Isang librong may anim na kwento ng kababalaghan na tiyak na magpapatindig ng inyong mga balahibo. UNANG KWENTO: Boarder IKALAWANG KWENTO: Ang Kwintas ni Lola IKATLONG KWENTO: Obra Maestra IKAAPAT NA KWENTO: The Cursed Tattoo IKALIMANG KWENTO: Diet HULING KWENTO: Ang Bangungot na Dreamboy
Inilibot ni Josie ang tingin sa loob ng kwarto. Pink na pink iyon kaya't halatang babae ang dating boarder doon. Unang kita pa lang niya sa kwartong iyon ay nagustuhan niya kaagad. Dala na niya ang mga gamit nang bumalik siya sa bahay na iyon. Tamang-tama naman dahil malapit lang iyon sa pinagtatrabahuan niya.
Mababait ang mukha ng mag-asawang may-ari ng bahay na iyon. Nag-abroad na raw kasi ang nag-iisang anak ng mga ito kaya't pinaparentahan na lang nila.
Agad na napalingon siya nang pumasok ang lalaking may-ari ng bahay na bitbit ang may kalakihang maleta niya.
" Salamat po, Mang Roger," nakangiting sabi niya sa matanda na tinulungan ito sa pagbitbit.
" Walang anuman. Masaya kami at may makakasama na kami ng asawa ko. Nakakalungkot din kasi na kaming dalawa lang ang andito sa bahay," nakangiti ring sagot ng malapit nang mag singkwenta na lalaki.
Pumasok na rin ang asawa nito na sa tingin niya ay nasa early forties.
" Gusto mo bang tulungan na kita sa pag-aayos ng mga gamit mo?" nakangiting tanong ng babae.
" Ay, huwag na po. Kaya ko na po ito," nahihiyang sagot niya.
" Oh, sige, iha. Josie ang pangalan mo, di ba? Sige, Josie, lalabas na kami para makapagpahinga ka na riyan," sabi nito na hinila na ang asawang lalaki palabas ng kwarto.
" Opo, Josie po ang pangalan ko. Maraming salamat po uli," sagot niya.
Ngumiti si Mang Roger sa kanya bago nito isinara ang pinto ng kwarto. Nagbayad na siya ng two months na renta kay Aling Margie, ang asawa nito.
Pabagsak na humiga siya sa kama habang nakatingin sa kisame. Ang lambot ng kama at pink din ang bedsheet nu'n. Agad rin naman siyang bumangon para ayusin na ang mga gamit. May malaking kabinet din sa loob kaya't ilalagay na lang niya ang mga damit doon. Tanging damit lang naman ang dala niya at wala nang iba pa.
Kasali sa buwanang upa niya ang pagkain niya sa araw-araw. Habang kumakain sila ay panay ang tanong nito sa kanya. Nagkukwento rin naman ang mga ito lalo na tungkol sa anak nila.
Nakaugalian na niyang maligo bago matulog. Isa lang ang banyo sa bahay at malapit iyon sa kusina. Malapit nang mag-alas diyes ng gabi at kanina pa umakyat sa kwarto nila ang mag-asawa. Bitbit niya ang towel nang pumasok siya ng banyo. Mabilis naman siyang maligo at dahil alam niyang siya na lang ang gising sa baba ay ibinalabal na lang niya ang towel pagkaligo. Muntik pa siyang mapasigaw sa gulat nang makitang nakaupo sa may kusina si Mang Roger.
" Nagulat ba kita, ineng?" nakangiting tanong nito na tiningnan pa ang kabuuan niya.
" Opo, Mang Roger. Akala ko kasi ay tulog na kayo." Naiilang siya dahil nakatapis lang siya ng tuwalya.
" Pasensiya na. Uminom lang ako ng tubig kasi nauhaw ako," sagot nito na hindi inaalis ang tingin sa kanya.
" Ay, sige po. Mauuna na ako sa inyo," magalang na sabi niya saka mabilis na umalis sa harap nito.
Parang nanindig ang mga balahibo niya dahil pakiramdam niya ay sinusundan siya nito ng tingin. Mabilis na isinara niya ang pinto ng kwarto at ikinandado iyon. Pinapagalitan niya naman ang sarili dahil parang nag-iisip siya ng masama sa matanda kahit na ambait naman ng mga ito sa kanya.
Inalis na niya sa isip ang pagkailang dito at nagbihis na agad. Pinatuyo niya muna ang basang buhok saka siya humiga sa kama para matulog na. Agad na nakatulog siya pagkapikit pa lang niya ng mga mata.
