What is wrong with being single?

No one to hold hands to...

No one to make you blush...
No one to text you sweet nothings...
No one to make your world feel alive...
What is really good about being single?
NO complications!
NO heartaches!
NO disappointments!
NO arguments!
Why am I still single?
That's the question I keep asking myself.
I have never been inlove.
In this generation whereboysare collections andrelationshipsare wanted.
It's no big deal, that's what I've always said. But deep inside I wondered
Will someone change my status?
Is there something wrong or good about having....
NO BOYFRIEND SINCE BIRTH
NBSB Main Cast
Caprice Roxas -Reese
Two MEN in her Life
Rexel Liam Javier -Rexel
Daniel Rouel Torres -Dane
Forever Friends
Sasha
Ginger
Laney
Added Casts
Brent
Corrs
RiaandAnne(Twins)
Dane's Girl-Mitchie
Friend-slash-kinakapatid-Cheryl
Chapter One:Simbang Gabi ng MMPS
Chapter Two:Dakilang Shock Absorber!
Chapter Three:Ang Lalaki sa Simbahan
Chapter Four:Hindi na ko Virgin?!
Chapter Five:Pustahan!
Chapter Six:Abnormal Activity!
Chapter Seven:Partners-IN-Crime
Chapter Eight:The Note
Chapter Nine:The List
Chapter Ten:Rexel vs. Dane
Chapter Eleven:New Year, New Problem!
Chapter Twelve:Kahambugan!
Chapter Thirteen:Who is SHE?
Chapter Fourteen:SEXY JERK
Chapter Fifteen:Trophy Girlfriend
Chapter Sixteen:Away o Gulo?
Chapter Seventeen:Let's Swim!
Chapter Eighteen:Valen-tears Day!
Chapter Nineteen:The truth
Chapter Twenty:Triple Date!
Chapter Twenty One:Catch Me I'm Fallin'
Chapter Twenty Two:Moving On...
Chapter Twenty Twenty Three:Sick at Heart
Chapter Twenty Four:His Ex, Her Sister
Chapter Twenty Five:Sienna
Chapter Twenty Six:The Start of Rivalry
Chapter One
"Simbang gabi ng isang MMPS"
"Three days, fourteen hours and forty four minutes and it'll be Christmas! Oh my
Gosh, two months from now you're turning 18! and still this is the 17th Christm
as na MPPS ka pa rin! I can think of something... Let's have a bet!"
She couldn't forget those words. She couldn't help but stare. Napadako ang tingi
n niya sa mag-sweetheart na naglalakad at hhww pa...(holding hands while walking
). Naiinis siya... Iiwas man niya ang paningin parang nananadyang may bakanteng
upuan sa harapan nila at doon umupo ang dalawa. Malamig ang simoy ng madaling ar
aw. Ayun, nagbulungan ang dalawa at binigay ng guy ang jacket... Ano ba! dapat p
a bang ipamukha sa kanya na sa 17 years and ten months nya sa mundong ibabaw eh,
walang nagkalakas loob na humawak ng kamay niya?!
As if naman papayag ka!!!
"Reese, are you still with me?... magaamanamin na."
"Ha? tita???..."she looked at the guy beside her. Ok, he was cute. And I'm not de
sperate!
Maghahawak kamay pa lang sila ng mapansin niya ang nanlilisik na mata ng babae s
a tabi nito. Woooaaahhh.... it saysOFF LIMITS!!!
"Amanamin lang..."she whispered. Hmmp, NBSB lang ako pero hindi desperada! 'tsura
lang ng girlfriend niya parang siya ang desperado! Dwarf naman. Napasign of the
cross siya sa naisip...
Caprice Roxas! It's no big deal, right?... What the hell is the matter with you?
! It's not as if you're biological clock is ticking away...
every minute...
every second...
hindi nga ba???.... hindi ba't...
"CAPRICE! peace be with you na daw."
"A-a-ano yun tita???"napalingon siya sa harap at gilid niya, nabitin ang 'peace b
e with you' niya ng magsmack ang kaharap nila.
Sometimes, you'll feel envy and then disgust. You don't know if it is more from
yourself or from those couples... Ikaw ba? Ni minsan hindi mo naramdaman na para
ng ikaw na lang ang nagiisang NBSB sa mundo?If only her parents hadn't sheltered h
er... If only they'd let her have a go at the world, no, instead they'd let her
have her OWN world. Kailangan pa niyang lumayas para lang...
She heard some giggle from behind. She couldn't help but stare. Damn! She wish s
he didn't. Dalawang pares ng magsing-irog, at dalawang lalaki. Ngumisi ang isa a
t tinuro ang tita niya sabay sign of the cross!
"Ms. Roxas! Tila ata, kasali ka sa MMPS ngayong pasko??? Ba't di ka na lang kaya
magmadre?"
"MMPS?? As in,"
Ang sarap ahitin ng makapal na kilay ng unggoy na ito ng magtawanan ang mga ito.
Classmate niya ito sa Management class niya. Nasan na ba tita niya?!
She irritably walked away from them.
God, just give me a sign... The first guy who will give me flowers within two mo
nths will be my very very first boyfriend. And the guy who will give his handker
chief will be my first kiss... haha joke lang God! Sana naman 'wag mo kong tulug
an ngayon Bro...
Nasa isang sulok siya ng simbahan at naghihintay ng mapansin ang isang matangkad
na lalaki. She sighed. Titig na titig siya dito. He was somewhat familiar. Lumi
ngon ito...
and smiled at her!NO! HE GRINNED AT HER!
kung 'yung iba ang reflex action ay magblush siya naman, biglang napasimangot!FLI
RT!hindi flirt 'yun! 'waah! she's getting paranoid!
Kring! Kring!!!
"Hello?..."
"Prinsesa, buy me sampaguita now and then I'll pay you later. OK?"
"Dane?? Yeah, good morning to you, too. Sweet, you'll call me prinsesa pero daki
lang utusan mo naman. ganon??? Kindly tell me why you need sampaguita?"malamang,
wala man lang hi o hello. Bwisit na simbang gabi! First time niyang makaexperien
ce ganito pa mangyayari!
"I just want to.... wag ka ng pakialam, ok? basta ibili mo 'ko. I'm praying for
something. Tapos 'yung bibilin mo icharge mo na din sa'kin."Weird... Kung sabagay
si Dane pa!
"Bakit hindi kayo nagsimbang gabi ni Mitchie?"
"None of your business..."
"Woaahh.. men... thank you ha? Nag-away na naman kayo no? Wanna bet?"wrong choic
e of words!
He laughed."What do you know about relationships, anyway???"
Chapter Two:
Dakilang Shock Absorber!
In my seventeen years of existence I'm happy being single... pero minsan Oo, nak
akasawa. Every time there's a party I had hoped that some guy would step up and
be my date. Every time my phone rings deep down I wish it was from someone speci
al... someone not just...
-Oh no, I do not hook up, up... I fall deep! 'Cause the more that you tried the
harder i'll fight to say good night--

Katy Perry-Hook up
"Hello??"Damn! Who the hell's calling her in the middle of the night?
*sobbing*
"Hey! Sasha???... what happened? Speak up. Pinapakaba mo naman ako niyan."
"Reese?... got a big problem! w-we, w-we... uhm... "umaatungal na ito na parang b
aka.
She rolled her eyes. She thinks she already knew... ano pa nga ba? eh, she shoul
d have known better. Sometimes she's getting tired and sick of it. Why? Siya ang
numero unong takbuhan ng mga ito. Papalitan niya na nga ata si ate Charo...
"I need a pregnancy test kit..."
-Blog-
"F*ck!"...naumpog siya sa headboard ng kama niya!
"Yes... huhuhuhu.... that's what we did, we f*cked! And.. n-now, Reese! my paren
ts are going to kill me!"
*******
"Dane! Are you listening to me?! I don't know what I'm going to do. Napasubo na
'ko sa lintik na pustahan na 'yun! I don't want to hook up with just anybody. NB
SB ako pero hindi ako desperado! Isa pa, pinoproblema ko din si Sasha."
ang laki laki na ng eyebags niya! problemado pa siya! At isa kong dakilang shock
absorber!... 'yun ang mahirap pag ikaw lang ang nag-iisang single sa barkada...
NO commentDane just shrugged. Naka-earphone ito at nakadekwatro pa. What did she e
xpect? He's always non-committal, ni hindi niya nga magets 'yung mga babaeng nag
kakagusto dito... Para itong tuod!
"Are you listening to me?!"naiinis na tinanggal niya 'yung earphone nito.
"Ha???"Darn~
"Napakawalang kwenta mo talaga!!!"
Siya lang ba ang walang problema sa mundo???... O siya ang namomroblema sa mundo
?
"Dane, tell me honestly. Am I beautiful?"
-------
"What's funny?..."naubo ito at umayos ng upo.
"Ano bang sabi ng nanay mo?"
"Mommy ko?... ha?"
"You asked me kung maganda ka, diba? so what did your mother say?"
She got confused."Sabi niya... maganda naman daw ako."
"Syempre... 'yun naman pala eh."at sabay sinaksak ang earphone sa tenga nito.
Hinampas niya ito ng ubod lakas!
"Syempre nanay ko 'yun eh... Ikaw nga tinatanong ko diba!'she blushed. What's got
ten into her anyway?... herINSECURITY.
Tumingin ito ng seryoso sa kanya, it became awkward.Why did she ask that stupid qu
estion???
"Prinsesa, you're beautiful."it was his endearment to her, Prinsesa. Kung bakit l
ater niyo na lang alamin.
She blushed. It warmed her heart.
"Syempre, partners tayo eh. Sino pa ba maguutuan kung di tayong dalawa??"
Toinksssssssssss!!!
"Salamat ha?... sana nagsinungaling ka na lang."gigil na babatuhin niya sana ito
ng libro ng makita niya kung saan ito nakatingin.
There goes Mitchie walking with a guy. She gasped as the guy took her bag and le
d her to the gate. Dane looked stricken. THAT GOT HIS ATTENTION. Sabi na nga ba
niya! NagLQ ito at si Mitchie!
"Dane! Wait for me here, ok? I'll just go get my bag."mabilis na tinungo niya ang
loob ng room. Christmas party ng department nila kaya nasa University pa rin si
la.
"Damn! Nasan na 'yun?"she saw his ipod and earphone lying there. Big trouble! Hin
di nito basta iiwan ang ipod lang dahil mawala na ang lahat wag lang ito para ka
y Dane. So something's terribly wrong.
Hinagilap niya ito hanggang makalabas ng campus. God, she's worried. She knows h
ow he loves Mitchie. Hindi ito tipong martir. He doesn't care a whit about anyth
ing but he's the only guy friend she had, she cares.
Nakita niya ito sa tawid na kausap 'yung lalaki habang nasa gitna si Mitchie. Ma
initang usapan ito. Nagmamadaling tumakbo siya papunta sa mga ito.
Prrrrrrrtttttttttt....OMG! I don't wanna die yet... virgin pa ko no!
Her books scattered on the road. Onlookers were starting to give them weird star
es.
"Miss, are you okay?"
Nalilitong napamulat siya. She sensed if something was missing in her body parts
. Hindi niya napansin na nakatalilis na ang palda niya. Exposed ang thighs at le
gs niya! at nakahawak don ang lalaki!
itinulak niya ang libro dito!
"Ouch! Why did you do that?"
"BASTOS! wala pang nakakahipo sa'kin!"
"Excuse me Miss, as you can see you walk, no. You run without even noticing anyt
hing even my car. Magpapakamatay ka ba?"
Itinayo siya nito kahit ayaw niya. He was too close for comfort. Nanlaki 'yung m
ata niya.
"Ikaw 'yung lalaking nasa sim---"
Chapter Three:
Ang Lalaki sa Simbahan
"Ikaw 'yung lalaki sa sim--"
He grinned at her.THAT GRIN. She couldn't help but stare.
"Ikaw 'yung flirt!"
"Flirt? ako??... masama bang ngitian ko ang magandang babaeng nakita kong nakati
ngin sa'kin?"Wow, pang-close up 'yung smile niya.
Flirt na! Bolero pa!
Maganda daw siya oh! Buti pa siya... samantalang si Dane?!
Kumirot 'yung sa bandang balakang niya dahil na rin sa impact ng pagkabagsak niy
a kanina.
"Be careful."hinawakan nito ang bewang niya at isinandal siya sa dibdib nito. She
looked at him.WRONG MOVE!his face was only inches away from her.
Wait lang! He's a total stranger! Kailan ka pa nadaan sa pang-close up na smile?
??
She could feel every inch of him, even his perfume. Nailang siya kaya't naitulak
niya ito na siya namang pagka-out of balance niya.
Sh*t! My hips hurt...babagsak siya!
As if on cue,"Reese! easy..."may sumalo sa kanya from behind. She heard something
crashed on the floor.
"Dane??... 'yung salamin ko!!!"
"Salamin lang 'yan. What the hell's wrong with you? Magpapakamatay ka ba?... You
're so clumsy! You're not even looking where you're going! Pano kung napahamak k
a!"
*make face*as if naman, hindi niya kagagawan kung bakit ako nagmamadali!~
but she was shocked.Dane cares about her!
"Dane..."SiMitchie...
She was looking at them. No, she was scowling at both of them.
Ano na naman bang problema ng babaeng ito?
At saka lang niya narealize kung gaano ka-intimate 'yung ayos nila ni Dane. He w
as holding her from behind. It was like an embrace.
Tumakbo si Mitchie...
"Mitchie!"He was torn she could see that.
"Go to her. I'm... o-okay."Bakit ganon? masakit sa loob niya. At hindi niya alam
kung bakit... lahat ng friends niya lovelife ang priority. When it comes to choo
sing between a friend and sweetheart.... alam na. Ikaw namang si friend syempre
hahayaan mong maging maligayaSIYA,kasi namanka lang. Buti na lang siya kahit kailan
walang complications.
"Prinsesa, thanks..."he looked at her. She can't read anything on his expression.
"Pero lagot ka sa'kin mamaya!"
Mamaya??? eh, for sure makakalimutan mo na 'ko! Kasi busy ka sa pang-aamo kay Mi
tchie.
"Pare, don't worry I'll take care of her. Let's go."
Nandun pa pala siya... Inalalayan siya nito. Hindi niya napigilang tignan ang tu
matakbong si Dane...
"Ako na, I can manage."pinilit niyang lumakad kahit paika-ika... pero hindi niya
maituwid 'yung paglakad niya.
"San ba pinaglihi ulo mo? sa bato??... "
"Joke ba 'yun?... tatawa na ba ko?"
"Ayan kasi ayaw mo pang magpaalalay dalhin na lang kita sa ospital?"
"Wag na... Okay na 'ko..."
They were silent for a few minutes when they were on the way to her house.
"Saan ba kita ihahatid?..."itinuro niya kung saan bahay ng tita niya.
"What's your name?"
"I don't give my name to strangers. Sorry."
Aba kahit naman minsan nagmamaganda din ang lola mo!~
---He laughed real hard.---
"What's so funny?"
"O-kay... I'm Rexel Liam Javier. 20 years of age. I study in Philippine Universi
ty of Engineering. I'm taking up, obviously, Civil Engineering. I like scuba div
ing, swimming. AND BEAUTIFUL WOMEN."
"Like you..."he smiled with dimples pa ha! take note!
"So? para san naman 'yun? wala namang slambook dito diba?"
"I'm not a stranger to you anymore... so name please?..."
KULIT!!!she sighed.
"For what it's worth, I am Caprice... Reese for short."
Bibigay ka din naman pala... Langya ka!
Hindi niya napansin na huminto na sila. Napatingin siya sa labas nakalock pa rin
'yung sa kotse kasi automatic 'yun.
Lumapit ito bigla sa kanya na ikinagulat niya.
Nanlalaki 'yung mata niya ng dumukwang ito."Reese... you have to unhook---"
Unhook daw??! Alin? sa mga movies ang alam niyang ina-unhook 'yung butones ng bl
ouse ng bida. Paano siya sisigaw? Will someone hear her scream??? Tinted 'yung c
ar!
"Reese..."he snaked his hands around her.
papalapit ...
ng papalapit...
ng sobrang lapit...
Pumikit siya! She was going to scream...
"Nooo-----"namamaos siya...
"Hey Reese, unhook your seatbelt. What's wrong? anong Nooo??" at ginaya pa nito
'yung pag'NOOoo' niya...
Chapter Four:
Hindi na ko VIRGIN?!
Kasi naman... pwede namanbakit unhook pa?!
Green-minded ka kasi!
"I..., I m-mean, Nooo... No! a, ako na... 'yung maga-unhook ng seatbelt."
Rexel smiled and looked at her. No. Not look but stare.
"I like women who blush a lot..."at pinisil nito 'yung ilong niya. Iniwas agad ni
ya 'yung mukha dito.
"Pwedeng lumayo layo ka na?... kasi kung hindi mo napapansin we're ahm.... almos
t, ahm...."Darn! Bakit siya nagsastammer???
He grinned."Almost...?"at lalong inilapit ang mukha sa kanya na ikinapanlaki ng ma
ta niya.Halos magsumiksik na siya sa gilid ng pinto.
PRESKO! LAKI NG BILIB SA SARILI!that's what he is...
Inis na itinulak niya ito. They were almost embracing!
Pagbaba nila ng sasakyan inalalayan pa rin siya nito. She didn't want to admit b
ut her legs weren't steady yet...
"Reese?! What the hell happened to you?"OMG. Sina Sasha nandito!
"Sasha?... why are you here?"biglang dumating si Laney at si ...
"Rexel???..."
"Ginger?... 'yung pinsan kong lasinggera?"
They're cousins?!Ginger and Rexel?.... Para silang David and Goliath!
Kung hindi niyo naitatanong,Sasha,LaneyandGingerare my friends for life. Si Sasha, sh
e was the wildest and most liberated of them all.Ginger?... she was a romanticist.
Kung di niyo lang alam balak na atang palitan si Balagtas! She loves as if ther
e's no tomorrow.Si Laney naman 'yung hindi makapagmove on... it's been a year. She
's still
AT SIYA?...!
"So you're with our everfriend? actually her being single is long overdue."ngumisi
si Ginger kay Rexel. NO doubt they're cousins. Look at that grin! Hindi mapagkak
atiwalaan.
Pinanlalakihan niya ito ng mata.
"Single???... really?"
"Rexel? diba... me pupuntahan kap-----"
Bago pa man siya makapagsalita tatlong babae na ang umaakay kay Rexel sa loob ng
bahay ng tita niya! Darn! She knew what was coming! Ilang beses na ba silang ma
y nai-pair sa kanya???...
Bahala sila!Inis na iika ikang umakyat siya sa taas. Natalisod pa siya.Sh*t!
God?... Am I resigned to my destiny?... Why am I saddled with friends like that?
! I hate it lalo na 'pag ginagawa nilang issue 'yung pagigingko!
Binato niya 'yung unan at hindi niya napansing nasabit ang key chain ng cellphon
e niya.
"Cellphone ko!!!" Darn! at least hindi dumami... Malas talaga!
Inis na hinubad niya ang blouse niya. Ini-unhook niya 'yung bra niya.
"Reese... Ginger was waiti-----"
she screamed! Totoo na to......
......
......
.....
....
Her black lacy brassiere was half undone.
"Nooooooo! Get out!OUTTTTTTTTT!!!"... 'yung unang nahawakan niya ang ibinato niya
dito.
"Wait, Reese! Look, I'm sorry. Walang akong nakita."inilag nito kung anuman ang i
binato niya.
"Wala kang nakita??? Sinong niloko mo? Bakit hindi ka pumikit? Damn!"her other ar
m was covering her exposed body! As if naman. Bato siya ng bato dito.
"Pano ko makakailag kung pipikit ako???"she heard amusement in his voice.
---Craaaassshhhheeeed---
"Whats happ------
Awww... Reese. That hurts!"
Dane?! ..... Isa ka pa! Get the HELL OUT OF HEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRREEEEEEEE...!!!kinuha
niya ang kumot at ipinulupot sa katawan niya.
------------
Reese naman oh, sorry na! Kala kasi naman kung anong nangyayari tapos dumating si
Dane hinahanap ka, so siya yung pinaakyat namin.
Laney! Hindi na ko VIRGIN?!....
I m-mean... 'yung katawan kooooo...
Wahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.... Pregnancy test kit gusto mo?
Chapter Five:
Pustahan!
Christmas Day...
She felt sad. Why? This is her first Christmas without her parents. She was alon
e today. Yes, what a way to spend this special occasion.
"Reeessssssssssseeee!!!"
"YOOhooooo!!"
"Merry Christmas bruha!"
Napatingin siya sa labas ng bintana niya. Sino pa ba? Eh di 'yung mga kaibigan n
iya. She couldn't forget the other day! Damn luck!
"Anong meron?"she smiled as she widened the door.
"Merry Christmas Caprice! Even if you're alone on Christmas day, we're here for
you!"ngumisi si Ginger sa kanya.
"Oh my, I forgot about the gifts. Sorry...."she said apologetically.
They hugged her. At least she still have them. Inalog niya isa-isa ang mga regal
o.
"Baka may time bomb dito, ah."
"Actually, pregnancy test kit meron."pinanlakihan niya ng mata si Ginger. Walang
patumanggang pumasok ang mga ito maliban kay Sasha.
"Sha... Didn't you tell them about your situation?"
"Don't worry about me. Baka false alarm lang. Ikaw? wala ka ba talagang balak um
uwi sa inyo?"
"Let's talk about that some other time, okay?"
"Wait! Bakit ba kayo nandyan dalawa ha?! Nagdala na nga kami dito ng makakain no
. At alam naman naming nasa ibang bansa 'yung tita mo. We'll be your Santa Claus
e. By the way, remember about theBET"
Napapikit na lang siya. Darn! Tatalikod na lang siya ng hawakan siya ni Laney.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Ano bang bet 'yun?"
"Aiy... Memory gap?"
"First Off! How can you have a boyfriend if you look like that?"
What the hell's wrong with me now?!Napatingin siya sa sarili, nakapajama...
Nakatingin ng masama ang mga ito sa kanya!
"NOOOO.... No waaaay!"she screamed when six hands grabbed her.
"Girls??!"
"GENERAL MAKEOVER!"
"Powerpuff girls ready to save the day!"
"At sino ko??? aber?"Damn! Sh*t! Darn!lahat na ata ng mura niya eh...
"SI MOJOJOJO!!!"nagchorus pa ang mga bruha!
Two months!Kapag hindi ako nakahanap ng boyfriend within two months before my 18t
h birthday I'll be dead. Gusto niyo bang malaman kung ano ang consequence?! Damn
! Beingis never easy. Bakit kasi nagpadala ko sa pang-aasar nila!
They went to a salon.
Ako ba 'to???
Well, she could very well say that the beauticians made a good job. Bakit! Magan
da naman talaga siya, ah. Hindi nga lang niya minsan lubos maisip kung takot lan
g sa kanya ang mga lalaki dahil masungit siya o naiintimidate ang mga ito sa kan
ya. Why, simply because she was intelligent, witty, and above average.
"Oh di'ba? New look mare! Di ka na mukang reindeer ni Santa!"
"Wait lang..."siniko siya ni Laney."Aww..."
"Si Dane 'yun di'ba? Who's that girl?"
"Reese?"Arggghhh...Tatalikod na lang sana siya.
"W-what?!"inis na humarap siya dito. He was smiling.
"Hey, what are you doing here? Ano 'yang hawak mo?"bago pa siya makapagsalita nah
awakan na nito 'yung paper bag niya. It was like she was burned from his touch.
"Lingerie???"
OH MY GOD...
"Akina nga 'yan bakit kasi bigla ka na lang nangunguha ng shopping bag?!"
Sh*t! bobita!...tsk, tsk, tsk.
"Prinsesa, I've already seen your---"
"Ano? Ano ng nakita mo?!"gigil na tanong niya.
"Hon..."Great!
"Hi! Mitchie..."plastik!!!
Lumapit ang mga kaibigan niya. Pleasantries and all. Pero mabilis na umalis si D
ane at Mitchie dahil na rin sa pagaaya ng huli.
"By the way Reese... syempre, hindi ka sanay na makasama ng mga lalaki. So somet
imes it just needs a little push."
"And a little flirting."
"And socializing girl!"
"And he's on the way to teach you a lot of things!"
HE???Ano na namang pakulo ito?!
"Hey, guys I'm here!"
Muntik na niyang mabitawan ang shopping bags niya!
HEwas there looking as ifHEown the world. Laki ng bilib sa sarili!
"Ginger..."
"Reese?"
"Tumabi ka..."
and before they knew it.
Binato niya ito ng mga throw pillows galing sa sala set nila.
"Reese stop it!"tumili ang tatlo ng tanggalin niya ang bagong bili nilang stillet
os ng akma niyang ihahagis dito.
"REXEL will never do the job! I won't allow it!"humihingal na sabi niya.
"Try me, babe... Try Rexel Liam."
That damnGRIN!
When hell freezes over!!!...
Chapter Six:
Abnormal Activity!
She frowned. Why does she have to agree to everything that they say?...
"Where are we going?"
"Someplace..."
"I said, where?"
"Reese, iniwan ka ng mga kaibigan mo sa'kin. Don't worry you're safe with me and
remember Ginger is my cousin..."
Safe???saang parte ba ng bokabularyo nito ang word na iyon?! When she met him all
kinds of trouble had plagued her.
-Muntik na siya nitong mabunggo.
-Nahipuan siya nito!
-Nabosohan!
-He's conniving with her friends about this whole damn BET business!
"Exactly! Kaya nga mas lalong hindi kita dapat pagtiwalaan dahil pahamak sila Gi
nger."
"Smile... Chin up, and don't scowl. It will give you wrinkles. So what do you kn
ow about men?"
Napatingin siya dito."What do you mean? 'what do I KNOW ABOUT MEN?'"
"Remember, I'll be your tour guide to SEDUCTION."
"Anong SEDUCTION 'yang pinagsasabi mo? ako?? Manseseduce? NO way!"
"Don't get hysterical, babe it's just one way of knowing how men's mind work."
"The hell I care about how your mind works! and I've never been hysterical in al
l my adult life."
Reese! Calm down... inhale, exhale... breathe in, breathe out. At baka makapanak
it ako ng wala sa oras.
"You're not yet even eighteen, so you're not yet an adult."
Ipinarada nito ang kotse sa parking ng mall. Bago siya bumaba ipinagbukas siya n
ito ng pinto.
Gentleman ang mokong...
He smiled as if waiting for something.
"What?!"she snapped.
"Didn't you say 'thank you' and then get hold of my arm. Nangangalay na 'ko oh."s
o hinihintay lang pala siyang hawakan ang braso nito, ganon?! inapakan niya ito
ng ubod lakas!
"Why the hell did you do that? pwede ba, tigilan mo 'yang pagiging amasona mo."
Dirediretso siyang pumasok sa loob ng mall.
"Eat first or watch movie?"
"Hey, don't look at me like that. Kung anuman 'yan hinala mo sa'kin forget it!"
"So anong papanuorin natin? Wait! Tayong lang dalawa?"
Hmmm... I've never watched movies with a guy before. Alone. This is aFIRSTto her.
At wala akong tiwala kay Rexel. Mini, mini, myni, mo...
HeGRINNED. Hindi magandang pangitain...
"Natatakot ka ba sa'kin?"
"HINDI ah.... Bakit naman ako matatakot sa'yo?! Lika na nga!"
Nagpatiuna na siya, but before that. He looped his hand around her.
Pinanlakihan niya ito ng mata habang bumibili ito ng ticket. Pinilit niyang tang
galin ang kamay niyang nakahawak dito. It was like a game of tug of war!
He was the first man to hold my hand like this. It's so tight, sooo... i don't k
now how to find words. Ganito ba feeling ng nakikipagdate??
manyak si Rexel, tandaan mo 'yan!
His grin almost reached his eyes. If that were possible.
Owwwkeeeyyyy....PARANORMAL ACTIVITYlang naman ang panunuorin nila.
"Bakit ba ang strategy ng mga lalaki bulok?"
Tumaas lang kilay nito.
"No defense on your part? Ang alam ko kasi,ACTIONang gusto niyo... hindiHORROR!"
"Maganda kasing panuorin 'yung mga ganitong horror. Thrilling!"
Ganon pala ah... sige lang. Kala mo makakatsansing ka sa'kin!TRY CAPRICE!
Nagsimula na movie, nagsimula na ding magtilian ang mga audience na nasa loob.
Almost all the audience were pairs. Girlfriend and boyfriend. 'Yung girl na kata
bi nila biglang tumili sabay yakap sa boyfriend nito.
"Sshhh.... I'm here,"gustong gusto naman ni girlfriend!
Kahit anong takot niya pinigil niyang tumili at gumalaw. Naninigas na nga 'yung
katawan niya, eh. Halatang kanina pa inis na inis si Rexel.
Hahahahahahahaha.... I won...
Bigla siyang tumawa ng malakas. Napatingin lahat sa kanya.
Tinignan siya ng masama ni Rexel.
"Halaaa.... nandyan na... beside you!"
"Grabeeee... takot na takot ako... Ikaw?? Aren't you the least bit afraid?"as if
in effect she shivered. He still got hold of her hand. Diniinan bigla nito 'yung
kamay niya.
"Will you stop being sarcastic?"
The movie was finished. Hinintay muna nilang maglabasan ang mga tao.
Success Reese! Success!~ sana lang makatulog ako mamaya...
"Oh, ba't tahimik ka?"
Dumadaan sila sa dim hallway ng theater. Sh*t! She can't see... Bakit kasi sinir
a ni Dane 'yung salamin niya!
"Rexel??... Rexel?? stop playing games with me! REXEL!!!"napasalalay siya sa ding
ding, para siyang bulag. Naalala niya 'yung scene kung saan biglang lumitaw 'yun
g 'paranormal thing'...
Darn!
Sh*t!
....
...
..
she screamed!
Biglang may humawak sa likuran ng hita niya. Napasipa siya at muntik na siyang m
apatakbo.
"Hey! Ouch! Awww...."
"Rex???... Damn you! Jerk! You, you! Hey... are you okay?"
"Awww...."halos mapayuko na ito.
"Reese, you're going to make me invalid."
"Ano ba kasi 'yun?"
"Bull's eye."
Nagkamali ba siya ng nasipa??
BULL'S EYE???
Chapter Seven:
Partners-IN-Crime?
"Do you know what?... grabe, halos mabali na 'yung ngipin ko sa pagpipilit 'wag
maggrind. Papanuorin daw ba ko ng Paranormal Activity! Nako, kung alam mo lang S
ha, 'yung pagpipigil kong 'wag magtitili."
"Oh?... when I watched that movie I got real scared kahit kasama ko pa si boyfie
. Ngapala, gee, that was your first date ever. Kailan ang next?"
"Next ka dyan... wala na no!"something crashed downstairs. Tinayuan siya ng balah
ibo...
"Sha... I'll call you later, ok?"Bakit kasi hinayaan pa niya si manang na magbaka
syon ngayong holiday! Si Rexel dapat sisihin dito! That movie is starting to get
into her nerves. Kumuha siya ng tambo at dahan dahang bumaba. She looked to and
fro...
