I used to believe there was nothing more agonizing than what I went through, but now I'm being forced to feel it twice as much. It's been two days since I found out about the deaths of my pet kitten and my unborn child, but I still don't know how to accept it. I felt like I was losing my mind.Angel suffered a deadly wound that resulted in significant bleeding before she passed away. Unfortunately, I dropped her after getting hit on the head, and a shard of glass punctured her chest. While I lost my baby because my body was weak and I was under a lot of stress, I also had to be injected with some drugs.Wala sa sarili akong napahawak sa impis kong tiyan habang tulalang nakatanaw sa labas ng bintana. Hindi ko alam kung alin ang mas masakit, mawalan ng anak na alam mong dinadala mo o mawalan nang hindi mo man lang nalalaman na may buhay pa lang namumuo sa loob ng katawan mo. Napabuntonghininga ako at pilit na nilunok ang sakit na nagbabara sa aking lalamunan. Gusto kong umiyak, pero par
The following weeks passed quickly. We stayed at Nanay Victoria's home for two days before returning to Manila. Zachary and I wasted no time; he underwent counseling after our assessment, while I, on the other hand, had a therapy session. It was a little difficult for me because I had to go over everything again so that the doctor who was looking at me could understand my condition. Nevertheless, I was comforted to know that I had someone by my side the entire time.I was diagnosed with PTSD. I'm not surprised because that's what my old doctor in America confirmed to me. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is not curable, but people with this condition can improve their symptoms significantly.Hindi ko maiwasang humanga kung gaano kapropesyonal si Thelmo sa trabaho. Magkakilala man siya ni Zachary ay hindi siya naging opinionated. Kaibigan siya sa labas ng hospital habang doktor naman sa loob. Hindi niya ako pinipilit magsalita sakaling hindi ako kumportable. Nakaalalay siya sa bawat sasab
We won, and all the people who have sinned against us are already behind bars. I don't know how Zachary was able to sue Tita Ayna, but I am grateful to him anyway. I can now face our children in peace.Masama man maging masaya sa kalungkutan ng iba ay hindi ko maiwasan. Sa loob ng dalawang taon, nakuha ko na rin ang hustisya para sa amin. Para akong nasagip sa pagkalunod, nakahinga at nakakita ng bagong pag-asa para ipagpatuloy ang buhay na minsan ko ng sinukuan."W-We did it," utal at naiiyak kong sambit habang niyayakap si Zachary.Mabilis namang pumulupot pabalik ang kaniyang mga braso sa baywang ko at pinatakan ng halik ang aking buhok. "You are now free, baby . . ." rinig kong usal niya.Napahagulgol na lamang ako. Hindi ko mapigilan ang sayang kumakawala sa dibdib ko at alam kong gano'n din siya. Tapos na, tapos na ang laban naming dalawa."Thank you. Hindi ito magiging posible kung wala ka," ani ko sa pagitan ng aking paghikbi.Naramdaman ko naman ang pag-iling niya saka ako ma
Study, graduate school, and work. Actually, that's the only plan I have for my life. My studies come before anything else, no matter how much time my buddies and I spend hanging out or drinking. But I had a different goal when I met Atasha Rodriguez. She is simple but beautiful. Her appeal was so strong that even if she were just sitting and busy with what she was sketching, she seemed like an angel in my eyes."Ikaw, ah? Matagal ko na napapansin ang lagkit ng tingin mo roon sa fine art student na malimit nakatambay sa bench," puna ni Thelmo nang minsan kaming nag-inuman sa dorm niya.Mabilis namang umigting ang panga ko at matalim siyang tiningnan. "How did you know her?""Whoa! Chill, walang aagaw sa chikababe mo," aniya habang nakataas pa ang dalawang kamay sa ere. "Obvious naman kasi kung anong course ang kinukuha niya, bukod pa roon amoy ko na ang pasimple mong pagdaan sa room nila kahit mas mabilis doon sa kabilang pathway."Tumawa naman ang iba naming kasama at inulan ako ng ka
