Accidentally In Love


[1st Story]  tenderheart. All Rights R eserved 2009. Distribution of any kind is P
ROBIHITED without the written consent o f LHYNNE.


[Warning : Some bad terms and languages h ave been used for this story. If cursin
g is a no-no for you, you might as well a void it or something to get through wit
h it. My apologies, readers.]


The Case [Prologue]


Accidents always occur when...

You do an unexpectedly crime that will lead you to be a prisoner -- of a stup!d 
guy. I'm like a prisoner in his sight.

"
Because of the crime that I did accidentally.
"
Because he s the guy who s arranged with me accidentally too.

I noticed that nowadays, everyday in my life occur ACCIDENTALLY. Everyday is lik
e an accident for a student like me. Well, for me, that s life. Life surprises yo
u with another turn. Life always changing in every second, as well as underestim
a ting you. 

What if love will bloom between us accidentally? 

I told you. Everyday in my life occurs accidentally. And I will never ever regre
t the surprises of life that the crime actually given me.


He's the POLICE, and I'm just a PRISONER of his.


Victims and Suspects [Color Codings]


Marriane Louise Santos [deep pink]
Rex Carlo Lopez [dodger blue]
Lawrence Yan [green]
Andrea Reyes [purple]
Candy Tramph [fuchsia]
Abby Rose Cruz [orange]
Camille Reyes-Yan [teal]

Other Characters - includes teachers, fangirls, parents, siblings, unknown voice
s , etc. [black]


















Handcuff o1 

Weird Life.



I had a dream last night....

I saw myself
 ..
.
Then I saw a
Suddenly, he
I saw myself

in a white gown like i'm going to be married & walking at the aisle
man in a white clothes...
faded away...
yelling his name so he can come back but, he didn't respond...


Weird dream, huh? b ut you know, that dream reminds me of finding soulmates... I 
dunno, we'll... I j ust read it in Abby's book and it says,

"If you already found him, then you shouldn't let him go..."

Nah! Hindi ko pa iniisip yan noh! I m not ready enough to meet my soulmate. Who c
ares? Nobody does& except to my friend Abby.

I was cleaning at the living room when I saw this Arrange Marriage Agreement stu
ff at the center table. Kung gusto mong malaman kung ano yung Agreement na yun, 
b etter read up.

P apu told me that I m going to marry that guy who I met in a children s party, I d
unno why and I m super hate it&

Alam m o, kapag n akikita ko y an, gusto ko yang punitin pero, there s something for
cing m e na wag g awin yun& a nd I dunno why.

 Ano naman yan?

andyan pala si Mamu.


 Kasi naman eh, nakita ko nanaman  tong Agreement na to&  I went upset.

 Akala ko ba, pupunitin mo yan sa oras na mahawakan mo yan?

 Bakit pa Mamu? Mabait naman ako ah!

She tapped my shoulder.  Alam ko kung anong nararamdaman mo at this moment pero, 
it s your Papu s fault, remember?

Yeah, kabalbalan to ni Papu. Dahil nga mahal ko si Papu at nandun na sya sa fluf
fy [Heaven] place, sinunod ko na sya.

And this is my destiny. I guess.


***


Sa school, gumagawa kami ni Abby [Rose Cruz] ng assignment kaya we have to hurry
. Eto nga palang si Abby, eh, she s a kikay girl, must say na  malandi but medyo&
she s always there to make me laugh, kahit saan, kahit bumagyo pa, magkaroon pa 
ng tornado at lindol, kahit tangayin na kami, hay, di mo kami mapapaghiwalay. Ka

klase ko kaya to since e lementary pa! Nahawaan na ata ako nito ng virus nya eh&
 you know, para na rin a kong lukaret tulad nya. 

The bell suddenly rang. Lahat kami nagsipagpasukan na sa kanya-kanyang mga class
rooms. Well, wala kaming teacher ngayon. Nagmistulang playground nanaman tong ro
om namin. Lagi naman eh& ako? Nakadungaw lang kaya ako sa bintana?! 

Nilapitan ako ni Abby.  Oi Madam! Alam mo, para kang autistic jan? 

Endearments. She decided that for herself only. I didn t even think out a better 
name-call for her. So, she decided to call me  MADAM . Sh eesh.  Hay, naku, tigilan 
mo nga ako Abby! Alam mo, istorbo ka po&  

 Ang mabuti pa, samahan mo na l ang ako sa boy s locker room, andun daw ngayon yung
 g wapong nasa pilot section! s abay tili.

 Ikaw na lang mag-isa!

 Ang sungit naman nito& hmp! sabay alis.

 Ewan ko sa yo Abby, at bakit nababaliw ka ngayon sa mga nerd sa pilot section.

Ang tagal ng oras!

With that, the bell rang. Ang weird ah. Kakasabi ko lang, nangyari agad. 

 Ang aga naman ata ngayon ng uwian?

May nag-announce.  Teachers have an urgent meeting so, class dismissed! 

Nagsigawan lahat ng mga kaklase ko, at nagtulakan para lang makaalis. Iniwan nam
an ako ni Abby sa locker room. 

Nakita ko yung matandang babaeng janitor. We exchanged smiles tapos bigla na lan
g nyang hinawakan yung kamay ko. 

 H-huh? T-Teka.. ano po yun? Bakit nyo po ko hinahawakan?

 Sandali lang iha. Huhulaan kita, iha.  I looked at her, puzzled.  May insidenteng
 mangyayari sa daan mo kung saan makikilala mo ang katapat mo. 

 Huh? Ano& po yun? Seriously, I don t get her. Well, ganyan naman ang mga manghuh
ula diba? Clueless ka kapag kaharap mo. Feeling mo sya lang ang nakakaalam ng la
hat ng mga nangyayari. 

 Sige na iha. Mag-ingat ka iha at mamuhay ka ng masaya kasama sya. At umalis na s
ya.

Ano yung sinasabi nung matandang yun? Weird nga talaga.


Handcuff o2 - The Crime.


Oh, never mind.

P ero, pano kaya kung maaksidente ako? Gusto ko pang mabuhay no! *Sigh* Oo nga, n
andun si Papu, pero hindi ibig sabihin hindi ko sya gustong makasama dun. Hay, e
wan.


When I  was walking home, naalala ko nanaman yung Arrange Marriage. Nakakainis ta
laga s ina Mamu & Nababaliw na ba sila o nasisisraan na ng ulo?

I felt bored. Na parang gusto kong durugin ang mundo at manirahan na lang sa iba
ng planeta. If I had to, I would try to survive on Neptune [since Pluto wasn t co
nsidered as a planet na.].. kasi alam ko that planet was also suffering the thin
gs that Earth was suffering now. Well, based lang naman yun sa utak ko, wag nama
n kayo magpapadala. Kayo oh, alam nyo namang iba ang isip ko sa iba. Malayo ang 
nararating ng utak ko, di nyo alam. Mamaya mabalitaan nyo na lang ako nasa past 
na ko using the time machine. Haha. Nangarap ba?

I saw an empty soda can towards the street. Dahil sa galit k o, I tried to kick i
t. All of a sudden, nakarinig ako ng nabasag na something& w ell, siguro ano lan
g yun, mga walang magawa sa buhay nila. Wala yun.

I was walking at the sidewalk nung may narinig akong boses ng lalaki.

 Hoy!

Tumingin ako sa kanan at sa kaliwa, pero di ko pa rin sya makita. Ang weird ah.

 Hoy! Ano ba?

Haha. Nandun pala sya sa likod.

 Aishh.. ano bang problema mo at nagsisisigaw ka -- I paused. Oi, madam. Akalain 
mo yun, sa lahat ng mga pinagdadaanan ng buhay ko ngayon, isang gwapong nilalang
 pa ang dadaan? But, unfortunately, sira-ulo naman& tsss...

He scoffed.  Tsk. Nagtanong ka pa. Tingnan mo nga kung ano ang ginawa mo sa kotse
 ko!

 Huh? Ano bang pinagsasasabi mo?

 Alam kong ikaw ang s umipa nito. m ay hawak-hawak syang lata. Yun yung latang sini
p a ko kanina.

 Halika rito. Then h e grabbed my a rm.

 Aray ko! Ano ba?

Dinala nya ko sa sasakyan nya.

 Look what you did!

 Ano? Wala naman eh! 

 Bulag ka ba o bingi? Ano bang pinagsasasabi ng lalaking to?

There it i s. My two big b lack eyes saw it and widened. Aiyyy! Basag pala y ung ca
r window n ya! Ang lakas n aman ng impact ng pagkasipa ko dun. Ni hindi ko n ga bin
igyan ng m uch strength. Y ah, face it. Lagot ka&

 Then fine, I ll pay it!

 Oi, i nosenteng baliw, alam mo ba kung m agkano  tong brand new na kotse k o? Aba.. 
loko p ala tong lalaking to eh! Tinawag b a naman ak ong inosenteng baliw? A iiisssh
hh& I  have a decent name, idi0t.

 Magkano ba?! I exclaimed.


 Costs about.. well, mga hundred thousand lang naman.

O_O  

Ano? Okay, my eyes went out of their sockets because of so much shock. H-hu-hund
red thou-ss-sand daw? Lang naman? Well, siguro mura lang naman siguro sa katulad
 nyang mayayaman ang mga ganun. Eh wala naman akong perang ganun kalaki.

 Uh&

ummm&

hindi ko talaga sinasadya yun, sorry talaga...


 Tsk. A sorry couldn t back the disaster you made.

I thought for a second haw to escape it. Alam mo kasi, ang magandang gawin in th
 s kind of crime is to&
i



RUN!!!



 Oi, teka! Bumalik ka rito oi!



Para kaming tangang naghahabulan sa kalsada. Ito na nga ang krimeng hindi ko mat
atakasan. Kainis! With matching sigaw pa ang pagtakbo ko!

Lumingon ako habang tumatakbo. Buti na lang at malayo ang agwat naming sa isa t i
sa.  Ano ba yan! Hinahabol pa rin nya ko? Naman!

Ano nang gagawin ko? Papu, Mamu! Tulong!

Buti na lang, may nahanap na akong spot na pwede kong pagtaguan pansamantala. AY
OS! Ang tagal kong nagtago dun ah! Pero, nanjan pa rin ang gwapong nilalang na t
o& alas-otso na! Ano ba sya? Tao ba talaga to? Talagang mahal nya yung kotse ny
a& syempre, brand new eh!

 Inosenteng baliw!

Ang sama talaga nitong lalaking  to! No manners!

 Pag nakita kita, papatayin kita! tapos sinilip ko sya sa butas, nakaalis na pala
 sya.

Huminga ako ng malalim.  Walangya yung lalaking yun! Ang sakit-sakit ng likod ko 
kakatago dun!

Tumakbo ako papauwi sa bahay na parang kabayo.

 Naku, nakalock pa yung gate. Mamu! Marco! Buksan nyo tong gate!"

Nakita ko sila.  Marriane, alam mo ba kung anong oras na? di ba 5 ang uwian nyo?

 Sorry, Mamu, 4 nga kami umuwi kasi may meeting ang mga teachers sa school.

 Eh ba t 8 ka na nakauwi? 

"Uhhh, ummm& oo, nagreseach pa kami sa library kanina. *bows* sabay takbo papun

tang kwarto.

 Ate, di ka ba kakain?

 Hindi na, kumain na ko kanina bago ako umuwi. Sabay lock ng kwarto. Sumandal ako
 sa pinto. 

 Aaaahhh!!! I hate myself!

Humiga ako sa kama.  Nakakainis talaga&

tsk.Tsk.tsk.



***


Nagising ako dahil sa ingay sa labas. Dumungaw ako at alam nyo ba kung a nong nak
i ta ko?




M ga pulis! 


A s in ang daming pulis na nakapalibot sa bahay namin& may magtatangka p a ngang 
umakyat eh! Reding-ready na silang tudasin ako eh& tapos nakita ko pa y ung gwap
ong sira-ulo, kumakaway-kaway pa& kaasar talaga! 

 Marriane Louise Santos! Sumuko ka na, napapaligiran ka na naming lahat!


Is this happening to me?


Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


***


Nagising ako, pawis na pawis at hingal na hingal. Pinuntahan ako nina Mamu.  Marr
iane! Anong nangyari sa yo? Okay ka lang ba?

Binigyan ako ni Marco ng t ubig.  I- I had a nightmare..,. yung mga P u- oi Marrian
e , be specific naman!

"I mean, uhhhmm... ayun! m ay humahabol raw sakin na halimaw! tapos -  "

"Kinain ka? hay naku ate, nabasa ko na yan sa libro eh! Istorbo ka ah& "

"Totoo naman ah! Sapakin kita jan eh~~"

"Oi, tama na yan at inaantok pa ko... magsitulog na uli tayo, halika na Marco."

Napabuntong hininga na lang a ko as soon a  they went out of my room. I looked at 
the ceiling. Sana panaginip l ang yun... s ana di totoo yun... Pero paano kung....
 Masundan nya ko? Patay na! 



Well, good for me. >_<


Handcuff o3 - Normally but Abnormality.


Umaga na pala. A yokong pumasok ngayon pero, may p asok eh. Kapag umabsent naman a
ko nang walang d ahilan, they will be curious to m e. God! What will I gonna do?!

I took a deep breath. "Bahala na." 

Pano kung may mga kasama pa syang back-ups para bugbugin ako? He seems to be a b
ully one. Kita naman sa itsura di ba? Bakit, kasalanan ko ba? Well, yes of cours
e. You did the wrong thing. You ACCIDENTALLY entered the abnormal world that you
ve just found. Wow, meron palang ganung mundo. Where all the people can do thing
s accidentally. But only in my wonderland.

"Marriane, papasok ka ba?" I heard Mamu knocked out the door.

"Opo, papasok po ako..." Oi, Marriane, anong pinagsasabi mo? Ayos ka lang? Well,
wala na kong choice eh. Nakabihis na ko, nakasuot na yung bag ko sa likod ko...
and all I can do now is to move. Unfortunately, hindi ako makagalaw! I was like
, FREEZING!

H uminga ako ng malalim. Kalmado ka lang, okay? Hindi ka na masusundan nun. Posit
ive, think positive! Vanish all the bad vibes. Go enter good vibes. Inhale, exha
le, inhale, exhale.

LAKAD!


***


At eto na nga... Naglalakad na ko papuntang school. Anong ginagawa ko? Nababaliw
 na ba talaga ako? Yeah. Crazy to die.

I saw the streets was so - QUIET. But usually, ganito naman lagi ang nadadatnan 
ko kapag naglalakad ako papuntang school tuwing umaga. Iba lang siguro ang panan
a w ko sa araw na to. 

Birds are chirping, trees were swaying, wind blows harder -- 



PEEEEEEPPPPP!!!!!



A iiiiyyyy!!! Nakaharang na pala ako dito sa kalsada! But wait, baka sya na to...
 Patay!

I  started to close my eyes. "Parang awa mo na ayoko pang mamatay! Gusto ko pang 
mabuhay! Ayoko munang makasama si Papu sa taas! Please naman!" I screamed like a
desperate old woman who still wants to spend her last birthday in the Earth s cr
ust.

I heard the car door opened. Then I heard some footsteps that made me feel afrai
d.

Katapusan ko na! I'm gonna die!


May tumapik sa balikat ko. "Miss, okay ka lang?"


Lumingon ako. Hay sus! Akala ko sya na, thank GOD! W hew! Pero, a ng g wapo nito a h
! Napansin ko ah, why of all millions of creatures o f God, I m n ow b umping on t he
 beautiful ones? Hoy, pasalamat ka iha.

"Uhh, miss, nakaharang ka na sa daan."

"H-h-huh? Ay! naku, s orry... pasensya ka na." W alangya, mukha n a pala akong tang
ang nakatunganga sa k anya. How embarassing... a iiissshhh! Act l ike normal, Marri
ane!

"Sa susunod miss, dun ka na dumaan sa sidewalk ha? delikado eh." *bows*

"Oo, sige... pasensya na talaga." *bows*

He went back to driving. Oh well... Naglakad na uli ako. Minsan na lang ako m aka
bunggo ng mga taong ganun. Lalo na t magagandang nilalang ang mga hinaharap s akin
 ni God. Then I realized&

OMG! Late na ko!

I ran hurriedly to get to the s chool. Nung malapit na ko sa school, naglakad na 
 ang ako. Suddenly, I heard a v oice.
l

"Hoy!"

Lumingon ako. "Sino nanaman -- "


O_O


Am I blind, three blind mice? But he really is he! Di ba sya yung may-ari ng sas
akyan? Yung gwapong nilalang? hala, lagot na! Ngayon ba naman, sinusundan nya pa
 rin ako?! Pasaway ka ha&

"G@g0 ka ah! Halika rito! Pagkatapos mo kong pagtaguan kagabi?!" Hinabol nya ko.

"Aiiiiiissssshhhhh!!!!!" I'm gonna die! GOD, help me! Take me to Your kingdom!

Hinabol nya ako hanggang makarating ako dun sa school gate. Pumasok agad ako. Hi
ngal na hingal ako dahil sa kanya! Naku, nasira na tuloy ang beauty ko! Bwisit n
a ... ugh!

"Hoy! Akala mo, ligtas ka na? hah! Hindi ka makakalabas dito ng buhay!"

Aba! nagbabanta pa! No worries, Marriane... hahaha!

"Babay... ble!" I made a face infront of him. Tingnan mo yung mukha nya... talag
ang galit na galit sya...

Well, good for me!


***


Agad akong pumunta dun sa room ko. Bakit wala sila dito?


The room filled with silence. Then someone tapped me caused me to jump in fright
. "Oi, Marriane!"

"Aaaaahhhh!!!" Pagkalingon ko, si Abby lang pala!

"Loko ka ah! Ginulat mo naman ako!"

"Ginulat eh tinawag lang naman kita...teka, bakit parang kinakabahan ka?"

"H-h-ha? eh kasi... kasi tinakot mo ko eh!"

"Ganun? hahaha! n akakatawa yang itsura mo! Ano bang nangyari sayo?" tiningnan ko
 yung sarili ko s a salamin, mukha na pala akong bruha...

I brushed my hair and put my bag at my chair. "Wala... nakipaghabulan lang ako d
un sa sira-ulong yun..." I whispered.

"Ano?"

"Ah, wala kasi mahangin lang sa labas... teka, nasan silang lahat?"

"May P.E. tayo ngayon di ba?"

"Oo nga pala ano? buti na lang at iniwan ko yung uniform ko dun sa locker ko... 
t ara, samahan mo ko."


***


Pagdating namin sa girl's locker room...

"Marriane! Tingnan mo oh!" sabay tili. Aish. Ang sakit talaga sa tenga. Namimiha
sa ka na Abby ah. "Sino ba yun ha?"

"OMG! It s Rex!" tili agen. May bago nanaman siguro tong kinababaliwan. Hay, naku
...

Sinilip ko yung bintana. I looked outside to see the last person that I don t eve
r wanted to see in my whole life anymore.


O_O


Teka, talagang hindi sya titigil huh?! Pero, pano kung mamaya nanjan pa rin s ya 
p ag-uwi ko?

Bumalik agad ako sa locker ko and pretend that I don t see him.

"Nakita mo ba sya?"

"Aahhh... oo..." I put a fake smile on my face. But seriously, I don t know h im a
nd I don t want to know anything about him!

I just prayed about my safety trip to my home after class. 


***



I felt tired. Tired about r unning. Why can t you just turn around and face that c
rime? Aish. Sira rin tong s arili ko noh. 

I rested my head onto my table. Then pumasok sa utak ko na tanungin si Abby.

"Abby..." I groaned. "Hmm?" I looked at her as she combing her hair like a doll.
Ah.. ang ganda talaga ng buhok nya! I ve been craving that for almost a year! We
ll, she decided to have her bangs and straighten her hair. She really looked lik
e a doll, I admit.

"Ummm... magkano ba ang pagpapaayos ng bintana ng sasakyan?"

"Ano klaseng sasakyan ba?"

Teka, ano nga bang klase yun? "Hummer ba yun? Ah. Hummer nga."

"Bakit mo naman natanong?"

I paused. "W-wala... nagtatanong lang kasi yung kaibigan ko..."

"According to my cousin, mahal daw yun... siguro, mga around a thousand daw or s
omething... hindi ko naman alam yan eh.."

"Ano? Aiiiiisssshhhh!" I ducked my head into the table again because of my confu
sedly feeling. Pano na? Pano?!


***


Uwian na... sana wala sya dun sa gate...

Para akong tanga na nagdadasal habang naglalakad pababa sa ground floor.

"Ah, Marriane, okay ka lang?"

I looked at her at the corner of my eye. "I m going to be fine..." Just fine.

Nung nakarating na ko sa ground floor...


O_O


Walangya naman oh! He s still there!

Agad akong tumalikod at bumalik sa taas.

"Marriane, teka. san ka pupunta? dito ang labasan di ba?"

Think faster, think! *light bulb* "Aahhh.. uhmm... oo! may naiwan pa pala ako sa
 locker ko!"

"Okay, sige, hintayin na lang kita rito..."

Tinulak ko sya papuntang ground floor. "Ay, hindi na, okay lang...sige tawagan n
a lang kita mamaya... Bye!"



***


I ran to the Emergency Exit. Eh sa yun lang alam kong isang daan palabas ng scho
 l.. masisisi nyo ba ko? Good thing hindi ako nakita nung guards.
o

Pagkauwi ko, dumiretso na agad ako sa kwarto.

As soon as I arrived at the room, I lied on t he bed and thought about it. Sana w
alang makaalam nitong kabalbalan ko... sana w ala!

"Ate! Kakain na!" My brother called out. "Oo, sige..."

Pagkabihis ko, pumunta ako s a k usina para kumain. Okay, hidni naman sa nagmamaya
bang ako, malaki ang bahay k o - - medyo malaki alng. Better for a family talaga.

"Marriane..." She started. "Ano nanaman po yon Mamu?" I asked sarcastically. "Re
member your fianc?"

"Huh?"

"May pupuntahan tayong party bukas ng gabi... dress up well."

"Bakit?"

"You'll going to meet him up..."

"Ha?!" I exclaimed. Tumayo ako sa kinauupuan ko. "Mamu, nababaliw na ba kayo?"

"Wag mo kong galitin ha?!"

Bumalik ako sa kwarto ko. Naman, kita nang may kaso pa ko sa nilalang na yun, ta
pos sisingit pa  tong fianc na to!

"Marriane!"

"Wala na kong ganang kumain."

"Marriane!"

" EH! Ewan ko sa inyo!" dabog kong sinarado ang pinto ng kwarto ko. "Darn it." I 
mumbled. Napaupo ako sa kama ko.

I will not going to hook up with him kahit anong mangyari.


Handcuff o4 - Meet him up?!


Sigh. It s officially weekend. I want to go out pero.. makagala pa kaya kami ni A
bby sa sitwasyon kong ito? Hay naku... Tumawag sya sakin a while ago at dinahila
n ko na lang eh yung kikilalanin ko na yung fianc ko tonight... how kind is my fi
anc? baka naman isa rin yong loko loko... too bad for me yon. Should I meet him u
p? Bahala na. That's the word eh. 

At dahil nga she s my bestest friend, she went to my house to know what s going on
.

" Eh di ayos!" She cheered. "Anong maayos dun? Malay naten, isa rin yon sa mga lo
ko-lokong nasasalubong naten sa daan."


"Isipin mo na lang, gwapo, mabait, gentleman, ma--"

"Kabaliktaran nun -- Aray!" She poked my head. "Madam,. You re such a nega talaga
."

"Hay, ewan. Napatalumbaba na lang ako sa may study table ko. She gave me a big h
ug. "Don t be such an OA bruha. " 

Well, Abby's not too much annoying to me. She always brighten up my day. When I 
felt upset, she always have her jokes in her bag to make me feel better, or advi
ces to give a solution to my problems. Oo, alam ko kung ano ang iniisip mo, hind
i nya ko mabibigyan ng matinong advice for this crime. Remember, I have to be sp
ecific in hiding that crime. 

Well, here it goes. Hindi nga kami gumala ni Abby. I had been stucked in my bed 
for at least 5 hours or more... just to comfort myself. Kainis di ba? So bored..
. manood na nga lang  ako ng mga palabas. Eto, ginulo ako ng kapatid ko habang n
anood ako. tsss.... Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin para libangin ang sarili ko. Ay
oon! may naisip na ko... Internet.

Yoon, nagchat nga ako. Ganun din, my chatmates pissed me off too. Ang sama ng ar
aw ko... siguro nga dahil makikilala ko na ang fianc ko mamaya. Is he as EVIL as 
a DEVIL? or as GOOD as an ANGEL? 

God, BLESS ME TONIGHT!


***


"Marriane, bilisan mo, iiwanan na kita..." Mamu called out. "Eh di iwanan mo! Al
am nyo namang ayokong pumunta dun noh..." I answered as I fixed my hair in place
.

" Hay naku, anak... hoy, Marco, iwanan mo ang bahay para mawala ang mga gamit ha?
" mom gave instructions sarcastically. Based on her voice.

"OPO..." Marco replied sarcastically too. Masanay kayo. That's what my family go
e s eh. Tsss...

L umabas na ko from my room and I saw mamu s gleamy face. "Honey, you look so exce
p tional today."

"Err.." I mumbled. We waited for a cab at the waiting shed.

"Kasi naman eh. Para namang ibebenta na ninyo ako nyan eh~~"

"Ibebenta? Bakit ka naman namin ibebenta ni Papu mo? At wag mong isipin na ibine
b enta ka namin..."

" Whatever." I mumbled as the cab arrived. And we're on our way to that party.  Ma
rriane, wag mong subukang magwala dun ah.

 Mamu?!

 I m just joking anak. Kilala kasi kita eh. She laughed.

Finally, we arrived at their -- WOW! Ang laki ng bahay nila! Must be a rich one.
 Kaya pala eh. Nice... ibebenta talaga nila ako. Huhu. 


Someone accompanied Mamu w hen we e ntered. While m e, nagmumuni-muni lang at tumit
ingin sa mga tao dun. OM g oshie. P uro mayayaman i to. Grabe, I can't believe gant
o kayaman ang fianc ko. O _O

She introduced me to him. "Oh, so this is your daughter.... well, m aganda pala t
alaga sya!" I brought a fake smile while he just elegantly smiled a t me. Weird.

"Nice to meet you
anun? Well, ganun
at nang mangyari
i s sya.

Mas mabuti yun at

po, Mr. Lopez." I shook my head. Wait. H e s my father-in-law, g
na nga. "Parang kalian lang, lumaki ka n a agad. Mas mabuti yun
na ang mangyari. Wait down there, i'll c all my son..." at umal
nang mangyari ang mangyari. Anong ibig sabihin nya dun?


"Mamu, punta lang ako sa Washing Room."

"Oo, sige. Pero, bumalik ka na agad ha para makilala mo na sya."

Pumunta agad a ko sa Washing Room. Napansin ko, ako lang ata ang mag-isa rito. Ga
nda ng tiles a h. When my eyes averted to the mirror, I saw the real Marriane. An
d she really l ook beautiful. I suddenly smiled back to the reflection and giggle
d. 

Weird.

Paglabas ko, I saw this long haired guy [pero, hindi naman sobrang haba.] na par
ang pamilyar. Wait& WAIT A MINUTE.


O_O


He really is he! Yung gwapong nilalang! Pero anong ginagawa nya rito? Doesn't it
 mean na... sinusundan ako ng lokong to?! Patay na... kelangan ko nang umalis.

Agad akong bumalik kay Mamu and not bothering myself to talk mom or not. "Mamu, 
u wi na tayo!"

" Anong uwi na tayo? hindi mo pa nga nakikilala ang fianc mo eh, uuwi ka na? Ano b 
a ng nangyayari sayo?"

"Uhmm... medyo.. nahihilo na ko..." then I acted like dizzy.

"Tumigil ka nga jan sa kaartehan mo, umayos ka dyan." UGH! I heaved a sigh.

Bumalik na si Mr. Lopez na may kasamang lalaki. When I found out who s with him, 
my eyes really went out of their sockets.


O_O


Sya nga talaga! Yung 'gwapong nialalang' agen! But WAIT. Y ou m ean, FIANC ko sya?!
 No way...

I immediately covered my hand over my face before he can s ee m e. "Marriane, meet
 my son, REX CARLO LOPEZ, your FIANC."