Great! Reese... you're already 17 years old for Pete's sake! Ghosts aren't real.
..
Monsters don't hide in the clos----
-Blog!-
She screamed!!!
She run out of the house with no slippers on. She was panting when she pulled ou
t the lock of the gate.
May tumapik sa likod niya. She jumped!
"What the hell---!!!"
"Ate, are you okay?"
"Oo nga ate? You looked as if you've been chased down by.... a ghost?"
"Or a paranormal thing....?"hininaan pa nito ang boses at itinapat ang hawak na f
lashlight sa mukha.
"Ano ba kayo! Sana ...h-hin... d-di, nyo ko ginulat."hinihingal na sabi niya saba
y kipkip ng walis sa dibdib. Inis na napatingin siya sa kambal.
Yes, they're twins!RiaandAnn, kapitbahay nila ito sa subdivision na iyon.
"What's with the broomstick???"
"Oo nga ate, sa pagkakaalam ko tapos na 'yung halloween?"they both chuckled. They
were so look-alike in many ways, pati sa katarantaduhan, talentado!
Dapat ba kong mainis o matuwa?! This is soooo.... embarrasing! Kasalanan ng moko
ng na Rexel na 'yun! Akala ko ba success Reese??...
Napasabunot siya sa buhok. Mababaliw na ata siya!
"It's almost 11 in the evening. Why are two you still up?"
"Hinahanap kasi namin si Misha eh, have you seen her?"
"Misha? sa pagkakaalam ko kambal kayo? don't tell me triplets pala kayo?"
Patay kang pusa ka!... She smells trouble.
"Ate... si Misha 'yung bagong biling kitten sa'min ni daddy kaso she jumped righ
t out of the balcony into your..."
Meow... meow... meow...
Sabay sabay silang napatingin sa loob ng bahay niya. Gusto niyang maiyak. Hindi
niya lang alam kung sa tuwa o sa inis???...
"Misha!"
Pusa?? ... sa loob ng bahay niya?! At yung sound na 'yun? 'yung parang nabagsak?
She groaned silently.
"Yun lang pala 'yun..."inis na bulong niya. Nakita nilang nagland 'yung pusa sa m
ay kusina nila at nabasag 'yung paso ng tita niya. At walang sabi sabing tumalik
od ang dalawa.
"Salamat ha!"sigaw niya ng umalis na ang mga ito at nilinis niya ang kalat, kaya
pala may dala na siyang tambo!
Teka nga... halaaaa... nakalimutan ko 'yung gate!
Bumukas 'yung gate. Nanlaki 'yung mata at tenga niya at tumakbo papunta sa labas
.
She saw a dark silhouette in the garden. Yung sa may swing. Nakaupo...
Her hair stood on ends...
Nanlalamig siya at napataas ang tambo....
"Why are you standing there as if I'm a ghost?"
"Dane???"she sighed.
She rolled her eyes.
"Damn you! hindi mo ba alam na halos takutin mo ko? At saka bakit ka ba nandito?
Gabi na ah, Kung alam mo lang! Kanina pa ko halos atakihin na sa takot kas---"
Lumakad ito palapit sa kanya, nakapamulsa. It was like in slow motion... at bigl
a siyang niyakap. She can hear the sound of the fallen broomstick.
Oo! Niyakap siya ni Dane!
They've been friends for only six months now. No... hindi pala sila friends, the
y're only partners...
PARTNERS IN CRIME...He hugged her tight and kept his face hidden deep in the shad
ow of her neck. They were too close for comfort. It was so much more... So much.
.. that she could feel his breathing, the throbbing of his heartbeat.
"Dane? what's wrong?"
"I just want to be with you. Is that bad?"
She kept thinking what's wrong? What inHEAVEN'sname was wrong with him? He wasn't the
talkative type of person. He wasn't even...
"Dane, hindi na ko makahinga..."
"I wish Mitchie could be you..."
That hurts. So that was that. MITCHIE! always MITCHIE! Why does he have to compa
re me to someone I could never be?! I am ME.
"So it comes down to that? Si Mitchie ulit?"she whispered and tried to hide the b
itterness in her voice.
"Bakit ba, we've known each other for months... while Mitchie and I... we're two
years..
but still, it's like I've known you.... "
forever... Dane.
Bakit ba 'yun ang nasa isip niya? What is this I'm feeling? It has to stop. He's
the only guy I've been closest to.NOTHING MORE.
Bakit pa, wala din namang patutunguhan ito!
"Prinsesa..."
Damn! Darn!
Chapter Eight:
The Note
forever...Dane.
It's only six months, but it's like I've known him for the rest of my life. Bali
w na nga ata ako. I don't believe insoulmates. Pure rubbish!
"Hindi mo ko napansin kanina when you came running out of the house with no slip
pers on."
"I was... ahmm..."what was she doing then?? Where did all her brain cells go??? M
itchie didn't exist... in the meantime.
His face was inches away from her. His breathing was raspy, hers was shallow.
He angled her chin towards his face.
"There was dirt on your chin."O-oh...
Naglinis nga pala siya kanina.
Umupo ito sa couch at pumikit. Sumunod siya sa tabi nito. His face was softly cu
lptured. Manly yet feminine. Umupo siya at pumikit.
"Ate! Ate!"
Great!... What on earth was that?
Nalaglag 'yung kumot ng mapabalikwas siya. Kumot?? Nakahiga na siya??
Sh*t! SiDANE!!!Nakita niya 'yung note nito.
"Ate! Sunoooooog!!!"
Sunog?! Napatakbo siya palabas ng bahay at nalaglag ang note kasama ng kumot.
"Asan ang sunog?!"
"Happy New Year Ate!"
---tottorotot!!!---
"Hey! ouch! walang sunog??"Napapikit siya. At napatingin sa kambal na may dalang
torotot at bowl ng cookies.
"31 na ate, ito nga pala peace offering naman dahil sa nasirang paso ni Misha! H
appy New Year ulit!"
"Salamat..."mababait naman pala. Tatalikod na siya dala ang cookies.
"Ah... ate... sino yung kasama mo kagabi? tapos diyan pa natulog?"
Ano to??? chika minute?! Showbiz?
"He's my friend." She smiled oh-so-sweetly. Kung hindi lang child abuse ang mana
kit ng kambal!
"Hindi moBOYfriendate?"
"Bakit maganda naman si ate ah, posibleng bf niya yun!"they both nodded.
"Maganda naman talaga ko no!"irap niya.
"Kung sa bagay walang masamang maniwala sa sarili."theynodded!
"Ria, Ann! Hindi ko 'yun boyfriend kasi me girlfriend na 'yun."
"Ah, so... si ate ay..."
"KABIT?!"
"Sinong kabit???"
She groaned silently. He was there giving thatsmile of him.EXAGGERATED!... pero kil
ig na kilig naman ang kambal!
"Ahm... si ate Reese kasi, ano me kasam---"tinakpan niya agad 'yung bibig ni Ria
at pinanlakihan niya ito ng mga mata.

Eh, ano ba kung malaman niya?! The hell I care!

The hell I care pala ah...Nababaliw na ata talaga ko! Kagabi si Dane.. tapos..
"Umuwi na kayo! tawag na kayo ng yaya niyo."at tinulak niya ang mga ito.
"Sino 'yung mga iyon?? And what are they talking about?"
"W-wala, don't mind them. They're Ria and Ann, twins."
"Teka nga, pinapapasok ba kita???"
"If I know...
did you miss me?"...winked at her.
"Well, who wouldn't? I'm an adorable guy."
"Sabagay, sabi nga ng kambal walang masamang maniwala sa sarili."
"Bakit dito ka natulo---"
"Don't touchTHAAAAAAAAATTT!!!"
Sh*t!Too late...
"Prinsesa,
Thank you for making me stay through the night.
You don't know how much it means to me.
Pa
Da
She gasped. She hadn't read it yet... not until now. He smirked!
"Alam ko itatanong mo kung anong nangyari!"
"So... meNANGYARI???ganon?at nagpauto ka naman? Hindi ba sabi nila Ginger na may gir
lfriend na 'yon?!"
Nagkita na nga pala ito at si Dane nung... Nung... Nung...NASILIPAN!Hindi...MINANYA
K siya ng mga ito!
"Nooo... ahmm.., he needed me aannnd.."Why was she stuttering??
He inched towards her. She saw the paper clenched in his right fist. Yes, it bec
ame a fist. Kung maari lang bumuga ng apoy ang mga mata nito, malamang sa tustad
o na siya!
"NEEDEDyou? What the Hell are you talking about?!"
Paatras siya ng paatras dahil forward naman ito ng forward. She was trapped betw
een him and the wall.
"Rexel, listen---"
"So what do you have to say in your defense?"
"Kasalanan mo 'to kaya siya natulog dit---"
"So it is true! You made him spend the night here?!"
She winced.HALA!Teka nga!
"Teka nga! Bakit ka ba nagagalit sa'kin?! At saka ano naman kung may kasama kong
lalaki dito sa bahay?!"itinulak niya ito sa dibdib nito.
She was mad!~
Pero hindi naman ito natibag. He was towering her and she couldn't breathe being
crushed in his body.
"AT BAKIT HINDI??? I THOUGHT YOU WERE... HELL! YOU'VE NEVER HAD A BOYFRIEND, REM
EMBER?"
"Stop shouting at me!IYON NGA EH, I'VE NEVER HAD. MEANING YOU'RE NOT EVEN MY BOYF
RIEND TO BE MAD AT ME!"
"Dahil pinagkatiwala ka nila sa'kin!"
Pinagkatiwala??... nino??....she saw something in his eyes... mystery...
"nino?"she whispered. He looked confused.By your parents...
"Nila Ginger! Teka nga, iniiba mo 'yung usapan! Hindi mo na papasukin 'yung lala
king 'yun dito sa bahay!FROM NOW ON!"
..."AT SINO KA NAMAN PARA MAGUTOS NG GANYAN??? TATAY BA KITA?"
"I just happen to be yourGUIDE! INSTRUCTOR! TEACHER!"
Nanlaki yung bibig niya. Naging big O...
"Self-appointed instructor?! Sila ginger lang nagsabi non! At nagpauto ka naman!
"
---kringgggggg---kringgggggg----kringgggggg----
"TRY REXEL,babe"
Lumayo siya dito. He glared at her. She glared back! Ang laki ng problema nito sa
buhay!
"Ginger?NOoo... If you want me to go to your party tonight I don't wantto be my es
cort!"
He grinned.
He won! Damn having no escort! Darn having no boyfriend!
Chapter Nine:
The List
I fell in love with Shakespeare. I'd been head over heels with the dashing leadi
ng men in the movies. And I even gave my heart to the heroes of the novels I've
read. ButNEVER,EVERin my life had i fallen...
Sometimes all it takes is someone who'll be there, ready to catch you.
Ano ba talaga ang reasons ko?
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Hhmm??"
"Hello! Come back to earth Reese!"he pinched her nose.
"Aww... ano ba! wala ka na namang magawa no. Be thankful dahil pumayag akong sum
ama sa'yo."inirapan niya ito.
He laughed. Daft man!
"Baka dapat ikaw pa magpasalamat sa'kin kasi ikaw ang walang escort sa mga kaibi
gan mo. I can get a partner anytime I want."
"Yeah, right..."Yabang!
If truth be told she doesn't believe that Rexel likes her. A man to a woman. May
be he was just bored to death that's why he was around her these days. Or maybe
because he'd made a promise to Ginger. That made her sad and she didn't understa
nd why.No reason Reese!NO REASON!
Arggghhh.... sh*t!Mga kaibigan ko ba talaga kayo??... This is pure torture! I'm h
appy being single until... until... they remind me that 18 years of being 'NBSB'
means I'm already in the shelf. 17 pa palang pala... two months
"They told me that you've never had a boyfriend."
Great...Just what she needed.
"So? Is there something wrong about having no boyfriend?"
"Since birth? haha... ikaw na nga ata ang founder non sabi nila."
"I'm happy being the way I am. No hassle! no commitment! no obligations! NO hear
taches! Hindi ko kelangang magpaalam sa boyfriend ko kung saan ako lalakad katul
ad ng ginagawa nila Laney. At least ako, ang iintindihin ko lang sarili ko, wala
akong iintindihin na regalo 'pagmonthsary. Hindi sasama 'yung loob ko pag walan
g tumawag o magtext sa cellphone ko."
"Pero wala namang maggoodnight sa'yo sa phone. You'll never know the feeling of
having heard someone say that he loves you, aside from your family. Pagoccasions
kaibigan mo lang ba makakasama mo? meron silang kanya kanyang dates. Maraming d
in namang advantages when you fall in love. Sa tingin mo, why after all the hear
taches, do people still learn to love again, and again?"
"Because they never learn. At saka malay ko nainlab na ba ko?!"
He laughed hard enough when he saw her fierce expression after saying those word
s. Naiinis na nilingon niya ito habang nagdadrive ito.
"What's so funny? Siguro iniisip mo na kaya hindi ako nagkakaboyfriend kasi..."
ang panget, panget ko... i was boring... i spent more time with books than with
boys...
The hard thing about being'NBSB'is that you'll question a lot of things about your
self, you'll even start to compare yourself to every girls who are collecting bo
ys. They are collectingwhile you are collectingOf course, you are different that wil
l be your prejudice.Woah,that would be a consolation price to you...
"K-kasi ano? whoever will be the first guy to hook your heart will be very speci
al. Malay mo, nagkasalisi lang kayo ng daan pero eventually he'll find the road
you're also taking, and that is he'll also find your heart. Don't fret about it.
"
Si Rexel ba 'to? Parang bigla itong nagkapakpak sa paningin niya. At take note, pu
ti ha!
Nagulat siya ng pumarada sila sa isang mall. Basta pinasakay lang siya nito kani
na, sa ayaw man niya o hindi. Nang pumunta sila sa boutique ng dresses and gowns
. Alam na niya!
"Anong gagawin natin?"
"We're going to dress you, remember 'yung New Year's Eve party mamaya sa bahay n
i Ginger?"
Magpoprotesta pa ba siya? Nandito na sila. Pumili ito ng dress niya. Nagsukat si
ya ng kung anu ano at ayaw naman nito. Sa huli nakapili din sila na parangRETRO D
RESSfor New Year's eve party.
Hinintay niya ito sa bench dahil masakit na ang paa niya. She took out her small
notepad. Bakit nga ba may NBSB pang gaya ko at this age?
1. My reasons are: I want my first one to be very special,someone not just for di
splay.Nosebleed na 'ko! I want him to be someone I can tell the world that he's m
ine. Someone that I can give my hand to without any hesitation of walking around
and be seen with. Ayokong binoyfriend ko lang siya kasi lahat ng mga kaibigan k
o meron na at kinakantyawan nila ko.
2.Picky.Very choosy. Maybe there are standards that no guy has ever met before.
3. Others:One of the boys, 'yung tipong they get along with boys kaya ang tingin
din sa kanila lalaki!... Or natatakot na masira ang friendship, for that matter.
4.Takot sa rejection o pagkabigo.Ate... Hindi naman ikaw 'yung manliligaw no! Well
, bago sila masaktan inuunahan na nila ung guy ng pambabasted.
5.Takot magmahal at masaktan.It's a two-way traffic, if you give your heart to som
eone else its like safekeeping. He has the power to make you happy or sad.
6.Yung iba gusto first and lastnila 'yung magiging bf nila. Forever ang tema ba...
7.No time for love, bawal sa parents, or working student. OR they're focusing on
their studies.
BOTTOMLINE: Ganon talaga life! Unaunahan lang 'yan.
--------
If she could just hear her heart beating wildly. Dahan dahan siyang bumaba ng ha
gdan. Pinaayusan siya kanina sa isang beautician pero home service. Umuwi si Rex
el kanina para magbihis at malamang na nasa baba ito ngayon. Dahan dahan siyang
bumaba...
He was...ahmmmm...cat got her tounge?
If Achilles came down to mount olympus this would be his last day because he mig
ht trade places with Rexel. Maari nitong palitan sisa movie na iyon. Darn the sexy
smile of this man!
May mali ba sa ayos ko?... Bakit hindi siya nagsasalita?...
"Let's go..."inis na nagpatiuna na siya. She was startled when he pulled her roug
hly to him.
"Has the prince no reward from his princess?"
"Rex..."
He looked down at her. He was having little stubbles on his chin, very manly. Hi
s eyes were a vivid brown. A man with a black suit is handsome. His hands were a
round her waist. She could drown in his eyes. Bakit kaya hindi na siya naiilang
kay Rexel?
Princess?... only one man called her that.
"Umalis na tayo."
He kissed the top of her head and hugged her close. It was like... electrifying.
It was warmth and coldness. Weird. Confusing.
"You look beautiful. You're not my princess, i know. But you're my Beauty."
"At ikaw 'yung Beast?"she smiled.
Tahimik lang sila habang nasa sasakyan. She looked at him from her peripheral vi
sion. He was too good to be true. He was boyfriend material. He was handsome. He
has a. He's tall. He's so mabango...
*sigh*Swerte ang gf niya. Teka nga meron ba ito???
Kapag dating nila...
"Happy New Year Reese!"
"Happy New Year Gin----"
"Reese?"

What is Dane doing here?!With herEVERpossessive girlfriend?

@MhAe06saiZ: oh? haha... bakit ayaw mo na sa bakasyon?? hehe.... slight na love
triangle...aiyyy... magkacollege ka na? ano kukunin mong course??
Stress? depende sa prof... pero hindi naman nakakastress lang kasi pagmaaga gisi
ng hehe. Wag lang tambakan ng madaeng exams.
@s1l3nTx10: Nasa saudi ka? eh di mainit dyan?...chaka di ba mga babae dyan nakabelo
ba yun?... hala, antanong ko na... hehe
cge, cge... ngayon lang ako ulit nakapagupdate.
@cycle: Oo, aja! nakakastress lang pagmaaga pasok... hay nako!
pansin ko nga... haha adik ka!kung sabagay akin din hanggang 2 lang acc ko..
Chapter Ten:
Rexel vs. Dane
Reese...
Great! She pursed her lips... What the hell are they doing here? Okay, Dane was
undeniably handsome in his three piece suit. Pero utang na loob naman oh, nung i
sang araw lang silang magkasama dahil may problema ito kay Mitchie, tapos ngayon
! Ganon lang yun? Bati na sila?
He didnt tell you if Mitchie was really the problem, you dummy! Si Mitchie yun!
Relax...somebody hugged her from the waist. Its a good thing Rexel was on her side.
Reese... You look .. "
Fantastic! Reese! Oh my God! Is that you?Laney came out.
Happy New Year!pleasantries and all. Pero ang mata niya nandun pa rin sa lalaking n
akatayo kasama ang girlfriend nito. His eyes were following her every move. Ang
kasama nito, ayun nakaabrisiete dito at bumubulong.
What was that for?
Ha?
You sighed.
I did?
One moment I thought you forgot that Im with you. Hell yeah! You really forgot.
She felt guilty at the pained look on his face. Well, bakit naman ito masasaktan
? Kung sabagay kung me ka-date siya at sa iba napunta ang atensyon malamang maii
nis din siya.
Rex.. Listen... I
You dont have to explain.
Im not explaining... and I dont have to.Ano bang problema nito?!
Fine. Of course, bakit nga ba? Diba? Its not as if youre really willing to be my da
te.
She gasped.What the hell are you talking about? I can see na galit ka sakin.
Im not mad.
The hell youre not! Tumingin ka nga sakin!
He was the guy who left the note that night!
Napipi siya... Ahm okay, so he was that guy! Yung dahilan kung bakit sila nagsigawa
n ni Rexel nung isang araw. So?
So??
Anong so?!
Nag-aaway ba kayo?
Hindi!
Ahhh.... o-ok
Some faces were unfamiliar to her maybe Ginger, Sasha and Laneys college friends.
Malaki ang bahay nila Ginger at may swimming pool sa tabi ng garden. Iisa ang m
ga ito ng University na pinapasukan. Maingay. Amoy Pagkain. Sosyalan. Pabonggaha
n.
He was...----
Inis na pinaghila siya nito ng upuan. And mumbled something that she didnt hear a
t all and went away to the buffet table. It's as if he hadn't heard her.
Nyeta Reese! Ang pretty pretty naman ng friendship ko!!!
Lasing ka na ba Sha?
Wow ha... escort mo pa talaga si Rexel. Dont tell me...
Kayo naaaa???
Ano ba! Sige lakasan niyo pa! Hindi naman kayo nahihiya dun sa tao eh...
"Eh pinsan ko naman yun no."
Sinong sila na?
O-oh... Smells trouble.
Dane! Hello Mitchie...ahhhh...Plastik Reese!She could feel the imaginaryLsign on her f
orehead.
Umupo ito sa tabi nila.Dito table nila???... Oh no... Rexel where are you? Bakit
kasi ginalit galit ko pa yun eh?
Somebody grabbed Mitchie. It was a friend of hers. Ngumiti ito, nagpaalam kay Da
ne at lumayo.
Ahmmm....
Ahmmm....
Sabay silang nagtawanan.
You go first.
No, you first.
Happy New Year! I was never good with compliments but I think....you look ...terr
ibly lovely.
You just think?...
Well, kahit kailan naman talaga nakakaganda ang dress at make-up.
Toinks!She couldnt help but frown.Ahitin niya kaya yung kilay nito???
Bakit nga pala siya ang escort mo?
....
....I dont trust him.
....
Here it goes again. Rexel didn't trust him also. Was he dead serious?
What do you mean?she feigned innocence.
Reese, you shouldnt be seen with him. What happened before... you know, the one...
maybe hes being so into you because....so hes dead serious now, hes calling her Rees
e.
What? Pwede ba! Diretsuhin mo na nga ako.
Hes a man, youre innocent... and then he might like you because.
She stood up! How dare he judge Rexel like that! Hindi ito si Dane! si Dane na p
artner niya sees reasons. He wont say a thing about anyone because he doesnt care
about the world.
Prinsesa wait! f*ck!he doesnt curse! Well, not often unless hes frustrated.
Nagmamadaling lumakad siya palayo dito. Ano bang akala nito? Nasiya? Na magpapaga
mit siya kay Rexel dahil kahit minsan hindi pa siya naiinlove?...
He quickly grasped her elbow before she could get away from him. She doesnt want
to face him. Ganon ba talaga pagkakakilala nito sa kanya? To think that she thou
ght they always had that connection.
Dane, layuan mo muna ko bago ko makapagsalita ng masama sayo.She said coldly.
**** Ina!..... Listen to me, I was just worried na baka saktan ka niya, maybe he
likes you because he sees what no ma---
Dane! Ano bang tingi---
......
At bakit ko naman sasaktan si Reese? And I see what? I think youre talking about m
e here, am I right?
Rexel...papalapit ito ng papalapit. Humarang agad siya sa dalawang lalaki na papala
pit sa isat isa. Ano bang problema ng mga to?! New Year na New Year!
Pwede ba! Ano bang problema niyo? Kung ego lang ang problema niyo wag kayo dito m
agaway! Mahiya naman kayo.
Prinsesa I just dont want you to be hurt.That was a whisper.
And what the hell does that mean?! Ako ba? Ako ba ang mananakit kay Reese? Look a
t you, kung umasta ka parang wala kang girlfriend. Sabihin mo, why are you posse
ssive of Reese?
Rex stop it!
"Bakit ikaw? ano ka ba niya? you've barely known each other. Muntik mo na siyang
masagasaan non!"
"I was ginger's cousin, I --I---I'm almost a guardian to her, to them. I'm three
years older. At ikaw? anong excuse mo?"
Shes my friend so she means something to me.
aFRIEND...
A gasped came from behind. Even Reese groaned aload.Oh my God....
Mitchie...
Chapter Eleven:
New Year, new problem
Mitchie...
She ran to her. She doesnt know whats happening but Mitchies struggling to breathe
and she looks like shes about to faint any moment.
ahmm... hhh... shh
Mitchie what the hells wrong?Inalalayan agad niya ito upang maupo pero hindi niya al
am kung guniguni niya lang yun pero marahan nitong tinabig ang kamay niya.
Mitchie!Shereadily hold on to Dane while she looks sooo... suffocated. What the hells
happening? Rexel also ran to her side. Naguguluhan siya. May sakit ba si Mitchi
e?
D-d-dane... I-I c-cant b-breathe...
Did you bring your sprayer?Kinarga agad ito nito Dane papasok ng bahay. Hindi ito g
anong napansin ng mga tao dahil madilim sa parte ng garden na iyon. Sumunod siya
sa mga ito.
Reese...
Rex... I think theres something wrong. Hindi kaya...?
Wag mo na silang pakialamanan. At wala din akong pakialam!
Rexel, Dane is still my friend. They need help...Partner pala...Damn!
Hindi na niya hinintay na magsalita ito at tinalikuran na niya. She heard him si
gh. Shes upset but she couldnt help but worry.
Napasukan niyang hinahalikan ni Dane sa noo at hawak ang kamay ni Mitchie habang
nakahiga ito sa couch. Buti nga sa noo lang eh...She avoided to see it. But how?
Akala ko ba may sakit???... Reese youre being judgmental!
Ahmmm...
Nandyan ka pala...Oo, Obvious ba!
Are you sure youre okay?
Yeah... thanks anyway, buti na lang laging nandito si Daniel ko.Eeewww....Daniel daw?
Siya nga pala nagpangalan dito ng Dane. Ang baho kasi ng pangalang Daniel!ahem!
Reese, can we talk?
Sure...
Mukang girls-talk to ah... Am I included?he smiled. Yes, that smile was limited. Be
cause it costs millions. Exaggerated man, pero apektado pa rin siya ng ngiting i
yon. Ano bang dapat nilang pag-usapan ni Mitchie??? Maliban saat, shes never exerted
an effort to make friends with her.
Umalis si Dane dahil na rin sa sinabi ni Mitchie na okay na ito. Dane looked and
smiled at her.
May sakit ka ba?awkward...
Asthma, ever since I was a child. Nawala ito pero bumabalik whenever Im upset.
She emphasized the wordUPSET. When shes upset?... so, what on earth does that mean
? Siya ba???
Can you get me wine, please? It became an aphrodisiac after having asthma.
Natitigan niya si Mitchie, she was so damn beautiful. Bakit ba ng naghagis ng ga
nda si God first in line ito?
She got two glasses. She was going to assist her when she waved away her hand.Pagb
igyan ang may sakit...
Im okay. Kaya ko ng umupo. How long have you known Daniel? Exact length of time?
Hmm... More than six months.She sipped her wine.
He was caring, though everyone doesnt know that. I think he sees you as his little
sister. Ako rin ganon dahil mas bata ka samin ng dalawang taon. And he tells me
everything. About you never having a boyfriend.
Hindi napigiling tumaas ng isang kilay niya don. Ano bang gusto nitong palabasin
? Little sister? Dalawang taon? Pagiging NBSB niya?
I want us to be friends. Gusto kong malaman ang whereabouts ni Dane. Tutal para n
a din kitang kapatid.
Hindi ba contradictory yun? Friends tapos kapatid?! Ha! Pano niya ko ituturing n
a kapatid eh, ni hindi niya ako kaibigan!She cursed silently. Mitchie wanted her
tospyDane? What for?
Alam mo dapat pinagkakatiwalaan mo si Dane. Mahal mo siya diba? Give him time to
be with you, to know you more.Hindi yung puro orgs at beauty contest sa school ang
iniintindi mo...
You dont have to tell me that. You might be forgetting weve known each other for al
most six years and were steady for two years, and youve only known him for six mon
ths.
She was sure irritated by the look on her beautiful face. Her hands were slowly
shaking now.
Mitchie, anong nangyayari sayo?napalapit siya dito.
---Cllllaaaaannnkkkk---
Mitchie!
Nalaglag yung wine glass nito at nagkapirapiraso. Pupulutin sana nito.
Wag na! Ako na... okay ka lang?
Pinulot niya isa isa ang mga bubog.
Ill help...
Pupulutin niya na yung medyo hindi kalakihang matulis na basag ng pulutin din nit
o.
Awww....
Hindi niya alam kung sinasadya nito yon pero naramdaman niya yung panginginig ng k
amay nito at napadiin sa kamay niyang may bubog na sanhi ng pagbaon sa kamay niy
a. Oo! nabigla siya sa biglang pagbaon ng kung ano sa kamay niya.
Blood!She looked at him unbelieving the blood pouring in her hands. She felt numb.
What the hell happened!
Dane...
Reese! Babe, why is there blood?
"Prinsesa...? anong nangyari? Bakit may dugo? Yung kamay mo..." lalapitan siya n
ito----
Mitchie!
Mitchie fainted. Was it her imagination? Theres a wicked gleam in her eyes before
she fell. And Dane was there to catch her. He wasn't sure whom to turn to. Siya
ba? O si Mitchie...LOVE OR FRIENDSHIP?
Reese... Are you okay!hindi niya napansin na nasa tabi na niya si Rexel samantalang
halos sigawan na siya nito.
Rexel..
He took out his handkerchief and gently hold her soaking hand. Wet with blood, a
nd wine. Nilinis nito iyon sa kitchen sink at binalot sa kamay niya. Words weren
't needed. He was there.
You look pale. Okay ka lang ba?
Hey! Its already 11! Lumabas na kayo dyan.
Buti na lang hindi napansin ni Ginger yung kamay niya kung hindi kagulo! Lalabas
si Gabriela Silang.
Lets dance...
Rexel... I've n-never d-dance w-with a man before, a-aside from my father, of cou
rse...

He locked her in a tight embrace while they were dancing.

Didnt know I was looking for love-Sitti
He moved her into the rythm of Sittis song.
till i found you baby...
"REXEL!what wasTHAT?!"she gasped.
..........
..........
Rexel behave!Nanlaki ang mata niya at napalayo dito.And he was laughing!It didn't make
sense... I wasn't like this with any woman. Just with her... and Siena before..
What's with her? Maybe because she's so much like Siena...
Im a man. What can I say?
Bibitaw siya dito ng yakapin siya ulit nito.. She blushed. It wasnt his intention
to make her embarassed or even ... she knew, but still..
It wasnt intended. But Im not sorry because its normal and Im a normal man who apprec
iates a beautiful woman in his arms.
You maniac! Let- me- go..she whispered. She couldnt make a scene, could she? He was
a daredevil. ThatGRIN.
Nakita niya sa sulok ng mata niya sina Dane, nagsasayaw din habang bumubulong si
Mitchie dito. So she was alright now. Andisnt.Why does she have to feel so... pathe
tic? And sad?
Next song.One Less Lonely Girl-Justin Bieber
Nananadya ba sila?
Ha?
Saw so many pretty faces before i saw you... (you)
Now all I see is you Im coming for you...
Theres gonna be one less lonely girl and thats YOU.He pointed her nose.
I can fix up your broken heart...
Ano? Teka nga sino nga pala yung babae sa picture sa wallet mo?
Nakita mo?tumaas bigla kilay nito.
Nalaglag kanina sa kotse mo, di sinasadya tapos pupulutin ko na niyaya mo na ko.
Di ko ganong tinignan.
Ahh... di mo tinignan sinilip mo lang.Inis na sabi nito.
Sino ba kasi yun?
