FOLIO - SAMPLE 10

["NIGHTANGLE\u2019S HYMN SIR SKY","KARNASYON PARA S IKAUNA. \u201cPara saan \u2018to?\u201d tanging ngiti ang aking itinugon sa kanyang naging tanong. \u201cBulaklak, hindi ba paborito mo ang Carnation, maraming tanim na Carnation si mama sa bakuran, pumitas ako para sayo\u201d nakita ko naman ang matamis na ngiti mula sa kanyang labi ng itulak ko papunta sa kanya ang isang bungkos ng Carnation. \u201cPasalamat ka at hindi ka nahuhuli ni tita na pinipitas mo ang mga bulaklak nya\u201d Kung tutuusin ay nakita siya ng nanay nya kanina habang napitas ng mga bulaklak ngunit hindi niya iyon alintana kung matamis na ngiti lamang din ang bumungad sa kanya. IKALAWA. \u201cIki! Hintay!\u201d agad naman akong tumigil sa paglalakad ng marinig ko ang kanyang tinig. Naglalakad papalapit sa akin yapos-yapos ang ang bungkos ng Carnation na aking napitas ulit sa bakuran ni mama. \u201cSalamat dito! Talagang idinaan mo pa sa silid namin\u201d isang nakakasilaw na ngiti ang ibinungad sa kanya ni Sun, kahalintulad ng pangalan nito na parang araw na nagliliwanag ang paligid lalo na pag ang dalaga ay ngumingiti. \u201cWalang anuman, sabi ko naman sayo araw araw kitang dadalhan ng bungkos ng Carnation\u201d nakangiti nyang tugon habang ginugulo ang buhok ng dalaga.","SA IYONG KALAYAAN HEAVEN YVONNE BORJA ART BY JM OLAN IKATLO. \u201cSun, huwag ka ng umiyak, sadyang ganyan ang buhay minsan, ang mahalaga ay ginawa mo ang lahat ng makakaya mo\u201d panahon ng pagsusulit, balita ko ay bumagsak si Sun sa isang asignatura niya kaya siya umiiyak. Kaya naman sa halip na isang bungkos, dalawang bungkos ng Carnation ang dala ko para sakanya. \u201cTada! Oh hindi lamang isang bungkos yan ha, dalawang bungkos ng Carnation para sayo. Huwag ka ng umiyak Sun, alam kong ginawa mo lahat ng makakaya mo para sa pagsusulit na yan.\u201d IKAAPAT. \u201cMaligayang kaarawan!\u201d masiglang bati ko sa kanya ngayon espesyal na araw niya. Dala ang mga bungkos ng Carnation sa aking kamay ay nagtungo ako sa kanilang bahay upang personal siyang batiin ng maligayang kaarawan. \u201cGrabe Iki! Nag abala ka pa talagang pumunta pwede mo naman akong batiin sa messages\u201d sabi nya habang inaanyayahan akong tumuloy sa loob ng kanilang bahay.","KARNASYON PARA S \u201cEdi hindi ko maibibigay sayo ang mga bulaklak mo kung sa message lang kita babatiin, at saka nag paalam na ako kay Mama na bibigyan kita ng bulaklak pumayag nga sya eh!\u201d masiglang tugon ko sa kanya na siya namang ikinaliwanag ng mga mata niya. Hindi niya nakalimutang mag pasasalamat bago tanggapin ang bungkos ng bulaklak at ilagay ito sa plorera pagpasok ng kanilang bahay. IKALIMA. \u201cSun! Sun!\u201d pag-agaw ko sa kanyang pansin, ngayon ay ang araw ng aming pagtatapos, kaya naman espesyal ang araw na ito. Isang malaking bungkos ng Carnation ang aking bitbit habang tumatakbo papunta sa kanyang kinaroroonan. Agad naman siyang tumigil at ngumiti ng makitang paparoon ako sa kanyang direksyon. \u201cMaligayang Pagtatapos Sun!\u201d masiglang bati ko at dahan dahang iniabot sa kanya ang mga bulaklak, halong pitas mula sa hardin ng aking Nanay at bulaklak mula sa tindahan ang mga ito kaya maganda ang pagkakaayos ngayon. \u201cMaligayang Pagtatapos Iki! Wala akong dala para sa iyo, hindi mo naman sinabi sa akin\u201d nakangiti niyang tugon habang yapos yapos ang bulaklak na binigay ko. Agad naman akong umiling at nagpaliwanag na hindi ko na kailangan nang kahit anong regalo mula sa kanya dahil sa totoo lamang ay masaya na akong makita siyang nakangiti dahil sa mga bulaklak na ibinibigay ko sa kanya. IKAANIM. Yapos-yapos ang bungkos ng Carnation sa aking mga bisig, ay maingat ko itong ibinigay sa babaeng sa akin ay nag paibig. Sunny Kim Dela Torre. Basa ko sa pangalan na nakalagak sa puntod sa aking harapan. Maingat","SA IYONG KALAYAAN kong ibinaba ang mga bungkos ng bulaklak na aking pinitas sa hardin ni nanay. Nilinis ko na din ang paligid ng kanyang puntod, tinanggal ang mga natuyong bulaklak na aking dinala noong aking nakaraang dalaw. \u201cKumusta ka na? Nagugustuhan mo ba ang mga bulaklak na aking dinadala?\u201d` \u201cWalang araw na lumipas na hindi kita naaalala, nasa kolehiyo na ako Sun, kagaya ng mga pangarap natin noon, ako ay kumukuha ng degree sa larangan ng pag memedisina. Noong una ay mahirap pero nakayanan ko din sa paglipas ng mga taon.\u201d Tila bumalik sa akin ang lahat ng ala-ala ng kahapon. Noong aking malaman ang tungkol sa kanyang sakit. Leukemia. Tila gumuho ang aking mundo ng malaman ko na may taning na ang buhay ng aking minamahal. Ilang araw akong umiyak, nagalit sa Maykapal dahil sa dinami dami ng tao sa mundo ay bakit siya pa ang napili niyang pahirapan. Isang babaeng walang ginawa kundi mag bigay ng kasiyahan sa mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya. Ngunit sino nga ba naman ako para magalit, lahat ng nangyayari sa ating buhay ay may rason. Kaya naman sa halip na mag mukmok ay mas minabuti ko na gumawa ng masasayang memorya kasama siya, sa mga nalalabing araw na makakasama ko siya. Ang mga bungkos ng karnasyon na nagsisilbing daan ng aking pagmamahal sa kanya. Ang mga bungkos ng karnasyon na naging sandigan ng aming pagtingin sa isa\u2019t isa, hanggang sa kanyang huling hininga. \u201cSalamat sa mga bungkos ng bulaklak na iyong ibinigay. Salamat sa mga alaalang iyong iniwan, ang mga bulaklak na sumisimbolo sa kalayaan na aking inaasam. Salamat sa iyong pagmamahal.