GOD! Tama nga ako! Sya nga ang FIANC ko!


When I  faced t o him slowly, m ay naramdaman akong electricity. Nakuryente ba ako?
 Ano t o, may e lectricity sa k atawan? May magnet or something?

"So, you're Marriane... well, nice to meet you." H e smirked a t me. Ang sama di b
a? See, Abby I told you... kabaliktaran lahat ng s inabi mo. K abaliktaran lahat.

"N-n-nice to m-m-meet y-you t-tt-too..." I stuttered and brought a fake grin. Bu
ti pa sya, kalmado.

"Well, you have the right to know each other so, we'll leave you alone now, okay
?"

"Teka - Mamu! Wag mo kong iwan dito!"

They walked away. "Darn it. tsss..." I murmured.

"Oi, we have an unfinished business, remember?" then he grabbed my arm. I had th
is shape  O in my mouth. Oh, I hate O!

"Teka, san mo ko dadalhin?! Mamu!"

 You shut up kung ayaw mong tudasn kita.

He brought me to a place that I don t know.

What is he up to? Is this a welcome to hell? No way...

He looked me in the eyes and I stared him back. Then he suddenly leaned me over 
the wall, causing me to face him about a centimeter. Good enough to kiss me. Sub
ukan nya lang gawin yan, tatalsik yan dun sa kadulu-duluhan ng Earth!

"It's a small world after all, isn't it?" He smirked.

"Y-y-yeah?" I stuttered.

Naku... eto na...

" Parang awa mo na! Wag mo naman akong harrasin!" I exclaimed with my eyes close.
 "Harrasin? Hindi ako rapist noh!" he released me. Whewh!

"So, where's the payment?"

"Huh? S-sorry... wala talaga akong pera."

"Now I m dead. Lalo pang nadagdagan ang parusa nya sakin. Pero ayos lang. Ipapasa
ko naman sayo ang lahat ng parusang ibibigay nya." What is he going to do? Brin
g me to hell? Marriane, you re already in hell.

"I'll keep an eye on you until we get married. See you around." at lumakad sya p
apalayo.

"Teka, sandali!" I called out and he turned back. "Pwede bang... wag mong sabihi
n to? You know yung --"

I paused as he walked out. "Oi, Rex! Teka lang naman. Maghintay ka!" Argh. Wala 
syang pakialam sa fianc nya. Galing nya di ba? Great.

"Ano, uwi na tayo?"


"Mamu.. kanina ko pa kayang gustong umuwi." I whispered.


"Umm, Mr. Lopez, mauna na kami... sige."

I didn t see Rex a round. Ewan ko sa kanya. Basta, sa oras na m asabi nya yun kay m
 mu, siguraduhin l ang nyang mabubuhay pa sya dahil papatayin k o na sya!
a

We waited at the shed for a cab to come.

"Ba t ba kanina, gusto mo nang umuwi? Ano bang nangyari sayo ha?"

"Mamu, ang weird nyo. Bakit di na lang kayo ang magpakasal ng tatay nya?"

We s uddenly heard a thunder. "Sige, magcomment ka pa nang matusta ka ng papu mo 
sa t aas." Sorry po!

Pag-uwi namin sa bahay, I decided na lang na magkulong sa kwarto. It s been a sma
ll world for us. That gwapong nilalang.. turn out to be my future husband. Well,
that s life. Life always changing in every second, as well as underestimating yo
u. Na akala mo yung mga posibleng mangyari sa utak mo, mangyayari. Now I realize
d that life has its power to control you. 

In other words, life surprises you with another turn.


Handcuff o5 - Expect the Unexpected. 


It s been a Saturday morning and ganto na lang manggising  tong cellphone ko. Mada
m, MAY MESSAGE KAAAAA!!! Sira kasi  tong si Abby. Pinasa nya sakin yang alert ton
e na yan. Natulog na agad ako kagabi kaya di ko na naisip na yun pa rin ang aler
t tone ko. Si Abby pala. I quickly picked up my cellphone and lazily said, "Ano?
"

"Madam, gising ka na ba?" 

"Ano ba? Kita nang natutulog pa yung tao, istorbo! I quickly hunged the phone an
d turned it off. I hugged my pillow. Ang lamig! Christmas nanaman kase. Sarap ma
tulog pag ganto, di ba? Malamig ang simoy ng --- I heard some knocks on the door
. "Tss... pasok~~"

Someone leaned at my back. Ambigat! "Aaarrraayy!!"

"Gumising ka na kasi..."

"Eh pano kung ayoko?"

" Dadaganan kita ulet?" I sat down at the bottom of the bed, scratching my head o
u t of misery. 

"Teka, pano ka agad naka--" 

"Nasa labas lang kaya ako?" She flatly said. "Ang aga mong gumising ah." I smirk
ed at her. "8 kaya ako nagising knina. It s almost 10 duh. 10 na ba? Grabe naman 
akong matulog.  So, anong nangyari kagabi? Have you met him? Anong pangalan nya? 
Gwapo ba?" Ano ba tong babaeng to. May lahi ba tong manok? Putak ng putak eh."Hi
ndi ka naman siguro nagmamadali ano?" I asked sarcastically. "Sabihin mo na kasi
."

I sighed. "His name was Rex Carlo Lopez."


Her eyes popped out and her jaw dropped almost at the ground. Anong nangyari dit
o?

"S-si Re-Rex??"

I  went back to sleep and hugged the pillow while she, she was speechless. Anong 
problema nito? Ewan. She tugged my shoulder. "Yung nakita natin nung isang araw?
"

" Yun nga yun. Ano naman ang problema dun, at saka matutulog na ako ulet." Pero d
i ako nakatulog dahil pinabangon ako nitong babaeng to.

"Ano naman kung sya ang fianc ko?"

"Wala kang reaction for that? Marriane, ibig sabihin, ngayon mo lang sya nakilal
a?"

"Hmmm. What? Kilala mo sya?"

"Everyone knows him around in this town, ikaw lang ata ang hindi." Who the hell 
is he? Yung lalaking yun, kilalang kilala? Talaga lang huh? Sabagay.

"Sa Villa Francia sya nag-aaral. Many reasons why he has to be the block of thei
r school. In other words, PERFECT." sabay tili. Umagang umaga eh! Heh.

"Perfect? Ano naman ang pinagkaperfect nun?" She punched my back. "Iisa-isahin k
o pa ba sayo? *Sigh* 1, he s cute. 2, he s hot. 3, he s so yaman. 4, he s so talino.
And 5, he s soo cute!" Sira talaga to. Inulit lang nya yung sinabi nya nung una 
eh.

"That s it? Abby, ang tinatawag na PERFECT ay yung handsome, magalang, caring at 
HINDI KA SINISINGIL NG MALAKING HALAGA DAHIL--" Buti na lang at napigilan ko pa 
ang bibig ko.  & mayaman sya. I blurted out.
 Eh yun, di naman yun magalang. So hindi sya perfect.
 Bu--
 At wag ka nang makipagtalo sakin dahil wala namang maitutulong yun sating dalawa
. 
***
She invited me to hit the mall with her. Wala na kong pangamba ngayon kase isa r
in palang ^crap^ ang lalaking yun. So, no worries. ^_^

Suddenly, I didn't notice the guy at my back was calling me when we're at the es
calator.

"Miss, you dropped this?" he returned my wallet to me.

At a glance, it was the guy I ve met in the street! [you know, the guy in Chapter
 3?] He was truly hot that ever.

"Ikaw nga!"

"What a surprise! Akala ko di na tayo magkikita."

"Yeah, It's a small world after all..." then we laughed. Abby's so curious to us
.

" I'ts been a long time after we see each other, nakalimutan ko pa tuloy magpakil
ala. Lawrence Yan." he smiled back at me. 


"Abby Rose Cruz. Abby for short." she grinned at him. Tsk.

She extended h er right h and to shake at him. He smiled sweetly that make us Abby
 and I melt. G rabe ang p ower nito. My weakness.

"You?"

"Ah, Madam -- este, Marriane." I grinned and extended my right hand to shake at 
him. His hands are so soft like a silk. I saw his abs and muscles throughout his
clothes. Dang, he's so heavenly hot. Ano bang nangyayari sakin? Am I in heaven?
Parang nakalimutan ko lahat. Nahawa na tuloy ako kay Abby. Sh!t. Sorry to cuss.
 hehehe.

Mukha kaming tangang nakaharang sa harapan ng escalator. Our jaw dropped almost 
at the ground floor.

"Uhh... okay lang kayo?"

I came back to reality. Stop that daydreaming. "Ahh, yes! Mukhang gutom lang to.
"

I tugged Abby's arms and whispered, "Abby, gising!"

"H-huh?" Halos tumulo na ang laway nya sa harapan ni Lawrence. hahah!

"Tara, libre ko kayo." he smiled again. Awww, So sweet. Galante iteh.

Nilibre nya kami sa isang fastfood chain.

"So, where do you two studying?"

"Sa St. Grace Academy..." she smiled sweetly to him.

"Uhhh... excuse me lang huh?" I gave a fake smile at him. I grabbed Abby's arms 
and went far away from him.

"Ano bang problema mo ha?"

"Do you have any manners huh?" I whispered to her ear.

"Nagtatanong kaya yung tao!"

"Sino bang tinatanong?"

"Ikaw." She said softly.

"Alam mo pala eh. Just shut up okay!"

"Hay naku Madam. You're quite selfish na!" We went back to our table.

"So back to our conversation. Nag-aaral kayo sa St. Grace Academy?"

I nodded while Abby started eating.

"Dun kaya ako magtatransfer."

"Talaga?!" We went shocked and excited.

"Well, that's great."


"I guess we have to know each other at the school, I have to go na kasi eh." He 
looked at his branded silver Watch.

I looked at him, from his hair, down to his shoe. He's a perfectly man for me. A
www, kulang na sa oras. Pero mag-aaral naman sya dun sa school namin di ba? Ayos
!
***
 Sige, Madam. Babooh.
Abby left me at the waiting shed. Beside the waiting shed is the Convenience Sto
re. I saw the Ice Cream Poster. Mukhang naghahanap tong tummy ko ng malamig ah! 
Christmas, malamig ang hinahanap ko? Nakakatawa. Ngayon na lang kasi ako kakain 
ng Ice Cream. Ang huling kain ko ng Ice Cream was last year. hahaha! Dessert nam
an eh.

I entered the cold Convenience Store and quickly to get what I want. Ice Cream. 
Chocolate. Mmmm. I was about to get that flavor when suddenly, I saw that hands 
l eaning at the glass.

Si gwapong nilalang. Nosebleed. 

He's wearing a simple jeans and a white cami. But his abs and muscles are truly 
seen even when he wears thick clothes. Well, I don't care.

He took the vanilla flavor, what was my hatest flavor and grabbed my arms to the
 counter. He gave the Ice Cream to the counter and asking for the money.

"Cheap naman nito. Oi, bayad raw." Cheap?! Hoy, gwapong nilalang ka, Bibili-bili
 ka rito tapos ganyan sasabihin mo? heh!

"Ikaw bumili nyan eh, tapos hihingi ka sakin ng pera?" I yelled at him. Seriousl
y, this is my last money. Tapos kukunin lang nya? Para akong paslit na kinuhaan 
n g kendi.

" Hindi raw sila tumatanggap ng credit card. Samahan mo ko mamaya para mabayaran 
kita."

Nakakaawa naman kasi tong lalaking to eh. Umaasa sa credit card. I took my walle
t at my pocket and gave the money to the counter while he, he took a seat.
***
Nakatalumbaba ako habang sya, malapit nang maubos ang inorder nyang ice cream. V
anilla Flavor pa, pinakaayoko sa lahat. Tulad nya di ba?

"Samahan mo ko sa ATM Bank para mabayaran kita. At saka uhh, Ihahatid kita." Bak
et naman? Hindi naman kelangang ihatid nya ko ah!

"Why?"

"Mabuti nang magkakilanlan na tayo. Sigurado kilala mo na ko. I guess you ve hear
d everyone about me, right?" 

"Ang HANGIN, grabe.." I whispered. [Hangin - taong makapal ang mukha.]

"Ano sabi mo?" He asked.

"Ah, sabi ko tara na." I stood up and took my side bag.

He stood up and grabbed my hand. I felt something like, electricity. May kuryent
e ba to or something? Parang nakuryente ako nung hinawakan nya yung kamay ko.

L umabas kami dun sa Convenient Store nang magkahawak ang kamay naming dalawa. Lu

malabas lahat ng init ko sa katawan. Feeling ko malamig na  na ko ngayon. Joke. 
All of those people who passed us, widened their eyes in disbelief.

 *Flashback*

"Everyone knows him around in this town. Ikaw lang ata ang hindi."

*End of Flashback*

O o nga. Everyone knows him here. K aramihan kase s a lugar namin, maraming nag-aar
al sa Villa Francia. Galante eh, a nong magagawa n atin dun? Feeling ko, kami lang
 ang mahirap dun. Phff. 

Dumeretso kami sa ATM Bank at nagwithdraw ang gwapong nilalang. Nosebleed a lert.
I saw his wallet. Wow, daming credit card, may picture ng babae. He gave m e som
e money.

"Teka, sobra." I was about to give him the o ther h alf o f it when he stopped me. 
"Keep the change. After all, namumulubi ka n a di b a?" S inabi nang -- ugh!

He dashed off the ATM Bank. "Siraulo!" I yelled at him before I dashed off.

I caught him kicking the wall. "Wala ka bang magawa sa buhay mo, ha? Siraulo?"

He started t o walked t hrough the streets, pinili nya na maglakad imbis na magcom
mute. What t he heck. A ng init kaya?!

Suddenly, he opened an umbrella. Buti naman at may nagawa kang maganda.

Laking gulat ko nang lumayo sya sakin at sinolo yung payong. How meanie you are.
 Tsss...

"Ikaw, kababae mong tao, di ka nagdadala ng payong. Lalaki na nga ata a ng mas h a
nda ngayon kaysa sa mga babae." don't say that coz' I'll bash up your f ace in n o
 time. Kahit sa harap pa ng mga taong nababaliw sayo. Kung meron man. h eh.

Someone passed us. " Oi pre, kung ako sayo, papayungan ko yang girlfriend mo." Gi
rlfriend?! only in y our dreams. Tsk.

Bingi ba to or what? Hay naku...

"Sayo na oh." he gave the umbrella to me.

"You don't have to suffer." Mabuti naman at naisipan mo. heh.

"Wag ka ngang maarte!" Kinuha ko yung payong, wala na kong magawa eh.

Ganun pa rin, all of those people staring at us and widened their eyes in disbel
ief. What's the problem, huh? Make your own business and don't stare at us.


Handcuff o6 - It was an ACCIDENT, I swear!


"Eto bahay mo diba?"

Oh, I didn't notice, we arrived at the front of our house.

"Pano mo nalaman?"


"Ang bahay, nakikita sa ugali ng tao." He went away. Ano raw? Phff.

I turned to my r oom and l ocked the door. My body led me to the bed and lied down
.

"At saka, uhh, I hahatid k ita."

"Oi pre, kung ako sayo, papayungan ko yang girlfriend mo."

What's happening to me? I didn't notice that I fell asleep.


***


07:25 PM

My brother called me downstairs to eat dinner.

"Marriane, sweetie?" Mamu started as we re eating our dinner. "Ano nanaman po ba?
" I said, upset. There's something up. I knew it. "Kailangan maging mature ka na
sa susunod na mga araw." inabot nya sakin yung invitation card. "What for?" I w
as about to see what's this invitation.

"For the wedding. That will be next week na."

O_O WTF?! Ano raw?! Did I hear what does she said just now? Wedding, next week n
a??!

"Go to your fianc and tell to him. Di nya siguro alam yun."

Aiishh!

I  looked at the invitation. I'm g oing crazy. Tapos na ang teenager life ko, ang 
pagkabata ko. I think I'm gonna d ie. Aish. After the dinner, I hurriedly went to
 him. Do you know where is he? 

Nasa bar ang loko. Nakainom na sya nung nakarating ako dun.

"Sino ka?"

"Basahin mo nang matauhan ka kung sino ako." I  gave him the invitation. "Teka. D
i ko mabasa."

His friend read the invitation for him. Such a  meanie.

"Please do come to a wonderful exchanging of v ows of hhmmm --- ANO??! Yah dude, 
ano  to?!"

"Oh, great. Ikakasal na ko." he was about to drink the last beer w hen I took the
 beer from him.

"Oi, bigay mo nga sakin yan. Aiiissshh, bigay mo sakin!"

"Hindi ka dapat umiinom."

"And why wouldn't I? I'm at the legal age. 18 na ko noh."

"And so? Tingnan mo nga, andami mo nang nainom oh. Bahala ka pag n amatay ka dahi
l dyan."


"Who says na mamamatay ako? Do you even have a care about it?"

I searched some words to say, it's just, It blurted out from my mouth. T otoo nam
an di ba, magkakasakit ka sa atay pag uminom ka ng sobra-sobrang alak? T hat may 
cause you to die. Am I right?

"No." 

 At least, you know. He took the beer from my hand and drunk it. Mautak ka talaga
 noh?


***


The next day, nalate ako sa school. Late students like me always have punishment
s . Ano kamong parusa?

Push-ups. Yup, even girls can do.

You have to push up within 30 times. Tapos magbabayad ka pa. Kainis di ba? Nangu
ngurakot nanaman tong school na to. Aish.

I was about to do that push up thingy when I saw the man who was standing by the
 wall.

"Lawrence?" Sa wakas at dumating ka rin. ^_^

"Anong ginagawa mo?"

"Late ako eh." I grinned at him. Gosh, I got embarassed. Aish. I hate myself fro
m being late. I sooper hate myself.


***


Ayun. Nagkwentuhan kami habang naglalakad and yeah, we re starting to know each o
ther na! Kulang na lang, romantic place. Sayang. >_< 

I left him at the Registrar's Office, then I turned to my room coz' i'm sooper l
ate.

"Late ka?" I met Eunjin at the door.

"Hindi ba obvious ba? Asan si mam?"

"Absent." She took my things and we went to my chair.

I shook my head to my table. Next week na yung kasal, anong gagawin ko? Tumungan
ga na lang habang ikinakasal ako sa gwapong nilalang na yun? heh. 


***


The bell rang. I hurriedly went to his room to see Lawrence, but he was not long
e r there.


I went out of that school, upset. Asan na ba si Lawrence? Maybe he went home na.
 *sigh*

P apalabas na ko ng school nung nakita ko si Rex, wearing his uniform, the hands 
are on his pocket and kicking the wall beside the gate.

"Anong problema mo?"


***


Ayun. It's now evening, and he already drank nine bottles of beer. What am I h er
e for? Sitting here while watching him drinking? Nakakaasar tong lalaking to a h.
 I m sitting here for so many hours already!

 Wala k a bang b arkada o kaya eh kaibigan para samahan kang uminom? At tsaka, ba t 
ka ba i nom ng i nom ha?

"Ba t ba ang dami mong tanong? He grunted.  Eh kasi naman, gusto ko nang makauwi n
oh!

"Makakauwi ka lang pag nahatid mo na ko." I  hate you. So dinala mo p ala ako r ito
para ihatid sa bahay mo nang lasing. Ano k o? A maid or something? I  m just y our 
f ianc.

 Yah, hindi mo ko katulong. Fianc mo ko.

 And soon to be my wife. Masanay ka na nga.

 Wala ka na ba talagang magagawa dun sa tungkol sa tin? Hindi mo ba yun pwedeng pi
gilan?

 May kasunduan kami ng papa ko kaya hindi ko pwedeng pigilan yun. Ako rin naman n
oh, ayokong magpakasal. Kung hindi lang dun sa kasunduan namin, malamang matagal
 na kong nagsarili.

I just pouted. Nakakainis. Well, I have no choice but to did it. I brought him t
o his house, since it's too late and there are no cabs and buses anymore. Ang sa
ma talaga. Kung ganto ang aabutin ko sa kanya, I think I ll commit a suicide righ
t now.

 Marr--ianne~~ He said as he went closer to me as I backed up. But I ended up lea
ning against the wall and he was hovering me. Kahit lasing sya, ang bango pa rin
 nya. *hits myself in my mind*

 Alam mo, cute ka rin kahit papano. He smiled as I blushed.  An-no ba?! I stuttere
d, trying to push him away from me. But I have proven unsuccessful. He was still
smiling and I can t resist but to stare at him. Now I caught myself in the scene
.  Alam mo Rex, lasing ka lang. Tara na, nandito na tayo sa bahay mo. I pushed hi
m once more and he finally released me.

I guided him on the way but he tripped down to the gate and I broke his fall. Bu
ti na lang at kaya ko sya. But, guess what happened?







O_O





He kissed me ACCIDENTALLY.

Or not?


Handcuff o7 - Side Effects.


Damn! His kiss was passionate, and so sweet, parang sinadya n ya pero hindi, lasi
ng sya eh. Talagang matutunaw ka sa tingin nya at maninigas k a sa harapan nya. D
i talaga ako makagalaw. 

Dati, nakatingin lang ako dun sa mga estudyante sa likod ng school na naghahalik
an. Ngayon, ako na ang hinahalikan -- and mention it, THE HOTTEST MAN THAT EVERY
GIRL HAS BEEN CRAVING FOR. It was my FIRST time to be kissed by a real man. Sir
a. Di yan real man& PERVERT MAN!

Okaaayyyy, cut t he crap. Enough of this damn thing, nakakahalata ka na Marriane.
 It was just a k iss, okay?

He suddenly woke up from his dream. Here we are, widened our eyes in disbelief. 
He pushed me too far from him and I felt kinda insulted. Ako nga dapat ang tumul
ak sa kanya papalayo sakin dahil ako yung naharassed dito eh. It really sucks. H
 touched his oh so red kissable lips. I took my handkerchief and wiped my lips.
e

"Anong nangyari?"

D id you hear what h e just said? Tinatanong nya kung anong nangyari? Hinalikan mo
 kaya ako, do you m ind?! Aish!

Without a word, he entered his house.

When I turned around, I screamed. "ArrrgggHHHHH!"

Biglang may tumahol na aso, causing me to jump in fright and calm down. "Nakakai
nis."


***


I arrived at the front of our house and I saw Mamu at the gate.

"Di mo ba alam kung anong oras na?" Eto na naman tayo. Another sermon portion. K
asalanan nya  to eh. "Oras na para makinig sa sermon nyo." I mumbled.

"Ano?"

"Wala po. Sabi ko, kasama ko po si Rex."

"Aba ate, mukhang may naaamoy ako." sumingit nanaman ang kapatid ko. Paa mo yung
 naaamoy mo, loko.

"Marco, diba sabi ko sayo matulog ka na?"


"Di ako makatulog eh!"

"Hay naku. Pumasok na kayong dalawa. Bilis!" We hurriedly went upstairs to take 
a rest. I locked the door.

I suddenly remembered that kiss. T hat kiss is so... different. K ahit kailan di k
o pa to naramdaman, promise. I'm s hivering! Lumalabas lahat ng i nit ko sa katawa
 ! 
n

Pumunta ako sa kwarto ni Mamu. "Akala ko ba natulog ka na?"

I hugged mom tightly. "Bakit, Marriane? Anong nangyayari sayo? Nanginginig ka."

"Malammmiiiig."

" Malamig? Hindi naman masyadong kalamigan ah! Doble-doble na nga y ang jacket mo 
eh, tapos yung makapal pa ang sinuot mo. Teka, may nangyari ba?" N agtaka sya. 

"W-wala ah! Malamig lang... talaga?"

"Hmmm..?" nakataas n a y ung kilay nya. "Wala nga sabi. Matutulog na ko. Goodnight
 Mamu." Bumalik na k o s a kwarto ko.

Ano bang nangyayari sakin? I covered myself with a blanket. Hindi talaga ako mak
atulog eh.

The time passed by, and I've tried all the things para m akatulog ako. Kinantahan
ko na sarili ko, nagbilang ako ng tupa, tapos inuntog k o pa yung sarili ko sa k
ama. It didn't work.


***


3:17 AM. 

M akalabas nga. 

Nakita ko sa labas si Rex. O_O WHAT??

"Di ka rin makatulog?" Huh? What do he meant by that? You mean, naapektuhan din 
sya nun? Remember what he said last midnight?

"Anong nangyari?" Malamang di talaga to nakatulog.


*** 


"Anong problema mo?" I kicked the wall beside him. Syempre, the usual na tinatan
ong ko sa kanya. "Loko ka kasi eh. Di ako makatulog dahil sa kagagawan mo." He t
urned away. Ako pa ang may kasalanan? Ibang klase rin tong lalaking to eh.

"Ikaw kaya ang may kasalanan nun, kundi ka ba naman tumingin sa dinadaanan mo, l
a sengero ka kasi."

" Kagahapon, tinawag mo kong siraulo. Ngayon, tinawag mo naman akong lasengero. T
atlong letra lang naman ang pangalan ko ah, hindi mo ba kaya yun sabihin? At tsa
ka, maganda pang pakinggan."


"Magandang p akinggan? Natawa naman ako ron." I continued kicking the wall. "At l
east hindi t atang@-tang@ na nakabasag ng bintana ng isang sasakyan."

"Argh. Ewan ko sayo."

" Wala ka pala sakin eh. Hindi mo kayang mangbara." I rolled my eyes on him. Grab
e ito.

Nakalitaw lang yung keychain ko sa cellphone kaya nakuha nya ito sa bulsa ng jac
k et ko.

"Anong ginagawa mo?" Binalik nya agad yung cellphone ko.

"Sinave ko yung number ko." Binigay nya yung cellphone nya sakin.

"Save mo number mo."

Sinave yung number ko dun sa phonebook nya. Pero bago ko binigay sa kanya yung c
ellphone nya, tiningnan ko yung features. Nseries kasi yung kanya. May TV, camer
a , video at --

"Pati ba naman cellphone ko, hinaharass mo rin?" kinuha nya yung cellphone.

"Tinitingnan lang naman yung features eh. Masyado naman tong sensitive. Baka sab
ihin mo, yung cellphone mo, sensitive din." I rolled my eyes on him. Hmp!


***


After that sunrise, hindi ako pumasok because of this feeling. My phone beeped. 

Yah! Bakit hindi ka pumasok ngayon? Tinatamad ka siguro ano? Alam mo ba, girl? I
saw Lawrence around the school na! [I already know that, huli ka na.] Hinahanap
ka nya sakin. He must be worried. [Ano kamo?] Kinuha niya number mo sakin. Miss
 na kita agad! Pumasok ka na agad huh? Mwahahugz! =] -- Abby

That's strange... ??

I heard some knocks on the door. "Marriane, may bisita ka..."

"*sigh* Wala akong panahon sa --"

"Marriane?" Wait, I know that voice. 

"Lawrence?" I saw him at the door, wearing his uniform & carrying a bouquet of f
l owers.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

"I thought you might sick so I bought you flowers."

"Sa-salamat." I shook my head and he gave his sweet smile at me that makes me me
lted away. He entered the room. "May sakit ka ba talaga?"

 Wala ah. Tinopak nanaman kasi ako. Umabsent ka pa para lang sakin.
 
"Don t mind it. May tutor naman ako sa bahay eh."


"Ahh.. ganun pala.." his killer smile is always there. Awww, I'm gonna die. I'm 
g onna explode.

***

Napahaba ata ang kwentuhan namin. He j ust confessed to me that he s a  bookworm.  M
aganda yun. Nakatambay lang kaya yun s a bookstore. Gusto mo, bilhin k o bukas?

 Medyo maganda nga ang pagkareview mo. Sige ba.

He stood up.  Pano, bukas na lang. 6 pm darating yung tutor ko kasi Thursday ngay
on.

 Sige, ayos lang. Kita na lang tayo sa school, okay ba?

 Good.

Hinatid ko sya sa m ay labas a nd he d rove away. Bumalik ako sa kwarto at kinuha k
o yung dala nyang b ulaklak. T hen I s miled. 

"Ate, nagmumukhang tange ka nanaman. At saka sino ba yun? Nabingwit mo?"

"Loko. Lumabas ka n ga rito, at tsaka sa s usunod wag ka ulet k umatok ha?" Notice 
the sarcasm tone. A yun, sumunod sa ate. V ery good. I sighed i n dismay.

Hay& eto nanaman ako. Wala ba tong gamot? Nanglalamig talaga ako eh. Magpacheck
-up kaya ako sa doctor?




