Baguio City, Philippines
January 2018
TRACE
Mabuti na lang at madali kong nahanap ang address ng bahay na nai-text sa akin ni Paige. I am now in front of the gate ng malaking bahay na may dalawang palapag. Kanina pa ako bumubusina pero walang nagbubukas ng gate. The hell! Pasabugin ko na lang kaya ang gate na ito?!
Iniatras ko ang kotse at babanggain ko na sana ang gate nang biglang bumukas iyon at lumabas si Paige. Takte! Mabuti at nagpakita na rin!
“Kuya!” masayang tawag niya sa akin. Paige is always bubbly. Laging masaya, malambing, m*****a at makulit.
Badtrip na inayos ko ang pwesto ng kotse sa gilid ng kalsada at ibinaba ang bintana. “Sakay na!” asar kong utos.
“Wait!!! Ipapakilala pa kita sa best friend ko,” natutuwa na sabi nito.
“Sakay!”
“Aren’t you going to say thanks to my BFF first that she let me stay here for three days?” nakapameywang na sabi niya.
Hindi ako umimik. Naaasar na ako sa kalokohan ni Paige. Tinitigan ko siya at alam ko na sa uri ng tingin ko ngayon sa kaniya ay alam na niyang wala akong panahon sa kaartehan nila ng bestfriend niya.
Nakasimangot at nagdadabog naman si Paige na pumasok sa bahay ng kaibigan niya at ilang saglit lang ay lumabas na ito na may suot na backpack kasama ang kaibigan na sinasabi niya na ngayon ko lang nakita. Napakunot ang noo ko. Paige’s friend seems familiar, parang nakita ko na siya dati. Parang…
Nakasandal lang ako sa gilid ng kotse at naninigarilyo habang nakatingin sa dalawa na nagpapaalam sa bawat isa. When I gave a look sa kaibigan ni Paige ay nakita ko na agad itong nag-blush na parang nahihiya. Typical teenagers. Isang tingin lang ay agad na kikiligin.
“Thank you for making me stay here, Harriet. You’re such a good friend and I wish I have a sibling like you who is very considerate.”
Nagpaparinig sa akin na kausap ni Paige sa kaibigan niya. I crossed my brows with what I heard. Considerate? Tangina! Kaartehan talaga ng mga kabataan na babae!
Hindi pa ba consideration ang ginagawa ko na pag-intindi sa kalokohan niya na pagmamaldita at pagtakas-takas? Kung gusto niya lumayas sa Salvacion ay dapat tumawag siya sa akin para isinama ko na lang sana siya sa isla.
“It’s okay, Paige. Sayang at hindi mo makilala mga cousins ko… pero okay na rin since d’yan na ang kuya mo,” pabulong na sabi ng kaibigan ni Paige sa malditang kapatid ko. “Hindi mo sinabi ang pogi pala ng kuya mo…” narinig ko pa na dagdag nito.
“Eewww… Don’t ever like him, he’s bad.”
Napailing na lang ako sa pag-iinarte na naman ni Paige, kung hindi ko lang ito kailangan protektahan ay iiwan ko na talaga para magtanda. Ang sabi ng tatay namin ay lumayas si Paige dahil hindi nakabili ng limited edition na bag na gusto niya. Iyon lang ang rason, napakababaw na dahilan, pero dahil kahit anong mangyari ay hindi ako papanig kay Papa ay syempre si Paige ang kakampihan ko. Sinabihan ko pa si Gob na ubusin na lang niya ang pera kay Louisianna tutal wala naman importante para sa kaniya kung hindi ang puta niya kaya napapabayaan si Paige.
I know na unreasonable na talaga ako kadalasan kay Papa, but the fact na kasalanan ng babae niya ang maagang kamatayan ni Mama ang paulit-ulit kong sisingilin at isusumbat. Years had passed but my memory when I was fifteen is still vivid in my mind, I still remember what I saw when I caught my father and Louisianna in my parent’s matrimonial bed doing their immoraal deeds. The memory made me cringe again at muli na namang nabuhay ang galit na naramdaman ko noon.
“Please message me kapag nasa Salvacion ka na at baka makapasyal kami roon nina Carly at Chloe,” nakangiti na sabi ni Harriet kay Paige that made me cocked* my brow.
The two continue talking at mukhang wala pang mga plano na tumigil sa pag-uusap. Naiinis akong napatingin sa relo na suot ko, I will give them a minute to bid goodbyes to each other.