\u201d Ang mga bungkos ng karnasyon na siyang nagsilbing kalayaan niya sa mundong pilit siyang pinapahirapan. \u201cA carnation for your freedom, isang bungkos ng bulaklak para sa iyong kalayaan, sa susunod na araw ulit, hanggang sa muli, Sun\u201d","SIYAM NA TALULOT AXL ROSE PRESAS art by JM OLAN Maikli lamang ang buhay kaya\u2019t sabi nila, habang buhay ka pa, gawin mo \u2018yung mga bagay na nais mo. \u2018Yung mga bagay na magpapasaya sayo, mga bagay na magdadala sayo sa mga ngiti na deserve mo. Dahil sa oras na mawala ka na, kasabay noon ay ang panunuyo ng talulot ng bulaklak na hawak nila. Palagi akong nakaririnig ng mga usap-usapan na malapit na raw akong lumisan. Hindi ko alam kung saan nagmumula at ano ang batayan nila kung bakit lumalabas iyon sa kanilang bibig. Lagi ko na lamang tinatakpan ang aking mga tenga kapag nasimulan ko nang marinig ang mga ganoong mga salita mula sa kanila, ngisi lamang ang aking panukli sa nakasasakit na mga pantaha. Labing walong taong gulang pa lamang ako noong nalaman kong may nakatatakot at malala akong sakit. Na-diagnosed ako na may stage three Medulloblastoma cancer, isang cancer na nagsisimula sa babang bahagi ng aking utak ito ay ang cerebellum, naaapektuhan nito ang buong muscle coordination at kilos ng aking katawan. Kaya\u2019t hindi ko magawa ang mga bagay na nakikita kong nagagawa ng mga taong kapareho ko ng edad, ito ay dahil tinamaan ako ng kamalasan. Minsan ko nang sinisi ang Diyos kung bakit sa akin pa ibinigay ang ganitong pagsubok daw ang tawag nila. Inisip ko kung sa loob ba ng labing walong taon na nabubuhay ako ay may nagawa akong napakalaking kasalanan sa kaniya kaya ganitong parusa ang sa akin ay ibinigay niya, kung bakit sa dinami-rami nang nagkakasala ay sa akin pa. Napaka sakit makita na sa tuwing umaatake ang sakit ko\u2019y pagluha ng aking ina ang nasusulyapan, na habang ako\u2019y akap niya, napupuno ng luha ang likuran ng aking damit. Sa aking pagtunghay ay ang malungkot na mukha ng aking ama ang sumasalubong. Nakapapagod, pagod na akong lumaban sa digmaang hindi ko alam kung may kapanalunan. Nakapapagod sumugal sa larong iyong sinimulan. Diyos ko! Diyos ko! Kunin mo na lamang kaya ako? Lumipas ang ilang taon at heto, nabubuhay pa rin ako. Matagal na rin akong hindi inaatake ng sakit na mayroon ako. Bumabalik na sa dating kulay ang aking mga labing noon ay kulay-abo, mga talukap ng aking matang halos magdikit na at","paningin kong unti-unti noong lumalabo. Sabi nila, marahil naka recover na raw ako kagaya ng sabi ng doktor ko kaya\u2019t unti unti ko nang nagagawang magsaya na walang inaalala, nasubukan ko na ring magmahal at lubos na lumigaya. Sa hindi inaasahang araw, muling umatake ang sakit na akala ko\u2019y tuluyan na akong nilubayan. Bumalik sa dati ang lahat na parang noon ay pinatikim lamang. Unti-unti na muling lumabo ang aking paningin, nanatili ang mga labing kumupas ang kulay at unti-unti ring natutuyo. Hindi na ako muling makatayo at napaka tinding pananakit ng ulo ang sa akin ay umabuso. Ramdam ko ang panginginig ng buo kong katawan mula sa higaang aking kinalalagakan, dinagdagan pa ng sakit ng aking pusong makita muli ang aking mga mahal na nag-aayuno upang ako ay gumaling lamang. Ilang sandali pa\u2019y may kumatok sa aking silid dala dala\u2019y kulay rosas na bulaklak at hindi ko mawari kung bakit siyam lamang na talulot ng ito ay namulaklak. Isa lamang ang sigurado ko, ito ay galing sa taong mahal ko. Nagpasya ang doktor kong taningan na ang buhay ko. siyam na araw na palugid ang pagkakadinig ko kagaya ng mga talulot na ito. Lumaglag ang luha ko, at sinabing tatanggapin kung ito ang tadhana ko. Nakasasawang iyakan na naman ang narinig ko mula sa aking ina at ama. Ngunit wala akong magagawa hanggang doon na lamang ang kakayanin ko. Humiling lamang ako ng siyam na nais kong maranasan ko bago mawala sa mundong ito. Sa unang araw ay namasyal kami sa isang lugar na dati ko pang gustong puntahan. Nagpakasaya kasama ang mahal ko at ang aking pamilya. Sa pangalawang araw kumain ako ng mga pagkaing hindi ko pa natitikman kagaya na lamang ng isaw at paa ng manok, napakasarap pala ng suka kapag maraming sibuyas at may pipino pang kasama. Sa ika-tatlong araw, nagliwaliw kami kasama ng mga kaibigan ko, sinubukan naming pumunta sa isang resto bar at doon ay nagkantahan at sila ay nag inuman. Sa ika-apat, pumunta ako sa simbahan at ipinaubaya na sa kaniya ang aking buhay, humingi ng tawad sa mga nasabi at sa tingin ko\u2019y nagawa kong mga kasalanan. Ito na ang ika-limang araw at lahat kami\u2019y nangungulila, namaalam na ang aking anak at siya\u2019y tuluyan nang nawala. Masakit man sa aming damdamin ay pilit naming kakayanin, at ang mga ala-ala niya\u2019y palaging sasariwain. Kasabay ng paglisan niya ay ang panunuyo ng mga talulot ng bulaklak na sa simula pa\u2019y dala na niya. Sa ika-siyam ang takdang araw ng kaniyang pamamahinga, dito ko na tatapusin ang kwentong sinulat niya. Ako na kaniyang ina ang maghahatid sa kaniya.","","MY LITTLE ICEBERG VENUS RAMOS art by JM OLAN My mother yelled as she quickly gathered her items off the couch, \u201cHurry up, I don\u2019t want to be late.\u201d Again, I asked, \u201cAre you sure you don\u2019t want me to come with you?\u201d She gave me a soft kiss on the forehead and said, \u201cBree, you have to take your compassion with you, but not always, not this time.\u201d \u201cI only wish I am strong as you are, Mom, just as how you were able to make this happen.\u201d I responded. She gave me a tight hug after telling me, \u201cYou can my little iceberg, but it doesn\u2019t [have] to be like my way.\u201d I smiled and gave a nod in agreement. I\u2019ll give her the faith that she needs this time, I promise. I quickly turned on our television after she walked off so I may stay informed about what would happen to their protest later. I saw my mother ascending the stage. She has a strong voice that carries over her platform. She is able to extend her hands and her feet with the conviction that this is a purpose she must act on, and take part in. That is how amazing she is. Yet in an instant, everything around me suddenly crumbles. She simply passed out and died hysterically after giving her speech. I shouted so loudly, \u201cNo mother! Don\u2019t leave me,\u201d in the hopes that she would hear me from the other side of the screen. Is it truly worth the fight?","Someone was knocking on our door as I hurriedly shook our television. I quickly unplugged the television, wiped away my tears, and raced to open the door. \u201cHave you taken your medication? Are you okay?\u201d A woman my age entered. She has long, black hair, dark lashes, perfect eyebrows, and blue eyes. \u201cWho are you, and why do you make me feel like I\u2019ve known you forever?