Lahat ng Kabanata ng More Than The Marriage: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

Dumaan ang isang linggo na puro numbers, soil cores, at draft schedules. I buried myself in data—as if puwedeng tabunan ng figures ang kaba na hindi mawala sa dibdib ko.Moisture levels, compaction rates, transect grids. Pinilit kong gawing sapat ang trabaho para hindi ko marinig ang sarili kong isip.Tuesday morning, habang sinusuri ko ang moisture data ay may pumasok na email.From: Iris Velasco, Office of the CEOSubject: Site Visit Schedule — Madriaga x AgriTerraDear Ms. Reyes,Please find below the proposed itinerary for the San Felipe Rehabilitation Project:Day 1 – Safety orientation, warehouse audit, composting facility walkthrough (Barangay San Isidro).Day 2 – Soil cores and transect mapping, Upper Montemar lots.Day 3 – Grower huddle with tenant leaders, rotation calendar sign-off (Hacienda Norte).Transport and PPE are provided. Kindly share additional equipment 24 hours prior.Team dinn

The hum of the engine filled the silence.Just the low vibration of Zed’s car and the occasional sweep of headlights cutting through the provincial road.I sat in the passenger seat, bag clutched against my chest as if it could shield me. My ankle throbbed under the bandage, every bump in the road reminding me I wasn’t fine. The air smelled faintly of leather and of him—comforting and suffocating at the same time.“I-I’m fine. Hindi mo naman kailangan na personal akong dalhin sa ospital. O kaya kahit si Ezra or Iris na lang sana.” Basag ko sa katahimikan, forcing a lightness I didn’t feel.His hands didn’t leave the wheel, but I noticed his knuckles whiten against the leather grip.“You worked under my supervision. Of course, I’ll be held responsible,” he said evenly, eyes fixed on the road.“Pero not up to this point,” I pushed, almost stubborn. “Ano na lang iisipin ng subordinates mo, Sir?” Diniinan ko ang Sir, parang sandata.

It had been two days since the presentation. Work settled into its usual rhythm—reports, calls, quiet lunches at my desk. I tried to bury myself in the numbers, but Sofia’s sudden reappearance lingered at the edges of my thoughts.So when Iris sent a message about a small dinner gathering—“team appreciation,” she called it—I almost didn’t go. Almost.Nagsuot ako ng cream trouser pants na nabili ko sa tiangge, pinalamutian ng brown na belt. Pinili ko rin ang cream top at brown coat na nabili ko sa mall noong nakaipon-ipon na ako. Pinaresan ko ‘yon ng beige flat shoes. Hinayaan ko lang nakalugay ang buhok ko, saka nilagyan ng puting hairclip ang nagpupumilit kong bangs. I reached for my small handbag, sakto lang para sa cellphone at wallet.Palabas na ako ng gate ng apartment nang makasalubong ko si Aling Puring.“Aba, ka-ganda mo naman, Aya. Saan ang punta mo? May date ka?” biro niya, habang nakahalukipkip.Bahagya akong natawa saka umilin

I woke up with my alarm. It was Sunday, and I planned to go to church in Greenbelt, maybe stroll around after. Isa ’to sa mga sinabi ni Mira na puntahan ko noong bago lang ako rito sa Maynila.Tumihaya ako saka mahigpit na niyakap ang unan.Gising na kaya siya?I opened my messages and started typing.To: Mr. ZedrickHave a blessed—Binura ko agad, saka marahang inilapag ang phone sa mesa. Sakto namang tumunog ito—notification. Agad ko itong sinilip.Bahagyang bumagsak ang balikat ko nang makitang galing kay Sir Leo.Good morning. Report to the office early tomorrow, and coordinate with Mr. Cruz. You’ll have a 9 a.m. meeting with the Madriagas. Prepare your progress reports to be presented to them. We’ll have a quick prior meeting at the office by 8 a.m.Humigpit ang hawak ko sa cellphone. Madriagas.I shook my head, trying to shake off the nagging weight pressing against my chest.The chur

Walang may gustong umimik pagkatapos ng lahat ng nangyari. Nakaalis na sina Mr. at Mrs. Madriaga, at sa huli ay naiwan kaming dalawa ni Zed sa loob ng opisina. “I meant everything I said earlier,” he began in a low voice as he walked toward me. Halos mabuwal ako sa kinatatayuan ko, the weight of his words pressing harder than I expected. Pinilit kong salubungin ang mga mata niya, searching for something—an anchor, a truth, maybe even a lie. Pero ang nakita ko lang ay kung gaano katotoo ang emosyon na nandoon. My eyes began to sting, warmth gathering before I could stop it. “I-I don’t know what to say,” garalgal kong sagot, halos pabulong. Zed stopped just a breath away, close enough na ramdam ko ang init ng presensya niya. His hand hovered for a moment near my arm—halos parang gustong humawak pero pinigilan. His voice softened, almost a whisper but deliberate enough for me to hear. “I like you, Rai. I hope… you’ll stay this time.” Napatigil ako, the words sinking deep int