When the one minute I gave them lapsed ay tumayo ako ng diretso at tiningnan ang dalawa.
“Sakay na! Daming arte!” pasigaw na utos ko kay Paige at nakita ko na nagulat silang pareho dahil sa galit na ang boses ko. Paige and made a face and pouted. Isa pa na tawag ko rito at hindi pa rin sumunod ay ipapadala ko ito sa Brazil at hindi pababalikin ng Pilipinas hanggang hindi magtanda. Mas mabuti na madisiplina ito sa Brazil nang mabawasan ang kaartehan.
“Bye, Harriet… Thank you again and will message you later.” Kumakaway na sabi ni Paige bago muling sumimangot nang makita ako pero lumapit na rin sa akin at sumakay na sa kotse.
Saktong kakasakay lang ni Paige nang may dumating na isang van at nakita ko na ngumiti si Harriet na ipinagbukas ang bagong dating ng gate at mukhang nalimutan na kami dahil sa excitement niya. I went inside my car and start the engine. I glance at Paige that made a face again. Tantrums. Sakit talaga ni Paige sa utak ang pagta-tantrums.
Brat!
****
CHLOE
From a few meters away from the van we were riding in, I saw a man leaning against a car who looked like he was waiting for someone while smoking. Two teenagers were talking in front of his car. The other girl is my cousin, Harriet, and the other is probably the man's girlfriend he might pick up.
Even though the man was meters away, I knew he was the one I had bumped into at the airport six hours ago. I couldn't forget his ruggedly handsome look and devil-may-care attitude. My eyes moved to his sports car.
Wow! The man is rich because the value of his car costs millions of dollars.
We were nearing them when I saw that the girl Harriet was talking to get inside the car. The girl wears black shorts, pink tees, a black denim jacket, and white sneakers. Her hair was in a ponytail, and I could see she was charming. She is still young, and I think she is only my age. I pouted my lips irritably. It's funny that the guy who ignored me earlier because I looked young has a girlfriend of my age too, or maybe even younger than me.
The van that I and my aunt and uncle riding to had already entered the parking area, but my eyes were still glancing at the sports car that was now getting away from my sight until it was no longer outside. Oh, darn me!
But gosh… My eyes turned bigger with excitement. My wish was granted! Yes, it is! I giggled. Although he didn't see me, still, I saw him again! Nice!
Then because of that, I made another wish to see him again. Hopefully, next time I will have a chance to get to know him.
I immediately got out of the van and came near Harriet smiling. She smiled back at me. How I miss her.
"I saw you talking to your friends. Who are they?” I couldn't stop asking. I was curious and ecstatic about the man, Harriet’s friend's boyfriend.
Harriet smiled like she knew what was on my mind. Oh, jeez! Am I that transparent?
I suddenly felt embarrassed because of that. I grimaced as I lost my mind that I had just seen Harriet again after years, and the first words I uttered were to ask about her friends.
The last time I saw my cousin was when we were fifteen years old, in California, when she and her parents were on vacation there. We usually interact on social media, so we are still connected even after not seeing each other personally for a long time.
"That's my best friend," Harriet answered my question with a teasing smile. "Her brother just picked her up because they needed to return to their province. She stayed here for three days and three nights,” she informed me, and my smile widened as I heard that my crush was not her friend’s boyfriend but a brother.
"Oh... okay," I said with slight regretfulness, for maybe if we had arrived earlier, I would have had a chance to meet the man. "Cute siblings. What are their names?”
"My friend's name is Paige. Her brother, if I remember right..." my cousin answered while trying to remember her friend's brother’s name. “Oh yeah! I remember. Paige said her father's name is Patricio, and that is her brother's name too. So that's it! Patricio Dimagiba, Jr.”
“Patricio… sounds Spanish, but it's a cute name,” I said. “It suits him.”
“He’s more than cute, Chloe. They are half-Brazilian and quarter-Spanish, I think... that was what Paige told me.”
“Oh… that is why!” I smiled when I said that while nodding. Harriet joined me with what I was thinking, and we giggled.
Patricio… Oh, God! I have a crush on a man with only his name I know. His eyes. His hazel brown eyes. How I wanna see him again. How I wanna see him looking at me and making me feel he likes me too.
