"UKININANA kitdi ti kastoy nga biag, makauma!" I exclaimed in jest, causing me to roll my eyes.
The Serene and Loud Restobar was bustling with activity as I made my way through the crowd. The restaurant was situated beside the pristine waters of Moalboal, and the sound of the waves mingled with the chatter of the patrons. I greeted the regulars with a smile and a wave, knowing most of them by name after a decade of working there."Who is it now?" I asked April as she followed my steps. "Bakit kailangan pa ako roon?"We are walking our way to the VIP floor to attend to some guests. Inayos ko ang neck tie kong kulay asul."It's Sir Almerino," Avril replied, and my heart skipped a beat."S-sinong Almerino?" I stuttered. "Si Koko?""Not Koko, but Jacques Almerino," Avril clarified, her voice tinged with excitement. "Kanina pa nakapag-out si Koko."My mind raced as I tried to process the news. Sandali akong natigilan ngunit hindi ako nagpahalata kay Avril. Kinalma ko ang aking sarili. Jacques was my ex-husband, and I thought I had moved on from him. But the thought of seeing him again made my heart race.As Avril and I continued our steps to the VIP room, I heard her teasing voice. "Akala ko ba moved on ka na sa ex-husband mo? Bakit ka affected?"Napangiwi ako sa komento niya. Huminto ako. "Correction, ex-husband. Matagal na kaming hiwalay." Inikutan ko siya ng mata."Sabi ko nga," aniya ngunit may himig ng panunukso ang mga tingin niya.I didn't say anything more. We entered the VIP room to find Jacques and his fiancée, Faith, waiting for us. I kept my eyes trained on the ground, avoiding Jacques' gaze.Wala kang dapat na ikatakot dahil hiwalay ka na sa kanya. Bulong ko sa sarili ko."Sir Jacques, Miss Faith. Narito na po ang manager namin, si Miss Jenalyn Salas.""Good evening, sir, madam," bati ko sa kanila."Hi! It's so good to see you!" Faith exclaimed, running to kiss me on the cheek. Nagngitian kami. Muli kong iniwasan ang mga titig ni Jacques.I looked around the room and couldn't help but notice the decorations: white and pink balloons, heart-shaped bulbs and buttons, and a light-up sign that read "MARRY ME." The sight made my heart ache, knowing that I had once been in Faith's shoes.Sinubukan kong panatilihing kalmado ang aking sarili habang tinutugunan ko ang kanilang mga pangangailangan, ngunit ang aking isip ay nasa dalawang taong pinagsisilbihan ko."Have you hired someone to play the piano?" si Faith, aliw na tinititigan ang dati kong asawa. Ipinaghihiwa siya nito ng steak na kalalagay ko lang sa harap niya."I hired a friend who'll play at our wedding," he said in his deep and calm voice. Pinigilan kong mapatitig sa kanya. Sinalinan ko ng wine ang dalawang baso na nasa harap nila. They tossed the wine and giggled in front of me.At tila tukso na naririnig ko pa ang mga sumunod na usapan nila, ang tungkol sa venue ng kasal at kung sinu-sino ang mga imbitado-isang kasal na dapat ay akin.Paglabas ko ng VIP room, hindi ko maiwasang makaramdam ng matinding panghihinayang. Hinayaan kong makawala si Jacques, at ngayon ay nagpakasal na siya sa iba. Ngunit alam kong kailangan kong magpatuloy sa buhay. I also need to find my happiness.I walked back to the main restaurant, and I heard the sound of the waves, which provided a soothing sound to my thoughts."Let go of him and let fate decide," I whispered to myself, hoping that someday I would also find my own happy ending.Warning: This story contains mature scenes, explicit sexual content, and sensitive topics that are not suitable for young readers. Reader discretion is advised.CHAPTER 1"SARDINGAN nak man, Janus. Kaaabot ko lang sa 'yo ng pera noong isang araw. Umayos ka!" ("Stop it, Janus. I just gave you money the other day. Get your act together!") Nangagalaiti ako sa bunso kong kapatid habang ka-videocall ko siya sa kabilang linya. Humihingi ng 5,000 pesos gayong kabibigay ko lang ng allowance niya. Katatapos lang ng capping and pinning ceremony nila na dinaluhan ko noong Biyernes. He is now a student nurse at SLU-La Union."Sige na, Manang. Kulang din 'yong ipinadala ni Tatang noong nakaraan." Alam kong naglalambing lang siya base sa tono ng boses niya ngunit ayaw kong sinasanay siya ng ganoon. Kada hingi, bigay agad. Mamumulubi talaga kami dahil sa kursong kinuha niya at sa private university pa talaga nag-aaral!"Haanak agtaktakki ti kuwarta, sinalbag ka nga talaga nga ubing!" Galit kong sa