Someone I fell in love with a long time ago.He avoided her gaze. What was there???.
.. who was that girl?
Next song.Please be careful with my heart
Sino ba mga nagpapatugtog niyan? Masyadong latest ha?
He laughed harder than he used to.
Maybe it was intended for you.
Can I have a dance?
OMG...
Dane?
You really look likemyprincess...
Dane?
Para kang sirang loro dyan!Rexel reluctantly moved out of Danes way. Nandun pa pala
ito? Napapagitnaan siya ng dalawang ito. Napatingin siya kay Rexel sunod kay Dan
e sunod kay Rexel.
Rex...Nalilito siya.
Hey! 5 seconds to go 2010 na!Saved by the bell!
Napatingin silang tatlo kay Sasha. Napalibutan sila at isa isang nagcountdown. F
ireworks were all set.
Five...
Four...
Three...
Two...
One...
From the very start please be careful with my heart...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Chapter Twelve:
Kahambugan!
First day of School.
Okay. It was almost dismissal. Nothing new for her for today. They all chatter a
nd went about their business asking how was their Holiday vacation. At siya? Siy
a yung nakatunganga sa bintana o kaya magsulat ng lesson. They were her acquaint
ance, but she felt that shes still isolated. She still cant break the walls around
her.
Three days. No words from Dane nor from Rexel. Not that she cared.
Ipokrita! Anong not care, not care ka pa dyan... sino ba namimis mo?!
Ako? Ipokrita? Ow... comon, Ive lived life this way ever since. I dont need the two
of them.She whispered while shaking her head.
What is it with men? When you dont need them, theyll hang around like a leech. And
when you need them theyre nowhere to be found.
The hell I care. Pero haaaaay... nababaliw na ata ako.
O, si Ms. MMPS oh... kinakausap na yung libro. Anong sabi? Napagsasalita mo na ba?
Sh*t!Ito na naman mga kaklasi niyang walang magawa sa mundo. Actually si Brix lan
g naman, yung lalaking nang-asar sa kanya ng unang simbang gabi niya noon.
She smiled sweetly at him. Her teeth were grinding.
Ahh... Class.O-oh, what is Ms. Dugom doing here? Smells something fishy.
Ui si dugong, si dugong!... upo bilis!
Ang yabang yabang ng mukang unggoy na Brent na yun! Takot naman pala kay maam Dugo
ng!She smirked.Pasalamat siya hindi ako bumababa sa level niya!
I forgot to tell you kanina, were going to have our Experiment next meeting about
insects. You will have partners. Mr. Kahambugan youll lead the class.
She twitched her lips oh soooo sweetly and looked at Brent. He smirked but seeme
d to shrink when the teacher looked at him fiercely.
Ah... maam....
WHAT? Any violent reactions to that?
Maam, None... Pero maam Dugo....nnng... Dugom
Tatalikod na si Ms. Dugom. Well, mataba at medyo maitim si maam, medyo lang naman
... sige na nga masyadong maitim si maam. Kaya pinangalanan nila itong Dugong.
Ano yun?
Kahambutan po surname ko, hindi kahambugan.
Nagtawanan lahat sa klase.
And one more thing. Ms. Roxas will help you, if not rest assured we will see each
other next semester Mr. Kaham---bugan.
She stood up. Dismissal! And went around the corner in front of him.
Good luck Mr. Kaham----bugan. Rest assured I will see you next semester.Oh sweet re
venge...
Oh, I forgot. Simulan mo na ding kausapin yang libro sa Biology sakaling sagutin k
a din at pumasa ka naman dito. Ciao!
And for the first time tumawa siya ng malademonyong tawa. Eh ano ba? Buti na lan
g biniyayaan siya ng talino ni Bro.Strike One.
Maybe Dane was avoiding her. Or maybe not? She saw Mitchie awhile ago. At kung n
asaan ito nandun din si Dane. So what?
Bakit ba ang tagal naman ng fx? Naman... madami pa naming magnanakaw dito at par
ang may nakatingin sa kanya. Lalo na sa ganitong ora----
Tili. Matinis. Makiri. Ano ba yun? There, over there kung saan nagkakagulo ang ta
tlong babae. Mga classmate niya yun sa Biology class. Her heart beat faster than
the normal pace. What the----
SiREXEL.
He waved at her and moved towards her with the three tails. Three flirts.
Hello...Oh, boy... such a handsome jerk. And peck on her cheek!
Hindi lang siya ang nanlaki ang mga mata pati ang tatlong babae sa harap nila na
parang nakalimutan na.
Hows your day, babe?
She groaned inwardly. The three women rolled their eyes. Babe???Mauna na kami ha.Pap
arazzi na naman to bukas. Fresh na fresh sa talipapa ang balita.
Bakit kasama mo yung tatlong yun? At saka teka nga, anong ginagawa mo dito?
Sila? Nilapitan nila ko. I dunno,. Maybe I was .... irresistible.
Hindi ka rin mayabang no? At nagpauto ka naman sa kanila. Eh, lahat ata ng number
ng lalaki sa klase kinukuha nila. Kumbaga malagyan lang ng bigote ang poste pap
atusin na ng tatlong yun no.
Ahhh.... so, may taste pala sila?
Ano ba! Alam mo? Napaka-flirt mo... Ah ewan!Kung sa bagay mahalaga ang fighting sp
irit sa pagkatao.
Bakit gwapo naman talaga ako ah, charming, irresistible, tall, at me double H.
Double H?....
uh-huh. As in Handsome and hunk.
Ahhh......nodded.
Kala ko HungHang.
He was only laughing at her??? Damn! And he looked around and smiled. Sure, she
missed him. Miss him? No! The crowd was looking at them. EVERYBODY.
Even.... Brent???He smirked.
What the hell are you doing here?hinigit niya agad ito palabas.
Bibili tayo ng contacts mo remember?
Contacts? Contact lens?
Oo, baka gusto mong ipaalala ko sayo PRINSESA na sinira ng PRINSIPE mo yung salami
n mo.He grimaced.
Hoy, Mr. Rexel Liam! Baka nakakalimutan mong kasalanan mo yun kung hindi mo ko bin
angga hindi masisira yun no!
Ahh... so ako lagi me kasalanan ganon?
Hinila siya nito at isinakay sa sasakyan.San tayo pupunta?
Silence stretched. Six na ng hapon. Maggagabi na san na naman kaya siya nito bal
ak dalhin?
I thought were going to buy my contact lens, Rexel this is not a mall. Why here? A
nd what are we going to do here mister?
They went inside a tall building. It was almost 8 in the evening. And he punched
in the elevator number.... 30? Medyo madaming tao sa loob. Pagdating ng 10th fl
oor may pumasok na dalawang mama na may dalang cart na puro boxes.
O-oh... Crowded. Rush hour.
Rexel?... why did you bring me here?she whispered. She gasped. He snaked his arms a
round her from behind. He was leaning the wall while he enveloped her to him. He
r back was tightly pressed to him. This was sooo.... intimate.
Okay, it was no big deal. It was no big deal. It was no big deal! Rexel wasnt emb
racing her from behind. Dammit. So why does she feel every single thing about hi
m?
Rexel, dont.
Dont what?tumaas kilay nito.
Yung .... yung... yung... ginawa mo nung.... nung....
Nung?Oh boy, does she have to feel his warm breath on her neck. Geez...
Nung... New Years Eve. W-when we dance. You did something.
Alin don?
Yung ano... Damn! Ah basta, dont you ever do the same thing to me again. I swear,
titili ako dito.
She swear nagtitinginan na sa pagbubulungan nila ang mga katabi nila.
Hindi ko matandaan.
Ano? Anong hindi! sa pagkakatanda ko... bigla kang nabuhayan ng---
Napalakas ang boses niya. All eyes were on her. Ok, shattap na...
And she felt him shaking from behind. Shaking? And he put his forehead on her sh
oulder and...
Rex?
Hmmm?
His body was racking. He hugged her tighter. Sounds were bubbling from his mouth
.
He laughed aloud!The nerve!
They all looked at him. At theTWOof them.
Siniko niya ito.
Aww...and laughed some more.
Babe, that was a normal thing.... for a guy. Matakot ka kapag patay na to. Hindi
mo to mapapakinabangan.
She gasped and blushed. Now that got all the eyes curious. And he laughed like t
he devil.
Humarap siya dito at tinakpan niya ng kamay niya ang bibig nito. Gigil na diniin
niya ang bibig para tumigil na ito at tumingkayad dito.
Ano ba.... hindi ka pa ba titigil? Mahiya ka nga...sobrang bulong na siya.
He bit the inner walls of her palm! Nanlaki mata niya.
That was a love bite. Why do you look so shock?wicked smile...
Yuck...at ipinunas niya sa jacket nito ang palad niya.
You are the first woman who told me I wasyuck...when others' scream were..more, more...
Napabuka yung bibig niya.Ang bastos mo talaga!pinipilit niyang makawala dito pero wa
la namang space.
Ikaw lang yung green-minded no. More, more practice, basketball player kaya ako s
a university.
AS IF.
Tuluyan siya nitong niyakap sa posisyon nilang iyon. His face was too close. His
eyes were hazel brown. She just realized now Rexel was really tall she didnt eve
n reach his chin not without standing on tiptoe like this.... while Dane was a l
ittle shorter.
Only an inch or two. Yun lang Reese!
"I swear, you look like her..."he whispered.
HER?....
Chapter Thirteen:
Who is SHE?
She pulled away. He wouldnt let her.
Stop. Making. Fun. Of. Me.
I never did that.He kissed her temple and hugged her tighter.
They didnt even notice that the elevator stopped and the men with boxes scurried
away. Why does she forget everything when hes with this man? Her patterned and or
dered life turned upside down when he came.
HER???Shes tired of being compared and measured. Lagi siyang kinukumpara ng parent
s niya sa ate niya. Ni Dane kay Mitchie. At ni Rexel sa isang... unknown girl.
Pumalag siya dito. Pilit niyang tinatanggal ang mga braso nito. Pero lalo lang n
itong hinigpitan. Napapagod na siya kaya tumigil na siya.
Just let me go...why do they have to whisper?
Are you mad at me?
Why should I? I dont even know that HER youre talking about.
Bakit bitter-bitteran ka Reese?...
Reese... I-i...
30th floor. Rooftop. She went out immediately after moving away from his arms.
Im sorry.
Why are you sorry?Bakit ba nakakainis marinig na magsorry ang isang lalaking alam m
ong nagsisimula ka ng makaramdam ng something special?...
Rewind! Ano ulit???Something special?What the---
Nothing... its just that I didnt mean to compare you to---
But you already did...Whos she, Rex? Someone special perhaps?
She tried to sound as if shes just asking himhow are you?.
That hurts. Why should it? It doesnt matter. She doesnt care. Not really.
Reese, look at those tall buildings. Look at everything around you. Makikita mo l
ahat dito kaya gusto ko ang place na ito. Nung mga time na down na down ako dito
ko lagi pumupunta... I thought I can escape my problems...
Sa tapat ng building na yun nakita niya ang isang malaking billboard ng isang adv
ertisement. It was of heart shape with two people in love.LOVAPALOOZA?
What the heck!
Ano namang maganda dito? Nananadya ka ba? Aanhin ko naman tong place kung saan na
lulula ako at wala akong makita kung hindi puro billboard at traffic lights!
That got him.
I thought youll appreciate this.She appreciated this so much...
Hes being testy now? Tampururot! Teka hes avoiding the main topic here.
You dont trust me. Alam mo lahat sakin, ang hilig mong makialam tungkol kay Dane p
ero ayaw mong mag-open up sakin? Ganon ba!
Because its really none of your business. Bakit ka ba nagagalit?
Ako? Galit???at tumawa siya na parang nababaliw. Oo, baliw na siya. Ano nga bang pr
oblema niya?
Dream on Rexel... I just dont like being compared to somebody else. Ive had enough
of it.Yun nga lang ba?
Ahh.... so hindi ka pa galit ng lagay na yan? Eh pano pa paggalit ka? Baka bumubu
ga ka na ng apoy.
Akala ko ba bibili tayo ng contact lens? I just want to go home now. This is nons
ense.
Hurt? Why does he look so hurt with her words? She turned his back on him and st
arted to walk away...
silence....
unnerving silence...
her footsteps walking away...
Shes the only woman Ive loved. Until now...
Shock was an understatement.
You dont have to tell me... if it hurts. Im sorry Im just... I dont know, wag mo na l
ang akong pansinin.
Shes someone special to me. Its been five years and Ive loved her that long. I dont k
now if I was just infatuated with her. 15 ako nun, 18 siya. Nagsisimula na kong
maging mama, matangkad. Yung 3 years na gap namin parang wala lang. Nagkakilala
kami sa america nun while were having a vacation. I never thought I would love he
r like this, I thought as time passed by I would eventually forget her...
What can she say?
Shes been long gone for ...
She gasped. She left Rexel?... nababaliw na ba ang babaeng iyon?! Kung siya sa k
alagayan nung girl ano pa bang kulang kay Rexel para iwanan ito?
What... happened?
He just shrugged.
Silence... nasira na kung anuman ang gustong ipakita sa kanya ni Rexel. They jus
t went home. Ipinarada na nito ang sasakyan sa harap ng bahay at hindi na rin ni
ya ito inusisa pa. It's hurting him.hurting him...
Bakit hindi ka na lang umuwi sa inyo? Hinahanap ka na malamang ng parents mo. Wal
ang ikabubuti yung pagmamatigas mo.
Who told you about that? Si Ginger ba?
Stop being childish Reese! Hindi mo ba ko narinig?
Its none of your business. Hindi porket sumasama ko sayo kailangan mo ng pakialama
n ang buhay ko!pinigil nito ang tangkang paglabas niya.
They want whats best for you.
Whats best for me? Kaya ba gusto nila kong ipadala sa ibang bansa? Gusto nilang su
ndan ko ang yapak ng kapatid ko!
You know what, I never thought you to be childish and selfish...
Wala kang alam!
Galit na hinila siya nito sa braso bago pa siya makalabas ng sasakyan. He inched
forward in her seat while holding both of her hands in her lap. He was crowding
her. Suffocating her.
Listen to me...just a bare whisper. But he wasMAD.
I know everything. Stop hiding from the past. They have reasons why they do thing
s like that. You just have to step up and tell them that youre a grown up now. Pe
ro sa pinapakita mo sa tingin mo maniniwala sila? They love and care for you..
Just like I do... I care for you Reese
.... like a brother should.
Chapter Fourteen:
SEXY JERK...
That night was the first real fight she ever had with Rexel. He wasdominant.Manip
ulative.Aggressive.Sophisticated. Andsexy jerk.Hell, for a brother???Do brothers get
to embrace their younger sister like Rexel did with her? Do brothers feel that p
hysical response when---
OH STOP THAT!...
Hindi niya napansin ang I hate him! na halos pumuno sa papel niya... Gigil na bina
to niya ito sa trash can na malayo sa kanya na saktong pagdaan ng prof nila.
Dammit. Napapikit siya. Sapul sa salamin si Maam Dugom ng bigla itong humarap.
Sinong nagbato nito?! Kanino to?
Tinginan silang lahat sa kanya habang binubuklat nito ang papel niya. Ni walang
nagsalita. She seem to shrink from her chair. Gees..
Ahh... maam! Akin po yan.Biglang tumayo si Brent at kinuha ang lukot na papel sa kabi
glaan ni Ma'am Dugom. May kainaman din naman pala ang kabastusan nito minsan,
She gasped.Kanya?
Mr. Kahambu---gan, will you hand me down the paper? Hindi ba imbes na exam mo ang
pinagtutuunan mo ng pansin ay kung ano ano. Hindi ba kodigo yan?
Napatingin siya kay Brent. Tatayo na sana siya para sabihin na kanya iyon ng big
la siya nitong .... Kinindatan??? Grr.. isa itong malaking kahihiyan pagnagkatao
n!
Eh maam... love letter po iyan.
love letter?..... He was dominant. Manipulative. Sophisticated. Sexy jerk. What am
I feeling?....Sh*t!Kung hindi pa nanadya si Ms. Dugom ay ngumiti ito pagkatapos ba
sahin iyon.
I hate him, I hate him, I hate him, I hate him... hmmm? Mr. Brent, now I understa
nd.
Yes, maam...?nagulat din si Brent sa narinig mula sa papel niya na ikinapatingin nit
o.
......
......
Are you gay, Mr. Kahambutan?
Everybody laughed.Then stunned silence.
Eh maam hindi naman po akin iyan. Binigay lang sakin nung gf ko ng nagbreak kami.nap
akamot sa ulo.
Woooooh....sigawan ang mga barkada nito.
Sexy Jerk pala ha!umapir pa ito sa nagsalita. Napabuka yung bibig niya sa isang mala
king O...Yuck...
--------------
Ms. MMPS! Wait!...
Ms. MMPS? Isa lang naman ang tumatawag sa kanyang ganon ah? Tama ba? Inis na bin
ilisan niya ang paglakad palabas sa gate. Pero humihingal na mabilis na nakahabo
l pa rin ito.
Ang suplada naman nito! Pinagtanggol ka na nga kanina eh...
So... sinusumbat mo sakin yun? Ganon ba? Hiniling ko bang akuin mo yon?
Napaatras ito sa pagtaas ng kilay at ng boses niya. Serves him right.
Dont tell me nagpPMS ka na?... ang bata mo pa ha, wala ka pang anak ng lagay na yan
. Ni boyfriend nga wala eh... anyway, Im giving you a proposition.
PMS? As in Pre-menopausal stage? Proposition? Hala... nakakapag-english pala si
MR. Kahambutan???
Teka... may sakit ka ba? At pano mo naman nalaman na wala akong bf aber?intrimitido
!
Alam mo ba... dapat Ms. NVD na tawag ko sayo...
NVD???....
He smirked then laughed.Ms. No-valentines-date!Pwede mo kong arkilahin sa valentine
s kaso mataas ang TF ko pero dahil kagroup kita sa Bio. Sci at top notcher ka sa
management exam lagi may discount...
She smiled at him. And stomped her foot in his shoe.Awww....
Minsan na nga lang nasu-shoe shine yung sapatos ko dinumihan mo pa! Listen...hinawa
kan siya nito sa braso.
Napalingon siya.What?!at tinitigan niya ng masama ang kamay nito na nakahawak sa kan
ya."Easy... I didn't do anything."he raised his two hands.
"Ano ba... anong oras na I have to get home early. Kung kalokohan lang yan... Pl
eaaaasssee.. spare me."
Im going to win the swimming competition. And I want you to be in it.
Swimming competition?? NO WAY!
No way! Are you insane?! Hell no!
If I win. Youll be mine. OFFICIALLY.
... She didnt hear him, did she?
"You're insane..."Hindi ata nagfunction ng ilang segundo ang brain cells niya. Na
ng may tumawag dito saka siya mabilis na tumakbo palabas ng campus at walang pak
ialam kahit tinatawag siya nito. Ng makita niya si .... too late para umiwas.
Prinsesa...
Hello, Dane...she forced herself to smile.
Uuwi ka na ba? Sabay na tayo... teka bakit parang namumula ka? Highblood ka ba? M
edyo mainit ang panahon pero.. Bakit parang may tinatakbuhan ka ata?lumapit ito at
hinipo ang noo, pisngi at leeg niya.Oo, nahighblood ako sa kausap kong unggoy k
anina Dane...
Hindi naman siya pinanganak na talagang... pero kung napapalibutan ka ng mga gwap
ong lalaki, ipokrita ka kung sasabihin mong di ka maaapektuhan... at lalong kapl
astikan kung lahat sila ay 'concern'DAWsayo at hindi ka nag-aassume.
Assume? No way!
Wheres Mitchie?
Shes practicing. Cheerdance competition is getting closer.Ohhh... so that was it? wa
la itong makasama ganon?
Ok.
Tinitigan siya nito ng mariin at tinanggal niya ang kamay nito na nasa leeg niya
. That way of his makes her heart go round.She had accepted long ago that a relation
ship with a friend is a very unlikely occurrence, possible but not successful.
You know that I hated sportsfest the way you do. And I dislike noise so much just
like you..Mitchie and you are very different...she rolled her eyes heavenward.
Theres one common factor we have Dane... We both adore you...
Ahhmm, excuse me... Ms. Roxas, kelan natin balak gawin yung project sa Bio. Sci?
She groaned.Hes a leech!Leche!
What the hell are you doing here?
Whos he Reese? Ginugulo ka ba nito?hinawakan agad ni Dane ang braso niya at tinabi d
ito. Hala... overprotective si Dane?
Im just the....sexy jerk.He smirked with a lopsided grin.Is he Reese the one?
Argghh...Hes not going to talk about the note now!.... kung hindi tutuluyan niya t
alagang ahitin ang kilay nito!
Ms. Roxas, you look pale... have I said something wrong? Dane? Daniel ni Mitchie
na nahirang na Ms. MassComm dept last year? hindi ba?he smiled, SARDONICALLY. In s
hort?Ms. Roxas? Kelan pa!
Kumalma ka lang Reese!... kalma lang...
Anyway, alis na ko... syangapala, about the swimming competition I know youll befor
me...See ya around MS. .... NVD...
DAMMIT! This is pure blackmail...
Sino ba yun? He looks familiar to me... Swimming competition ba kamo?
Dont mind him. Hes just someone whose brain cells arent functioning well...
Oh... naalala ko na, nakalaban ko siya sa swimming competition dati.... Hindi ko
na matandaan.
YOU JOINED?Parang nagmukang anghel sa paningin niya si Dane.
Yup.... why?
Chapter Fifteen:
Trophy Girlfriend
Pero diba ayaw ni Dane ng sportsfest? Katulad niya, he wasnt really athletic... W
ell, he did swim but not.. hmm but then, hindi na mahalaga iyon. Ang mahalaga hi
ndi ipagsabi ng Brent na iyon ang tungkol sa note niya... at kung ano man ang ba
lak nitong masama ay hindi matuloy...
If I win. Youll be mine. OFFICIALLY.
Hes just jesting, isnt he?... binabangungot ba ko?
Si Brent, na sa unang meeting palang ay wala ng magawa kundi yamutin siya. He wa
s the only guy in the class who has the nerve to call him names. She was always
at the top. Masungit, isnabera, suplada... she heard that many times. Well, hind
i talaga siya ganong palakaibigan. She wasnt used to the crowd because shed been h
omeschooled when she was in elementary and enrolled in an all girls school in sec
ondary.
Boring. Boring. Boring. Napalingon siya ng may naramdaman siyang tumama sa likod
niya. Papel? Lukot na papel na nalaglag sa likod niya. Hindi niya sana papansin
in iyon ng nagtama ang paningin nila ng Kahambugan na iyon. Inginuso nito yung l
ukot na papel.
Ms. NVD,
Meet me at the auditorium after class or else..
Remember, I still have the note....
Golden Swimmer,
Napabuka ang bibig niya sa isang malaking O...This is pure blackmail!
Magpakita ka na!
Buti na lang walang tao sa auditorium. At least Mr. Kahambutan has still some se
nse of privacy. Madilim. Walang tao.
Mr. Kahambutan! This isnt funny. Aalis na ko! biglang may bumagsak na kung ano. Hin
di naman siya matatakutin pero----
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......... Ilayo mo sakin yan kung hindi ikaw malalagot sakin!tumalo
n siya at umakyat sa may upuan.
Hahahahaha...itinaas nito ang fake na ... DAGA???
Bumaba ka na nga dyan.Tawa pa rin ito ng tawa.
Mr. Kahambutan... bakit mo ba ko pinapunta dito?pinipigil niya ang sarili. Inhale,
exhale. Hinawakan nito ang bewang niya na ikinabigla niya at binaba siya nito. H
indi niya napansin na nalaglag na ang panyo niya. Hinampas niya dito ang bag niy
a ng paulit ulit.HMMM!
Tama na... Its Brent, not Mr. Kahambutan..salag pa rin ito ng salag habang tawa ng t
awa.
Humihingal na tumigil siya.
Brent... I want to know why you want to win this bet and most of all why you want
me?
Simple... Every guy in the classroom wants the high-and-mighty Reese to vow down.
.. andIll be that man. Ill be your first.
What the hell?! Was he kidding himself? Caprice Roxas has became a challenge? Sh
e didnt know if this was good or bad. Flattering. Yes.
But still... at least Reese, Brent is honest about his motives.
Pero nakakainsulto pa rin! Gusto kang makuha dahil sa fame na makukuha niya?
At least hes not making you asa... the hell!
Trophy Girlfriend?!Youre insane!
Napalingon sila sa pinanggalingan ng kaluskos. Bigla agad niyang tinaasan ito ng
kilay. Baka mamaya sawa na ang dala nito. Wala siyang tiwala dito. Biglang may
babaeng naka-hoodie na dumiretso ng upo... Mukang matagal na ito doon.
Sino ka? At bakit ka nakikinig sa usapan namin?
So ikaw ba si Brent Kahambutan? Ang Golden Swimmer?
Yup. So?Napatingin si Reese sa babae na hindi nila maaninag ang mukha habang papalapi
t. Maangas ang dating.
Im Corrs. And Im going to beat you.
They both groaned.Sabi ko naman sayo Ms. Roxas, may mas baliw pa sakin eh... Pwede
bang maglaban ang babae at lalaki? Diba hindi!Umiling ito at parang walang pakial
am sa babae.
Reese heard her phone ringing.
"Bakit hindi mo sinasagot cellphone mo? I was worried sick. Kanina pa ko hanap n
g hanap sayo dito sa school niyo! Who are you with anyway?"
KUYA Rexel.... kasama ko lang naman PO yung classmate ko dito sa auditorium. Nasa
n ka ba?
Inis na binaba niya yung phone.Sino yun?isa pa to!
Hi Corrs. Im Reese. Teka nga sasali ka sabi mo?
Ngumisi ito at nakapamulsa na tumango tango. Hell will freeze over. That is what
is written in Brents face. He was handsome when he was mad. Sana lagi na lang it
ong pikon dahil minsan lang talagang mapikon ito dahil ito ang nangyayamot.
Hindi mo ba alam Mr. Kahambutan na gagawing coed ang swimming competition next we
ek lalo na kung qualified ang female swimmer.
Thats insane! Youre making this up, arent you? Para kang bubwit tapos lalaban ka sak
in?
Bakit? Nababahag ba ang buntot mo...ui wawa naman si baby Brent...matatalo ng isan
g bubwit.
She smiled. Brent has his match! Goodluck.
She met Rexel at the parking lot. She went ahead leaving the two lunatic people
in the auditorium. Rexel has been a constant nuisance in her life ever since she
met him. Nuisance nga ba? Shes being puzzled by him.
I heard therell be a sportsfest in your school next week. Hindi ka ba sasali?
Hindi. Ano naman gagawin ko dun? Magkakalat? Mapapagod lang ako...
Im going to watch the swimming competition.
Ok.
Lumingon siya sa bintana.Teka nga----hindi ata nagsink in sa kanya yung sinabi nit
o. Ano daw! Halos mabali yung leeg niya sa bilis ng paglingon niya dito.
NO!
At bakit hindi? Kinwento sakin ni Ginger manonood daw sila. Ininvite mo sila tapo
s ako hindi?
Yes, she remembered inviting Ginger and the company but that was before she knew
Brent was going to cook something unpleasant.
Kasi ano... busy ka diba? Saka studies mo? Ahmm... saka..
Parang ayaw mo ata akong papuntahin. May ginawa ka bang kalokohan?
She pursed her lips.Kuyang kuya ah... Panaluhin ko kaya si Brent, tignan ko lang k
ung anong maging reaction mong kuya ka...inis na bumulong bulong siya habang lumin
gon sa bintana.
What did you say?
Wala... sabi ko... pumunta ka kung gusto mo. Wala akong pakialam.
They went to a fastfood chain. Para mabilisang pagkain na at gabi na rin. May tu
mawag bigla kay Rexel na ikinahina ng boses nito. Ano kaya yun?... Babae kaya?
Napataas bigla kilay niya.Ayos si kuya ah... naglilihim.Nilakas niya talaga. Lumayo
ito. Aba!
Ahmm... excuse me may sili ba kayo dyan?
Maam?
Ahh... hot sauce pala... yung pinakamaanghang ha.She smiled. And put a massive lot
on Rexels hamburger.Sige lang tignan lang natin... kung hindi mapaos ka sa kung si
no pang kakausapin mo mamaya...Hindi sinasadya natalsikan siya sa kamay. Clumsy.
Asan ang panyo ko?hanap. Hanap. Shet. Nalaglag ata sa auditorium kanina. Panyo ni R
exel yun nung nasugatan siya nung New Years Eve Party!
O915-------- Calling
Hello?
Prinsesa, nakalimutan ko nga palang ipaalala sayo baka gusto mong gawin na yung p
roject natin sa Bio. Sci.
not Danes voice but..
Kahambugan?Great...Yung panyo ko! Nakita mo ba?
Panyo?... Yung stripes na white and blue? Sa auditorium?
Oo! Yun nga yun! Kukunin ko bukas ha...
Eh... kasi.. kasi ano..
Kasi ano? Bilisan mo!inis na napatingin siya sa direksyon ni Rexel. If looks could
kill she might be dead by now.
May.. ano... babae kasing umiiyak sa park kanina binigay ko yung panyo mo...
ANO?! HINDI MO BA NAISIP NA HINDI SAYO YUN?napalakas yung boses niya na ikinalingon
ng mga katabi niyang table.
Eh kasi... easy ka lang natatakot naman ako sayo niyan, ibibili na lang kita. Gus
to mo may hello kitty pa.
Anong eh, kasi? Pano na yan? Kelangan hanapin mo yun!
Ano?! Hello pano ko mahahanap yun? Iisa isahin ko yung mga tao dun kung nakita ni
la yung babaeng umiiyak!
Sinisigawan mo ba ko?
Hindi ah... nagpapaliwanag lang. Ibibili na nga lang kita...
AYAW. Ang tanga mo talaga. Wala kang kwenta. Bakit hindi mo kunuha ulit?
Ms. NVD, anong gusto mong sabihin ko dun sa umiiyak na babae? Ms. Akina yang pany
o kahit siningahan mo na at puno ng luha at laway okay lang basta ibalik mo saki
n. Oh cmon...
DAMN.
Alam mo wag kang magpapa----she gasped.Rex!
Who's this?
Chapter Sixteen:
Away o Gulo?
So nagagalit ka?!
Hindi!!! Bat naman ako magagalit? Tuwang tuwa nga ako sa ginawa mo eh!galit na lumab
as siya at iniwanan niya ito. Mabilis siyang lumakad papunta sa parking lot. Bak
a hindi pa siya makapagpigil at kung ano pang magawa niyang eksena sa loob ng fa
stfood.
Harapin mo nga ako, sino ba kasing Brent yun? At bakit alam niya number mo? Nilil
igawan ka ba niya?dapat pa ba siyang magulat ng sundan siya nito?
Ano bang pakialam mo? Rex! Hindi mo dapat ginawa yun. Alam mo ba na una sa lahat
ayoko sa lalaking pakialamero! Pangalawa, ayoko sa lalaking dinodomina ang babae
!
So nililigawan ka nga niya ganon?namaywang pa ito. Napakakitid talaga ng utak ng mg
a lalaki!
