It's been three days since my Lola's burial. And Alexander is still here making sure that I am still functioning. Parang sira. Okay na naman ako. I know that death is inevitable. It's just that some deaths are untimely like my parents. Kaya sobrang nasaktan ako noon. Hindi pa rin naman akong handa na maiwan ng aking Lola but I can't do anything about it. I am a mere human. And I need to accept things in order for me to move on in life.Tita Alexandria has talked to me saying that nothing will change during my stay here in the mansion. She offered assistance with my studies. Okay lang naman dahil sisiguraduhin kong makakuha ng scholarship program sa university na plano kong pasukan and I still have money. Lola made a savings account for me. Ngayon nga ay pupunta ako sa University upang mag-take ng scholarship qualifying exam. Alexander offered to accompany me.Mahigit isang oras ang biyahe namin bago narating ang University. He parked his car at the designated parking area for the vis
Alexander remained silent over our dinner. He didn't say even a single word after that. He was cold as ice. I tried to hold his hand but he avoided it. I pouted and ate silently.“Alexander, please..” Nasa sasakyan na niya kami at pauwi na. He didn't start the engine yet so I tried to talk to him.“It is not what you think.” Sabi ko.“Bakit? Alam mo ba ang iniisip ko?” Tanong niya.I looked at him and shook my head. I am not sure if he was jealous though that is his usual reaction. Dmitri is only a friend. And he's just being a friend. For months I have been friends with both Trixie and him; they were kind and thoughtful. Dmitri knows that I have lost my Lola recently, so I guess he wants me to have some fun.Alexander snorted and started the engine. We are now going home.Matulin ang kanyang patakbo sa sasakyan kung kaya’t wala pang isang oras ay nasa bukana na kami ng ranch. Hininto niya ang sasakyan at hinampas ang manibela. Napaigtad ako sa gulat. “If that's what you want. Then,
Ang bukas na sinasabi kong kakausapin si Alexander ay hindi dumating. I woke up very late the next day and that’s the thing I regret the most. If I had known that would be the last time I was going to talk to him before he decided to leave, I should have just endured my sprained foot and followed him. “Good afternoon, ate Mela! Thank you po kahapon sa pagtulong sa akin.” I said when I saw Ate Mela cleaning the figurines of the mansion.“Walang anuman, Helena.” sagot niya na bahagyang huminto muna sa pagpupunas upang makaharap at makasuap ako.“Napansin niyo po ba si Alexander na lumabas sa kanyang kwarto?” tanong ko sa kanya. I’ve been waiting for him for almost an hour outside of my room. Pero hindi ko pa siya nakikitang bumaba sa hagdan.“Sir Alexander? Umalis na siya kaninang alas cinco ng umaga. Bumalik na siya sa Canada.”Para akong nabingi sa sinabi ni Ate Mela. Anong umalis? Bumalik? Hindi pa kami tapos na mag-usap at galit pa siya sa akin kahapon. Paanong umalis na siya? Hindi
A year has passed and I'm now in my second year in my course. Alexander didn't send me a message even a single hello. He didn't even greet me on my birthday. The family celebrated with me with an intimate dinner. Sofia gave me a huge teddy bear na katabi ko palagi sa pagtulog. It's so fluffy and nice since it's human size.I have missed Alexander so much and it made me sad knowing that we are not on good terms.I saw Sofia laughing as I walked into the living room. She has an iPad and an earphone is plugged in her ear. “I think she likes it! When I gave it to her, she smiled and said thanks!” I heard Sofia say. “Hi, Hera!” Bati niya ng makita akong dumaan. She smirked at the iPad she's been holding. She tilted the iPad and the back camera is facing me now. Okay?“Hi! Papunta ako sa Centro, gusto mong sumama?” Yaya ko sa kanya. May bibilhin lang ako sa bookstore. “Tinatamad ako.” Sagot niya and glanced at her iPad.“Alright. Pupunta rin sana ako sa D&D.” Sabi ko. It's Diane's milksha