Tulungan mo ako...
Tulungan mo ako...
TULUNGAN MO AKO!!!
Bigla siyang napadilat at napabalikwas ng bangon nang parang may sumigaw malapit sa tenga niya. Pinagpapwisang inilibot niya ang tingin sa kwarto. Hindi niya napatay ang ilaw kaya't maliwanag na maliwanag ang kwarto. Mag-aalas tres pa lang ng umaga nang tingnan niya ang relo.
Bumangon siya at lumabas ng kwarto para uminom ng tubig. Hindi na niya ini-on ang ilaw sa kusina dahil kukuha lang naman siya ng tubig sa loob ng ref. Mabilis na ininom niya ang isang baso ng tubig at nang maisara niya ang ref ay dumilim na rin ang palibot. Napatitig siya sa isa sa upuan na malapit sa mesa. Para kasing may porma ng babae doon na nakaupo. Binuksan niya uli ang ref para magkailaw konti at hindi inaalis ang tingin sa upuan. Nakita niyang wala namang tao roon.
Hindi siya matatakutin na tao kaya't sa tuwing may makikita siyang parang kung ano ay sinisiguro niya muna baka kasi namamalik-mata lang siya. Agad na isinara na niya uli ang ref at kibit-balikat na umalis na ng kusina para bumalik ng kwarto. Hindi na niya tiningnan pa ang upuan sa may kusina.
Pinatay na rin niya ang ilaw sa kwarto at nahiga na uli para bumalik ng tulog. Alas otso kasi ang pasok niya kaya't kailangan niyang gumising bago pa mag-alas otso. Pagkatulog niyang iyon ay nananaginip na naman siya.
Nakita niya ang isang babaeng nakatalikod at nakasuot ng isang uniform. Mukha itong estudyante. Umiiyak ito. Dahan-dahan niyang nilapitan ang babae.
" Miss, okay ka lang?"
Wala siyang narinig na sagot dito. Patuloy pa rin ito sa pag-iyak. Nag-aatubiling hahawakan sana niya ang balikat nito pero bago pa man niya nahawakan iyon ay bigla itong humarap sa kanya.
" Umalis ka!" sigaw nito sa mukha niya.
Nanlaki ang mga mata niya hindi dahil sa sigaw nito kundi sa mukha nitong nakakapangilabot. Halos lumuwa na ang dalawang mata nito at ang ilong ay halos matanggal na. Parang pinagbagsakan ng kung ano'ng mabigat na bagay ang pagmumukha ng babae. Punong-puno rin ng dugo iyon pati na ang puting uniform nito.
Malalakas na katok sa pinto ang nagpagising sa kanya.
" Josie! Josie!" boses ni Aling Margie ang tumatawag sa kanya.
Malalakas ang mga katok pati ang boses ng babae nang tawagin siya. Wala sa loob na tumayo siya at pinagbuksan ito. Nakita niya ang nag-aalalang mukha ng mag-asawa.
" B-bakit ho?" nagtatakang tanong niya.
Nagkatinginan ang mga ito bago bumaling uli sa kanya.
" Sumigaw ka kasi kaya't akala namin ay may nangyari nang masama sa iyo," sagot ng babae.
Napakurap-kurap siya. Saka lang niya naalala ang napanaginipan.
" P-pasensiya na po. Binangungot yata ako," nahihiyang sabi niya sa mag-asawa. Naabala pa niya ang mga ito.
" Ano'ng napanaginipan mo?" tanong ni Mang Roger.
" Hindi ko na po matandaan, eh," pagsisinungaling niya dahil ayaw na niyang ikwento ang panaginip.
Matagal na tinititigan siya ng dalawa.
" Siguradong okay ka na?" tanong uli ni Aling Margie.
Kiming ngumiti siya at tumango.
Zyline had liked Nick for a long time. There were six of them in their group of friends, including Nick. Everyone knew about her feelings for him-except, it seemed, Nick himself. She couldn't tell if he was just insensitive or if he simply didn't have any feelings for her. Brent was her closest best friend among all of them, and even though she was too shy to tell him about her feelings for Nick, he knew anyway. What if, one night, Brent kissed her and said they should give it a try? She couldn't deny the spark she felt when he kissed her. She agreed to what he wanted-they would try to be together but in secret. Now, she was utterly confused. When Brent thought that she still had feelings for Nick, he suddenly left and disappeared without a word. That's when Nick finally pursued her for real. But why, instead of being happy-finally noticed by Nick as a woman-did her heart keep longing for Brent? Brent, who hadn't reached out to her since the night when something almost happened between them.