\u201d She simply smiled at me and showed me where to sit in our living room. \u201cYou must let go, Bree, I\u2019m your sister, and as for our Mother, she passed away four years ago\u201d I sobbed uncontrollably as I thought back on the accident I had, which had left me unable to remember. I eventually understood why my mother referred to me as her little iceberg as time went on.","Is it because I\u2019m more than just beneath the surface. I will always hold that close to my heart and use it to motivate the other ladies here, to reach our collective potential. It\u2019s possible to pursue freedom without resorting to violence or other aggressive ways and to do so that preserves peace. Likewise, when I released my book, I initially believed that this was insignificant in comparison to what my mother had accomplished, but regardless of the outcomes, I will be able to see if I have improved or not. So I am still an iceberg beneath what I can see on the top. \u201cThat\u2019s all for my story behind \u201cThe Iceberg\u201d I appreciate each of you for coming to my book signing today, and I hope you all have a wonderful day!\u201d With hopeful smiles on our faces, we said goodbyes to one another.","I AM ROBOCOP! MICO AMPLAYO PHOTO BY MICO AMPLAYO ART BY RWEN CALIXTERIO When I, a strong cop, was seriously injured in my duty, OmniCorp, a multinational company at the forefront of robotic technology, seized the chance not only to save my life but also to transform me into a half-robot, half-man crime fighter... Wait. This is not my story. It is simply the synopsis of my favorite movie, which I used to watch every Friday night after work. A hero who is part robot and half human. I desire to be like him, who, despite almost being killed and paralyzed, offers joy and security to his country, his community, and his own family. Until I got involved in a vehicular crash. I\u2019m Nico, and I was 27 years old at the time. I served as a part-time guest professor at Batangas State University, where I taught Physics 2 to incoming civil engineers. On August 14, 2017, I was driving back home at 9:00 p.m., and the road seemed unexpectedly deserted. I assumed there were no other vehicles around and opted to buy apples for my apple- craving wife. An 8-wheeler vehicle ran me over as I was getting inside my car. The next thing I knew, I was in the hospital, knocked out for a week. I had surgery, but unfortunately became paralyzed and had to have my legs amputated. My wife was said to be upset and in tears for days after seeing me laying in bed in a coma for weeks. I somehow survived. But it also took away my ability to move and communicate properly. My wife\u2019s eyes initially showed me affection. She took care of me all day. After everything that had happened, I realized that I was still blessed to have my wife by my side. My wife is here since I am unable to walk. We are all working together to keep our sworn promises. However, each chapter of the book has to come to an end. Erika\u2019s patience with me is the same. I saw the tiredness in Erika\u2019s eyes as she bathed me every day instead of taking care of the kids. Worn out from changing my clothes and exhausted from changing my diapers because I cannot do things myself. I feel depressed, seeing my wife wear a phony smile and pretend everything is just as it was when we first met. I blame myself for what has happened to us. I hated God. I hated life. But I have to make it through. For Erika\u2019s sake, for my children. Dan, my best friend, comes around often. He is my best friend, and I am grateful to him for being there for me whenever I needed him. He reminds me of my older brother. Following","my surgery, he helped us get the kids to school and drive them back home. He also takes me to see my therapist for my sessions every week. With no issues whatsoever, everything was perfect and wholesome. I appreciate that he was there for us since he is a really kind guy. He once asked us to lunch since he had been promoted at his workplace. He\u2019s had a good life, yet he\u2019s still single. We brought the children to a fine dining restaurant close to Mataas Na Kahoy, Banay-Banay Concepcion Road, across the Lipa Air Force driving range. Dan took me out of the car first and lifted me to the restaurant\u2019s entrance. I was shocked that Dan had taken us to Casa Marikit, which was my wife\u2019s favorite place to go on dates before. My family stood out among the new hanging paintings and canvases. My children jumped out","of the car with joy. My two lovely children, Elisha and Martin, were giggling and hugging Dan, both of them grateful for their uncle\u2019s treat. Erika was in the driver\u2019s seat, catching up with my best friend. Even though I try not to, I can\u2019t help but place myself in Dan\u2019s position. A man who can speak without stuttering. A man who can walk without using a wheelchair, a father who can make his children happy\u2014we had changed, and I realized that. As I see him, I begin to miss the person I once was. My subconscious comparisons to him increase as I spend more time with them. The more I look at him, the more I compare myself to him. Robotic voice, a mannequin, and a self-proclaimed father. How silly is that? At least I can call myself Robocop hahaha. Kidding aside, I\u2019m still thankful for the fifth time that Dan never gets tired of me and my family. I couldn\u2019t help observing them as we were eating. Within the restaurant, they are similar to any other family. And me? To be quite honest with you, I felt like a stranger. Dan was wiping the steak sauce off Erika\u2019s right lip as I observed her smiling. The same way their mothers do, so do my kids. Even my kids wanted to visit him every day, which makes me a little envious of him. My kids are somewhat afraid of me because of how I look. The fact that Elisha once asserted that I was not his father bothers me the most. She argued that unlike me, his father is a person, not a robot, and can move about freely. I sobbed in private every night. Martin, even my oldest, is cold toward me. He would pick playing soccer with Dan over speaking to his robotic father. I felt extremely lonely. Martin, nevertheless, is old enough to be aware of my situation. I\u2019ve made the decision