Malalim na ang gabi subalit hindi pa rin makatulog si Belle. Stupid as it might be, she cannot stop thinking about the scene she witnessed this afternoon. Was Zyrone really that happy not seeing her? Kung ang pagbabasehan ay ang lakas ng pakikipaghalakhakan nito kay Grace kanina, mukhang wala nga talaga itong pakiaalam kung makita siya nito o hindi-- kabaliktaran ng nararamdaman niya. Hindi niya alam kung pregnancy hormones lang ‘yon o ano, but she terribly longs for husband's presence near her. No matter how harsh he was treating her right now, her stubborn heart still knew what it needs, her husband. Kanina, matapos niyang mag-iiyak dahil sa nasaksihan niyang eksena, she ended up throwing up in the bathroom twice. And after she had thrown out all that were inside her gut, there is still only one place she wanted to seek comfort in, in her husband’s arms. It took her a great amount of self-control for her not to barge in at Zyrone’s room and beg for his embrace. Just one embrace f

Tahimik na pinapakinggan ni Belle ang final rites ng pari para sa labi ni Grandma Eve. They were at the mausoleum of the family located at the private area of the cemetery. Nakapuwesto siya sa likuran ng kumpol ng mga tao na nakikipaglibing sa matanda. She cannot riksk herself to go infront together with the Craigs. Ayaw niyan magkaroon na naman ng eksena. Libing na iyon ng matanda. It should go as peacefully as it should.Hindi gaya ng nakaraang ilang araw ng burol sa chapel na halos patayin siya ni Richard sa sama ng tingin at sa mga sarkastikong komento nito tungkol sa kanya. Itinataon nito ang pang-iinsulto sa kanya tuwing umaalis ito sa gabi at naiiwan siya upang magbantay sa chapel.Every day, the whole week of the wake, nag-iiwan si Richard ng insulto sa kanya tuwing umaalis ito. Insults which kept her mind pre-occupied for every sleepless night she had spent on the chapel together with the other house-helps.Kung hindi lang alang-alang kay Grandma Eve, matagal na siya siguron

Marahang inilapag ni Belle ang dala-dala niyang bungkos ng bulaklak sa ibabaw ng marmol na puntod ni Grandma Eve. Sa loob ng halos mahigit isang buwan mula nang pumanaw ang matanda, hindi na niya alam kung ilang beses na siyang dumadalaw doon. That place is her only place of solace. Mugulo pa rin kasi sa mansiyon. Mainit pa rin ang dugo ni Richard sa kanya. At si Zyrone, malamig pa rin ang pakikitungo sa kanya.Miranda treats her well though, paminsan-minsan kapag hindi nito kasama si Richard. Maging si Estelita, mabait din sa kanya. The old maid still personally helps her with her everyday needs, just like when Grandma Eve was still alive. And she is content that despite of all the chaos of the past a month and a half, nakakasilip pa rin siya ng mumunting kabutihan sa mga kasama niya sa loob ng mansiyon.But sometimes, the mansion still gets too suffocating for her that she needed to get away from it for awhile. Kaya siya laging pumupunta sa puntod ni Grandma Eve. Gusto niyang magsum

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

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