Nobela ni ImVictorique

The rest of the afternoon passed slowly.For Sean, the day felt longer than usual, as if time itself had stretched out without reason. Perhaps it was because of everything that had happened recently—the stalker, Yvo’s suspicions, and the strange tension that had settled between him and Yvo after that accidental kiss.Whatever the reason, by the time the final bell rang for the third-year students, Sean was more than ready to leave.Around him, his classmates immediately began packing their things. Some discussed dinner plans, while others complained about assignments.Sean ignored all of them.He shoved his notebook into his bag and stood.“Leaving already?” Johnny asked from the next desk.Sean glanced at him.“When have I ever stayed after class?”Johnny laughed.“Fair point.”Sean gave a lazy wave before heading out of the classroom.The hallways were noticeably quieter than usual. Freshman classes were still ongoing, and most of the students wandering around campus were upperclass

In the washroom.It was quiet.Too Silent.Only the faint dripping of water from one of the sinks echoed softly against the tiled walls.As Yvo pushed the door open, he paused almost immediately.A voice carried from inside one of the far corners near the sinks.“…Hyung, can you just stop already?”Yvo’s gaze shifted subtly.Leo stood near the mirror with his back partially turned, phone pressed tightly against his ear. He had not noticed Yvo enter yet.“I already checked on him,” Leo said in a lowered voice.A pause followed.Then he exhaled heavily, dragging a hand through his hair in frustration.“I know what you asked me to do.”Yvo remained near the entrance, silent.Leo continued speaking, quieter this time.“I delivered everything already.”A longer silence answered from the other end.Then Leo’s shoulders tensed visibly.“But this is getting out of hand.”Something about the tone made Yvo still completely.Not irritation.Curiousity.“I don’t want to keep doing this anymore.”

The room remained quiet long after Yvo disappeared into the bathroom.Sean stayed seated at the edge of the bed, unmoving, though his thoughts were anything but calm. The room suddenly felt smaller. His fingers curled against the mattress as his mind replayed the moment repeatedly against his will.That brief contact.That warmth.That unbearable stillness.Sean’s jaw tightened.“…Ridiculous.”He dragged a hand down his face and exhaled sharply, as though he could physically force the memory out of his head. But it lingered stubbornly, irritating him more than anything else.It should not matter.It did not matter.It was an accident.I’m straight. I like Lareina.From the bathroom, the soft sound of running water echoed faintly, grounding him back to reality.Sean stood abruptly and walked toward the closet, pulling out a clean set of clothes with movements that looked stiffer than usual.“I need air,” he muttered under his breath.Before leaving the room, he spoke toward the bathroo

Morning came quietly, carried in by soft light that slipped through the thin gap in the curtains.The house was still.Only the faint sounds of movement from the kitchen and the distant clink of utensils hinted that the day had already begun.Sean ran a hand through his slightly messy hair as he stepped out of the guest room, clearly lacking proper sleep. The electric fan had done little to make the night comfortable, and it showed in the slight crease between his brows.He exhaled.“I need to change.”Without much thought, he walked back toward his room, one hand resting on the doorknob before pushing it open.What he saw—Made him freeze.Yvo was already awake.Seated on the chair near the study table.And in his hands—Letters.Several of them.Opened.Sean’s eyes darkened instantly.A sharp, cold anger surged through him.“What the hell are you doing?”His voice cut through the room.Yvo did not even flinch.He simply glanced up, calm as ever, another letter loosely held between hi

Dinner was simple, but warm. Sean’s mother had prepared more than usual, filling the table with dishes that still steamed under the soft yellow light. The faint clatter of plates and utensils blended with the quiet hum of the evening. “Eat slowly,” she reminded gently, placing more food onto Yvo’s plate. “You’re injured.” Yvo nodded politely. “Yes, Auntie. Thank you.” Sean sat across from him, watching despite himself. Yvo’s movements were slower, more careful, his posture slightly stiff from the pain. “You look like you’ll drop that any second,” Sean muttered. Yvo glanced up. “Then stop staring.” Sean scoffed and looked away. For a while, only silence and the soft sounds of dinner filled the space. After they finished, Sean gathered the plates without much comment and brought them to the sink. His mother followed shortly after, wiping her hands on a towel. “I’ll prepare the room,” she said. Sean paused. “The guest room?” he asked. “Yes, of course,” she replie