Agrianthropos CityJanuary 2018TRACEDeversorium (Hotel-Resort) "I will leave the organization to you. I am now retiring as the head." Napahinto ako sa ginagawang pakikipagtalik sa babae in our dog style position nang marinig ang sinabi ni Lev sa akin. I gave him a look at natawa. Tang ina nito! Ano na naman drama ng Gurang na ito ngayon?"Retiring?" I asked and tapped the butt of my bitch* to gesture na pumatong siya sa akin. Medyo nawala ako sa concentration dahil sa sinabi ni Lev. Kakapasok niya lang sa suite at iyon agad ang bungad. Naguguluhan talaga ako ngayon sa drama ni Lev. Nakaraan ko pa siya nahahalata pero baka naman dahil sa tumatanda na siya kaya sigeng drama ng kung ano-ano. Hinayaan pa niya si Paige na umakyat at makita ako sa ginagawa kong pakikipag-sex* sa mga babae ko. That brat at tatamaan sa akin mamaya iyon. I remember how Paige screamed when she saw me with three bitches* earlier. Bigla na lang niya kasi binuksan ang pinto ng presidential suite ko. Sigurado
AGRIANTHROPOS CITYJanuary 2018TRACEDeversorium (Hotel-Resort) "Retirement?" I wondered. What the hell Lev is saying?“Yeah.”I smirked. "Are you fucking* into a relationship too? Are you like Elliot and Logan now who were fucking* fuckers* that love falling for their women*?" tanong ko at dahil nawalan ako bigla ng gana sa babaeng nasa ibabaw ko ay iniwan ko na ito at hinayaan na paligayahin nito si Lev.I went to the woman in the couch na nagpapaligaya pa rin ng sarili at siya naman ang pinataob ko. I entered the woman at sinimulan na ang mabilis na paglabas-masok ko sa basang-basa na pagkababae* niya. I kept on pumping and withdrew immediately when at last I felt that I was about to erupt. I used my hand on my length up and down to continue the rhythm until I showered all my semen* on the back of Bitch* No. 3 in front of me.I boringly walked and sat on the single couch nang may isang babae naman na lumapit sa akin at sinimulan na akong i-blowjob. The woman cleaned my dick* tota
Agrianthropos CityJanuary 2018TRACEAlea“Naiinis na ako sa’yo, Kuya Trace. Sa true lang!” Paige said that made me return my attention to her.Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko para mawala na sa isip ang teenager sa airport. Tangina kasi! Lagi na lang siyang istorbo sa isip ko. Sinulyapan ko si Paige na nakasimangot na nakatingin sa isang painting na naroroon. Mukha namang natakot na ang kapatid ko kaya tama na iyong pagbabanta ko kanina, at kailangan ko na rin puntahan si Lev sa club niya. Tama. Ipapahatid ko na lang muna si Paige sa Deversorium dahil may commercial pa akong gagawin dito sa casino mamaya bago makapunta kay Lev. I need fifteen minutes to do that at ayaw na ayaw kong nag-aaksaya ng oras kapag ganito na marami pa akong nakapilang gagawin.“Ihatid mo na si Paige sa hotel,” utos ko kay Hector na sakto at kakapasok lang. Alam kong kanina pa ito naghihintay kung may ipapatrabaho ba ako. “Yes, Boss Trace.” Mabilis na lumapit si Hector kay Paige. “Tara na, Miss Paige.” “Ayoko pang
Agrianthropos City January 2018 TRACE Idée Fixe (Lev’s Club) Pumalakpak ako sa nakitang pambubugbog ni Lev sa kawawang senador na biktima nito. Plano ko pa naman ikwento rito ginawa ko kay Rodillo pero huwag na at iba na ang epekto ng droga sa akin. Kailangan ko na ng babae. Ang mga gagong sina Raj at Apollo na kasama ni Keros kanina sa casa ni Chase ay nakita ko na bumibira ng droga, bagong produkto raw at baka gusto ko raw subukan. My mind is dead tired sa sunod-sunod na pangyayari sa linggong nagdaan. Nagbyahe ako papuntang Salvacion para makipag-away sa tatay ko, sinundo si Paige sa Baguio, bumalik sa isla dahil sa drama ni Lev, at simula nasa isla ako ay sunod-sunod rin ang mga inintindi ko. Pinaliguan ko pa isa-isa ang mga pusa ko. Kagabi nga lang ako nagka-time sa mga angels ni Chase hanggang kaninang umaga na ginulo pa nina Paige at Lev. Nang lapitan ko na si Lev ay mas mukha pa siyang bangag sa akin dahil mukhang nasa ‘no touch’ mode na naman pala ang gurang. There was
