"Breathe in and pulse! One two three four..."
Anna was steadying her breathing habang nakikinig sa Pilates instructor nya. She's currently in her light blue Pilates set - a skimpy sports bra enough to show the right amount of cleavage and a well-fitted pair of leggings that hug her ass quite well. She's very slim. Her physique is a typical yoga slash Pilates girlie bod. And she likes it that way. Her boobs might not be that big but her perky ass will speak for itself.
She's always been the type to love herself and her body so well. Ever since her recent break-up with her long time boyfriend of five years and ex-fiancé Malcolm, mas naging frequent na ang workouts niya. Halos umaabot na ng three times sa isang linggo na dati naman ay parang twice a month lang. With the wedding planning now on hold, she's got a lot more free time on her hands.
While doing her pulses, biglang tumunog ang smartphone niya. Didn't she put her phone on silent before her Pilates class started?
"Anna?" tanong ng instructor niya na medyo nairita sa ingay ng telepono niya.
"I'm sorry, Coach. Wait lang!" So Anna immediately stood up from her reformer to get her phone from her bag na nasa kabilang dulo ng maliit na studio. She quickly answered it after seeing her mom's name pop on screen.
"Yes, Ma?" she whispered. She stepped out of the room para hindi naman makaistorbo sa ongoing class. Her mom never calls, only when there's an emergency. So there better be a good reason for her calling at such a precious hour. Ang mahal kaya ng Pilates classes.
"Hija, tawag ng tawag ang designer mo. Hindi ka daw sumipot sa fitting supposedly today. Doesn't she know that the wedding is cancelled?"
She silently cursed to herself and checked her calendar. Yup, there's a supposed appointment today that she forgot to cancel... For one, hindi pa kasi announced sa lahat ng guests at suppliers ang cancelled wedding nila ng ex-fiance niya. It's only been four weeks.
"Sorry, Ma. Ikaw na lang magsabi na cancelled na ang kasal at hindi ko na kailangan ng wedding gown ngayon."
"You should start announcing it to everyone. Sayang ang oras at pera ng mga tao."
Why is it my problem now? Sino ba ang iniwan ng fiance sa ere? "Okay, Ma. I will. I'm sorry," she apologized as a dutiful daughter. Growing up, it has always been that way. She was always respectful, obedient and the fixer. She will do absolutely anything for her parents because she loves them. Pero hanggang ngayon ba?
Isn't she allowed to grieve for a bit? Kahit one month lang?
"Alright, i'll see you later over dinner. Your dad invited over your Titas and cousins for his birthday dinner. For sure, they'll be asking about your upcoming wedding. So at least, be prepared to answer their questions."
"Yes, Ma," she drily answered. It's been a month. Pero bakit parang walang pakialam si Malcolm? He's not even helping her cancel suppliers. Bigla na lang itong naglaho sa mundo? Malcolm's mom might be nice but she's also not one to help her with these things. So ngayon, lahat ng burden ng pag-cancel ng suppliers ay biglang nasa kanya?
"See you later, hija. Please wear blue. It looks better on you," pahabol na utos pa ng Mama niya before dropping the call.
She just stared at her phone for a good minute bago huminga muli ng malalim. How can she face her whole family with an embarrassing truth? Paano niya sasabihin sa buong pamilya niya that her supposed fiance left her and disappeared from the world?
At bakit siya ang nakaatas na mag-ayos ng lahat ng gulong ito?
She just breathed deeply at inayos ang high bun hairstyle niya bago pumasok muli ng studio. As always, ganoon naman di ba? She's always left to be the more mature one.
****
"Mayor, anong masasabi ninyo sa panibagong kasong kinasasangkutan ngayon ni Congressman Lito Ozaeta na tiyuhin ninyo?" tanong ng isa sa mga reporters na humahabol ngayon kay Marcus. He just got out of a press conference to launch a building project sa siyudad na pinamumunuan niya. And already, the reporters are bombarding him with useless allegations against his uncle.
He just smiled at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. His aides were already controlling the reporters and the growing crowd. Well, he's the city Mayor and also a handsome bachelor kaya hindi talaga maiiwasang may humabol na mga reporters palagi at mga fans sa kanya.
But he would always gladly oblige, kaya ngumiti siya at tumingin sa mga camera na nandoon. He did a quick wink at pagkatapos ay sumakay na sa black SUV na pumarada sa harap ng city hall.
Pagkasakay na pagkasakay ay sumunod naman ang mga aides niya. At habang umaandar na ang sasakyan, saka niya pinalabas ang napakalalim na buntong-hininga.
"So what now? Ano na naman ang ginawa ng Tito ko?" Marcus asked his first aide Ford.
"Sexual harassment, sir. Isa sa mga secretary sa kongreso," naiiling na sagot ni Ford.
"That motherfucker," Marcus cursed. "Mambababae na nga lang, hindi pa 'yong gusto rin siya."
"Matanda na kasi, sir. 'Di naman kagaya nyo na batang-bata pa at gwapo," natatawang sagot ng driver-aide naman niya na si Lexus. "Kaya kahit sinong babae, yes lang ng yes."
"Well, that's true," mayabang na sagot niya. "Anyway, enough of that man, saan ang sunod na lakad natin?"
