awsmbi

Hinaplos ko ang ulo niya nang humupa ang tawanan. 
          
          "I badly want to formally introduce you to my family, Peia. I want to start with my parents," mataman kong sabi. "I don't want to force you though..." 
          
          Her expression softened. Her thumb caressed my jaw. I leaned into it. 
          
          "Sorry kung tumatanggi ako. Pero naisip ko rin na hindi ko rin naman sila maiiwasan habambuhay kung gusto kitang makasama hanggang sa huli, 'di ba? Kaya... bakit hindi? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa? Hindi mo deserve ang bawat tanggi ko." 
          
          Her sad smile made my chest tight. 
          
          "I hope I'm not pressuring you with this. I can wait until you're ready." 
          
          "You will never be ready. Being ready is not a feeling, Viau. Desisyon iyon. Kung kailan. At ito ang desisyon ko ngayon. Ang maging handa. Ngayon."
          
          Oh, Peia...
          
          I never thought it was possible to fall any harder for this woman. I was already hopelessly smitten with her as it was. But somehow, it's like tumbling deeper into a black hole, getting pulled into some undiscovered dimension of the universe where the stars burn brighter and the galaxies I once thought were breathtaking find a way to become even more magnificent still.
          
          —
          
          Mercedez 4: Keeping This Love In A Photograph chapter 36 is out now!
          https://www.wattpad.com/1652931693 

 #LFTDW is coming up next! With 5 chaps + epilogue left for KTLIAP, I'm so stoked to start this soon! More details dropping in the next few days. 
          
          Book cover reveal!!!
          
          Save Lotus from the Dirty Water in your library now!
          https://www.wattpad.com/story/332823509

nareveal na ang universe ng mga sinusulat ko HAHAHAHA that's why in DIYS, i didn't use "President" to refer to the head of the government but "Prime Minister." so this has been planned even before i started writing my very first story. it is the Pre-colonial Philippines in the modern day, colonization absent. it is a world I carefully and meticulously built, more than 5 years ago, with that as inspiration in mind. I'm really excited!
          
          when i said na mas malala pa kay Hali ang FL ni Ylan, i really meant it HAHAHA. Haliya is a queen in her own right, but Tara? she is THE future Queen. the future Hara. the current Dayang-dayang. 
          
          aside from pre-colonial PH as my basis, i also took inspiration from modern-day Malaysia when it comes to the system and sovereignty setup. :) 

"Ang ibig ninyong sabihin," the Princess said, "ang tanging maiiwan na pwedeng pagbotohan ng taumbayan para maluklok sa pwesto ay ang Congress at Prime Minister na lang, para sa nasyonal?"
          
          Tita Hariette bowed slightly before answering. "Yes, Your Highness."
          
          Tito Piko cut in. "Your Highness, we'll still need signatures from the sitting Senators once Congress passes the bills. Kung walang mananakot sa mga nasa majority para hindi sila pumirma, wala pong magiging problema. Pero alam naman nating lahat, laging madumi ang laro ng minority. We've seen it as clear as the day."
          
          She tipped her head, considering.
          
          "May I, Your Highness?" Datu Akish's voice rose from where he's seated. She nodded, and he looked around the room at each of us in turn. "I'll bring this to the Council of Rulers myself. I'll ask them to grant the innocent sitting Senators additional security from Clover" — he glanced toward Kahel, who answered with a crisp salute — "and from Societas Custodes. I give you my word. Your safety, and your families' safety, will be protected."
          
          The Council of Rulers is where every reigning monarch of the country's kingdoms gathered as one body. The Rajahs, the Haras, the Sultans, the Sultanas, the Lakans, the Lakambinis... et cetera. Except for Butuan, since the Paramount King himself presides over the council; in his place sat his brother — Datu Akish's father.
          
          —
          
          Mercedez 4: Keeping This Love In A Photograph chapter 35 is out now!
          https://www.wattpad.com/1648175298
          
          A little spoiler about Ylan & Tara's story, huh? Hehehe. 