to head to my room when we return home. I needed to reflect. I asked Erika to watch over the children and keep Dan entertained. Dan was welcome to stay the night at my house. I\u2019m currently working on a big project, thus I need support. I started to feel a bit thirsty around one in the morning. I tried to go out of my room and find Erika. I couldn\u2019t reach my phone since I was in a wheelchair, so I yelled at her in the loudest voice I could muster. I decided to leave my room alone because the noise was not loud enough to reach the outdoors. Since I felt sticky after that therapy session, I thought maybe I should go and find her, just to let her know I also wanted to change my clothes. I called my wife as I passed by her bedroom. Suddenly, I picked up some strange noises. As my wheelchair creeps closer to her bedroom, the noise gets louder and louder. The door to my wife\u2019s bedroom isn\u2019t locked, and it\u2019s also not completely closed, but I can\u2019t use my hands to open it since I can\u2019t reach it from that height. I looked to the spot where I could see what was going on there and couldn\u2019t believe what I saw. I was frozen. Maybe I\u2019m just hallucinating? Maybe I drank too much coffee? But what I witnessed was reality and had happened right in front of my eyes. There were Dan\u2019s shoes, coat, long sleeves, tie, and navy blue slacks. Dan\u2019s boxers and Erika\u2019s underwear were also on the floor, dripping wet, along with the green dress I bought for my wife as an anniversary present. I witnessed Erika and Dan making love in our bed. Erika\u2019s lips were touching Dan\u2019s. They are both sucking their tongues and exchanging passionate, sensual kisses. Dan plays with Erika\u2019s nipples, and as she presses her breast against him, Dan fondles it as if it were a stress ball. Her nape is quite unkempt and bare, her neck strangled by Dan\u2019s left hand. Erika sways her hips as though it were her last dance as she moans her","way onto Dan\u2019s body and sits atop him. While Erika is doing the same, Dan continues to suck her neck, leaving traces that imply his total authority over her body. My wife. The only girl that made me believe in the concept of love. The girl who made me believe in how magical love can be, Is the same girl on top of my best friend\u2019s body? I was shocked. I felt a burst of anger inside me. My mind went blank. All I knew at that time was that the girl I loved was happy with another guy. I can\u2019t do a single thing about it. I wanted to move, punch my best friend\u2019s face, and beg Erika to stop, but even if I wanted to, I couldn\u2019t. I\u2019m not able to do what I\u2019m supposed to do. I\u2019d just sit there, inside my own house, in my wheelchair, hands clenched, watching Erika\u2019s body touch Dan\u2019s. I wanted to cry, but no tears were showing up. I wanted to shout \u201cFuck off\u201d but the machine I\u2019m using to talk is lifeless, saying those will do nothing. I wanted to leave, but I couldn\u2019t move. Maybe because I\u2019m crippled? No, it\u2019s just that I can\u2019t believe what I\u2019m seeing at that time. The girl who promised to love me till the very last days of our lives is the same in front of me, feeling another man\u2019s warmth. Minutes have passed, but they\u2019re still going at it. It hurts me to think that hearing the noises they were making meant silence on my part. I thought that everything was just fine. I thought nothing would change. I thought it would remain the same even if I got into that accident, but I was wrong. They acted as if they were uncaged animals. Wild and free. Little did they know that I was there the whole time. Watching everything they were doing and listening to the noises they were making. I was there, her husband, his friend, and their third party. I silently go back to my room. Until then, I started to cry. Tears that never showed up earlier are now raging. The voice that I lost before is now wrathful. Hours after that, I can\u2019t take it anymore. I started bumping my table, shouting and screaming. That\u2019s all I can do. I felt like shit. Dan left our house already at that time. My emotions are mixed. My heart was crying inside. It\u2019s like a mountain of depressing thoughts but more agonizing. I can\u2019t. I just can\u2019t. I heard the door slowly squeaking. She was angrily going towards my room. Seeing things all over the place, she got mad and gave me a cold look. That time, I asked her something. \u201cMahal, bakit?\u201d. She was completely ignoring what I just said. I added, \u201cErika naman... Nandoon ako. Nakita ko lahat. Ako pa ba?\u201d. She denied it straight face though I saw in her eyes that time that she was trying to stay composed. She acted like she never heard me and continued to get off the broken vase on the floor. \u201cA-anong sinasabi mo Nicolas, ba-baka pagod ka lang dahil sa byahe?\u201d, she replied. \u201cBaldado lang ako pero putangina naman Erika?! Di ako tanga\u201d, I said. I asked her for the very last time,","","\u201cAko pa ba, Erika? Sabihin mo na ako pa rin. Ka-kalimutan ko lahat ng putanginang nakita ko. Mahal, wala akong nakita. Sabihin mo lang na-\u201d \u201cNico...\u201d, she said before I could even finish what I\u2019m saying. I knew it. The air suddenly got heavy and I already knew what her answer was. That\u2019s the first time she didn\u2019t say anything to me but I knew what it was. \u201cI know you\u2019re tired, Erika. Hindi ako galit. That\u2019s all I want to hear\u201d, I replied. Erika, with red eyes, told me, \u201cNico, minahal kita... Sinubukan ko pero-\u201d. I smiled at her. I never thought that I\u2019d be that composed. Maybe because I knew all along that she started falling out of love with me and she\u2019s tired of taking care of me. I knew it all. All I did was smile. I didn\u2019t talk, nor shout. I just smiled at her. Looked her in the eyes and finally said these words. \u201cPwede ba kitang mayakap?