Because of the strong desire to give the best treatment for her mother after her stroke, Samantha was forced to accept the offer to dance for a client, Mr. MC. She is a private sexy dancer of a wealthy man. She hasn't seen his face not even once because he always wears a masquerade mask when she dances in front of him. She needs to give him a good show to warm his night just by dancing. Just watch, no-touch, that's it! When she got to know his personality, she gradually fell in love with the man. Will she be able to fight how she feels with the person who pays her just because of her body? What if the agreement ends when the woman he was supposed to marry returns?
Matagal nang may gusto si Zyline kay Nick. Anim silang magkakabarkada kasali si Nick. Alam na ng lahat ang pagtatangi niya sa kaibigan maliban na lang yata rito. Hindi niya alam kung manhid lang ito or talagang wala lang gusto sa kanya. Si Brent ang pinaka-bestfriend niya sa lahat ng mga kaibigan niya at kahit hindi niya sinasabi rito ang nararamdaman kay Nick dahil sa hiya ay may pakiramdam siyang alam din iyon ni Brent. Paano kung isang gabi ay hinalikan siya ni Brent at sinabing subukan nila? Hindi niya maikakaila ang kuryenteng naramdaman nang halikan siya ng kaibigan. Pinagbigyan niya ito sa gusto nitong mangyari. Susubukan nilang maging sila pero palihim. Ngayon ay litong-lito na siya. Sa pag-aakala ni Brent na si Nick pa rin ang gusto niya ay bigla itong umalis at hindi na nagpakita. Saka naman siya niligawan na nang tuluyan ni Nick. Pero bakit sa halip na maging masaya at sa wakas ay napansin na rin siya ni Nick bilang babae ay si Brent na ang hinahanap ng puso niya? Si Brent na hindi na nagparamdam sa kanya mula nung gabing muntik nang may mangyari sa kanila.
Dahil sa kagustuhang maipagamot ang ina pagkatapos nitong ma-stroke ay napilitan siyang tanggapin ang offer na sumayaw sa isang kliyente na si Mr. MC. Isa siyang private sexy dancer ng lalaking hindi man lang niya nasisilayan ang mukha. Kailangan niyang painitin ang gabi nito sa pamamagitan lang ng sayaw. Just watch, no touch, kumbaga. Nang makilala na niya ang katauhan nito ay unti-unti na ring nahuhulog ang loob niya sa lalaki. Makakaya mo bang ipaglaban ang nararamdaman mo sa taong binabayaran ka lang dahil sa katawan mo? Paano kung ang kasunduan ninyo ay magtatapos kapag bumalik na ang babaeng pakakasalan sana nito?
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
P-please, I beg you. Come let's go tell Christian I had no hand in whatever happened, p-please." I clutched the lapel of his jacket desperately. "Let's go. You need to tell my husband you were paid." "Young lady, you're harassing me." His tone was cold and his stare granite. But I could care less. "You harassed me first! You had sex with me without my consent, my husband knows and now I'm pregnant with this child he doesn't want. You ruined my marriage! I-I hate you!" ************************************ Caught by her husband with another man on their matrimonial bed the morning after her birthday, Hailey Codza could not defend herself. As though it's not enough, she gets pregnant. Her enraged husband decides to pay her back for her infidelity by having an affair with his ex-girlfriend - Denise Kellers, the family Hailey never knew she had. Losing her family's wealth and company to her husband and his ex (now girlfriend), she is devastated, homeless and penniless as all her credit cards are blocked by her husband. She sees the man who is responsible for her pregnancy. The man she has no idea how he'd found his way to her matrimonial bed - Jared Johnson. Jared is annoyed when this strange woman disrupts his meeting and accuses him of ruining her life, marriage and impregnating her. It affects his business deals and having no choice, he marries her to calm the public whilst engaged to someone else. But he loathes her and allows his family treats her badly. Hailey who has fallen in love with Jared is broken when she can no longer take the humiliation. She signs the divorce papers and leaves, only to arrive six years later to the country as a self-made, secret billionaire and a mother of twins. Now her two ex-husbands are begging to have her back...
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
Their marriage was nothing but for the benefit of the two families. He could choose anyone to be his bride, but the moment he laid his eyes on her, he knew she was the one he wanted. However, their marriage didn't last for a long because of her indifference. Until the moment he signed the divorce agreement, he finally witnessed her true colors. It turned out that she also took advantage of him. Their divorce was not an end but the start of the real love game.