[LARA AUSTIN] Dalhia and I presented resignation letters to our respective jobs when we returned. After that night in our escapade, I saw how terrified Dalhia was and wanted me to leave Paris at any cost. At first, I could not understand, and she did not intend to tell. Sooner, Dalhia explained what happened that night, leaving me puzzled. Kasal na si Elton kay EL kaya hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit pa niya ako hinahanap kay Dalhia. It just doesn't make sense. And Dalhia keeps telling me that I'm not safe with Elton. That I need to stay far away from Elton. "Are you done packing your things, Lara?" Napalingon ako sa kanya. "Yup. How about you?" Nag-aalala ako sa nakikita kong pagka balisa ni Dalhia simula ng magkita sila ulit ni Elton. Why did Elton hurt her? "Are you sure about this, Lara? Hindi mo naman ako kailangan isama ng London." Yes, I do need her by my side. Feeling ko hindi ko na siya ulit makikita kapag nagkalayo nanaman kami. Ramdam kong may hindi siya sinasabi
[DEENA DY]"What are you doing here?! Where's EL?!" Inulit ko ang tanong ng hindi ito sumagot. "Deena, why are you talking to her that way?" Dumating naman si Piper pero tila nawala ako sa sarili ko. "Lara tinatanong kita!" Muling tanong ko kay Lara na hindi pinansin si Piper. "Obligasyon ko bang sagutin yang tanong mo? We broke up!" "Broke up?! What are you talking about?" Takang taka ako at hindi matanggap ang sinabi niya. "What is it to you? Relationships don't mean always to end well. Circumstances happen, okay?""You cheated on her?" Uminit ang buong mukha ko at umakyat na sa ulo ko ang maraming katanungan. Kumakabog ang dibdib ko sa paraang hindi ko maipaliwanag. "Fuck! Deena.. What's your point here, anyway?" Galit na galit ito at bakit siya nagagalit? "I gave her up, Lara.!!" Parang bulkang sumabog ako. "...I gave up the only person I love..." Hindi ko alam pero lumabas na lang yun sa bibig ko. Hindi iniisip kung anong magiging resulta. "You didn't give her up. She do
[LARA AUSTIN] Parang may bagyo sa utak ko sa mga nalalaman ko kay Deena. Maliban sa pagtataka na magkakilala pala sila ni Piper, na makikita ko siya ulit sa ganitong paraan matapos ng kay EL sa Paris. .Ano bang nangyayari sa akin? Bakit ko to lahat nararanasan. Sa mga sinasabi ni Deena parang kasalanan ko ang nangyari sa amin ni EL. Wala akong maintindihan na gusto ko ng iuntog sa pader ang ulo ko. "Alam mo ba kung paano ako nakapasok ng Zara? That's because of your psycho ex-fiance, Lara.." No.. Ano?? "...Kung bakit natanggal sa trabaho si El at Alyah. That's all because of your goddamn ex, Lara.." "A-anong sinasabi mo, Deena?" "Hindi mo kilala ang walang hiyang ex mo, Lara. At ngayon nasa panganib si EL. We need to save her, Lara. Please..." Gulong gulo na ko sa mga pinagsasabi niya. "..Only you can stop, Elton.. We have to go back to the Philippines.." Hindi ko na matagalan ang mga pinagsasabi nito at wala sa sariling nilisan ko ang lugar. Nakabalik ako ng bahay ng di oras
[DEENA DY] Sa bahay ko na ulit nakita si Piper. Alam ko nasaktan ko siya sa mga narinig at nakita sa akin ng magkausap kami ni Lara. Mahal ko si EL pero bilang kaibigan na lang. She will always have a spot in my heart at nag aalala ako sa kanya. Kailangan ko siyang makita. Kailangan niya ang tulong ko. Hindi dapat ako umalis ng Pinas. Hindi ko dapat siya iniwan doon ng hindi nasisiguradong ligtas na siya kay Elton. Pero hindi din ako nagsisisi dahil hindi ko makikilala si Piper, wala siya ngayon sa buhay ko kung di ako napunta ng London. "Piper..." Mahinang tawag ko ng mamataan ko siyang nakaupo sa living room. Tumayo ito matapos may kuning kung ano sa table. Hawak niya ang mga iyon na humarap sa akin. "What happened? What happened to you in your three-day photo shoot??" Bumuhos ang biglang pangamba sa akin sa kadahilanang tila alam ko pero pilit kong itinatanggi. "W-what do you mean?" Tanong ko. Unti unti itong humahakbang palapit sa akin na padakay tinatapunan ng tingin ang
