that, I also plan to take the car and some of my things that she brought home after I called her before. I reviewed Zachary's laptop again to uncover further documents that would shed light on the situation, but I've gone through all of them one by one, and even with his lesson plans that were saved, I still didn't find anything in the end.Napahilot na lamang ako sa aking sentido at tuluyan nang sumuko. Pagod kong isinandal ang aking likod sa sofa at wala sa sariling napaangat ng tingin sa kisame, nagbabaka sakali na may ideyang papasok sa utak ko. Halos ilang minuto rin ako sa gano'ng posisyon hanggang sa mapalingon ako kay Aireen nang lumabas siya sa kusina, may bitbit siyang baso na may lamang lemonade juice at saka iyon inilagay sa center table na nasa harapan ko."Ano'ng sunod mong plano?" usisa niya habang umuupo sa
(WARNING: THIS CHAPTER MAY TRIGGER YOUR ANXIETY/DEPRESSION/PANIC DISORDER)"Thank God you're stupider than me. I thought I was the most dimwitted person on earth." I laughed mockingly and wiped my tears. "Do you really think you can shove that lie at me? You did me wrong and you still had the fvcking audacity to turn the tables to put the blame on me? Cut that shit and, for once, act like a man!" I screamed and pushed him hard on his chest.Para naman siyang walang lakas na nagpadala sa tulak ko. He looked lost. Nakayuko lang siya at tila nawalan ng planong magsalita pa."Ang kapal ng mukha mo para ipagpilitang nagloko ako! Ang kapal ng mukha mo para gumawa ng k'wento kahit pa alam nating lahat ang totoo! Putangina, anong klaseng tao ka? Tao ka pa nga ba?" Nakagat ko ang ibaba kong labi dahil gusto na namang kumawala ng mga hikbi ko. "Ganiyan ka na ba talaga? Ganiyan na ba talaga kayo? Lahat na lang ng kagaguhan niyo pipilitin niyong ipalunok sa akin. Putangina, anak ko ang pinatay ni
I felt someone brushing my hair as I awoke. Gently and sweetly, as though lulling me back to sleep. It was cold all around me, and there's also a strange, familiar smell that stings my nose."Baby, I'm always here for you. We will get through this," I heard someone mutter, and then felt something touch my forehead.Marahan akong nagmulat at bumungad sa akin ang namumungay na mga mata ni Zachary. Bakas ang pag-aalala at pamomroblema sa kaniyang mukha. Gulo-gulo ang kaniyang buhok at halos nangingitim din ang ilalim ng kaniyang mga mata, tila ba ilang araw siyang hindi nakatulog. Blangko lang naman ang ekspresyon ko, binalewala ko ang kaniyang presensya at inilibot ang paningin ko sa paligid. Puro puti ang pintura ng silid, nakahiga ako sa isang hospital bed habang may nakakabit na dextrose sa akin. Hindi rin nakatakas sa paningin ko ang benda sa aking pupulsuhan. Sa mga sandaling iyon ay unti-unting bumalik ang mga alaala ko bago pa man ako mawalan ng malay. Muli akong pumikit at pagod
It's been two weeks since Zachary brought me to his condo. At first, I had no idea why we didn't go to Nanay Victoria's house, but then I heard his phone call with his friend, Thelmo. He wanted me to be close to a psychologist so that if I ever thought about getting checked, it would be easy. I just shrugged it off and kept ignoring him. Napatuon ang atensyon ko kay Angel nang muntikan na siyang mahulog sa cat condo na binili ni Zachary noong isang araw. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pinag-aaksayahan niya ng pera ang pusa ko, kayang-kaya ko namang i-provide 'yon. I am her mother, he's a stranger. Ano'ng karapatan niya para umaktong co-parent sa pusa ko? Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kuting. Maingat ko siyang dinampot at dinala sa kama, hinaplos ko ang kaniyang balahibo habang bahagyang nakanguso. Sinubukan niyang kumawala sa kandungan ko para muling tumakbo sa cat condo na nasa gilid ng k'warto, pero pinigilan ko siya. "Ikaw, ah? Nagpapaloko ka sa isang 'yon," ani ko at umirap. "Cheap lang 'y
