Novels by Mariyah

“Ang sama talaga ng ugali mo, no?” Hindi mapigilan ni Liza ang mapairap sa sinabi ni Luther.Ang galing-galing talaga ng ugali ng baklang ‘to. Nakita na nga na tumutulo ang luha niya pero nagawa pa nitong isingit ang panlalait at sinabi pang kaya wala siyang jowa. Ano namang pakialam nito kung wala siyang jowa? Ang importante, hindi lalaki ang iniiyakan niya. Ang importante hindi siya namomroblema kung may ibang kausap ang lalaking mahal niya.Well, lalaki rin naman ang Papa mo. And technically speaking, siya ang rason kung bakit ka umiiyak ngayon. Napabuntonghininga na lang siya sa naisip niya. Sabagay, totoo rin naman kasi na ang Papa niya ang rason kung bakit siya umiiyak.Isa rin sa dahilan kung bakit hindi niya magawang pumasok sa relasyon dahil sa ginagawa ng kaniyang Papa sa Mama niya. Buong akala niya talaga ay sila ang totoong pamilya at may kabit ang Papa niya.May kabit nga, hindi ako nagkamali…“Ano ba kasi ang iniiyak-iyak mo dyan, girl?” Muling nagsalita ang bakla at tum

Hindi alam ni Liza kung anong sasabihin sa mga oras na ‘yon. Hindi na rin alam ng puso niya kung anong dapat niyang maramdaman. Para siyang pinagsakluban ng langit at lupa. Parang kinukurot ang puso’t damdamin niya. Ang sikip-sikip ng dibdib niya habang patuloy na tumutulo ang mga luha niya.Paanong hindi pala sila kasal ni Mama? Mahinang bulong ng kaniyang isip. Patuloy pa rin siya sa paghikbi habang nakatitig sa kaniyang Papa na sinasarado na ang bag nito. Hindi na ito muling nagsalita na lihim niyang pinapasalamat baka kung ano pang marinig niya na dadagdag pa sa nararamdaman niya ngayon.Hindi niya alam kung dapat ba siyang humingi ng sorry dahil sa mga nasabi niya at nag-assume siyang sila ang totoong pamilya. O kailangan niyang mag-sorry dahil kabit lang pala ang Mama niya.Hindi ko na alam.Ang hindi niya lang din maintindihan kung bakit kailan naging twenty eight years old na siya ay ngayon pa lang niya malalaman na hindi pala kasal ang mga magulang niya. Pero paano nangyari

Mas nauna pang nagising si Liza sa alarm niya. Hindi pa eksaktong alas singko ay nagising na siya dahil sa mga kalabog na galing sa kanilang kusina. Mas excited pa yata ang Mama niya na mamalengke. Kunsabagay, tuwang-tuwa talaga ang Mama niya kapag uuwi ang Papa niya sa kanila.Bumangon na lang siya pagkatapos niyang i-off ang alarm ng cellphone niya. Baka mamaya tutunog pa ang alarm kahit gising na gising na ang diwa niya. Lumabas na rin siya ng kaniyang kwarto at nagtungo na sa kusina para puntahan ang Mama niya at makahingi na ng listahan kung anong bibilhin niya.“Ehh?” Tanong niya sa kaniyang Mama nang makita na nagkalat na sa mesa ang mga bagong biling gulay at karne. Pinagmasdan niya ang kaniyang Mama na nakangiti pa habang naghihiwa na ng kamatis. “Nakapamalengke ka na, Ma?”“Tingin mo?” balik-tanong pa nito sa kaniya, kaya wala siyang nagawa kun’di ang magkamot na lang ng ulo.“Grabe naman ‘yan. Ang aga ko na nga gumising.”“Dapat mas maaga pa kasi, Liza. Gigisingin sana kita