\u201d. She then hugged me and while crying, it was getting tighter and tighter. She was hysterical. She kept on saying she did her best not to fall out of love with her arms locked into my whole body, embracing me. Yes, maybe she did her best. It\u2019s just that it wasn\u2019t enough for our relationship to work out but we have kids, two lovely kids, so\u2026 why? Why did Erika cheated on me? Why? I stopped questioning myself, her, and everything. Screw all that. That moment was the very first time she hugged me so tight. I was caught in the moment and felt her arms again. It\u2019s soothing, it calmed the best of me. Dan\u2019s perfume on her neck was leaving a strong and bold scent but who cares? It\u2019s been a long time since I felt my beloved wife\u2019s warmth \u2013 warmth that probably has resulted in my wife and best friend having sex. Fuck it, I\u2019m happy. I got to feel her embrace. At least that very moment. Dan begs for my forgiveness saying he\u2019s sorry for loving my wife. I accepted the apology and later on, we were on good terms. All the things my wife and best friend shared on the same bed I was sleeping on, will not be forgotten. Forever embedded in my mind. I don\u2019t think I\u2019ll be able to forget that. Since then, just one thing has changed: Dan is no longer my driver, haha. Recently, a home for the elderly has been taking care of me. I\u2019m glad. That\u2019s what I believe. I simply hope they will pay me a visit. I yearned for my kids. I longed for my wife. Dan and Erika along with my kids are now happy living in Valenzuela. They all left me in the hands of the government. They haven\u2019t got many options, but I\u2019m happy with that one. I was unable to see Martin and Elisha despite wanting to. They are now living a whole new life.","They have a brand-new family. As for Dan and Erika, I\u2019m still getting in touch with them. Not much because they don\u2019t have much time. Dan, if so happens that you read this folio,w look after my kids and my ex-wife. Consider them yours. You are capable of doing the things that I am unable to. To be a functioning father. I have always adored you, Erika, and I still do. Never lose patience with Dan. Never get tired of him as you did the last time. Do not give him the same gaze you gave me the night of February 2, 2022. Perhaps this life wasn\u2019t meant for us. Well, I\u2019m praying that in my second life, you\u2019ll be waiting for me and that at least I won\u2019t do anything reckless so that I won\u2019t get crippled again hahaha. I seek to bring back what was once lost; I hope you revive our love story, my Erika. Take care, love lots. I do not believe in love. But now that I\u2019ve gone through all of this. I\u2019m not sure about myself. I barely remember that people kept referring to me as Robocop after I had surgery and became disabled. Why, if I am Robocop, do I feel like I have an ingrown toenail in my left chest? If I were a Robocop, I would have the strength to get up and carry my children on my shoulders. If I were a Robocop, why do I continue to wet my pillowcase every time I sense water escaping from my eyes at night? This is my story. It is somehow the same with the synopsis of my favorite movie, which I used to watch every Friday night after work. But now, I am just a crippled father who acts like a robot and lost as a lonely man. Who desires to be like me, almost being killed and paralyzed, who gave shame and suffering to his friends, his colleagues, and his own family. I just wished I was one. A robot who can feel love and is loved. I am Robocop.","","CENTE WIN","RFOLD NTER","TO WIN","OC NTER","Ika-13 ng Hunyo: Una at Huling Kabanata AXL ROSE PRESAS ART BY JM OLAN Nagsimula ang kwento namin sa isang notification sa facebook, \u201csomeone replied to your story\u201d. December 08, 2021, nasa practice ako ng sayaw na binubuo namin. Hapon na noon at sandali akong pumunta sa isang sulok dahil nakatakda sa oras na iyon ang aming virtual recognition. Isa akong mag-aaral ng senior high school noon at presidente ng klase kaya\u2019t ako ang nanguna sa panalangin. Pagkatapos ay pinarangalan na ang mga nakakuha ng mataas na marka, pinalad ako kaya\u2019t may karangalan akong natanggap, dahil sa balitang iyon, masaya akong uuwi. Habang naglalakad papunta sa sakayan ng tricycle ay nag-eedit ako nang mailalagay ko sa aking facebook story. Inilagay ko ang larawan ko, nilagyan ko rin ng sound at sa pagkakatanda ko ay \u201cTake you there\u201d ang pamagat na sinulat ni Sean Kingston. Sabado iyon kaya\u2019t pagkauwi ko ay nagbihis lamang ako at pumunta na sa bahay sambahan para mag practice naman ng aking ipakakanta sa araw ng linggo, kinabukasan. Pagkarating ko ay bigla na lamang nag-vibrate ang aking cellphone, hindi ko pala napatay ang data at matagal akong naka-online status. Pinatay ko iyon at nag-isang pasada ng kanta, pagkatapos ay binalikan ko ulit ang cellphone ko at tiningnan ang notification. \u201csomeone replied to your story\u201d. Nag-reply pala sa story \u2018yung crush ng kaibigan ko. \u201cGaliiing. Congrats po, Kuya!\u201d na may pula pang pusong kasama. Nagpasalamat ako at sinabing isang karangalan ang mabati niya. Nakatatawa dahil tinanong n\u2019ya pa kung paano basahin ang pangalan ko, ipinaulit ko pa ang pagkaka- type dahil pinagsama niya ang first at second name ko. Pagkatapos tanda ko, nag- sorry siya kasi mag-congrats lang naman siya tapos ang dami na niyang nasabi. Sabi ko naman, \u201cGusto ko \u2018yan\u201d. Nag-reply s\u2019ya roon at sinabing magdaldalan kami. Sa kabilang banda, hindi n\u2019ya alam na ini-screenshot ko ang aming pag-uusap at sinisend naman ito sa kaibigan ko upang mang-inggit. Sinabi kong nag-reply ang crush n\u2019ya sa story ko na ikina-inggit naman ng aking kaibigan. December 09, 2021 pumunta ako sa pailaw ng aming bayan kasi malapit na ang kapaskuhan kasama ang ilan kong kaibigan. Nakatutok ako noon sa pagbibigay ng update sa kaniya hanggang sinabihan n\u2019ya ako, \u201cKain na!