"May SIDE EFFECTS kaya yun?"


Handcuff o8 - Wedding.


SIDE EFFECTS ka dyan? Ano yan, pills? Loko.


***


The d ay after, pumasok na ko. Nothing happened. Too good Rex didn't appeared. D i
ko r in makausap si Lawrence kasi maraming lumalapit sa kanya. Kainis talaga. C o
uld t his day be better than worst?

"Ano?!" I blurted it out.

Here I am, sitting like an idi0t and looking at the more idi0t gowns. "Eto, try 
mo. ^_^"

O_O What the - - ??

"Mamu naman, a lam mo naman na hindi ako nagsusuot ng ganyan ano."

Someone opened the candy-glass door. It's Mr. Lopez with the idi0t.



"Diba Raymond okay naman ang gantong gown para sa kanya?"

"Oo, bagay naman sayo yan iha. What do you think Rex?" Isa pa to.

He smirked at me and took the brochure. "Eto bagay s ayo." He l aughed so hard.


O_O What the -- ?? Bastos! I've never thought he's a  pervert t oo.


"Eto maganda." tinanong ko yung personnel kung nasaan y ung gown at sinukat to sa
 dressing room.

" Hindi ako mababastos nito. Lalong-lalo na sa kanya." L umabas na ako sa dressing
 room. 

"Baket? Hindi ba maganda?"

"You look beautiful, iha. What do you think Rex?"

He l ooked at me. "Maganda." Plastik. Ugh! I s ighed in d ismay. Pinipigil ko na la
ng a ng sarili ko, at baka makagawa pa ko ng i skandalo r ito.

"Kayong dalawa, you should try to be close to each other, alam nyo nang ikakasal
 kayo at magkakasama kayo sa iisang bahay..."

We exchanged glares at each other.

Never.


***


Nakaharap ako ngayon sa salamin, nakamake-up at nakasuot ng gown. Samantalang an
g mukha ko, abot hanggang sahig ang pagkasimangot. Today, is the day. The last t
eenage day in my life.

"Marriane, wag ka ngang sumimangot dyan! It s your day remember?

 Day ka dyan? Day lang nila  to dahil sila lang ang masaya. I rolled my eyes.  Girl
, don t be sad. Nasa labas lang si Lawrence."

"Huh? You mean --?" 

 Yeah. Alam na nya. Hindi mo pa ata alam na taga Villa Francia sya bago sya lumip
at sa school natin. I saw them chatting outside. Napansin kong medyo close sila.
 Friends ba sila -- Marriane!

I didn t mind Abby s words as I heard na nasa labas lang si Lawrence. Lumabas agad
 ako sa kwarto ko at hinanap si Lawrence. Hindi ko naman makita. Niloloko --

"Marriane, you look exceptional today."

Lumingon ako at nakita ko si Lawrence. He looks hot today in his green polo and 
black slacks. "Lawrence. Sorry, di ko  to sinabi sa yo." He just smiled at me. He 
suddenly hold my hand and draw a heart on my palm by the use of his index finger
. "Anong ginagawa mo?"

"Alam ko you're not confident in facing this thing, that's my lucky charm. That 
gives me confidence in facing some things that I'm not familiar with or not comf
ortable with it." He put his hand in my cheeks. "Goodluck. " Ahhh, hindi ko mata

kasan yung tingin nya. 



***


Matapos nilang rumampa sa altar, ako naman. hahaha! I got my first s tep na, seco
nd, third, and then so on and so forth. I saw Rex from a distance. W ait, di kaya
-- hindi... hindi sya yun. Hindi sya yung lalaking nasa panaginip k o. But katul
ad na katulad ito sa panaginip ko. Hindi, hindi. NEVER. 

He linked in my arm and brought me to the priest. The wedding ceremony goes on.

Suddenly, he mumbled under his breath. "Kelan ba  to matatapos? Nakakainip naman 
oh."

"Magtiis ka."

"Manahimik ka nga kung ayaw mong masapak."

"ANG INGAY MO KASI EH!"

They l ooked a t me as I s creamed and m y voice echoed t hrough the church.  So-sorry
 po. I tuloy n yo lang. A hh! Sira ka t alaga. Ba t ka n aman sumigaw?!

"Baliw ka talaga noh?" He whispered as the p riest continued of what was he s sayi
ng.  Sige, mang-asar ka pa. Lagot ka sakin m amaya.


***


"Young man, will you take this woman as your wife --"

"I do." He smirked a t the priest a nd the priest didn't know. Pati ba naman si fa
ther ginaganyan mo r in? Ang sama m o.

"Young lady, will you take this man as your husband --"

"She do. Kahit di nyo sya tanungin father."

"Kailangan sya dapat ang sumagot. Again. Young lady, will you take this man --"

"I really do." Cut the crap. Bilis father. Aiiissshhh.

After that, we wore the wedding rings and promised -- promised that we'll never 
ever beat each other's face. We survived this thing and tapos na. Hay salamat. T
apos na ang makulay kong buhay sa highschool. I just had been married in my seve
nteen years of my life.

"I pronounced to you, husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

O_O Father?! Di pa pala tapos.

Without a word, he gave me a kiss. W ell, it's just a s mack, y ou k now. But my fir
st kiss was so, passionately. What a m I thinking of? I  took t he t issue and wiped
 my lips. Eeeww.

Nakaakbay sya sakin habang naglalakad kami papalabas ng simbahan. Sumobra ang pa
gkalamig ko. Baka mahalata. God, please! "Baka sabihin mo, bumibigay ka na."


"Ba't naman ako bibigay sayo? Ambisyoso."

"Hindi kita pinagpapantasyahan noh. Ano ko, sira?"

"Siraulo lang..." I muttered.

"Ano?"

"Wala."

P aglabas namin sa simbahan, red roses petals scattered through the red carpet, I
felt the red roses petals falling down in my head. I saw Lawrence at the shady 
lush green tree. Rex held my waist tighter, maybe he wants to get my attention. 
P apansin. I'm enjoying looking Lawrence here at a distance, wag kang umapela.

* Flashback*

"Marriane, you look exceptional today."

Lumingon ako at nakita ko si Lawrence. He looks hot today in his green polo and 
black slacks. "Lawrence. Sorry, di ko  to sinabi sa yo." He just smiled at me. He 
suddenly hold my hand and draw a heart on my palm by the use of his index finger
. "Anong ginagawa mo?"

"Alam ko you're not confident in facing this thing, that's my lucky charm. That 
gives me confidence in facing some things that I'm not familiar with or not comf
ortable with it." He put his hand in my cheeks. "Goodluck. "

*End of Flashback*

Ahhh... his hands are so soft. What a sweet guy Lawrence is. 

"Mukha lang lelang na ngumingiti-ngiti dyan." Lelang ka dyan?

"Ang gwapo pala ni Lawrence kapag sa malayo. Bagay sa kanya green. heheeh." I sh
r ieked.

"Hah, di hamak naman na mas gwapo pa ko jan ano."

"Kapal nito." I smiled while looking at Lawrence, who was about to wear his gree
n shades. Awww, he looks hot that ever! The Guy in Green. Love it. heeehh!

The car arrived and ready for us to go to our HONEYMOON?? God, I'm gonna die -- 
again. Are they pissing me off? I looked at the sky. "Papu... bakit ang sama nyo
? Wala naman akong kasalanan sayo eh."

"Yah, sinong kausap mo?"

"Si Papu, baket?" He smirked at me and rode to the driver's seat. "Mukha kang lo
ka-loka dyan. Sakay na, bilis."

I was about to ride at the passenger's seat when my mom yelled at me. "Yah, Marr
iane, dun ka sumakay sa harapan."

"Baket, masama ba ritong sumakay?"

"Mag-asawa na kayo diba? Kaya dun ka sa harapan." She smiled at me and winked he
r eyes. I just pouted. "Goodluck Marriane!" They all cheered at us. He's not def
ensive anymore, and he's smirking! May balak ba tong lalaking to? Malamang sumas

akay na lang para dun sa pinakamamahal nyang sasakyan. Parang awa mo na please! 
I glared at them before we drove off.

My phone rang -- I mean, his
 to.

He answered the phone and...

"Yeah, maayos po kami. Don't
 at me, smiling smugly. What

"Kausapin ka raw."

I took the phone from him.

"Hello, Mamu?" She's crying,

phone rang. "Pakiabot nga." Ano ko, katulong? Grabe

worry p o. Yes po.. okay po. Si Marriane?" He looked
is he u p to again?

I dunno why.


"Mamu, umiiyak ba kayo?"

"Anak, nakakalungkot wala na kong dalagang anak." She's crazy crying out loud.

"Mamu?"

"Pero, dapat babae ha?" She went serious again.

"Ang ano?" Anong babae?

"Anak nyo!"

" Mamu?!" I pouted. He laughed while he was driving. Naririnig nya kasi yung usap
a n namin.

" Pero gusto ko lalaki eh!" His dad shouted. Isa pa tong daddy nya. Kaasar! Tumat
a wa pa rin sya.

" Manahimik nga kayo?! Wag kayong umasa na magkakaroon kami ng anak!" I quickly c
ut off the conversation. "Kainis!"

"Malay naten, magkaroon tayo ng anak. It's possible naman di ba?"

"Anong posible? Baka masipa kita papalabas ng kotseng  to"

"Kung kaya mo." He smiled like a devil and has an evil plan to me. "Joke lang. B
alik mo na yang cellphone ko, baka maharass mo pa yan."

"Loko. Teka lang, may tatawagan lang ako."

"Sino tatawagan mo?" Oozy ka ha? 

"May sasakyan oh!"

He went back on driving. I dialed his number and called him.

"Marriane!"

"Lawrence.." He suddenly looked at me.

"Baket? May problema ba? Pupuntahan kita dyan." Wow, what a sweet guy. heeehhh!

"Wala naman." I was smiling like an idi0t here. "Hoy, di ba sabi ko balik mo na 

y an dun?"


" Sige Lawrence, nagagalit na kasi yung siraulo rito eh. Babye.." I hung up the p
hone.

He quickly grabbed his cellphone from my hands and put it on the basket.

"Matulog ka na lang dyan. Gigisingin na lang kita kapag nasa airport na tayo, ok
ay?" He smirked at me.

Oh! I forgot to tell you, we're going on a trip to hell -- I mean, a trip to Haw
aii [sosyal.]. Dun daw honeymoon namin pero parang di kami pupunta dun. Ang kuto
b ko sa Hongkong kami pupunta, kase tingnan mo, yung ticket, eh ticket yun papun
tang Hongkong. Di bale, mapupuntahan ko nanaman ang gusto kong puntahan dun. Dis
neyland, here I come! weeehhhh!!! But, I'm still worried. What if there's someth
ing happened when we got there?

Wala naman sanang mangyari... between us.


Handcuff o9 - Beholder s Beauty.


Nakakainis. Akala ko pa naman pupunta kami sa Disneyland. I asked him at alam ny
o kung ano ang sinagot nya?

*Flashback*

" Hoy, wag kang mangarap. Wala kaya akong pera na dala. Bahala ka pag nawala ka. 
Subukin lang nila akong sisihin."

*End of Flashback*

A lam nyo kung ano ginawa namin? We stayed at the hotel. Okay lang kaso, hindi ak
o mag-eenjoy rito. Nakakainis.

"Nakakainis naman eh. Dapat nagpaiwan na lang ako kanina." I mumbled. Parang may
 dala-dala syang box. I have no idea what's inside of it.

"Manahimik ka nga?" He revealed it infront of me. Yeah, I'm right. It's a box.

"Buksan mo." He smirked and gave the box to me. Tinanggal ko sya dun sa box and 
w hat did I see?

A  lovely pink strapless dress with a white ribbon at the waistline. How cute!

"You like it?" He said in a cold voice.

"Yeah, I like it. Thanks. Pero bakit?"

"We're going to attend a party at the middle of the night, kelangan mukha kang e
legante sa tabi ko. Dapat nga sa Hawaii tayo maghohoneymoon, pasalamat ka sakin 
kase may nagbabantay dun. Ayoko nga, masyado tayong hinihigpitan at saka sa west
sumisikat ang araw. Di alam ni Papa na inimbitahan ako ng kaibigan ko na magsta
y rito sa hotel ng kaibigan ko at tsaka sanay ako pag sa east sumisikat ang araw
kaya tayo nandito." Sabi ko sainyo eh. Talagang maingat ka rin ano? Kahit na si
ra yang ulo mo, may isip ka parin pala. I like that. 

"Pero gusto kong pumunta ng Disneyland!" I pouted.


"Hindi tayo pupunta dun. Kaya manahimik ka dyan." umupo sya sa couch.

I think out an idea para mapapayag sya. Loko ka, ano gusto mo? Ikaw lang ang mag
- enjoy? Hah! 

" Sige," I took my phone at my pocket. "Tatawagan ko na lang sina mamu at sasabih
in ko na sa iba mo ko dinala." I was to about to dial a number when he stood up 
and grabbed my wrist together with my phone. He got me.

"Ginagalit mo ba ko ha?"

"Bitawan m o ko.."

"Ayoko." N akakatakot naman  to pag nagagalit. 

"Masakit." I winced in pain.

He l et go of my w rist but he took my phone. Grabe tong lalaking to! Pagkatingin 
ko s a kamay ko, n amumutla! Namumula naman yung wrist ko.

"Wag mo kong s ubukan Marriane dahil wala akong pinipili sa mga nasasaktan ko." h
e sat at the c ouch.


Hayaan muna natin sya na kumalma kasi kitang kita sa mata nya na abot sa pinakat
aas ang galit nya. Nakakatakot talaga. Lumabas muna ako at nagpahangin.

Ah, ang sarap nga naman ng hangin sa dagat. Ang sarap ng pakiramdam.

I was about to take my phone and -- oo nga pala, kinuha nya yung cellphone ko. N
a kakainis talaga.

I peeked at the room and I saw him, standing and looking at the window.

"Hoy," Lumingon sya.

"Cellphone ko."

"Ayoko nga. At hindi  hoy ang pangalan ko." He looked at the window again.

I saw the telephone at the side table and took it.

"Dito ko na nga lang sila tatawagan." I dialed some numbers and he ran into me.

"Tigilan mo yan hoy!" Nasanggi nya yung side table.

Magkatabi lang yung side table at yung couch kaya, nahulog kami dun sa couch.  Aa
aahhhhh!!!

Guess what? He s on top of me. Our eyes met. Di ko pala alam na, kapag sa malapit
an eh, sumobra ang pagkagwapo nya. Dang, he's so cute in this time ---

"U-mma-llis k-ka sa ha-rra-ppan ko.." I said in a small voice. My face flushed r
ed.

He's still looking at my eyes. Mukhang di nya narinig.


Rrriiiiinnnnggg!!!!

Hay salamat. I sighed in relief. H e do let go o f me a nd I answered my very old c
e llphone.

" Marriane, dear, are doing great t here?" It's m amu. H e looked at me coz' he hear
d who is it.

"Ah, yes po Nandito po kamin ngayon sa..." His eyes narrowed at me that makes me
 afraid.

"Y-Yeah! we're at Hawaii na mamu. Ilang oras na kaming nandito."

"Mabuti naman, I just make s ure na okay ka lang. Baka kung ano n a gawin sayo ni 
Rex, lagot sya sakin." Hay n aku, mamu... ang dami mong satsat. K unin nyo ko rito
 at ilayo sa siraulong to!

"Sige mamu." I hung up the phone.

"Mabuti at nagkakaintindihan tayo." He smirked. 


***


While I was taking a shower, I remembered what happened a long time ago.

*Flashback*

G uess what? He s on top of me. Our e yes met. Di ko pala alam na, kapag sa malapit
an eh, sumobra an g pagkagwapo nya. D ang, he's so cute in this time ---

"U-mma-llis k-ka sa ha-rra-ppan ko.." I said in a small voice. My face flushed r
ed.

He's still looking at my eyes. Mukhang di nya narinig.

*End o f Flashback*

Yung m ukha nya talaga, haaayy -- Teka. Hindi ka dapat nag-iisip ng ganyan.

"Screw you." I mumbled.

After I took a shower, I changed into the dress he gave to me. I looked at my ha
ir and decided to put a little bit of curls at the ends of my front layers. I fo
und a flat iron in one of the drawers and curved my hair. Tinuro sakin to ni Abb
y when we're at her room, then it came out nice. I suddenly looked at the mirror
. Hindi ko pala alam na maganda ako kahit di ako magretouch. Even everyone's agr
ee. [A/N : wala raw aangal sabi ni Marriane, talagang sira na ang ulo nito. haha
h!]

*Flashback*

"Marriane, maganda ka naman ah!"

---

"Kaso ate walang nagtatangkang manligaw sayo."

---

"Ang ganda talaga ng unica hija ko!"


---

"Marriane, you look exceptional today."

*End of Flashback*

Mga sinungaling. Bawasan nyo panloloko nyo sakin.

I wore my necklace, bracelet and heels. Hindi na ko magmamake-up, make-up is not
hing for me. Magmumukhang sira lang ako sa tabi nya. Di ko naman naintindihan yu
ng sinabi sakin ni Abby kung pano ang tamang pagmamake-up. The usual. Nagpulbo l
ang ako at nagpabango, then nag lipgloss ako. Tada! Do I look good? Hay, ewan.

I saw him, standing and his head leaning to the side of the window. He was alrea
dy dressed up and his hair was tousled. He placed his hands in his pockets as he
 closed his eyes.

H e looks adorable and cute when he was like that. He was like an angel right now
. Compare sa itsura nya kanina na mukhang halimaw, madaling napawi ng cute nyang
 mukha ang mukhang yun.

Nasisiraan na ko ng ulo. Kung ano-ano nang naiisip ko.

Lumingon sya sakin at ako? I was still drooling over him.

"Ano nanaman ang tinitingnan mo ha?"

"H-huh? Yu-yung bintana?" I said, dumbfounded.

"Ewan ko sa yo.Tara." He walked out the room and walked through the corridor. Ang
kapal. Yun lang ba ang sasabihin nya? Sabagay, ano pa ba ang ini-expect ko sa k
anya kundi ganyang mga salita lang. Hah. 

He led me to a nice banquet hall where many people are there, chit-chating and e
njoying the wonderful night. He was holding my hand while walking to the red car
pet. The room lit up with many crystal chandeliers, bongga ito. In the center, t
here was a huge chandelier hanging from the dome.

Someone approached him and greeted a pleasant evening to us.

"Pare, buti naman nakapunta ka. Long time no see ah!" They exchanged hugs at eac
h other.

"Kase busy ka na pagkatapos mong grumadweyt."

"Musta?"

"Eto, nag-aaral pa rin."

The man looked at me.

"Anyway, si Marriane. Asawa ko."

 Hi, I m Russel Mace.

"Nice to meet you. " I extended my right hand to shake at him. ^_^

"Sinabi nga rin sakin ng papa mo. Pero pano si Candy?"


He shook his head. "Nasa states pa rin sya."


"Seryoso talaga sya. Ang ganda naman nya. May I ask how old are you?"

"Umm, Sixteen."

" What? Di nga, sixteen ka talaga? I thought you're eighteen or something kase mu
kha ka nang dalaga." My face blushed. Sana hindi halata. Nakakahiya.

"Honey, nandito ka lang pala. Come on, let's dance."

"Oh, fianc ko, Jenny."

I bowed on her then Jenny took h im to the center and danced with a soulful love 
 ong together with some of the c ouples dancing there.
s

"Tara." He suddenly grabbed my hand. I looked at him in shock, no in horror! He'
s pulling me at the crowd without asking me to go dance with him! Hah! It's real
ly unbelievable. But I definitely not to say that it's unbelievable because we'r
e already married and now we're sort of some couples dancing there. I have to ge
t used to him.

I hate it!

He took my arms to wrap around his neck. Dinala na lang ako ng malamig kong paki
ramdam kaya eto, my arms wrapping around his neck. I felt some shiver going up a
nd down on my spine when he hugged my waist. I was actually near him and parang 
wala akong makita kundi sya lang. We started to move. He closed his eyes and low
ered his head to me. Here comes the cute face of him. My heartbeat is running fa
st. I can't believe it.

I, Marriane Louse Santos married and gave a chance to dance with the hottest guy
 in the town, and that is Rex Carlo Lopez.  I really hate it!

But what's to hate? Nobody gets a chance to marry him and dance with him. Dapat 
nga maging masaya ako, but hindi eh, nakaharap ako ngayon sa siraulong to. My an
gry was totally hidden.

"R-Rex.." I mumbled under my breath.

"Shhh... wag kang maingay."

Niyakap nya ko, sinandal nya ang baba nya sa balikat ko. I can feel his abs thro
u gh his clothes. 

"Sana ikaw na lang si Candy, sana."






Ano raw?


Handcuff 1o - Expected things.


Naiintriga talaga ako sa kanya, dun sa Candy na yun. Who is she? Tell me!


Pinikit ko na lang ang mata ko habang sumasayaw kami. 

Nung natapos na kami sumayaw, h e let go of me a nd ordered some drinks t o be calm
. Subukan lang nya na uminom, u upakan ko sya. W alang bubuhat sa kanya r ito noh!

Nagpaalam a ko sa k anya na p upunta lang ako sa washing room. When I got there, I 
washed my h ands. I  looked a t the mirror. 

*Flashback*

H e took my arms to wrap around his neck. Dinala na lang ako ng malamig kong paki
ramdam kaya eto, my arms wrapping around his neck. I felt some shiver going up a
nd down on my spine when he hugged my waist. I was actually near him and parang 
wala akong makita kundi sya lang. We started to move. He closed his eyes and low
ered his head to me.

*End of Flashback*

I  touched the part where the heart is. The heartbeats going faster. Oh my God, w
hat's happening to me? Malamig ang kamay ko. I must be nervous about it, kase it
 was really my first time to dance with a guy, kahit kailan talaga.

To get rid of this feeling, I screamed out loud. All the girls went out and look
ing at me, shocked and surprised.

"Miss, are you okay?" 

"Ah, yes... I'm sorry." I bowed down.

I quickly went our of the Ladies Room and shocked to see Rex, leaning at the wal
l beside the door and his hands are on his pocket again. 

"Anong nangyari sayo at nagsisisigaw ka dun? Nag-iiskandalo ka ata eh. Bumalik k
a na lang kaya sa kwarto?" 

"Mas mabuti pa yun, at nang makapagpahinga ako."

"Baket, hindi ka ba nakomportable na makasayaw ako kanina? I mean, All of the gi
rls out there wants me to dance with them." 

"Ugh, manahimik ka." I frowned at him. I stomped my feet while I was walking bac
k to the room. I leaned to the back door and mumbling some curses under my breat
h.

"Kainis! Hmp!" I try to imitate his tone. "All of the girls out there wants me t
o dance with them. Ang kapal! Aiiiissshhh."

I changed my dress into a night dress and sleep. Itutulog ko na lang to.


***


O_O


S-s-si R-rex?! Wait, kanina pa ba ko yakap nito?! God, why are you doing this to
me? Sinubukan kong makapiglas sa braso nya pero, hindi talaga ako makaalis, kah
it nga makagalaw di ko magawa. T_T Ano ba to? Help me!


All I can s ee is his fresh w hite good angel l ooking face. Medyo g umalaw sya kaya
 nakaalis a gad ako. Ooops! H e got banged at t he wall. I heard a l oud thump.

"Aww! F**k. Ano ba?!" I stood up.

"Sinong nagsabi sayo na magtabi tayo sa isang kama, ha?!" I said in a frightenin
g voice.

"Sila. Sina Mamu a nd Dad." He said coldly while scratching his head and brushing
 his hair by his f ingers.

"Ano?" Wala kang karapatan para tawagin syang mamu! Loko.

"Nung dumating tayo dito, marami na ang n agpareserve n g r ooms. Kung nandun tayo 
ngayon sa Hawaii, magkatabi pa rin tayo s a pagtulog. A t s aka wala na kong choice
 kundi matulog sa tabi mo no." 

"Eh di sana natulog ka na lang sa sahig."

"Ikaw kaya ang matulog sa malamig na sahig? Malamang kakayanin mo. Nasa itsura n
a eh." 

I mumbled some curses. "Baka kung ano na ang ginawa mo sakin. Waahh..."

"Akala mo, pagdidiskitahan kita? Hah. Wala ka namang binatbat eh. Hindi naman ma
syadong kalakihan yang -"

"Loko ka?! May ginawa ka siguro sakin ano? Bwisit ka!!" I was to about to kick h
is balls when someone interrupt my sweet revenge. "Room Service po." Kainis tala
ga. Mapapatay ko na tong lalaking to eh, may sumingit pa. Istorbo.

"Tara. Nagugutom na ko." 

"Mag-isa ka. Magkukulong na lang ako sa CR."

"Bahala ka pag nagutom ka." He walked past me. Pumunta ako sa CR para maghilamos
. 

"Umagang-umaga eh... teka? baka may nangyari samin kaya sya nakayakap sakin. Hin
di. Walang nangyari. Walang nangyari."

My phone rang.

"Hoy, Mrs. Lopez?" 

"ANONG MRS. LOPEZ KA JAN?! Bakit ba?" Si Abby syempre.

"Ano, anong nangyari sainyo jan sa Hawaii?" Lumabas ako at umupo sa couch.

"Wala kami sa Hawaii."

"ANO?! TEKA, SAN KA NYA DINALA?" ang sakit talaga sa tenga yung boses nya.

"Shh. Wag kang maingay. Ikaw lang ang nakakaalam na wala kami sa Hawaii."

"Eh pano pag nalaman ni tita at ni PAPA?" 

"Syempre ikaw na ang may kagagawan nun. Anong papa ka jan?"

"Wala lang, type ko lang. At saka magandang pakinggan. Dapat ikaw ang tumatawag 

ng ganun sa papa nya noh." 


"Ayoko nga, nakakasuka." Ewww. Parang pinatay ko na ang sarili ko pag tinawag ko
 si Mr. Lopez ng ganun.

"Umayos ka nga Marriane, asawa mo na sya ngayon. Magbehave ka." 

"Ano naman kung a sawa k o na sya? Di naman kami close ano. At lalong lalo na hind
i kami magiging c lose n oh!"

"Fine. Magbabago din yan, baka nga isang araw makita na lang kita, deeply mad in
love with him." 

"Hah, patayin na dapat ang dapat patayin noh. At sya yun."

"Sige na ho, Babye Mrs. Lopez! wheeehee!" 

"SINABI NANG WAG MO KONG TATAWAGIN NG GANYAN EH!" I hunged the phone badly. In t
his morning, 2 persons pissed me off. That f**king Abby and that damn stup!d Rex
. Aiiissshhhh. I'd better die right now.


***


After I ate the breakfast, I strolled around the hotel by myself. My phone rang.

"Marriane?"

"Lawrence! Kamusta ka jan?" 

"Ikaw, kung kumusta ka na."

"Ayos lang." hay naku Lawrence. K ung ayaw a kong k unin dito ni mamu, ikaw na lang
. "Take me away from this guy." I  mumbled u nder m y breath.

"Huh? may sinasabi ka?"

"Ah, sabi ko, kamusta ka naman?"

"Eto, sinusubukang makahabol sa m ga l essons by my t utor. H indi muna ako pumasok 
k ase wala ka." Huh?! 

"What's your point about that?" Y ou m ean namimiss m o ko, L awrence?

"Ikaw lang naman ang kakwentuhan ko dun sa s chool eh. At tsaka, all the girls ap
proaching me everytime they see me alone." 

"What about Abby?"

" Nothing just came out f rom her mouth." ano? Himala yun pag nangyari. But binaba
liktad lang nya eh. He d o misses me. Aminin mo Lawrence. wheeehe!

"Ah, my tutor was t ugging me t o go study, tapos na kase breaktime ko eh. Mamaya 
na lang, bye." He h unged the p hone.

"Sinong kausap mo?" I didn't know t hat he w as there, staring at me while me, I w
as smiling like a fool when I was t alking a t Lawrence.

"Wala kang pakialam."


"Meron. Kasi asawa na kita." 

Tumigil ka. Walang effect y ang p agmamalasakit mo. At least Lawrence can do that 
caring thingy. I'll smile l ike a  fool again.


Handcuff 11 - The weirdest thing.


I sat alone at the couch, thinking about the future -- WITH HIM. Maybe h e'll b e 
a great husband when we get back home and I'll be a great wife to him. M aybe w e'
 l be a great couple just like the ones there. Maybe.
l

"Dan dan da da dan --" I picked my phone at the center table.

