TWENTY-THREE
METEOR WOKE UP from the small humming sound inside Azren’s car. It was not noisy nor annoying, a solemn lullaby rather. Humikab siya at inunat ang mga kamay saka napatingin sa labas ng binatana. They’re still on the road, but right now, they were surrounded by buildings. Mabagal ang andar ng sasakyan, at dahil nakahiga siya sa upuan ay hindi niya makita nag nasa labas maliban sa mga matataas na gusali sa labas.
Probably Manila’s heavy traffic again. It has always been like this, always traffic, always hectic. Meteor loved Metro Manila because of its messy narration. Manila speaks its story itself. Hindi na nito kailangan pa ng magkukuwento. But despite of its spitting story, it remains mysterious to Meteor’s eyes.
This is why Meteor admired this city more than her own hometown. Because it was obvious but mysterious at the same time. The only thing she hated about Manila was traffic. T
TWENTY-FOUR METEOR TUCKED THE strands of hair behind her ears while feeling heavy inside. She was trying to ease the guilt and hesitation to call ‘him’. It just felt wrong. So wrong. Meteor sighed as if her problems would vanish with breathing out, but no. It’s been months! And she has the audacity to call him again after being MIA? She clenched her phone and shut her eyes close. “Bahala na si Batman.” She dialed his number and every ring she hears makes her heartbeat reckless. Nakailang lunok na si Meteor, nakailang buntonghinininga, nakailang kamot sa batok; trying to find the courage. She just wants someone to talk to. “Hello?” his morning voice filled Meteor’s eardrums. She felt a tingling feeling on her stomach when she heard his voice again. She missed him so much. She missed Josh so much. Meteor felt like crying. She didn’t know what she was crying for. Is it because of her crashing ego? Or because she badly
TWENTY-FIVE“MOM?” AZREN stretched his arms when his Mother called. He’s been working for a couple of hours, haven’t even ate his lunch. He can skip meals when he’s working. Tsaka niya lang mararamdaman ang gutom at pagod kapag na-distract siya.He clutched his stomach when it grumbled. Damn, what time is it? He unconsciously looked at the small clock on his wooden table. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang mararamdaman nang makita ang mukha nilang dalawa ni Alex sa tabi ng orasan.He needs to shop new stuff for his office and penthouse. Everything that he sees reminds him of his ex. Wala siyang magagawa. He was too dawned on her before… until now, he guessed. Alex just hits different.“Azren?” he blinked several times to gain his senses back. Mariin niyang ipinikit ang mga mata nang maramdaman ang pagbibigat ng mga tulikap.“
TWENTY-SIXGUSTONG MAIYAK ni Meteor sa mga narinig. She had never heard Riu talk like that. Nuong una’y gusto niyang bumangon atsigawan si Riu sa pagiging mataraypero bigla namang umatras iyon. Her sister really cared for her.Nagpalit ng puwesto si Meteor sa paghiga. Ayaw niyang makita ng kapatid o ni Azren na umiiyak siya. Her senseswoke up when Azren carried her to the bed. Hindi naman siya tulog mantika. Konting ingay nga lang ay paniguradong magigising na siya. Pero nahihiya kasi siyang gumising kanina at makita niya ang sariling buhat ni Azren.Pasimple niyang pinunasan ang luha bago huminga ng malalim. Hindi niya alam kung ilang oras siyang natutulog. Simula siguro nung umalis si Josh dahil may emergency daw itong dadaluhan hanggang sa dumating si Azren.“May facebook ka ba? Instagram? Twitter? Any socmed accounts?” narinig nanaman niyang tanong ni Riu. 