\u201d. Nag-reply ako at sinabing, \u201cLuh papol\u201d pabirong reply ko sa chat niya. \u201cEdi \u2018wag kang kumain. Mamatay ka sa gutom.","Eme HAHAHA\u201d dagdag pa niya. Sabi ko, kailan kaya may mag-aalok sa aking kumain ng \u2018di labag sa kalooban? Sabi niya, hindi raw naman labag sa kalooban ang pag-aalok niya sa akin. Hindi ako naniwala at pinaulit ko ang kaniyang pag- aalok at sinabing wala itong sweetness. \u201cKain na ikaw ah\u201d reply niya sa akin ng may kasamang emoji na naka-kiss. Sino ba ang hindi kikiligin doon? Buti na lamang ay hindi napapansin ng aking mga kaibigan ang abot tenga kong pag-ngiti. Simula noon, naging regular na ang aming pag-uusap, palagi na siyang nag-rereact sa bawat picture at video na ina-upload ko sa facebook story ko, kasabay naman ng palagiang pag screenshot at pagsend nito sa kaibigan ko. Napakasaya, hindi ko maipaliwanag. Umaga, tanghali, hapon at kung minsan pa\u2019y umaabot ng hatinggabi ang pag-uusap namin pero bakit sa hindi ko maipaliwanag na araw, March 02, 2022 nawala ang lahat. Hindi s\u2019ya nagparamdam, hindi niya ako kinausap, naiwan akong naghihintay, nagbabaka-sakaling icha-chat niya ulit ako kagaya ng dati, umaasang kukumustahin niya ulit ang mahaba kong araw at tatanungin ang ganap ko sa nakapapagod na maghapon pero wala, wala akong magawa kundi i-search na lamang siya sa facebook kada araw na maaalala ko siya, tuwang tuwa kasi akong saktan ang sarili ko at umasa. Isang buwan ang lumipas sa hindi ko inaasahang araw, muli ay may notification mula sa aking FB, \u2018someone replied to your story\u2019.","April 02, 2022, muli s\u2019yang nagparamdam at sa pagkakataong iyon ay isang imbitasyon ang kaniyang ibinigay. Sinabi niyang \u201cBagay po sa\u2019yo rumampa kasama mga volunteers for Leni sa campaign\u201d. Sinabayan niya ang content ko sa FB sa araw na iyon dahil video ko habang rumarampa ang naka-display dito. Hindi ko maitago ang kilig sa damdamin ko pero syempre medyo pabebe muna ulit ang person pero matagal ko na namang pina-plano ang maging isang youth volunteer for Leni and Kiko at magkaroon naman nang pakinabang ang kabataang tulad ko. Isang buwan din akong tumindig para sa tama at gobyernong tapat na gusto ko at palagi nga naming sinasambit na sa \u201cSa gobyernong tapat, magkaka-jowa ang lahat\u201d eh paano ba naman may kasamang harutan ang house-to-house campaign. Pero iyon na nga, magkasama kami sa lahat ng ruta nang pangangampanya kaya\u2019t lalong nahulma at lumalim ang aming nararamdaman sa isa\u2019t isa. Natapos ang buwan ng eleksyon at nagpatuloy ang kung anong mayroon sa amin. June 13, 2022. Kaarawan ko ito at wala akong kahit na anong plano, hanggang sa inimbita ako ng mga kaibigan kong kapwa naging volunteers din na manood ng liga sa isang barangay. Ginabi na kami noon kaya\u2019t dumiretso na lamang kami sa bahay ng isa naming kaibigan at doon na namin planong magpalipas ng gabi. Hindi kami magka-ayos noong araw na iyon kaya hindi ako nagbubukas ng aking cellphone, madilim na nga at sa pagkakatanda ko ay ika-labing isa na iyon ng gabi hanggang sa naisipan kong mag-online na at kausapin s\u2019ya. Nang puntong iyon ay tatanungin n\u2019ya na pala ako tungkol sa magiging status namin, nagmamadali akong nag-isip dahil gusto niya ay itaon sadya sa aking kaarawan kaya\u2019t pumayag ako. Naisip ko na mahal ko na naman talaga siya kaya\u2019t para saan pa\u2019t hihindi ako sa tanong niya? Hindi maitago sa aking mukha ang saya sapagkat kahit hindi iyon ang una ay sa kaniya ko naman naramdaman ang ganoong klase nang pagmamahal. Ilang buwan ang lumipas, ilang mga mahahalagang araw na kasama siya, na sa tuwing magkikita\u2019y ayaw nang maghiwalay pa ngunit hindi ko akalaing pagkatapos ng ika-sampung buwan na pagiging masaya ko sa kaniya kahit hindi ko s\u2019ya madalas nakikita ay ganoon na rin pala ang lungkot na kaniyang nadarama sa aking piling. Marahil sa sobrang saya ko na mayroon akong katulad niya ay hindi ko na naisip na maibalik ang enerhiyang naibibigay niya siguro dahil alam ng aking puso na minamahal ko siya nang sobra ngunit hindi naging sapat ang lahat na iyon. Kulang ako, hindi ko man lang maiparamdam kung gaano ko s\u2019ya minamahal dahil nagtiwala ako na sapat nang alam ko sa aking sarili na importante s\u2019ya sa akin. Noon nga\u2019y nagpasya siyang unahin ang kaniyang sarili at kumawala sa trauma na aking naibigay. April 14, 2023. Hindi ko akalaing darating ang araw na tatapusin niya ang kuwentong aming nasimulan na akala ko dati\u2019y ako lamang ang manunulat na maaaring magbigay konklusyon at tuldok sa bawat istorya ngunit tila nag-iba ang balangkas nito. Ang isinulat na salaysay ay natapos ngunit kumakapit pa rin","sa pag-asang kabanata lamang ang nagwakas at hindi ang kabuuan ng aming kwento. Ngayon nga\u2019y may nagbibigay na muli ng ngiti sa kaniyang labi. Hindi maalis sa akin ang pagkadurog na sa maikling panahon ay nakahanap na siya ngunit hindi rin naman maalis sa akin na matuwa na nakikita s\u2019yang masaya kahit hindi na dahil sa akin. Mananatili ang aking paghanga at pagmamahal, hangad ko ang iyong kasiyahan.","MIA She\u2019s Mia and she\u2019s good at everything. She can play piano, violin and drums, a type of girl you wanna jam with. She can sing beautifully, a living angel is what they say, you\u2019ll be unconsciously craving to hear her voice again and again. She\u2019s good at dancing, her body moves so fluid and hitting all the beats of the music that makes everyone stare and be captivated by her grace. She can draw and paint, an artist that can picture out beyond our imagination. She graduated with flying colors and become a lawyer like her mother wanted her to be. The word beautiful suits her perfectly, her face is incomparable, I mean the word enough is not enough to describe her. She\u2019s every woman dreamed to be and every man\u2019s dream to have, but a shocking news happened, \u201cMia found dead at her room and suspected that she committed suicide last night\u201d. People are clueless about the reason why she took her life. She\u2019s too perfect to end her life like this, that\u2019s what they thought, but they are all wrong. The police saw a handwritten letter that Mia wrote before she die, and it\u2019s for her mom. Mia\u2019s mother unfolded the paper and read what her daughter said to her. \u201cTo my dearest mother, I\u2019m probably dead right now while you\u2019re reading my letter, I\u2019m sorry to disappoint you but I couldn\u2019t take this anymore. I love you mom and I will always do so please don\u2019t be sad. I already fulfilled your dreams, I became the person you want me to be even though that\u2019s not me. I hope you\u2019ll be happy soon but for now I think it\u2019s time to be myself but somewhere far away from you. I\u2019ll be safe here, please take care of yourself. I love you.