"Hoy, 12:30 na. Magbihis ka na tapos pumunta ka rito sa may terrace sa taas. TEE
T. toot. toot. toot." He hunged it without any statement from me. Nakakainis ka 
t alaga Rex!

I  went to the bedroom and I saw the dress that he said. Bright color, eh? Orange
halter dress with a yellow jacket. Wow. I touched the cloth. It was so soft, ju
st like the hands of Lawrence. Damn, he's waiting, pwede ba? 

I quickly took a shower and wore the dress. All the dress that he gave to me loo
ks nice when they're at me. I really do have the ability to be a model, but I do
n't want to be a model. I've never wished to. I was tall enough to be a model, b
ut I've never wanted to.

It was 12:50. I quickly turned my hair into a messy bun. At least I can be beaut
iful when it was a messy bun. With the heels, I dragged myself into the terrace,
that is in 5th floor. Our room was in the 2nd floor when I should take the elev
ator in 3 times. Ang masaklap pa dun, di ako marunong gumamit ng elevator, kaya 
wala akong choice kundi gumamit ng hagdanan. That son of a -- THAT FREAK DID THI
S ON A PURPOSE. Alam nya siguro na hindi ko kayang gumamit ng elevator. Damn him
.

I saw him, kicking the wall. "Ba't ang tagal mo?"

"Tingnan mo nga, pinaakyat mo ko rito sa 5th floor nang naka heels! Ikaw kaya a n
g magsuot jan ng heels at umakyat mula 2nd floor hanggang 5th floor? !@#$..." I  
was to about to cry when he talked.

"Kaya kita pinaakyat dahil nandito ang kwarto nina Russel. Ayokong maghirap umak
yat at bumaba para lang sayo no."

"Ano ba ko, di ba asawa mo ko?"

"Heh, I think out of myself that I was still single."

"You wish. F reak, l ook. You do have the wedding ring at your hand." I handed his
 wrist and l ooked a t his ring.


***


After we strolled and drink some coffees, we went back to the hotel.

I took some shower, ate dinner and tried to sleep at the couch. Ayoko na syang m

akatabi ngayon no. I'm specific now. Baka may mangyari pa samin na hindi dapat m
angyari.

"Anong ginagawa mo?"

"Matutulog. Obvious ba?" I pressed the pillow and led my head to it.

"Ba't ka dyan matutulog eh may kama dun?"

"Ayoko nang makatabi ka no."

"Hindi tayo magtatabi."

"Huh? Eh san ka matutulog?" I looked at him with a blank expression.

"Dyan sa couch."

O_O

Huh?! Ano raw? What the heck is he saying? You mean -- "Dun ka matulog sa kama. 
Mukha kang kawawa pag tinuloy mo pa yang pagtulog mo dyan. Alis." He pushed me t
o stand up and dragged me to the bed. He walked out and closed the door.

"Wow."


What was that all about? That b@stard's being nice to me was so strange.


Handcuff 12 - Embarassing Crap


Pagkagising ko, wala na sya sa couch. His baggage was already packed. I noticed 
a note at the center table.
Mag-impake ka na, aalis na tayo. And nga pala, susunduin daw nila tayo sa airpor
t at dederetcho na raw tayo dun sa bahay natin. -- Rex.

Ano raw? Bahay& namin? Hay, ewan. Dahil excited na akong umuwi, inayos ko agad 
ang gamit ko without eating breakfast. My tummy goes growling ang hungry for foo
d. Nakakaawa naman tong tyan ko. Pumunta agad ako sa restaurant around in this h
otel and ate breakfast.

I was about to chomped all of this food in the table when my phone rang.

"Dan dan da da dan --" I answered the phone. Istorbo. Gutom na ko eh!

"Kamusta ang 3rd day sa honeymoon?"

"Ikaw Abby, gutom na ko kaya pakainin mo muna ako."

"Eh di i-handsfree mo yang cellphone mo." May gana ka pang mang-utos eh wala nam
an akong ikwe-kwento sayo. Kinukulit talaga ako ng babaeng to. 

"Oo na sige na para tigilan mo na ko."

"O sige, tell me what happened."

"Isang subo lang please?"

"Marriane naman eh." Sumubo ako ng steak.


"O, ano?"

M ahaba-habang kwento to. Tumingin muna ako from left to right to see na wala si 
R ex. Thank God.

" We stayed here in this f**king hotel. He gave me a dress for the party by night
." I shove some steak into my mouth and slurped my drink. "I wanted to go to Dis
neyland but ayaw nya. Kinuha nya ang CP ko then I tried to call mom on the telep
hone here and he fell on me." Some shivers came out of my body. "We attended tha
t stup!d party where there are many couples and were only the stup!d couple ones
there." Magsasalita na sana si Abby pero binara ko sya. "He danced with me and 
slept beside me hugging me tightly." Feeling ko talaga magfe-freeze na ko dahil 
sa mga nangyaring yon. "He invited me to go stroll with his friend and pinaakyat
nya ko mula 2nd floor hanggang 5th floor to see him and his friend. We drank so
me coffees alone and he walk me back to that hotel. Then that night, he let me t
o sleep alone to that bed and he slept into the couch out there. Okay na?" Whew!
 In-off ko yung handsfree.

"Wow, p wede ka nang maging story teller." I heard some familiar voice from my ba
ck. I w as shocked to see who's at my back.

Damn it. It's Rex.

"K-kanina ka pa j-jan?"

"About a minute ago." What the -- I can hear Abby calling at me. "Marriane, oist
 Marriane!"

" N-narinig mo lahat?"

H e freaked nodded at me. "What do you think you are doing, talking in your phone
 while eating. Tapos mo na bang iligpit lahat ng gamit mo?"

"Di p-pa."

"Umayos ka Marriane. I passed by to drink some water. I'll be off." He dashed of
f the restaurant.

"Marriane!!" Ang sakit sa tenga.

"Ano?!" I said, annoyed.

"Loka, kausap mo ko ngayon. Sino bang kausap mo dyan?"

"S-si Rex."

"Huh?! narinig nyang lahat?"

"Oo pero, hindi sya nagcomment about that." I sipped my drink.

"Eh di tuloy mo."

" Ayoko nga. Abby, magbagong buhay ka na. Wag kang mag-alala, hahanap ako ng lala
king makakatiis sayo. Maghintay ka lang." Without a word from her, I hunged the 
phone.

That will b e s hut up h er f or a while. Ang daldal ko! Ano nang g agawin ko? Baka i
sipin nya n a i sa rin a ko s a mga babaeng naoobsessed sa kanya. G OD, I'M GONNA DIE
!



Handcuff 13 - Transferred.


Umalis kami ng Hongkong n ang hindi n ag-iimikan. Hanggang sa pagdating namin sa a
irport. I gathered some c ourage to a sk him out.

"Anong sinasabi mo kanina na bagong bahay?"

"Bahay nating dalawa! Di ba ang mag-asawa, nakatira sa isang bahay?"

"HUH?! You mean, TITIRA TAYO SA ISANG B AHAY N A TAYONG DALAWA LANG??" He nodded. 
What the heck. Is this some kind of a j oke? K ami? Forever titira nang magkasama?
 Oh GOD, what did I have done to you?

"Hinakot nila lahat ng gamit natin."

"Ang sama talaga nila." I mumbled. He dragged his baggage and went out of the ai
rport. He was searching for a taxi.

"Oh, I can't believe naghahanap na lang ako ng taxi ngayon." He mumbled under hi
s breath.

" Hoy, wag kang maarte. Mabuti nga eh merong taxi rito sa bansa natin. Kung wala,
 mapipilitan kang sumakay ng jeep. Much better kung tricycle."

"Sanay ka kasi." He mumbled.

An awkward silence followed. But it already broken by my phone's noise.

"Dan-dan-da-da-dan --" I answered my phone.

"Hello?"

"Marriane, nasan na kayo? Pauwi na ba kayo? Susunduin namin kayo."

"Sige mamu, sunduin nyo kami rito --" He grabbed my cellphone. Parang walang man
ners. Kita nang nakikipag-usap pa eh. AISH.

"Mamu. Sige po. Si Papa? Pa! Bigay nyo na nga yung kotse ko! AISH. Di na ko maka
tiis. Pinapaayos pa ba yun? Nakakainis kasi rito yung sumira ng kotse ko eh." Na
g paparinig ka ba? =_=

"Mamu. Sige po. Babye. TEET." He gave it back to me.

"Wala ka talagang manners ano?" I said sarcastically and annoyed.

"Shut up. Susunduin nila tayo rito. Wag kang mag-alala dahil separate ang kwarto
 natin."

"Talaga? Mabuti naman." I said cheerfully.

We waited for them to come. We sat at the bench around here and waited. Suddenly
, they came and we're on our way to our house. 

"Kamusta ang bakasyon?" His dad asked.

"Masaya." He said, folding his arms in his seat beside me and looking at the win
d ow. Such a freak.


"You dear, okay ka lang?"

"Lagi naman akong okay eh."

We arrived at a two-storey big house. "Wow. Ang g anda." I  blurted out, while loo
king from the gate up to the roof. Dito ba kami t itira? K aming dalawa lang tapos
 malaki yung bahay? Wow.

I quickly entered the house like a kid and looked at it's interior. Wow. Spring 
version. Yellow and Green, I like that. I went upstairs to look at the rooms. Th
ree rooms? Eh para kanino naman yung isa? You mean, may kasama kami rito? 

I e ntered the 1st room. Wow. Is this my room? It's so big! It's like the size of
our small house dun sa probinsya! All of my things are already arranged, and it
 has a window.

I  entered the 2nd room. Wow, ang cute! Teka, maraming stuff toys? Maraming teddy
 bears? What's this suppose to mean?

I entered the 3rd room. So this is his room. Talagang panlalaki. I saw the pictu
res. Wow, sya ba to? Ang cute naman nya rito! So, this is her sister? And... Can
dy? I saw a sunset rectangular frame hanging at the wall. Wow. Ang ganda. Look, 
i t has a window too. 

" Pero mas malaki yung bintana nya kaysa sakin. Ang daya." I pouted. Sana mahulog
 sya dun. hahah. Basta pagdating sa kanya, masama ako.

"Ano, maganda?" I spun m y head and saw that b@stard, folding his arms, leaning a
gainst the entrance of h is room.

"Maganda. Pero mas maganda yung sakin noh."

"Weh. Ang sabihin mo, inggit ka dahil mas malaki yung bintana k o kaysa sa bintan
a mo noh." He went towards the king size bed and sat down. In j ust 3 seconds, I'
v e got explode.

" MAHULOG KA SANA DYAN SA BINTANA!!" I screamed and walked out k asabay ang malaka
s na *blag!* sa pintuan.

"Bwisit. Nagpapainggit ka pang loko k a!" I s aid as I w as entering my room follow
ed by a loud *blag!* at the door. I s at at t he study c hair.

One for Rex. Zero for Marriane.

"Dan-dan-da-da-dan --" I answered the phone.

"Ang bilis mo namang mainis." He laughed.

"Sapakin kita dyan eh~"

"Hay, ang sarap mo tuloy pagtripan." He laughed again.

"Tumigil ka nga. TEET." I hunged my phone and put it in the study table. L ooks l
ike papaalis na sila mamu. I peeked at the window and saw them, entering t he car
 and drove away.

"Psst." I looked at my left as I was peeking at the window. Paupo-upo pa s ya dya
n sa bintana. Sana mahulog ka.


"Galit ka pa?" He smirked. I glared at him. "Sana mahulog ka dyan."

"You wish." I  closed my window and sat at the chair. I cocked my head through th
e table and t ouched my head.

"Dan-dan-da-da-dan --" Ang k ulit. Hindi ko k ayang pigilin ang galit ko sa lalaki
ng to. Yeah, I answered it w ith an annoyed e xpression.

"ANO BANG PRO --"

" Marriane."

" L-Lawrence. Sorry k ung nasigawan kita. Yung bwisit na Rex na yun." I lowered my
 voice to him.

"Bakit? May ginawa b a sya sayo?"

"W-wala." I was shocked to heard that. He's worried about me. 

"Loko talaga yung lalaking yun. Sige, pag nakita ko sya, lagot sya sakin."

"Hindi na, binanatan ko na eh." We laughed.

"Sige, p upunta na lang ako dyan sa b ago nyong bahay. T EET. toot. toot. toot." I 
hunged t he phone and put it at the t able. He will be h ere?

"Hoy, Alis muna ako. Bantayan mo tong bahay." He shouted. Whew, buti naman at aa
lis ka na. I opened the door and he was standing towards me. Ang tangkad nga tal
aga nya. Kailangan ko pang itaas ang baba ko para lang makita sya. He lowered hi
s head and our eyes met. Here's this strange feeling again. Hmm.. ang bango nya.
 Loko. Ano ba tong naiisip ko?

"Masakit sa mata, pwede ba."

"Eh nakaharang ka kasi sa daan." He moved beside the wall and I looked at him.

His rosy cheeks got burned.  

"What?" He looked at me with a blank expression. 

"N-namumula ka." Then I bursted o ut some laughs. He touched his cheeks and got e
mbarassed. "Pwede ba --" Binara k o sya ng tawa ko.

One for Rex. One for Marriane. heeheeh. I won this time.


Handcuff 14 - Unexpectedly Roles.


"Aalis na ko." He went downstairs.

He's such a loser. AISH. I can't imagine i t how my life i s going to be U NDERGROU
ND. In this game -- I mean, real game... H e'll gonna be t he POLICE and I 'm gonna
be a PRISONER of his. How can it be? It s hould be, I'm t he POLICE and h e's the 
PRISONER. But it's hard to imagine.


Because he s acting like a POLICE and I was acting l ike a PRISONER of his. Why c a
n t I be the POLICE and he s the PRISONER of mine? A igoo.. nagmixed-up nanaman a ng
 words ko. Hay, ewan. *sigh*

Someone knocked at the door. " Lawrence, ang bilis mo." I  said as I was closing t
he door. "Nandun lang ako sa k anto. Iniintay ko sya na m akaalis." Mautak ka rin 
ano? Akala ko ba close kayo? 

"Upo ka." He sat down on the couch. He looked around. "Ang laki nga ng nabili ni
 uncle."

"Hmm. Bakit ganto yung binili ng papa nya eh kami lang naman ang titira dito. Uh
h, wala kang gagawin?"

"Wala. B akit?"

" Pwede m o ba akong tulungan sa pagbitbit ng iba kong gamit?" I touched my baggag
e.

"Sure."


***


After nya kong matulungan, gabi na pala. "Sige, alis na ko. Gabi na eh."

"Sige. Goodnight." 

"Goodnight din." He made his sweet smile again. His killer smile.... AHHH! Ayun,
 umalis na sya gamit yung black convertible nya.


***


"May pagkain na?"

"Wala. Wala kayang laman yung ref no?" I said sarcastically.


***


He led me to a supermarket. Here I am, pushing a cart na parang may anak. Sya, k
uha lang sya ng kuha ng makakain. Parang sya ang magbabayad nito ah. "Wag kang m
ag-alala, hati tayo sa pagbayad. Para naman may laman yung ref sa bahay." Mabuti
 naman.

L ahat ng tao nakatingin samin tapos yung iba, naglalaway. Ewww... All of the gir
ls there gave me a shot of glares. Ayoko na sa tabi mo! Hanggang makarating kami
sa counter, ayun. Pati mga cashiers, iniisnab ako. Ito namang cashier na to, na
katulala lang kay Rex.

"Bakit?" He said sternly. Rex, babae rin yan. "Ay, sorry po. Ang total po eh, Ph
p 1, 857.75." I was about to open my wallet when he took my wallet and took his 
credit card. "Tumatanggap ba kayo ng credit card?" The cashier's eyes turned int
o a peso sign. 

" Ah, opo. Akin na po sir." Kinuha nya yung credit card tapos ipinasok sa machine
. "Akin na yung wallet ko." Binigay nga nya pero, wala nang laman. "Di ba dapat 
kalahati lang ang kunin mo? Bakit lahat kinuha mo?"

"Dahil ako na ang magbabayad. Babayaran kita kapag nagtransfer na si papa ng per

a sakin." Nakatingin samin yung cashier and her jaw dropped. "Tapos na ba?"

"Ah, eto na p o. Thank you, come again." Kinuha nya y ung credit c ard, yung resibo
 pero hindi y ung pinamili namin. "Hoy, tulungan mo n aman ako." 

"Ikaw ang magdala nyan. Maglakad na lang tayo. Puno ang bus ngayon at saka, ayok
ong sumakay dun." He said as he was walking downtown. I stared at his back in di
smay. Ang sama talaga nya! Pagdalhin ba naman ako ng pinamili nya?! Ang kapal!


***


Binagsak ko yung mga plastic bags dun sa mesa at umupo sa upuan. Ang bigat! "Mag
luto ka na."

HUH?! O_O

M y jaw dropped. Ano? 

" Pagkatapos mo kong pagdalhin ng mga pinamili mo tapos ako ang magluluto? Rex na
man, pagod na ko kalalakad mula dun sa supermarket na yun hanggang dito at dala 
dala yang mga plastic na yan na sobrang bigat. Di ka ba naaawa --"

"I'm just joking." He said, his smirk wide as ever. I sighed. "You look like my 
sister." Mabuti alam mo.

He paused before he could s ay anything. "Ganto pala pag may asawa ka na noh."

"Mabuti at nang maranasan m o.." Then I walked upstairs.


Handcuff 15 - Great.


Pagbaba ko, naamoy ko yung niluluto nya. "Wow, ang bango ah!"

"Nag-aral ata ako ng pagluluto no."

"Talaga? Pwede patikim?"

"Ayoko."

"Ang daya mo." I s aid as I was walking through the kitchen and washed my hands. 
I looked at what i n the caserole. "Wow. Sinigang. Siguraduhin mo na maasim talag
a yan ah!"

"Gusto mo kasing asim ng mukha mo?"

"Loko." I took the plates, glass, forks and spoons and placed it in the table.

Meanwhile...

"Pwede ko bang itanong kung sino si Candy?" I leaned at the wall while he was st
ill mixing up. "She's nothing, so shut up." He took the other ingredient and pou
red it to the pan. "Please?"

"Whenever I said NO, NO." He replied simply. "Makapal na nga ang mukha, suplado 
pa. Tch." I grumbled. "Here, it finished." He handed the pan and he placed it in
 the table. We started to ate. "Mmm!"


"Talagang masarap pag ako ang nagluluto."

"Pwede ka na ngang houseband."

"Hoy, di ko pinangarap yun." He shoved his spoon full of rice. "But I'd wished t
o have a child with you."

"Gag0. Gusto mong maupakan?"

"Sige, kahit kelan." He grinned. "Teka, nakita mo na ba yung pangatlong kwarto s
a taas?" I asked. "Hindi. Teka, ano ba yun?"

"Pambata sya eh. May stuff toys, laruan --"

"Isa lang ang ibig sabihin nyan." He interrupted me to talk.

"What?"

" Mukhang iniisip nila na magkakaroon tayo ng anak." Nababaliw na ba sila? "Nahaw
a sila sayo. Pati ulo nila, sira na rin."


***


After naming kumain...

"Maghugas ka."

" Ako? Maghuhugas?"

He nodded. "Ako nang nagluto, kaya ikaw naman ang maghugas."

"Fine." He stood up and went upstairs.

During washing the dishes, napaisip ako. Yeah, he can be a great husband, and I 
can be a great wife. How if we can be MOM and DAD? NO. No, no, no, no. Imposible
na magkaroon kami ng anak. How about that 3rd room that is obviously owned by a
child? Aish. Sira na ulo nila. Expecting us having a child. Pero nitong unang p
agtira namin ng magkasama sa bahay na to, is so GREAT. Pwede na kaming bigyan ng
 award. hahaha. 

Pero bukas, hindi na. May pasok na eh. Sa ibang school sya nag-aaral eh. Sana ga
nto kami lagi. Sana.


Handcuff 16 - Child.


CLASS DISMISSED.

"So, kamusta ang buhay may asawa? Masaya?" Abby said while putting her notebook 
i n her bag.

" Masaya? Tch. Makatiis ka kaya na gawin kang katulong ng asawa mo?" I frowned. W
e walked out of the room and went towards the girl's locker room. 

"Rex can't do things like that." She said as she was opening her locker. I was a
bout to open my locker when I stopped and looked at her in disbelief.


"Hay n ako. Kung m araranasan m ong maging asawa nya, para ka talagang nasa impyern
o at k asama ang i sang tulad n ya."

"Because you're not so nice to him. Kaya sya ganun." 

"Sus, kahit maging mabait ako s a kanya, walang magbabago n o." W e q uickly went ou
t of the locker room and went o ut of the school grounds. T hen w e s aw him. Yeah, 
he's waiting for his wife.

"Hi Rex~" He s miled at her. Looks l ike k akagaling rin lang sya sa school. She li
ghtly pushed m e towards him. "Ano b a?" 

"Sige alis na ko." She grinned and walked away.

"Tara." He grabbed m y h and. I tried to grip off on him but, he is really strong.
 I admit that.

"Ano bang problema m o a t san mo nanaman ba ko dadalhin?"

"Dumerecho raw tayo dun sa bahay namin sabi ni papa. May sasabihin raw."

"At ikaw naman eh, nagpapauto dun."

"Malay mo ibigay na yung kotse kase importante. Pag hindi ko yun nakuha, papatay
i n kita."

" You wish."


***


AISH. Ewan. Here I am, Rex is dragging me through our parents for that crap anno
uncement. Then my face went brighter when I saw this lovely cute little girl. Ma
mu and his father are sitting at the couch while someone went out of the room. S
he's about 20+. She sat next to my mom.

"Take your seat guys." We took our seat and they noticed that he was holding my 
hand. I quickly pulled my hand out of his hand and put it in my back while he sh
oved his hand in his pocket and looked at the ceiling. I was pretending looking 
at the corners. Looks like I'm starting to get redder.

"Kaya namin kayo napatawag dahil sa mahalagang announcement. A newlywed like you
 doesn't like a newlywed, isn't it?"

We looked them, puzzled while knowing the announcement. "We don't want to make y
o u surprise but, I'll tell you later." HAY. Ano nanaman ba ang balak nila ha?

" Anyway, she's Andrea." She extended her right hand to shake with me and turned 
to Rex. Looks like hindi tumalab ang charm mo sa magandang babae na to ah. Himal
a.

"And she's Camille." He referred to the little girl that brighten my face.

"Good Afternoon po." She smiled. Aww, she's cute when she smiles like that.

"Hi Camille, I'm Ate Marriane. How old are you?"

"4 years old po." Ang cute!


"Umm, Aling Celia, ilabas mo nga muna tong si Camille kase mag-uusap kami."

"Yes po sir." Then the maid approached her and took her out.

"Bakit nyo po s ya pinalabas?" Something's fishy is happening. Rex, may nangyayar
i na di natin a lam. O, baka alam nya rin?

"We wanna tell you something important, remember? Go ahead, Andrea." He let Andr
e a to speak up.

" I'm her mother. And I have to work in London for her. I want to have a favor fr
om you two." Huh? You mean, anak nya yun? Kaya pala magkamukha sila. Pero di hal
ata.

"What favor?" We two looked at her with a blank expression.

"Can you look after her?" She said solemly. We're still puzzled about what was h
e r point.

"I mean, can you be her parents permanently?"




Whhaattt?! Ano?! Are you insane?


Handcuff 17 - Being a PARENT.


"I have no time to look after her because I'm whole day in my work at London. So
 please?" She begged.

W e looked at each other. "TAYO?" Then we looked at her. "MAGIGING MAGULANG NIYA?
"

"Oo, Rex. So, kaya nyo ba?" He asked infront of us.

He stood up. "Ayoko nga."

"Mas lalo naman ako noh." I said while crossing my arms at my chest and acting a
rrogantly.

"Bahala ka pag di mo nakuha ang kotse mo. Malaki ang possibilities na pag naayos
 yun, malaking pera yun." He reassured para mapa-oo nya si Rex.

"Pa naman, wag nyo namang ibenta. Alam nyo naman na kung gaano ko kamahal yung k
otse na yun noh." He begged. You have to kneel at them para maibigay na yung bwi
sit mong kotse. Paharang harang kasi sa daan tapos nagkataong masama pa yung moo
d ko nung nagawa ko yung krimen na yun. [Ako pa yung nanisi, as if ako naman yun
g gumawa ng krimen. hahah.]

"Eh dapat gawin mo ang pinagagawa ko." Mr. Lopez said calmly.

"Pa naman?! Nagbibiro ka lang naman di ba?" He said, raising his tone.

"Mukha ba kong nagbibiro ha? Mabebenta ko talaga yun. Kilala mo ko. Ano?"

"Ano ba yan. Mamu naman, wala na ba kayong awa?"


"Tapos na a ng usapan na to." Mamu s tood up. "Iuwi nyo na si Camille sa bahay nin
yo. Aalis n a ko." Then she walked o ut.

"Mamu! Ugh, kainis talaga!" I frowned. Ang sasama nyo!

"Please, take care of her. I will be back when my contract there finished alread
y." I have no choice but to agree on her. I forced him to make a promise at Andr
ea. She glanced at her watch and looked suprisingly. "I have to go now, 5:30 PM 
was the flight of the plane. Please do take care of her." She bowed down and bid
goodbye to us. Then she approached Camille to say her goodbyes for the child. W
hen Andrea drove off by the taxi, I saw Camille's face, and I can't explain the 
expression in her face. Sucks.

I approached her as she was looking at the back of the taxi that her mom w as a ct
ually riding on it. "Okay ka lang?" She nodded. I knelt down to my knees a nd s at
 so that I can reach her height. This will gonna be hard...

"Uh, Camille," She looked at me. "Uhh, for now, can I be your mother for now?"

"I miss m ommy. Daddy." She s aid and lowered her head a s s he w as playing her tedd
 bear. R ex walked towards u s. "Seryoso ka ba? Iuuwi m o y an d un?" He whispered.
y

"Alangan naman kung saan yan titira, n akaalis na yung mama nya. N aka-oo na tayo,
 diba? At saka, mukhang sa kanya nga y ung kwarto." I replied in a  icy tone.

He headed towards Camille and sat next to me. "What's your name? Can daddy know 
it?"

"You're not my daddy!" She ran away.

"Rex, anong ginawa mo?"

"Wala kaya. Mahihirapan tayo sa batang yun. Wag na natin kunin." He stood up. "A
nong gusto mo? Inaasahan tayo ng mama nya. Let's look for her." We separated way
s to find Camille. Then I find her under the shady lush tree, sitting and crying
. I aproached to her. "Camille?"

Her heads' burying under her arms, cocking her head at h er knee. I sat n ext to h
er. "You look like me." I said solemly. She raised her h ead and looked a t me wit
h her teary eyes. "Huh?"

"When I was young, I used to cry in a shady tree like this because I miss my fat
her."

"Huh?"

"My dad p assed away. For m e, g iving m e shade b y a tree gives me comfort. Then su
ddenly, a fter I cried, I s aw m yself s miling. I kaw? Ba't ka umiiyak?"

"I miss m y daddy too." 

"Huh?"

"Wala na rin po si papa."

"Oh..." Rex saw us. He sat beside her. "Pwede na ba tayo umuwi?"

"Let's try to explain things to her." I whispered to him, then I looked a t Camil
le and started to explain. I scoffed. "Camille, we will be your parents p ermanen

tly. I'll be your mama," I pointed at him. "And he will be your permanent papa. 
C an you help us?"

" I don't think so, ate Marianne." She shook her head. "We'll be a great family. 
Me, you and him. Are you not happy?" She didn't respond. "Sheeshh. Ewan ko sa ba
tang yan. Umuwi na nga tayo.." He dragged me and I looked at him. "Siraulo ka ba
? You're not caring for the child."

We started walking when I h eard her voice. "Mama? Papa?" We spun our heads and l
ooked at her. She stopped f rom crying but still, her eyes are teary then. "Ano?"

"Pwede ko kayong tulungan." She smiled.


Handcuff 18 - Rules.


She was not still happy until we reached the house. "What's wrong? Hindi mo gust
o tong bahay?" She shaked her head saying 'no'. He took something from his pocke
t and lend his hands to her. A candy popped out in his hands. "Want candy?"