(WARNING: This chapter may contain content of an adult nature. If you are easily offended or are under the age of 18, please exit now. Pero s'yempre hindi ka susunod 17below.)It was already past four in the afternoon when I woke up. I didn't even realize that I fell asleep crying. A small table on the side of the bed caught my eye as I gazed around the room. In addition to a bouquet of flowers, there was a plate of stir-fried noodles on it. I approached the table with nothing on my mind when I noticed a note on the edge of the plate. I took it and read it right away.To the most gorgeous woman I've ever met,I'm sorry. Whatever I did wrong, which I don't know, I want to apologize for it. I hope this small gesture will help you feel better.Ilang segundo kong tinitigan ang sulat niya. Pilit kong inaalala ang dahilan ng galit ko kanina pero tila hindi ko alam kung saan iyon hahanapin ngayon. Naguguluhan ako sa inasta ko. Kahit anong gawin ko, hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit sumama ang
(TRIGGER WARNING)Zachary was sound asleep next to me as I stared silently up at the ceiling. He gave me a warm hug around the waist while his head sat on my neck. I glanced at him for a second, then sighed warily.I asked him to fvck me, not because I wanted to, but because I needed him to do that in order to prove to myself that he and Eunice are still connected. But I admit, I was lost for a moment when we were busy doing that. It was as if my libido fully controlled my body, and I didn't feel any disgust.Isang buntonghininga na lamang ang pinakawalan ko at marahan na umalis sa pagkakayakap niya. Hinila ko ang comforter na tumatabon sa hubad naming katawan at umupo, ipinulupot ko ang kumot sa akin. Wala sa sarili kong nasuklay ang aking buhok gamit ang aking mga daliri saka siya muling nilingon.On a sinking ship with all of us on board, Zachary chose to abandon Eunice. Why? I am unaware of that. What is the strongest potential cause for him to break his previous commitment to her
A mixture of machine noise and whispers woke me up from my deep sleep. My eyesight was blurry as I gently opened my eyes. I wasn't sure if I was awake or in delirium. There were a few vague people I couldn't figure out, including one wearing a white lab coat and a man in front of him who had his back to me. They were speaking, but I was having trouble understanding them.What's going on?Sinubukan kong ibuka ang bibig ko para magsalita, pero hindi ko magawa. Tila may kung anong nakaharang sa lalamunan ko na hindi ko matukoy kung ano. Para ding sinasaksak ang bawat parte ng katawan ko, tipong namamanhid sa matinding sakit. Muli kong inilibot ang paningin ko, gano'n pa rin. Malabo at parang inaalon ang bawat matuunan ng mga mata ko."I'm sorry, we really tried to save them both . . ." I heard someone mumble as my eyelids closed again, slowly.May mga pagmumura pa akong narinig pero hindi ko na iyon nasundan pa. Para akong nasa kawalan, naliligaw sa dilim. Walang anumang liwanag na pupun
I know I am enough for my child; however, sometimes I also thought that if I were to disappear, who would stay longer at Angelei's grave like I did? And right now, God has given me the answer to that. I smiled bitterly as I watched Zachary kneeling and silently crying in front of Angelei's grave. I don't know how many hours we have been here; after I was admitted to the hospital for four days, I asked him to drive here first. I know it's too late, but I still want to make up for it and clear his name.Sa buong dalawang taon na lumipas, naging karamay ko si Angelei sa lahat ng sakit at galit na dala-dala ko. Ipinadama ko sa kaniya na kaming dalawa lang ang magkakampi, ipinakargo ko ang puot na mayroon ako para kay Zachary. Kaya naman ngayong alam ko na ang katotohanan sa likod ng miserable kong pinagdaanan, alam kong kailangan kong ayusin ang lahat. Hindi lang ako ang nasaktan. Sa bawat luhang pumapatak sa pisngi ni Zachary alam ko na katulad ko ay hindi niya rin maiwasang sisihin ang