TWENTY-SEVENMETEOR WAS NOT THE one who suffered from lying down in the hospital bed for weeks, yet she feels so weak and exhausted. Probably because of sleepless and unfinished naps, the feeling of distress sleeping in an unfamiliar sofa was like a fish out of the sea.“Manang, kumusta ka ngay? Hindi ba maaapektuhan ‘yung baby mo diyan?” Tiningnan ni Riu si Meteor, may bahid ng pag-aalala ang mukha nito. Meteor just nodded, she peeled a dry skin from her lips with her teeth.I think I’ll be needing a new lip balm. Ganito talaga si Meteor sa tuwing stress o puyat, she tried different lip balms yet nothing really lasted. Kahit pa yata araw-araw siyang mag-lip balm, kapag stress siya, the efforts won’t last.Meteor sighed as she carried their bags up to her condo. She’ll remind herself later to thank Josh for all the help, halos gabi-gabing nasa ospital si Josh. Hindi nga a
PROLOGUETHIRD PERSON’S POINT OF VIEW'SHE’S THE ONE'. Napabulong na lang si Joshua habang nakatingin sa isang babaeng tahimik na nagbabasa ng libro sa sulok ng classroom. Her face was on side-view and Josh can clearly see her long and thick lashes, thin lips, and fine jaw. The way she blinks was the most gorgeous sight Josh could ever see.Sumabay si Josh sa pagngiti ng babae habang nagbabasa ng isang libro. Josh was five chairs away from the girl, and he can see the title from its book cover. “The Fault in Our Stars” ‘yon ang librong binabasa niya.Josh had seen the movie, but he was not a fan of romance and drama. Sinamahan lang niya ang mama niya noon na manood ng sine dahil bored daw ito sa bahay nila. “Meteor!” nang mapatingin ang babae sa tumawag sa kaniya ay napatingin din si Josh rito.Medyo nalungkot pa si Josh nang umalis ang babae at iniwan ang bag at li
ONEMETEOR FEEL like throwing up her intestines. Pagod na siyang magpabalik-balik sa CR at isuka lahat ng pinilit niyang kainin kanina. Napaiyak na lang siya matapos niyang maisuka lahat. 'Ano bang problema sa akin?'Napayuko siya ng makaramdam ang hilo. It’s been three days since she filed a leave on her work as a flight attendant. Sunod-sunod and pagsakit ng katawan niya at panay rin ang suka. Sumasakit na ang ulo niya sa mga nangyayari.Umiyak na lang siya sa sobrang pagod niya at mahinang nagdasal. '‘Ma, ‘Pa alam kong hindi pa ‘to katapusan ng buhay ko… huwag pa sana, Lord.' Paano na lang ang mga kapatid niya kung nawala siya? Her savings are not enough for her two siblings’ future. Bibilhan niya pa ng bahay at lupa ang mga kapatid niya para hindi sila nakikibahay kay Tita Bebang sa Sagada.Matapos mamatay ang mga magulang nila sa isang airplane crash, si Meteor na ang tuma
TWONANGINGINIG ANG MGA kamay ni Meteor at panay rin ang buntong hininga. Nasa isang ospital si Meteor. Isang linggo na ang nakalilipas at ngayon ang test results ng biopsy niya last week. Mahina siyang nagdasal na sana ay hindi malala ang mga nararamdaman niya. Nawala na ang constipation niya, pero nagkaroon naman siya ng diarrhea.“Mrs. Desiderio.” Tawag sa kaniya ng matandang doctor na kakapasok lang sa opisina nito. Despite of her shaking lips, she forced herself to clear her throat.“Ms. pa lang po.” Umupo ang matandang doktor sa harap niya hawak ang mga papel na she assumed, her test results. “Oh, sorry. Namali siguro ‘yung type dito. It says here na you’re married.” She smiled at the doctor and fists her hands into balls. Mas nanginginig siya sa tahimik na paligid ng opisina ng doktor.“I have the results.” Wala pang sinasabi ang doctor pero nangin
THREENUMBER ONE: Go on an amusement park and try all the rides!“OMG! Lord, sorry for all of my sins! I didn’t mean to open that link from a porn site! I didn’t mean to curse when I slipped yesterday!” Meteor’s soul almost flew away when the rollercoaster moved fast on the highest part.Rinig pa ni Meteor ang tawa ng kaibigan na katabi niya. Walang karea-reaksiyon ang katabi niya, siya nama’y halos mawalan na ng boses kakasigaw. She had never been in an amusement park, ever. Sa perya lang siya nung bata sila. Hindi pa niya nasubukang sumakay sa rollercoaster at iba pang rides dahil sa perya; isang maliit na ferris wheel na mabilis tumakbo, ‘yung rides na si Jollibee ang design, at may mga sugalan din.Kaya on top of her list was riding the rides he had never been tried. Akala niya’y refreshing sa taas, na parang eroplanong la-landing lang. Pero hindi! Halos humiwala