\u201d Her mother blamed herself for being too naive and selfish. Her tears flows like a raging river that she couldn\u2019t stop. \u201cI\u2019m sorry for not letting you to be yourself\u201d she murmured while looking at Mia\u2019s lifeless body. She\u2019s Mia, She can do anything, but there\u2019s only one thing that she cannot do, and it is to be herself.","VENUS RAMOS PHOTO BY RWEN CALIXTERIO","","LENTE HEAVEN YVONNE BORJA Lenteng puno ng sikreto. Lenteng puno ng misteryo. Mga lenteng nagsisilbing mata, nagmamasid, nagmamatyag, nanghuhusga, at may dalang katotohanan. Sa likod ng pitik ng Kamera ang mga inosenteng mata ay waring nagtataka, anong katotohanan sa likod ng lente ng kanyang Kamera?","","UNDERDOG ALESSANDRA NICOLE FRANCISCO art by JM OLAN I have always been under. Under the shower, Where I cry. Under the moon, Where I dream. Under the bunk bed, Where I pray. Under pressure, I will remain. Under everyone else, I feel very little. Under the influence of someone, I can\u2019t seem to escape. I have always been under, Everything but Under stood.","PARA SA SALITANG PAULIT-ULIT KONG GINAHASA MICO AMPLAYO PHOTO BY MICO AMPLAYO ART BY JM OLAN Tamis ng pulot ang nalasahan magbuhat na dumapo ang aking labi sa iyo. Paru-paro\u2019y walang tigil sa paglipad at pagkiliti sa loob ng tiyan ko. Di mapawi, tuyo ang lalamunan sa tuwing lalapit ka sa akin. Ano\u2019t isa kang mantsa sa aking kamiseta na kay hirap alisin. Binibini, di ko inaaasahang matatapilok ako sa iyong angking ganda. Lilinawin kong di ko tipo ang tulad mong dilag na maldita. Ikaw ang gatilyong sa puso nang iba\u2019y saglit na kumikitil. Sa araw siyang kandila, sa gabi ko\u2019y nagpapatigil. Aking tinatangi oh huwag mong itatangging, Ginawa ko ang lahat nang panyo mo\u2019y maangkin. Gayun na lamang ang hinagpis, ako nga ba\u2019y nagayuma? Nasa akin ang iyong panyolito pero ibang ginoo ang iniluluha Gayunmang ikaw ay maituturing kong akin na\u2019y pinasiyaanan mong sumulyap pa sa kahapon. Bakit mo ipinagkatiwala sa akin ang iyong kamay kung tatakpan lamang ng kolorete ang peklat niyang pabaon? Kamangmangan lamang ang paghalik sa isang patalim, Kahit gaano pang nakatulong ito sa pagliligtas sa dilim. Batid kong di na ako ang rason ng pagtago yaong ngiti. Pagpaypay ng bahagya\u2019t pamumula ng pisngi. Oh Esperanza, maaari bang lumingon kang muli sa akin? Kahit puso ang may pagtingin, di lang matang siyang may paningin.","Wala nang halaga ang hinulmang tanso\u2019t pilak! Presyo nito\u2019y kasama nang nalusaw ng pag-iyak. Paglamutak, sa mukha\u2019y di maalis ang pagkamanhid. Pagtapak, sa salita kong alam kong iyong nababatid. Tu eres mi media naranja, O iyan ang kakat\u2019wang inakala. Binibini, sadya yatang di ikaw at ako ang itinadhana. El Konsepto y ekspektasyo\u2019y biniting makatagpo si Diyan Masalanta. Kung kaya\u2019t kamalasan ang sumampal sa inaasam na pagpapala. Tanikala ang pag-ibig na hatid mo sa aking mga binti\u2019t paa, Na siyang pumipigil sa akin upang makalimot at lisanin ka. Mawalan man ng init ang isa kong unan at amoy mo ma\u2019y maiwan sa\u2019king kama, Ayoko nang magliwaliw sa pelikulang di naman tayo ang bida. Kaya ititigil ko na, Ititigil ko na. Mga salitang paulit-ulit kong ginagahasa. Di ko na sisipingan ang sarili kong pagpapaimbabaw. Itatapon sa balon ng habambuhay ang hinagpis. Sa kailaliman ng tubig, wangis ko\u2019y may pagtangis.","puting kumot CHESKA MARIE PEREZ ART BY JM OLAN Sa pagmulat ng aking mata, nakita kong payapang nakahiga ang aking ina kasama ang ilan siguro sa kanyang mga kaibigan na ngayon ko lamang nakita. Tila baliktad ang mundong kinahaharap ko sa mga oras na \u2018to. Maingay ang kapaligiran, parang sila ay nagsisiya magmula pa kanina, hindi ko mawari ang kanilang mga salita na tila bang sila ay lasing, kagigising ko lamang kung kaya\u2019t wala pa akong masyadong maintindihan. Mula sa aking kinahihig\u2019an, tanaw ko ang puting kumot na ibinalot nila sa aking ama. Kasabay nito, ang paglabo ng aking paningin at isinakay ako, kasama aking ina sa puting sasakyan.","","AHMED JOSHUA CHIO art by JM OLAN Maihahambing ko ang aking sarili sa konsepto ng isang Pilosopo Ngunit sa pagkakataong ito, walang kamalayan ang damdamin ko Noong una ay masakit ang mga pangyayari sa puso at ito\u2019y dumarahak na parang ubo Hanggang sa unti-unting nasanay at naging manhid sa itinuring na delubyo Sa apat na sulok ng silid, tanging kadiliman ang na-aaninag Mga kaisipang hindi mawari ang sa akin ay bumabagabag Hindi maintindihan kung bakit itong dalawang mata ko\u2019y may luhang lumalaglag Walang kaalam-alam sa nangyayari sa sariling araw gabi\u2019y hinahanap Matindi ang emosyon sa mga dahilang pilit pa ring iniisip Sa estadong blangkong ideya ang palagiang sumisilip Katumbas nito\u2019y kaloobang kaybigat ang namimintig Kasabay nang paglunok ng lalamunang tila nabitig Sana matapos na itong aking bangungot Nakapapagod nang balutin ng maraming lungkot Lalo\u2019t hindi maintindihan kung bakit ito\u2019y kumikirot Siguro\u2019y nag-aalala lamang na muli na namang malimot","","ANG YAKAP NG LAMAN A ALESSANDRA NICOLE FRANCISCO art by JG GODOY Oo, dama ko ang malimit mong pag-iwas, Mababagal mong mga sagot kapansin-pansin ang pagdalas, Ngunit pakiusap, \u2018wag ka munang makipagkalas, Sa relasyong ito, wala munang aatras. Marahil sa takipsilim, ika\u2019y aking kayakap, Ngunit init mo\u2019y animong hanging \u2018di ko mahanap. At sa pagsapit ng bukang liwayway, Lilisanin mo akong nag-iisa\u2019t nalulumbay. Maaaring ako\u2019y isang linya lamang sa iyong kinakathang dula, Lipon ng mga salitang kay tabang at kay putla. Subalit sa aki\u2019y ikaw lamang ang nag-iisang paksa, Ang simuno\u2019t panaguri, ikaw ang naghahatid kulay sa aking buong tula.","AY YAKAP PA RIN NAMAN Siguro ito ay isa