She h appily took the candy and ate it. "See? Candy can cure kids like her." He s
aid t o me while putting his hand at her head.

"Mama, Papa." We looked at her. "Do you love each other?" ??

"Bakit mo natanong?"

"If you don't l ove e ach o ther, t hen I c an't be your child." What i s she talking 
a bout? 

"Of course we l ove e ach o ther. T hat's w hy you called us papa and m ama."

"Then prove it." She proudly said. I can't get her. I really can't get her.

"Ang tang@ mo kasi kaya di mo makuha." His lips turning into a smile. "Huh?" I l
ooked at him with a 'what' expression. "We need to act like one." He smiled play
fully. So that was her point. To make us her real parents, do whatever things th
at parents should do. ANO?!

They l eft me outside alone. O kay na kaya si Camille? Then suddenly, I felt s omet
hing v ibrated at my pocket, a nd it was my phone. Saying that there's a new m essa
ge.

Hey. May time ka ba? Can we talk? -- Lawrence 

Sorry. My husband and our child need me. -- Marriane

I q uickly send the message to him. Wait, there's something wrong with my respond
. S orry. My husband and our child need me. WTF?! Did I just sent that? Gosh, I'm
gonna be busted. Pshh. Tungak ka talaga Marriane. What now? Will he text back? 
Hope it's not. I quickly turned off my phone so that di ko mabasa yung reply nya
.

Pretend that nothing happened.


When we're busy at Camille, he whispered. "Wag ka munang matulog. May unfinished
 business pa tayo." Ano naman yun?

***


After makatulog ni Camille, he dragged me at the backyard. He let me to sit at t
he swing. "Ano naman yun?"

"We have to discuss about how to go about in o ur relationship, lalong lalo n a ng
ayong dumating na si Camille sa'ting dalawa. H e said while leaning at the w all i
nfront of the swing, his lips turning into a sm ile.

I couldn t help but laugh at him.  Anong pinagsasasabi mo? I s tarted to ask, but t
hen I remembered that I was now his wife. And so, I hurriedly a dded another line
.  Hindi naman mahahalata ng bata na arranged marriage tayong d alawa diba?

He shook his h ead. "Hindi, Marriane. I m talking about our rules in marriage. He 
responded in a  half-serious tone.

 Rules? Bakit pa? Hindi n aman tayo naglalaro r ito, ano. At saka gumising ka, Rex.
 Nandito na si Camille. W e don't need that. I  replied with a frown.

 Nabasa m o na ba yung  Rules in Dating ?
mething b ig.

He asked me, as if I was missing out on so


The n amed 'Rex Carlo Lopez' a ctually r ead books? Kagulat gulat naman nun.  Hindi 
pa. A no naman yun? I asked h im with a  raised eyebrow.

He smiled sheepishly.  Di ko rin a lam yun e h. Di ko pa rin nababasa. He said in r
eply.  But the point is, we have t o prove t hat we can pretend to be her real pare
nts.

Seeing no point in a rguing with him since he was really stubborn in nature, I de
cided to give in.  Fine, gumawa tayo. I answered, starting to brainstorm on what 
rules we could use jus t to get it over with.

But then Rex started talking again.  I ll dictate them. He ordered with a grin.

Hearing that, I objected.  Sinasabi mo bang ikaw l ang ang gagawa ng rules? No way
. Unfair naman yun noh. I re marked, frowning at h im.

 At bakit naman unfair? Me, I accepted the comittment at them coz' I want to have
freedom. Ikaw, sumang-ayon ka rin. Kaya may karapatan ako na gumawa ng rules fo
r us because in this reality game, ako ang defending champion. He pointed out. H
is grin turned into a smirk. He was probably going to start annoying me, the way
 he always did whenever he smirked.

 But I wouldn t be your wife i f I know na ikaw pala yung m agiging asawa ko. I reas
oned, not wanting him to get t he satisfaction of pushing m e around. Akala nya hu
h..

He a ctually agreed easily.  Okay. He said, not wiping his smirk off his face.  Isa
ng r ule lang. Pag-isipan mong mabuti.

I knew it. I knew there was a catch. Dinadaya m o ko ng harap-harapan, loko ka.  H
 y, bakit isa lang? Gawin mo namang tatlo. I d emanded.
o

 Hindi.

He answered stubbornly.  It s either one, o wala.




 Okay, f ine. I sa lang. Pwede bilisan mo? I asked him as I pointed to my watch.  In
aantok n a ko a t saka may pasok pa tayo bukas.

 Tatlong rules lang naman ang sakin eh, He started, raising three fingers from hi
s hand. Then he lowered the two and stated the first.  One, you can t have other g
uys while you're with me lalong lalo na pag kasama natin yung bata. Then he rais
ed another finger for each of the next rules until he reached the fourth.  Two, w
ag mong bibiguin yung bata. Bigay mo ang gusto nya. Three, you have to do everyt
hing I say.

Upon hearing that, I  opted to complain.  Ano? Hoy, hindi ako robot!
t him with widened e yes.

I exclaimed a


But he, as usual, didn t care about what I said. Lagi naman diba? He continued to
speak in a half-serious tone.  Failure to follow these rules will result to a pu
nishment decided by me. Then he stopped and looked at me with a smile. Ang kapal
.  Ikaw naman. Ano yung sayo?

I opened my mouth, ready to argue with him about the rules he made but then he s
tarted looking at his watch. And so, I was reminded that I had to sleep early co
z' we have classes tomorrow. I decided to just get it over with. I thought about
what rule I could use to my advantage as his wife. And soon, I found it.  No bod
ily contact. Lumusot ka na lang pag humiling ang bata ng ganun. Magaling ka nama
n sa lusutan diba? I finally said, standing up from the swing.  So, pwede na kong
 matulog?

 The rules apply starting t oday. Okay ba? He responded with his annoying smirk. I
decided to ignore him as I  was entering the room and went upstairs. I felt tire
d when I lied at the bed.

Okay lang ba y ung g inawa k o na magkaroon kami ng rules? Para na talaga akong pre
so sa piling n ya. W alang e xcemptions.

He's the POLICE, and I'm just a PRISONER of his.


Handcuff 19 - Annoyed.


MORNING.

I started opening my phone. Too good no messages nor missed calls listed from La
wrence. I straightly went to the bathroom and took a bath. Abby called me when I
was drying myself with a towel. "Good Morning, Marriane." Abby greeted me sweet
ly.

"Anong nakain mo at nag-ge-greet ka jan ng 'Good Morning'?"

"Syempre, alangan namang sabihin ko na 'Good Evening'?"

"Then wazzup?" I said while brushing my teeth.

"Wazzup? Wazzup with your husband?"

"Umagang-umaga, sya ang topic natin. Change topic."

"Okay, wazzup with Lawrence?" I remembered what I have done. 

"I'm so busted at him." I said in a small voice.

"ANO?"

"Nasabi ko yung hindi ko dapat masabi sa kanya."


"Na ano?"

" That I was busy with my chi-" Teka, Marriane! Don't s pill it! B ut it was always
blurted at mine. Why can't I have to be specific in t his kind o f this? Because 
it always happens accidentally.

"I mean, my things. Sige, mamaya na lang. Bye." Then I hurriedly hunged up the p
hone. I leaned at the door and sighed. "Marriane, why are you making things more
 miserable?"

I hurriedly wore my uniform because I glanced at the clock and it was
hen I opened the door, someone's standing infront of me. And that was
s only wearing a towel so his fine abs are being showed. In my entire
dn't see this things but, I saw these things. I saw him half-naked so
and covered my eyes since he was to about taking off his towel. Then
nd he was wearing a boxer short behind the towel. Thank GOD.

6:38 AM. W

him. He wa
life, I di
I screamed
I peeked a


He s uddenly laughed. "Bakit? Ngayon ka lang nakakita ng lalaking nakaboxer short
s? N akakatawa ka naman."

"Umalis ka nga dyan. Nakaharang ka sa daanan ko."

"Nakaharang ka rin naman sa daanan
e bathroom. But before he shut the
a likod, nakaupo sa may swing. But
feel he was smirking again when he

ko eh." He smirked as I was walking out of th
door, he said something. "Nandun si Camille s
at least you can join me here inside." I can 
said that.


As he s hut the door, I t hrew my slippers a t the door and mumbling some curses. "
AISH. S iraulo." I took m y slipper that I t hrew at the door.


Handcuff 2o - Random.


N ung nakarating ako sa school, napaisip ako. SAAN KAYA SYA IIWAN N I REX? I quick
ly texted him while waiting for our teacher telling him where to d rop Camille. I
 received a message, hoping it was him. Baka iwanan lang nya dun y ung bata.

But it was Lawrence who just sent a message. 

Morning. What s that c hild are you talking about? Looks like mawawalan pa ko nito
 ng pag-asa sayo. -- L awrence 

That line repeated over and over again in my head. Looks like mawawalan pa ko ni
to ng pag-asa sayo.

Wait, is he -- teka, mamaya ko muna yun iaanalyze. Aasikasuhin ko muna yung tung
kol kay Camille. I sent a message again. Biglang nagvibrate yung cellphone ko. A
nd that was him who just made my phone to vibrated.  

Nandun si Camille sa mama mo. Wag kang magwala. -- Rex

Sheeshh. I got relieved when he sent the message. The bell rang and we greeted '
good morning' our teacher.


***



When I was sitting at the toilet bowl, I overheard a conversation between a two 
girl. And the man that they've been talking about was so familiar.

"Ang cute ni Rex ano?" She squealed. Ano kamo? Pssh. "Yup. But, do y ou think g ir
lfriend nya yung lagi nyang kasama? Di ba si Candy yung girlfriend n ya?" The o th
er girl asked. I've got strucked when I heard the 'Candy' part.

"Wala naman syang kasamang babae nung nakita natin sya diba?" I heard some zippe
r's opening. "Nung isang araw kaya, nakita ko sya na may kasamang babae, holding
hands pa nga sila eh. Ang sarap sakalin nung babaeng yun." Eh kung kayo ang sak
alin ko? Excuse me, nandito ang asawa nya. Mag-ingat kayo sa mga pinagsasasabi n
y o. Ambisyosa.

"Di naman sya kagandahan noh."

Anger flushed towards me. I opened the door and the two girls looked at me. They
got shocked to see me. "Sino ba yung babaeng gusto nyong sakalin? Kung gusto ny
o eh, tulungan ko kayo." I straightly strucked to the two girls with a mock naii
ve tone and smiled. They screamed in horror and quickly went out of the girl's r
oom. I headed to the mirror and cursed some words. "Kayo sakalin ko eh. Naku! AI
SH. Bakit ba ganto na mga babae ngayon? Masyadong selosa. Kung gusto nila si Rex
, sabihin nila. Di nila ko kailangan pang laitin." I said while combing my hair.

I quickly fixed my hair and walked with the heels out of the girl's room.


***


The next day...

I  heard some knocks at the door and some idi0t shouting. "MARRIANE!!" Sino pa ba
ang sisigaw rito kundi sya lang? I irritatedly opened it. There was him, standi
ng while holding a basket full of laundry clothes. "Ano nanaman yun?" I pouted. 

"Labhan mo to." I stared at him with a weird expression. Then my jaw dropped. "A
ko?! Maglalaba ng damit mo?! Ang KAPAL talaga ng mukha mo ano?" I said in a mock
ening tone. "Matagal nang makapal ang mukha ko. At tsaka ikaw lang naman ang nag
sasabi sakin ng ganun." He threw the basket right at my lap. "Pagbalik ko dapat 
nakasampay na yan."

"At saan ka nanaman pupunta, ha?!" I put my hands at my waist. "At kelan ka pa n
agkaroon ng interes na tanungin kung saan ako pupunta, ha?" He asked bluntly. "A
iissh. Ewan ko sayo." I grumbled as he was walking downstairs. He's so perfectly
 smartass. Kainis!


Handcuff 21 - Jealousy.


Haayy. Mali talaga. Look, hawak-hawak ko na ang mga underwear nya at nilalagay s
a washing machine. Eww. Pero wala namang mali rito di ba? A wife can do any chor
es just FOR HIM?! Yeah. Tingnan nyo nga. I always did whatever he asked for. "..
you have to do everything I say." That's the part of the rules. Kainis.

Camille walked towards me and asked, "Saan po ba pupunta si papa?"

"Ewan ko sa papa mo. Di naman nya sinabi." I started the washing machine switch.
"Bakit?" I wiped my hands with a rug. "May tumawag po kay papa eh." We started 
walking through the living room. "Sino raw?"


"Candy daw po."

A  cold wind passed towards me and I stared through spaces. S-si Candy?! Meron pa
ba silang communication?! Paano nya nalaman yung number rito sa bahay? Nagkikit
a pa ba sila? O may relasyon pa sila? Aish. Ang daming tanong na kailangan nyang
 sagutin. Lagot ka sakin, Rex. Tatadtarin kita ng mga tanong.

"Mama, kilala nyo po ba sya?" Camille s napped me o ut of m y t houghts. "Ha? Ah.. h
indi. Maybe his friend or something." I  blunted, m aking m e f ell at the couch. 


***


I waited him at the couch until he came at the middle of the night. Mga 9:30 PM 
or something. "Nilabhan mo na lahat ng damit ko?" He sat beside me. "Si Camille?
" I continued to be silent. "Hoy, ano ba? Tinatanong kita." He looked at me stra
ightly in my eyes. "May problema ka ba?"

"Oo." I replied sternly. "Ano nanaman ang problema mo?" I headed myself to him. 
"Tumawag si Candy rito kanina," His eyes widened in surprise, and I continued my
sentence. "At yung bata ang nakasagot." That makes him so much surprised. "ANO?
"

I  dragged him at the backyard. Tatadtarin na kita ng mga tanong. "Nagkikita pa b
a kayo? May communication pa ba kayo? O may relasyon pa kayo?" I started to glar
e at him. "Teka, teka. Dahan-dahan lang sa pagtatanong." He frowned.

I quickly answered him. "At bakit naman ako magdadahan-dahan kung alam ko na nil
oloko ako ng asawa ko?!" I yelled, making the backyard shake. "Wag kang maingay,
baka magising yung bata." He replied softly. "Pasalamat ka at wala rito yung ba
ta." I shot him a glare. "Asan ang bata?"

"Nandun kina mamu. Alam mo Rex, punung-puno na ko sayo! Tumaas na yung galit ko 
eh. Gusto mo ikaw lang ang hari rito. Well, I don't think na makakatagal pa ko r
ito." My eyes went teary, and some tears are just staying there until I walked o
ut of the backyard and headed my room, my tears are starting to fall down. 

I took my phone at the bed and started to fiddling it. "Hello?"

"Hello? Sino to?" Yeah, I'm calling my prince, Lawrence. "Si Marriane to. May ti
me ka ba?"


***


The bartender went back with our drinks. "Thank you." Then the bartender walked 
away. I started to drink. "Bakit? May problema ba kayong dalawa?"

"Sumusobra na sya. Lagi naman ako sumusunod sa mga utos nya ah! Tapos lolokohin 
lang ako?! Aish." I put down the cup angrily, and Lawrence looked at me in surpr
ise. "Waiter, beer nga!" I yelled, making the whole bar shake. I glared at them.
 "Bakit nga?"

" Tumawag si Candy kanina sa bahay, at yung ba-- I mean, ako yung sumagot." Munti
k na ko dun ah! "Teka, anong sabi nya?" The bartender gave me the beer and hurri
e dly walked away.


"Ha? Ahh, sabi nya eh, kung pwede raw makausap si Rex. Sabi ko wala sya. Tinanon
g ko yung pangalan tapos yun na nga. Si Candy nga." I lied. Obviously. "Eh bakit
 ka nagagalit?"

" Kasi eh, may asawa na sya tapos nakikipaglandian pa sa iba. Nakakainis di ba?" 
I formed a fist and my eyes are flaming. "Wait, are you... jealous or something?
" I looked straightly in his eyes and my eyes widened. Upon hearing that, I comp
lained. "Jealous? Ako? Magseselos?" I quoted him in a question. "Well, oo. Ganya
n kasi kapag nagseselos eh." He replied. "Ahh, hindi naman sa ganun. Gusto ko la
ng naman eh, yung hindi ako niloloko ng asawa ko." 

I was NOT jealous. Am I?


Handcuff 22 - Care.


When I came back, I saw him sitting at the couch and watching TV. My feet's nois
e caught Rex' attention and suddenly glanced at me. "Saan ka pumunta?"

"Wala kang pakialam." I glared at him and starting walking through the kitchen. 
"Di ba sabi ko sayo? May pakialam ako dahil asawa mo ko?" I spun my head to see 
him at the couch. "Manahimik ka na lang muna." I blunted and continued to open t
he refrigerator to take a glass of water. I was about to go upstairs when he sto
pped me. "Mag-usap nga tayo." 


***


"You're losing your temper to me." He turned off the TV and headed to me. "As if
you're losing your temper too, at sakin mo pa ibinubuntong." I glared at him on
ce more. "Okay, let me explain this to you. Tumawag si Candy rito? Bakit naman s
ya tatawag rito eh wala na nga kaming communication nun? At ano naman ang proble
ma dun kung sabihin ko na may relasyon pa kami?"

"It's just, I dont want you to cheat at your wife, while I can't." I said softly
. "So, you're jealous?" He asked smirking, making me jump.  I'M NOT?! I yelled, t
hrowing my hand down from my face, exposing myself to his eyes. He stared blankl
y at me as I stared at him with a confused look. I think of a question that will
make him freak. "At bakit ka naman nagpapaliwanag sakin? Di ba gusto mo naman a
kong magalit sayo, makita ako umiiyak?!" I can see my picture smiling evily in m
y head.

" Oo nga, bakit nga ba ako nagpapaliwanag sayo eh asawa lang naman kita?" Mabuti 
at naisip mo. Eh bakit nga ba ako nagagalit? Dahil ba nagseselos ako? "Look, uma
lis ako dahil pinapapunta ako ni papa dun sa bahay. Ikaw naman eh, hindi mo muna
kasi inaalam kung ano talaga ang dahilan bago ka magwala." He stood up. "Matulo
g ka na. Inaantok na ko." Then he walked upstairs. 

"Ikaw naman eh, hindi mo muna kasi inaalam kung ano talaga ang dahilan bago ka m
agwala." Heh. Ang tang@ ko talaga.


***


I can say na, hindi maganda ang umaga ko. Look, eto nanaman ang asawa ko, sumisi
gaw nanaman. "MARIANNE!!" Aish. Akala ko ba ayos na kami?! 


When I opened the door... "Ano bang problema mo?" I scratched my messy head. Kak
agising ko lang kaya?! "Iplantsa mo nga to." He threw his polo to me. "Hindi ka 
ba marunong magplantsa, ha?" I defended. "Wala na kong time para magplantsa nyan
. Bilis!" I examined him. He wears so casually today. Wait, why? "Bakit ka nakad
amit ng ganyan? Saan ka pupunta?"

"Somewhere." He answered sternly. "Bilis na!" 

"Ah! Oo eto na! I said quickly, plopping off of the way and practically ran back
to my room. Then he walked back into his room too. I mumbled some curses during
ironing his clothes. "%@!#$." Then suddenly, my hands felt something. Something
 hot that --

"AAAAHHHH!!!!" I quickly turned away my hand from the iron and kissed it. "OOUUC
H." I pouted. Alam nyo na kung anong nangyari. Napaso ako sa sobrang pag-iisip. 
I think I should fry my mind now before thinking something else.

"Kundi ka ba naman tang@ eh, nasunog mo na sana yung damit ko." A familiar poppe
d out at my back. Yeah, it's the devil himself, Rex. "Masakit ba?" He asked me i
n a teasing tone, making me feel irritated. "Di sana hindi ako sumigaw kung di m
asakit." I replied sarcastically. Camille walked in to see what happened to me. 
"Ano pong nangyari sayo?"

"Ah, wala to." Then Rex shoved his clothes and walked out, leaving me and Camill
e alone. "Teka, hindi pa yan tapos -- hay naku. Nakakainis talaga tong lalaking 
to. He doesn't care." I sat at the bed and still worrying about my hand. "Masaki
t po ba?" Camille asked, and I nodded in return. Then Rex came, wearing the clot
hes that I'm ironing and with a toothpaste clinging his hands. He sat next to me
 and suddenly held my hand. I sat there, confused and shocked.

Rex wiped some toothpaste in his index finger and wiped it right through my hand
. "Para di na masakit. Ayos na?" He let go of my hand after that. "Ah, oo. Ayos 
na." I replied in a soft voice. Then he headed to Camille and said, "Camille, an
ong gusto mong pasalubong?" Then he smiled.

"Ah, cake po!" She cheered. Rex rested his h ands through Camille's head and said
, "Oo, sige. Ibibili kita. Behave ka dapat o kay?"

Since when he was so sweet while talking at kids?! And not at his wife?!

He turned his head to me. "Alis na ko. Bye." Then he walked out. Wait, do he car
ed?


Handcuff 23 - Revelation.


My phone rang from my desk and I quickly answered it. "Hello?"

"Marriane." A  male voice popped out on the phone. I bet you know who's this guy.
 " Lawrence. B akit?"

"Free ka ba? Pwede ba tayong lumabas ngayon?" Huh?! what should I say, what shou
ld I say?! "H-h-huh?? Ahh, umm... AH! Sorry ha? Nasa bahay kasi ako ngayon eh." 
I replied in a cheerful tone. "I'm at your door right now."

---- O_O! ANO?! What the -- ?! 

I quickly looked at the window and I saw him with his black convertible, waving 
his hands at me. What will I gonna do?! Nandito si Camille. Saan ko sya itatago?

! 

I quickly walked downstairs, and Camille's at the living room, playing. I quickl
y rushed to her. "Ahh, Camille, baby? Pwede.. dun ka muna sa kwarto mo?" I repli
ed with a grin in my face. "Mama, bakit?" 

"Umm... Kasi uhh.. lilinisin ko pa 'tong bahay! Look, andumi ng bahay oh. Umakya
t ka na bilis!" I pushed her back to her room and when I got to her room, I quic
kly shut it. I leaned at the door and scoffed. "WHEW!" 

Then I ran downstairs to open the door. "Uhh, hi. Sorry kung natagalan kong buks
an.. keke. Pasok!" I led him through the living room and --- "Bakit may laruan r
ito?" He asked, holding a stuff toy in his hands. "H-h-huh?! Ah.. uhh.. Oh! Saki
n yan! Yeah, yeah."

He laughed. "You're actually playing this stuff?" He said, holding his breath. T
sk. Loko, ano ko, bata? Pshh. "Uhh, no! Hindi ah. It's just, carebears are my fa
vorite stuff toys. Nandun nga sa bahay ni Mamu yung collection ko nyan eh." I sm
iled. Then finally, he revealed his left hand with a bouquet of fresh red roses.
 "For you."

" Th-thank you. hehe. di ka na dapat nagsayang ng pera. Mahal na rin ang mga rose
s ngayon."

"It's just, namiss lang kita. Anyway, pwede ka ba? Kain tayo sa labas. Libre kit
a." Then he sat at the couch. "Uhh, sorry. di ko pwedeng iwanan tong bahay na ga
ntong kadumi. At tsaka, lagot ako kay Rex pag iniwanan ko to ng madumi." And imp
ortantly, I CAN'T LEAVE CAMILLE HERE. Lagot ako sa mama nya.

"Okay. Tutulungan na lang kita." He smiled. Yeah, guys like him has many hopes. 
I felt pity on him. Ayokong namang palampasin 'tong pagkakataon na 'to noh! Pero
 paano si Camille?

" MAMA!" A female child voice popped out from upstairs. "Ano yun? May tao pa ba r
ito?" I turned my head upstairs. OH NO HINDI! He suddenly stood up from the couc
h and started searching where the noise was coming from. I put my hand at his ar
ms, not letting him to go upstairs. "Wala! Wala yun." The noise was still there.
 Camille, manahimik ka nga jan?!

"No, parang may narinig akong boses ng bata." Then he pushed away my hand and st
arted to walk upstairs. "Lawrence!" I followed him and... THE END.

"Sabi ko sayo eh. may bata rito." I looked at him in horror, holding Camille's h
ands happily. "Anong pangalan mo?"

"Camille po." Aish. I'm busted. Utterly busted. "Mama." That was the words crack
ed up my thoughts. He turned his head to me. "Mama? ANAK MO?" He looked at me, c
onfused. "Ahh.. oo?"

"Bakit di mo sinabi sakin?" He straightly looked into my eyes, waiting for my an
swer. "U-u-uhh.. kasi.. sabi mo eh.. you're losing hope to me?" I grumbled.

"Ah. Never mind that." He smiled in return and turned his head to Camille. "Sino
po kayo?" I stared at them weirdly. They look like the same. It was, Rex and Ca
mille. Aish, he's Lawrence and not that jerk!

"Kaibigan ako ng mama mo. Gusto mo ng candy?" Camille nodded in return and Lawre
nce took something in his pocket. A candy popped in his palm. Camille cheerfully
took the candy and ate it. Then Lawrence rested his hands in Camille's head and
 smiled at me. "Inampon nyo?" He chuckled.


"H-huh? Hindi ah.. iniwan samin ng mama nya na si A ndrea." I lifted my head t o h
im, who stopped from laughing and looked curious, s uprisingly shocked about w hat
 I've just said. "Bakit? May problema ba?"

"Anong apelido ng mama nya?"

"Reyes."

"And-drea R-Reyes?" I looked at his pitiful eyes. Anong problema nya? "Oo, Bakit
?"

"W-wala." Then he headed again to Camille and suddenly put his hand over her che
eks and smiled. "Gusto mong maglaro?"


Handcuff 24 - A family day WITHOUT the husband.


I stared at them in the swing, happily playing. Para silang mag-ama. Wow. "And-d
rea R-Reyes?" Bakit kaya nya natanong yun? Siguro naisip nya na talagang kaya na
min na magkaroon ng sariling anak. AHH! Perverted thoughts. Kaya ko ba yun?! Eww
. I won't be having a sex with him. NEVER. I'll just surrender my virginity to t
he real one. And what the hell, SIXTEEN PALANG AKO NOH!

Lawrence sat beside me and gave me an ice pop. "Thanks. Teka, bakit mo natanong 
yung tungkol dun sa mama nya?"

"H-huh? Ah.. Pamilyar lang kasi yung pangalan. Oh, nagkamali lang ako siguro." H
e opened his ice pop. Teka, may mali eh. Yeah.  ..you can t have other guys while 
you're with me lalong lalo na pag kasama natin yung bata." Naku.. papatayin ako 
ni Rex nito eh. Teka, bakit nga ba ako nag-aalala? As if he was cheating too, di
 ba?

Lawrence and I spent the day with Camille. It was.. FUN. Nung naglalakad kami sa
kalsada, may narinig ako. "..aww.. ang cute nila noh, sana pag kasal na tayo, g
anyan din tayo." Hehe. Naalala ko tuloy nung bata pa ako at nasa tiyan pa si Mar
co. That was I'm 4.

*Flashback*

" Saan nyo gusto pumunta?" Papu asked, blocking our way. "Umm.. Dun na lang sa pa
rk!" 

Papu brought us to the nearest park. I was happily playing with my dad and mamu 
w as there at the bench, touching her tummy and weirdly talking to her tummy. 

A  lady and a boy was walking through the park and saw us. Then I heard what was 
she saying. "Aww. Sana ganyan tayo ano?"

*End of Flashback*


***


Lawrence turned his head to Camille. "Nag-enjoy ka ba?" 

"Hmm. Thank you po." She smiled. Then he lifted his head to me. "Thank you Marri
ane. You two made my day."


"Huh? Wala yun. T hank y ou nga pala dun sa mga roses." Then he bid goodbye and dr
ove off. "Mama, b akit k a nya binigyan ng roses?"

"Huh? H indi ko rin alam eh. Tara na, baka makita pa tayo ng papa mo." Then we en
tered t he house.


***


"Andito na ko." He yelled around the house. I met him at the door, taking off hi
s black leather shoes. God, he look hot! Look, his casual attire looked messy bu
t he look super hot on him! His blue necktie was loose, the buttons were unattac
hed, where he can barely show his stomach. "May pagkain pa ba?" Then he headed a
t the kitchen. It was something awkward. Hindi nya ko inasar ngayon. Bakit kaya?

