I’ll be home tonight. See you. Belle bit her lower lip when a surge of happy feeling flooded her chest. She had been reading Zyrone’s message countless time since this morning. Subalit hindi pa rin mawala-wala ang kasiyahan sa dibdib niya.Uuwi na si Zyrone at sinabi nito sa kanya. Siguro umpisa na talaga ng pagkaka-ayos nila.For the past week that he was gone, her life had been somewhat easier. Since Richard is not present in the mansion, mas nalalapitan at nakakausap siya ngayon ni Miranda. Her mother-in-law had apologized to her in Richard and Zyrone’s behalf. Humiling ito nang mas malawak na pang-unawa sa kanya. Sinabi rin nito na hindi ito naniniwala sa pinapalabas ng anonymous sender ng pictures.Miranda said that she trusts her and that she must never allow the malicious pictures put an end on her marriage.She just silently agreed to what the old woman said. Kahit naman kasi hindi nito sabihin iyon sa kanya, ganoon pa rin ang gagawin niya. She cannot give up Zyrone. Mahal ni
Mabilis ang mga kilos ni Belle. Sunod-sunod niyang ikinakarga ang mga personal na gamit niya sa overnight bag niya. Sinisiguro niya na ni isa, wala siyang maiiwan sa mga gamit niya sa impiyernong bahay na iyon. She was done being the good and understanding wife. If Zyrone didn’t want her anymore, then she’ll just leave and move on with her life. Sa totoo lang dapat matagal na niya iyong ginawa. Kaso nga lang, bulag siya. Tanga. Naniwala siya na sa pamamagitan ng pagtitiis niya sa piling ng asawa sa kabila ng magaspang na turing nito sa kanya, magagawa niyang ayusin ang gusot sa pagitan nila. She thought that throwing herself away completely would’ve done the job. But she was so wrong. Stupidly wrong! Zyrone has moved on… with Grace. She sobbed as another batch of tears fell from her eyes. Masakit na ang mata niya kakaiyak subalit ayaw tumigil ng luha niya. He heart hurts so much that should death would come knocking to her door, she’d gladly embrace it. Bahala na ang kasunod. B
Tulala si Belle habang tinatanaw niya ang kadiliman ng gabi sa may bintana. Nasa ospital pa rin siya at naka-confine. She had been there for more than a day now. But the doctors said she needed to stay there for a few more days for observation. Isa pa, kailangan daw niyang magpalakas.Malakas sa pandinig niya ang mabibilis na yabag sa labas ng kuwarto niya, ang mahihinang pag-uusap ng mga kung sino, pati ang pagtiktak ng orasan sa dingding, naririnig din niya.Maingay ang paligid subalit tila wala siyang naririnig. Nalulunod kasi siya. Nalulunod siya sa mga kaganapan ng nakaraang araw na paulit-ulit na bumabalik sa kanyang isipan. Ang nasaksihan niyang paglabas ni Grace sa kuwarto ni Zyrone na halos hubo’t-hubad. Ang mabilis niyang pag-eempake ng mga gamit niya. Ang pagpirma niya sa disclaim at divorce papers nila ni Zyrone. Ang pamamaalam niya kay Estelita. Ang paglalakad niya sa mahabang daan palabas ng mansiyon. At ang sakit na naranasan ng katawan niya habang unti-unting nawawalan
Belle had been watching the view of the city’s flickering lights from her penthouse’s room for a while now. It’s not that she’s amazed by it or something. It’s just that she feels weird looking at that same view after a few years had passed.She was also wondering why the view seemed to be the same from the last time she remembered it and yet… she feels like the place has changed.Gone was the joy she had last felt when she looked at the same view years ago. Gone was the wonder, the awe and the beautiful feeling she thinks every time she used to get a glimpsed of the city from above.Maybe because she has changed.Yeah. That might be it, she said to herself.It has been three years since she had last set foot in the country. And to be honest, if it weren’t for Lee Ann and Drew’s insistence that she attends their wedding, she would have not come home. Matagal na niyang nilimot ang Pilipinas. Mula nang magpasya siyang magbagong-buhay, nangako siya sa sarili niyang hindi na siya muli pa