Ford turned to me sharply, his hands on his waist as he took a deep breath. Hindi ito mapirmi sa kinatatayuan. 
          
          "And what are you doing, huh? Taking a mole's fucking side?!" He gestured at Peia. The lines on his face were harsh, anger undeniably emanating from him. "Because of that fucking love, like a lovesick fool that you are, you'll forget how your cousin was carbon monoxide poisoned and abused?!" He barked. "You're choosing her over your family?! Protection is nonnegotiable, really?!" He echoed sarcastically. Pagak siyang natawa. 
          
          My vision of him blurred. 
          
          "Yes, I love her. Ford, you understand how I feel, yeah? You'd go lengths and the ends of the universe just for love. I am doing exactly that. Naiipit naman talaga ako. Tingin mo, madali lang sa akin ito? I love Shan, too! All my life, she was my bestfriend. Mas nauna ko pa siyang maging bestfriend kaysa kay Lorenz! I care for her deeply. And I'm not taking sides! I am not choosing Peia over Shan or my family. Do you think I'll go here, let her beg for your forgiveness, kneel, strip her dignity off of her... and confess all of these to you, if I am choosing her?" Umiling ako. "I will not. I will stop her, keep her silent, and turn a blind eye! Bring this to the grave! Yet, I am here to compromise! I am not disregarding your pain... your horrors... I am here to ask for your mercy! She's not the villain here. She was just used. A victim, too. She's blackmailed! Helpless... Please, she deserves justice, too."
          
          —
          
          Mercedez 4: Keeping This Love In A Photograph chapter 34 is now up!
          https://www.wattpad.com/1648175295 

"Viau! Viau, sandali lang!" 
          
          Bumagsak ang malakas na ulan sa labas. 
          
          Because we were in an underground space, everything is louder. The footsteps. The breathing. The voices. The rain outside. And my thoughts. 
          
          I definitely don't doubt Peia's love for me. She loves me. I can see it. I can feel it. Pinapakita at pinapramdam niya. Siya pa nga ang nanliligaw sa akin ngayon, hindi ba? I believe it. 
          
          Pero Ate ko ang pinag-uusapan dito! And her harasser, who happens to be my love's own kin! 
          
          It's like we're two tangent lines that were never meant to meet or intersect at all! 
          
          My mind swirled. 
          
          What were they planning? 
          
          What are they going to do to our family? 
          
          I reached my car in no time. Pinatunog ko iyon. I hurriedly opened the car's door but just as quickly, halted, because she slammed it back close. 
          
          Naabutan niya ako.
          
          —
          
          Mercedez 4: Keeping This Love In A Photograph chapter 33 is now up!
          https://www.wattpad.com/1648175291 

Nagsimula sa pangungulit para kuhanin ang pangalan ko. Hanggang sa namalayan ko nalang, hindi na lamang ang amoy niya ang dumidikit sa damit ko. He's already crawling under my skin. Making my head rush. Then I suddenly start feeling the sting in my chest. It alarmed me. Kasi bakit... may ganitong nararamdaman na naman ako?
          
          I've been emotionless. But now... Hindi ko matukoy kaagad kung ano ba talaga ang pinaparamdam ng presensya niya sa akin.
          
          Even when rejected and gutted, he still orbits around me. Even when I never wanted him to. Parang may sarili akong planeta na nakakabit sa akin. At siya lang ang planeta sa planetary system ko. At ang bituin ay ako. With the way he chases me, I feel bigger than the sun.
          
          At hindi iyon nakakabuti para sa kaniya. At sa akin.
          
          Dahil alam ko ang patutunguhan nito.
          
          Lason.
          
          Tulad ng ipinagbabawal na prutas sa banal na hardin. 
          
          It will shake my faith. 
          
          It will bend my walls. 
          
          And it will break me.
          
          Lason si Viau Dustin Mercedez.
          