TRACEDeversoriumA day later… “I wanna go home na!” nagdadabog na sabi ni Paige bago hinila ang upuan sa harap ko. Kasalukuyan akong nag-aalmusal. “I should have not contacted you when I was in Baguio! You.Are.So.Irritating.Kuya!” Hindi ko na lang pinansin ang kapatid ko na ang aga-aga ay nagmamaldita. Patuloy lang akong kumakain. I grimaceed. Masakit ang ulo ko sa dami kong nainom na alak kagabi at dahil na rin sa droga. Bangag na bangag na ako kagabi at halos ubos ang semilya ko sa pagbi-BJ sa akin ng tatlong babae na gumawa ng paraan para lang matulungan ako matanggal ang epekto ng droga sa sistema ko. Napabuga ako sa inis nang maalala rin na hindi ko natanggihan ang rason ni Lev kagabi sa kabangagan na inabot ko. Um-oo na lang ako ng um-oo kasi happy nga ako. Tangina! Lakas makagago ng droga na iyon! Ang naalala ko na lang ay ang sabi ni Lev na hindi naman maiiwan sa akin ang buong pamamahala ng Foedus. Lev would stay as the Foedus’ advisor, like my shadow. “I said gusto
Metro Manila October 2021 CHLOE It had been three months mula nang dumating ako dito sa Philippines. I was supposed to come here with my parents and Carly but they didn’t make it kaya ako na lang pinapunta nila. The problem with Carly get worse than ever. She needs extra care kaya nasa psychiatric hospital muna siya nag-stay. Ang sabi ni mommy at daddy ay medyo gumaganda na yata ang lagay niya roon. I really hope so. I am praying for it too. Yes, sana… sana she will be okay soon. I miss the old Carly, that is so vibrant and had a positive outlook on life. The one who is always there for me. Cheering. Supporting. And believing me. For three months ay wala na akong ginawa dito sa Philippines kung hindi ang pasimpleng hanapin si Trace Dimagiba. Not even telling my cousin Harriet about the truth, wala akong sinasabi kahit kanino na hindi okay si Carly. That is our family’s secret. Mommy told me that no matter what queries I heard from our relatives regarding the whereabouts of our fa
Metro ManilaOctober 2021TRACEThree and a half years ago. Hell yeah! Almost four years later I became the head of Foedus Corp., the organization that we started and Lev led. Lev to lead, lead to Lev. Hah! It fucking* rhymes but now he fucking* left me his supposed responsibility when he wanted to start Foedus. All because of the obvious reason. Love. Fucking* love.Lev became fan of getting laid, I think. Hindi na nagsawa, ang tanda na eh saka pa yata gusto maging kabataan ulit. Sabagay at sociopath nga pala iyon, dami arte sa katawan akala mo naman hindi pumapatol sa mga babaeng padala nina Jake at Chase noon. But Lev was still the man I look up to. Bilib ako sa simpleng kagaguhan no’n. Kung wala si Lev ay walang Foedus na pinoprotektahan namin lahat ngayon. He organizeed us. He guide us, being the oldest among all of us. But enough with Lev’s drama. That man is truly trying to be peaceful with his—. Man! He kinda cute and fun. Acting like a big brother yet cannot focus on what he
CHLOEMy eyes grew bigger while looking sa lalaking medyo mataba, at sa kawawang matanda. Kanina pa inaaway no’ng mataba iyong old man. Gusto ko sabihin na tama na at kahit ako na shoulder ng expenses sa pag-ayos ng car ni Chubby Man, pero… I can’t. Natatakot ako. Si Manong Berto naman ay kanina pa kami sinasabihan ni Harriet na pumasok na sa sasakyan, but Harriet was trying to video the moment para raw ma-post niya sa social medias. That is the way of Harriet to help the old poor man. I looked at the people around and it seems no one wanted to intervene. Ang mga tao ay naka-encircle lang sa scene and yet no one wants to make way to stop Mr. Chubby. Most of them are taking videos like Harriet, and I am sure that they are going to post it, too. Ipo-post nila para maging viral nga naman sa socmed, but the old pedicab man will be beaten. The paradox of helping! God! I was about to suggest to call some police officer para may tumulong sa matanda nang mapatingin ako sa katapat ko na d