Kusang nag-angat ng tingin si Belle nang tumigil ang sasakyan niya sa harap ng isang hotel kung saan gaganapin ang rehearsal dinner nina Drew at Lee Ann. She saw some media people waiting outside the hotel. And somehow she had a glimpse of the previous life she had long abandoned three years ago. Marahil nag-aabang ang mga ito ng exclusive scoop tungkol sa kasalan ng mga De Ocampo at Chen—two of the most well-known families in the upper class.From the passenger’s seat, Marco turned to her. “There are… people, Miss. What do you want me to do?” tanong nito sa kanya in his perfect Australian accent.She took a deep breath. “Just the usual. I’m in no mood talking to other people yet. Besides, this is supposed to be a private event. I won’t spoil this night for Drew and Lee Ann,” sabi niya. Mabilis na tumango si Marco, tumuwid ng upo at bahagyang inayos ang kurbata nito.When she said the usual, she meant she doesn’t want to be interrupted in way by whatever or whomever. Marco knows the
“How was the wedding?” tanong agad ni Eliseo sa kanya pagkadating na pagkadating niya sa penthouse niya. It was almost midnight and she just came home from Drew and Lee Ann’s wedding reception in Tagaytay. And though she hates weddings, she really enjoyed this one. Not just because it was Lee Ann’s. But the main reason was, she had not seen any of the Craigs tonight.Last night when she saw Miranda at the rehearsal dinner, she thought she’d see more of the Craigs tonight. Subalit, ni anino ng mga ito, hindi niya nakita. And so she was relaxed the whole time. She even cheerfully led a toast for the newlyweds. It was the most fun she hand in a long time.Sa London naman kasi, puro trabaho siya. If it weren’t for Eliseo and their dates, she really wouldn’t have a night life.“It was fun, Eli. You should’ve come with me,” sabi niya bago ito dinaluhan sa veranda ng penthouse niya.Eliseo chuckled and took a swig of from the glass of red wine he was holding. “And watched you dance the nigh
Hindi alam ni Belle kung gaano na siya katagal na nakikipagtitigan sa lalaking matagal na niyang nilimot at isinumpa.Marami kasing gumugulo sa isip niya. Una na riyan ang kung bakit hindi man lang siya na-inform na imbitado ang mga ito sa event nila. Maricel, Eliseo’s secretary had given her a copy of the guests lists. Ginawa niya iyon dahil gusto niyang makasiguro that she’ll never have an unexpected meet-up with any of the Craig’s again gaya sa rehearsal dinner nina Drew at Lee Ann. Subalit nangyari pa rin.And honestly, aside from that wave of familiar hurt that immediately washed over her but now has subsided, she doesn’t really know how to act or what to feel with this chance encounter she had with Zyrone and Grace. Basta ang alam niya, iisa lang ang gusto niyang mangyari, ayaw niya sa presensiya ni Zyrone sa kahit na ano pang paraan. Because no matter how many times she had rehearsed that scene in her head, mukhang hindi pa rin siya talaga handa. Her emotions are all over th
Pagod na ibinagsak ni Zyrone ang katawan sa sofa. He had just arrived home from the party Grace had forced him to go. Not knowing that he’d see Belle there. He closed his eyes and gently balled his fist. He was trying to recall the familiar softness of her skin when he touched her. The warmth that had washed over him when he caught a whiff of her sweet scent. And how the heavenly gates have opened when she spoke.She is still the Belle he knew but… She was not his anymore. She now belongs to someone else.And it was your fault! sumbat ng isang bahagi ng isip niya.He opened his eyes and swallowed to what seemed like a dagger in his throat. He looked over the bar in his penthouse. He contemplated if he'd have a drink or not. After a briefest of hesistation, mabilis siyang tumayo at naglakad patungo doon. He quickly grabbed a bottle of brandy on the rack and poured some of it on the glass in front of him. Ilang sandali pa, gumuhit ang pait ng alak sa lalamunan niya. Subalit hindi iyon