Alam mo ano kayang mapifeel mo kung inagaw ko yung cellphone mo habang may kausap
ka?! Ginawa ko ba yun hindi naman diba? Rex! Privacy naman oh..
Kung nagagalit ka ng lagay na yan... you must have felt something for him.he looked
frustrated enough. Damn.
Ayokong magkaboyfriend dahil ayokong magkaron ng obligasyon... at una sa lahat HI
NDI MO KO GIRLFRIEND.Galit na tinalikuran niya ito. Its not right that a man should
manipulate a woman. Ito na nga ba sinasabi niya eh... nakikita pa lang niya kin
a Ginger, problema ang commitment! Masaya naman siyang single... hindi niya kail
angan ng lalaki!Lalaki lang ba magpapasaya sa babae? Hindi oy...
She quickly walked towards the car, she wanted to get her things and hail a cab.
She doesnt care about Rexel anymore.Kuya! Kuyahin niya muka niya!
Reese... listen to me...she didnt turn around. Whats the use? Mag-aaway lang ulit sil
a.
She gasped when Rexel roughly pulled her arms and swung her around to face him.
She was taken aback by his force. But he didnt seem to mind that they were in the
parking lot. He gently hugged her. Her face was buried to his polo shirt. She c
ould smell the faint scent of his masculine cologne. She looked up.His eyes were d
evouring her. Suddenly... just suddenly, his lips were on her. Nanlaki ang mga m
ata niya. Dapat ba siyang pumikit? Bakit biglang uminit?
Dapat bang magmelt ang babae pagkatapos ng away kung ganito din lang naman...??
Napapagod na siyang makipag-away. Napapagod na siyang mag-isip kung ano ba talag
ang dapat maramdaman. For once she just want to let everything flow. Everything
stopped. It felt... weird and warm all at the same time.
His lips slowly moved. Her head was spinning. She slowly closed her eyes.
Mga kabataan talaga ngayon...
Shocks!Mabilis na nilayo ni Rexel ang sarili sa kanya pero nakahawak pa rin ang k
amay sa bewang niya. Hindi siya makatingin dito! Syempre alam na... It was her f
irst kiss! For crying out loud!
Sa katulad niyang NBSB, ang lahat ng first ay tinitreasure. Pero masasabi bang m
alandi siya kung... kung hindi niya naibigay yun first holding hands? First kiss
sa isang lalaking hindi naman niya first boyfriend?...
Awkward silence. And then he kissed her on the forehead.
Im not sorry I did that though I didnt mean it.
Lets just ... go home.
He looked confused. And dazed about what happened. Ano pa bang dapat asahan niya
? Mabilis silang nakauwi ng walang imikan. Inihatid siya nito sa tapat ng gate.
Hmmm...
Hmmm...nagkahiyaan pa naghalikan na nga.
Reese... kapag nawala ba ko.... malulungkot ka?
What kind of a question is that?! Hindi niya kayang isipan ng tamang sagot. Nata
himik lang siya.Pumasok ka na...
Tumango na lang siya at pumasok. Hindi niya kayang magsalita. Ano bang dapat sin
asabi after ng first kiss?Duh... hay nako...
She couldnt help but touch her lips. There was a sudden knock on the gate. Her he
art instantly jumped. Hindi naman sa umaasa siyang babalik si Rexel pero... mala
y mo may nakalimutan o kaya... di daw umaasa!
Rex... may naka---
Hello, Prinsesa... may kasama ka?he smiled and looked utterly devastated. Why devas
tated? Ewan niya pero pagdating kay Dane may 6thsense ata siya. Nakapamulsa na m
abagal na sumunod ito papasok.
Anong nakain mo at pumunta ka dito?
He just shrugged and looked almost everywhere but not her eyes. Hes got a prob. W
ell, probably its Mitchie? Ano pa nga ba...
Oo nga pala... next week na yung swimming competition ha... ayusin mo buhay mo Da
ne. Kailangan mong maipanalo iyon.Hindi niya sinabi kung ano talaga dahilan kung b
akit basta hindi na lang ito nakaangal ng iparegister niya ito.
May dahilan ba dapat para pumunta ko dito? Nood na lang tayo oh...
Para namang nananadya na ang ang cd lang don ayMy bestfriends Weddingni Julia Rober
ts. How many times had she cried along with Julia Roberts who portrays a woman i
n love to her long time guy friend who was getting married to Cameron Diaz?Lalo na
nung naghahabulan portion na.
Kumakain sila ng popcorn na ipinahanda niya kay Ate Kuring kanina. There was onl
y silence. Nagpapakiramdaman sila kung sinong unang magsasalita.
If I were the guy I would choose Julia Roberts but then there were circumstances
that we cant choose, can we?
She looked at him. What was he trying to say? Si Dane, hindi siya masalitang tao
... malalim siya. Ayaw na niyang mag-isip, nakakapagod din pala ang mga lalaki.
Hindi niya napansin na nakatulog na ito ng matapos ang palabas. She sighed. And
really looked at him. He looked like the boy-next-door type. Tahimik, suplado, p
ero maalagain. Itinaas niya ang daliri sa ilong nito. Ito ang bukod tanging lala
king nakakaalam ng pinagdadaanan niya ngayon. Siguro kung ginawan siya ni God ng
counterpart si Dane yun... kasi pareho silang laging nakakulong sa confines ng
ibang tao.
Tatayo na siya ng biglang hawakan nito ang kamay niya.
Dane...and he pulled her towards him. Nabigla siya, nakaupo ito at napasubsob siya
dito.Twice in one day.Magkakaheart attack ata siya sa mga lalaking ito! They were
too close for comfort. Magkatapat ang muka nilang dalawa at hawak nito ang braso
niya.
Time passed by. It seemed like... forever. Her heart skipped a beat. Natatakot s
iya at naguguluhan. She seemed paralyzed. Nanlaki yung mata niya ng papalapit na
ang muka nito. Inilagay nito ang kamay sa ulo niya upang ilapit....
At...
At...
At...
Niyakap siya nito. Ang ulo niya ay nakasandal sa kanang balikat nito. A few minu
tes more she felt him snoring softly.Dane... ayokong magmahal ng taong di ako kaya
ng mahalin. Ayokong masaktan... ayokong matulad kay Julia Roberts...
---------------
Hello!Napatingin siya sa nagsalita.
Corrs? Tama ba?ngumiti ito sa kanya. She seemed so tomboyish... parang athletic.
Paupo ah...at umupo ito.Sige, nakaupo ka na eh...she smiled. Puno kasi ang canteen.
Kumain sila tapos mayamaya lang nagkukwentuhan na sila ng maglabas ito ng panyo
na blue and white na stripes. Hindi siya pwedeng magkamali panyo nya yun!
San mo nakuha yan?
Alin? Itong panyo?Reese nodded. Posible bang magkapareho ang binilan ni Rexel at ni C
orrs?
Malungkot itong ngumiti. Anong meron?
May... lalaking nagbigay sakin nito sa Park nung isang araw.
Binigyan ka kamo ng lalaki sa Park?....Di kaya...Pero imposible eh, magkakasama sila
nun sa auditorium at magkakilala na si Brent at ito.
Gabi na kasi nun... nasa pinakasulok ako sa may bench tapos yun.... I ... I cried
. May lalaking nag-abot sakin ng panyo. Ni hindi ko nga nakita muka niya eh, bas
ta alam ko matangkad siya. Di ko na kasi napansin kasi alangan namang umiiyak na
ko tapos magtatanungan pa kami ng pangalan.
Bakit ka nga ba umiyak?Hindi ito makapagsalita... halatang may sama ng loob.
Yung bestfriend ko kasi nagpakasal nung araw na yun. Tapos ayun... hindi ako umat
tend... masakit kasi eh, matagal ko siyang gusto tapos...Parang My bestfriends Wedd
ing pala. True-to-life din pala yun...
Aha!May bf ka ba corrs?
Bakit mo naman natanong?
Basta lang.... meron?
Wala...hindi pa nga nagkakaroon.Pabulong na sabi nito.
Wicked smile. Humanda ka Mr. Kahambutan.
Ano ba kasi yun?
You mean NBSB ka rin? Galingan mo sa swimming competition ha! Tutulungan kitang m
akalimutan yang bestfriend mo!
She looked at her as if in disgust.Hindi ako tomboy no!
Chapter Seventeen
Lets Swim!
Sportsfest.
Maingay, nagkakagulo. Well, ano pa bang inaasahan niya? Pero ang main event ayun
papunta na siya sa swimming area ng University nila.
Reese! Sorry na-late kami. Hindi daw makakapunta si Sasha. Pano ba yan eh, di kam
i na lang dalawa ni Laney ang magchicheer kay Papa Dane?
Ssshhh... Papa Dane kayo dyan! Kayo talagang dalawa. Bilisan na natin thirty minu
tes before the main event.Napapikit siya. Bakit kasi ang tanga tanga niya at nainv
ite pa niya tong dalawang kaibigan niyang luka?
Ilan ba ang maglalaban? Uy! Ayun si Papa Dane oh... look at that bod. Gosh.. yumm
y.At sabay tumili ang mga ito. Makikiri talaga.
Heh! Tumigil nga kayo... pinagtitinginan kayo.Inis na sabi niya sa mga ito. Tama ba
ng pagnasahan si Partner Dane niya? Inis na inilabas niya ang DigiCam niya. Pina
gpapawisan ang palad niya. Good sign o bad??
Hello Ms. Roxas? I see, youre here to cheer for me?Argghhh... Bad.
Nakita niyang titig na titig ang mga kaibigan kay Brent.Teka nga--- kay Brent nga
ba talaga? O sa katawan nito? ewan.
She smiled.In your dreams! ayun oh! Dane!sumigaw siya na ikinalingon ni Dane. Lahat
ng mga contestants ay naka-trunks at.... at... at.... well, tama naman palang pa
gnasahan nila ito. Gwapo na, akalain mong sa ilalim ng mga damit ni Dane ay ...yu
mmynga ito.Ay nako Reese! Naiimpluwensyahan ka na ng mga kaibigan mo!
Kami ichicheer ka namin!Eeww...napatingin siya sa dalawang kaibigan niya na nakikipa
gkamay na kay Kahambugan ngayon. At todo smile naman ang unggoy.Kala niya naman..
.
Nakita niya si Corrs na ready na din, sexing sexy na naka-one piece swimsuit at
may dalang towel. Kinawayan niya ito at papalapit sana ito ng...
Ms. Roxas alam ba nila yung pustahan natin at kilala ba nila kung sino si Sexy Je
---she gasped. Mabilis pa sa ala-unang tinakpan niya ang bibig nito na kinataas ng
kilay ng mga kaibigan niya. Hell! Pinsan ni Ginger si Rexel. Nakakahiya naman m
alaman ni Rexel no?! Ego lang nun!
Hinigit niya si Kahambugan sa gilid.Mag-usap nga tayo ng matino. Ang alam ko lang
na pustahan natin ay kapag nanalo si Dane dito tatahimik ka na at di mo na ko gu
guluhin.
Ngumisi ito.Gaano ka ba ka-confident dyan si Prinsipe mo ha? Nanalo nga siya sakin
dati pero matagal na yun... di kaya nangangalawang na yan.Lumingon pa ito kay Da
ne na tuluyan ng nakalapit kina Laney at Ginger. Napatingin din siya sa gawi ng
mga ito pero nakakunoot ang noo sa kanila ni Dane.
And one more thing.
Ano na naman?
Napangiti siya ng makita niyang padating si Corrs.
Youll date Corrs if she won and you lost the game to her.Nakita niyang halos mapaanta
nda ito. Saan kaya?Sa malalaman nitong matatalo ito ng isang babae? O sa pag-date k
ay Corrs? Hmm... bakit naman eh, maganda naman ito? Mga lalaki talaga oh. Pride
Chicken!
No way!
So... Umuurong ka na?nasundot niya yun.
At kelan naman ako umurong? AT KAPAG AKO NANALO, BUKAS NA BUKAS DIN IKAW MISMO MA
GPAPABALITA SA KLASE NA TAYO NA.
Deal?
Deal.Nagkamay sila. Hmm... gwapo din pala tong si Kahambugan wag lang talagang mangy
ayamot.
Lumapit si Corrs sa kanila at pinakilala niya ito sa mga kaibigan niya.Siya ang fi
rst ever woman na mananalo. Nasesense ko yan.She smiled as he saw Brent scowl at t
he thought.
Si Dane, ayun as usual tahimik. She looked up to him and then he smiled. That ca
n melt any ice in the ocean.Nangako ka saking ipapanalo mo ha... Lagot ka sakin ka
pag hindi.
O sige.
Sabi mo yan ha!
Anong premyo ko pagnanalo ko?Premyo?Hmmm... ano nga ba?
Libro?
He laughed.Ang hirap magswimming tapos libro lang? You know me better than that.
Eh ano? Aba... so may kapalit pa pala itong pagsali mo ganon?
Pagiisipan ko...
Bahala ka.She pouted. She saw Corrs glared at Brent and vice versa. Parang mga bata
. Tinawag si Brent ng barkada nito. Lumakad ito papunta sa mga iyon ng makita ni
yang----

Hinarang ni Corrs ang isang binti sa paghakbang ni Brent na hindi naman nito nap
ansin na munti na nitong ikinadulas kung hindi ito napakapit agad kay... Corrs d
in!
Hahahahaha...nakita niyang nanlaki ang mata nito sa pagkakalapit nilang dalawa. T
hey were almostdecent.Well, hahaha...mabilis na pinagpag ni Corrs ang braso ni Brent
na nakahawak sa balikat nito.
Sali ka pa... lampa ka naman pala.
May araw ka rin sakin bubwit ka!
Uy start na daw...napalingon sila kay Laney at Ginger na halatang siyang siya sa mg
anasa-sight.
Sige na... start na daw.Saglit na tinulak niya si Dane papunta sa may swimming pool
. Nasan kaya si Mitchie? Bakit parang wala ito?
Papunta na siya kina Laney na naghahanap na ng upuan na kitang kita ang competit
ion. Padami na ng padami at paingay na din ang mga tao. Madaming nagchi-cheer at
nagdala pa ng mga mineral bottle o kung anuman pampaingay.
Prinsesa...napalingon siya.
Alam ko na... kung anong premyo ko...tumaas kilay niya. Di niya ganong narinig kaya
lumapit siya dito. He bent and whispered to her.
A date...
Ano daw?!Hindi niya narinig ng bigla na lang itong ngumiti at tumakbo na.
Kanina pa siya hindi mapakali. Naiinis siya sa nararamdaman niya. Kinakabahan ba
siya o ano? Ano ba tong napasukan niya? At saka bakit wala pa si...
Bakit kanina ka pa palingon lingon dyan?
Wala naman.
Wala daw oh, pwede ba yun?
Wala nga! Ang kulit niyo talagang dalawa.
Hindi daw makakapunta si Rexel may darating daw siyangfriend-slash-kinakapatidngayong
araw na to.Nahalata niya ang biglang pagguhit ng inis sa mukha ni Ginger sa pagkak
abanggit ng word nafriend.
Simula nangyari yung gabing yun hanggang ngayon wala pa rin siyang naririnig mul
a dito.Ni text o tawag. Hindi ba nito naisip kung buhay pa siya o kumakain pa? Sh
e sighed. Hindi ba ayaw naman talaga niya itong pumunta sa event na ito? So anon
g problema?She unconsciously touched her lips.Darn that Jerk!Sexy Jerk...
READY. SET. GO
Woooh! Go Brent!
Akala ko ba Papa Dane ka?siniko ni Ginger si Laney na tinuturo siya. Tumayo na rin
siya at naki-cheer.
Magaling si Brent. No doubt. Ilang laps ba? Shocks... 5 daw??? Papatay ba yan?
Kinakabahan siya nangunguna ito. Nakahabol si Dane. Halos nagigitgitan na sila s
a laban.
Sino kayang mauuna?
Nauna na ulit si Brent.First Lap. Sh*t!Magaling magflutter kick ito. Lalo na nung
sumipa na ito sa tiles at nakabalik na. Pero...
Ayun oh! Nakahabol si Papa Dane! Umaariba!
Hindi siya makasigaw.Second Lap.Nauuna si Dane. He really is good in swimming. Nga
yon niya lang napagtanto. Hes well-built. Slender but all muscles in the right pl
aces.
Third and Fourth Lap.
Nauuna si Dane. Pangsecond na ngayon si Brent. Lalong nagkakagulo. Kanya kanyang
sigaw ng bet. Nagdadasal na din siya.Dane... you can do it.
Fifth.Panglast na.
God...
Nasa gitna na si Brent at si Dane ng biglang lumubog si Dane.
What the hells happening?! All the cheers died down. They saw him trying to breat
he in and out of the water.
NOOOO...
She ran to the pool with speed she hadnt thought she had. Natigil ang laro. She c
ouldnt speak. Napahilamos siya sa muka niya. Parang slow motion...
Hinila ni Brent si Dane pataas sa tubig. He was blue in the mouth. Napalapit aga
d siya dito habang nasa gilid si Brent. He was pumping his chest. Nakaluhod siya
ng nakaharap dito.Move, Reese youre an idiot!
I-CPR niyo!~nagkatinginan sila ni Brent. Hindi siya marunong. Pano yun?
Isi-CPR na ito ni Brent ng-----
Itinulak nito si Brent at napasuka ng puro tubig. Halos lahat sa paligid nila na
kahinga. Gusto niyang umiyak, nanginginig ang kamay at mga tuhod niya.
Reese... sorry.He whispered. She held on to his hand which was cold. Gusto niyang m
aiyak. Why is he the one whos sorry? Dammit. Its her fault.
Nagka-cramps lang siya kaya ganon. Nabigla siguro yung binti niya sa tagal ng hin
di pagsuswimming.Sabi ni Brent habang nakatingin sa kanila. Hindi niya napuna ang
pagkunot ng noo nito habang nakatingin sa kanila ni Dane.
Ang inannounce na nanalo ay si Brent dahil nakarating ito sa finish line ng time
na nagka-cramps na si Dane na mauuna sana.
Inalalayan niya si Dane at kinuha ang towel. Pinunasan niya agad ang buhok nito
at nagpulupot ng isa pang towel sa katawan nito.
Start of Second Game.
Mga babae naman Reese.Hindi niya napansin na kanina pa nasa tabi niya sa Laney at G
inger taga-abot ng kung anong kailangan nila. Pero parang nawalan din ito ng mga
energy.
Im sorry.Parang batang nakatingala ito sa kanya habang pinapatuyo niya ang ulo nito.
Wala na siyang pakialam kung sinong nanalo at kung sino pang mananalo.
Kanina ka pa sorry ng sorry hindi mo naman kasalanan.
Alam ko naman na ineexpect mo talaga kong manalo...
Para kang sira, mas inaalala mo pa yun? Eh yung sarili mo hindi mo ba naisip? Bak
it hindi mo sakin sinabi na matagal ka ng walang practice? Kasalanan ko ito eh..
.
Hinawakan nito ang mga kamay niya. At nakaharap siya dito. She thought she'd los
t all her nerves.
Talagang kasalanan mo to....napalingon sila sa pinanggalingan ng boses na nakatingi
n sa magkahawak nilang kamay.
Reese! You wont believe this, nanalo si Corrs laban kay Brent-----
Napatingin si Ginger kay Mitchie at sa magkahawak na kamay nilang dalawa nila Da
ne.
She groaned. Damn.
Wow... ang galing pala ni Corrs ha! Akalain mong at the last minute, siya pa pala
ang man....
Ang galing talaga ng timing ng mga kaibigan niya. tss....
Chapter Eighteen:
Valen-tears Day!
13th of February
Araw ng mga puso? Isang simple at normal na araw para sa kanya. Tinatanong pa ba
yun? Eh sa katulad niyang wala namang ka-date eh normal lang yun.AS IN. Pero min
san syempre, nakakalungkot isiping naglilipana ang mga lovebirds habang ikaw mal
ayang lumilipad. Oh well,
Tumunog cellphone niya.
Hello? Ginger? Opo... di ko nakakalimutan mamaya sasalubungin natin ang Valentines
Day!napairap siya. Buti na lang di nito nakikita. Masquerade Party daw. Leche! Mg
a kaibigan niya talaga kung ano ano naiisipan.
Its been three days since that fateful swimming competition happened.
Reese!Napalingon siya. Uwian na. Ano naman kayang kailangan nito? Himala. Reese daw
?
Oh.... Kahambugan? Ikaw pala?he smiled. After what happened they didnt talk about th
e bet anymore. It was like a curse that brings acid to her tounge.
Uuwi ka na ba?he seemed somewhat different now.Oo eh. Ikaw ba?
Tumango ito. He seemed a little bit agitated. May ginawa na naman kaya itong kal
okohan? O may nilulutong kalokohan?
I just want to say... sorry.
Ano daw?!SHALA. May sakit ba ito? Hindi naman sa exaggerated pero... magtatransfer
na ba ito? Aalis? For good?Hahaha... mabuti naman.Pero mukang hindi naman.
For what?Pero may nakita siyang kung anong emosyon sa mga mata nito. Maybe she was
just hallucinating. He just smiled and shrugged then turned around.
Brent...
He stopped but didnt look at her. He was just.... waiting.
Thank you...
For what?
For everything... you dont have to do that, you know. But you did. Youre a real man
than I thought you are.Sh*t totoo ba ito? Brent was good. No, he was great. She k
new that whatever happened in the game.He chose the result.
He broke up with her even before the game.
Ano?Broke up? Who?
He just waved then silently walked away. For what its worth. She wanted to thank
him for not bringing fiascos in her life now. Wala na siyang problema. Eh ano yu
ng nararamdaman niya kay Dane at kay Rexel? Hindi ba problema yun? At kung anuma
ng bagongchismisyun, wala na siyang pakialam.
-----------
Well, just like in other parties. Shes not used to the suffocating crowd. Maingay
. Malakas ang sounds. Maraming mga mukang hindi niya kilala. Almost ----lovapaloo
zaba ito?
She silently cursed. Nao-OP siya. Puro mag-sweethearts ba naman ang nandito. Ano
pa ba ang inaasahan niya?
Friend, ano ka ba? Marami kong friends sa department namin na gwapo, halika ipapa
kilala kita.Pinilit siyang hinila ni Sasha. Sumunod si Ginger at Laney. Ipinakilal
a na sa kanya ni Sasha ang bago nitong bf, si Ginger? Ewan kung bakit nauso pa a
ngna term. Si laney? Nako... hindi maka-get over kay ex.
Guys! Hello there... Happy Valentines!
She almost moaned aloud.ALMOST. Who would have thought that Achilles came down fr
om mount Olympus? Damn. She missed him.Did he ... even.... think ... about her?She
saw him in three-piece suit before but still, it took her breath away. Cheesy.
Napapikit siya sa inis.
To my ever beautiful cousin.He kissed Ginger on the cheek bringing the champagne wi
th him. But he didnt even give her a glance.Whats the matter with him now?It stings.
And itto feel this way.
Youre late...and then she saw Gingers trail of sight.
There. Is. A. Woman.A friend perhaps? It was like she was glued to the ground. Sh
e couldnt seem to think much less comprehend what was happening.
Reese.He just nodded. Just like that? AFTER EVERYTHING?After what Reese? Wala namang
everything!She wanted to laugh hard. What is he playing now?
Reese... are you okay?Laney went to her side. She tried to nod and smile.
Hello Che... its been quite a while. How have you been?narinig niyang nagsalita si G
inger sa babaeng kasama ni Rexel. He put his other arm around her. She looked up
and grinned at him.Whatthe----
You still remember her Ginger, dont you? Yung kinakapatid kong malapit ng maging n
urse... Kayo yung magkakalaro nung araw even before we went to the states.He looke
d so ... gay. So uncaring. Ganun ba talaga siya? Pagkatapos maglaro ng damdamin
ng iba? Magmumove on na lang basta basta?
Reese...nakakailang tawag na pala sa kanya si Ginger nung napatingin siya... sa mat
a ni Rexel. Umiwas ito. The woman extended her hand to her.
Hello... Im Cheryl. So ikaw si Reese? Nakwento ka na sakin ni Liam. So its true, yo
ure pretty.Liam? So tawagan nila yun?... Pretty? Ha! Buti habang kasama ka niya naa
lala pa niya kong ikwento. Thank you Rex ha! Di mo ko nakalimutan.Gusto niyang is
igaw. Nakita niyang kinurot nito si Rexel. Gusto niyang tumakbo at umalis pero g
usto niya ring dukutin ang mga mata ng mga ito.
What about the kiss? What about the way hed cared for her? Was that all a? Ganon
ba talaga siya sa lahat ng lalaking napaugnay sa kanya? She was naive. Yes. Is i
t because of that? Had she been all but a challenge to them? Or just theirshock-a
bsorber?
Inabot niya ang kamay nito.Hi... Nice to meet... you Cheryl.parang hanging lumabas s
a bibig niya.
Reese, are you okay?He looked real worried and quickly touched her forehead. Muka i
tong sincere.Why the fuss?Gusto niya itong sigawan. Pero diba napaniwala siya nito
ng honest at sincere ito. KUYA!
Im ... okay.Hinila ito ni Cheryl at kumaway naman sa kanya ang babae papunta sa buff
et table na hindi naman kinaangal nito. From the looks of it their age was close
. Maybe she was 19 or so. She looked genuine enough. Na lalong nakapagpasakit ng
kung anumang dapat sumakit sa kalooblooban ng katawan niya. Dapat katulad na la
ng ito ng mga babaeng ... babaeng... oh no.Nagseselos ba siya?
Nakakabingi. Namamanhid ang mga kamay niya.Well, the hell I care! Sabi ko na nga
ba problema lang ang mga lalaki! Not that I care about him. He can rot to hell.Umu
po siya sa swing malapit sa pool. Maraming heart shapes na balloons. Parang gust
o niyang pagtutusukin ang mga iyon. Hindi naman talaga totoo si Kupido! Pahirap
lang siya sa buhay...
Ang dress niya? It looked crumpled already to think she took pains on her appear
ance. To think that she wanted to look not just pretty but beautiful in Rexel's
eyes. Tapos... tapos... may kasama siyang babae!pa daw!
Hindi niya namalayan na matagal na pala siya don. Time ticked by.
10 mins...
20 mins...
30 mins...
Malamig. Bat di ka pumasok sa loob?naramdaman niyang may naglagay ng coat sa likod
niya.
Rex---
Tumaas ang kilay nito.Sorry Dane. Ikaw pala. Buti naman nakarating ka?she tried to sm
ile. She always try to hide what she felt inside. And then she started laughing.
The way lunatic people do.
Ang tanga ko Dane... Ang tanga tanga ko.
Is there a problem?nag-aalalang mabilis na lumapit sa kanya ito at lumuhod sa harap
niya. Nagtatanong ang mga mata.
Dane... may tawag ka sa phone. Si Mitchie daw, may... sakit? Nasa ospital?
Pareho silang napatayo.Ospital?Surely---- Mitchie wouldnt do something....
Wag mo na kong samahan. Alam ko nasa isip mo. I have to deal with her. Babalik ak
o dito.
So harsh. What the hell.
Naiwan nito ang coat nito.
One hour. Two hours.Tititig na lang ba siya sa mga bituin? Kaya pala Dane found s
olace in it. She wanted to wish on a falling star. To take away whatever she was
feeling right now.Ironic, she was a falling star.Foolishness. Stupidity. Kaya pa
la tinawag na stupid love.Love?!.
11:30 PM
Bakit ka nag-iisa dyan?
Napalingon siya dito. Baka magkamali na naman siya ng akala. Ano pa bang dapat n
iyang sabihin? She only sighed. She stood up and tried to walk past him. She hel
d on to false hopes. Men were men.
But he grasped her other arm.
Im sorry...that was a bare whisper.
She laughed sardonically. And looked up right into the pool of his eyes. His sta
nce was more of .....devastated?... and edgy one.
What for?Word for the day: What for?
I--- I--- dont know.Sinuklay nito ang buhok na parang nahihirapan magpaliwanag.
Kung wala ka ng sasabihin,tinalikuran niya ito at tinanggal ang kamay.
F*ck!Reese... I dont know what to do with you anymore. With myself when Im with you.
That stopped her on her tracks.
What to do with me? Haha... Rex, no, no it'sLIAM, isn't it? Or should I sayKUYA LI
AM... I was your little sister right? Now that youre not bored anymore, you go fi
nd another piece you can play with. And here I am...Nadaaa..She said bitterly. Wal
a siyang karapatan!
You dont understand.
Alin Rex? Na wala akong dapat asahan sayo? Na habang pinapakitaan mo ko ng magand
a all along kasalanan ko na ako yung umasa?!Hindi niya nasabi iyon hindi ba? Hindi
niya pinagtapat dito kung anuman ang nararamdaman niya? Ang gaga niya kasi, sab
i nga hindi lahat ng pinapakitang kabutihan ng mga lalaki may meaning! Sa isang
katulad niyangNBSB. It was a big deal.
She closed her eyes. She felt him hugged her from behind.
Reese... Youll hate me. I know. Pero ayoko ding lokohin ang sarili ko at ikaw.May n
araramdaman ako sayo.Pero hindi ko alam kung totoo ito o hindi. Hindi mo ba alam
na nakikita ko siya sayo? When I met you that pain five years ago kept coming ba
ck, you two were so alike. It hurts.He was confused.
Siya?Ang babaeng nang-iwan ba dito?
Si .... cheryl ba yun?
Hinarap siya nito.No....
She felt numbed as she stared at those cold eyes. Do you know the feeling of bei
ng beaten down? When you don't know what to feel anymore? When you sensed thatthi
sis it? And then it was all ....gone? Your heart shattered to pieces.
She was....
someone, Reese.
She felt the world collapsed in on her. She had kept her heart hidden, intact be
cause she didn't want to be hurt. She wanted to play safe. She wanted that speci
al someone to treat her sooo...SPECIAL. AndLOVED. It's not everyday you give your
love away. And it's not every day youFALL. Yun ang kaibahan ng NBSB. Everything i
sconsequential. Everythingmustbe treasured. Kaya siguro mahirap silang maghanap ng
magmamahal sa kanila.
He kissed her forehead and turned... away.
She was staring at his back while he was making his way out of her life....
In her vision, little by little his back was getting blurry.
*raindrops*
*pouring rain*
Did the world cease from revolving? Had her heart stopped beating? Why didnt she
feel it? Why couldnt she hear it? She stood there as if she forgot to move. The r
ain was a good company for her misery. It concealed her tears as it came rushing
down. She hadnt sensed this to come to this, had she?
Ilang segundo, hindi, minuto o oras na ba siyang nakatayo?Hindi niya naramdaman
na hindi na siya nababasa. Pero umuulan pa rin.
Prinsesa...
It snapped something in her. Parang reflex action. Napayakap siya dito na ikinab
igla nito. Sabay sila halos nabagsak sa bermuda grass ng garden. Nalaglag ang pa
yong.
THIS IS LOVE. THIS IS HER STORY.
Dane.... masakit pala.Her first taste of heartache.