Chapter 2"Mukha lang siyang bata pero bente-uno na 'yan, mga kuya. Papasukin n'yo na kami, please?"We had arrived in front of The Euphoria. Nagmamakaawa si Melvina sa harap ng dalawang bouncer habang tinutulungan ako ni Olivia na hanapin ang ID sa backpack ko. Hinarang ako dahil mukha raw akong menor-de-edad. And I needed to show them my ID to prove that I was of legal drinking age to enter the nightclub.Pero kasalanan ko rin. Paano ba naman kasi? Naka-denim shorts lang ako at vintage jacket, then I paired it with sneakers. Parang mamalengke lang ako sa suot ko. Wala naman kasi akong ideya na hahatakin na naman nila ako after our graveyard shift.I don't get it. What's wrong with these people? Just because I have a youthful face doesn't mean I'm not an adult. Being small can make me feel and look even younger, which can be both nice and annoying at the same time. I'm already mistaken for someone younger than my actual age, and being petite only adds to that.Agh! Nakakainis maging
Chapter 3"Ma-nang, ag-agriing kan. Na-bangsit tu ta ang-saw mon."Instead of being irritated, I smiled as my brother strongly shook my arm and told me to wake up. He is mimicking how I always wake him up; I tell him that if he doesn't get out of bed, his breath will stink.My eyes were still closed, and I could feel him lying next to me. His lips pressed against my arm. Every morning, he kisses my arm. "M-morning, ma-nang." His words are soft, causing him to mumble on every letter, but I understand what he's saying because we've been together since birth.When Josue was four years old, he was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome. Kinukonsidera ang sakit niya bilang ‘syndromic’ form ng autism spectrum disorder. All these years, he has attended speech therapy and received cognitive-behavioral therapy. Kaya medyo nagagawa niyang makipag-usap at makihalubilo sa amin. At the age of 10, doon pa lang siya natutong maglakad mag-isa. I can understand the hardships and exhaustion that my parents
Chapter 4"Kahit nasa 21st century na tayo, uso pa rin pala ang arranged marriage. Does that mean you don't love each other and were forced to marry by both of your mothers?"Hindi ko napigilang itanong noong itinutupi ko na ang mga towel na ginamit ko sa pagma-massage. Curious kasi ako.Kasasabi lang kasi niya kanina na magpapakasal pa rin sila dahil utos ng mga mommy nila. Kawawa naman silang dalawa kung mapipilitan silang magsama dahil lang sa family tradition. And they both have two months to enjoy the freedom of being single, though they both agreed to keep their freedom even if they are married. Sa papel lang daw sila kasal.Medyo TMI, pero hindi ko maintindihan ang sarili ko. Kanina disappointed ako, ngayon medyo magaan na ang pakiramdam ko.Natigilan sa pagtatali ng roba si Miss Faith at sinulyapan ako. Ngumiti siya ng mapait at wala siyang imik na lumabas ng kuwarto. Mas lalo tuloy akong naging curious.Ibinalik ko ang lahat ng massage oils and creams sa backpack ko, at inila
Chapter 5"Kapag nakita ko ang Mac na 'yon, makakatikim siya sa'kin ng salita. Pasalamat siya't hindi ko naabutan."Tita's irritated voice woke me up the next morning. I could have slept a little longer, but the sound of my brother's retching roused me from my slumber.I found him in the bathroom, throwing up repeatedly. I approached him and scolded him, "Ano ang napala mo sa sobrang pag-inom kagabi?" I ran my fingers through my slightly curly hair as I reprimanded him.While my brother continued to vomit, Tita comforted him by rubbing his back.Tumingala siya sa akin, matapos punasan ni Tita ang bibig niya. "S-akit u-lo, sa-kit tiyan ko, ma-nang," sabi niya sa kaawa-awang tinig. Bahagya pa siyang nakalabi, and his gentle face showed signs of discomfort."Ikukuha kita ng tubig," sabi ko. Tumayo ako. Napasinghap ako dahil bumangga ako sa matigas na bagay, pagkaatras ko.The man with the alluring charm has come! He was wearing his executive suit and holding a glass of water by his side.