Kahit tinulak na si Liza ay hindi pa rin siya natinag. Tinitigan niya pa rin si Luther para ipaulit ang sinabi nito. Alam niyang tama ang pagkakarinig niya. Na umuwi na siya para makain na siya nito.Itong baklang ‘to talaga. Gusto pala makakain ng pechay, aayaw-ayaw pa. “Ano nga ulit ‘yong sinabi mo?” tanong na naman niya. Hindi naman siya bingi eh. Gusto niya lang talaga ipaulit kay Luther kasi parang…Masharep ‘yon.“Tigilan mo ‘yan, girl. Umuwi ka na sa inyo at kakain pa ‘ko. Distorbo ka talaga kahit kailan.” Tinalikuran na siya nito at pumwesto na para maghapunan, “Pakisara na lang din ang pinto at pati gate na rin ha?”Napakamot na lang siya ng ulo. Kahit kailan talaga ‘tong si Luther. Kailan ba kasi nito makikita na deserve naman nitong mahalin. Na babae talaga ang para dito at hindi lalaki. Na sila talaga ang itinadhana? Bakit kasi lalaki pa ang gusto nito?Pero sa sinabi nitong kakainin siya, parang sign na ‘yon talaga! Ipapakita niya sa kaniyang Mama na magtatagumpay din si

Hinampas-hampas ni Liza ang unan nang makapasok na siya sa kwarto niya. Hindi na nga niya kinausap ang Mama niya nang makarating siya sa bahay. Pakiramdam niya para bang pinagsakluban siya ng langit at lupa. Naiinis siya sa part na alam na nga ni Luther na ito ang crush niya pero nagawa pa nitong sabihin na huwag niya raw agawin ang boyfriend nito.“At bakit ko naman aagawin? Baliw ba ‘ko?” pagkausap niya sa sarili at humarap pa sa salamin. Tinuro niya ang sarili at tumaas ang kilay niya. “Ako? Baliw?” Mahina siyang natawa. “Baliw kay Luther, oo. Kaya hindi ang boyfriend ni Luther ang aagawin ko, kun’di si Luther mismo!”Kung kanina ay naiinis siya, iba na ang nararamdaman niya ngayon. Parang maganda yatang plano ang agawin si Luther sa boyfriend nito. Operation: Agawin si Luther!Nagpahid na siya ng luha at inayos na rin ang pagkakatali ng buhok niya. Walang patutunguhan kung iiyak lang siya nang iiyak. Hindi naman niya maaagaw si Luther kung iiyak lang siya sa kwarto niya diba? Mas

Hanggang sa matapos kunan ni Liza ng mga measurements ang pinsan niya ay hindi talaga lumabas ng kwarto ang hinayupak na Luther. Hindi naman siya isinilang kahapon para hindi malaman kung ano ang ginagawa ng dalawa sa loob.Hindi na niya alam kung tama pa ba ‘tong ginagawa niya. Mas iniisip niya kasi kung anong ginagawa ni Luther sa loob. Baka hindi nito gusto ang ginagawa nito. Pero napipilitan lang ito dahil gusto nitong lumayo siya.Hay nako! Delulu ka talaga, gurl. Galit na sigaw ng utak niya. “Are you okay? Is there something bothering you?” tanong ng pinsan niya nang mapansin na aligaga siya. Hindi rin naman talaga siya mapakali dahil gusto ng mga paa niya na lumapit do’n sa kwarto na pinasukan ni Luther.Kanina pa siya kating-kati na tanungin tong pinsan niya. Kung jowa ba talaga ni Luther ang kasama nito ngayon sa kwarto. Baka naman kasi diba kapatid lang or baka pinsan lang din. Napabuntong hininga na lang siya at nagkamot ng ulo.“Eh kasi, Kitty.” Panimula niya nang matapos

Mae's throat instantly went dry."Are you two... together?"There was nothing unfamiliar about Ms. Ramirez's voice.Just earlier, she had been standing at the back of Mae's classroom while she taught her first lesson. She had been the silent observer taking notes, evaluating every detail, and watching how she handled herself in front of her students.Which was exactly why Mae became even more nervous. Because if there was one person she could not lie to, it was her cooperating teacher. For a brief moment, she glanced at Kent.But somehow, that simple look felt loaded with a hundred unspoken thoughts. What are we supposed to say? She honestly did not know. And what scared her even more was that she was not sure she wanted to hear his answer. Before either of them could speak, Ms. Ramirez let out a soft laugh. It was the kind of laugh someone made when they already knew the answer before asking the question."Relax," she said as she walked fully into the faculty room and closed the door