(Special) Chapter Nineteen:
The truth
Rexels Thoughts
Sabi nila when you walk away never look back. Para hindi na mas masakit para wal
a ka ng babalikan pa. Pero bakit tumigil pa rin siya at lumingon?Bakit kailangan pa
niyang makita si Reese sa ganong kalagayan?Gusto niyang tumakbo dito at yakapin i
to.
Pero kasama ng ulan umiiyak din ang puso niya. How was it possible?
Bakit basa ka? Kanina ka pa namin hinahanap ah?nag-aalalang hinarap siya ni Che.
Umuwi na tayo.Hindi na sila nagpaalam kay Ginger. Some looked annoyed because of th
e bad weather. But oh hell, he felt it was good. The weather. Mabilis silang nak
auwi sa bahay nila. Doon muna ito tutuloy. Didiretso siya sa condo niya mamaya.
Does she already know?
Shell hate me when she knows about everything.
Alam mo minsan naguguluhan ako. Why two people in love have to say goodbye? Why n
ot just compromise? Ang hirap namang ma-inlove.
He smiled weakly. Ginusot niya ang buhok nito. She was just that. His godsister.
Nothing more. Sinadya niyang isama ito sa party para malaman ni Reese.
He went to the kitchen counter to get a drink. He needed that. Baka mabaliw siya
, at least ang alak kahit onti mapapamanhid nito utak niya.
Kausapin mo na lang kaya siya. I can see that she loves you.She pouted.
Che mind your own business okay? You told me that you wanted to enjoy your vacati
on here. So what are your plans?sabi niya habang nagsasalin ng alak sa baso.
Well, I havePLANS. And I think....Im surely gonna enjoy this.Hindi niya napansin ang p
asimpleng pagngiti nito habang bumubuklat ng magazine.
Bakit ba kasi kailangan pa niyang sundin ang utos nila? Bakit pa kasi nauso pa a
ng word nautang na loob? dapat hindi na lang siya namakialam sa problema ni Reese a
t ng mga magulang nito. Darn.
Tumalikod na si Che. Sabay humarap ulit.Dont you think... its time you tell her the
truth? That her parents asked you to look after her? That they wanted her to hav
e an older brother...she laughed softly. He just waved his hand away. Masakit. Aya
w na niyang mag-isip.
Totoo bang hindi mo pa nakakalimutan si Sienna? O ginagawa mo lang yung excuse pa
ra hindi ka na masaktan ulit?she whispered.
Dammit Che! I was confused what do you want me to do? Tell her I love her when in
truth Im not sure if Im seeing her as her and not... not... not...napasabunot siya.
Not Sienna?....
Mabilis na tumalikod siya at nagtungo sa sasakyan, nagdrive sa kung saan man siy
a dadalhin.He hadnt planned to love again. Not sooner. Not after five years.She lef
t for good. It was all his fault. It was his mistake. Gusto niyang umiyak. Napas
untok siya sa manibela.
Sienna died because of me. And now.... Im falling for her sister?the rain didnt stop.
It only reminded him of Reeses face as he walked away.
---------
Danes thoughts
Dane... masakit pala.Her first taste of heartache.
Hindi niya alam kung yayakapin niya ito. All he knew was that his heart was brea
king. Rexel was a bastard to make her cry. He gave way because he wanted her to
be happy. Naramdaman niyang mainit na tubig na umaagos sa balikat niya. Hindi iy
on ulan. Basang basa na sila pero wala siyang pakialam. She needed him now. But
still it pained him to know that she was crying for another man.
Segundo. Minuto. Umuulan pero parang pati siya manhid na din. He wrapped his arm
s around her. Hot liquids ceased from running through his shoulders.
Reese?...he touched her shoulders. No sound or response.
Mabilis niya itong binuhat ng makitang namumutla ito at wala ng malay. Kinabahan
siya. He silently cursed. Hindi na siya nagpaalam kina Ginger, pinunta niya ito
sa dala niyang sasakyan at pinunta sa bahay nila. Buti na lang wala dun kuya ni
ya.
Reese...She was cold to the touch. Walang lagnat. Pero sino magpapalit ng damit nit
o?
Manang! Pakipalitan naman po ng damit yung kaibigan ko.Nagtataka man ang matandang
katulong ay kinuha niya ang boxers at maluwang na t-shirt ng amo.
He clenched his fist.He wanted to punch Rexels face. Anong karapatan niya para sakta
n si Reese? Natawa siya ng malakas. Mapakla.At siya ano bang karapatan niya?
1 AM
May sinat ito kaya pinunasan agad niya ang ulo at leeg nito ng bimpo. Pero maya
maya nawala naman agad. Napangiti siya. They were of the same type, she knew him
like nobody ever had. Even Mitchie. His dreams, hed shared it with her. Notwith hi
s girlfriend.
And now...he loves her. And it sucks for him to feel jealous. Rexel is a lucky ba
stard.
Pero hindi na siya papayag na masaktan ulit ito.Lalaban na siya.
6 AM
Why.... why...
Naalimpungatan siya sa paggalaw ni Reese. Nagsasalita ito habang natutulog.
Reese....niyugyog niya ng mahina ang balikat nito.
Rex...then she slowly opened her eyes.
Masakit malamang may mahal ng iba ang taong gusto mo. Pero masaklap kung nagkaro
on ng panahon sa buhay mo ng pagkakataong maging kayo pero nabaling sa iba ang a
tensyon niya... at huli na ng ma-realize mong ... Ang bagal niya kasi! Kasalanan
ba niya yun?
Im here.She looked disoriented at first then gasped and looked at the clothes she wo
re and the room she was in.
Bakit ako nandito? Dane ha! Anong ginawa mo sakin?siguro kung sa ibang pagkakataon
matatawa siya sa itsura nito. Pero hindi ngayon kung kailan halata sa muka nito
ang biglang alaala.
Napatayo ito.Valentines Day ngayon! Sh*t! Kasali ko sa organizers....mabilis pa sa
alas-kwatrong tumayo ito. Pero naalalang nakaboxers lang kaya pinulupot yung kum
ot sa katawan.
Ang O.A. mo naman. Naka-boxers ka hindi undies lang. ;DNakita niyang pinanlakihan s
iya nito ng mata. He was sure as hell that she was trying to act as if nothing h
appened.
Tatalikod na ito.Reese... hes not worth it.
Nakita niyang tumigil ito pero walang sinabi.
----------
Hinatid siya ni Dane sa bahay nila. She murmured her gratitude. Hindi niya kayan
g tignan ito sa mata.Gusto niyang isiping hindi totoong umiyak siya ng dahil lang
sa isang lalaki. Nasan na ba ang mga prinsipyot motto niya?
Nadaaa...as was Rex. She wished heartaches could just fade overnight but it didnt.
Her words backfired on her.She thought she wouldnt be stupid to fall head over he
els to a man who wouldnt feel the same way.Bakit ba kasi hindi nilagyan ni God ng
utak ang mga puso ng tao?Para naman nakakapag-isip din ito kung kailan magi-stop.
Stop from falling. And From falling apart.
Naiiyak na naman siya. Ironic, Hearts Day? But her heart was tearing into pieces
. Mabilis syang nagbihis at pumunta sa school.
Happy Valentines! Bakit tila ata pinagbagsakan ka na naman ng langit at lupa? Kun
g sabagay normal mo ng muka iyan...
Grrr...Ikaw na naman?tumaas ang kilay niya ng makita niya ito. May dala itong flowe
rs. Lalong tumaas ang kilay niya. Bouquet of red roses.
He mischievously smiled. Smells trouble.Just like Rexs grin. Oh Damn Reese stop wa
lking down the memory lane!
Hey Reese pinapupunta mo daw ako dito?nagulat siya kay Corrs. Pinapupunta?Nasa baba si
la ng stage. May program mamayang gabi. Pero sa ngayon marami ng booths ang naka
tayo.
Inagaw bigla ni Brent ang mic sa kanya at ... at ... lumuhod? Gees. Nakakahiya i
to!

Corrs, will you do me the honor of being my date? Will you give me your heart thi
s day of Valentines? Until you realize that Im the man wholl make you happy?everybod
y gasped. Naka-mic ito!
Corrs was shocked. Reese smiled sadly, wishful thinking that somehow... Hindi pa
nakaka-Oo si Corrs ng tumayo na agad si Kahambugan.
Silence means yes. Official yan ha, we have a date.He grinned and pulled Corrs hand
to take the bouquet.
"Teka nga----"
Hambog talaga!
Tumalikod siya. Gusto niyang maiyak.Bakit ba, eh ang bitter niya? Pumunta siya sa CR
. Nagulat siya ng sa paghakbang niya palabas.
Che...? Dane?
Hello Reese!nagulat siya ng biglang lumapit ito at nagbeso. Nakatingin lang si Dane
.
Im going to transfer here! Baka kasi mag-stay kami dito for good. Buti na lang may
kakilala pala ako dito. Nandito pala si Dane.Magkakilala sila???
Hindi ko ba nasabi sayo? Classmates kami ng 2nd year high school bago sila pumunt
ang ibang bansa.
Siguro sa sobrang pag-iisip hindi na niya napansin. Muka namang mabait itong si
Cheryl. She doesnt look like a predator. Unlike Mitchie... hmm...
So si Mitchie pa rin ba gusto mo?and straightforward too.
Ahhhmmm...napatingin siya kay Dane. Matagal bago nakasagot si Dane.
Cat got her tongue? Ano bang sasabihin niya? Ayaw niya makita si Cheryl? Pero wa
la itong kasalanan sa kanya. Hindi na sila ni Mitchie? TEKA! Bat wala itong sina
sabi sa kanya?
Mabuti na rin yun kung hindi na kayo. Mitchies a witch.She saw her smiled impishly.
Napangiti na rin siya, kahit papano muka namang magkakasundo sila.
Hey guys! Tomorrows a good day for a date!
A date?napatingin siya kay Kahambugan na hila hila si Corrs na hindi mo alam kung n
apilitan o ano.
Hay sana umulan bukas.
You wish.
Napatingin sa kanya si Dane. Ano kayang problema nito.
Sige sama kami ni Reese.
Pwede bang triple date? Sama din kami ni Rex----
She almost moaned aloud.Whatthe----
Chapter Twenty:
Triple Date!
Bakit kung kailan kelangan mong magkasakit saka hindi nangyayari? At kung kailan
kailangan mo ng excuse para hindi ka makarating wala ka namang maibigay? She si
ghed. Gusto na niyang magback out. Pero kung gagawin niya yun, para na rin niyan
g inamin kay Rexel na bitter siya. She doesnt want to give him the satisfaction o
f letting him know how deeply hed caused her pain.
6 PM after class
Umuwi muna siya sa bahay at diretso nagbihis hihintayin niya na lang si Dane dit
o. Parang fifteen minutes na pero wala pa rin ito?Baka nakalimutan? Sabi nito at n
i Brent sila ng bahala sa pupuntahan.
BEEP! BEEP!
She sighed. So her prayers werent answered, eh? Binuksan niya ang pinto bago pa m
an ito kumatok.
Dane... bakit ba late ka---Ahmm. Should she cry? Just by seeing him rips her heart
out.
He cleared his throat.Good Evening. Somebody called Che, Brent something? I dont kn
ow. But Che wanted to fetch you here. I guess Im not aware of this..Rexel was reluc
tant. Parang napilitan lang ito.
Tumingin siya sa labas at nag-wave sa kanya si Che mula sa nakabukas na bintana
ng passenger seat. She wanted to groan and stomped her foot.She wanted to shout a
t him.And best of all, shed rather run than to be with the man whos breaking her he
art now.
Halika na. Late na eh.Tumingin ito sa relo at parang inip na inip. Bakit ang laki n
g pinagbago nito? bakit ayaw siya nitong tignan?
Pinagbukas siya nito ng pinto pero hindi kung saan siya laging nakaupo. Napalitan
na ang puwesto niyang iyon sa passengers seat.Si Cheryl na.
Hello Reese! Tumawag kasi sakin yung guy na mahangin? Brent daw, eh sa kanya tuma
wag si Dane sunduin ka daw. Eh sabi nung Brent ako na lang kasi magpapagwapo pa
daw siya...she smiled cheerfully while her heart was breaking in two.
Nagkatinginan sila ni Rexel sa rearview mirror. Drat. Was she going to cry? No,
for dignitys sake. Gusto niya itong sampalin. She doesnt love him. She hated him f
or making her feel this way.
Umiwas siya ng tingin.
Okay lang...Ano pa bang dapat sabihin?
Liam doesnt know any thing about this. He was just coerced. But he was a real gent
leman.
So napilitan lang siLIAM? Ganon?...she smirked.
Kayo na ba ni Dane?

That caught her off guard. And she saw Rex looked at the mirror again glancing a
t her with that curious frown.Is he... somehow interested?Gusto niyang sabihing OO
... para lang malaman ang magiging reaction nito.Pero imposible.Nung isang araw la
ng nangyari...
Yung... yung...
Reese... hey.
Ha?bakit ba kasi kung san san lumulutang isip niya.
Dane is.... a friend.
Tumaas ang kilay nito.Friend nga lang ba?
Che... stop being nosy. Its her life.Naiiritang sabi ni Rexel.Paki ba nito?she now hat
him.
Truthfully? He is a special friend.Gusto niyang iparanas dito kahit onti ng sakit n
a naramdaman niya.Pano?She didnt know what came over her it just came out.Than any man
Ive ever met.And she looked straight at the rearview mirror.
Matagal silang nagtitigan. Gusto niyang magtanong dito ng lahat lahat.
Ipinikit niya ang mata niya.
Reese... wake up. Reese... Were here!
Hmmm? San na tayo?
Lets have some fun! Tutal namis ko to!napatingin siya sa muka ni Che, katabi nitong
nakapamulsa si Rexel. Umiwas ito ng tingin.
EK???napatingin siya. Wow. Masaya sana kaso .... pambata nga pero. Hay.
Guys! Labas na, ano ba!Napatingin siya kay Brent na hila hila ang kamay ni Corrs.
Kasalanan mo to eh! Sa lahat ng pupuntahan enchanted pa. Bata??
Nandito ka na ngayon ka pa nagreklamo!Binelatan ni Corrs ito.
Nasan na si Dane?
Nasiraan. On the way na yun. Teka nga Ms. Roxas, okay ka lang ba?nag-aalalang tinig
nan siya nito. She tried to smile.
Payment. Entrance. Ride-all-you-can.
Woooh! I like that... Yung merry go round. Dun tayo.Masayang hinila ni Che yung kama
y ni Rexel. Natawa ito sa nakitang muka ng babae. She doesnt want to look at them
. But she cant take her eyes away from the simple touch and smiles exchanged betw
een the two of them.
Ilang beses bang dapatmagasgasang word na yun sa kanya?
Napalingon siya sa dalawa. Teka nga----- Nasan na si Kahambugan at Corrs?Ayos ah
! Nag-disappearing act! Ayos din si Corrs, yun ba ang napilitan?
Tahimik lang siya. Si Che lang halos ang gumagawa ng conversation. Tango at Oo l
ang sila ni Rexel.
Che hintay ko na lang kaya si Dane....
Watch out!mabilis siyang hinila ni Rexel sa bewang na ikinabigla niya. Napayakap si
ya dito. Hindi niya napansin ang isang batang nagi-skateboard papunta sa likod n
iya.
She looked up at him.Deja vu?He was holding her waist like this when he roughly pu
lled him before. When he... when he... kissed her.Past tense. Time stood still. Wa
s it possible? She still wanted answers. There's noCLOSURE.
Reese sorry Im late.Mabilis pa sa alas-kwatrong naghiwalay sila. Napatingin siya kay
Dane. At kay Che, nakakahiya... pero parang wala naman dito.Ano bang meron sa da
lawang ito?
Muka namang okay lang sayo eh...
Para kang sira. Halika na!ngumiti siya dito pero halatang nagdududa ito sa kanya at
kay Rexel. Hinila nito ang kamay niya. Yung holding hands ng magboyfriend? Gano
n.
Dane... teka nga...pinilit niyang tanggalin ang kamay niya dito ng makitang biglang
nagsalubong ang kilay ni Rexel.
Maghiwalay na lang kaya tayo. Tutal naman sina Brent nakita ko kanina nandun papa
sok sa Realto.
Mamamanyakin lang nun si Corrs. Realto daw.. eh madilim dun. Bat mo pinayagan?bulon
g niya kay Dane.
Kayong bahala? Pero kasi...
NO!nagkatinginan silang lahat kay Rexel.
Pare... mabuti na yung magkahiwa hiwalay na lang tayo. Date to diba? Pano maienjoy
ni Cheryl kung kasama pa kami?halatang inis si Dane.
Bahala kayo. Anyway the hell I care.Hes getting rude. Halatang parang napipikon na rin
si Dane. Napahawak siya sa kamay nito.
Ui mag-space shuttle na lang tayo.Pinilit niyang hilahin ang kamay ni Dane papunta
doon. Naiirita lang siya kay Rexel. Kung ano man ang problema nito sa mundo wag
na sana silang idamay!
Sige... diba Liam yun ang gusto mo?nakangiti si Che. Ngumiti ito at nagpahila na di
n. Pumila sila. Medyo mahaba na kahit gabi.
Teka lang... nawawala yung cellphone ko!kinapa kapa nito ang bulsa. Nakaupo na siya
sa seat, napatingin sa kanila ang lalaki naghihintay ng pag-upo nila.
Mauna na kayo... sige, samahan mo ko!bigla nitong hinila ng mabilis si....

Dane?!
Teka Che---sabay silang napatingin ni Rexel. She heard him curse.
Mam, sir ano po ba? Hindi po pwedeng kayo ang hintayin.
Halatang napilitang napaupo sa tabi niya ito.Bakit si Dane at hindi ito? Ah... ba
ka sa kalituhan kaya ganon.Halatang nagulat si Dane at hindi na nakaangal.
Pahila na ng pahila paakyat. Parang naiiwan ang puso niya sa ibaba kadahigit pai
taas ng space shuttle. In just minutes.... nanlalamig na kamay niya. Bakit kasi
dito pa niya naisipan eh!
Are you okay?
Ha?hindi niya ganong marinig dahil mahangin na sa part na iyon. She felt his breath
on her cheeks.
I said Are you okay?!
Napatingin siya dito, at nakatingin din ito. She almost forgot that they were on
a roller coaster ride. It was like he was the same Rex shed met a month ago.
Wooooooooooooooooossssssshhhhh
Waaahhhhhhh!
Up and down, round and round. She felt the intense feeling of exhilaration. She
felt a hand. Napahigpit ang kapit niya doon.
The roller coaster ride was likeLOVE, it was nerve-wrecking, exhilarating. Youll n
ever know when to turn to. Parang naiiwan ang puso niya.
I wish I hadnt known him, para hindi ko na lang naramdaman to. Para hindi na lang
ako nasasaktan. Sana hindi niya na lang hinayaan na maramdaman ko to. Kasalanan
ko ba?
Pumikit siya ng mariin kasabay ng bilis ng roller coaster ay ang pagpipigil niya
ng pag-agos ng luha niya. Mabuti na lang hindi. Kahit ngayon lang wag. Sino bang
makakaalam?
Chapter Twenty One:
Catch Me... Im fallin
Saktong tumigil ang 37 second ride ng space shuttle. Kung ganon kabilis ma-fall
ang isang tao, aba... kaya pala madaming nag-susuicide. Because its effect doesnt
wear easily.
Okay ka lang?inalis nito yung nakaharang na buhok na nagusot sa buhok niya at sabay
tumawa.
Para kang nagahasa oh.Hindi siya makasagot hilo pa rin siya. Mabilis siyang tumayo.
Pinapakitaan na naman siya nito ng maganda! Pa-fall talaga!
Isa isa ng mga nagsitayuan ang mga tao. Muntik na siyang matumba kasi hindi pa r
in balance yung paglalakad. May brasong sumalo sa kanya.
Easy....
Okay na ko. Wag mo na kong hawakan.
Ang tigas talaga ng ulo mo.
Sabi ko okay na nga ako. Ano ba...napalakas ang boses niya na ikinatingin ng ibang
tao sa kanila.
Ano yan...?napatingin ito sa pisngi niya.Great.She forgot.
Wala...iniiwas niya ang muka nito pero pinilit nitong iharap sa kanya.
Anong wala wag mo sabihing laway to, hindi ako maniniwala!
Anong gusto nitong sabihin?Rexel I cried for you? For pitys sake!Pinakakinaayawan
ng taong brokenhearted ay yung kinaawaan siya ng taong nanakit sa kanya.
Guys! Oh... nagspace shuttle pala kayo?
Obvious ba?sabay silang napasigaw dito.
Kelangan ba talagang nakaholding hands talaga?napanguso si Corrs sa kamay nilang da
lawa. Napatingin sila doon sabay biglang bitaw.
Corrs, tara space shuttle tayo. Tapos hawakan ko din kamay mo!nakangising sabi nit
o.
Oh... tumigil ka nga. Nakakarami ka na sakin ha. Nasaan nga pala sina...parang nag
tatakang tanong nito. Mas may halong nagdududa.
Hindi sila makasagot.Nawawala yung cellphone ni Che, di niyo ba sila nakita?
Kung nakita namin sila eh di sana di na kami nagtanong diba?
Siniko ni Corrs is Kahambugan.Ano ka ba... hindi pa nga tayo nang-aunder ka na.
Ui guys! Were here! Picture picture tayo.
Che! Dane! San ba kayo galing? Nahanap mo na ba cellphone mo?
Buti na lang mabait itong si Dane eh... hinanap namin pero wala. Hayaan mo na.Ngumi
ti ito at naglabas ng digicam. Halata namang parang naguguluhan si Dane.
Sana kasi ako na lang sinama mo.
Okay na yun. Sige na pose na... ano ba.... Kuya! Kuya... can you take us a pictur
e please?bigla na lang itong nanghila.
Si Corrs sa left side akbay akbay ni Brent. Habang pumuwesto sa gitna si Cheryl
katabi si Rexel tapos si Dane at siya ay nandun sa far side sa right.
Teka nga... mali eh, ang pangit naman kung magkatabi si Liam at si Dane, halika d
ito ka sa gitna nila Reese.
She almost groaned. Well, almost. Was she kidding? Manhid ba ito? O nananadya la
ng?
Para silang tuod ni Rexel. Napapagitnaan siya ng dalawang lalaking naging espesy
al na sa kanya.
O ganto naman ha... hawak hawak ng bewang. Spread your arms guys...
Kelangan pa ba yun?sabay silang nagsalita ni Rexel.
Oo nga, ano bang kalokohan to?inis na sabi ni Dane habang halatang nilalayo siya ng
onti kay Rexel. Tinitigan ito ng masama ng huli.
10 PM Bar and Restaurant
Kain muna tayo. Tapos sa taas magdisco tayo ha.Nakangising sabi ni Che.
Ay hindi na ko pwedeng mag-disco kelangan ko ng umuwi.
Uwi na kayo? Pero...maiiwan sila ni Che, Rexel at Dane?
Basta uwi na tayo.
Opo madam. Sorry gusto ng umuwi ni kumander eh... Ms. Roxas mag-ingat ka ha.Ngumisi
ito sa kanya habang pumunta na itong dalawa sa parking lot.
Oh, kumander akinang susi ko.
Hinalungkat ni Corrs yung bag niya ng malaglag----
Reese, diba ... yan yung controversial na panyong hinahanap mo sakin non? Blue and
white na stripes?
It was in that instant that both Rexel and she stared at the hanky. Then at each
other.
Iyo ba to?pinagpag ni Corrs at hinawak sa ere. Walang nagsasalita sa kanilang dalaw
a. Kanino ba talaga yun?Sa kanya dahil binigay na ni Rexel? O kay Rexel pa rin?
Itapon niyo na lang yan.Kinuha ni Dane at sabay..... itata----
Wag!napatingin siya dito.Bakit mo itatapon yan eh kay Reese yan! Hindi naman iyo yan.Ma
bilis pa sa alaskwatrong kinuha nito ang panyo at pabarag na inilagay sa kamay n
iya. At talikod.
Kumuha na sila ng upuan. This was a classy restaurant. May music. The ambiance w
as soothing. There was a dancing hall in the middle. Just great. She sighed.
Tahimik na kumain silang apat.Awkward. How to act? She didnt know how. Only Che ma
de everything less devastating. She was silent. Tumayo si Dane at hinawakan ang
kamay niya.
Shall we dance prinsesa?hindi niya nakitang tumaas ang kilay ni Rexel don.
I dont know how to dance...she whispered. He just smiled and led her to the dance fl
oor.
She saw Rexel also made his way with Cheryl. Why does she have to see that? Hind
i siya! Wala siyang pakialam!
And the song started to play.PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH MY HEART.
Hindi niya alam kung bakit pero parang nananadya ang pagkakataon. Nakaharap siya
kay Rexel habang nakatingin naman ito sa kanya habang nagsasayaw ito at si Cher
yl. Had she mistaken all the signs? Had she mistaken his actions?Maybe she was nai
ve not knowing whatLOVEreally is.
Prinsesa...naramdaman niyang hinigpitan ni Dane ang hawak sa kanya. Pero hindi niya
yun ganong napansin. Ang kamalayan niya nasa lalaking kaharap niya ngayon. Gust
o na naman niyang umiyak.Lecheng mga lalaki yan!Isinandal niya ang ulo sa balikat
nito.
I love you...she heard Dane muttered something but couldnt quite grasp the words.
Can I have this dance with her?
Nanlalaki ang mga mata niya. Napakapit siya sa braso ni Dane silently sending a
warning message.Nooo... I dont know what Im going to do if ... if...
Just ... just... be careful.Napipilitang kumalas sa kanya si Dane. Pero pinanlakiha
n nya ito ng mata pero hindi pa rin umubra. Nagtitigan muna ito at si Rexel. Wha
ts with men? Nakita niyang si Cheryl naman ang kasayaw ni Dane.
Rexel snaked his arms around her. Just like the way he always did. And they slow
ly followed the rythm. Her heart was beating faster than the normal pace. She co
uldnt seem to look into his eyes.INSANE. Next song.
Catch Me Im Fallin
I dont know why but when I look in your eyes
I feel something that seems so right
Youve got yours Ive got mine
I think Im loosing my mind
Coz I shouldnt feel this way
Catch me Im falling for you
And I dont know what to do
Bakit ba hindi na lang pwedeng hindi na lang masaktan? Gusto na naman niyang umi
yak. She didnt want to fall in love and be hurt like this.Why do they have to play
that stupid song?
How can something so wrong?
Feel so right all along
Catch me Im falling for you
She wont cry. Pilit niyang tinitingala sa ceiling ang mga mata para hindi tumulo
ang luha niya. Mahigpit siya nitong niyakap. Ang hirap palang magpigil ng luha.
Masakit sa dibdib.She cant breathe.
How can time be so wrong
for love to come along?
Catch me Im falling for you
Why does time always have to intervene with things?he laughed softly.
How can love let it go
When it has no place to go
And I cant go along pretending
That love isnt here to stay
Catch me Im falling for you ooh ooh
Bakit nga bamahirap magpretend na hindi ka nasasaktan?Her voice croaked.
If I could just walk away
Without you from day to day
I would die just thinking of you
I know we cant therefore be more than friends you and me
But why do I feel this way
Maybe its hard to stay away from someone even if it hurts to see her everyday. To
think about her. And then you know you cant be together.
Catch me Im falling for you
And I dont know what to do
Eh bakit nga ba Rex? Ano bang problema? Bakit mo ba ko pinapahirapan?
How can something so wrong?
Feel so right all along
Catch me Im falling for you
How can time be so wrong
For love to come along?
She bit her lower lip from crying out. After this day she wont cry anymore. This
would be the last. Shell let it go. Without answers to her questions. Matatahimik
kaya siya?
Catch me Im falling you
Maybe someday Ill see why love did this to me
Coz I cant go along pretending
That love isnt here to stay
Catch me Im falling for you
Catch me Im falling for you
Maybe someday when she looks back, shell laugh about this whole mess shes in. Who
would catch a falling star? Why is that when youre ready to fall theres nobody the
re to catch you?
And its wrong for me to feel this way
Coz I dont know what to do without you
Im falling for you
Catch me Im falling for you
Its wrong for me to feel this way Reese Im sorry.
And then he started to bend his head towards hers. He kissed her softly. Her tea
rs were silently streaming down her face as she tightly closed her eyes.
Chapter Twenty Two:
Moving On...
After that day. She doesnt want to see him. So she went to a bookstore to buy a b
ook. Shed surfed every techniques in the computers that will help her to forget.
Haha. How absurd. Being in love is...
She would be too busy thinking about someone like him. Someone not worth crying
for. She hated men!Feminist na ulit siya ngayon!
Nang gabing iyon buti na lang medyo dim ang lights ng dance floor. Dane hadnt sai
d anything if he ever sensed something that went beyond her usual stance.
Oh Reese, nandyan ka pala... Ive been looking for you.Napalingon siya kay Cheryl. Sh
e silently prayed that she would go away. It looks like her prayers werent answer
ed.
Vacant ko naman eh...sabi niya habang pinag-aaralan yung business math niya.
Nag-lunch ka na ba? Tara kain muna tayo.
Ay... ahmm... sige ikaw na lang muna. Im not hungry.Her stomach growled.Great.
Hindi ka pala gutom ng lagay na yan. Dont worry nagpadala naman ako dito ng makaka
in eh! Ako pa!she really looked friendly. If the circumstances were different, the
y could have been close friends.
She thumbed through her books while Cheryl was humming a song.
Yipeee... nandito na yung lunch natin!she looked up.
Oh.... Damn!She wanted to run.Sabihin mo sakin Lord, pano ko magmumove on kung lag
ing panadya si Inang destiny?She bit her lower lip.Pano? Pano, eh lagi ko siyang n
akikita?
Hey Che youre a big nuisance, dont you kn----
She tried to look anywhere but him.Why didnt he just look haggard? Not 5 feet and
10 inches, not a devil-may-care debonaire? Not as handsome as he is right nowDarn
.
Sa totoo lang, hindi na talaga ko nagugutom Che... saka kasi...bago siya makatayo h
inila siya nito at pinilit ipaupo.
I gotta go Che I just brought this because Manang asked me to. You know how the o
ld lady adores you.Pero pati ito hinila ni Che. Ano ba!
Umupo ka... sabi mo sabay tayong kakain diba? You promised me,nakita niyang nagpout
ito kay Rexel, bakit ba kasi dito pa nagtransfer ito? She cant help but sigh.
Hello....
Dane?Bakit pati ito nandito? Is this some kind of a loony joke?!
Dane! Youre here... I called him. Marami naman to eh...ngumiti ito sa kanilang tatlo
habang halatang hindi nila alam ang gagawin.
Uuwi na ko...nakita niyang tumayo si Rexel pero pinigilan ulit ito ni Che at nag-po
ut. Hindi ito matiis ng huli. THAT thinking puts a void deep in her heart.
They ate in silence.Hanggang kailan ba sila ganto?She cursed silently. She bit her
lower lip. Paikot yung table kaya magkakaharapan sila. Magkatabi si Rexel at si
Che. Ganun din sila ni Dane. Katapat niya si Rexel.
Who cooked this Che? Masarap.Che beamed at Dane.