I followed him to show w here's the left over f ood. "Ito oh." I pointed at the ta
 le. He sat down and I t ook the water at the f ridge. "Saan ka pumunta?"
b

"I told you, somewhere." He picked up the spoon and starting to eat the left ove
r food. "Asan si Camille? Eto yung cake nya oh." He asked before he passed his m
outh to the spoon. "Tulog na sya. Napagod siguro." I stared at him for a while. 
His perfect dark mysterious eyes, his precious long black messy hair, his tan sk
in tone, and his oh so red and kissable lips almost worked out on him. I told to
myself. 'Marriane, tama si Abby. Kahit may topak, mayabang o siraulo 'yang asaw
a mo, may itsura naman kahit papano.' I hate to admit pero, HE WAS SO HOT ALL TH
E TIME. Nakakainis.

"Bakit?" He slapped me back into reality. He was looking right through my eyes. 
"E-eh? Ah.. Wala. Bilisan mo. Huhugasan ko pa yan." I put my hand over the table
. "Umakyat ka na, ako na lang ang maghuhugas." O.O Holy Whacamalli. "Hoy, ba't a
ng bait mo ata sakin ngayon? Nagsimba ka ba o ano?"

"Hindi. Aish, wag mo nga ako asarin. Matulog ka na lang." He dictated in a half-
serious tone. Too bad, my body followed him, HINDI AKO. I just closed the door a
nd lied to the bed, staring at the ceiling weirdly.


Handcuff 25  Busy with what?


 Mama, mamasyal tayo bukas! Camille pleaded.  Okay. I simply replied with a smile.
 Pero malungkot pa rin sya.  O, bakit? Pumayag nanaman ako ah.

 Gusto ko kasi, kasama si papa.

 Ah, sige ganto na lang. Pagdating ni papa mo, sasabihin ko na lang, ha? She nodd
ed.  Sige na, matulog ka na. She bid goodnight to me and walked upstairs. Napatin
gin ako sa wall clock.

Late na ah. Ba t naman ang tagal nya?

Sa sobrang kakaintay ko ng m atagal, di ko na namalayan na nakatulog na ko sa cou
ch. 

Paggising ko&

 Kwarto ko to ah. Pano ko  


 Gising ka na pala. I  saw him at the d oor, a t mukhang aalis nanaman sya.  Siguro s
a kakaintay mo sakin k agabi nakatulog k a na d un sa couch.

I blushed.  Hi-hindi ah. N apatingin ako sa sulok.  Ang kapal talaga ng mukha mo. I
lolock ko kaya yung gate no h. I followed him downstairs. Teka, wag mong sabihing
..

Binuhat nya ko papunta rito? Lalo akong kinilabutan ah.

 Aalis ka nanaman ba? Ano ba kasing pinagkakaabalahan mo?

He stopped and looked at me.  It s none of your business. He retorded and just con
tinued his steps.  Sungit. Tinotopak nanaman  tong lalaking to. Hmmp.

 Ano sabi mo?

 Wala PO. Talagang inemphasize ko yung po. Ano bang problema nya at nagsusungit s
ya sakin? Umagang umaga eh. Nung isang araw, ang bait bait nya sakin. Tapos ngay
o n, ganyan sya?

* Flashback*

 Gusto ko kasi, kasama si papa.

*End of Flashback*

 Uh, Rex. May   He just disappeared from my sight. I sighed. Patience, Marriane& 
p atience.

C amille appeared from my sight and just fake a smile. I tapped her head with my 
bare hands.  Mukhang busy talaga sya. Si tito Lawrence mo na lang ang yayain nati
n.


***


At si Lawrence nga ang kasama naming lumabas. Masaya, pero malungkot pa rin. Kas
i di namin kasama si Rex. Napansin ko, kahit sa bahay, wala kaming imikan. Alis 
sya ng alis. Kahit pagpasok, nauuna sya. Hindi na nya ako iniintay.

Si Lawrence? Ewan ko ba kung bakit gusto nyang kasama si Camille. Posible kayang
 kilala nya talaga si Camille?


***


Nag-CR kasi kami nun ni Abby. Pagkalock ko ng pinto ng isa sa mga CR s, narinig k
o yung usapan ng mga babaeng nagpapaganda. Si Abby, siguro ganun din, since hobb
y nya yun. 

 Nakakainis talaga. Sarap sakalin ng babaeng yun. One of the girls said.  Sino ba?

 Yung kasama ni Rex. Feeling. 

Ako ba ang pinag-uusapan ng mga to?! Paulit-ulit na nagpe-play yung mga salitang
yon sa utak ko, hanggang sa binuksan ko na yung pinto dahil sa galit ko.  Sino b
ang gusto nyong sakalin? Baka pwede ko kayong tulungan.


 Marriane..

Abby mumbled. 


Nagulat a ko. B akit n ung n akita nila ako, hindi nila ako sinakal gaya nga ng sabi
 nila? 

Mukhang a lam k o na k ung s ino yun eh.


Handcuff 26 - Impossible Wish.


I found myself standing at the dumpsters. Mabuti na tong maitapon n a agad k aysa 
intayin pa yung trak ng basura. After that, I turned around and I s aw Rex h uggin
g... a girl?! Not ordinary girl, but Candy!

I rubbed my eyes to know if I m just wrong. But no. Him, the hug, the girl&

Standing there, staring at them lasted for a minute and I quickly dashed through
the house. Tiningnan ko si Camille sa kwarto nya and she s now sleeping already.
I walked towards her and kissed her forehead.  Ayokong masira ang pamilyang gust
o mo. Mukhang imposible na ata ang hinihiling mo samin eh.

I can t take it anymore so I rested my head beside her and cried for what I felt 
 onight.
t


***


Nagising ako sa sikat ng araw. Nakatulog na pala a ko rito sa higaan ni Camille w
ith the same position I had when I was crying. I l ooked at the mirror and saw my
 red eyes. Ang sakit ng mata ko. 

Napansin ko ring natutulog pa si Camille. Let her be bago nya malaman ang mga pi
naggagagawa ng so-called daddy nya. Speaking of him, hindi man lang sya nag-atub
ili na puntahan kami rito ngayon. That jerk. Makaalis na nga sa bahay na to. Sin
ce hindi naman nya ginagawa ang mga pinangako nyang responsibilidad [na ngayon a
y napapako na], ilalayo ko muna sa kanya si Camille. Nainis rin kasi ako sa sari
li ko kagabi kung bakit ako umiyak.

I took Camille s baggage a t her cabinet a nd s tarting p acking some of her clothes 
 hat she can use.  Mama, a nong ginagawa m o? I  heard h er yawning.
t

Hinarap ko sya and looked h er i n the eyes.  Camille, baby, I sighed and continued
.  For now, dun muna tayo k ay m amu.

 Bakit po?

I p aused. Anong irarason ko sa kanya? *light bulb*  Kasi alam k ong m ay mag-aalaga
sayo dun. Kaysa dito, hindi ka naming maaalagaan nang husto. B aka m agalit sakin
 ang mommy mo. Oh, thank God for light bulb moments! 

 Magbihis k a n a ngayon. Dun ka na lang maligo pagdating natin dun. Papasok pa kas
i si mama s a s chool.

She nodded and starting to dress up. I showered, a nd dress up for the school. I 
went to Camille s room again.  Camille, tapos ka n a --

There h e is. Ang magaling nyang papa. I felt an uneasy feeling strucked through 
me so I  broke it.  Camille, tara na.


 Ba t mo sya isasama dun? Naningit ang walangya.  At bakit may mga dala kayong male
ta? Aa lis kayo?

 Obvious bang aalis kami? W hat d o you think? I glared at him. He pulled me outsid
e of Camille s room.  Ano b ang p roblema mo ha?

 Anong problema ko? Ikaw ang problema ko. You re nothing but a liar.

 Ano bang pinagsasasabi mo?

I sighed.  Let s just trash the rules. It has no use, anyway. I entered Camille s r
oom and took her out.  Ayusin mo muna ang sarili mo bago mo kami harapin. With th
at, we eventually moved out of the house with our baggages. I suddenly paused wh
en I saw his car. Nabawi na pala nya ang kotse nya. 

I sighed. Hindi ko alam kung bakit mo to ginagawa samantalang hinihiling lang nu
 g bata eh isang buong pamilya.
n

A dad, mom, and a child.


Handcuff 27 - Committing a Hard Crime.


Ilang a raw nang patay a ng cellphone k o simula n ang nakituloy kami kina mamu. Ni 
hindi k o na alam kung b abalik pa ba k ami dun& s a bahay.

Ewan. Tutal, wala naman syang pakelam at nagpapakasaya sya dun& eh d i m abuti na
yung ilayo ko muna si Camille sa kanya. At ilayo na rin ang sarili k o s a kanya.
 Ano bang iniiyak ko kagabi? Walang dapat iyakan, okay? Wala.

 Ate, hindi pa ba kayo uuwi dun? Pang-apat na araw na  kong hindi natutulog sa kwa
rto ko! My brother complained. Hehe. Since nung nawala na ko rito sa bahay namin
, ginawa nang bodega ang kwarto ko noon. Ang sama ni mamu, ano? Bale lahat ng ga
mit ko, nasa bahay nung gwapong nilalang na yun.

 Mama, nag-away po b a kayo ni papa? Camille asked. Now the child s a sking me. Help
me out!  Parang& g anun na nga, Camille. Hayaan mo, pag& hindi na g alit si mama
 sa kanya, babalik t ayo dun. False words&

& for w hich I don t k now i f I m g oing t o do it or not. Aissh. Bakit ganito ang na
 gyari s aming tatlo? N ung k alian l ang, a ng saya-saya namin.
n

I f elt bored s o, I went upstairs. Then my eyes averted to my phone that is lying
 on the bed. M abuksan nga.

When the phone went on, I have this shape  O

in my mouth again. 


3 messages received. Read? Exit?

Read.

Come back here stup!d. We need to talk. - Craulo.

I read the other messages that is sent on the day we left.

Answer me. Come back here. - Craulo.
ANO BA?! SAGUTIN MO NAMAN ANG TAWAG KO O KAYA MAGREPLY KA! - Craulo.
Lanya naman to. Ano ba?! - Craulo.


And t he messages g oes o n. Puro ganung messages lang. Naman, makikiusap na nga la
ng, d i pa masabi y ung  please . Tsk. LOLO MO, SAGUTIN MO. >_< Hmp.


***


It s been a week since nung umalis kami sa bahay. Alam nyo kung anong ibig kong s 
abihin dun sa bahay. Napansin ko ring hindi na sya nagtetext o kaya tawag lang. 
Ang bilis naman nyang sumuko. Loser.

My p hone rang and I  thought si Rex yun& yun pala s i Lawrence lang. Argh. Why do
 I h ave a feeling n a naiinis ako sa sarili ko for n ot answering his? Any of it?

Sinagot ko na nga l ang yung tawag n i Lawrence kesa isipin pa na naiinis ako.  Hi.
 H e answered as I c hecked out the w indow.

 Hi. Musta? Pasensya na hindi na ko nakakapunta sa library. I m just feeling down-
on-earth these days.

 Alam ko. Napakunot ang noo ko. Bakit, halata ba sa boses ko?  Haha. Nakita mo san
a yung mukha mo kanina.

Biglang may naghonk sa labas. Napatungo ako at yun, nakita ko si Lawrence. With 
his black convertible.  Pano mo nalaman bahay ko?

 Kay Abby. Sakay na miss. Pero mahal ang bayad. He spoke at the phone while eyein
g on me.  Magkano ba? I asked sarcastically.

 Hindi pera ang kailangan ko. Smile ang kailangan mong ibayad sakin.

 Pano kung ayoko?

 Pasensya ka. Limited lang ang pagsakay rito miss. Di mo ba alam na lilipad ako s
a moon gamit to?

 Ewan ko sayo. Bababa na PO. After that, I happily skipped out of the house.


***


 Kala ko ba lilipad tayo sa moon? I asked while comfortably sitting beside him.  N
aubusan ng rocket. He answered as he was driving.  Loko. Bakit mo naman ako pinun
tahan?

 May pinag-awayan kayo noh? 

Hindi na ko nakakibo sa tanong nya at pinagmasdan na lang ang red traffic lights
.  Meron nga.

Tiningnan ko yung ibang sasakyan na gumalaw. Then I saw it. His car. REX?

But unfortunately, hindi pala sya yun. Ibang kotse pala yun. Akala ko, kanya. Ok
ay, I admit. I TRULY MISS HIM.

Also, Lawrence s car began to move. I curled up myself and hugged my knees while 
my hair s flowing everywhere because of the wind.


Him, the hug, the girl&


Kapag naaalala ko yun, I couldn t help it but to cry. 

And now, I  finally realized& that I m not just committed a single crime, but two
 crimes. O ne is the car. Two?

I m not sure a bout this f eeling. Looks like I m committing a hard crime. And that 
 s realizing t hat I now l ike him.
i

I hate myself!


Handcuff 28 - I admit.


 Marriane, anak. Hanggang kelan pa ba kayo rito ha? Mamu asked as she was cooking
and I was helping her cutting the other ingredients.  Oo nga ate. Baka nakakalim
utan mo, nandun pa rin kayo sa kwarto ko. He said sarcastically as he was playin
g with Camille. Oo, alam ko.

 Di ko alam. Tapos na ko. I w ashed my hands.  Dun m una ko sa taas. I said a s mamu 
responded with her hand over t he air and I proceed t o my brother s room. My b ody 
loosen up the the bed.

I l ooked at the Christmas lights blinking hanging at the window. Yeah. Christmas
na bukas. 2 weeks na kaming nandito, pero hindi pa rin tumatawag si Rex. Ayoko 
namang tawagan sya. Baka sabihin nyang di ko sya matiis. Mabuti na yung mautak k
a, nang hindi ka naiisahan.

My phone rang. Nung mapatingin ako sa screen, Craulo calling&

I slowly answered the phone in a small voice.  He-hello?

 Hello, Marriane?
 Rex? Anong nangyari sa boses mo?
 Hindi si Rex to. Si Russel Mace to. Remember sa Hongkong?
 Ah.. naalala ko na. Bakit ikaw ang tumawag?
 Si Rex kasi& naconfine sa ospital.

ANO?!

 Saan sya sinugod?!


***


Hindi na ko nagsayang ng oras. P umunta agad ako d un sa ospital at n aabutan ko si
Russel sa Room 213 kausap ang d octor na sumuri s a kanya. Sinilip k o yung nakahi
ga sa kama. It was Rex.

 Ano po bang nangyari sa kanya?!

 Calm down iha. Boyfriend mo b a sya? Boyfriend? Kelan k o sya naging boyfriend? Na
paisip rin ako. Nakasal kami n ang walang relasyon. Hay n aku. Kaya nga arranged m
arriage eh. Toinks.

 Hindi p o. Asawa po. Nagtaka yung doctor.  Alam ko po, nagulat k ayo. But it s the t
ruth. I  showed him my wedding ring.  Ulcer. Hindi sya kumakain n g sapat that s why

 he suffered that. He suffered dehydration too. But he s safe now.

Napansin ko rin sa mukha nya na parang n amumutla sya habang asikaso sya nung nur
se. Why d he do that?! Sira talaga ulo n un.  Maiwan ko na muna kayo. And the docto
r walked away.

 Ano bang nangyari sa kanya?

 Hindi ko rin alam. Basta p agkadating ko r ito, tinawagan nya ko at puntahan ko ra
w sya sa bahay nyo. And I s aw him dying. N apansin ko ring wala ka sa bahay nyong
 dalawa. What happened? 

I shook my head.  Kung di ba naman sya siraulo, matagal ko na syang pinatay.

 Ganyan talaga  yang kaibigan ko. Napakaarte. T inawagan na lang kita rito sa cellp
hone nya kasi alam ko kailangan ka talaga nya n gayon. Pano, ikaw na bahala sa ka
nya ha? Uwi muna ako sa condo ni Jenny. Sige. A nd he left. Jenny? His girlfriend
, remember? Buti sila pa rin hanggang ngayon.

As I entered the room, I saw t he n urse. Nakakainis. She s admiring my hubby!  Umm.
. nurse? She looked at me.  Ako n ang bahala sa kanya. Tatawagin na lang kita. Yah
, taken na yan noh!

As she turned around to the door, she whispered.  Damot naman nito. Hmp. She clos
ed the door. Eh sorry talaga. He is actually taken na.

I walked towards him and sat at the chair beside the bed.  Nakakainis ka naman eh
. I complained. I think I m going to cry of so much worry.  Ikaw nga  tong nakakain
is eh. Ayaw mo kong sagutin. Kasalanan mo to eh. His eyes suddenly opened.  Nanis
i ka pa. I rolled my eyes.  Syempre noh. Sino pa bang sisisihin ko kundi ikaw lan
g? 

I sighed.  Bakit mo ba to ginagawa? You made me worried. I asked him. There was a
pause and at any other point in time, his response would have shocked me to the
 point of melting. However, the current situation was really different.

 Kasi naman, iniwan mo ko eh.

We pause there for a long time as I registered his words in my mind. He decided 
to break the ice.  Tsk. Eto lang pala ang gagawin ko para balikan mo ko.

Napaupo sya sa kama and I looked up at him whose gaze was on me intensely. I fel
t my heart skip a beat.  You responded well. With that, he pulled my arm and he w
rapped me in his embrace.  I missed you so much. He whispered into my ear. That s 
when I started to hug him too. My final answer? No. I don t like him.

I love him. I wonder if he feel the same way too.


Handcuff 29 - Okay?


 So, okay na ba tayo?

 I m not sure. Baka gumawa ka nanaman ng kalokohan eh.

 Anong kalokohan?

We heard a knock coming from the door, causing us to release ourselves in our ar
ms.  Ako na lang ang magbubukas. I stood up and opened the door. It was Camille a

nd mamu.  Papa! Camille exclaimed as she passed my presence and rushed to Rex. He
hugged her tightly. Nag-alala si mamu dahil di ako nakapagpaalam. Binilisan ko 
na kasi ang takbo ko after kong marinig na nandito sya sa ospital. Ayun, nagtext
 si mamu at sinabi ko yung nangyari.

Namiss nga talaga nila ang isa t isa.

 Musta na ang baby ko? He kissed her head.  Papa, kaya ba kami umalis ni mama dahi
l nandito ka? Bakit may nakadugtong sa braso mo?

 It s nothing, baby. I m so happy na makikita ka pa rin ni papa mo.

 Hay, naku. Paskong pasko, wala ang papa mo. Sumingit si mamu, referring to his d
ad.  Dun sya po sa mama ko magse-celebrate ng pasko.

 Kaya pala. Ano, iiwan ko na ba sainyo si Camille?

 Yes, mamu. Iwan mo na sya rito. Namiss na nga talaga si Rex.

 Eh pano ba naman kasi, halos dalawang linggo mo syang inilayo sa kanya. Ano, ayo
s na ba kayong dalawa? 

Napatingin lang ako kay Rex.  Hay naku, anak. Magbati na kayong dalawa. Alis na k
o. 

 Bye, mamu. When the door closed, he started.  Tingnan mo, pati yung mama mo, gust
o na rin tayong mag-ayos.

I sighed.  Oo na sige na. I smiled.  Talaga? Then prove it. He smirked.  Prove it k
a dyan? Kung ano-anong pinagsasasabi mo, kaharap mo yung bata.

 Okay fine. He smiled too. Inakbayan nya si Camille.  Pano ba yan, dito tayo magse
-celebrate ng unang pasko natin?

 Kagagawan mo kasi eh. Maipasyal sana natin si Camille. 

 Okay lang po yun mama. Kasama naman po natin si papa diba? I was touched to her 
words.  That s the spirit, Camille!

Camille suddenly yawned, causing her to stop laughing.  11 PM na pala. Hindi tayo
 makakauwi. Inaantok ka na tuloy.

 Dun ka na lang sa couch matulog, Camille. Pero, san ako matutulog?

 Oo nga noh.

 Eh di sa tabi ni papa! Camille said and I looked at her.  Di ba po, mama at papa 
ko kayo? Kaya pwede po kayong matulog ng magkatabi.

 Pwede? I looked at Rex who is also astonished but seem to be calm now. Naalala k
o yung time na nakatabi ko sya sa kama nung nasa Hongkong kami. Wait. He s smirki
ng. What was he thinking?! 

Nabaling ang tingin ko kay Camille na talagang papasarado na ang mata.  Teka lang
, Camille. Aayusin ko lang ang higaan mo.

Kinuha ko yung excess pillow at kumot ni Rex at nilagay ko sa may couch.  Goodnig
ht, baby. Merry Christmas. I kissed her forehead.  Goodnight, mama, papa. Merry C
hristmas rin po. And she went to sleep.


 Matulog na rin tayo. Medyo inaantok na rin ako eh.

O_O

Bakit ganun? Kinakabahan pa rin ako? Nakatabi ko na sya sa kama, come on. Pero b
akit kinakabahan pa rin ako? Baka kasi&  Ano nanaman ang mga pinag-iisip mo? Gan
yan ba talaga kadumi ang utak mo? Pwede ba, wala akong gagawin sayo kaya matulog
 ka na rito.

 Pwede ba wag kang manumbat? Hindi ako ganun kung mag-isip noh.

When I lied beside him, I felt his warmth through the b ed. Gaya nga ng sabi nya,
wala syang gagawin kaya nakatalikod sya sakin. Also, n akatalikod din ako sa kan
ya. Hay& kailan kaya  to matatapos?

 Gising ka pa ba?

 Oo naman. Kakahiga ko lang, pwede ba? Ano ba yun?

There s a silence between us before he speak again.  Salamat.

 What for?

 Sa patience na binibigay mo sakin. Salamat.

I nearly smiled and faced his back.  Rex. But, he didn t respond. Oh, well. Tulog 
 a siguro sya. Ang bilis nyang makatulog noh?
n

 Merry Christmas.


Handcuff 3o - Just NOTHING for him.


The sun shines brightly, almost lightning t he room. When I o pened my eyes, all I
can see is him. Ang cute nya talaga kung m atulog ano? Wag n a lang sana sya magi
sing. Hehe. 

Naramdaman k ong gumalaw sya kaya napatungo a ko at b umalik sa pagkatulog ko, whic
h is hindi n aging effective.  Hoy. Bistado k a na. G ising ka na diba?

 Hmm.. h-huh? Gising ka na? I whined. He smacked m e on m y forehead.  Aray -- aww! 
I touched my forehead. Magkakaroon pa yata ako ng b ukol n ito ah.

Napaupo kaming d alawa at napatingin sa isa t i sa.  Nakatulog k a ba ng maayos? I as
ked.  Hm. Kasi h indi ka na humihilik katulad n ung u na tayong m agkatabi. Ang ingay
 mo kaya noon.

 Ang kapal mo! I smacked his head.  Aray! Totoo naman eh --

We heard a loud thump at the door.  Ano yun? I asked as we rushed to the door. 

It was Candy, lying on the floor and was lost of her consciousness.

 Dee?! He exclaimed as h e rushed t o h er and tried to recover h er consciousness. A
ng sakit. Watching them t wo makes m y h eart torn into pieces.  Dee, gumising ka! C
andy!

But s he s till felt u nconscious so R ex carried her in his arms like a  prince. Par
ang a ko y ung witch n a lumason kay S now White nito. He was about to r an away with

 her when I stopped him.  Rex, wag mo kong iwan. I said in a meekly voice.

 Pero --

 Please. I snapped.

There s a silence between us before he speak again.  Marriane, sorry.

Door closed.

 Mama, *yawn* a san po si papa? Camille asked as she walked towards me.  H-huh? U-u
malis sya. I s hook my head.  Babalik pa po sya diba?

 Ah&

oo. Babalik pa sya. Pero, baby&

umuwi na muna tayo kay mamu.


 Pano po si papa?

 Babalik n aman tayo mamaya eh. Tara na. We deserted the hospital and took a taxi 
way back h ome.. in mamu s home. 

 Marriane, sorry.

He.. just ran away with her. Anong magagawa ko? 

I m just nothing but a prisoner of his.


***


Gabi na at hindi pa rin ako lumalabas ng kwarto ko. I just felt crying the whole
day. Parang.. wala lang sa kanya yung nangyari kagabi. Akala ko ba okay na kami
ng dalawa? Siguro nga& panaginip lang yung nangyari kagabi. I gave him several 
chances, but what just he did? He just wasted it. Hindi ko na alam kung anong ga
gawin ko. I continued crying under the piles of pillows para hindi nila marinig 
n a umiiyak ako.

A ng sakit. Sobra. 

I took my phone under the pillow and I dialed Lawrence s number. 

 Hello?

Said on the other line?  Lawrence. Si Marriane  to. Pwede ka ba ngayon?



***


Niyaya ko sya sa isang bar para uminom. Walang-wala ako sa sarili ko nung mga or
as na yun. Siguro nga dahil marami na kong nainom nun.  Marriane, tama na. Pang-a
nim mo nang bote yan noh. He said as he was trying to take away the bottle of be
er from me. Tama. Marami na nga akong nainom.

 Hi--hinde! Ka--kaya ko p--pa nohh& 



 Dun na lang k ita ihahatid s a bahay nyo ni Rex. T ara na. He s tood up a nd tried me
to guide my w ay outside.  An--no ba& hindi ko p --pa ubos-s y u--yung i niinom k-k
o&  

Ipinasok nya k o sa kotse n ya. I attempt t o go out kaso, sinarado nya agad yung p 
into.  Argh. N apasandal n a lang ako sa s andalan ng upuan. At the time that he w as

now inside the car, I s tarted to cry.  May& nagawa&
 kanya kaya& nya  to& g inaga..wa?

ba akong& *sniff* mali sa


I felt my hand was taken by him.  Well, *sigh* that s l ove. Masasaktan k a talaga. 
And kung hindi ka nya talaga ganun kamahal katulad ng p agmamahal mo sa k anya, yo
u have no choice but to set him free.

He started the engine and drove away. 


What if I can t set him free?


Handcuff 31 - Shout-Out Confessions.


"Ugh, ang ulo k o& ang sakit." I f elt so g roggy and t ired. Idagdag nyo pa ang ha
ng-over ko at e tong sugat rito.. s a puso k o. Yeaaa. A ng sakit talaga&

I f elt someone was beside me as I looked through the mist in my vision. I opened
my eyes and found Rex s head buried under his arms. He suddenly woke up by the n
oise I made. I looked at the clock hanging at the wall, telling me that it was n
o w 3 in the morning. 

 Gising ka na pala. *yawn.*

 Ang sakit talaga ng ulo ko. I complained. H e stood up.  Teka. Kukuha kita ng kape
 para dyan. And he walked out of the room. 

I t ried to clear my mind of what happened. Okay. Kasama ko si Lawrence kagabi na
uminom, tapos -- yun na lang ang naalala ko. Nalaman ko na lang na nandito ako 
sa kwarto ni Rex, which means hinatid ako ni Lawrence rito.

He went back with a cup of black coffee in his hand.  Oh. Inumin m o. He handed me
the cup as he sat down. Uminom ako ng unti bago ako n agsalita.  Di ba dapat nasa
 ospital ka ngayon?

 Nagcheck-out na ko pagdating ng hapon pagkatapos kong isugod si Candy sa ER. Can
dy nanaman. Palulunukin kita ng candy nang matauhan ka kung sinong kaharap mo ng
ayon.  Halos murahin mo na nga ako at isumpa sa harap ni Lawrence kagabi. Mahiya 
ka naman.

 Huh? Anong pinagsasasabi mo? Kelan kita ginanun?

 Kagabi.

*Flashback*

W hen we arrived at the front of our house, he took me out.  Ano b-ba.. ay--yoko p
ang umu--wi&  I groaned.  Teka, wag kang malikot. He pressed the doorbell. Then, 
my not-so-clear vision saw Rex at the door, approaching me.  Anong nangyari sa ka
nya? He attempted to carry me but I explode when I realized that he was the caus
e of this ache.

 HEH! WAG MO NGA AKONG MAHAWAK-HAWAKAN! WAG KANG LALAPIT! I exclaimed as I shove 
him away and Lawrence s hand too. I stood steadily and pointed my hand like a yea
r older. 

 HOY, IKAW! !@#$ KA! !@#$%^&* KA SA BUHAY KO! DAPAT SA YO !@#$%$#@ NA! NAKAKA-@#$!
%^* KA! I !@#$%^ HATE YOU!


*End of Flashback*

 Si& nabi ko yun kagabi? I  a sked and he nodded. His phone s uddenly rang and he a 
nswered it. Medyo narinig ko  y ung boses sa kabilang linya.  Rex? Said the other l 
ine.