Mae had no idea how she ended up in the faculty room.It felt as if her body had moved on its own after her first class ended. Her feet carried her through the hallways automatically while her mind remained behind in the classroom, still standing in front of her students.It had only been her first class. A simple meet-and-greet. No lessons, no demonstrations, no complicated discussions and yet she already felt as if her entire social battery had been drained.She needed to recharge. The moment she stepped inside the faculty room, she was greeted by silence. The room was nearly empty.Only the soft humming of an electric fan filled the air. A few sheets of paper shifted slightly on a nearby desk whenever the breeze reached them. Mae stopped near the doorway. And only then did it truly sink in. It was over. Her first class.The first time she had stood in front of a classroom as a teacher. Not a student. Not a presenter. Not someone pretending for a grade.A teacher.She slowly release

Two weeks.For two whole weeks, Mae had done almost nothing except travel back and forth between the university, sign endless forms, wait outside countless offices, and chase requirements that seemed to multiply every time she completed one.By the end of it, she felt exhausted. Not just physically. Mentally, emotionally and even her soul felt tired.And now, here she was, finally. The day everyone had been waiting for. Well, everyone except her. Deployment day. Mae woke up before her alarm even had a chance to ring. Not because she wanted to. But because she had barely slept at all. Her mind had been running in circles the entire night.What if I make a mistake? What if I can't do it? What if the students don't listen to me? What if I fail?She let out a slow sigh as she stared at the ceiling. At this point, it was too late to back out. The day had arrived whether she was ready or not. Slowly, she pushed herself out of bed and walked toward the mirror. For a moment, she simply stood

“Good morning, interns. Today marks the beginning of your final hurdle before becoming full-fledged educators. As you prepare for your deployment to various Senior High Schools, remember that you are no longer just students; you are ambassadors of this institution.While we want you to succeed, we also value your autonomy. Therefore, the department is granting you the freedom to choose your own cooperating school for your internship. However, there is one non-negotiable condition: you must ensure that your chosen school offers the specific Tech-Voc major you are specializing in.”The Head of the Education Department continued speaking at the front of the room, but Mae could barely focus on a single word.There was simply too much on her mind. She let out a quiet sigh when she heard that they would be allowed to choose their own schools.Great.That was one more thing for her to worry about. The problem was that she had absolutely no idea where she wanted to go. Around her, however, th

Mae remained lost in thought even after their major professor had left the laboratory.She should have been happy.All their subjects were finally over. The only thing left for them to focus on was their internship. After that, graduation would not be far away.So why did she feel like this?Nervous?Well, that was probably part of it.It also did not help that she still did not want to become a teacher.Even while staring blankly into space, she could clearly hear the excitement buzzing around the room. Her classmates were already talking among themselves, discussing where they wanted to be deployed for their internship.Some were excited. Some were nervous. Others were already making plans.Even Vanessa had joined a group at the next table, happily gathering information and gossiping about where everyone wanted to be assigned.But Mae? Did she even have a plan? Probably not. She would most likely just go wherever Vanessa ended up."Hey!"A tap on her shoulder pulled her back to real

"Finally!" Vanessa shouted.Mae was no longer surprised by her cousin's sudden outbursts. Vanessa had always been dramatic, and after spending years with her, Mae had gotten used to it.She glanced toward her cousin, who was standing beside their desk with a pen still in her hand. Vanessa quickly walked to the front of the room and handed their checked test paper to their major professor."I'm finally done too, Ma'am!" Vanessa announced dramatically. "At last! We can finally rest."Rest.The word alone almost made Mae smile. Honestly, they really did need a break.The past month had been absolute chaos. One activity followed another without giving them time to recover. Reports, quizzes, projects, exams—it felt like there was always something waiting for them the moment they finished the previous requirement.She could not even remember the last time she had genuinely relaxed without thinking about deadlines."What rest?" their professor asked, looking amused. "Don't you fourth-year stu

Pagkauwi ni Foina sa bahay niya ay hindi pa nakabukas ang ilaw. Meaning wala ang Mama niya sa kaniyang bahay. Pagkatapos niya kasi sa college at no’ng nakapag-ipon siya ay bumili siya ng sarili niyang bahay. At paminsan-minsan ay dumadalaw ang kaniyang Mama para bisitahin siya.Binuksan niya agad ang ilaw. Alas sais na kasi siya nakauwi dahil may binili muna sa Watson. Sa sobrang stress niya parang kailangan niyang mag-self care at bumili ng pampaganda upang mabalik ang one-fourth na gandang nawala sa kaniya kanina.Nang malapag niya sa mesa ang pinamili niya ay saka nag-ring ang kaniyang cellphone. Agad din naman niyang kinuha sa bulsa ang cellphone at nabasa niya ang pangalan ni Georgie. Ang best friend niya no’ng college. Rumehestro agad sa kaniyang mga labi ang ngiti. Miss na miss niya ang babaeng ‘to.“Hi, Luv!” bati agad nito nang masagot niya ang tawag. Cheerful na naman ang babae, as always. Kapag talaga nauubos ang socialization battery niya ay si Georgie ang sumasalo.Ngumit