The bus was almost full when they boarded. Sean stood near the middle rail, one hand gripping the overhead handle while the other held his bag close. Yvo sat beside the window, looking unusually quiet. The vehicle moved forward with a slight jolt. Sean glanced down at him. “Try not to fall asleep. We’re almost there.” Yvo did not respond. A few minutes passed. The bus turned onto a busy road, stopping and starting repeatedly. The motion was steady but slightly uneven. Then, suddenly— Yvo shifted. Without warning, he leaned his head against Sean’s shoulder. Sean froze. His entire body stiffened. “What the—” he hissed under his breath. He tried to move away instantly, lifting his shoulder slightly to push Yvo off. “Hey. What do you think you’re doing?” Yvo did not move. Instead, he muttered softly, eyes closed, “My head hurts.” Sean frowned. “Then sit properly.” “The movement is making it worse,” Yvo replied faintly. “I think I’m getting motion sickness.” Sean looked d

Three Months Later…The soft afternoon light filtered through the sheer curtains of the Villareal home, painting the living room in shades of gold and rose. Dust motes drifted lazily in the glow, moving as if time itself had slowed to match the gentle rhythm of this new life. The once-quiet house, once too large and empty, now carried a different music—the tender cries of a newborn, the shuffle of tired but eager footsteps, and the mismatched lullabies of a man who had discovered a part of himself he never knew he had.Lucas sat on the couch, his shirt wrinkled, one sock missing, and a burp cloth hanging crookedly over his shoulder. His tie lay abandoned somewhere hours ago, and his hair was disheveled beyond repair, yet he looked more whole than ever before. In his arms, baby Louis wriggled, fighting sleep with tiny protests until his father’s low, steady hum began to soothe him. The melody was off-key, half-forgotten, but full of love."I think he likes it when you sing badly," Rhea

The couple made their way straight to the mall, just as Lucas had promised. Inside the baby store, Lucas quickly found himself giving the sales associate specific instructions like a man on a mission.“I want that crib and that walker. Set them aside for me. I’ll pay for those now. Follow us after — we’ll choose more.”Then he darted toward a rack of clothes and held up an outfit far too large for a newborn.“What do you think, baby girl? I think this one suits him.”Rhea gave him a look, one eyebrow raised. He truly had no clue.“Um, sir?” the sales associate asked cautiously. “How old is your baby?”Lucas scratched his head, frowning. “He’s not born yet. He’s only four months along. Still inside the womb.”Rhea stepped in before things got any more awkward. “Where are the clothes for newborns?”The associate smiled with understanding and led them to a different section.Lucas followed, though he looked a bit grumpy.“What’s with the face?” Rhea asked quietly.“I just realized it’s st

The car screeched to a violent stop in front of the building. Lucas didn’t wait. He flung the door open even before the vehicle had fully halted and bolted toward the entrance, his shoes pounding against the pavement. A guard called out his name, startled by the sudden arrival, but Lucas didn’t slow. He barely registered the world around him. All he could think about was Rhea.He slammed the elevator button with trembling fingers. The light blinked back at him, maddeningly slow.Come on. Come on!Each second dragged like an eternity. His heart pounded in his chest, a rapid, painful rhythm that matched the chaos in his head. He was consumed by images of Rhea—her laughter, her cries, the way her body crumpled when she clutched her stomach. The panic rising in his throat nearly choked him.Please let her be okay. Please… both of them.The elevator finally arrived with a soft ding. Lucas rushed inside and stood rigidly as the doors closed. He paced, unable to stand still, his fists opening

The morning light filtered softly through the curtains of Lucas’s high-rise condo, casting a warm, golden hue across the polished floors. The air inside was calm but tinged with the quiet busyness of a couple preparing for a transition. Cardboard boxes sat half-filled on the floor, and an open suitcase lay on the bed, only partially packed with wrinkled clothes.Lucas sat cross-legged on the carpet, a shirt awkwardly crumpled in his lap. He stared at it as if trying to unlock the mystery of folding. Every attempt ended the same way: clumsily folded fabric that looked worse than before. With a shrug, he stuffed it into the suitcase anyway.Across the room, Rhea was watching him with an amused frown as she folded his jeans with far more grace. She had already filled two small boxes with his toiletries and books while Lucas was still struggling with his second shirt."Hurry up with the packing. You’re moving slower than I am, and I’m the one who’s supposed to be dainty here," she quipped,

Later that afternoon, Rhea returned home and found Lucas sitting in the living room, chatting with her mother. She didn’t know what they were laughing about, but Mama was chuckling like a teenager. Both of them froze the moment Rhea entered.She didn’t say a word. She just looked straight at Lucas."Let’s talk," She said firmly, then turned around and walked outside.She made her way to the small garden. The scent of flowers filled the air. Moments later, she felt him behind her. She turned to face him, her expression unreadable.“I’m so—”“Here.” She cut him off, handing him a brown envelope.Lucas took it hesitantly and opened it. Inside were the test results and the pregnancy kit.He stared at the contents for a long time, his hands beginning to tremble. Then he looked up at her, his eyes filling with tears.“I’m pregnant,” Rhea said quietly. “And yes, you’re the father.”Lucas covered his mouth with one hand, too stunned to speak. “Father? I’m going to be a dad? Oh God. Thank You.