          —
          
          Mercedez 4: Keeping This Love In A Photograph chapter 32 is out now!
          https://www.wattpad.com/1648175285
          
          Back to Viau's POV next chapter. :) 

Nagsimula sa pangungulit para kuhanin ang pangalan ko. Hanggang sa namalayan ko nalang, hindi na lamang ang amoy niya ang dumidikit sa damit ko. He's already crawling under my skin. Making my head rush. Then I suddenly start feeling the sting in my chest. It alarmed me. Kasi bakit... may ganitong nararamdaman na naman ako?
          
          I've been emotionless. But now... Hindi ko matukoy kaagad kung ano ba talaga ang pinaparamdam ng presensya niya sa akin.
          
          Even when rejected and gutted, he still orbits around me. Even when I never wanted him to. Parang may sarili akong planeta na nakakabit sa akin. At siya lang ang planeta sa planetary system ko. At ang bituin ay ako. With the way he chases me, I feel bigger than the sun.
          
          At hindi iyon nakakabuti para sa kaniya. At sa akin.
          
          Dahil alam ko ang patutunguhan nito.
          
          Lason.
          
          Tulad ng ipinagbabawal na prutas sa banal na hardin. 
          
          It will shake my faith. 
          
          It will bend my walls. 
          
          And it will break me.
          
          Lason si Viau Dustin Mercedez.
          
          —
          
          Mercedez 4: Keeping This Love In A Photograph chapter 32 is out now!
          https://www.wattpad.com/1648175285
          
          Back to Viau's POV next chapter. :) 

"When did you get this?" Breathlessly, I traced it with my forefinger. Light as a feather. Takot na baka kapag diniinan ko ay mabura iyon. 
          
          She stopped for a moment, and then realization hit her. 
          
          "Ah..." She chuckled shyly. Napakamot siya sa siko. "Ilang linggo pagkatapos nating naghiwalay. Na-miss kasi kita." 
          
          "Really..." 
          
          Shit. I can't believe this! She never had any mark... any tattoo ever! Parang gusto kong maiyak. Hindi ko makalma ang dibdib ko! 
          
          "Tingnan mo rin sa likod ng tainga ko. Sa may baba." 
          
          My eyes slowly traced upwards until it stopped on another inked skin. It was tiny. A tiny plane. 
          
          Damn it! 
          
          "P-Peia..." 
          
          Malalagutan na yata ako ng hininga! 
          
          "Maganda? Ang mahal ng bayad ko diyan." 
          
          "Yeah..." I chuckled hoarsely. 
          
          She had me... A reminder of me. Inked on her skin.
          
          —
          
          Mercedez 4: Keeping This Love In A Photograph chapter 30 is now up!
          https://www.wattpad.com/1645623573 

"What's wrong?" Malambing kong tanong. 
          
          Tumitig lamang siya. 
          
          I pressed my lips together. 
          
          "Peia—" 
          
          "Viau, wala," tanggi niya. "Masyado mo lang akong sinusubukang basahin." 
          
          "Please. Can you please, for once, completely trust me? You love me, right?" 
          
          Her shoulders tensed up. She cut our eye contact off. 
          
          "O-Oo naman..." 
          
          "Then, tell me. What is it? Baka tinotoyo ka na't may nagawa ako? Paano kita susuyuin niyan?" 
          
          Sumimangot siya. 
          
          "Hindi ako tinotoyo, ah." Pabagsak ang pagsambit niya no'n. 
          
          I smirked audibly. "Ah... Baka worcestershire na yan kung hindi na toyo. Bukod sa mahirap basahin, mahirap pang ispellingin."
          
          Pagalit niyang hinampas ang dibdib ko. 
          
          I burst into laughters. 
          
          She controlled her facial expression but then it crumpled as she giggled.
          
          —
          
          Mercedez 4: Keeping This Love In A Photograph chapter 29 is now up!
          https://www.wattpad.com/1645623568