"Hey Celestia! Come back here!" rinig ko pang sigaw niya. I turned my back to him for one last time and bid my goodbye."See you sa piyesta, Clayton! Look good and let out your charms, okay?" I signalled him a thumbs up and waved my hands to him.Nakabusangot pa rin siya nang makita ko at kinakaway rin ang kamay niya. It's really Clayton ever since, and ever ever would. Wala pa ‘rin talagang pinagbago."Uungusan ko pa yung Wayde na 'yan, makikita niyo!" Gago talaga.He's really like that as ever. Napailing-iling nalang ako habang tinatahak ang daan kung nasaan si Wayde. When he saw me, he immediately handed the helmet and ride his motorbike. Bahagya akong natigilan.It looks like his mood shifted entirely. Baka late na nga siya sa trabaho niya.Nang masuot ang helmet ay kaagad akong sumakay sa motorbike. He drove in silence until we went back. Akala ko’y papasok siya sa kwarto niya at magbibihis para umalis. Pero nagulat ako nang kinuha ni Wayde ang laptop niya at nagsimulang magti

"Okay! Ang ayaw ko sa lahat ay yung mabagal kumilos, hindi nakikinig at palaging lutang. Maliwanag ba?!" I swallowed hard and nodded.Naka-linya kaming tatlo nila Laren habang dumadaan sa gitna namin si Ate Alma. Her intimidating presence made us fixed our gesture and hoping that we will not be in her blacklist."Tia, tignan mo yung kilay ni ate Alma, kulang nalang malagpasan na yung Mt. Fuji," napaawang ang bibig ko nang bumulong si Marissa. Humagikgik lang siya at pinagsiklop ang dalawang kamay bago ibinalik ang tingin sa ginang.Ate Alma didn't seem to hear it. Nakasiklop ang mga braso nito at may dala-dalang mataas na stick na animo'y isang guro na handang magturo sa nga estudyante niya. We are now wearing an apron and a hairnet. Ate Alma is our head when it comes to the bakery. Matagal na siyang nagtra-trabaho rito kaya siya ang pinagkakatiwalaan ng lola nila Laren."Ang pinaka-ayaw ko rin sa lahat ay yung makupad at pala-tanong. Maliwanag ba?!""O-opo, ate Alma." Sabay-sabay n

It's past midnight already ng maalimpungatan ako. I'm thirsty and made my way to the kitchen. My forehead is knotted when the light is still up in the salas.Nang magtungo ako 'run ay nakita ko si Wayde, bahagyang nakalagay ang mga braso sa coffee table at ito ang ginamit niya bilang unan. He's sleeping peacefully. Napagod yata ito dahil sa ginagawa.Lots of paperworks was scattered on his table as usual. No wonder that he's a hella working guy. I wonder where his parents are right now. They must've been so proud to see their son working hard to earn the achievements he has now.I squatted in front of him and watched those small details from him. Nakatungo lang ako sa kanya at pinagmasdan siya. I laid my chin above the coffee table and stared at him."You're going to marry someone, Celestia.""Meet your groom here this instant, Celestia! Huwag mo akong galitin."Marriage.Yan ang pinaka-iiwasan ko sa lahat. Matagal ko ng naririnig kay daddy ang usapin sa mga ganun, but I just neglec

“Uh… may problema ba?” takang tanong ko. Lumapit si ate Alma sa akin at sinuyod ako mula ulo hanggang paa. “Ikaw…” What? Napatingin ako sa pambisig na relo at nakitang hindi pa naman ako late. In fact, I just arrived five minutes before the in time. “Celestia.. sabihin mo nga sa amin.” “Na ano?” ano ba ang sinasabi nila? “Bakit mo kasama si Clayton?” Finally, Tita Alma was the one who blurted it out. “Clayton? Oh, he’s my close friend way back in highschool.” Napaawang ang bibig nilang lahat at sabay-sabay na napasigaw. “What?!” I was startled a bit. “Y-yeah,” napakamot ako sa ulo.”Malalate na sana ako sa trabaho kaso sinundo niya ako sa bahay at naghatid sa akin rito.” Hindi ko alam kung matatawa o maiiling ako sa mga reaksyon nila. Their eyes widened in shock and the three of them rushedly went to me. “Anong favorite food niya? Favorite color? Anong tipo niya sa babae? Sagutin mo’ko Celestia! Sagutin mo’ko!” hinawakan ko sa magkabilang balikat si Marissa upang patigilin sa

Bubuksan ko na sana ang paperbag nang hinapit niya ako sa bewang at napasubsob ako sa dibdib niya. My breathing hitched when he pulled me closer to him. I could even smell his scent because of our closeness. "What..." Hindi ko na natuloy pa ang sasabihin ko nang bumulong siya sa'kin. His lips brushed slightly in my ear that made me stunned "Careful," he whispered before pulling away. Kaagad nanindig ang balahibo ko sa ginawa niya. There's... something in his act that made me confused lately. And it always correlates with the beating of my heart. I don't know what it is, but one thing for sure is that Wayde really has an effect on me. And that needs to be stop. It's just then I found out na may nakasunod pala sa amin. The guy is holding a sharp object and barely notices that I almost got hit by it. "Pasensya na po ate. Hindi ko po sinasadya." I smiled and nodded not to bother the person. When the person left, kaagad kaming nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. "T-Thank you," I said withou