Because of what her mother had told her a week ago, Rhea finally gathered the courage to schedule a check-up today.Why only now?She wasn’t entirely sure. Maybe it was fear. The unknown had always terrified her. A part of her was deeply afraid of what the results might reveal. Another part of her had been swamped with work, using it as a distraction. And then there was Lucas. According to her mother, he had been visiting their house often, never arriving empty-handed. Flowers, fruit baskets, home-cooked meals, and even simple handwritten notes. He never asked to see her. He only left gifts, like quiet offerings of apology. Mama was the one who always received him at the door. What used to be a plain family home had now turned into a sanctuary of fresh blooms. Her mother never declined the gifts, often saying it would be a shame to waste them. But Rhea knew better. Lucas had slowly and surely charmed his way back into her mother’s good graces.But not into hers. Not yet.Their relation

Makalipas ang tatlong buwan,Pumasok ang banayad na liwanag ng hapon sa manipis na kurtina ng bahay ng mga Villarreal, nagbibigay ng malambot na kulay ginto at rosas sa buong sala. Dahan-dahang lumilipad sa hangin ang mga alikabok, para bang sumasabay sa payapang takbo ng buhay na meron sila ngayon. Ang dating tahimik at maluwang na bahay ay napalitan ng mga tunog na puno ng buhay, ang mahihinang iyak ng sanggol, ang mga yapak ng pagod ngunit masayang mga paa, at ang sintunadong awit ng isang amang ngayon pa lang natutong mag-alaga ng anak.Nakaupo si Lucas sa sofa, gusot ang polo, walang medyas sa isang paa, at may lampin na nakasabit sa balikat. Nakakalat lang kung saan ang kurbata niya, at magulo ang buhok na halatang hindi na inayos. Pero kahit ganoon, may ngiti sa labi niya. Sa kanyang mga bisig, si baby Louis ay unti-unting nilalabanan ang antok. Nang marinig ng bata ang mababa at paos na awit ng ama, dahan-dahan itong kumalma hanggang sa tuluyang makatulog. Mali-mali man ang ton

THIRD PERSON's POV. PAGKARATING ni Lucas ay agad niyang napansin ang asawa na nakayakap kay Rave. Dali-dali niyang hinablot ito mula sa kaibigan at mahigpit na niyakap. Mukhang nakilala naman siya nito sapagkat mas lalong dumiin pa ito sa kanya habang humahagulgol. "Ssh...I'm here. Tahan na..." Pag-a-alo ni Lucas sa asawa. Saglit siyang tumingin sa paligid habang nakayakap pa rin sa kanya sa Rhea. Napansin niya ang kanyang mga kaibigan na nakatingin sa kanila. At nagdilim ang mukha niya nang mapansin si Cristoff na walang malay habang nakatali. How dare him! Dahan-dahan siyang bumitaw sa pagkakayakap at kuyom ang kamao na lumakad sa kinahihigaan ni Cristoff para amabahan ng suntok nang biglang harangan siya ni Ruffa. May inis na tiningnan niya ang kaibigan. "Bakit mo ako pinipigilan? That b*st*rd deserve a punch! D*mn it!" Nanggagalaiting pahayag ni Lucas na hindi na makapagtimpi ngunit nanatiling kalmado si Ruffa. "Stop it, okay? Kanina pa iyan nabugbog ni Rave kaya nawal