Here Reese... taste this... Dane isubo mo naman kay Reese to oh.
Ano daw?!
Iiling pa lang siya at magsasalita.Wag na...
Ah....He smiled at her and make a big O. It should have melted her like the way it
did to her. What did she feel now?.
Dane wag na kasi...pero nakatingin ng matiim sa kanila si Rexel. She heard him curs
ed silently. Or was it her imagination?
Here...binuka niya ng onti yung bibig niya at hinayaan ito. Tapos pinunasan nito ng
kamay nito yung gilid ng bibig niya.. She gasped. Nakakahiya!
Pinapayagan ba ang mga batang magdate dito Che?Rexels jaw was slack.
Tayo din naman dati ah?
Abat!Napatingin siya dito. Napairap siya.Nakita niyang napatingin si Dane sa mga high
school na magkaholding hands. May highschool department kasi sa likod ng buildin
g nila kay iyon siguro ang inakala ni Dane. Pero iba sa pandinig niya.
Can OLD people only date Dane?hinarap niya ito at ngumiti ng ubod tamis.
Hindi naman....napataas ang kilay nito.
At least we know our LIMITATIONS way back Che. Masyado pa silang bata 17?
Napataas kilay niya.Is he speaking of her?Rexel... may mga isip yan no.
You know what Dane? I hate people who are treating others as if they dont know how
to act or think. I hatemen.
Natawa si Dane.Can someone dominate you?at kumagat sa sandwich.
Women sometimes have to SUCCUMB to men.
Totoo din. Para maayos ang relationship.Aba at sumang-ayon pa si Dane!
And then what? Men will have the upperhand to break womens hearts?napaharap siya kay
Rexel sa gigil. They looked into each others eyes. At ang mga sunod nitong sina
bi ang nakapagpainit lalo ng ulo niya.
Women always use their emotions to trap men.
At least women are honest of what they feel.Galit na kinuha niya ang bag at tumalik
od na.
Hindi niya nakitang susundan sana siya ni Rexel but Dane waylaid him.
Rexel back off.
Reese! Wait for me...pinilit nitong hawakan ang kamay niya. Pero pinalis niya iyon.
Galit siya!Wala na siyang pakialam!
Ano ba Dane!para namang nabigla siya sa nakitang anyo nito.
Sorry...hindi niya ito dapat dinadamay sa problema niya kay Rex. Well, siya lang an
g namomroblema dito!Nyeta! Bakit ba ganon?
Magkita tayo mamayang uwian ha?tumango na lang siya. Wala sa loob na pumasok siya s
a room nila.
30 minutes. One hour. Ang tagal lumakad ng oras. Gusto na niyang umuwi. Wala nam
an ng pumapasok sa isip niya na tinuturo ng prof nila. Proven and tested: Kapag
in love mahirap magconcentrate sa pag-aaral.SIGH.
Dismissal.
Biglang may tumapik sa likod niya.
Ikaw ha... may hindi ka sinasabi samin.Tinitigan niya ng masama.
Ano bang sinasabi mo?
Brent! Halika nga dito....biglang hinila ito ni Corrs sa gilid at nagbulungan. Ano
bang problema nilang dalawa?
Teka nga... dont you know that its rude to talk behind my back?
Ahhh... wala, wala...ngumisi si Corrs at hinila siya palabas ng room.
Tahimik silang lumabas. Mga around 6 PM na yun kaya medyo madilim na. Dumaan sil
a malapit sa stage palabas ng gate. Maraming naglalabasan. Biglang bumukas lahat
ng ilaw doon.
And then... and then....he was there. Standing in the middle. With bouquet of ros
es. And he held a MICROPHONE.
I was never easy with words before. I didnt know I could even do this in front of
a hundred or thousands of students in front of me. But I think it was never too
late. I couldnt just let things pass me by, could I?
Everybody cheered. And nodded as if they knew what he was talking about.
I wasnt aware before how this girl turned my heart mushy. I didnt even realize that
I was falling head fast into something I shouldnt have been feeling for a friend
. Well, we never accepted that we were friends before, only partners. I called h
er Prinsesa because the first time we met. She wanted to have this book. But she
had no qualms to beg for it. She wanted me to succumb to her whims and caprices
. However, it was the other way around she became my shock absorber instead.
Im not rushing you into anything Prinsesa.. I just want to tell you how.... Ive gro
wn...
To love you...
She sucked in her breath. What was she supposed to do? This was a revelation! Sh
e didnt know what to do as Dane kept coming closer. May mgaOooohh...atAaaahhhh...sa pa
gid nila. This was what she wanted all along, did she? She felt numb.
He was now standing in front of her. Corrs nudged her forward. She couldnt take i
t in. Hindi niya kaya.
Kiss! Kiss!
God... this was... insane.She was fresh from a heartbreak. Nalilito siya. Si Dane
.. si Dane na gusto niya una pa man. Pero... pero...
Bigla siya nitong niyakap. She just lay there motionless. Saying nothing. Not ev
en moving. What could she say? What could she do? Before, her life was just simp
le. Nahihirapan na siyang magtiwala. Pano kung aasa lang din siya? Tapos... tapo
s...
Dane... Im...She whispered. Which could have been better:To accept him now? or to mov
e on first?She wanted to run. To hide.
Sana una pa lang sinabi mo na sakin... para hindi na ko nainlove kay Rexel... ku
ng alam ko lang... sana ikaw na lang... sana hindi ko hinihiling ngayon na ikaw
ay siya?
Chapter Twenty Three:
Sick at Heart
Rexels thoughts
Liam...he doesnt care, does he?He clenched his fist tight. And closed his eyes.
I think youre right. Let it be, magiging masaya si Reese kay Dane. Look at the two
of them. Dane was a romantic.Ngumiti si Che na parang walang pakialam sa nararamd
aman niya.Is she goading me?
Lets go home.He wanted to pound something. Well, he should let her with Dane. Thats w
hat he'd planned all along. Tinawagan siya ni Cheryl para sunduin daw ito.Great.
Are you going to stand there and just look at the two of them?
What do you want me to do? Maglakad sa gitna ng mga tao habang parang nanunuod si
la ng pelikula? Ano ko? Yung kontrabida! Anong sasabihin ko kay Reese?Reese pano n
aman ako!Shell hate me if she found out the truth. Its better this way.
Alam mo Liam, di ko alam kung martir ka o tanga ka.Che sighed. Danes making his move
.Its time she make hers.
Lalaki siya, hindi madaling kainin ng pride niya ang mga sinabi niya. He promise
d not to fall in love with anybody especially with Siennas sister. Kinakain siya
ng selos. Kanina pa lang habang naglalunch sila. Tama bang magsubuan! Gusto niya
ng ipakain sa mga ito pati yung tupperware. Dangerous thoughts...
His heart tearing into two.Im happy for both of them. I know that Reese likes Dane
ever since.It came out like a hiss.Liar!
Iba ang like sa love, kung sabagay sino bang niloloko mo?
Danes thoughts
Dane... Im... Sorry.
Sorry?.. he knew...
Bakit ba masakit marinig ang sorry?What does it truly entail? What does it really
mean? Sorry kasi hindi pa ito handa? O sorry kasi hindi nitong kayang suklian an
g nararamdaman niya? O sorry kasi sana ibang tao na lang ang nagsasabing ng mga
katagang sinabi niya kanina?
He doesnt want to be on the rebound. But if its the only way to make Reese forget,
he would do it. Even if... even if it hurts like hell.
Sino bang nagsabing babae lang lagi ang nagiging biktima?Hindi porket hindi sila
umiiyak hindi na sila nasasaktan.
Ill take you home?he murmured. She let him hugged her. Yes. But she didnt return it u
nlike before.Nakuha na ba talaga ni Rexel ng buo ang puso mo?
She just nodded. She went limp in his arms. Unti unting nagaalisan ang mga tao.
Then she started. Again. Silently.
Whatthe----is his proposal a mistake?
Brent wala ka bang panyo dyan?nandun pa pala sila Corrs.Sh*t!Just what he needed.
Kinuha ni Brent ang bag ni Reese. At nakita niyang inilabas nito yung panyong bl
ue and white na stripes. It looks familiar to him.
This...Inabot iyon ni Corrs kay Reese at tahimik naman nitong kinuha iyon. And then
her eyes grew wide.
-------------
She wanted to laugh while crying. Shes getting too emotional this days. How ironi
c, the hanky of the man who made her cry was the same hanky she was going to use
to wipe her tears dry.
Dane... Im not yet ready for anything. Were still friends, arent we?Tumingin siya dit
o. Pero hindi niya matanggap ang bouquet of flowers feeling niya kasi pagtinangg
ap niya iyon it meant something.
Bravo! Bravo! What a touching scene. I want to wish you both a congratulations. B
ut I wont.They all looked.
Mitchie.
Pagkatapos ng lahat. Ikaw pa rin pala... no wonder... Dane broke up with me. Hes b
ored. And youre always there, not like me. Youre innocent. Ano bang nagustuhan niy
a sayo?
Mitchie no... Wala siyang kinalaman sating dalawa.
Halatang galit na din si Corrs.Pero nahawakan ito ni Brent at umiling parang sinasa
bing wag mamakialam.
Okay. Tutal ayoko na din naman kay Dane. Hindi ko kasi kayang makipagsabayan sa h
inaing niya sa buhay unlike you.. youre always there for him. Friend daw. What a
strategy. Ang galing mo rin no, sa katulad mong hindi pa nagkakaboyfriend. Simpl
eng malandi!
Gusto niya itong lapitan at sampalin.
Mitchie you have no right to tell her that! It was our decision. Not hers!
Ano bang problema mo? ikaw na rin naman nagsabi na ayaw mo na kay Dane? Anong pin
agsisintir mo!sumigaw si Corrs.
Corrs.. wag na.Pinigil niya ito.
Bakit hindi ba totoo naman malandi yang kaibigan mo? simpleng malandi kamo! May l
alaki siyang kasama nung New Years Eve Party. Tapos ngayon si Dane? I knew it all
along.... You flirt!
Hindi na niyang napigilang hindi ito lapitan at...!
You have no right to tell me that! Hindi mo ko kilala.She was surely shocked. Tatal
ikod na siya ng sabunutan siya nito. She gasped in astonishment. She never had a
fistfight before especially over a guy. Masyadong nasobrahan ng batak sa buhok
niya sa likod ito feeling niya matatanggal ang anit niya.
Mitchie stop it!hinawakan agad ito ni Brent at ni Dane. Nakatulala lang siya dito.
Magsama kayo! Youll regret this Dane! I promise you... I dont think she can love yo
u...
Ayaw mo na kay Dane diba? Bakit mo ginaganyan si Reese?! Wag kang bitter Mitchie!
Corrs ano ba... wag ka ng makisali sa kanila.Bulong ni Brent na hinawakan braso nit
o.
At ikaw? Akala mo ba ha, pinagpustahan ka lang nila! Nakipag-date sayo si Brent d
ahil sa pustahan!halatang nabigla si Corrs pero taas noo pa rin.
So? At least hindi ako naghahabol sa lalaki! Bitiwan mo nga ako.She shook away Bren
ts hand.
Corrs makinig ka samin. Wag mo siyang pakinggan!sabi niya na kinakabahan sa magigin
g result. Baka mag-away ito at si Brent. Masasayang ang nabuong relationship nit
o, ayaw niyang matulad pa ang mga ito sa kanila ni Rexel.
Mitchie stop this!
Stop Dane? Or else---- or el....she started to breathe in and out rapidly.Whats happ
ening?She looked ready to faint now. They were shocked. Is this true?
Napatakbo si Dane papunta dito. Binuhat.
Brent me kotse kang dala diba! Halika na!
Mabilis silang pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan nito habang buhat buhat ni Dane ang h
alos wala ng malay na si Mitchie.
Brent bilisan mo ano ba!
Teka! Natataranta ko sayo eh...
Nakatingin silang lahat habang nilabas ni Dane sa labas ng bag ni Mitchie ang in
haler nito pero parang hindi pa rin iyon sapat. This is not a joke anymore. Mabi
lis silang nakarating sa pinakamalapit na ospital.
Isnt this all an act?Corrs hissed.
Palakad lakad si Dane sa hallway habang pinasok ng mga nurses at doktor si Mitch
ie sa loob ng isang room.
Ano ba kasing problema? I mean ano ba talagang sakit niya? Sabi niyo dati sakin i
t was just Asthma but I think it was more serious than that.Nag-alalang sabi niya.
Kahit naman naiinis siya sa babae, she doesnt wish her ill. Sana natapilok na la
ng itot pinagtawanan but not like this.
They all stared expectantly at Dane while he sighed.
Shes sick. Her heart isnt healthy, theres a clog in it. Only meds can sustain energy
, without it shell surely... she cant be too depressed or upset. Her heart is too
weak. As it was combined with Asthma that makes it terrible.
It dawned in on her. She suddenly remembered Dane's words about circumstances wh
en they were watching My Bestfriend's Wedding.Is it about... about Mitchie's illn
ess? Kaya ba.. kaya ba... dati? dati... laging problemado si Dane?
Medyo maikli ito kasi dapat kasama to sa Chapter 22.
@palmahall.up:Demanding si Corrs!
@nielle_11:Hindi ah, di ko inulit grabe baka naman yung kinain ko ng 3 days ay ma
ilabas ko... haha.
Ui ayoko dun.Nung tinry ko yun.. pinagtripan ako ng mga friends ko kasi gusto ko n
a bumabatapos vinideohan nila ko.. makakaangal ba ko eh kapit na kapit ako. ayoko
talaga don promise...
Sabi ko na nga ba eh! haha.. ganon daw mga aries, selosa. BEWARE. haha
@missSHAKEspeare012:Ria! Namiss kita infernes!
Ipopost ko na sana to tapos nagcomment ka ayan..
Ui grabe.. di nga? weh? ... hala. Alam mo siguro kung sakin nangyari yan... hay
ewan kasi di ako showy ng feeling eh. One time, nung nagpromise si guy friend na
pupunta dito kasi me pinapagawa ako tapos hindi ang tagal niya. I thought for o
ne minute na... Hell! I won't ever ask for a favor. Ganyan tayo kasensitive na m
ga babae. Grabe... Nabigla ako sa kinwento mo...
Okay lang yun! natats naman ako kahit sira laptop mo nakasingit ka dito! sana ma
gawa na para makapagupdate ka na din...
Twenty Four:
His Ex, Her sister
Nakakastress... at least three days na siyang nanahimik. She sighed. No Dane. Th
ough she missed her partner. No Mitchie. And no.... Rexel.I shouldnt be thinking o
f him lest miss him!
Binuksan niya yung locker niya.
Ano hindi ka pa ba kakain?
Mauna na kayo ni Brent... ikaw ha? Baka naglilihim na kayo sakin... kayo na ba?
Tumawa ito.As long as a guy cant accept that hes in love with a woman. Walang mangya
yari.At tumalikod ito. Nagiging mabagal ba pick up niya ngayon?O mabagal lang talaga
si Kahambugan?Whatever.. problema na nila yun!
Nakalagay dun yung panyong iniyakan niya. Balak na nga niyang itapon iyon eh, pe
ro sayang naman. Drat the man. Parang may bumbilyang pumasok sa isip niya. She r
emembered the first night she made a wish.
Nung gabi ng simbang gabi niya kasama tita niya.
Quote
God, just give me a sign... The first guy who will give me flowers within two mo
nths will be my very very first boyfriend. And the guy who will give his handker
chief will be my first kiss... haha joke lang God! Sana naman 'wag mo kong tulug
an ngayon Bro...
Kung sino man ang magbibigay sa kanya ng panyo within two months before her birt
hday, ay magiging... first kiss niya?! She smiled sadly. Bitterly.
Napatingin siya sa papel na biglang nalaglag. Tumaas yung kilay niya. Baka isa l
ang sa mga iniipit niyang note sa libro niya. Pero bakit maayos ang pagkakatupi?
Meet me at the tower. At the rooftop of Shaw building. I have a secret to reveal
to you. I know how your sister died.
Napakunot noo niya. How her sister died?Her sister died in a car accident. Who the
hell was playing jokes on her now?
Hindi niya alam kung bakit bigla siyang kinbahan. Something isnt quite right here
.
Ano hindi ka pa ba uuwi?nabigla siya ng biglang sumulpot sa likod niya si Corrs nil
ukot niya agad ang papel.
Mauna na kayo... I have to run an errand.
Shaw building.
Ito yung pinagdalhan sa kanya ni Rexel nun, sa rooftop kung saan sinasabi nitong
gustong gusto ng babaeng mahal nito. Hindi ba? Anong kinalaman nito ngayon sa a
te niya?
Mabilis siyang pumasok sa elevator. She cant help but think about him.Gees, oh gr
eat.
Ano bang kinalaman ng note na yun sa ate niya? This was one hell of a mystery.
Rooftop.
Hello...she saw a familiar back of a man who was looking at the streaming of billbo
ards. Then her heart started beating loudly. So loud she could almost hear it.
She gasped when he turned around.
Rex?
Reese? What the hell are you doing here?nakapamulsa ito.
Ako dapat ang magtanong sayo niyan.She doesnt know why but theres a niggling idea that
she couldnt fathom.
Hindi ka ba hinatid ng boyfriend mo?tumalikod ulit ito sa kanya.
Boyfriend???she blew loudly.
Oo, bakit hindi ba? Boyfriend mo na si Dane? Matagal mo na din naman siyang gusto
diba?hindi niya alam kung imahinasyon niya lang yun pero... there was a strain on
his voice.
She laughed aloud as if she were a loony.Rexel, sometimes youre just... darn stupid
.
His right eyebrow twitched that looked sexy on him..
Bakit ka ba nandito? Wag mo sabihing nagpapahangin ka lang din ang layo naman ng
pinuntahan mo para lang don.
Oo nga pala!Somebody told me to...bakit ba niya sasabihin iyon dito?
Told you to?
Im waiting....he impatiently walked towards her. She moved backwards. Silly of her.
What is she afraid of? Him? or more from herself?
Ano yan?napatingin siya sa tinitignan nito. Sa kamay niyang may hawak na papel!
Before she could say anything he tugged the paper on her hand.Still domineering.
Rex---
Blog!!!

They turned around to see the door closed with a bang. It was a heavy one. Whoev
er did it must surely have exerted his effort. Napatakbo silang dalawa don.
Anong problema?
I cant open it.he turned the knob many times but it didnt quite budge.
Dammit.Napahilamos ito sa muka.Are you just going to stand there and say nothing?!
Teka nga! Bakit mo ba ko sinisigawan? Kanina ka pa parang galit na galit sakin ah
!gigil na sabi niya habang palakad lakad ito.
Is that youre only reaction? Magkasama tayo dito buong magdamag! Walang magbubukas
niyan kung hindi bukas pa ng umaga kapag may naglinis dito. Somebody must have
locked that damn door!
Napairap siya. Then it dawned in on her. He was right.Oh my God..just the two of t
hem? Napaupo siya at napasandal dun sa malayo dito.
Pwes hindi ko kasalanan kung bakit naglock yung pinto! Bakit ka ba nagagalit saki
n?
He closed his eyes tightly.I dont .... trust myself... when Im with you.
She couldnt utter a word. Even if her life depended on it. Is this one of his man
y games?
Nakita niyang naalala nito yung papel. Binuksan nito iyon. And she saw him grind
his teeth. Felt something changed in him.
Is there something wrong?
He shook his head.
Have you met my sister before?
Nakita niyang parang napapikit ito. Naguguluhan lang siya.
Yes...
You know what,nalungkot siya.We were never close, kasi nung naghigh school siya mas p
inili niyang mag-aral sa ibang bansa, she was 6 years older than I am. Ive no ide
a who sent that letter but I think he knows my sister. She died in a car acciden
t.She shrugged.
Sa tingin mo bakit kaya pinadala yan sakin? At sino? Whats his purpose?
She hadnt seen the look of desperation on Rexels face. He turned his back on her.
Couldnt you just let this go?Who would have done this?!
No...bakit nga ba hindi? Feeling niya meron siyang dapat malaman. What had her pare
nts concealed from her all these years?
She shivered. He looked at her. And then he took off his jacket and tucked her i
n it.
Wag na...pero pinilit pa rin siya nito.Ang tigas talaga ng ulo mo no?
Inirapan niya ito.Just like a big brother.
Sabay silang umupo at isinandal nito ang ulo niya sa kanya. Nung una ayaw niya p
ero hinawakan nito ang kabilang pisngi niya para hindi niya iangat ulit. Nagtiti
gan sila. She glared at him. He stared at her rudely. She surrendered. She reali
ze that maybe, she had loved him the first time she saw him. Is there such thing
as first love at first sight? Or she learned to love his arrogance? his strengt
h? his dominance? She sighed.Thisbusiness is confusing.
Rex...
Hmmm?
Tell me about her?
Who? Your sister?
Nope... the woman youve been in love with, all these years.She didnt hear him chatter
his teeth. He groaned.
How ironic life must be....
Shes beautiful, lovable, adorable. Men pluck to her like chocolates. But she only
wanted me....She felt him smile. Nalulungkot siya, anong nangyari at iniwan nito s
i Rexel? Ang swerte naman ng babaeng iyon.
Maybe someday shell eventually forget him and laugh off every tears shed cried for
him. In the meantime, shell enjoy every minute with him. She hadnt heard anything
he said anymore as she dozed off.
Id like to apologize to her... because Im already in love with her sister.
And I love her sister so much... that it hurts right now Reese...
I love you...
Twenty Five:
Sienna
Rexels thoughts
I love you...he looked at her and was amazed that she hadnt heard him. Was he reliev
ed? He sighed. He kissed her forehead. Hes now sure of what hes feeling right now.
Memories flooded him of the past.
New York
He knocked on the door not just once but twice and cleared his throat.
Im coming!
He was real nervous. It was their third date but still he couldnt take everything
in. Sienna really loves him? Many men courted her in the University but hes one
lucky bastard. Shed chosen him.
Hey... Gorgeous guy.She laughed. Even her laugh was husky and sexy.
Ahhhmmm.... Ready ka na?Goodness, buti na lang kahit 15 years old lang siya ay mala
king mama na siya. Kaya hindi siya mapagkakamalang mas bata dito ng tatlong taon
.
She was wearing a classy, sophisticated dress. She was always well-dressed for t
he occasion.
Kung hindi lang kita love hindi ako sasama eh.She pouted.
Napipilitan ka lang ba? Kasi kung ayaw mo.... wag na lang tayo tumuloy? We can ah
mmm... kiss and pet here?he reddened at the thought. Well, Sienna almost grew up h
ere that shes a little liberated.
She smiled seductively.What about your promise to your teammates? This is your fir
st time to be invited in the soccer team, I know that you wanted this ever since
.
Oo nga pala.Naalala niya, pinilit niyang makapasok sa Soccer team ng University.
The only thing they wanted was for him to bring Sienna along in the admission pa
rty. What with her beautiful girlfriend of almost two months.
Tayo na nga...
Dumating sila sa party na mga around eleven oclock. It was noisy. Everybody was e
verywhere. Groping. Petting. Drinking. What did he expect? This is America! For
Petes sake.
Are you sure youre okay .... with this?parang nagsisisi na siya na dinala niya ito d
oon.
He looked around and even saw a glimpse of two people making out in the pool are
a. He was turning beet-red. Naramdaman niyang napakapit sa kanya si Sienna. She
wasnt used to this kind of atmosphere.
The team captain who was so drunk walked towards them.
Hey Liam! So youve brought her here?He stared at Sienna with predator eyes.
Ahh... yeah.Some of his buddies pulled him free from Sienna. But he wouldnt let go o
f her hand. So is she. There was something in her eyes.
But...
Hey... kami na lang bahala sa kanya.He looked at the fil-am woman. At least Sienna
wasnt alone.
They gave him a drink. And then minutes later. He was in deep slumber. It was li
ke he was sleeping forever. He heard muffled voices and... a sob?
Someone was crying. He tried to open his one eye. And then he saw her. Really sa
w her.
Noooo....
He tried to stand up. He felt like shouting but no words came out. There she was
sprawled on the floor with nothing on. Stifling a sob. And the men were too dru
nk and... drugged. They were all lying beside her. On the floor.
Good God no...
Sienna?...his throat was dry, he croaked.Sienna?!Oh My God...
He hastily stood up even though his head was banging. What the hell happened? He
clenched his fist. There was a foul smell everwhere.Alcohol.Drugs. And.
He held her. He growled when he saw the bloodstains on her thighs. There were br
uises on her body. There were gashes. What the---
Rex....she fainted.
That night was a nightmare. The most horrible thing happened. Because of his fau
lt he lost Sienna. He was to be blamed for it. If he hadnt asked her to go to tha
t, to thatplace. She would have been alive by now.
She wouldnt have been gang raped.
Pagkatapos ng gabing yon kung saan nagkagulo sa bahay na iyon. May dumating na m
ga nagreraid na authorities, naisugod agad sa ospital si Sienna. Pero lahat yun
nagwasak sa pagkatao nito. Sa kanya.
Sienna... Im... I love you..he said while eying her. She became withdrawn and quiet.
She looked up. Sometimes tried to smile, bitterly. Natanggal siya sa soccer team
but it didnt matter. Nakulong ang mga kasama nila nun. What matters most is that
he could bring back the life she had. They both tried, she never blamed him. But
he felt the weight of it on his shoulder.
I love you too Rex. Will you miss me if I go?she asked quietly.
What kind of question is that?he raised his eyebrow and stared at the photos she ha
d been looking at.
She just shrugged.Whos that? She looks... familiar.
My sister. Isnt she pretty, she looks a little like me. You've seen her before.She
smiled with fondness. The first smile hed seen in a while.God, I would give everyt
hing just to make her happy again.
There were no traces of scars and bruises on her skin. But there were marks left
in her heart forever. That night, he wanted to kill. He felt her misery.
Ill never find another when you go, you know that. Stop being silly.He felt a thud i
n his heart. Suddenly. She laughed softly. Shes starting to smile and laugh? But
why does he sense that something was wrong?
Bata ka pa, ayoko maging selfish pero ayoko ring makahanap ka kagad. Sana... sana
... kung magmamahal ka ulit. Someone.... someone I know, someone whod been close
to me... I know that she can take care of you.
Shes talking in riddles. What is she talking about?
Tinatakot mo ko sa pinagsasabi mo Sienna. Youre not going anywhere, are you? If yo
u want us to have a vacation in the Philippines just tell me.
Babalik ka don, pero hindi para tignan ako kung hindi... para tignan... para tign
an...malungkot ito.
Para tignan?tinignan niya ito. Bigla na naman itong lumungkot.
Itabi mo to para sakin ha? Kapag magmamahal ka ulit magagalit ako pero maiintindi
han kita kasi mahal kita. At dapat mahalin mo siya katulad ng binigay mo sakin.She
put the photo in his hand and hugged him tight. He felt her sobbing.
Sienna, youre scaring me. I promise you Ill never love someone as I love you. Never
.
Youre too young to know. Tell me that when youre confused.She whispered.
He swore silently.
After a week. She died of car accident. He knew that it was no accident. She was
a better driver than everyone would have thought. He knew in his heart that shed
left him. She committed suicide.
She took away her life. Took his heart with her.
But the date she died was the same date he saw Reeses face on the evening mass. O
nly five years apart.
Twenty Six:
The Start of Rivalry
Youll grow up and find youre own prince charming. When that time comes, I wont be yo
ur wicked sister I promise. Pero dalhin mo siya sakin at ipakilala ha?she joked.
Ate, bata pa ko. Sakitin pa, sino magkakagusto sakin?she pouted. She looked up at h
er beautiful sister.At hindi ako kasing ganda mo, pano pa pagnakita ka nila?
Basta alagaan mo sarili mo ha? Someday that prince charming will take care of you
.Ngumiti ito at ginusot yung buhok niya. Tumayo na at inayos palabas ang mga gamit
.
She awaken with a start. She couldnt breathe, there was a tight grip in her midse
ction. She opened her blurry eyes and saw... her prince charming hugging her so
tight.
Rex... tama siguro si ate, Ill find my prince charming and hell take care of me.Pana
ginip lang pala iyon. That was her sisters last parting words. Well, personally.
Kasi paalis na ito papuntang New York non. Two months before her thirteenth birt
hday her Ate Sienna died. Nalulungkot siya.
Naalimpungatan ata ito at napaupo.Sienn...
Tumaas ang kilay niya sa narinig na bulong mula dito. Pangalan ng babae?Somewhat s
hen? She? Che?Naitulak niya ito ng wala sa loob. Nabigla naman ito at bumalandra s
a gilid na nakapagpagising dito.
Ouch! Dam---
Sige magmura ka, ang aga aga, nagmumura ka.Inis na umirap siya dito. Gigil na gigil
.
Ano bang problema mo?kinusot kusot nito ang mata he was surely handsome. Kahit may
morning glory pa.
WALA!
Sa pagtayo nito at paginat nalaglag ang wallet nito at bumuka.
She gasped.
He groaned.
The picture---- the one on the night of the New Years Eve, she hadnt looked at it
closely but seemed too familiar in her line of vision. Now she knew why.
Why... why do you... do you...have ate Siennas picture?She couldnt come up with right w
ords.
He cursed. She swore. Is he? Is he... naalala niyang narinig niyang pinaguusapan
ng parents niya na may prince charming daw ang ate niya na anak ng partner ng pap
a niya sa business ng mga ito. Ayaw magprocess ng utak niya. No. Ayaw palang ipr
ocess ng utak niya iyon. Hindi matanggap.
He picked it up roughly.
Reese... I..he saw her squirmed away from him.
Rex... I dont know what to say. Si ate ba yung... Oh my God.Si ate Sienna ba niya yu
ng babaeng nang-iwan dito? Nang-iwan? Dahil namatay?
Hes afraid. Afraid of losing her now than ever. Hed lost once, not now.
Sumagot ka. Si ate ba? Yung babaeng minahal mo dati? Kaya ba hindi ka makapagdeci
de kung sino talagang mahal mo?she said bitterly. She doesnt want to be in her sist
ers shadow. All her life, her parents wanted her to be just like her sister. She
tried. Pero iba siya, iba ito. Her parents wanted to mold her to replace the one
whos forever gone. Kaya siguro siya umalis sa kanila.
Ill explain everything.Napasuklay ito halatang nahihirapan.
Ang parents ko, alam ba nila?she realized one thing. Pinatitignan ba siya ng mga ma
gulang dito?Oh My God.... The hidden phone calls. Their meeting... wasnt a coincid
ence.It was intended.
He nodded.
She wanted to cry. She was deceived. And manipulated. Big brother ha! Kaya ba? K
asi ang ate niya ang minahal nito?
Nung nakita mo kami ni Dane non? You deliberately run into me?she wanted to shout.
Her voice quivered.
No. Good God no! Papunta ko sa bahay niyo non... I mean, sa bahay ng tita mo. Per
o may babaeng nagmamadali na tumatawid. I hadnt known that I would see you that s
oon... I- I never intended to... to... meet you.
You never what? I dont .... understand.Napasandal siya sa pader na parang nanghihina
.
Reese.. listen, wala akong balak magpakilala o magpakita sayo. I was only there t
o look for you, from afar.