na lamang pagpapanggap, Palitan ng mga salita, kunwari\u2019y meron pa ring paglingap, Ngunit para sa akin, ito\u2019y pwede na at sapat, Sapagkat alam ko na ang luha ko\u2019y kailanma\u2019y \u2018di aampat. Hindi lingid sa akin ang iyong panlalamig, Ngunit hanggang hindi mo pa sinasatinig, Ako\u2019y magkakasya sa kakarampot na saya, Mananatili para sa gahiblang ligaya. Mapapalaya rin kita mula sa aking kanlungan, Paunti-unti, mahinay, at dahan-dahan, Ngunit hanggang puso ko\u2019y di ko pa rin matahan, Pakiusap, sa aki\u2019y dito ka muna mamalagi\u2019t manahan.","","halo-halo MARIOS MA\u00d1ALAC art by JM OLAN Kay sarap madama ang pag-ibig mo sinta Mga paro-paro sa\u2019king tiyan ay umiikot-ikot na \u2018Di maipaliwanag ang nadarama \u2018Di mawalay sa isip ang pangalan mo sinta Ngunit bakit gan\u2019to?, tila halo-halo ang ipinapakita mo Iba\u2019t iba ang emosyong pinapakita mo Iba\u2019t iba rin ang paraan nang pangungusap mo Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganito, naguguluhan ako! Ikaw ang s\u2019yang tanging minamahal Ngunit ang pag-ibig ay tila \u2018di na mag-tatagal Biglang nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin para sa\u2019ting dalawa Halo halong emosyon mo ang dahilan nito sinta Hindi ako isang baliw, o isang bulag upang \u2018di makita \u2018Di makita ang lahat ng ito, ang lahat nang pinagbago mo \u2018Di ko nais tapusin ito, ngunit ayoko nang halo-halong emosyon mo. Masakit man sa akin, ngunit ikaw ay lilisanin ko, sinta paalam na.","MY FIRST arVtEbNyUJSG RGAOMDOOYS Disney movies and once upon a time fairy tales with a happily ever after have been a part of my childhood enterainment. Rhian, my best friend, questioned me anxiously, \u201cAre you ready?\u201d With a Grammy-winning smile, I responded, \u201cI guess.\u201d This is the big day that I have been anticipating for a very long time, the day that I have been dreaming about, and the day that I have been dreaming about, and the day that I will always treasure with the guy I love, Ken. My first love, kiss, hug, and everything else happened because of him. \u201cShould I add more lipstick?\u201d I asked once again as I examined myself in the mirror. She laughed, \u201cThat was the tenth time you\u2019ve asked me that; don\u2019t worry, you\u2019re incrediblt stunning today, Rachel,\u201d and gave me a firm hug. I gave Rhian a big embrace and said \u201cThank you, Rhian,\u201d before gathering myself. In the church Everything was flawless. The tulle and lights with green greenlands that surround the stairs and rails are woven from the colors, floral arrangements, decor, location, and guest list. To fulfill my wedding wish, every aspect was thoughtfully planned. I inhaled deeply and cleared my throat. \u201cI\u2019m not sure if you know this. But when we first met, \u201cI got so nervous I couldn\u2019t speak.\u201d Ken and I imagined playing this song on our wedding day when we first heard it.","\u201cIn that very moment I found the one, and \u201cMy life had found its missing piece.\u201d As the ring and coin bearers and flower girls began to walk, the beautiful momenthad already begun. The boys looked so precious in their small coats. The bridesmaids came next, wearing stunning chiffon v-neck plain pleated long slit dresses. American tuxedos in white that are tidy and elegant are worn by the groomsmen. Time has stopped for a while as everyone waits for the stunning bride to \u201cSo as long as I live, I\u2019ll love you.\u201d will have and hold you. You look so beautiful in white. And from now until my very last breath This day I\u2019ll cherish \u201cYou look so beautiful in white tonight.\u201d walk through the crystal-encrusted arch. From the time she entered, everything happened in slow motion. She will be described as having goddess-like beauty as she\u2019s wearing a long dress with a beaded lace body and an off-the-shoulder neckline. I glanced around me and saw that everyone from my family, friends, and relatives was there to celebrate this special occasion. My attention was fixed on the man who was standing in front of the aisle. He is dressed in a jacket-and-trouser suit with a tucked-in shirt, a tie, and a pair of gleaming oxford shoes made of leather. Again staring at him, I said to myself, \u201cMy man.\u201d taking in the lovely scene around him and smiling ear to ear as if to convey how happy he was. \u201cAnd if our daughter ihs`awshyaotuor ueyr efus.ture holds, I hope she finds love like you and I did And if she falls in love, we\u2019ll let her go. I\u2019ll walk her down the aisle. She\u2019ll look so beautiful in white.\u201d","My father gave her rosy cheeks a kiss while promising that this man would become better than he had ever been. The sight of beauty and happiness leads family and friends to start crying. My dad grabs Ken\u2019s shoulder and says, \u201cTake good care of her, okay?\u201d With a smile of conviction, he answered, \u201cI will, dad.\u201d He is finally going to become a husband in a moment, and I can see the joy and anxiousness in his eyes as a reaction. \u201cSo as long as I live, I\u2019ll love you.\u201d will have and hold you. You look so beautiful in white. And from now until my very last breath This day I\u2019ll cherish \u201cYou look so beautiful in white tonight.\u201d Father Arnold stated, \u201cYou may now kiss the bride,\u201d and everyone watched as the couple\u2019s lips passionately touched, expressing their sincere love for one another. After that iconic moment, I restrained myself from getting very emotional. I hurriedly walked in their direction. \u201cCongratulations to the both of you,\u201d I said, while trying to contain my tears. \u201cThank you, little sis.\u201d I could feel my knees trembling as soon as she said that. Yes, you read it right. My sister\u2019s husband is the man I once loved. Perhaps there are some happy endings, but not for Ken and me. Maybe he\u2019s my other almost-love story, Perhaps he shows up at the perfect time, but not at the ideal time in my life. He was my first. But unfortunately, he won\u2019t be my last.","","CREDITS PAGE","METAMORPHOSIS WRITE UP","BACK COVER"]