Nobela ni hnjkdi

“CONGRATULATIONS, Mrs. Monteverde! You are 13 weeks pregnant!” kompirma ng ob-gyn na tumingin kay Danica isang umaga. Talagang hindi siya tinantanan ng kaniyang ama hangga’t hindi sila maihatid ng kaniyang Nanay Rosanna sa isang pribadong clinic sa lungsod ng Hilongos.Gamit ang isang modernong aparato ay kitang-kuta niya sa monitor ang maliit na pigura sa loob ng kaniyang sinapupunan. Bukod pa roon, rinig niya rin ang malakas na tibok ng puso ng kaniyang munting anghel.“Ay Diyos ko! Congrats, anak!” tuwang bulalas rin ng kaniyang ina na sinamahan siya sa kwarto para ma-ultrasound.Wala siyang makapang salita, at tanging mahinang paghikbi lamang ang nagawa niya sa mga oras na iyon. Hindi mapagsidlan sa tuwa ang puso niya dahil sa nakompirma. Magkaka-baby na sila ni Dylan. Magkakaroon na siya nang matatawag niyang kaniya mula sa katipan. Pero sa kabila no’n, may isang parte ng puso niya ang nalungkot. Alam niya kasi sa sarili na malabo nang magsama pa sila ni Dylan.MAS lalo pang sum

HINDI magkamayaw sa tuwa ang mga magulang ni Danica nang makita ang pagbaba niya mula sa tricycle. Mula sa maliit nilang tindahan ay napatakbo palabas ang kaniyang ina para salubungin siya, ganoon din ang kaniyang itay na nagwawalis sa kanilang bakoran.“Anak, bakit naman hindi mo sinabing uuwi ka?” ang masiglang tanong pa ng kaniyang Nanay Rosanna.“Oo nga naman, anak. Nakapagluto sana kami ng nanay mo ng mga paborito mong pagkain,” wika rin ng kaniyang Tatay Ernesto.“Eh, hindi na po sorpresa ‘yon.” Dunukot si Danica ng limang daan sa bag at ibinigay iyon sa tricycle driver. “Iyan na po ba ang bahay natin?” tukoy niya sa isang konkretong bungalow sa harapan. Dati sa bundok at maliit na kubo lamang sila nakatira, ngayon ay nakikita niyang mas maganda na ang kalagayan ng mga magulang niya sa baryo. “Oo, anak. Dalawa ang silid diyan. Pinasadya talaga ang isa para sayo,” tugon ng kaniyang ina na hindi na matanggal-tanggal ang ngiti sa mga labi. Alam niyang nasasabik din itong magkit

“HELLOOO?! Ang sabi ko, give Papa Dee a space, hindi ko sinabing mag-alsa-balutan ka!” Bahagyang nailayo ni Danica ang cellphone niya sa tenga dahil sa pagtaas ng boses ni Lily sa kabilang linya.“Por Diyos po santo naman, dzai! Anong sasabihin ko kapag hinanap ka sa ‘kin ng asawa at in-laws mo?”“Nagpaalam naman na ako kay Mommy,” tugon niya na muling ibinalik ang cellphone sa tenga. “Pinayagan ka?” “O-oo,” aniya na hinawi ang kurtina ng bintana para sumilip sa labas. Sakay siya ng isang bus pauwi ng Samar.Pinayagan naman talaga siya, basta’t magpaalam lang daw siya kay Dylan which was ‘di niya ginawa. Hindi niya rin sinabing uuwi siya ng Samar, ang paalam niya ay magbabakasyon siya panadalian kina Lily.Isa pa, para namang may pakialam si Dylan sa kaniya. Sa ngayaon ay lango na ito sa sarap sa piling ng iba.Hindi niya napigilan ang pagngilid ng mga luha sa mata nang maglaro sa isipan ang eksenang nadatnan niya kahapon.Limang araw na rin ang lumipas matapos ang launching ng DM.