Why do they have to look for me? Bakit kelangan ka pa nilang abalahin? Surely mas
yado kong malaking abala sayo!she said sarcastically.
No! Natatakot silang lumayas ka non na magulo isip mo... hindi ka sanay maging in
dependent...napasabunot ito na parang hindi alam kung pano magpapaliwanag.
Ill take you home...hahawakan sana nito ang siko niya ng tabigin niya ito.
Kaya kong umuwing mag-isa! Stop treating me like your younger sister! Im fed up Re
x! So leave me alone...
Do you think I can just leave you alone?magsasalita pa sana siya ng marinig nilang
pareho ang cellphone nito. He talked to.. to someone. She felt as if her whole w
orld were crumbling into pieces.
Ang lalaking gusto niya, at sa tingin niya ay mahal na niya.... ang siya palang
dating boyfriend ng namatay niyang kapatid?Alin ba ang mas masakit: ang malaman m
ong hindi mo mapapalitan sa puso niya ang nawala niyang kapatid? O kaalamang nil
oko siya nito habang nagtitiwala siya?
Umuwi na tayo...
Wag mo ko hawakan. Kaya ko umuwi mag-isa Rex or shall I say KUYA Rexel?
Tinitigan siya nito ng masama pero parang balewala na hinila siya nito. Pinilit
niyang tanggalin ang kamay nito sa braso niya. Saktong bumukas na ang pintuan at
may dumating na maglilinis. Nagtatakang napatingin sa kanila.
Tahimik sila habang pauwi na. Dali daling siyang bumaba at pabalibag na isinara
ang pinto ng kotse nito. Sumunod naman ito agad.
Dyan ka lang!galit niyang harap dito habang pahakbang na siya sa gate.
Wag ka ngang umarteng parang bata!halatang galit na din ito.
Ha! At ako pa ang umaarteng parang bata ganon?!papalapit na ito ng papalapit.
Sabi ko diba dyan ka na lang...napausod siya. Nagpapanic na siya. Lumapit ito at hi
nawakan ang dalawang braso niya.
Dont turn me away. Because you cant make me...it was above whisper.
Rex... ikaw ang unang lumayo hindi ako...nagtitigan sila ng matagal. Halos yakap na
siya nito sa posisyon nila.
Reese... Hija!napalingon silang dalawa. Mabilis pa sa alas kwatrong bumitaw silang
dalawa.
Tit---why are they here? Naitawag na ba agad ni Rexel? !@#$.
Tita Len, Tito Vic...
Anak...anong ginagawa ng parents niya dito kasama ng tita niya?
Caprice hija... gusto ka na nilang umuwi sa inyo.
Were sorry.Nanlalambot siya. Her mother went to her immediately and hugged her tight
. Her father stood there waiting.
Mommy... youre forgiven.Bulong niya. She wanted to go home.
Hijo... thank you.She glared at Rex as her mother went to him to thank him. Bakit h
indi niya ito mapatawad? Bakit masakit pa rin?
Anak...
My?...napalingon siya dito.
Theres this young man you kept from us.
Napataas kilay niya don. Young man? Kept from them? Ano daw?
Biglang lumabas si Dane mula sa loob ng bahay. Reunion ba ito? Napabuka yung bib
ig niya. Bat mukang boto dito parents niya?
Hello Prinsesa... Ive already met your parents. Theyre.... wonderful people.He stutte
r? Dane did?Oh my God.
Vic, mukang me nakasungkit na ng puso ng anak mo ha...
Young man, are you sure?nagtawanan ang mga ito ng biglang maubo si Rexel. Nagkating
inan silang lahat. Tumaas naman ang kilay ni Dane.
Lets go home now? Weve already packed your things.
Ahmm... sir, ako na po maghaha---
Tito Vic, ako na maghahatid kay---
Sabay silang lahat nagkatinginan kay Rexel at kay Dane. Masama ang tinginan ng m
ga ito.
Sige bahala na kayo. Basta maihatid niyo yan ng buo samin ha.Ngumiti ang mga ito a
t nagpatiuna na.
Tita sige po... thank you talaga sa lahat? Naabala pa tuloy po kita kauuwi uwi mo
lang.
Caprice talaga oh, kung hindi nga lang at kauuwi uwi ko lang ng America eh, dito
ka pa rin... hindi ka na nagkukwento sakin.Nginuso nito yung dalawang lalaking ma
sama ang tingin sa isat isa.
Reese ano ba!niyakap niya ang tita niya at nagpaalam na.
Teka nga... kaya ko ng umuwi mag-isa.
Sakin ka sasabay.Gigil na sabi ni Rexel. Tinitigan niya ito ng masama.
Silence....
Dane, lets go!
Twenty Seven:
Weird...
Nung araw ding yun sabay siyang hinatid ng dalawa gamit ang kotse ni Rexel. Hind
i siya hinayaan ni Dane na mag-isa. Ano bang problema sa mga lalaki? Feeling nil
a pag-aari ka nila! Galit pa rin siya kay Rexel! Naguguluhan siya kay Dane! At a
ng masama sa lahat nalilito siya...
Ang haba naman ng hair mo Reese! Ayaw mo nun? Nagkakandarapa silang dalawa sayo?ngu
misi si Corrs sa kanya.
Ang saya no? Yung taong gusto ko, niloko ako at yung taong gusto ko dati saka nam
an tinging pangkaibigan na lang ang nararamdaman ko sa kanya ngayon kung kailan
gusto na niya ko.She sighed. Who is she mocking? Herself?
Malungkot itong ngumiti. She hadnt noticed the sadness written on her face.
Dumaan si Brent sa harap nila.Brent...
He smiled and then walked.... way past them?
Napatingin siya dito at kay Corrs. Parang walang nakita ang dalawa. Whats wrong?
May hindi ba siya alam?
Corrs, youre not telling me something.
Marami pa pala akong gagawin... Ill go ahead.
Corrs wait!
Ano bang problema nilang dalawa? Why is it that all of a sudden...
She went to her locker before going home. Kinuha niya ang mga libro niya at nala
glag ang isang note. Another note? She felt queasy.
Youll never be happy. How? If you knew that the man you love has loved your siste
r all along.
Who on earth is sending these notes?
Anong problema?mabilis siyang napalingon.
Che? Ikaw pala...
Oh.. bakit... tila... namumutla ka? Ano yan?
Wala!mabilis niyang itinago ang note.
Ahhh... okay. May sasabihin nga pala ako sayo Reese. Mag-ingat ka kas---
Prinsesa! Ive been looking for you. Hi Che! Uwi na tayo prinsesa?
Che... may sinasabi ka ba?nakita niyang parang nag-alangan ito pero ng makita si Da
ne ay parang nawalan ng lakas ng loob.
Hindi, some other time maybe. Mauna na ko.
Sumabay ka na samin...
No thanks...
Bakit ba ang weird ng mga tao ngayon?Naguguluhan na siya talaga sa paligid niya. S
he sighed. Inakbayan siya bigla ni Dane na ikinabigla niya. Parang nailang siya.
Uhum. Uhum.Sabay silang napalingon.
Tumaas yung kilay niya bigla kay Rexel. She hurriedly moved away from Dane. Baki
t nga ba? Parang siyang girlfriend nito na guilty sa tagpong hindi dapat.Sh*t.
KUYA Rexel ikaw pala...nakita niya itong namaywang. Make face.
Dane what are you doing here?
Abat....
Im studying here Rexel. Ikaw, may I ask why youre here?one point for Dane.
I know Dane... baka gusto mong alisin yung braso mo kay Reese, binilin siya sakin
ng parents niya.
Rex look, were going home.
Right Reese... WERE going home.Bigla nitong kinuha ang shoulder bag niya na ikinabig
la niya. She gasped. Dane quickly pulled her on his side. She looked at the two
of them.
Bakit nung time na ready na siyang mainlove wala namang sumasalo? Ngayon namang
madami saka naman siya naguguluhan? Ang gulo ng
Look, both of you stop it!pero parang walang narinig ang dalawa. Hinarang ni Dane a
ng braso sa kanya at tinitigan ito ng masama ni Rexel.
Shut up.Her eyes have grown dilated in astonishment. They both told her to shut up?HEL
LO?Siya ang pinag-aawayan ng mga ito! And they told her to... to... to...
Rexel, tigilan mo na siya sakin siya sasama.GUARDIANka lang naman niya diba?
Oo, kaya kailangan kong alamin kung sino ang mga hindiKATIWA-TIWALANGtao ang umaali
gid sa kanya.
Bakit? Tatay ka na ba niya ngayon?
Bakit? Boyfriend ka na ba niya?
Hindi pa. Pero malapit na.
Pwes hindi ako papayag!
Abat... sino ba ang mga akala nito sa sarili? Naguusap ang mga ito na parang wala
siya sa tabi. Damn. Gigil na lumayo siya mukang di naman siya napansin.
She thought before that being courted and loved by two men were sooo romantic...
. were sooo flattering. Flattering yes, but its difficult. Mind-boggling. Rexel h
adnt told her he loves her yet. Dane did. But... She didnt one to hurt any of them
.
Napatakbo siya dun sa kakaunti yung tao. Dun sa may swimming pool area. She hadnt
realized that she was sitting weakly on one of the benches. Ano ba ang dapat ni
yang gawin? What does she know about love and relationship?
About men in particular?
Mag-isa ka?nabigla siya.
Brent? Hindi! Tignan mo oh... andami namin!inis na nilahad pa niya ang dalawang kam
ay."Alam na ngang nag-iisa nagtatanong pa..."
He was silent. He held a towel on one hand while drying his body. Minutes passed
by.
There are things we cant rationalize. Things we cant give reason and meaning to. Li
ke love and pain.
Nabiglang napatingin siya dito. Kung sa ibang pagkakataon baka nahipo na niya an
g noo nito dahil sa mga pinagsasabi nito. Si Brent ba talaga ito?
Youre scaring me, you know.
Am I?he laughed.Ang hirap talagang intindihin ng mga babae. Mas mabuti pa ang complex
math eh. At least may formula hindi katulad ng mga babae.
She raised her eyes in question. Somethings definitely wrong with him and Corrs.
Bakit... hindi kayo nagpansinan ni Corrs kanina?
Maraming bagay ang hindi pwede. Kahit ipilit walang mangyayari. May mga bagay nam
an na panahon lang ang makakapagsabi kung dapat ba.
Tumayo ito. Wala siyang masabi. He was talking in riddles.Maggagabi na... halika n
a?
Mauna ka na...
Tinignan muna siya nito bago umalis. Mga around 6:30 ng maisipan niyang tumayo n
a at pumunta muna sa CR sa mismong swimming area. Siguro naman wala na yung dala
wa. Hayaan mong hanapin siya ng mga ito.
Inilock niya yung cubicle. Medyo natagalan siya ng ilang minuto dahil hinanap pa
niya yung sanitary pad niya at magpapalit siya.
Shock was an understatement at what she saw on the mirror. Written with red lips
tick.
Youre nothing but a SLUT. NBSB.NeverBetter than aSlutBabe.
Kanina wala namang ganito. Oo, may narinig siyang mga yabag na pumasok pero for
Petes sake! Public utility ito, kaya hindi niya alam kung sino sa mga pumasok ang
nagsulat nito. Is this intended for her?
Nanginginig ang kamay na pinihit niya ang doorknob. Whats happening? It didnt budg
e. Nalockan ba siya? She groaned.Dont panic Reese. Dont panic. Inhale. Exhale.
Tao po! Nasaran ako ng pinto!pinagbabalya niya ng ubod lakas ang pinto. Great.
Kung sinoman nakakarinig sakin pagbuksan niyo ko!mapapatid na ata ang litid niya ka
kasigaw. Its almost 7:30 in the evening. Bihira ang mga tao dun sa ganitong dis-o
ras. Sino ba ang pupunta sa may bandang pool area?!
Parang maiiyak siya. But she wont give whoever-sent-from-hell the satisfaction to
make her cry.
Who did this?!
Twenty Eight:
Confused...
Ilang oras na ba siyang nakaupo sa tiled floor ng CR? Bwisit. Bakit kasi nakalim
utan niyang icharge yung cellphone niya kanina? Malay ba niya...
Sino? At bakit?
Reese! Reese!she heard voices calling her.
Nandito ko sa CR! Help!pinukpok niya ang pinto. Maya maya bigla iyon bumukas.
Rex?
Ako to Reese...
Brent?mabilis siyang lumabas at tumakbo dito.
Thank you....her relief was overwhelming her.
Hes seen her...narinig niya ang boses ni Dane na tumakbo palapit agad sa kanila ni B
rent.
Dane!bigla siya nitong niyakap. Perhaps, due to relief and shock that made her hugg
ed him back without knowing that a pair of eyes were hurting to see them togethe
r.
Napatingin siya sa likod ni Dane.
Rex...?parang biglang nawala ang takot niya ng makita ito. She wanted to run to him
and tell him about her fears. But his face was grim. He looked mad. She was con
fused.
Pumasok ito ng makita ang pulang mga letra sa dingding ng salamin.
Who did this?!galit na lumapit ito sa kanya.Youre soooo stupid! Bigla ka na lang umali
s kanina without even telling us where youre going? My God Reese. Youre not a kid
anymore!
She was totally shocked from what happened and then... then... Rex would burst i
n on her like this!
Rex look... this would have been a trauma to her.
Trauma? She deserves this! Because of her stupidity! Iyan ba ang inaasahan mong g
ustong maging independent?! Pano na lang kung wala ako? Wala kami?
Parang may pisi na biglang napundi sa kanya.
Rex! Or should I say...KUYARexel.Napadiin ang yakap sa kanya ni Dane as if warning he
r. But she didnt mind him.
Dont be too conceited! Ive lived 17 years of my life without you. At kahit mawala k
a pa ay mabubuhay ako! My world doesnt revolve around you.
Nakita niyang parang nasaktan ito.O nasaktan nga ba?. His face looked grim now. Co
ld. Masked. She wanted to take the words back. But she knew she couldnt.
Fine.Itinaas nito ang kamay na parang sumusuko na.
At tumalikod. It was an outburst.
She felt paralyzed as Dane led her to Rexels car. Hindi na niya ganong narinig an
g usapan nito at ni Brent. Napatingin siya sa rearview mirror pero hindi ito tum
itingin sa kanya. Umupo sa tabi niya si Dane at marahan siyang niyakap. Hindi ni
ya naramdaman iyon.
Im glad youre safe.
-------------
Reese! Two weeks na lang debut mo na! Ang bilis ng panahon.... pano ba yan? Hangg
ang ngayon wala ka paring boyfriend. Mukang mananalo kami sa pustahan ah.
Hey, earth to Reese!
Ha?parang nagising siyang napatingin kay Sasha. Ilang araw na din simula ng nangyar
i iyon at ilang araw na ding hindi nagpaparamdam si Rexel.
She sighed. Nakalimutan na nga pala niya pati birthday niya. Ano ba yan. Napatam
pal siya sa noo. 18th birthdays are supposed to be special.
Sino bang escort mo? inaayos na ng mommy mo. Samantalang ikaw parang wala kang pa
kialam.
Escort?Sino nga ba?Grr...
Si Dane na lang.Napatingin siya kay Laney.
Oo nga... hes charming. And me yummy na bod.Tinaasan niya ng kilay ang pagikot ng ma
ta ni Sasha sa pagkakasabi ng huling sentence.
Youre thinking of him, arent you?Ginger stared at her.
Hindi ah... bat ko naman iisipin si Rexel.Nagkatinginan ang tatlo na nanlalaki ang
mata sa kanya.
Rexel? Were talking of Dane here...
Uh-oh...
Ang bobo ng bibig niya!Ang daldal mo Reese...nakagat niya yung labi niya.
We can talk about it Reese.
Theres nothing to talk about, you know...she sighed and avoid their gaze.
Cmon... weve known each other like... forever.
Weve known each other like... forever.
Danes words. Napangiti siya.
Whats that for?
What?
That smile. You actually smiled with no reason at all! Oh my, youre in love Reese!
Tumili ang mga ito.
Im confused. Ano ba ang symptoms ng in love? Not definitely na hindi ako makakain c
oz surely I eat a lot.
Eh sino ba talaga si Dane o si Rexel?
Im not yet ready to entertain thoughts like that.
Sino bang gusto mo?
Hindi ko alam...sino nga ba? Yung matagal niyang nakasama at komportable siyang sab
ihin ang lahat lahat? O yung nagpapainit ng ulo niya at the same time nagpapaexc
ite sa kanya?
Twenty Nine:
The Break up...
May break-up ba ang mag-M.U.? ano bang tawag sa dalawalang taong me gusto sa isat
isa pero hindi nila maamin? O ano bang tawag sa dalawang taong pride ang nagigi
ng dahilan kung bakit hindi nagiging sila?
She sighed. Her experience is very limited when it comes to love and relationshi
p but does she have one to know whats the real score? Actually its not limited. Its
close to zero.
Wala silang klasi sa biology pero tinawagan niya si Corrs para manghiram ng book
. Nagkakagulo sa loob pero siya ayun nasa isang sulok. May dalang gitara yung mg
a barkada ni Kahambugan. Pero this past few days tahimik lang ito. Weird...
Hey!
Ang tagal mo ha...
Nalaman mo na ba kung sinong gumawa sayo non? Nung isang araw?napataas yung kilay n
iya. How did she know? It was kept secret. Ay, si Brent.
He told you..?napanguso siya sa lugar ni Kahambugan na hindi sinasadayang nagkatiti
gan ang dalawa. The minute their eyes met were the same instant they parted.
Che told me...napataas yung kilay niya non. Maybe Rexel told her.
Oh... Corrs, I wanna ask you something...
Hmm?
Is there a prob----
The guitar started to play...
It took one look
And forever I laid out in front of me
One smile then I died
Only to be revived by you
They both looked at the guy who had the soft heart-melting voice. Why do people
have to relay their message through songs? Is it because they cant tell what they
want to say outright?
There I was
Thought I had everything figured out
Goes to show just how much I know
'Bout the way life plays out...
Nakita niyang nagkatinginan si Brent at si Corrs habang kumakanta ang una. She f
elt something that only the two of them could understand. Gusto niyang kiligin.
Ang tatanda na nila, college na pero uso pa pala yung mga pasaring na ganito?
I take one step away
But I find myself coming back to you
My one and only, one and only you... ooh...
Im sorry...and then Corrs run away without turning back. She was taken aback. And th
en Brent stopped strumming and singing.
Napatakbo si Brent at sinundan si Corrs. Its bad to eavesdrop, she knew. Pero bak
it hindi niya makuhang iwanan na lang ang dalawa?Nakita niyang pinipilit kausapin
ng una ang huli. He hugged her but she tried to wriggle free.
Corrs, dont do this to me...
Let. Go. Of. Me.She knew that it was tearing her, whatever problems she have right
now.
Tell me you dont like me, not love me and then Ill set you free.
She gasped. Nagkatitigan ng matagal ang dalawa. Hindi nila alam na nandun lang s
iya malapit sa mga ito. Ano bang problema?
I dont like you Brent.
I dont believe you.
Itinaas ni Corrs ang mukha at nakipagsukatan ng titig kay Brent.Ano bang pinagsisi
ntir mo? Have you ever told me that you love me? Hindi ba kaya lang naman tayo n
agdate its because of your bet with Reese? Hindi ba!
But it went beyond that. You knew.
Brent. Please... I. Dont. Love. You.
Nakita niyang nabigla si Brent at dahan dahan niyang tinanggal ang pagkakahawak
kay Corrs. Whats happening with the two of them?Nakita niyang parang sumuko na ito
habang tumalikod na lumayo... palayo...
And then she saw her start to shake. She was trying not to cry.
Lumabas ka na! The shows over.
She gaped at her when she showed up from where she was hiding. So she knew all a
long?
Corrs.... yung bet ba yung dahilan kaya ka nakikipagkalas kay Brent?
[color=lime green]Nakikipagkalas?[/color] she laughed hard. Insanely.Ano ba ang taw
ag samin? Wala. So walang break up.
I know theres more to it than meets the eye.
Were moving away Reese...she was shocked. Moving away where?
What do you mean?
Were moving to Davao.She heard her sigh. So that was it?
Why dont you just tell him? Surely youre lying when you told him... awhile ago.. th
at you...
Reese... anong gusto mong gawin ko? This relationship is doomed from the start. M
ahirap ang long distance relationship. Sa unang bwan araw araw ang emails, texts
, tapos ano? After two months once or twice a week na lang... tapos sinong unang
makakahanap samin ng iba? This is reality!tumayo ito at humarap sa kanya. She do
esnt know what to say to her.
I dont want to start something that is already over.
I dont want to start something that is already over...
Lumakad ito palayo pero parang sticker na dumikit sa utak niya iyon. Ganon din b
a siya? Parang sa kanila ni Dane noon? At kay Rexel ngayon? Hindi pa man nagsisi
mula alam mo ng wala ng patutunguhan? Was she only asking for a big heartbreak?
Malungkot na lumakad siya palabas ng building. Wala sa loob na lumakad siya pata
wid ng muntik na siyang masagasaan. Napapikit na lang siya. Dammit, Reese move!
Pero napako na ata ang paa niya sa semento.
Are you just going to stand there and wait for an angel to save you?!
She heard a roar. Yes, so shes still alive? Dahan dahan niyang minulat ang mga ma
ta sa pagkamangha.Hes too handsome para maging si San Pedro...
Rex?
No... St. Michael here to save you.He said sarcastically while moving toward her.
She gasped. So he was the.... reckless driver?Argh. Just like the first time.
Narinig nilang nagbubusina na ang mga sasakyang kasunod nito. Bago pa siya makap
agsalita ay hinigit na siya nito sa braso at isinakay sa passengers seat.
Abat... napakaarogante talaga.Dominant. Arrogant. And sexy jerk!
Iuwi mo na ko..sumandal siya at kunwariy walang kasama ng makita niyang iba ang tina
tahak nilang daan.
Hey! Where are you taking me? Sabi ko iuwi mo na ko!gigil na sigaw niya dito.
Naririnig mo ba ko?galit na sigaw niya ulit dito. Nakakainis!
Nagpreno ito bigla. She gasped. She was almost slammed into the mirror of his ca
r. Thank God for the seatbelts. If looks could only kill, he might be dead by no
w.
Babe... how could I not hear you? One more shout and youll wake up the dead.
Yun naman pala eh... Kuya Rexel. Iuwi mo na ko.
Sino bang may hawak ng manibela? Sige isa pang kuya hahalikan kita.he grinned at he
r. Drat. Why does she have to melt with ... with.... NO WAY!
Nang traffic na mabilis niyang tinanggal ang seatbelt at pinilit pihitin ang pin
to ng kotse. Parang nababagot na nakatingin lang ito sa kanya. And then she hear
d a click.Sh*t.
Automatic ang lock!Bwisit.
He smiled at her.Hindi ako driver mo at hawak ko ang manibela kaya ako ang masusun
od.
Pinanlisikan niya ito ng mata pero di naman umubra. Shell let him have her way th
is one last time.
Thirty:
She did it...
Nakangiting pumasok siya sa loob ng building nila. She was too happy for anythin
g. Kahit siguro awayin pa siya ni Mitchie hindi makakabawas yun sa araw niya. We
ll, nagulat siya ng makabungguan niya si Corrs.
Oh.. ano yang mga registration card na yan? At class cards?napatingin siya dito na
kagagaling lang sa loob ng Deans office.
Last day ko na dito Reese.Nabigla siya. She smiled at her sadly.
Ang bilis naman! Hindi mo man lang ba tatapusin yung sem na to?
Hindi na eh... my parents are rushing me...
Oh...hindi niya alam kung anong sasabihin. Dapat may gawin siya para naman makapag-
usap ito at si Brent.
Reese... whatever youre thinking I told you, its a hopeless case. But thank you...she
hated goodbyes. She felt her eyes getting moist. Hers, too.
Mauna na nga ako... baka hindi ko pa matapos.Napatango na lang siya ng makita niya
ang likod nito na palayo sa kanya. She felt tired.
She went to her locker immediately after classes. Medyo gabi na din yun. Wala sa
loob na hinahanap niya yung nakaipit na papel sa libro niya ng makita ang pamil
yar na likod sa may---- locker niya?
Mitchie?!she stilled and then turned slowly.
Oh.. God.Is she the one whos sending her the notes all along? The one who wrote th
e---
She felt numbed.Ikaw? Ikaw ba yung....her eyes grew wide.
What are you doing here?
Nakikilagay ng libro. Ano pa nga ba?she laughed. She looked like a witch now in her
eyes.How stupid of you.
Youre the one who sent the notes!that was an accusation. Ngumisi ito at namaywang.
Ohh... Little Miss Innocent was too dumb. Of course, ano bang ginagawa ko dito? I
naayos yung mga libro mo? Hahaha... Grow up.Tumawa ito. God.
All this time. She was doing this to her... not that Mitchie didnt treat her any
less than before. But not to the extent of... doing things like this. It was too
desperate.
Dahil lang kay Dane?gusto niya itong sabunutan at burahin ang ngisi sa mga labi nit
o.
Biglang nagbago ang expression nito. But then she was still poised. Too classy t
o go to such lengths. Dahil lang sa lalaki?
Dane did love me you know. Dahil LANG? You dont know what youre talking about. Masy
ado kang malandi. Kung sabagay may pagmamanahan ka naman eh...
What is she talking about?...
You dont know?halatang galit na din ito. Bakit parang napako siya sa kinatatayuan. S
he was too shocked to move. To even react coherently.
Pareho kayong malandi ng kapatid mo! Oo, you heard me right. Sienna was a slut. S
he took Rexel away from me... and now, youre taking Dane from me also. Hindi ba n
akakatuwa? Na kayong magkapatid ang sumisira sa kaligayahan ko.
What?!Her sister? Mitchie knew Rexel? Pero... pero ng gabi ng New Years Eve Party, R
exel didnt mention anything. Or was it because she hadnt noticed anything.
Pero ayun... She took him away from me, pero sino nga bang makakaalam na mangyaya
ri sa kanya yun? Karma is always around. You wanna know something else too? She
died because of your beloved Rexel. Poor Sienna... Poor Reese.
Youre lying!
Youre too in love with your almost brother-in-law.
She couldnt quite grasped what was happening. Her head was reeling. She wanted to
hurl at her. Hurt her. But she was immobile.
Magkakakilala kaming tatlo. We went to the same University before I went back her
e and transferred to Dane and Cheryls school.
I pity you. Kasi sinisisi mo sa iba ang mga pagkukulang mo. Hindi kaya ikaw ang m
e kasalanan kung bakit ka nila iniiwan?
You slut!sasampalin siya nito. She closed her eyes to feel the pang. But nothing ca
me.
Dont you ever do that Mitchie. Sakin ka mananagot.
Unti unti niyang dinilat ang mga mata ng makita si Dane. He was holding Mitchies
wrist. Her eyes were full of disdain.
Shell never be yours Dane. Sino bang kaawa awa sating tatlo?galit na binawi ni Mitc
hie ang kamay mula dito.
Shes already my girl Mitchie. Its high time you accept that were over.
She gasped.Youre lying.She saw Mitchies eyes grew wide.
At sa pagkabigla niya bigla siyang hinarap ni Dane dito at niyakap ang bewang ni
ya. He held her tight and bent his head towards her. She was too appalled to eve
n protest. Her eyes were dilated.
He was kissing her. She couldnt think. It was something she hadnt expected.
Then she heard a groan.
Dahan dahang pinakawalan siya nito. Marahan din ang pagmulat ng mga mata niya. W
hat was there to feel? To say?Napahawak siya sa labi. And then the hair on her nap
e stood on ends. She slowly turned around.
Rex...
His fists were clenched. His face was masked. Cold. Wala naman siyang dapat ipal
iwanag diba? Hindi niya kasalanan lahat ng nangyayari? She opened her mouth to s
ay something but no words came out. And then he was gone. Walking away.
Reese...
Do you think you win?her head snapped at Mitchies cold disdain.
Parang napapanood niya lang yung mga ganitong eksena. Pero bakit kailangan pang
kasama siya? She felt like starring into a comedy which ended up to be a disaste
r. She didnt even know her lines.
Parang nagising na napatakbo siya sa dinaanan ni Rexel.Reese no!hinawakan siya sa b
raso ni Dane pero hindi niya iyon pinansin.
Dane.. let her go!
She went after Rexel.
Dane run after her.
Mitchie looked after Dane.
Whos in love with who?Whos going to win who?This is madness. This love. Inhale. Exhale.
Run.. run... she just went out of the building in search of the person she want
ed the most.
Ni hindi niya napapansin na hinahabol din siya ni Dane. At hinahabol ni Mitchie
ito.
Gusto niyang magwala. Gusto niyang umiyak. Bakit ba hindi na lang siya lubayan n
g mga ito?
Lumabas siya ng building. Hingal. Takbo. Hingal. Takbo.
And then she saw his car. Her heart was beating loudly. Her knees were going to
buckle. Mabilis siyang lumapit at nakita itong nakayuko sa manibela. Was he... c
rying?
Rex...kinatok niya ang pinto.
Reese...she looked up to see Dane panting. And Mitchie on the trail.
Mabilis itong sumungaw sa binatana. Binaba nito iyon. She took a step back when
she saw his eyes. Those eyes were full of pain and hatred. Hindi niya kasalanan
yun.
I thought Ill never love as I loved Sienna. But I was wrong. I love you... and now
it hurts like hell.
After his declaration he started the ignition and speedily drive fast. Away from
everything. He loves her. He said that clearly even though his voice was gruff,
didnt he?
Bakit naguguluhan siya? Dahil ba sa nalaman niya kay Mitchie? Dahil ba sa halik
ni Dane? O dahil hindi siya ready sa mga narinig niya?
Dane...
Nakita niyang hindi makakahinga si Mitchie.Mitchie. Stop playing games. Im fed up.
Galit niyang sabi. Pero bigla itong natumba na bigla ding nasalo ni Dane.
Shes not acting. Oh God. Reese! Shes fainted!chineck nito ang palapulsuhan ni Mitchie
.
Rexel left her. Now Dane is going to leave her because of Mitchie. Nakita niya a
ng concern at worry sa mga mata nito. Maybe theres still something for both of th
em. Is she selfish? Just like what Mitchie said?... she didnt want to lose any of
them.
Thirty One:
I've decided...
Three days. No Mitchie. No Dane. And no Rexel. It must have been peaceful. What
if she never knew them? She never had gotten into trouble with her sisters past?
What if she had never believed herself in love with her closest friend? Would it
change anything?
Her phone rang.
Hello?
Reese?
Cheryl?
Hey!... wanna go out tonight?
Tumaas yung kilay niya. She needed a break.
Where?
Whoaaa.. ni hindi mo man lang ba tatanungin kung bakit at sino ang mga kasama?
Kasama ka naman diba? Surely you must be trusted.She heard her laugh. And then beca
me silent.
Che?
Im leaving Reese... my parents are asking me to go back to the States.
What?!she snapped. Napaupo siya na kinaumpog niya.Ouch!
What?
Wala.. ang bobo ng headboard. So soon? When? Bakit biglaan naman ata?
Actually, I never intended to stay. My mission is almost over though not really a
ccomplished.