His third aide Jaguar pulled out a tablet at tiningnan ang latest schedule niya. "Sir, sa may De Guia Commercial Building. Kailangan mo lang magpakita for cafe opening. Yung owner ay malaking donor sa pinapatayo nating hospital ngayon. Kailangan mo lang magbigay ng Opening Remarks. Eto yung kopya para ma-practice mo man lang."
Tinanggap ni Marcus ang iniabot na papel para mabilisang basahin. In less than ten minutes ay narating nila ang De Guia Commercial building. Maraming establishments doon at kitang kita ang mga balloons sa Grand Opening ng isang cafe sa first floor.
"Mag park na lang ako sa gilid. Ibaba ko na kayo dito, sir," wika ni Lexus.
Pagbaba nila ng sasakyan ay napatingin halos lahat ng mga bisita sa harapan ng cafe. At nang makita ng mga tao na si Marcus ang paparating, nagtilian pa ang ibang mga kababaihan.
"Grabe talaga kayo sir," kumento ni Ford. "Basta sa mga chiks, ang lakas 'nyo."
"Ganyan talaga. Anyway, can I first find a restroom. Mabilis lang ako," paalam ni Marcus sa aide.
"Samahan ko kayo, sir."
"No need," tanggi ni Marcus kay Ford. "Talk to the owners and let them know I'm here already. We can start the program soon."
Ford nodded at humarang sa papalapit na mga tao kay Marcus.
Marcus walked faster ng makita ang restroom signage sa dulo ng first floor. Maraming ibang tao pang nandoon ang napapatingin sa kanya as the first floor of the building also has other shops - a restaurant, a pawnshop and some clothing boutiques.
Nang mapansin niya na may babaeng gusto siyang sundan at kausapin, he walked even faster at halos papatakbo na papuntang restroom. He's not in the mood to entertain for now 'cause he wanted to pee so bad. Isa pa, hindi naman maganda yung babae so wala siyang pakialam.
He reached the men's restroom at isinarado iyon. And when he turned around, a woman was staring back at her, wide-eyed, and was just in her panties.
Of course, the woman screamed right after. "Who the fuck are you!!!!! Pervert!!!!"
Marcus quickly turned around. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Miss. I didn't mean to. I didn't see you there! I'm sorry!"
"Who the fuck do you think you are at pumapasok ka na lang basta-basta sa restroom ng hindi man lang kumakatok?" galit na galit na tanong ng babae.
Marcus can hear her quickly dressing up.
"With all due respect, Miss. I didn't know you were here. And by the way, this is the men's restroom."
"I don't care. I needed to pee so bad at may tao sa women's restroom kanina. Couldn't you at least have knocked?"
"Well, I was... running away from someone."
"Or you're just a pervert?"
"I am not," iritang sagot ni Marcus na ngayon ay humarap na sa babae.
"What the- I'm still in my bra!" The woman said while trying to smoothe over her sweater.
"You know what, Miss. I don't care as well. I'm here to pee in the men's restroom and I am a male. You're not. Also, I am not a pervert. You could have locked your door but you did not. This is all a mistake. Kung naghintay ka na lang sa women's restroom, wala sanang gulo."
"Kung kumatok ka sana, nalaman mong may taong nakahubad dito."
That got him staring. She really is still slightly naked now in her sports bra and a pair of work out leggings. And damn, she looks really hot. "Well, you're not naked anymore. And who pees while naked anyway? Tinatanggal ba talaga ang bra while pee-ing? For all I know, you were doing something nasty here."
Her jaw dropped. "I was... I was..." And she pointed to a white gown all dumped on the right side of the restroom. And tears started streaming down the woman's cheeks.
"What the-," he cursed to himself while the woman started sobbing. "Are you okay, Miss?"
The sobbing turned into hiccups.
So he had no choice but to look for tissue at iniabot iyon sa babae. But her hands were now cupping her face blocking her view of him. So he did the most logical thing he could think of... hug and comfort her. He pulled her to his chest.
The woman still continued crying, unaffected by his comfort. Naramdaman ni Marcus na nababasa na ng kaunti ang barong na suot niya.
"Miss, what happened? Did someone try to harass you here? Just let me know... I can help you. We'll report it to the police."
She didn't answer and kept on sobbing even louder.
So he patted her back and hugged her tighter. What the hell is wrong with this woman? In just a span of five minutes, Marcus saw her naked, angry and vulnerable all at the same time.
And just when he was about to push her out of his embrace, biglang nagbukas ang restroom door and cameras started flickering taking photos of them both, hugging... obviously in a very compromising position.
And take note: the woman's dress was all bunched up on the floor and she was only in her barely-there workout set.
*****
July 27, 2026
Hi, guys!
It's been a while since I updated here. I wanted to go back to use Wattpad again as an outlet for my emotions and a source of inspiration. I went through a touch transition phase in my life - broke up with a long-term boyfriend whom I thought I was gonna marry. And now, I'm back to exploring singlehood.
I'm loving being single, spending time with myself and dating again. It's really, really fun. So I thought I'd share here some spark / new ideas coming from my own life experiences so far, but of course, twisted and wrapped in fictional romance.
Hope you enjoy and like this new love story. And I hope it also gives me inspiration to chase after a better love story for myself.