Ruins of a Sinner

I STARED at myself in front of a full-length mirror. The white mermaid cut tube dress I was wearing looked more elegant with the pearl necklace that Zach gave to me as an anniversary gift last month. Nakakatawa lang na gagamitin ko ang kwintas na 'to ngayong araw— sa kaarawan ng babaeng kasama ng lalaking mahal ko sa iisang bahay at tatlong buwan mula ngayon ay ihaharap niya sa altar at magiging asawa.A bitter smile spread on my lips as I wonder how do the foundation and concealer managed to hide my swollen eyes because of crying.Nagising ako kaninang umaga na wala na si Zach sa tabi ko gaya ng sinabi niya sa akin. Hubad ako sa kama at mag-isa matapos ang isang mainit na magdamag na inangkin niya ako nang paulit-ulit. Kusang tumulo ang mga luha ko nang maisip ko na bumalik na si Zach sa kandungan ni Joven. Katulad ng paulit-ulit na nangyayari.Ang hindi ko lang maintindihan ay kung bakit naiiyak pa rin ako sa kada umaga na magigising akong wala na si Zach. Palagi namang gano'n ang n

NAUNA akong bumalik sa function hall after ng secret meeting namin ni Zach. I got a wide and proud grin on my face as I made my way to table nine. Hindi maalis sa isipan ko kung paano nagmakaawa sa akin si Zach habang nagtataas baba ang kamay ko sa pagkalalaki niya. I can still feel his kisses and touch and I can still hear his groans and moans.Ako lang ang kayang bumaliw nang gano'n sa isang Zachary Wolf Valderama. A thirty-seven-year-old business magnate is under the spell of a nineteen-year-old college student— that's quite a headline.Nang marating ko ang table nine, nando'n na sila Venice at Xienna. Meanwhile, the late comer Coralyn Paul Valderama wasn't still there. Xienna Margaux Lorenzo, a BS Tourism student and the Mayor's daughter wear a very elegant yet sexy gown— with silver sequence and long slit on the side. Venice Emerald Cordova, BS Chemical Engineering student, is wearing a green knee-length halter cocktail dress with sparkling crystals all over it. Green is her colo

"STOP smiling, Zach. Hindi ako natutuwa sa 'yo. And why are you even dancing with me?" "Rupert and Mr. Santos had to go. Cora plead to me to replace that Rupert guy and dance with you. Hindi ko tinanggihan kasi gusto ko naman." Inirapan ko siya sa naging sagot niya. He surely knows what the right things to say. Patuloy lang kami sa pagsayaw sa kung ano mang makalumang kanta na tumutugtog. Nakangisi sa akin si Zach at parang tuwang-tuwa pa siya na naiinis ako. "You're cute, Ava. 'Wag ka nang mainis. You know that I said that for us to not get caught. I didn't mean it." Napasinghap ako nang mas hapitin pa niya ako sa kaniya. My hands gripped his shoulders when I felt his left hand moved upward, just below the sides of my right breast. I felt his thumb caressing the sides of my breast. Nagtagpo ang mga tingin namin dahil sa ginagawa ng mapangahas niyang kamay. Zach got a wide grin on his face as we kep swaying to the slow music. "Very naughty, Mr. Valderama. Alam na alam mo talaga k

EVERYONE would argue that first love never dies— its memories and lessons would remain like a handprint on someone's soul.Gano'n ang nangyari sa akin at sa relasyon ko kay Nick. It was already three years ago, but I could still remember everything. I could recall the happiness, contentment and the risks I took for him. I could still reminisce all the guilt, pain, and betrayal I felt because of him. Everything lingers. Everything stays.Nawala ako sa sobrang pagmamahal ko kay Nick— sinira ko ang sarili ko. Walang natira sa akin kasi ibinigay ko sa kaniya ang lahat. I let him do everything he wanted to do to me, to my body, to my heart and to my morals. I became everything he needed and he wanted me to be.It was a toxic relationship. It was so morally wrong and consuming to commit but I still did. In exchange of this mistaken decision was the anxiety, mentally and emotionally, that I always experience.Si Nick, ang unang lalaking minahal ko at pinag-alayan ko ng lahat ay naging demony

I WAITED for almost half an hour before I stood up from the bed. It's already two in the morning. I couldn't go back to sleep because of the envy and jealousy I'm feeling towards Joven. That should be me.Lumabas ako ng silid ko at maingat na nagtungo paakyat ng master's bedroom kung saan alam kong natutulog sila Joven. I've been in the Valderama's mansion for a couple of times already. Kabisado ko na ang pasikot-sikot dahil na rin kay Cora lalo na kapag nag-o-overnight kami ritong magkakaibigan.Every step I took, I couldn't help but to gasp because of the wind brushing on my sensitive triangle under the nighties that I'm wearing. I didn't bother to put on an underwear. Hindi naman kailangan iyon sa balak kong gawin.Just like how I remembered it, the master's bedroom is on the second floor, on the right corridor, end-most room. The dim lights helped me a lot to not trip or fall while making each moves swift and unnoticed.My heart started beating fast when I finally reached the fami