Nawalan ng gana si Foina na kumain kaya hindi na niya nahintay ang dalawa at bumalik na lang siya sa classroom niya. Meron pa naman siguro siyang natirang sandwich do’n, iyon na lang siguro ang kakainin niya.Hindi siya makapaniwalang may mga guro na gano’n kung umasta. Aayain ka agad ng date samantalang unang interaction pa nga lang nila. Ni hindi pa nga niya nasasabi dito kung anong pangalan niya. Pero kung makaaya ito ay parang close na close sila.Or baka personality lang talaga niya na gano’n siya tapos OA lang ako.Pero kahit na siguro. Hindi naman siguro magandang gawin ‘yon dahil hindi pa nga sila close.Nang makarating siya sa kaniyang classroom ay nakita niya ang mga bata na nagtatawanan pang kumakain at nagkwekwentohan. At nang makita siya ng mga bata ay biglang natahimik ang mga ito. Ngumiti na lang siya sa mga bata para hindi ma-intimidate ang mga ito sa kaniya.“Ma’am, kumain na po ba kayo?” tanong ng isang estudyante sa kaniya. “Hindi pa nga, eh.” Hilaw niyang sagot. H

"Good morning, Ma'am."Ngiti ang palaging sagot ni Foina sa mga estudyante na bumabati sa kaniya. Kung titingnan, hindi pa talaga siya ready na tawaging "Ma'am" kung pagbabasehan ang height niya na parang pinagkaitan ng tangkad. Na kahit may suot na siyang heels ay parang wala pa rin iyong naiambag sa kaniya. Hindi naman talaga iyon ang problema niya, mas pinoproblema niya kung paano niya haharapin ang bawat araw ng pagiging guro sa isang university.Hindi pa talaga siya sanay na sa bawat lakad niya ay may bumabati sa kaniya. Hindi pa sanay ang labi niya na ngumiti kapag may babati. Nakakapagod pala ang bagay na 'yon, kaya siguro may teacher siya noon na parang pinagsakluban ng langit at lupa. At hindi pa siya sanay na palaging may nakamasid sa kaniya. Ito pala ang pakiramdam ng mga guro niya noon."So, Ms. Dela Fuente," pagkuha ng pansin ng kasama niyang Principal. Tumingin siya rito at hindi pinahalatang parang nahihiya siya sa tangkad nito. Ngumiti ito sa kaniya bago pumasok sa cla

"I always get what I want."Nanigas ang panga ni Foina nang nagpumilit talaga si Ryan Chester na pumasok sa bahay niya. Sobrang guwapo nitong tingnan sa suot nitong black polo shirt at black long pants. Palihim niya ring pinapagalitan ang sarili dahil binuksan niya pa rin ang pinto kahit alam niyang ang hambog na teacher ang nasa labas ng bahay. Gusto lang naman sana niyang manigurado dahil hindi siya makapaniwala na nalaman nito kung saan siya nakatira. Mabuti na lang talaga dahil hindi niya kasama ang Nanay niya. Baka ito pa ang unang sumipa sa mukha ni Chester. Ayaw na ayaw pa naman nitong may bumibisita sa kaniya kapag malalim na ang gabi."I thought I made it clear that I won't go out with you," aniya at agad nag-iwas ng tingin. Hindi niya kayang tingnan nang matagal ang mga mata ng lalaki. Pakiramdam niya kasi kapag titingnan niya ito nang matagal ay mababasa nito ang laman ng isip niya."You're a very smart woman, Babe. So, I wonder why you haven't figured out that I always g