 Candy? Bakit?

I s hove the phone away from his ears as I h ear her voice says,  I need you.
 I  shut the phone off.  Ano ba?! Ba t mo p inatay?
e

befor


I just kept my silence at that time.  Amp. ANO BA, IBALIK MO NGA SAKIN YAN!

 Ayoko. I shook my head, almost h iding my eyes b eneath my hair. I felt him walkin
g towards me.  Ibalik mo na. He b egged, trying t o be so nice.  Ayoko nga sabi.

 TANG*NA NAMAN! ANO NANAMAN BANG PROBLEMA MO HA?!

He exclaimed.


I finally faced him.  ANG PROBLEMA KASI SAYO, NAPAKACLUELESS MONG T AO! HINDI MO B
A ALAM ANG NARARAMDAMAN KO NGAYON?! IKAW NA YATA ANG PINAKAMANHID N A TAONG NAKIL
 LA KO!
A

 AT BAKIT AKO NAGING CLUELESS, HA?! BAKIT, ALAM KO BA KUNG ANONG NARARAMDAMAN MO 
NGAYON HA?! HINDI AKO MANHID GAYA NG INAAKALA MO!



 BAKIT HINDI MO ALAM N A G USTO KITA KUNG MANHID KA?! -- BAKIT AKO NAGING MANHID KU
NG GUSTO KITA HA?!  W e e xclaimed in unison.


Handcuff 32 -  Escape.


A  few hours p assed as t hat c ame up to our conversation. I tried t o recall what h
e just said b efore he t ook h is phone and left me hanging to his w ords.

 BAKIT AKO NAGING MANHID KUNG GUSTO KITA?!

Did he just say that? Did he really meant what he just said?
nya lang yun para patigilin nya ko sa pagsasalita ko? Well,
m, I really don t know if he really meant everything that he
lying. Basta pagdating sa kanya& hindi ko alam kung totoo o

O baka naman sinabi

when it comes to hi
says or he was just 
hindi. Hay.. ewan.


I wish I can escape everything that s happening in my life with him in our own pa
r adise.


***


My phone rang at the middle of my sleep. Lecheng cellphone.  Hello?

 Marriane! Merry Christmas! Hindi ba tayo lalabas?

 Uh.. ayoko.



 Are you okay?

 Yeaaa. Okay lang ako..


 Girl, lying is a  really g ood way into Hades. K ilala kita. Ilang years na r in tay
ong dalawa kaya h indi mo k o madadala ng drama m o dyan. Want my accompany? N eed a
 shoulder?

I s ighed.  Hindi na. Siguro nga, pinagtitripan a ko ngayon ng fate. Sasakay na lan
 s iguro ako sa kalokohan ng tadhana na ginawa p ara sakin.
g

 Girl, kaya mo yan. Remember nung elementary pa t ayo? N atapos m ong sagutan yung D
D cards noon& gabi na nga tayo nun nakauwi eh. H alos i kulong m o na yung teacher
 natin nun para bantayan ka lang.

 What s the point?

 Na habang buhay, hindi ka nawawalan ng pag-asa. Goodluck! Hayy.. weird example. 
Aish.

The door suddenly opened.  Tawag na lang ako sa yo, girl. Bye. I ended the convers
ation.  Dumating ka na pala.

 Pasensya na kung n asigawan k ita kanina. Nababanas lang talaga a ko sa sarili ko n 
gayon. His voice s ounds so c onvincing to me now. Mabuti naman a t marunong kang m 
agpakumbaba.

There was silence between us before I could speak.  Ano bang nangyari kay Candy a
t bigla na lang syang hinimatay nung nakaraang araw?

 Inatake nanaman sya sa puso.

Huh? Si Candy..  May sakit sa puso?



 Oo. Her father explained everything to me tungkol sa kalagayan nya. Mga 14 years
old nya naramdaman yun. Hindi man lang nya sinabi sakin yun hanggang sa umalis 
sila rito sa bansa. Bukod sa nag-aaral sya dun, lagi syang dinadalaw ng doctor n
ya pagkatapos ng klase nya& para suriin sya araw-araw. Bumalik sya rito dahil&
 she wants to spend her last moments with me. 

 Hanggang& kalian na lang sya?

 Pagkaraan siguro ng January. Next year.

I misunderstand everything between them. He s always with her because she s making
 her last moments with him. 

Ang sama ko.

 Siguro naman, naiintindihan mo na. Hindi yung bigla ka na lang manghahablot ng c
ellphone at sasabihin mong gusto mo ko.

O_O

 Ku-kumain ka na ba? I asked, trying to change the subject.  Ah, oo. Ikaw, kumain 
ka na ba?

 Don t try to change the subject. Napaka-awkward naman nitong usapan na  to. Pwede 
bang bumalik ka muna kay Candy? Pinapaalala mo kasi yung kanina eh.  Wha-what do 
you mean? Hindi ko alam yung sinasabi mo. Reasonable ba?

Lumabas ka na lang muna kasi Marriane. Diba lagi ka namang ganyan? Always escapi

ng over anything? Then do it.


 L-lalabas na m una ako. I  said and turned to walk away. But then, he suddenly gra
bbed my hands a nd hugged m e.

 I really meant w hat I  said kanina. I really like you. H e said at bumitaw ako. I 
pushed him when s aid t hose four words. I looked at him in  shock.  Pero si Candy--

 See this ring? He raised his hand and also mine, showing our wedding rings.  We h
ave this, and we always going to have this. Sino ba rito ang asawa ko kundi ikaw
lang? There was an awkward silence between us. Then he smiled. His eyes were on
ly seeing& mine. Then it happened again. The kiss. But, it was a gentle one thi
s time.

He hugged me again and whispered at my back.  Kaya mo pang magtiis diba?


 Oo.. kaya ko pang magtiis.. para sa yo.


Handcuff 33 - Sad, indeed.


Binalikan ko si Camille sa bahay ni mamu. I told her that we re coming b ack so I 
packed our things. Look, she s so happy. Salamat, matutupad na rin ang h iling ni 
Camille. A complete family.

Nagvolunteer naman s i Lawrence na ihatid kami papunta dun sa bahay namin ni Rex.
 Here s the stop, m am. He said as if he was a tour guide. Sheesh.  Mama, papasok n
a po ako! Camille s aid and went out of the car. She s very excited talaga. 

 Hay&

siguro naman, hindi na kayo mag-aaway pa.


 Oo naman, I now have this trust on him. Kapag may nangyari u li, ako na mismo a ng
kikitil sa buhay nya. Tumawa lang kaming dalawa at bumaba a ko ng kotse nya. I  j
ust waved goodbye and umalis na siya ng nakapasok na ako ng b ahay.

 Mama, asan po si papa?

 Ah.. may pinuntahan sya siguro, C amille. I answered as I sat on the couch.  Mag-a
away nanaman po ba kayo ni papa? I iwanan nanaman po ba natin sya?

 No.. hindi na. Promise. I said and I raised my hand as a proof.  Sige na, dun ka 
muna sa kwarto mo. Magluluto muna ako ng dinner natin. Sumunod naman si Camille.
 

Things are getting smoothly. Until someone broke it.

The phone suddenly rang. I wonder kung sya na  to. Dang, 7 pm na kaya at hindi p a
 rin sya dumarating. Baka kung --- NAH. Hindi n a mangyayari uli yun. Hindi na. 

 Hello?
 Marriane, ikaw ba yan? Teka, parang p amilyar ang boses na  to ah.
 Yes. May I ask who are you?
 It s me, Andrea. Oh, si Andrea lang p ala ---

S-S-SI& ANDREA?!

I f you ask me who is that, that s Camille s biological mom na pinsan ni Rex.  Ikaw 
pala  yan!


 Yeah. Musta na ang anak ko?

 Umm.. she s fine! She s always okay and f ine. Naku, pag nalaman nyang naaapektuhan
 si Camille sa naging away namin ni Rex, m alalagot ako nito.

 Mama, gutom n a ko! C amille shouted as she was going downstairs. I think she hear
d her voice.  Can I& c an I talk to her?

 Sige. Teka l ang ah. Tinawag ko si C amille to answer t he phone.  Hello po? Mommy! 
Namimiss ko n a po kayo! She cried. T hen I thought of i t.

Kukunin na ba nya samin si Camille?

Please, wag muna. Please.

 Mama oh.

She said in a sad tone.  Hello?


 Umm&

Marriane.. Don t say it, don t say it. I don t want to hear it.  An..no?


 I m going to take her na.


Please. Don t.


 Re-really? So kelan? Argh. Stup!d ka talaga, M arriane. Ba t di mo sabihin s a kany
a direct to the point?  By this weekend. Hindi p ala talaga kayang tiisin ng i sang
 magulang ang anak noh?

 Yeah. Ako rin kaya, di k o kayang tiisin. Napamahal na sakin si Camille kahit kal
ahating taon palang kami n agkakasama. At tsaka, gusto ko ring tuparin ang hiling
 ni Camille& dahil alam k o na wala ang kanyang biological dad. 

 Hin.. hindi ba kayo magtatagal ni Camille rito pagkakuha mo sa kanya?

 Hindi na. Tutal, si C amille lang naman ang pakay ko dyan sa Pinas. S ya lang. Huh
? Anong ibig sabihin n g sya lang ang pakay nya? May iba pa ba bukod s a kanya? 

 I m gonna call na lang when things here will be arranged na. Sige, b ye. A nd she h
ung up. But, I m still at the phone kahit na binaba na nya.  Wag mo m una sy ang kun
in. I whispered to the phone and hung it too.

 Anong sabi po ni mommy ko?

 Ku.. kukunin ka na nya samin, Camille.

 Talaga po? Yayyyy!! Magkikita na kami ni mommy!!! She jumped in joy. At ako nama
n, malungkot. Bigla syang napatigil.  Mama, bakit ka sad?

Bigla n amang tumulo yung luha ko.  Kasi naman, bigla-bigla ka na lang kukunin ng 
mommy m o samin. Tuloy, ayaw na ata ki tang ibigay&  I cried.

She hugged me.  Ikaw lang po ang mama ko habang buhay.

 What about your mommy?

 Sya po ang mommy ko. Ikaw naman po ang mama ko. And I love my mommies.

Napapikit na lang ako ng mata ko at napatigil na ko sa pag-iyak.  I love you mama

.

 I love you too, b aby. I kissed her on her head. A loud growl on her stomach soun
ded that made us m ove again.  Mama, hindi po ba tayo kakain?

 Ah! Nga pala! Kakain pa pala tayo. Haha. H alika na, kumain na nga tayo. Binuhat 
ko sya papuntang dining room para kumain. 

 Andito na ko! I heard Rex s voice from the living room and I saw him walking towa
rds here.  Andito pala ang baby namin na si Camille.. He kissed her on the head a
nd then sat on the other seat which is next to me, starting to eat. 

 Alam mo ba papa, tumawag dito si mommy& sabi nya kukunin na nya raw po ako!

 Huh?

Napatingin sakin si Rex.  Totoo ba yun? Tumawag rito si Andrea? 


 Oo. She said she s going to retrieve Camille by weekend. I  answered in a sad tone
. He turned to Camille.  Camille, look what you ve done at y our mother, sumasayad 
na ang nguso sa lupa. Anong gagawin natin?

 Ah! Lumabas po tayo bukas! Gusto ko pong pumunta ng Enchanted Kingdom!

 Ah.. okay. H e turned t o me again.  Don t make any plans bukas ha? It s our family d
ay tomorrow. H e said.  Hay naku.. ikaw nga  tong laging lumalabas eh --

 Mag-aaway nanaman po ba kayo?

We looked at Camille. 

 No, sweetie. Remember, nagpromise si mama? That will never happen again& d iba? 
I looked at Rex. Inakbayan naman nya ko.  Yup. Hindi na. And he kissed my f orehea
d. Cheesy, eh? But it was good. ^___^

But then, kukunin pa rin samin si Camille. Sad, indeed&
 

Handcuff 34 - Departure Confession.


The day after, lumabas kaming tatlo. Hindi ko maexplain kung ano ang nararamdama
n ko nung mga oras na yun. Basta, kasama ko pa rin sila nun.

I wish we could be like this& forever.


***


 Flight 507, London to Philippines has now arrived.

We were sitting at the bench while Lawrence was leaning at the wall as the peopl
e passed us with their baggages. Yup. We re at the airport. And this is the day t
hat Camille will be taken away from us.

 Stop pouting. Rex opted.  Shut up.

 Ang tagal naman ni -- MOMMY! She exclaimed as she saw her mother -- true mother 
with a small bag. Sabi ko nga, hindi sya magtatagal. She dashed over to her and 
hugged her.  I miss you mommy!


 I missed you t oo, b aby. She said a s h er eyes w ere shut. I  was a bout to t ake Cami
lle s baggage a s I s uddenly looked a t L awrence a nd he was l ike, n akakita n g multo
. 

Bakit ba? Is there something wrong? 

Camille suddenly pulled her in front of Lawrence.  Mommy, meet tito Lawrence!

As Andrea saw his face, her eyes widened. Walang makapagsalita sa kanilang dalaw
a kundi si Camille lang. Oh, maybe there was something really wrong.  Alam mo po 
ba mommy, ang bait po sakin ni tito Lawrence --- mama&  She suddenly looked at m
e.  B-bakit?

 Naiihi po ako!

Naman, nakakabitin naman  tong si Camille oh.   Lika, sasamahan na lang kita. Sabi 
naman ni Rex at umalis na sila. Napatingin uli ako dun sa dalawa na hindi pa rin
 gumagalaw hanggang ngayon. Until she broke it and looked at me.

 Bibili muna ako ng ticket pabalik. Pero bago pa sya makaalis, nahawakan na ni La
wrence ang braso ni Andrea.  Ikaw na ang bumili.

Nagsalita naman si Andrea.  Teka -- 

 Ikaw na ang bumili. Naku, he looked so vulnerable. With dark portal eyes and col
d expression, hindi yan ang Lawrence na nakilala ko ah.

Napalakad naman ako ng mabilis papalayo sa kanila. Baka kung anong gawin sakin n
i Lawrence eh. Teka, sandali.

WALA AKONG PERA, PWEDE BA?!

Papunta na ko sa kanila nang marinig ko ang mga boses nila. Na parang nag-aaway 
sila. Napatago naman ako sa may pader malapit sa kanila. 

 Don t be like that, Andrea. Don t act like you don t know me at all.

 Eh sa hindi naman talaga kita kilala eh! She exclaimed.  You know me.

 I don t.

 Kilala mo ko.

 I don t.

He sighed.  Hanggang kelan ka ba magiging ganto sakin ha?! Sya na yun diba? Anong
 sya? Sino? Magkakilala ba sila? 

 Ba t mo naman nasabi ha?

Silence occurred. Pero nung marinig ko ang mga sumunod na sinabi ni Lawrence, na
patakip ako sa bunganga ko.  I can feel it. Anak ko sya, anak natin sya.


Handcuff 35 - Sad Departure.


 No, hindi. Hindi mo sya anak. Patay na ang daddy nya. Wala syang daddy na katula
d mo.


 Bakit mo ba sya nilalayo sakin? May karapatan naman ako sa kanya diba?

 Wala kang karapatan sa kanya.

 Why not?!

 You ve just said it before. You hate responsibilities. Napaupo sya sa may bench. 
Nung sinabi ko sa yo noon na merong tao dito sa tyan ko, tinakasan mo ko. Nung ti
me na kailangan ko ng tagapagtanggol laban sa tatay ko, hindi ka dumating. Ngayo
ng napalaki ko sya ng maayos, kukunin mo naman sya sakin. Wala kang karapatan sa
 kanya dahil ako lang ang kinilala nyang tatay at nanay nya!

I was astonished at that time. Totoo b a talaga yun? Naguguluhan a ko sa mga narin
ig ko. Si Lawrence na nakilala ko sa k alsada na sinabihan akong h indi dapat ako 
humarang sa kalsada dahil delikado& h as a child?!

And then, iniwan nya  tong si Andrea with a big responsibility?!

But then, she started to cry.  It s t oo late to change everything. Kahit anong gaw
in mo, hindi mo sya makukuha sakin. A alis kami ni Camille. She was about to walk
 when he suddenly hugged her. 

 Please. Don t. I know what I did is wrong. A lam mo n amang tutol sayo noon a ng par
ents ko, diba? Kaya, hindi ako makalapit sa yo nun. A nd now, wala na sila. W e can
 start all over again. Just don t leave me.

 No. Maayos na ang buhay naming d alawa. Wag mo na kaming guluhin. P agod na ko. S h
e escaped successfully into his a rms and she passed me with tears i n her eyes. H
inarap ko naman si Lawrence.

 Kanina ka pa dyan diba?

 Totoo ba yun? Ha? Anak mo&

si Camille?


 Ang liit talaga ng mundo ano? S abi ko na nga ba, tama ang instincts ko. I c an fe
el it. He turned away.  Pero, n atatakot rin ako na malaman ni Camille ang t otoo.
He sighed and shook his head.


 Maiintindihan naman yun ni Camille eh.


 Huh? He lifted his head to me.  Maiintindihan nya yun. Trust me. Baka nga, mas ma
ging masaya sya dahil makukumpleto na ang pamilya na gusto nya. She always wishe
d for a complete family every night. Believe me. Pero, for the mean time, hayaan
mo munang makapag-isip si Andrea about that. It s not yet time. I said and he ge
n tly smiled at me.

 Mama! I looked back to see Rex and Camille.  Antagal nyo ah. 

 Nagpabili pa kasi  to n g cotton candy eh. He said. Napansin k o nga rin y ung kinak
ain ni Camille, cotton c andy.  Meron ba nyan rito? I asked.  Dun yun sa k abila. Si
 Andrea?

 Bumili ng ticket.

Silence occurred. 

 Ayan na sya. We looked at Andrea with 2 tickets. Napatingin naman ako kay L awren
ce at hindi ko sya mabasa. Ano kayang iniisip nya ngayon? Susunod pa rin ba s ya 
k ina Camille?


 Sige na baby. Magpaalam ka n a sa kanila, Then her eyes shifted to Lawrence and c
ontinued.  Nang makaalis na t ayo agad. That maybe hit him. I felt bad to Lawrence
. But angry because of what h e did to Andrea.

Camille h ugged me.  Bye m ama. She whispered and looked at me.  Camille, I smiled. 
Mabubuo r in ang pamilya m o balang araw. 

 Pero, wala na po si daddy.

 Andyan lang sya& laging nakabantay sa yo.

She released me and hugged Rex too.  Bye papa. 

 Sorry sa lahat, Camille. Hindi nabigay ni papa yung best nya.

 Hindi po. Binigay nyo na po ang best nyo. Kasi nagbati pa rin kayo ni mama. Sana
 hindi na po kayo mag-away.

She released him and turned to Lawrence. Si Lawrence na mismo ang yumakap sa kan
ya. When he released her, his eyes averted to Andrea but she took her eyes off e
asily.

With a cold breeze passed us, they started to walk, leaving Lawrence behind. 


Handcuff 36 - Good Sides.


Kumain kami pagkauwi namin sa bahay. Niyaya namin si Lawrence kaso, wala raw sya
ng gana. Dahil siguro dun. *sigh*

 Hoy. Lumalamig na yung pagkain mo. Rex called. I snapped out of my thoughts when
 I saw him looking at me.  Pasensya ka na. Marami lang akong iniisip ngayon.

 Like what?

 Yung tungkol sa kanilang tatlo.

 Sino? Sina Lawrence, Camille at si Andrea? He asked before he took a bite at his
 food.  Hmm. I nodded as I drank water.  Anong meron sa kanila?

 Anak nila si Camille.

Natigilan si Rex sa narinig nya.  Ano? Anak ni Lawrence si& Camille? Panong nang
yari yun?

 Hindi ko rin alam. Teka, dapat alam mo diba?

 Hindi ko pa kaya sya kilala noon. He drank water and stared far away. An awkward
silence came. He suddenly changed into a vulnerable one. He stood up.  Labas lan
g ako. And he walked out of this house.

Ano bang nangyayari sa kanya?


***


Pagkatapos kong maghugas, lumabas ako only to hear a familiar voice. Boses ni Re
x yun ah.  Wag mong sabihing gagayahin mo rin ang ginawa ko?


 Eh, anong gagawin ko?! Boses naman  yon ni Lawrence. Nagtago ako sa may gate.  Sun
dan mo sila! Ayokong gayahin mo ang ginawa ko noon. Basta na lang ako sumuko. Hi
ndi ko sya sinundan. Hindi ko man nagawang pigilan sya, hindi ko pa rin ginawa a
ng dapat. Hindi ko ipinaglaban ang tama. That s what I m expecting you to do!

Nung naging sigaw ang pagsasalita nya, hinarap ko sila. Guess what I s aw? Rex an
d Lawrence. Drenched in blood and full of cuts on their faces.  Rex! L awrence! An
ong nangyari sa inyo?! Nagsuntukan ba kayo?! I exclaimed.

I approached Rex. He wiped his nose that is bleeding r ight now.  I m t elling y ou, 
gawin mo ang dapat. He attempted to punch him again w hen I held hi s a rm and l ook
ed into his eyes.  Stop it. Please.

Wala na s yang nagawa kundi pumasok na lang sa bahay at pinuntahan ko naman si La
wrence.  Ano bang nangyari? Gusto mo gamutin natin yan?

 Wag na. He b roke a smile infront o f me.  Tama n ga sya. Sige. He slowly walked.  Te
ka, sandali! I nalalayan ko sya sa b raso.  Kaya m o ba?

 Oo, kaya ko p a. Tatawag na lang ako sa b ahay para kunin ako r ito. Dun n a lang ak
o mag-iintay s a park. Sige na. At wala n a kong nagawa kundi i wanan na s ya. 

Pagpasok ko sa bahay, hinarap ko naman si Rex sa may couch. Tiningnan ko ang mga
pasa at sugat nya.  Teka, kukunin ko lang yung medical kit. I stood up and went 
to the cabinets.  Wag na. He called.  Anong wag? Mamaya maimpeksyon yan eh. I took
the medical kit and went to him. Kinuha ko kaagad yung cotton at nilagyan ng al
cohol.

 Arrh.. dahan-dahanin mo naman.

 Hay nako. Kasalanan mo  yan kung bakit may mga sugat ka. Sabi ko sabay diniin yun
g cotton sa pasa niya.  Aray. Ano ba? Ako na nga lang kasi. He took the cotton on
my hand.  Wag kang makulit. I retrieved the cotton out of his hand. Napatahimik 
na lang kami bigla habang ginagamot ko sya. Nung nilagyan ko na ng band-aid ang 
lahat ng sugat nya, niligpit ko yung medical kit at napaupo sa tabi nya.

 Kung di ba naman t@nga ang lalaking yan, mag-iintay sya sa wala. He rested his h
ead to the couch.  Ayokong gayahin nya ang ginawa ko. Pano na lang si Camille? An
o yun, lalaki sya ng walang tatay sa tabi nya? Pagkatapos, pinamumukha sa kanya 
na wala na syang tatay.

I sighed.  Rex, alam ko kung anong intensyon mo. Pero alam naman siguro ni Lawren
ce ang ginagawa nya. Iniisip lang nya ang magiging reakyon ni Camille. At tsaka,
 wag ka ngang basta-basta nanununtok ng tao? You know that it s intolerable.

 Iniisip ko lang naman yung bata. *sigh* Kung alam lang nya ang totoo, hindi na r
in sya magiging malungkot. He stood up.  Alis muna ako.

 Teka! I called and he looked back.  Baka manuntok ka nanaman.

 Hindi ako manununtok. Feel ko magdrums ngayon. And he walked out.

I sighed as his presence disappeared, then I smiled. I m so happy na nakikita ko 
unti-unti ang mga good sides nya. I m so glad dahil may malasakit pala sya sa iba
ng tao. Akala ko sarili lang nya ang iniisip nya.

And it s all because of a child.



Handcuff 37 - Meaning.



New Year

N agpasya
papa nya
ung araw

s Eve.
kami ni R ex na salubungin ang New Year kasama sina mamu, Marco at yung 
-- este p apa namin. Hindi pa rin ako kinontact ni Lawrence pagkatapos n
na yun. A no kaya mga plano nya?


I s napped out of my thoughts when someone held my hand. Si Rex l ang pala.  Iniisi
 m o nanaman ba si Lawrence ha? Baka gusto mong bugbugin ko pa s ya..
p

 Magsisimula ka nanaman ba ng away? Eto.. nagmamalasakit lang ako. O baka naman n
agseselos ka?

 Manahimik ka n ga. Ayoko lang kasi na&  Hinawakan n ya ang k amay ko a t tinaas.  ..k
ung sino-sino a ng nasa isip mo. I was just worried n a baka w ala ako d yan. Aigoo.
. since kelan p a  to naging cheesy?

 But he s not anybody. At tsaka, ang korni mo. Daig mo pa ang cornick.

 Bakit, may nasabi ba  kong mali?

 Ten& Nine& Eight& S even&  Natigilan kami nung narinig namin na nagca-countdow
n na sila. Malapit na p ala. Pero may nagpapaputok na ng mga fireworks sa langit.
  Wow.. ang ganda. I m umbled as I looked up in the sky.

 You want a New Year present? H e asked as I was s till looking up in the sky. Medy
o hindi ko narinig kasi marami n ang nagpapaputok m alapit samin. 

 & Six&

Five& Four& 


 Anong sabi mo? Di kita marinig! I shouted.

 & Three&

Two&

One!


 Lanya n aman. Magkatabi na nga lang tayo, hindi mo pa ko marinig.
 

 HAPPY N EW YEAR!

Anong sabi nya?


With that, he pulled me by the waist a nd k issed me gently. Napapikit na lang ako
 dahil sa saya na naramdaman ko nung m ga o ras na yun.

*BOOM*

 AAAAAHHH!!! I yelled as we stopped kissing. May nagpaputok malapit samin, at ala
m ko kung sino yun.  MARCO?!

Marco laughed harder at us. Nakakasira ka ng moment ah. Pero hindi naman nagpata
lo si Rex. Ayun, naghagisan sila ng paputok. Ako? I laughed at them. Ayoko ngang
 makisali. Mamaya maputukan pa ko eh.

I decided to watch the fireworks nalang. But believe me, walang naputukan sa kan
ilang dalawa. Hahah. ^_____^


***



 Sorry, the number you dialed is not yet in service. Try again later.

I s adly ended the c all. *sigh* Bakit n aman kasi not in service yung cellphone ni
 Lawrence? Ano na k ayang nangyari sa k anya?

I o pened t he gate only to find a letter on the mailbox. I immediately took it an
 l ooked a t the sender. 
d

To: Marriane & Rex ; From: Lawrence

Eh? Galing kay&

Lawrence?


Pumasok naman a gad ako sa l oob at napaupo sa c ouch bago ko binuksan yung sulat. 
Napansin kong k inompyuter p a nya yung sulat. H i-tech talaga  tong si Lawrence. Ai
shh..

03.01.07

Marriane,

M usta? Siguro nagtataka ka na kung bakit ako nagsulat sa yo. Nasa eroplano na sig
uro ako ngayon habang binabasa mo  to. I know what you re now thinking of me nung 
mga oras na nasa airport tayo nun. A coward. Kasi, naduduwag akong harapin sila.
Kasi, natatakot akong malaman ang reaksyon ni Camille. Kasi, natatakot ako na d
i nila ako tanggapin. But now, I decided to follow them& thanks to your husband
. I admit, natamaan rin ako sa mga explanations nya& kaya napagpasyahan ko na s
undan sila. Sorry sa mga inasta ko nung mga nakaraang araw. And, thank you for s
howing me friendship. I really appreciate the things that you ve done for me. Sal
amat talaga ng malaki.

Rex, 

Salamat sa explanations. Naliwanagan ako ng husto. Thank you talaga. Wag mo na  k
ong tatawagin na duwag dahil hindi na ko ganun. Kaya ko  to. Nga pala, ayokong ta
tawagan ako ni Marriane nang umiiyak ha? Kundi, ako talaga mismo papatay sa yo. W
ag mo na syang paiiyakin uli. Lagot ka talaga sakin.

Pano, kita na lang tayo pag naayos na ang lahat sa ming tatlo. Ingat.