RHEA'sNANDITO kami ngayon sa Condo ni Lucas. Hinahakot niya kasi iyong mga ibang gamit niya. Mga alas-dyis na rin mahigit dahil late rin kami nagising. "Hoy, Bilisan mo ngang mag-ayos diyan daig mo pa ko sa pagiging mahinhin mo eh." Reklamo ko. Paano ba naman magtiklop lang ng damit inaabot pa tatlong minuto bago matapos. In the end, nalulukot pa rinkapag ilalagay niya na sa maleta.At ang walang hiya, imbis na bilisan ang kilos, nginisian lang ako ng pang-asar."Edi mas maganda! Wala rin naman akong gagawin kaya standby muna tayo." Boses batang sabi niya.Umarko naman ang isang kilay ko."Ikaw Lucas! Tigil-tigilan mo ako ah! Namumuro kana kahapon ka pa sa mga kapilyuhan mo. Pasakan ko ng bulak yung bibig mo makikita mo." Inis kong saway sa kanya habang pinapakita ang malaking bulak na hawak ko. Hindi man lang siya natakot at pinagpatuloy lang ang pagtitiklop.Nanatili kaming tahimik hanggang sa putulin ito ng tumutunog na cellphone ni Lucas. Saglit na tiningnan niya ako bago tumayo

RHEA's"Ano na?" Maang kong tanong kay Lucas. Kasalukuyan kaming nakaupo dito sa sofa habang nanonood ng TV. Akbay-akbay niya ako habang nakasandal naman ang ulo ko sa dibdib niya. Habang si Mama naman ay kasalukuyang nang nagpapahinga sa kwarto niya. Alas-otso na rin kasi ng gabi at masamang magpuyat lalo na at kaga-galing niya lang."Anong ano na?" Takang tanong niya pabalik. "Iyong about sa bahay, hindi naman ako pwedeng bumalik sa Condo mo at ayaw kong iwan ang Mama ko hanggang hindi pa siya fully recovered." Turan ko. "About that, I think itong bahay mo na lang ang maging official house natin but sumama muna kayo sa akin sa Condo. Gusto ko kasing ipa-renovate itong bahay mo at palakihan since magkakaroon na tayo ng anak." Atat na wika niya saka tumayo kaya napaayos ako ng upo. "Where are you going?" Tanong ko ng akmang aakyat siya ng hagdan patungo sa second floor. "To your room." Payak niyang saad at umakyat na. Naiwan naman akong nagtataka. Sa room ko? Ano namang gagawin

RHEA'sDAHIL nga sa sinabi ni Mama no'ng isang linggo napagdesisyunan ko na magpa-check up ngayon. Kung bakit ngayon lang? Ewan ko. Kinakabahan din kasi ako sa magiging resulta at medyo naging busy sa work. Si Lucas, ayon kay Mama ay palagi raw dumadalaw sa bahay. May dala-dalang mga flowers and gifts na si Mama lagi ang tumatanggap. At nang dahil sa kanya, nagmistulang garden na ang bahay namin. Hindi naman makatanggi si Mama kasi sayang naman daw. If I know, nasuhulan na 'yan. Obviously, hindi pa rin kami nagkakaayos. Sa tuwing pumupunta kasi siya, timing na wala talaga ako sa bahay kaya ang lagi niyang nakikita si Mama. It's a good thing though, wala pa rin kasi akong lakas ng loob para kausapin siya. Anyways, kasalukuyan akong nandito ngayon sa opisina ni Doctor Rachelle, ang aking OB-gynecologist. Tapos niya na akong chineck kaya ang hinihintay ko na lang ay iyong resulta ng PT na pinagamit niya sa akin kanina. Medyo kinakabahan pa nga ako pero ganito talaga siguro kapag fir

LUCAS'MARIING napalunok ako nang tuluyang makaupo si Papa at Lolo sa upuang nasa harapan ko. Feeling ko para akong kriminal na kailangan parusahan."What the hell is this?" Walang paligoy-ligoy na panimula ni Lolo sabay bato sa akin ng isang sobre. Kinakabahang inabot ko naman iyon at dahang-dahang binuksan. Pagkakita ko ay literal na namutla na lang ako sa takot at sabay na napasinghap dahil bumungad sa akin ang mga picture namin ni Cristoff na magka-holding hands at meron pang iba. Mukhang kinuha ito noong time na active pa kaming dalawa sa pag-d-date."Hindi ba't sinabi ko sayo na tigilan mo ang pagigiging bakla mo ha? Bakit hindi ka marunong makinig. Where's your wife I need to talk to her! Bakit pinabayaan ka niyang magloko? Alam niya ba ito?" Galit nitong bulyaw na nagpatahimik na lang talaga sa akin. Si Papa naman tahimik lang sa tabi, hindi ko naman siya masisisi dahil alam kong pati siya tiklop kapag si Lolo na ang nagsalita. Batas kasi si Lolo at lalo lang lalaki ang probl