What mission...?
What... do you mean?
May ipagtatapat ako sayo pero promise me, hindi ka magagalit sakin ha?
Ano ba yun?
Promise? Itaas mo yung right hand mo.She sighed.Makikita ba niya kung itataas ko?She ro
lled her eyes heavenward.
Promise. Out with it.At itinaas ang kaliwang kamay.Hahaha...
I was the one who sent the note.
What? Youre the one whos sending the notes?!pero si Mitchie? diba... siya yung...
Note Reese, singular form okay? Teka nga what notes? Meron pa bang iba?
No.. no.. never mind.
Ako din yung naglock sa inyo ni Rexel sa building. I sent that note because I wan
ted you to know right from his mouth but it didnt turn out how I wanted it to be.
.. Im sorry I interfered.
No... its okay. Thanks anyway.
Why is everybody started leaving? Nakakalungkot.
That night, she went to meet Cheryl at the Disco bar. Last night out with her. Y
ung yung pagkakasabi nito. Bago pa siya makadating sa table nito nakita agad niy
a si Corrs, with... Dane and Rexel.Damn.She would have known.
Reese!
Coward. Dont step back.
Hello...she tried to smile. Rexel only nodded. Dane got her a chair.
Dahil paalis na ako pati na rin pala si Corrs, lets have a toast.
Clink. Clink. Awkward. She couldnt meet any of the two mens eyes. Tahimik lang din
at ngumingiti si Corrs. And then they heard the emcee saying that someone from
the audience was going to dedicate a song to his someone special.
Nagkatinginan sila sa center stage. The lights became dim. And then he, who is s
till in the dark started to play.
The man who cant be moved.
The voice was too familiar. It was soothing. Para talagang may pinaghuhugutan an
g pagkanta nito. Maybe he was singing his song. He was the man who cant be moved.
And then the light was centered on him.
Brent...napatingin silang apat kay Corrs.
Tatayo sana ito pero pinigilan niya sa braso. Halata ditong nalulungkot. Maiiyak
. Masaya.Hes sweet.Che told Corrs.
If you'll only hear and feel what the song really entails... It's about a man wh
o can't move on, who's still waiting... Too saddening. Too romantic. Too impossi
ble.
Prinsesa... will you dance with me?
Napatingin siya kay Rexel, hindi niya alam kung bakit. But his expression was un
readable. She gave her hand to Dane as they went to the dance floor.
Whatever happens... I wont give up on you. Not now. I love... Hinipitan nito ang ya
kap.
Dont Dane... whatever happens all I can promise is that whenever you need me, Ill a
lways be there for you. Kahit ilang beses mo kong maging shock absorber okay lan
g kasi...mahal din kita. Kasi kaibigan kita...mali ba ko ng pinipili? Mali ba ko ng
desisyon?
I know...
Just promise me, that well always be friends. Partners.Hindi lahat ng desisyon madal
i. She wanted them both but she couldn't have them at the same time. She's too s
elfish.Napatingin siya dito. Hinawakan nito ang baba niya at itinaas. He nodded. Na
kita niyang tumayo si Corrs at papalapit sa lalaking naggigitara sa stage. Sa la
laking nangangakong maghihintay. They looked at each other. Sometimes, love isnt
just roses, it has its thorns.
Can I take her away from you?nagulat sila sa boses mula sa kaliwa. She gasped. Hind
i niya napansin na kanina pa namumula ito. Kanina pa ba ito umiinom?
His words were taunting. With meaning.
Pare...napahawak sa braso niya si Dane. Nagkasukatan ito ng titig.Ahmm.
No, you cant.
Pinagbigyan lang kita.Galit na bulong ni Rexel. Was he talking about the dance? Or.
..
Shes not yours.Galit ding balik ni Dane. And before she knew it. The song ended.
And there was a commotion.
Hindi niya alam kung sinong unang sumuntok basta ang alam niya. Nagkakagulo na.
At si Rexel at si Dane ay umiikot ikot na sa sahig. She was paralyzed.Dammit.
Stop it.
Hindi niya alam kung anong awat ang gagawin. Nasuntok ni Dane si Rexel sa sikmur
a. Nakita naman niyang bumawi si Rexel sa muka ni Dane.
Napatakbo si Brent dahil hindi maawat si Rexel. Kaya silang tatlong babae ang hu
mawak kay Dane. Hingal at puro pasa sila.
Hindi na kayo mga bata! Hindi ako laruan para pag-awayan niyo!naiiyak na sabi niya.
Mabilis siyang lumabas ng bar. At napapagod na umupo sa malapit na bench don.
Lumabas ang lima. Nakita niyang puro pasa si Rexel at Dane. Pero parehong lumapi
t sa kanya.Dont come near me.
Reese... I just want to settle a few things. I wanted to hurt Dane because I was
jealous.
Natigil siya sa paghakbang.
Mag-usap muna kayong dalawa. Nandun lang kami.Nakita niyang napilitang sumunod si D
ane ng hawakan ni Cheryl ang kamay nito.
Rex... ayoko ng gulo. Napapagod na ko.
Tinitigan niya ito... nagkamali ba siya? Ayaw niya ng ganito. She wanted to end
this. Everything is a fiasco. Love is not a game. Maybe she's the end, because i
t all started on her.
I know. What happened yesterday. Ill forget about it. About Mitchie, we never had
something. Maybe almost. Pero bata pa kami. Magkasing-edad kami non ni Mitchie w
hen we were in the states, and then I met your sister.
Rex.. hindi ko alam. Naguguluhan na ko... pero one things clear. Whatever happens
I want us to be friends. Hindi ko gustong may nasasaktan at my expense. Rex... a
numan yung nangyari, can't we just forget about it? and be... friends?Nagsusumamo
ang mga mata niya.
He smiled. Can I resist you? niyakap siya nito. Hinayaan niya ito. Pero kumalas di
n siya. Nauna siyang tumalikod dito. Tinignan niya ito muna.
I've already decided.
Thirty Two:
The Big Day!
What a bright morning. A special day for her. She looked up at the sky. Corrs is
leaving today. Maybe shell be back for Brent. Perhaps Brent will find her. Or th
eyll still be together in a thousand year... if destiny permits it. Si Cheryl nau
na lang ng ilang araw. How sad.
Hindi siya naniniwala sa kapalaran. Pero malay mo naman na totoo talaga si Inang
Destiny. Kasi alam niyang tao ang gumagawa ng problema at solusyon, but God is
there to guide, always.
There was pandemonium in and out of their house. 18 years of existence. No relat
ionships, no commitments, no secret phone calls at night.
Nagkakagulo, ikaw parang wala lang?napatingin siya kay Sasha.
Sha.. did you love your boyfriend too much to give him everything?
Napatingin ito sa kanya. Her face were thoughtful.
Gaga, correction ex po... hindi naman ako nainlab dun no.
Eh ano tawag mo dun, in lust? Ganon?
Hindi nasilaw lang ako sa abs non no... kaya kala ko handa akong magpakatanga sa
kanya.She laughed hard. And smiled bitterly. When her boyfriend thought she was pr
egnant he left her without so much ado.
Ui nakalimutan ko 18 ka na nga pala... baka nakakalimutan mo..theyve been her friend
s. Best of friends. And she'll love them for always.
Ano bang gusto niyo nila Ginger at Sasha?she looked at her astonished face.
Are you sure about that?
Maybe yes. Perhaps no. She only knew one thing, someone's bound to get hurt.
-----------
God. This is the night she turns into womanhood. Legal. Legal to love? And legal
to get hurt?
She was stunning. She felt like Cinderella making her way through the crowd as s
he descended the stairs. Maybe tonight, shell have her fairy tale. Only she would
nt know if happy endings were really true. Shell find out.
Shes responsible now for her every actions. Sinalubong siya ng parents niya pagba
ba niya ng hagdan.I love you both my, dy.They both hugged her.Sorry.
We love you darling.Niyakap siya ng matagal ng mommy niya.
She gazed up at the starry night.Ate, I love you, I know I never had the time to
tell you this but thank you... Just guide me please. Like, I know, you secretly
do.Parang lumamig yung hangin. She smiled at everyone. Then Ginger, Laney and Sas
ha embraced her tightly.
Wag mo kaming paiiyakin ha! Kung hindi...she laughed.
The program started. 18 candles. 18 wishes. 18 wines. It was exhilarating. She r
emembered the times she was a young girl. Now she couldnt just go to mommy and da
ddy when someones trying to tease and hurt her.
18 roses.
She danced with her father. She danced with her cousins.
18th rose.
She gaped at the two men coming towards her. One from the right. The other from
the left. Her hands were tightly clasped to her fathers arm. He wasnt telling her
anything. He nodded, smiled and left her on the dance floor not knowing what to
do.
Who will she choose?
She stared at Rexel.
She gazed at Dane.
Everybody fell silent. The crowd was anticipating who will she dance. It meant s
omething. It meant choosing the one from the other. You cant have one without hur
ting the other.
Dane was a friend, a very dear friend. She likes him. He knew everything about h
er. Sometimes she thought he could read her thoughts. She can share anything wit
h him. She was too comfortable having him around. They were always connected. Bu
t she doesnt want to lose a friend. Will she risk it, losing him in the process?
Rexel was the debonair. He made her feel special. He made her angry, happy, and
frustrated. He whisked her away from her boring world. He brought out her wild a
nd giddy side. He was excitement personified. Will it be enough to have a happy
ending?
Napatingin siya sa dalawa. She has to make her own decision now. Sasha, Ginger a
nd Laney only nodded. They didnt give answers. It was up to hers now.Only her.
Maybe the guests thought it amazing to be torn between two handsome men. Little
did they know that it was too difficult. Flattering, yes. But it was beyond that
. It was frightening to lose them both.
Tinignan niya ito pareho.
Just likeCinderella, the clock strikes midnight and it will be over.
Just likeCinderellashe'll turn into an ordinary girl.
Maybe this is all a dream. But she's no Sleeping Beauty either who will be kisse
d by a handsome prince.
She's just Caprice.
Im sorry...
Mabilis niyang nilagpasan ang dalawa. Everybody was too stunned.
Maybe she was really Cinderella... in the making. She run... run away from them.
Not really running, but walking away. Maybe Cinderella is a coward also.
She left her glass slipper, her.
She doesn't want to look back. She might let her heart win. She might choose bet
ween the two of them. It hurts. But it will heal. She hopes...
She went across the place in search of one man she knew was a safe haven. She st
ood in front of the man whos heart was also missing. The man who could wait for a
thousand year for something hed lost. Maybe hell forget about it. Maybe shell also
forget this night. But not the feelings. Or maybe shell lose it too. Just like h
ow Cinderella lost her glass slipper.
Will her prince charming find her and give it back to her?
Brent?
Para itong natutulog na napadiretso ng upo. She can see that he wasnt expecting t
his. So is she. After tonight everything will change.
She chose no one.
Thirty Three:
The Conclusion...
Being anNBSBdoesnt mean you dont deserve to be loved. That youre not pretty. That your
not good. That youre a lesser woman. Blah, blah, blah, NOPE. For me?
It meant many things.
It has its advantages.
It has its downfalls.
Siguro nga tama sila, God is making the best story for me, yun nga lang naubusan
siya ng ink nung ako na yung next in line. Or maybe, it wasnt yet the right time
. You dont need to have a boyfriend just to feel things that committed people have ha
d.
Kasi naniniwala akong indibidwal tayo na ginawa ng Dyos.
We cant live without men. Wala ng aangal. Thats a fact. Pero pagsinabi nilang, We c
ant be happy without them. Bosh... Idiocy. We can make a lot of wonders. We can fu
lfill dreams. And we still have a lot ofLOVEto give.
Whoever that faceless man is, I think hell be lucky enough to make us feel what w
eve all been waiting for. Diba nga sabi nila its a long journey up to the end, and
its like coming home.
They say that were always left behind. Perhaps, its because we cant just settle.
Sino bang may mali? Tayo ba? O sila? Are we living in a world of fantasy? Or mer
ely that, as we grow older we expect too much from men? Thats why until now we ha
vent found Mr. Right.
Sa totoo lang theres no such thing as Mr. Right... he just became the right one f
or us. Siya yung... yung guy na makakapagtiis kahit nagrereklamo tayo, yung guy
na pinapatawa tayo kapag nakasimangot tayo, yung guy na sinisigawan tayo pagnasu
sugatan tayo kasi... nag-aalala siya, natatakot siya. Yung lalaking kaya mong sa
bihan ngwala ka talagang kwentatapos tatawanan ka lang at sasabihan ngTanga. Meron kay
a, nung minahal kita.
Reese... ano ba... ikaw na lang ang kulang sa entourage. Nakatulala ka pa dyan? A
yusin mo na yang dress mo.she smiled at Sasha. Shes a single mom now. But I think s
hes happy.
Hindi pa naman ata mag-start eh... excited kayo. Ang hirap naman paggarden weddin
g oh. Tsk...She pouted.
Mo!napalingon sila sa makulit na batang tumatakbo.
Mikko... ang bebe ko.Tawa ng tawa na yumakap ito sa kanya. Napailing lang si Sasha.
Oh... isa ka pa, umakyat ka pa dito.
Eh kasi si Mikko ang kulit kanina pa gusto makita si Reese...napangiti ito ng makit
a siya. He really looked handsome. Drat.
You really are a miniature version of your Dad... you little one.
So Daddys cute also? Kasi... lagi mo kong sinasabihan ng handsome eh.
Dane coughed. Sasha laughed. Her right eyebrow raised.
Manang mana ka talaga.He looked at her. And then she saw that he was happy. Hindi n
iya maiwasang hindi sumagi sa isip niya. Kamusta na kaya siya? That long ago guy
she first thought she was in love with.
Oh... Brent. Hindi ka pwedeng tumaas ah.Napalingon sila.
Kinakabahan lang kasi ako. Para kong nadudumi.Sabi nito kay Sasha at tuluyang pumas
ok sa dressing room. Napanganga ito. Wow. Tinitigan niya ito ng masama.
Alam mo Kahambugan hanggang ngayon di ka pa rin nagbabago.Inirapan niya ito.
Brent bilis bumaba ka na nga!natatawang sabi ni Sasha.
Wedding day na wedding day ko... ginaganto niyo ko.
Anong sabi mo?
He rolled his eyes heavenward. Kakamot kamot sa ulo na bumaba na ito.
Bababa na rin ako. Sumunod ka na ha... nandun sina Ginger at Laney.
Opo... para namang ako lang yung kulang.
Tita Sasha! I wanna go downstairs too!maharot na bumaba ito sa lap niya at sumunod
kay Sasha.
Mikko pagbaba mo!
They stared at each other. How hed been special to her. Well, until now.
Dane... have I told you thank you?tumayo ito sa harapan niya at hinawakan ang dalaw
ang kamay niya. Umiling ito.
You dont have to. I should be the one saying that... bakit ikaw?
Kasi... youve shared Mikko with me. Youve been there... when Im confused. When Ive ha
d no clue as to what I really wanted.Ayaw niyang umiyak. Naaalala niya ang nakaraa
n. And her first love...
He hugged her tight. She was happy.
Bumaba ka na ha... kung sabagay maya maya pa ng onti pa naman. Pero.. sige na,
She shove him towards the stairs. Dane was my soulmate. Soulmate? Oo, you heard
me right. For me, he was the male version of Caprice Roxas. There was more that
meets the eye. Sabi nila opposites attract so maybe thats the problem with the two
of us. Were so compatible therell be no thrills and frills. He wanted to be free.
Maybe thats why being a pilot has been his obsession ever since. And now he had
it.
She walked down the stairs.
Mabuti naman at bumaba ka na bruha ka.
Ginger!I kissed her on the cheek. There are many facets of love.
Hindi ko masasabing expert ako. Actually its too limited if compared to what my f
riends have had. Si Ginger? Isa na siyang editor sa isang magazine. Shes dating a
businessman. And it doesnt end with it. That businessman happened to be the nerd s
he was bullying in their University.
The song started to play.Endless Love.
She was getting teary-eyed as she walked down the aisle. She saw Laney smiled at
her. So far siya ang pinakasuccesful ang lovelife. Nakapagmove on na siya sa kai
saisang lalaking minahal at iniwan siya she was now married and a full-time wife
.
Nakita niya din yun kambal. Si Anne at si Ria. They were now fully grown-ups. Da
mn. Tumatanda na talaga siya. They were both giggling. They would soon found the
ir way in the world and look for somebody to love.
I looked at Dane. Such a gorgeous best man. Hindi naman sa pinagnanasaan pa niya
ito ha. And there was Brent. Pure bliss was written all over his face. Natatand
aan pa niya ang lahat ng kalokohan nito. Noon hanggang ngayon.
How I wished I knew what had become of him... after all these years. Whenever I
reminisce what happened in the past I cant help but wonder...
Well, I believe that men charted his own destiny. Hindi naman sa ayokong maniwal
a na si God ang gumagawa ng kapalaran natin pero... some part of it werent true.
We make our own decisions in life. Only God served as our guardian.
Dane took my hand and led me to Brent.
I kissed him on the cheek and hugged him tightly. This was a very special day.
I want you to be happy. Always.
Ang bagal naman matapos nito. Nadudumi na talaga ko sa sobrang kaba.I laughed and p
layfully punched him on the ribs.
Ive loved and lost. I envied others. I pitied myself.
All I have were answers boring down on my head. Why am I still single?
Ive read this line from a book, and it kept playing on my mind.
Being single is sometimes like this great drawn circle. I have all the freedom I
can imagine yet this inability to step outside the line which amounts to no free
dom at all. I want to see what its like where I fear to tread.
This maybe somehow true. Somewhere along the way we just have to find ourselves
drawn to that line. But were afraid of what might be. Of where it might lead us.
But the best thing I ever found in this whole thing...
Is myself.
Kasi hindi mo kayang magmahal ng ibang tao kung ikaw hindi mo mahanap ang sarili
mo. At si God.
Epilogue:
I ceased believing in fairy tales after that night. Maybe because I became cynic
al or maybe because love really existed only in the corners of novels. But then,
I started writing my own story to make it real...to give it a happy ending.
Seven years. God. I hadnt thought it was that long.
The memories of that long ago night kept haunting me. Why? Why should it bother
me, when Ive buried it too deep?
There are times when being single has been a curse. There are also moments when
its a blessing. Most of the time, I complained everytime I see couples kiss and w
hisper sweet nothings in public, hindi naman ako bitter bitteran. Pero may mga t
imes din na kapag araw ng puso, naiisipan kong bigyan na lang kaya ng roses ang
sarili ko?
Lifehappened,didnt.
But it didnt mean that happiness is centered only on one person. Maybe we are a s
elfish lot. Sigurista tayo, we wont give unless theres nothing to take. Were afraid
to invest our feelings if theres no profit from them. Mahirap mag-risk. But whats
life without a little complications? Boys are complications, love is complicate
d.
You dont have to findIT. You just have to find yourself.
She looked at her wristwatch. Its 6 pm. Napatingin siya sa labas. Inilabas niya y
ung susi at mabilis na pinaandar ang sasakyan pagkaupo. Her phone started ringin
g.
Hello?
Hey! Kanina pa ko tawag ng tawag ah!
Cheryl?She rolled her eyes.Im driving. Kung anuman yang ichichismis mo, pwedeng mamaya
na? I have a business appointment with my publisher for the first time right no
w and its a matter of life and death.
She heard her sigh.Matter of life and death? Nako, if I know being a workaholic co
uld kill you to exhaustion. Boring. So your anonymous publisher is going to reve
al himself huh?
Tumingin siya sa kalsada. Damn traffic.
Ano bang tinawag mo? Dont tell me sesermunan mo lang ako?
I have good news.
Spill it out.
Im....
Your what?
Immmmm.....
Cheryl!
Im pregnant!
Youre what?!napapreno siya pero huli na. Napasubsob siya sa manibela at naumpog yung
noo niya. Hindi niya nakita yung sasakyang mabilis sa gilid na nagsuswerve. Munt
ik na silang magkagitgitan.Damn.
Ouch!gigil na bumaba siya. Tumigil din sa gilid ang sasakyang itim pero binaba lang
ng onti yung tinted na salamin. Naka-shades ito. Only the upper portion of his
face was visible. She felt a thud in her heart. Silly.
Bastos!
Excuse me! Kung magpapakamatay ka sana ikaw na lang. Wag ka ng mandamay ng iba. D
o you have a license? Surely you know how to drive safely?gigil pero mahinahon niy
ang sabi.
May hinalungkat ito sa wallet at may ipinakita sa kanya. Lisensya nito! Arogante
! Pilosopo!
Okay na?pagkasabi non itinaas na agad nito yung salamin. Kakatukin niya sana ito ng
bumusina ang mga sasakyan sa likod nila. Gigil na bumalik siya sa sasakyan niya
. Nakita niya umarangkada ulit ito. Hinilot niya ang sentido. Naramdaman niyang
may bukol siya. Yung blazer niya nagusot. Damn.
Nakita niya. 6:50 pm.Sh*t, hala... late na ko.
Mabilis na inalis na lang niya ang blazer at nakahalter blouse at black skirt na
one inch above the knee. Muka pa rin naman siyang kagalang galang kaysa magmuka
siya ginahasa.
Tinawagan niya si Cheryl. Pero walang sumasagot sa phone nito. Shes pregnant. Goo
dness, ang dami na niyang inaanak. Naalala niya yung bet nila ni Sasha, Ginger a
t Laney. Lahat ng mga magiging anak ng mga ito, magiging ninang siya. Yun yung n
aging punishment niya.
Maybe she wasnt meant to be Cinderella, she was meant to be the fairy godmother,
after all. How cruel life must be.
Im looking for a certain, RL Santos?
Hes got a reservation here maam, this way po.Dinala siya nito dun sa isang conference
room. Pero habang naglalakad sila may nakita siyang pamilyar na likod ng bata n
a tumatakbo sa pasilyo. Nilingon niya pero... wala na.
7:15 pm. She sat down. She thought she was late, yun pala mas late pa ito..
Siguro matanda na tong RL Santos na to. O kaya hes gay.She smiled.
7:30 pm. Bubuga na talaga siya ng apoy.Leche plan naman oh..nagretouch siya.
The door suddenly opened. She was about to stand and say something intelligently
. But the words died down. Will the ghost of the past still haunt her? Had she c
onjured him on her mind?
He was there standing, suitcase in hand. Hes wearing a three piece suit that the
term handsome gave justice to it. Her knees started to buckle. Why? All those ye
ars...
Reese! Get hold of yourself! Silly. Youre not seventeen anymore.
You... are.. RL Santos?parang hindi lumabas yun sa bibig niya.
He looked at her. Surveyed her. Scrutinized every inch of her.Staring is rude.Inis n
iyang sabi ng hindi na niya matagalan ang titig nito. He was still the same, onl
y older, wiser. More the debonair. More sexy. She tried to close her eyes.
Lets get down to business Ms. Roxas. Im sorry I was late. I was just staring becaus
e... you dont look like youre ready for business.He looked at her then... his eyes s
topped at her exposed shoulders and...
Damn. He was still arrogant. Was he mad because of what happened seven years ago
? Ms. Roxas? Ha!
If thats what you want Mr.SANTOS.She mocked.And prior to my clothing, some jerk had alm
ost bumped my car that my blazer got crumpled.Naiirita siya. Bakit ba siya nagpapa
liwanag dito? Bitter ba ito?
After seven years! This would be their reunion?! Dammit.
Really? I thought youre just clumsy and accident prone. And one more thing I'm Rex
el Liam Santos Javier.He slowly grinned. THAT SAME GRIN.
So... youre my anonymous publisher? All this time?Sabi niya at tumalikod dito. She c
an feel her heart beating so loud and fast shes afraid he might hear it. Naiinis
siya dito. Nagpakita ito pagkatapos ng maraming taon para lang ganituhin siya?
Umupo ito sa swivel chair at parang relax na relax na sumandal. Habang hindi siy
a magkandatuto sa paghahanap ng papers. Napapikit siya. Naiwan niya yung mahalag
ang document sa baba..
Tell me about yourself.Napamulat siya at napatingin dito.
Theres... nothing much to tell.Bakit ba siya nag-iistutter?
What happened between you and Dane?tinitigan siya nito. Its as if his eyes could pen
etrate to her being, to her soul, to her secrets.
Hindi ko alam na chismis at hindi business proposal ang ipinunta natin dito. Woul
d you like to be a columnistMR. RL SANTOS?she said sarcastically.
Ive heard hes a pilot now. And hes married to Cheryl.
Thats a fact. Pilot na si Dane habang nurse naman si Cheryl. Nagkita ulit sila ng
pumuntang ibang bansa ang una para sa travel ng ilang araw, they got hooked. An
d the rest was history.
You werent there.... at the wedding three months ago.She said silently.
Nope... some important matters came up.
She nodded. There was nothing left to say. But there were so many questions left
unanswered. Kung maraming nangyayari sa isang araw ano pa kaya ang pitong taon?
Anyway... Why didnt you tell me?
How about Brent?
She stilled. Arent they here for business?
What about him?
You chose him over us... that night. But it went differently in your... story. Yo
ur heroine fell in love with the guy.They live happily ever after.He said stonily.
Surely you knew what happened. Brent married Corrs last week, you didnt also atten
d the wedding. I was their maid-of-honor.Napayuko siya. Ayaw niyang makita nito yu
ng lungkot niya.
Everybody was settling down. Everybody found love. And she found none.
Pagkatapos ng lahat ng nangyari, are you happy?
Thats a silly question. You know what, youre still the same manipulative and a jerk
! If you dont want to get on with business, fine by me!sinalansan nya ang mga papel
es at tumayo na. She couldnt stand being with him. She couldnt control her emotion
s.
Tatalikod na siya ng hawakan siya nito sa braso at iharap. Tinitigan niya ito ng
masama.
Susumbatan mo ba ko?they were too close. She missed this. She missed him.
So, business it is.At pinaupo ulit siya nito.
Kinuha nito yung attache case. She was tensed. She wanted this over and done wit
h.
I wont cry over spilled milk. Yun na ang naging motto ko, what Ive done in the pas
t I cant blame myself. Pain is constant, its the getting used to that makes moving
on possible. I cant be trapped in the past forever. Walang nagmahal na hindi nas
aktan. At walang nasaktan na hindi natutong tumayo at magmahal muli. Yun nga lan
g, it leaves scars that could be permanent.
I have a new proposition to make. That is, if youre willing...
Tumingin siya dito. Waiting.
Youre duty would be tough, are you sure you will not cower at the first sight of p
roblems?he said mockingly.Hindi ka na bata.
She gasped and stood up.Are you telling me that Im a coward?
Nope... Im just making sure. This is a lifetime project. And one more thing gusto
kong baguhin mo yung ending ng story mo.
She wanted to shout at him.What! No!
Yes... Im the publisher, remember? Hindi kasi kapanipaniwala yung sinulat mo. Afte
r that night, they live happily ever after? Pure rubbish. itinaas nito ang papel
niya.
Napatingin siya dito. She bit her lower lip. Is he angry at her?
I want you to write this.
She felt numb. He didnt understand her reasons for not choosing him that night. N
akatingin lang siya dito. Nanginginig yung kamay niyang may hawak ng bolpen.
Write this down.He was too arrogant. Still a jerk.
After that night. The guy felt lost, he thought she didnt love him. Because she wa
s blaming him her sisters death.
I did not---itinaas nito yung kamay para patahimikin siya. Hindi niya magawang igal
aw ang kamay.
He went back to the states to find himself. To be a better man for her. Hell forge
t her, he thought. He bedded women after women. Dated more than his fair share.
But when he came back, hed read this unpublished novel, he wanted to publish it b
ecause it was like... the author had written it after his own story. Only the en
ding was different.
She felt her tears started streaming down her cheeks.
He walked towards her. And extended his hand. This time, she wasnt the least bit
confused. All those years, she never committed herself. She thought she was too
afraid to love and be hurt again. She dated, yes. But there was always something
missing.
It was him all along.
Then the publisher wanted to meet this author, this very great author to make the
ending believable. Then they were shocked to find out that after seven long yea
rs, they both knew each other,they were the characters, they both wanted to make
a happy ending. Only they didnt know where to start that chapter again.
The guy wanted to start by asking the woman of his dreams to be his wife. Surely
he wasnt late yet?
She was rendered speechless.
Tumingin siya sa likod at nakita silang lahat. Kanina pa ba sila doon? Nakita ni
ya si Cheryl, kinindatan siya ni Dane habang nakayakap sa bewang ng una. Biglang
tumakbo sa kanya si Mikko.
Mo... Hes handsome too.She smiled. Niyakap niya ito. Kahit anak ito ni Mitchie hindi
kailanman siya nagtanim ng sama ng loob dito. He was an angel. When Dane gradua
ted, he married Mitchie. Hindi man sila nagkasundo, before she died giving birth
she asked her to look after Dane and Mikko. Hindi kinaya ng puso nito at katawa
n ang hirap ng labor. Maybe she knew it would happen.
Napatingin siya kay Corrs at Kahambugan. Akala niya ba nasa honeymoon ang dalawa
ng ito. Corrs smiled at her and mouthed YES. After so many years, coincidence na
nagkita sila ni Corrs sa seminar ng isang software company. She was going to wr
ite some article about it and Corrs was the speaker. Nung time na yun kakabreak
lang nito sa current boyfriend at hindi naman natuloy ang kasal ni Brent sa baba
eng muntik ng pumikot dito. They thought it was a hopeless case. But then miracl
es do happen. It was love.
Awww...
Nakita niyang lumuhod si Rexel sa harapan niya.I was driving fast because I wanted
everything to be perfect. I so wanted to see you when I found out you were the
author.Napatingin ito at hinawakan yung bump niya sa ulo.
Ikaw?maybe it was really destiny. Lagi na lang nagkukrus ang landas nila. Lagi na l
ang silang nagkakabangga. Lumuhod ito.
Caprice Roxas, I dont want to be your prince, I dont want to be your hero in your s
tory. I wanted to be your husband. Because, babe, this is for real.
Umiiyak na pinatayo niya ito. She couldnt utter a word. The song started playing.
Grow old with you.
She mouthed the words... I love you too. She couldnt speak. But he understood it. H
e hugged her so tight. And then he bent his head. He kissed her, long and hard.
As if telling her that hell make up for the lost years. She met his passion.
Everybody cheered. Biglang dumating si Sasha, Laney at Ginger.
Niyakap siya nito ng mahigpit at pinunasan yung luha niya at hinalikan yun noo n
iya.Mahal na mahal kita...
Maybe I was no princess, this was no fairy tale. But I found my own prince. Afte
r what happened that night, fairy tales only became a fiction, just like the nov
els Im writing. It was something a silly heart can replace because the future cant
take it. But now I knew why it was made, because it represents things, situatio
ns. Pinagaan na version lang.
There was no such thing as happy endings, what they have is a beginning. Its sill
y, because it doesnt end where the prince kissed the heroine. It was the start of
their journey together. The start of many more petty fights, of almost giving u
p, of blaming one another. But it was also the start of traveling and walking do
wn the road together. Two who became one.
"The most difficult journey isn't always one of distance, but one we take in our
selves."
-a line from Angel with Attitude