The city was the same.That was the first thing Kent noticed as they stood at the edge of the sidewalk, the late afternoon sun spilling across the busy street in soft gold. Cars passed in a steady rhythm, people moved in hurried lines, and the familiar noise of Manila filled the air like it had never learned how to rest.Everything looked unchanged.But Kent wasn’t the same man who once ran through these streets with nothing but panic and a phone full of unanswered calls.Now, his hand was steady as it held Mae’s.And on the other hand, their daughter’s small fingers curled tightly around his, swinging lightly as she hummed to herself, completely unaware that this place once meant loss, fear, and almost-giving-up for her father.Mae followed his gaze.“You’re quiet,” she said softly.Kent blinked once, as if the present had just caught up to him. His grip on her hand tightened slightly, not out of fear, but out of something quieter. Something sure.“Thinking lang,” he answered.Mae ti

Kent kissed her again, slower this time, deeper, like he was trying to pour every unsaid thing into it.Mae answered him without hesitation, her hands sliding up to his shoulders, then around his neck, holding him close as if distance itself had become unbearable. The warmth between them grew with every second, with every touch, with every quiet breath shared in the small space between their lips.There was nothing rushed about it. No desperation. No stolen moments. No fear of being interrupted.For the first time, they had all the time in the world.Kent’s hand rested gently at her waist, his fingers tracing slow circles against the fabric of her dress, while Mae leaned closer, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her fingertips. It was strange how something so simple, standing here, kissing him without fear—could feel more intimate than anything else.She pulled back only enough to breathe, her forehead resting against his.“I still can’t believe this is real,” she whispered

For a long moment, neither of them moved. The room was quiet except for the soft sound of the wind brushing against the glass balcony doors and the distant hum of the city far below. Somewhere outside, the lake stretched wide and still beneath the fading afternoon light, calm and endless, as if the world itself had decided to slow down for them.Golden sunlight slipped through the thin curtains, painting warm lines across the floor, across the bed, and across the white walls of the room that suddenly felt too intimate and too quiet at the same time.Mae stood in front of Kent, close enough to feel the warmth of his body and the steady rhythm of his breathing. For the first time in what felt like forever, there was nothing urgent waiting for them. No secrets. No fear. No one is trying to separate them. No need to explain. No need to run. Just silence. Just peace.It felt strange. Almost unfamiliar. Like happiness was something fragile she had to hold carefully, afraid it might disappea

The honeymoon happened three days after the wedding. Not immediately.Because apparently, according to Lola, “Hindi puwedeng umalis agad ang bagong kasal. Kailangan munang pakainin ang buong barangay na feeling ninong at ninang.”And according to Vanessa, “Honestly, valid yang naisip mo, Lola. Free food heals emotional damage.”So for three full days, Mae and Kent smiled through endless congratulations, entertained relatives they had never met before, accepted envelopes with suspiciously aggressive blessings, and listened to far too many stories that started with, “Noong bata pa si Kent…”By the third day, Mae was ready to escape.And Kent looked like he was one unsolicited marriage advice away from disappearing into the ocean.Which was exactly why, early that morning, they finally left.Just the two of them.Well, almost.Because leaving their daughter behind for the first time felt far more difficult than either of them expected.Mae stood near the doorway of Lola’s house, staring

Five months after giving birth, the wedding finally happened.It was held on a quiet afternoon beneath a soft golden sky, where the sunlight seemed warmer and gentler than usual, as if even the day itself understood how important this moment was. There was no grand ballroom, no luxurious hotel, and no extravagant decorations meant to impress people who had never truly been part of their story.There were no crystal chandeliers. No endless guest lists. No forced smiles for strangers. Just family and close friends. Just the people who stayed. And somehow, that made everything far more beautiful.After everything they had been through, the fear, the running, the silence, the pain, the island, the tears, the healing, it felt right that their wedding would be simple.Not because their love was small but because it was real.Every part of it had been fought for. Every part of it had survived. And now, they are finally here.Mae stood quietly in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection

A few months later, everything felt like it had slowed down… and yet, somehow, time still slipped through Mae’s fingers like water she couldn’t hold.Her body had changed in small, quiet ways she was still getting used to. The way she moved more carefully now. The way her hand always instinctively rested over her stomach even when she wasn’t thinking about it. The way Kent never let her walk too far without checking on her first, as if the world outside had suddenly become something he no longer trusted.And now, everything has led to this moment.The hospital room was bright but calm, washed in soft afternoon light that filtered through the blinds and painted gentle lines across the white sheets. The air smelled faintly of antiseptic and fresh linens, but it didn’t feel cold anymore. It felt, still. Like the world outside had been told to wait.Mae lay back against the bed, her hair damp against her forehead, her skin flushed from exhaustion. Her breathing was uneven, still catching