I glared at my phone when morning came and I didn’t receive any more messages from him yet. Fine. Sige, ipagpatuloy mo yan, Alexander. Akala mo naman mami-miss kita palagi. Malilimutan rin kita pagkatapos ng taon na to! I will try my best to at least not think of you almost everyday. Ugh! I ruffled my hair in annoyance. Alexander, the orangutan is so annoying!Nang biglang tumunog ang aking cellphone. Mabilis ko itong kinuha mula sa aking bedside table at sinagot ang tumawag.“Hello?”“Hi, Kiera!”I rolled my eyes when I heard Dmitri’s voice. Bakit, Hera? Sino ba ang inaasahan mong tumawag maliban sa tatlo mong kaibigan? Huh? I sighed in defeat.“Hi, Dmitri. What’s up?” sagot ko habang nagbibihis. Ni-loudspeaker ko ang aking cellphone.“Trixie and I are going to fetch you and Rico.” masaya nitong sabi. Okay. Anong meron ngayon? It’s not my birthday at walang may birthday sa kanilang tatlo. It’s just a regular Saturday.“We’re going on a beach, Kiera. Finals are done so we deserve th
I enjoyed the beach so much. We took a lot of group pictures together. It seems everyone had fun.Sofia stayed in the cottage for a while then took a walk on the seashore afterwards. She even offered to take my beach pictures. I posed a lot until she was satisfied. Balak niya pa yata akong gawin na modelo. Alas tres ng mapagpasyahan naming umuwi na. Pinaghatian naming apat ang bayarin kanina. Dmitri wants to pay for all the expenses but Trixie insists that she's the one who will pay for it. Kaya sinabi kong paghahatian na lang naming apat dahil hindi rin pumayag si Rico na sila lang ang umako sa bayarin.“Thank you, guys! Ingat!”Paalam ko sa kanila pagkatapos naming bumaba nina Rico at Sofia sa sasakyan ni Dmitri.“Bye!” Paalam ni Trixie. Dmitri wave his hand at umalis na sila. Rico started to walk to their house after niya ring magpaalam sa akin. I smiled at him and waved my hand. Sofia waited for me at sabay na kaming pumasok sa mansion.“Thank you, Helena! I enjoyed it.” Nakangit
“Finally!” Tiling sigaw ni Trixie pagkatapos naming mag-file ng application for graduation. “Congratulations to us!” I smiled at her as we jumped in joy outside the registrar's office. We both achieved Latin honor with her Business Management course and me in my BS Accountancy.Naglalakad kami papunta sa school's cafeteria kung saan naghihintay ang dalawang unggoy. I saw Dmitri and Rico sitting on a four seater table. “Hi Helena!” Bati sa akin ng ibang estudyante. When I got the crown last year for the Miss Intramurals, I became popular on the whole campus. There's this one scout agent who tried to talk to me and offered me to be the talent of his agency. He gave me a calling card and showed me his company card. Trixie and I tried to search if it's legit or a fraud and we found that it's legit. But I declined it politely, dahil hindi naman ako interesado sa ganoong industriya at ayaw kung tumigil sa pag-aaral. He said that the offer won't expire as long as I decide to accept it, th
Maaga akong nagising dahil ngayon ang island hopping namin nina Trixie. It is still six in the morning and I am ready to go. I am waiting for Trixie and Dmitri to fetch me and Rico here in the mansion. Nasabihan ko na si Tita Alexandria tungkol sa lakad ko ngayon. Gusto sanang sumama ni Sofia pero masyado daw maaga ang call time. Ayaw niyang gumising ng ganito kaaga kaya hindi na siya sumama.Nakita ko si Rico na naglalakad palapit sa portico ng mansion kung saan ako nakaupo habang naghihintay. May dala siyang duffel bag.“Good morning, Helena.” bati niya. “Good morning, Rico.” nakangiti kong bati sa kanya.Umupo siya sa ika-dalawang hagdan ng portico at hinintay namin ang pagdating ng dalawa. I close my eyes and feel the cool breeze of the air. This is how I like it in the morning. I looked at the mountains in front of the mansion. I am enjoying the changes in the color of the sky in front of me as the sun starts to rise. I took my phone and captured its mesmerizing beauty.Right a