[PIPER ELOIZE CHAPMAN] I don't know what to feel after all I heard and learned from Deena when she's talking to Lara about one person. That person was the reason she couldn't love me back. I don't know what pains me more. The thought of Deena not loving me, or the truth that she is still locked up with someone, seems I would have never gotten a chance to surpass. I know it's part of her past, yet I can't help but hurt. By her look earlier, I could tell how much she still adored that woman called EL.What a small world. Magkakilala sila ni Lara. Iisang tao ang minahal nila. Correction.. Minamahal...Nang bumalik ako ng office wala na si Lara at Deena. Pabagsak akong naupo ng swivel chair ko hanggang abutan ako ni Claudette. Saka lang natapos ang malalim na pag iisip ko. Masaya niyang ibinalita ang nalalapit nilang kasal ni Calli. When I went back from Paris, Calli wasn't at my place anymore. She messaged me about staying at Claudette. I'm glad that finally, one of us is happy
[LARA AUSTIN] Sa pagbukas ng pinto saka pa lang bumalik ang ulirat ko. It feels like forever sitting on this couch. "Dalhia.." "Lara.." Kumunot ang noo nito. "..May problema ba? Bat ganyan ang mukha mo?" "There would be a huge problem if you would not tell me everything you know.." May tono ng pagbabanta sa boses ko. "I-I don't understand. What's happening?" "The night you saw Elton again.. Please, Dalhia, tell me everything I need to know. Why? Why the hell are you so scared of him? Why the hell you keep on forcing me to leave Paris? Like running away from him. I'm begging Dalhia. There's a reason you were there at the airport when I was about to depart. And please don't use Krizzy, the only reason you are there."Dalhia walked out, trying to ignore my blast, but this time, she wouldn't be able to escape from me. I need to know the truth. I have to know all. All that would make sense from what's been going on for a long while now. The countless times that she ghosted me. Ther
[PIPER ELOIZE CHAPMAN] Hindi ko alam kung ito ba ang tamang oras para sabihin kay Deena ang tungkol kay Lara dahil hindi ko pa naman alam kung tama ako sa kutob kong magkapatid nga kami. Pasalamat na lang din ako dahil nakinig sa akin si Dalhia. We talked about it. I explain everything—my reason for my intention about Lara. At first, she's in shock but then realizes what this would be for Lara. Dalhia sent me some samples I asked her about behind our serious talk the day after they landed—those samples to the lab for the DNA procedure. The rest is not in my hand now. Dalhia asked one favor. To see the result first before letting me blow Lara's mind about her real identity. "Love... What are you thinking?!" Napatingin ako sa babaeng nakahiga at nakayakap sa tabi ko, having only blankets to cover our naked bodies. "It's about Lara..." "Yeah.. How did you know her?" I gulp, collecting all the intrepidity before I open my mouth again, ready to share it with her. "Lara might be my
[LARA AUSTIN] Paalis na dapat ako papuntang airport ng iluwa ng pinto si Piper at Deena. "I'm glad you came.." Sambit ni Dalhia. Sinabi ko naman sa kanya hindi kailangan may madamay pang ibang tao sa problema ko. Magtutuos kaming dalawa ni Elton. Mata sa mata, ngipin sa ngipin. "You can't go alone, Lara. Please." "Piper was right, Lara. You can't just go into a war empty-handed. You have no idea what your ex can do, Lara." Nagsalit ang tingin ko sa kanilang tatlo na tila pinagkakampihan ako. "If you don't listen to us. Everything that EL sacrifices will just be thrown away like trash.." Natigilan ako sa sinabi ni Dalhia. "Get a hold of yourself, Lara. We need to make a plan if you really want to save EL." Suggestion ni Deena. "Let us help you, my sister.." Napakunot naman ako sa sinabi ni Piper. "I know this is not a good time to blast your mind, but there is no perfect time to say this." Ano bang pinagsasabi niya. "You are my sister, Lara. My long lost sister.." Napailing