Thaliah

"For real?!"

I said excitedly, the man nodded his head.

"Yes, I'll take you anywhere you'd like to go today."

He said making me grin happily.

"That's a promise okay?! If you break it I will gagalit to you! Bumawi ka saakin kasi ilang araw kang busy!"

I hissed, the man just chuckled then messed my hair, I glared at him.

"I will."

He said then winked at me.

A dream again? Why do I keep forgetting the man's face when I wake up. It's just a dream though, but it always felt real.

I yawned then just upo na to the kama, I will do my morning routine na, it seems like Azarel already left to jog, he didn't even gising me, I frowned.

Three months after we decided to not annul anymore, 4 months since we got married, I need to go back to manila soon, I'll discuss it to Azarel later. I honestly would miss this place though, I can't help but feel sad, but I can always come back.

It's just that I already feel attached to La Muerte, especially this hacienda. It always felt like I've always been here, it felt like this has been my home ever since.

After I got ready na, I went to the baba, to do some zumba with my kumares, it took us an hour again as usual then I tulong to ate Dindy and Gwen to distribute the sopas that they luto.

"Aba Ms min--Ms byutipul! ate Rosing, sumesexy ka ata ngayon ah. Sumasama ka pala sa zumba? di na ata kailangan kasi sexy ka na! Hala ang ganda ng skin mo ngayon teh anong sekreto mo?"

I heard Apolinario said to ate Rosing, they call her Ms minchin here.

"Ako'y tigil tigilan mo Apolinario! Magbayad ka ng utang mo, kung ayaw mong kunin ko iyang itak at mataga na kita! Ang tagal na non, baka gusto mong ipakulong kita?"

She said while nanggigigil, her eyes and the holes of her nose are bigger than usual while glaring at Apolinario as if she's really to kill him.

"Eto naman si Ate Rosing, magbabayad naman ho, medyo kulang lang yung hulog ngayon hehe."

What he said just made ate rosing angrier and was about to hit him with her tsinelas, but apolinario immidiately ran.

"Ms minchin panget!"

He shouted, I feel like Ate rosing will burn everything up in this moment.

"Tarantado ka talaga apolinario! yung utang mo!"

Shre shputed back, I just shrugged then went to her direction.

"How much is his utang po ba?"

I asked, she immidiately harap to me with a smile on her face.

"500 ho senyorita."

To make the story short, I ended up paying for it. 

After I took a bath, I heard my phone ringing,  I automatically smiled when I saw that it's mom.

"Hi mom! I miss you!"

I said happily when I saw her.

"Hi Thaliah!"

My dad greeted me when he saw me.

"Hi dad! how are you? how's the medication going?"

I asked.

"Well I'm better now, I ican even lift your mom now!"

He laughed, that made me giggle.

"You still shouldn't pagod yourself too much, and sundin your doctor's instructions."

I paalala to him.

"Your father can completely recover, he just needs to completely rest, good thing he's not too hard headed right now or I might be the one who'll die first out of worry."

She chuckled making me smile.

"Mabuti naman, I'm nag aalala too, but rinig that made me feel at ease."

I said.

"Don't mind me here, just enjoy your stay there with Alpha, I'm confident that he's treating you well."

My dad uttered, I nodded my head on him.

"Indeed."

I smiled.

"That's good to hear, I miss you."

Mom said, I pouted.

"I miss you too, both of you."

I smiled at them brightly, we talked for an hour, I told them my routine here and the fun things I did, my dates with Azarel and other things. It's a bit sad that we had to end the call na, but I'm really happy that I got to talk to them more.

"They called?"

Azarel who just came said then back hugged me.

"Hmm.."

I pouted, he smiled then gave me a peck on my lips.

"Is your meeting done na?"

I asked, he nodded his head.

"Yes."

He said then closed his eyes and rested his chin on my shoulders while still hugging me.

"I am thinking about going balik na to Manila, I have some things I need to asikaso and I am wala there for so tagal na."

I said, Azarel sniffed my neck making me  bit my lips.

"Why don't you build another branch here in La Muerte? There are many rich families and gatherings here."

He uttered.

"Yes I've thougt about that, maybe after I finished the things I should do in Manila."

I responded.

"I'll go with you then."

Azarel said while started kissing my lips, I pouted.

"hmm o-okay."

I answered, his hands started crawiling from my stomach to my non existent breasts as he started playing with my nipples.

"Were gonna eat lunch soon Darleng."

I pouted, he just playfully smiled at me.

"I know, I'm eating my lunch now."

I smiled.

"Darleng someone might hear me again!"

I suway him, Azarel laughed then kissed my forehead.

"I'm just teasing you."

He smiled then held my hand and kissed the back of it, I just iling iling my ulo to him.

After our lunch, I went to the room, I use to work for my designs. I decided to ligpit na some gamit since I will leave this place soon and I need to take some things with me.

My phone again rang, it'a an unknown number this time, thinking that it might be a client, I immidiatly answered it.

"Thaliah, this is geoff!"

The man on the other line said.

"Uhh who are you?"

I asked, he seems familiar but I can't remember so he might not be important.