(⚠️WARNING: YOU'RE ENTERING A RATED 18 ZONE. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED⚠️)Everyone was happy. They were drinking and congratulating the soon to be husband—Zachary Villarreal.Nakaupo siya sa six-seater sofa habang katabi ang mga kaibigan niya. Hindi ko mabakas ang emosyon niya dahil mula nang pinanood ko siya ay seryoso lamang ang kanyang mukha. It's his stag party today. Tatlong linggo pa bago ang kasal pero ipinaghanda na siya agad ng mga kaibigan niya sa kanyang condo. I smirked when I saw how his eyes flushed because of the alcohol. The way his long lashes moved slowly against the light, I knew he was already drunk."We have a surprise for you," his friend from his left uttered, and he let out a loud laugh.Based on my knowledge, he's Thelmo—one of the groom's closest friends. Siya rin ang nag-asikaso ng party para sa gabing ito.Mabilis na naghiyawan ang ibang mga lalaki na tila nakuha agad kung anuman ang tinutukoy ng nagsalita. Zachary slowly shook his head with a smile on his face
(⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️)"Tingin mo ba ay masisira mo ang kasal naming dalawa? Is this why you're doing this?" My focus turned to her again. We stared at each other for a second. She gave a mocking laugh and shook her head incredulously. "Wala kang pinagbago, Atasha," singhal niya.Umismid naman ako saka tumayo bitbit ang kumot na nakapulupot sa aking katawan. Without asking, I went to Zachary's closet and picked one of his oversized t-shirts. Pumili na rin ako ng shorts doon at saka walang pakialam na nagbihis sa paningin nila. Nang matapos sa pag-aayos ay saka ko binalingan ng tingin ang kapatid ko. Zachary was still sitting on the bed with his boxers on."Eunice, masyado ka namang overthinker," saad ko at bahagyang humalakhak. "Sirain agad? Hindi ba p'wedeng na-miss ko lang ang ex ko?" Nanunuya akong ngumiti."How dare you!" Mabilis siyang lumapit sa akin at ginawaran ako ng isang sampal.Hindi naman ako natinag sa p'westo ko at ngumiti. "What? Isn't this normal? Akala ko kasi oka
It's been two years. I'm not sure if time actually passes swiftly or if I just don't forget things easily. I just shook my head and wore my glasses before looking back at the big house in front of me. "Welcome back, Atasha," pagkausap ko sa aking sarili saka nagsimulang maglakad papasok sa bakuran.Nothing's changed. The mansion's interior and exterior still share the same aesthetic. My heels made noise every time I stepped on the marble floor. I couldn't help but become serious when my memories progressively brought me back to what happened two years ago.Mapait akong ngumiti. Pamilya. Sabi nila, talikuran mo na raw ang lahat huwag lang ang pamilya mo dahil sila lang ang p'wede mong asahan hanggang dulo. But that's not the case for me. Paano ko pahahalagahan ang pamilya ko kung sila mismo ang sumira sa akin?"What are you doing here?" Napaismid ako nang marinig ang boses ni Eunice. Tumigil ako sa gitna ng malaking salas ng bahay at saka inangat ang paningin ko sa kaniya. Naglalaka
One . . . two . . . three . . . Three clicks of my pen and Zachary's eyes darted on me again. After disturbing his class, he continued teaching his so-called students. He didn't even bother to give me the momentum to introduce myself up front.Hindi ko iniintindi ang itinuturo niya kahit na may kaunting interes ako roon. Nanatili lang nakasunod ang mga mata ko sa bawat galaw niya. Magaling siyang magturo, inaamin ko. Well, hindi naman siya magiging professor kung hindi. I licked my lower lip and lazily leaned my back against my seat, exposing my leg under the slit of my fitted dress."Ms. Rodriguez, what the hell are you doing?" A smirk crept into my lips when I heard his baritone voice. His eyes were glaring at me; it was as if he was killing me with them. The veins popping out on his neck didn't even escape my sight.How many times will I watch him go to this state after I come back? I chuckled in the back of my mind.Inosente akong nagtaas ng kaliwang kilay. "What do you mean, S