PALIHIM na hinanap ni Dylan ang asawa. Hinayaan niya muna ito kay Lily kanina habang abala siya sa mga kausap niya. Matagal na hindi nagkita ang dalawa kung kaya’t gusto niyang sulitin ng mga ito ang oras na magkasama. Isa pa, alam niyang walang ka-amor-amor si Danica pagdating sa usaping negosyo. Baka mabagot lamang ito. Hindi siya nabigo. Nakita niya si Danica. Pero bukod kay Lily naroon din ang mag-asawang Francine at Andrie. At hindi niya nagustuhan ang ideyang iyon. Hindi pwedeng magsama ang dalawa, aniya. Nakaramdam siya ng pag-aalala nang mabanaag ang lungkot sa mukha ng asawa. At sa tingin niya ay si Andrie na naman ang dahilan niyon. Kaya nang tumayo si Danica at umalis ay hindi na siya nagtaka. Marahil ay magtatago na naman ito sa isang sulok para umiyak, at naiinis siyang isipin iyon. Pero ang hindi niya inasahan ay ang ginawa ring pagtayo ni Andrie. Lihim siyang napamura. No way! Agad siyang umalis sa kumpulan para sundan si Andrie. Ni hindi na siya nagpaalam pa sa

DUMATING na rin ang gabi ng grand event ng DM’s Apparel makalipas ang tatlong buwan, ang launching ng mga bagong designs nito with Venice. Naging matagumpay naman ang naturang event. Sa katunayan, mas dumami pa ang potential investors sa dalawang kompanya. “Hoy dzai, hinay-hinay lang, mukha kang dead hungry!” histerikal na saway ni Lily kay Danica. Nakadalawang plato na ito ng pagkain at mukhang magkakaroon pa ng pangatlo.Pero imbes na sumagot ay isang irap ang isinukli ni Danica kay Lily bago sumubo ng steak. Inimbitahan niya ito at si Sheila para hindi siya ma-out of place kung sakali pero hindi nakarating ang huli dahil sa may importante itong lakad.“Hay, Diyos ko naman! Hindi ka ba pinapakain ni Dylan?”“Hindi,” maikling sagot ni Danica para lang matigil ang kaibigan. Wala siya sa mood kanina pa at sa kinakain niya ibinubuhos ang sama ng loob.“Joke ba ‘yan? Hindi kasi halata.”Tumigil si Danica sa pagkain at napahalukipkip. Gusto niyang batukan ang kaibigan dahil sa kadaldl

MAY paghangang pinagmasdan ni Danica ang walong palapag ng DM’s Apparel. Tunay ngang napakaganda nito.Ang dahilan kung bakit siya napasugod ay sa kagustuhang sorpresahin si Dylan. Ipinagluto niya ito ng pagkain bago siya nagpunta ng salon kaninang umaga.Dahil sa kadal-dalan ni Aida kahapon ay napa-stalked tuloy siya sa I*******m ng ex-wife-to-be ni Dylan. Hindi niya maiwasan ang hindi makaramdam ng panliliit sa katotohanang wala siya ni sa kalingkingan nito.Jeanie Ferrer ang buong pangalan nito. Galing sa isang sikat, mayamang pamilya, at nag-iisang Anak. Nagtapos sa kursong nursing sa abroad. “Tatawagan ko lang po si Sir.”“Ay, huwag!” Naibulalas ni Danica na nilingon si Jenard.Nagtataka man ay tumango ang bodyguard at saka isnukbit sa bulsa ang cellphone.“M-maganda na po ba ako kuya Jenard?” Nahihiya pang tanong ni Danica sa bodyguard kapagkuwan.“Maganda naman po talaga kayo, Ma’am.”“Ibig kong sabihin, kumusta po hitsura ko?” giit niyang tanong. Tatlong oras ang ginugol niya

A warm smile appeared on Lucas’s lips as he looked at Maxine’s face. He never expected her to kiss him. He knew it meant nothing to her, but somehow, it had a different effect on him. And for heaven’s sake, it was only a kiss on the cheek. He couldn’t understand why he was feeling this way. Perhaps he was just exaggerating? Driven by an inexplicable desire, he slowly leaned down and quickly kissed Maxine. “You’re welcome,” he whispered. With her cheeks turning red, Maxine immediately looked away and shifted her gaze back to the sky. She suddenly became uncomfortable, which only made Lucas smile again. Her innocence had always been amusing. “My name is Noa, your poor servant, Your Highness.” Lucas frowned. So this man is my grandfather’s lackey. He didn’t need anyone to watch over him. He was capable of protecting himself. “I was there the night Alfred attacked you. And I saw with my own eyes how much you cared about that woman,” Noa continued, probably noticing that

