Chapter 11 - Dress"You can walk, right?"Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Ander. Inalalayan niya ako paalis sa mesa kanina at ngayo'y pinauupo sa kama. Nilagyan niya ng roba ang katawan ko at marahang inayos ang aking buhok.His fingers gently combed my hair. He parted it between my shoulders and slowly — he tucked my hair behind my ears.His eyes won't leave me. I can sense that there's a tinge of guilt in his eyes but I couldn't face it. I can't... Because while I was on that table... I felt something. I felt that I am completely surrendering myself to him. To trust him.At alam kong delikado 'yon. At delikado para sa akin, sa kalagayan ko, at sa lahat ng mga plano ko."Are you okay now?""Hmm," I grunted as I forced myself to sit on the edge of the bed.Sobrang lambot nito, ang sarap sa katawan. Naaalala ko ang pakiramdam habang naroon ako sa mesa kanina.Exciting naman... At inaamin kong ginanahan at

Chapter 13 - The Ex-Girlfriend"Mommy,"I am still shocked that my mother's here. Her unexpected visit added tension in my weary emotions. First, because of Ander and all my thoughts about him and this arrangement... My feelings. Then now, she's here.Why is she here?Bakit may nararamdaman akong iba? Don't get me wrong. I love seeing her. I always love being with her, but her visit is slightly off.  Considering her state, her supposed vacation...the time. At nasaktuhan pa na nag-aaway kami ni Ander... at nakainom pa ako!Ander gently held my elbow, urging me to greet my mother. I sighed and went to her.Niyakap ko ang ina. Sa likuran niya ay napako ang mga tingin ko. Naroon ang kanyang mga bagahe. Ibig sabihin ba ay hindi siya tumuloy ng Paris?"What are you doing here, Mommy?""Did you drink?""We did, Tita." ani Ander.I glanced at him. Hindi ko kailangan na iligtas niya ako rito. Alam naman n

Chapter 15 - Some ConsequencesWhy did my brother ended up dead? Who killed him? And why?Bumuhos ang mga tanong sa isipan ko habang nasa biyahe kami papunta sa condo. May parte sa akin na iniisip na baka kasalanan ko. Ako ang nagpadakip sa kanya. Ako ang nag-umpisa nito. May iba nga lang na tumapos.Pero ang tanong, sino?Galit kong tinignan ang telepono ko. Kanina ko pa tinatawagan si Selena at ang mga tauhan namin pero ni isa walang sumasagot. Every second, I grew impatient and anxious. My brother just died... Possibly murdered. But by who? Tauhan ba namin? Ni Ander? O may iba pang kalaban?"A-ander... We need to go and see them-""Stay right there, per favore." aniya at pinigilan ako sa pagtayo.I heard he told his bodyguards to keep the building secured. Pinacheck niya rin si Mommy at pinapadala na niya rito. He called a few people on his phone and talked to them in various languages I couldn't understand and grasp.

Chapter 17 - AssuranceKung sinampal ko kaya 'to si Serena? Tutal deserve naman niya?I stared at the altar in front of me. My mother is talking, but I couldn't make out everything she's saying. All I can hear is my erratic heartbeat, the peddling noise outside that I couldn't even understand. The flashes across the room, and the slow burning murmurs of the people around us as they agree to what my mother is saying."Corelle," Marahang hinaplos ni Ander ang siko ko. Napatingin ako sa kanya.Sa sobrang paglalakbay ng isip ko, halos wala na akong matinong maisip. I can't afford to lose my cool now. I can't let anyone see how chaotic and messy my life is right now.For sure, they'll question everything and everyone around me. Ang unang sisi rito ay kay Ander. Siyempre, siya ang asawa ko... Siya ang unang-unang titignan ng mga tao."What?" I mouthed.He looked at me — his eyes are overshadowed with questions. I kne

Chapter 19 - Wine TeasingAnder booked a one week vacation somewhere in Capri, Italy. I told him that it's not necessary. Ayaw ko rin namang makahanap na naman ng dahilan ang media para pagpiyestahan ang mga buhay namin. Ayaw ko rin na nangingialam sila sa buhay namin na para bang sila ang nagpapakain at nagpapalamon sa amin. Baka kasi masilip ng mga tao na nagpapakasasa ako sa masarap na buhay ko habang nagluluksa pa rin ang mga magulang ko sa pagkawala ng kapatid ko.I've read articles that I lack sympathy. That I'm not grieving. The comments are condescending and degrading. I wonder if how they really can see right through me, or they just have this perception of me?Umihip ang pang hapong hangin at inayos ko ang aking sarong. I'm in my aquafina bikini. Ander's topless, with his shades on and a board shorts. Hindi na ako nag-post ng pictures namin dahil baka mamatay na sa inggit ang mga tao sa Pilipinas."I'll see you again in a week." ani Ande