Chapter 6"Bakit nagpalit ka ng suot? Umuwi ba kayo?" tanong ko para mapagtakpan ang pagkakahuli niya sa pagtitig ko sa kanya. Bahagya niyang ipinilig ang ulo habang sinisimulan niyang imaniobra ang kanyang marangyang sasakyan. "The pet store dog peed on me from head to toe. Nasa taas siya ng estante kaya hindi ko napansin."Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili kong humalaklak, pati si Josue ay nakigaya rin sa paraan ng pagtawa ko. "Hindi nga?" Natatawa at hindi makapaniwala kong tanong."I'm speaking the truth. Fortunately, the owner had some extra new clothes that he gave me."Kinagat ko ang pang-itaas kong labi at tumingin sa labas ng bintana para pigilan ang sarili ko sa muling pagtawa. Baka kasi mainis siya sa 'kin. "Don't hold back your laughter. Mauutot ka, babaho rito," sabi niya na ikinagikgik kong muli. Sa pagtawa ko'y hinampas ko ng ilang ulit ang braso niya. Kagat-kagat naman niya ang inner cheeks niya habang nakatuon ang pansin niya sa dinadaanan namin. "I'm driving, Alyn. S
Chapter 7"Mmm."I hummed and place the glass on the counter. My right hand caressed his cheek, while the other was entwined in his hair; my heart continued to pound, my toes curled, and I felt sparks in my stomach.Halu-halo ang nararamdaman ko, nakalalasing ang banayad na paghalik niya sa labi ko. His kisses were so soft yet sensual, gentle yet powerful, that I craved more of his flavor. Ramdam ko ang pag-iinit naming dalawa ngunit nagpapasalamat akong hanggang sa bewang ko lang ang mga kamay niya. I could tell he was holding back from touching me more.Manigurado ka muna bago ka magpahalik. Hindi ka puwedeng basta na lang nagpapadampi ng labi sa lalaking committed! Nagsusumigaw ang sermon ng utak ko, kaso hindi ako nakinig.I tried to sneak a peek, and his eyes were closed, and it struck me how lovely he was. He looked so calm and content while kissing me.I tiptoed more and wrapped my arms around his neck and felt his soft tongue probe my mouth. I felt like my body was melting,
Chapter 8"I noticed you were wearing sneakers the last time I saw you; why didn't you wear them this time?" tanong ni Jacques habang isinusuot ang apat na pulgadang heels sa kanang paa ko. Sa madilim na liwanag ng ilaw sa back seat, ramdam ko ang bigat ng titig niya sa mukha ko kaya hindi magkamayaw ang paru-paro sa tiyan ko. "Naiwan ko sa bahay," pagsisinungaling ko. If I said my five-year-old sneakers had worn out, I'd be in an awkward situation. Tuluyan nang humiwalay ang suwelas ng sapatos ko. Naubos na ang laman ng rugby na lagi kong ipinandidikit kaya wala akong choice kundi isuot ang heels ko pauwi. I noticed his chest move slightly, as if he was sighing. Minasahe pa niya ng isang beses ang kaliwang paa ko, bago niya isinuot ang kapares ng heels ko. "Your anklet suits you," komento niya. Bahagya niyang pinasadahan ng daliri niya ang aking anklet kaya nagdulot ito ng mumunting kiliti sa aking bukung-bukong.I bite my inner cheeks because of it. "Amulet 'yan, bigay ng isa sa