A gentle shake on Maxine’s shoulders woke her up.Still half-asleep, she slowly opened her eyes and only then realized they were already in front of the mansion. She had slept through the entire ride without noticing.She quickly composed herself before getting out of the car.“Have we been here long?” she asked Hevo as she unbuckled her seatbelt.“Kind of,” he replied.Maxine frowned slightly and looked at him. If that was the case, why didn’t he wake her up?“You were sleeping so soundly, I just let you be,” Hevo explained.Maxine glanced at her watch, and her eyes widened in shock at the time.Good heavens—it was already eleven in the evening.“Oh no. You should’ve woken me up,” she said in a panic. “Bye, Hevo. Thanks for the ride!”She quickly got out of the car and hurried toward the gate.She no longer heard whether Hevo responded, as she was rushing too much. Her mother might start thinking all sorts of things again, especially since she had been coming home late more often lat

“F*CK!”The curse escaped Lucas’s lips as he abruptly stepped away from his big bike. His hands tightened into fists as frustration and worry consumed him. Instead of heading toward the university exit, he turned back and walked across the school grounds, his destination clear—the COM Department.He could not calm himself.The thought of Maxine being with Hevo was enough to make his chest tighten with an emotion he had no right to feel.Fear.He knew Maxine liked Hevo. He also knew that Hevo felt the same way about her. The realization alone was enough to stir something unpleasant inside him.Jealousy.D*mn it.Once again, he found himself acting like a jealous boyfriend when he had no claim over her. He had no right to feel this way. He knew the rules.CANIS belonged to CANIS.That was the law they lived by.But how could he stop himself?He might have been a wolf, but he was still capable of feeling. Just like humans and every other living creature, he had a heart—a heart that he co

TO be honest, if the food placed in front of Maxine had already been cooked, she probably would not have hesitated to eat it. But the ingredients served on the table were still raw.Despite the beautiful presentation and the tempting appearance created by the variety of ingredients arranged before her, it still failed to appeal to her taste.“Are you ready for our date later?” Lucas asked.Maxine could not stop herself from letting out a quiet sigh.That was yet another problem occupying her thoughts.She did not have a proper dress.She did not even have the slightest idea where Lucas planned to take her.“I’ll pick you up later,” Lucas reminded her.She had no choice but to silently accept it.Whatever happened later, she would just have to face it.After eating, they immediately headed to the university. Maxine finished the meal Lucas ordered for her, but she could not honestly say she enjoyed it. She barely chewed every bite, swallowing almost immediately as her mind remained else

LUCAS strode ahead of Maxine and headed toward the university parking lot.“What on earth were you saying back there?” Maxine snapped, hurrying after him. “You shouldn’t have played along with that girl’s scheme.”“Will you just shut your mouth for once?”Irritated, Lucas stopped and turned to face her.She had been talking nonstop ever since they left, complaining and grumbling without pause.“Why did you even agree to it? Now I’ll look like—”“Affected?” Lucas cut in.Maxine fell silent.For a moment, she simply stared at him before letting out a long breath.“Do you still have another class?”One of Lucas’s eyebrows rose.I can’t believe this.“So you are affected.”“I’m not.”Not affected?Yet he had noticed every glance she had thrown toward Hevo. He had noticed the subtle changes in her behavior after what had happened.Lucas merely shook his head and turned away before climbing onto his motorcycle.The truth was, he still had class.Not that he had enrolled because he wanted to

LUCAS watched Maxine closely as she ate. He’d brought her to the cafeteria hoping to lift her spirits somehow.“How many times do I have to tell you to behave when you eat in front of me?” he chided, watching her practically inhale her food.“Why?” Maxine asked around a mouthful, then took another oversized bite of pizza roll.“You look gross. It’s a turn-off.”She frowned but said nothing.“Why aren’t you eating? I thought you were hungry,” she asked after a moment.Thank goodness she was a little slow on the uptake, he thought, letting out a quiet breath of relief. It seemed she hadn’t understood what he’d really meant earlier.“I don’t like how this food looks.”“But it tastes way better than those leaves you always eat.”He frowned. “What leaves?”“The cabbage. Why do you even like that stuff so much?”“It’s good, actually. Want me to make some for you?”“No way. Not my thing at all.”He scowled again. She ought to like the things he liked too. “Hurry up already.”LUCAS walked sil