Lawrence

 Ano yan? Napalingon ako sa tabi ko.  Andyan ka pala. Umiiyak na pala ako. I wiped
my tears. Kinuha nya yung sulat at binasa nya. Pagkatapos nyang mabasa, ibinali
k nya uli sakin yung sulat.  Natauhan rin sya.

 Oo nga. Magiging maayos rin ang lahat sa kanila diba?

He smiled.  Oo.

Suddenly, we heard a loud crash from the k itchen. Agad naman kaming napatakbo sa
kusina.  Baso lang pala. He said as we s aw the broken glass at the floor.  Pero, 
pano naman nahulog nun? Hindi kaya& may m ulto rito? I asked, puzzled.

 Ano ka ba? Blessed  tong bahay na  to, pwede ba? Una palang sinabi na sain ni papa
 na walang multo rito.

Teka&

may meaning kaya  to? 


 
Handcuff 38 - Complicated.



 Ako na lang n g magwawalis. He said as he looked for the broom and dustpan. Mukha
ng statwa na a ko rito. I m still thinking about the meaning part. May meaning kay
a?

 Dun ka na lang muna sa sala. Baka mabubog ka pa rito. He pushed me through the l
iving room.  Ingat ka sa pagwawalis. Baka masugatan ka.

 Hindi yan. At bumalik sya uli sa kusina. Napansin kong may lunch box sa mesa.  Re
x, para saan  yang& lunch box?

 Ah, dadalhan ko si Candy ng pagkain.

I admit, medyo nasaktan ako. But, it s Candy. Alam ko naman na malaki ang malasak
it nya dito. Hindi na rin ako magtataka. At tsaka remember, may sakit yung tao. 
Wag mo nang patulan.

Natapos na nyang linisin yung nabasag na baso kaya sya lumabas hawak-hawak yung 
lunch box.  Pano, alis muna ako. Dalawin ko lang si Candy.

He was about to walk out when I called him.  Rex& pwede ba  kong& sumama?

 Sure.


***


 Oi, Marriane, Rex called when he entered the door.  Hmm? I asked as I was hiding 
behind the door.  Bakit ka nagtatago? Hindi ka ba papasok? 

 Ah, eh, kasi& tama lang ba talaga na sumama ako rito? I wandered.

He sighed.  Wala kang dapat ikatakot. At tsaka, sumama ka rito diba? Kaya pumasok
ka na. He pulled me gently as we entered the room. We saw Candy sitting on the 
bed. As her head lifted to us, the atmosphere suddenly went tense. I wish I didn
t exist. I wish I didn t exist.

I wish I was invisible by now!

 Gising ka pala. Dinalhan ka nga pala namin ng pagkain.

 Eto oh ---

 Get out. Was the word that I was expecting her to say.  Dee ---

 Get out. I need to talk to him PERSONALLY. She said, referring to me.

Napayuko na lang ako ng ulo habang papalabas ng kwarto. I leaned at the wall bes
ide the door. Tama nga na hindi dapat ako sumama sa kanya rito. Dahil alam kong 
m angyayari  to.

N apalakas yung boses nila kaya narinig ko ang pinag-uusapan nila.  Sino ba sya sa
 buhay mo ha?!

 She s my wife.

Silence occurred.


 N-nagbibiro ka lang, diba?


 I m not kidding. Totoo.

A l ong silence occurred. Pagkatapos, bigla ko na lang narinig yung sigaw ni Rex.
  DEE!

Napatakbo naman ako sa loob.  Tawagin mo yung d oktor, BILIS! He e xclaimed as h e w
as holding Candy. Pinindot ko yu ng button dun s a wall. That way, p upunta agad y u
ng doktor rito. 

Ayun nga, dumating na yung doktor kasama yung mga iba pang n urse. At dahil nga d
oktor at nurse sila, chineck nila yung pulse rate, at kung a nu-ano pang mga impo
rtante na kailangan nilang icheck. Tapos, kinausap kami ng d oktor na dun daw mun
a kami sa labas.

Hindi talaga mapakali si Rex. Kita naman sa palakad-lakad efek nya.  REX!
ed.

I shout


 ANO?!

Nagulat naman ako s a tono ng pananalita nya ngayon kaya napasandal ako sa kinauu
puan ko.  Pwede& u mupo ka naman? Nakakahilo ka kaya.

Ayun, sumunod n aman sya. P ero di pa rin sya mapakali. I sighed and hugged his sh
oulders.  She s going to b e fine. Wag kang mag-alala.

 PANO KO HINDI MAG-AALALA EH PWEDE NA SYANG KUNIN NGAYON?!

I was shocked. Basta, I was just shocked.

 Sorry. He muttered.

Pinuntahan kami nung doktor pagkalabas nya ng kwarto.  Kamusta na po sya?

 She s now in good condition. You can now go in. Maiwan ko muna kayo. Pagkatapos, 
umalis na sya. Natutulog na sa Candy nung pumasok kami. Rex sat beside her and t
ouched her forehead. I just shook my head.

Suddenly, the door opened. Then came an old fat man, about 40+.  Candy, anak! He 
exclaimed as he ran through her. Maybe her dad.  Uncle.

 Kamusta na sya?

 Ayos na po sya ngayon. 

Just as what I am thinking now, our situation really is complicated. Hindi ko na
 alam kung anong gagawin ko. Basta, susundin ko na lang si Rex, no matter what.

 Rex, alis na ko. 

 Sabay na lang tayo --

 Hindi na. I smiled.  Kita na lang tayo sa bahay. Then, I exited the hospital and 
locked myself in my room at the house. Ayun, di ko nanaman mapigilan ang umiyak.
And before I knew it, umuulan pala. Napadungaw ako sa bintana, still umiiyak pa
 rin ako. 

Sana wala na lang na ulan. Kasi, look at the sky. So dark. Pag hindi na nakaya n
g ulap, bigla na lang babagsak. Just like my feelings now. Feeling ko, madilim a

ng ulap ko ngayon. Hindi ko na kaya pang ihandle kaya di ko na napigilan ang u mi
yak. Sa lahat ng ayoko, yung umiiyak ako. Nagmumukha akong iyakin nito. Sana l ag
i na lang may araw.

Sa tingin nyo kaya, may rainbow pang lalabas pagkatapos ng ulan? 

 Marriane. I heard knocks on the door and then it opened. It was him.  Umiiyak ka 
ba?

 Hi-hindi! Na-napuwing lang ako. I quickly wiped my tears.  Wag mo kong lokohin. H
e sat beside me. There was silence between us. Neither one of us couldn t speak, 
until I broke it.  Kamusta na si Candy --


 Marriane. 


 Hmm?










 Magdivorce na tayo.


Handcuff 39 - Letting Go.


When I heard those words from him, parang tumigil ang mundo ko. Naubos na siguro
ang luha ko kaya wala nang lumabas sa mga mata ko. There were many questions po
pped into my head. One of those is,  bakit kailangan humantong  to sa ganito?

 Rex bakit? Bakit kailangan pa natin magdivorce?!

 It s because ito ang tama. She s dying. She needs me.

 THEN WHAT ABOUT ME?!

He shook his head.  You.. me.. it s over.

 So.. this means, you chose her over me?

He sighed.  I dunno. Maybe. But Marriane, He faced me.  Ayokong pairalin ang puso 
ko ngayon. At tsaka, siguro, hanggang dun lang tayo. Hindi ko kayang iwan sya sa
 laban nya ngayon. She s alone. Kailangan nya ko.

 Kai& kailangan din kita& What about this? I asked as I raised our hands with o
ur wedding rings. He suddenly wore off his ring and gave it to me.  Hindi ko pala
 kaya. Sorry talaga.

*Flashback*

 Baso lang pala. He said as we saw the broken glass at the floor.  Pero, pano nama
n nahulog nun? Hindi kaya& may multo rito? I asked, puzzled.


 Ano ka ba? Blessed  tong bahay na  to, pwede ba? Una palang sinabi na sain ni papa
 na walang multo rito.

Teka&

may meaning kaya  to? 


---

Basta, susundin ko na lang si Rex, no matter what.

*End of Flashback*

B igla na lang ako bumitaw. Susundin ko sya. Sabi ko yun sa sarili ko na susundin
 ko sya. But what about this feeling?

 Pero&  He started as I suddenly looked at him. Bigla nya kong niyakap at napaiya
k.  & it doesn t mean na talagang bumitaw na ako. Babalikan kita, kapag wala nang 
pader na nakaharang.

 Pano kung --

 Wala nang pano-pano. Basta, babalikan kita. Hindi ko kayang magpromise pero, I ll
 do anything para balikan ka. 

I sighed.  Hindi ko alam&  I looked straightly in his eyes.  ..kung kaya kitang in
tayin. Hindi mo kaya diba? Pwes, hindi ko rin kaya.

With that, I left him standing there while I was walking out of the room, tears 
rolling through my cheeks. 
  

***


Letting go is never been easier for me. It s been a week since we annulled our ma
rriage. Marami nga ang nagulat eh. Sina Lawrence lang ang hindi pa nakakaalam. E
wan ko kung bakit defensive sina mamu at Mr. Lopez. Is there something between t
hem?

That s when I knew it, until that day came.

I just saw them. Mamu, Mr. Lopez. Hugging each other. With closed eyes efek. 

 Ma& mu? Anong --

They released themselves easily.  Marriane, mali ka nga iniisip.

 Ma, mag-usap nga tayo. Hinila ko si Mamu sa sala at pinaupo ko sya.  Ano yun? I s
tarted.                                                                         
                                                                               
                                                                               
         

 Anak, we re just hugging each other as --                           
                        
 As what? Mamu, tell me. ARE YOU HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH HIM?!
                                                       
Hindi makapagsalita si mamu.

 I MEAN, THE WHOLE TIME? SA SIMULA PALANG?!


 Anak --

 WHY DIDN T YOU TELL ME?! BAKIT KAILANGAN PA KAMING MADAMAY NI REX?!

*plak*

She just slapped me.  I m really sorry. She shook her head. I know kung bakit nya 
ko sinampal.  Kung di kami nadamay dito, di sana, teenager pa rin ang utak ko. Di
 sana& hindi ako nasaktan ng husto.

Wala na syang nagawa kundi yakapin ako.

Ayun, sinabihan ko si Mr. Lopez na layuan si mamu. Inaalala ko lang naman si pap
u. Ayokong balewalain ni mamu yung sa kanila ni papu. Kami ang masasaktan ng kap
atid ko pag nangyari yun. I mean, hindi naman sa pinagkakait ko yung gusto ni ma
mu. Gusto ko pa rin ng buo ang pamilya namin without papu.

Nabalitaan ko na lang kay Russel na inooperahan na raw si Candy ngayon sa states
kasama sya. Tanggap ko na... na hindi sya babalik pa. I just let him go. Hindi 
naman sya nagpromise sakin diba? At tsaka, pag gumaling na si Candy, hindi rin n
aman sya babalik sakin eh. She won t going to surrender him to me naman diba? Aft
er all, she still loves him.

At the fact that we re not married anymore. 

Madali ko na lang siguro makakalimutan ang lahat ng ito. Makakalimutan ko na yun
g krimen na ginawa ko noon, na kinasal pala ako noon, at yung feelings ko para s
a kanya na naramdaman ko noon. 

Madali na siguro kalimutan ang lahat para sakin, diba?


Handcuff 4o - Changes.


Before I knew it, I just graduated high school with Abby. Bumalik lang sa dati n
oon. Kaso, hindi na ko high school ngayon. I was now a college student at nag-aa
ral magdesign ng mga damit. Nagdecide kami ni Abby na tumira sa iisang apartment
since wala nang space sa bahay and same to her too. I was taking a part-time jo
b at a convenience store before and after my classes. Ayoko nang umasa kay mamu.
I decided this for myself& to make myself busy hanggang sa hindi ko na sya mas
yadong iniisip. Isa pa, pinagpag-aral pa nya ng high school si Marco, ayoko nang
dumagdag sa gastusin nya noh. Yun nga lang, hati kami sa tuition since hindi ka
ya ng sweldo ko na bayaran yung pagkalaki-laking tuition sa university na yun. S
i Abby naman, part-timer rin ng isang fast food chain. Daming pagbabago noh?

4 YEARS later na kasi eh.

 Girl, gising na!

 H-huh? *yawn* I stretched my arms and tried to get up. Anong oras na ba? 5:20 am
.. ang aga pa pala eh.. I still have.. OMG 5:20 AM?! 6 ang pasok ko sa work!!!

Thus is my daily routine. I always took a bath for 20 minutes, 10 minutes for br
eakfast and preparing myself. Kainis diba? Sigurado, manghahabol nanaman ako ng 
bus nito. Grabe. Pero di bale na, exercise na rin  to diba?

Minsan, hindi ko rin maiwasan na madaanan yung bahay namin ni Rex. Today, that i
s. Ayun, wala pa ring nakatira. 


Snap it, Marriane. That house has nothing to do with you now. Late ka na sa work
, remember?

A nd yeah, late ako, as what I am expecting.  Andyan na ba si mam? I whispered to 
my co-worker as I was taking my uniform at my locker.  Lagi naman syang maaga eh.
 Mabuti nga eh natitiis ka ni mam. Magbihis ka na bago ka pa nya makita.

I was a bout to enter the comfort room when I heard the manager.  You re late for a
 most A  YEAR, Miss Santos. 
l

I l ooked her in grin.  Sorry po mam. Alam ko naman po na di nyo ko matitiis diba?
 Hehe.

Ayun. Pumwesto na ko sa cashier since ako ngayon ang nakaassign dun. Pero minsan
naman, naglalagay ng tags-tags at kung anu-anong pang pwedeng trabahuin dito sa
convenience store. Wala naman akong reklamo eh kasi, sinabi ko naman sa boss ko
na pwede ako sa lahat. There s no time to be choosy since kailangan ko talaga ng
 work.

Pagdating ng 10, pasok naman ako sa university. Then, babalik ako sa store pagda
ting ng 4. Sinusundo naman ako ni Abby pagkarating ng 9 PM and then, sabay na ka
mi umuwi together with her bf. Yeaa. Abby found her Mr. Right. And they were per
fectly in love. Hay& ako kaya? Kailan ko kaya makikita si Mr. Right ko? Sheesh.
 Ewan. There s no time for that.

 Hayy.. wala nanaman tayong masakyan, honey. She said as we re searching for a bus
to take us home. Hay naku.. gumana nanaman ang pagkaflirt nito. I just looked a
t them in disgust. 

Habang naghahanap ako ng bus, I saw a familiar car. I suddenly shook my head in 
confusion. Nagkamali lang siguro ako. Maraming sasakyan na ganun, pwede ba? And 
there s no such thing para pumunta sya rito.

Babalikan nya ba talaga ako?

 Hoy Marriane! 

I snapped out in my thoughts as I looked back to them.  Tara na! Abby said as she
was about to enter the bus.  Ah, oo! Sige! I ran to the bus and searched for a s
eat. Tatluhan naman yung upuan eh kaya tabi-tabi na kami. Dun ako umupo sa tabi 
ng bintana and went back to my thoughts. Paiiyakin nanaman ata nya ko eh. Kainis
 talaga. Aish, Marriane, wag kang iiyak.

 Marriane, ayos ka lang? Abby asked.  Ah, oo. Ayos lang ako.


***


Somehow, that night was so strange. Series of cold breeze rushed through me when
I was lying on the bed. Napaisip tuloy ako, baka si papu lang ito. Baka tinitin
gnan lang nya ang kalagayan ko ngayon. Well, papu, I ve change a lot. I m well-mat
ured lady now dahil 20 y/o na ko ngayon. Alam ko na kung ano ang tama at mali. 

Naisip ko nanaman yung kaninang nakita ko.

*Flashback*

 & it doesn t mean na talagang bumitaw na ako. Babalikan kita, kapag wala nang pad

er na nakaharang.


*End of Flashback*

Ang tanong, may pader pa kayang nakaharang saming dalawa? Babalik pa kaya sya?


Handcuff 41 - Possible.


Friday pala ngayon. Wala na kong work pagdating ng hapon eh. So, I decided to wa
lk home na lang after class. Kaso, wala pa sakin yung duplicate ng apartment. Ka
nina pa ko nagtetext kay Abby kung nasaan na yung duplicate pero, hindi pa rin n
agrereply. That s when I started to get irritated. Ayoko ngang mag-intay sa harap
ng school nila. Init-init eh. Di bale na nga lang, hihingiin ko na nga lang yun
g isa pang susi dun sa landlady. 

Napatigil ako n ung makakita ako ng isang s oda c an. T eka, nangyari na  to d iba? Ma
s ipa nga uli. 

That s when I k new, may bato pala yun sa l oob k aya n asaktan yung paa k o.  OUCH!

Suddenly, I heard a loud screech from the street. Pasensya n a kayo, marami talag
ang mga sira ang ulo rito kaya talagang nangyayari ang mga g anyan.

I was walking at the sidewalk nung may narinig akong boses ng lalaki.

 Hoy!

Tumingin ako sa kanan at sa kaliwa, pero di ko pa rin sya makita. Ang weird ah.

 Hoy! Ano ba?!

Haha. Nandun pala sya sa likod.

 Aishh.. ano bang problema m o at nagsisisigaw ka -- I paused a s I s aw a familiar 
person standing at my very e yes. Am I just dreaming o totoong n asa h arapan ko na
 sya ngayon? But he really i s the same person before.

Rex.

I could hear the song 'it's a small world after all' playing in the back of my m
ind right now. We looked at each other for about ten seconds and he walked towar
ds me as he was holding a soda can.  You just did it again. Tingnan mo yung ginaw
a mo sa kotse ko. Sisirain mo nanaman. Ipapakulong na talaga kita nyan.

Hindi na ko nagsayang p a ng o ras kaya ako n a ang y umakap sa kanya. He also hugge
d me back tightly and I  can t help myself b ut to c ry. 

Binalikan nga nya talaga ako. At wala nang pader na nakaharang pa.


***


 So, musta?
nya.

He asked as he was sitting at the driver s seat. Ako naman, nasa tabi 


 Musta? Yun lang? After 4 years, yan lang ang maririnig ko sa yo?
.  Ano naman ang ineexpect mo?

I asked him back


 Yung bagong Rex. Yung hindi na s ira ang ulo.
ng ulo mo dyan? Hindi ka pa rin n agbago.

I laughed.  Eh kung sirain ko kaya a


 Ba t naman ako magbabago? I ve changed already.

 Wala namang nagbago sayo eh.

 Aisshh. Manahimik ka nga. Ba t nandito ka? Bakit umuwi ka pa ng bansa?

 Langya. Ginawa ko ang lahat para lang balikan ka pagkatapos yan lang ang itatano
ng mo? Lalo pang humaba  yang sungay mo.

 Si Candy? Bakit di mo sya kasama?

Napalitan yung mukha nya. Yung vulnerable look ba?  Wala na sya.

 Huh? You mean, dead?

He nodded and sighed.  Yeah. Last year.

 Sorry sa pagtatanong..

 Ayos lang. It s been a year. Nakarecover na rin naman ako ng mabilis.

 Anong nangyari sa inyong dalawa?

He took a deep breath before he spoke again.  Hindi naging successful ang operati
on. Hindi nya kinaya, kahit anong gawin naming laban. Masyado nang malala ang sa
kit nya nung mga oras na yun. Nga pala. He took something from his bag. A letter
popped out of his hand and handed it to me.  Pinapabigay nga pala nya sayo bago 
sya nawala. Basahin mo raw.

Binuksan ko naman yung sulat at binasa. Nakibasa rin sya.

Marriane,

I  ve heard so much from you. Kinuwento ka kasi sakin ni Rex eh. Alam mo, I m so en
vy of you. Kasi, malakas ka, samantalang ako, mahina. Napansin kong nagbago ng h
usto si Rex, dahil sa yo. Salamat at pinasaya mo sya habang wala ako, at hanggang
sa wala na ako. Wala akong magagawa kung magtatagal pa ako rito o hindi na. Mar
riane, wala na kong magagawa kundi ipaubaya na sya sa yo. After all, kaya mo nama
n syang ihandle diba kahit na medyo, may pagka-childish sya? Hehe. Sorry for cau
sing you trouble and the attitude that I ve shown to you that day. Nasira ko pa t
uloy ang marriage ninyo. Sana mapatawad mo ko. 

I believe that you re g oing to take c are of him forever. K undi, mumultuhin kita. 
 aha. Jokes lang. No, s eriously.. I m really counting on y ou.
H

I give you my blessings.

Candy

Thank you, Candy. Thank you so much!

 Yun naman pala eh. Looks like, He held me a t my shoulders.  ..she s giving me t o y
ou. *sigh* Akala ko, hindi na kita makikita u li. Hindi naman p osible na magkita 
tayo ngayon, diba?

 Mali ka. Everything s possible when it comes to God. Nagdasal ata ako noh. Ngayon

 na nakuha na natin ang blessings nya, what s next?


He smiled and lightly squeezed my hand.  Marry me again. Will you?

That s w hen I r emembered, nasa b ag ko yung singsing. Kinuha ko yun agad at iprise
nta sa k anya.  Nasa iyo pa rin  yan?

 Well, yeah.

 Sagutin mo ko. Will you? He asked.

 No. Will you? Ibinalik ko yung tanong nya.













 Why not?





I guess t hat was a yes. Kasi sinuot nya yung singsing at niyakap nya ko agad sa 
sobrang t uwa. That s when I knew, this was not an ACCIDENT. It was destiny, reall
y.


The Prison [Epilogue]


Because of a crime&

We met each other& ACCIDENTALLY.

Marami na ring taon ang lumipas since nakilala naming ang isa t isa. Dahil sa tin
opak ako nung araw na yun kaya nakabasag ako ng bintana ng sasakyan at nalaman k
o pang yun may-ari ng sasakyan eh magiging asawa ko pala. I thought to myself na
 hindi rin naman aksidente na magkakilala kami. We were destined to each other.

It s not an ACCIDENT.

E verything was planned by destiny. Hindi aksidente na mahulog kami sa isa t isa d
ahil talaga itinadhana kami. Mabuti na nga lang there s a children s song called  A
Small World . It is really a small world. Akala ko hindi ko na sya uli makikita 
after 4 years. But I was wrong. We still had each other kahit na nagdivorce pa k
ami noon. Pwede naman kaming magpakasal anytime, at anywhere pa. I m really thank
ful dahil pinaubaya na ni Candy si Rex sakin bago sya mawala. Kaya nga kami nagk
ita pa ngayon diba? Kung nasan man sya ngayon, I assure her na papasayahin ko la
g i si Rex. 

T wo years from now, Lawrence, Camille and Andrea lived with us in the same roof.

Andrea just decided to reside her business here imbis na sa London. Malaki nama
n daw ang kita rito. Ang maganda pa dun, tinutulungan pa sya ni Lawrence. Si Cam
ille? Grade 3 na sya ngayon. Magaling na syang magbasa at magsulat. Ang magaling
na kaibigan kong si Abby? Kinareer ang pagiging photographer. I saw a ring on h
er hand at sinabi nya na ikakasal na raw sila ng boyfriend nya next month. Buti 
nga at nagtagal sila. Natiis ata si Abby. Heheh.

My husband? Tinutupad nya ang kahilingan ni Candy bago sya nawala. Nag-aral sya 
ng art at binenta nya ang mga ginawa nyang paintings. Luckily, his works sold wo
rldwide. Kaya ganun na lang ang paghanga at pagbili nila ng malaki sa mga painti
ngs nya. Hindi namin pala alam na magiging successful sya dun. Siguro kagagawan 
din ni Candy kaya ganto na lang sya ka-success.

Me? Tch. Designing clothes. Pero baguhan pa lang ako dahil kakagraduate ko palan
g sa university na pinasukan ko. Sana maging successful rin ako katulad nila.

L ife right now is sailing smoothly. We passed the hard challenges with flying co
lors. And I m so glad of that. Just as what I ve said, everyday in my life occurre
d ACCIDENTALLY. And siguro marami pang pagsubok ang darating samin at sisiguradu
hin namin na we re going to pass it with flying colors again. Even though it will
 came ACCIDENTALLY, we ll going to survive through it.

All that I m going to do is to marry him again and live happily ever after with h
im just like one of those fairytales. I m still not going to regret the surprises
 of life that is actually given me.

We re not destined ACCIDENTALLY. Since we ve born, we re destined. We re destined to
 be forever.


He's still the POLICE, and I'm going to be a PRISONER of his -- FOREVER.


----


THE END.


Accidentally In Love Main Characters Overview

Marriane

Real Name : Marriane Louise Santos
Nickname : Marriane / Madam
Birthday : May 16, 1989
Height : 5 1
Weight : 49 kg.
School : Julius Thomson Academy

Overview


Marriane, being the main character of this story, was kinda  may pagkatopak when 
you messed up her life. She s just a senior high school student that has an attit
ude. She s kindhearted and thoughtful to her family and friends. But not for her 
husband, that is Rex. Sometimes, she s blabbling out her thoughts without knowing
of someone who s watching her. All in all, she has this pleasing personality tha
t anyone couldn t see. Moreover, a shy person. With black long shiny hair and an 
okay height, she really is the perfect girl for Rex. A one of a kind.

Rex

Real Name : Rex Carlo Lopez
Nickname : Rex / Carlo
Birthday : March 21, 1987
Height : 5 9
Weight : 45 kg.
School : Villa Francia High

Overview

A p erfect person. That s what they can see into Rex. He has the looks, the money,
the brains& but the attitude? This question goes to Marriane. According to her
, Rex really has the attitude -- almost bad. He drinks, he smokes, but he s not a
n outgoing person. He s not sociable. More of an anti-social. His only weakness a
re his loved ones. Everyone noticed that. He always protect his loved ones for h
arm. Playing drums is one of his boredom busters. Or maybe you can find him in a
 bar, drinking. And now, he is still married to Marriane.

Lawrence

Real Name : Lawrence Yan
Nickname : Lawrence
Birthday : May 16, 1985
Height : 6 0
Weight : 51 kg.
School : Julius Thomson Academy

Overview

Why wouldn t everyone admire him, at the fact that he has a comfy life that every
one s been dying for? But he never wanted any of that. The truth is, he really ha
s a child. And that s what he d been dying for. To be with his child. Lawrence had
this gentleman attitude, plus to his points. He never smokes, but he drinks. Ac
cording to Marriane, life is good when you re with him. He really is a funny guy 
and a caring one. You would never get a dull moment with him plus the looks that
 you ll going to drool in every second.

Candy

Real Name : Candy Tramph
Nickname : Candy, Dee
Birthday : June 19, 1987
Height : 5 4
Weight : 42 kg.
School : Santana School of Art

Overview

Professional when it comes to art. Candy loves art since she was a kid. She s dre
aming for an award-winning masterpiece before. Rex and her had this relationship
for almost 3 years until it broke when a scholarship came from the states, tell
ing her to study abroad. Candy really wanted to study there so she pursued her d
ream, leaving Rex behind. According to Rex, she really is a weak girl, having a 
heart disease. But right now, she s fighting for her life whatever it takes.

Andrea

Real Name : Andrea Reyes
Nickname : Andrea

Birthday
Height :
Weight :
Location

: July 26, 1985

5 2
46 kg.
: Paris, France


Overview

You can say, her past was really messy. But now, she ll just lie to the bed of mo
ney and live with it. Andrea before was just a mere poor girl until Lawrence cam
e into her life and made her world a colorful one. Things went complicated as sh
e found out that she was pregnant, and Lawrence was the father. But then, she th
ought Lawrence just left her. Their parents decided to separate them and her lif
e was still going on, taking the journey called life with her child. When you lo
oked at her, she really looked like a well-matured girl. But you can never tell 
that she has a child in her features.

Camille

Real Name : Camille Reyes-Yan
Nickname : Camille
Birthday : August 17, 2001
Height : 4 3
Weight : 35 kg.

Overview

One look at her, you re going to love her. She has this magnet to attract you. Ca
mille was not an ordinary kid. Why, you ask? Because she has 2 mommies and daddi
es and they were living at the same roof. Camille s long time wish came true. To 
have her big happy family. She s a keen observer, and sometimes moody when it com
es to her wants. She wanted attention from everybody, that s why she sometimes ac
ting weird just to take attention. I m sure, she s going to grow with flying color
s because of her friendly environment.




[1st Story]  tenderheart. All Rights Reserved 2009. Distribution of any kind is P
ROBIHITED without the written consent of LHYNNE.

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