"Stop joking Thaliah, I am always with you for a month before your wedding with that asshole."

He hissed, my noo got kunot.

"That annoying guy that always sunod like aso? And my husband is deffinitely not an asshole, you're the asshole for saying that."

I hissed.

"What are you saying? did he brain wash you?"

He said with an angry tone, is this man baliw?

"Bye!"

I said, I'll certainly block him after this call.

"Wait!"

He shouted, my isang brow got taas to that.

"I already know that your parents forced you marry him, I've been trying to help you get out of that place but the security is just too tight. Please Thaliah, let me help you get out of that misery."

He said acting all concerned, seriously? I know he's doing this because he has motives. I also remembered his name reported to me when I decided to investigate and ask an agent friend of mine. He's the one who keeps atempting to abduct me, why would I trust him.

"Thank you for your concern whoever you are but I think you're mistaken. I did married him because of my parents, but I love my husband. What made you think that I'm in misery? I'm sorry but I don't know you, don't bother me ever again."

I said then ended the call and immidiately blocked him. Is that man delusional or something? If my memory is right, I only went out with him once and it's for business. After that he just keep following me around and sending gifts, it's annoying.

I shrugged, Azarel is currently busy with his work, I am done with my designs so I'm just tidying things up in here. I was moving the box when I suddenly tripped, good thing I just landed on the cabinet near me making it move for a little.

I frowned and lapag the box to move back the cabinet and I pansin something on the lapag.

There's like a sirang part of the wooden sahig,  hole on the floor that has a square lata that seems luma na, parang it's lalagyan of biscuits. It has designs painted on it but not that visible na.

"Thaliah Magdalene?"

I've red the name written on it, is it just a coincidence? why is name written on it? Though my dad told me that we did took a vacation here when I was a child and I couldn't really remember it, is this mine?

But the caligraphy of my name written is the same caligraphy I use when I was 17 or 18?

"What? I'm confused."

I frowned and kuha my gunting to bukas the takip of the container.

I squated and opened it, revealing a bunch of pictures with messages on the back. My eyes widened, it's bunch of my pictures with Azarel?

"This was taken when I was 5, mom said I was so attached with kuya Azarel so I kept this. I just found this today, mom said I croed so hard when Kuya left to study in Denmark" -Magdalene

The picture is the child me and a green eyed tall kid which I think is Azarel carrying me while I am hugging him.

Yes they did told me about me and Azarel when I was a kid but I couldn't remember it.

"I'm in a vacation here in La Muerte, I'm so cute in this selfie but there is a photo bomber at the back, he's so gwapo but so cold and kinda scary, he doesn't talk that much too. Dad said he is the son of Ninong and Ninang who just came from Denmark, they said we were close before but I don't remember it anymore since I was just 5 that time and it's awkward to talk to him now, I'm keeping this picture though, I forgive him for photo bombing since he's gwapo naman." - Magdalene

What is this? how come I don't remember this? I'm 12 or 13 the way I look in this picture, why wouldn't I remember? My memory isn't that bad!

"Thaliah this is Alphaeus Azarel, anak ng tita mo."

Mom said happily, I smiled at him while the tall guy just stared at me.

"Hello po."

I said, he just nodded his head, Ninang batok him tuloy.

"Greet Thaliah properly Alphaeus Azarel! She's saying hello!"

She hissed, the guy looked at me with those pair of green eyes.

"Hello."

He greeted, I smiled at him brightly, but still no reaction.

"A-Ahh.."

I frowned, My head is kinda masakit, I just shook my head and continued browsing the photos.

"I was so happy this day, it's been months since I became close with Kuya Azarel, he might be cold but he's really caring, he's kinda protective too. Today he took me on a picnic here in our secret hideout in the hill and sang a song, he look kinda grumpy on this photo, pero gwapo padin naman. " - Magdalene.

No way, this is definitely me! At 15! why don't I remember this? I'm confused, I'm so confused.

"I took this photo with him while we were eating street foods, I told him I have a crush on him today and his reaction looks funny, I do have a crush with him though." -Magdalene

No, this is suppose to be memorable, if I were 15 or 16 this time and I seems to know him for a long time in this age, then I am supposed to remember this moments.

"He was so late! I was about to cry when I thought he wouldn't come. But atleast he did fulfilled his promise. He is my last dance tonight, everyone already came home after the fun, and only staffs are left, I am so glad he still came, I will cherish this memory forever. I think I'm inlove with him." - Magdalene

The next picture is me on a prom gown on an empty hall, we were both smiling on the picture. Tears fell from my eyes as I picture a scene of me an younger looking Azarel dancing slowly, it's making my head ache.

"This is the best birthday ever! Azarel is now my boyfriend! On my 18th birthday, he confessed, I couldn't sleep tuloy, I feel so happy! he told me that he loves me too."- Magdalene

The picture of me and Azarel dancing while I am holding bunch of roses, my heart raced as tears continue falling from my eyes. The next one is not a picture but a crumpled paper.

"I hate him and Trina..."

My head started aching more, as some memories popped on my head.

"Ahhh!!!"

I shouted, I am in so much pain, my head spins as darkness slowly swallowed my consciousness.