BLURRED ANG mga ilaw na nakikita ng luhaan niyang mata sa malalayong buildings habang kasalukuyan siyang naka-upo sa itaas ng kanilang kotse. Naka-park ito sa isang bakanteng lote na walang gaanung dumaraan, mataas doon na kita ang kabuuan ng city. Dala ng lumalaganap na dilim ay mas nagniningning ang mga ilaw.
Sapphire has been enjoying the wonderful scenery but more than that, she's enjoying the cold bottled beer that Patrick bought for her. Ayon lamang at ayaw siyang sabayan ng binata sa kanilang trip, isa ring KJ!
Marahas niyag pinunasan ang luhang namumuo sa kaniyang mga mata bago siya muling tumungga sa alak na na mahigpit niyang hawak. It's her 3rd can and she's dizzy as hell already, she felt very weak and sleepy now. Pumikit siya para muling sariwain ang lahat ng sinabi sa kaniya ng kaniyang tita Lara sa school clinic kanina habang ginagamot niya ang
SAPPHIRE FORCED herself to attend school the next day because this is what she needs, not the knowledge but the diversion, the noises and her friend's presence. She needs to stand up and rebuild her broken heart, she's not the type to cry all day in her room, she's more than that. She tried to be as calm and cool as their classes has started. Napagsabihan siyang muli ni Mrs. Cayetano dahil sa pagtulog niya sa klase ng Ginang. Kita naman ng lahat na bangag siya, her face give it away and she's no sorry for that. Ang mahalaga naman ay pumasok siya, hindi ba? Pagkarating ng breaktime ay nagpaalam siya kina Eren na magbabanyo lang but she went there to change her clothes, she then ran fast towards the college building. It's way safer to have her scape there, walang gaano'ng bantay. Her heart's racing like hell as she's looking for any possible teacher who's watching he go
NAGISING SI Sapphire dahil sa mahinang tawanan sa kung saan, idinilat nito ang mga mata niya at kaagad na napansing wala siya sa kanilang bahay, not even in the familiar school clinic. It's still clear in her mind, the bruises and wounds, the fight and. . .Ruth? Napa-balikwas siyang bumangon para suriin ang paligid. She remembered about her last words before she lost her consciousness a while ago. "Did they take her home?" Dahan-dahan niyang tinungo ang puting pinto, nanghihina pa siya subalit hindi siya puweding mag-stay lang doon. She slightly opened the door, the familiar living room of sir Will's unit attacked her senses. They really brought her there? Dala ang mga gamit niya'y dahan-dahang lumakad si Sapphire palabas ng silid. Palinga-linga siya sa lugar, hindi niya maiwasang sariwain ang un
"TEQUILA, PLEASE," anang lalaking umupo sa tabi nito, sa may counter. "Give her whatever she wants, I'll pay for it... You didn't told me you're coming. You want to go upstairs?" Nakilala lamang ni Sapphire ang kaibigang si Rovic nang alalayan siya nito paakyat sa may hagdanan, muntikan pa silang malaglag pareho dahil sa pagkahilo niya. Good thing, she immediately clung her arms around his neck. Their eyes met and their faces were almost touching, they could feel the warmth of each other's breath. He laughed first and Sapphire did too. Hanggang sa makarating sila sa roof deck ay nagtatawanan silang dalawa na parang nasisiraan ng bait, they filled the whole place with laughter and screams. The whole place is too dark, it was only illuminated with the brightness of the full moon from above. May iilang mga stars sa itaas at 'yun ang
WALANG BUHAY na naglakad si Sapphire sa loob ng kanilang bahay pagkababa niya ng taxi. Her tears werere continuously flowing like a falls, she can't feel anything aside from the pain burning in her chest. Naroon din ang mga pasang tinamo niya mula kay Rovic at sa mararahas nitong mga halik. But more than that, she can't bear the pain in her palm, the pain inflicted by the slap she has given to sir Will. Although, the physical pains can't beat the pain she's feeling inside. Hanggang ngayon ay nadudurog pa rin ang kaniyang puso at mundo. Natigilan si Sapphire sa kaniyang paglalakad nang mamataan nito si Sean sa mismong bulwagan ng kanilang mansion. He's standing there, leaning against the wall with arms crossed sa tabi nito'y si Patrick na naka-all black pa rin. Parehong inaantok ang mga mata nila, but they gave Sapphire a poker face as she stared on them.
MULA SA loob ng bahay ay tumatakbo si Peter patungo sa direksyon ni Sapphire, sumilip din si Helene na naka-ngiti at humahabol kay Peter. "Peter?" Halos matumba silang pareho nang yumakap ito kay Sapphire. He hugged her so tight that it made her feel like hugs were nostalgic. Naninipa ang kaniyang puso sa tuwa dahil sa presensiya ng pinaka-malapit niyang pinsan at kung bakit ito nanlalambing ngayon ay marahil may na-kuwento si Sean. Kumalas ito sa pag-kakayakap before he raked her body with a frown in his face. He gently pressed her thin arms. "Pumapayat ka, Saf?" "Mapayat na'ko noon pa..." Pumasok sila ng bahay para roon ituloy ang kanilang kuwentuhan. Helene handed her a dark paper bag as her present last Christmas, hindi nakasama ang mga ito sa America
"OH MY gosh! is that true, hija? Sigurado kabang gusto mong dito na mag-college sa states?" Hindi makapaniwala ang kaniyang mommy habang sinasabi magkausap sila sa telepono at binanggit ng kaniyang anak ang tungkol sa desisyon nito. Surely, they will be happy about it. It will put the both of them at ease. Although, that's not the real reason why Sapphire made a change of mind. It's still sir Will, it's about her pains, her fears. Siguro nga'y tanggap na niyang talo nga siya kay Sir. Will. Pero hindi na kayang tiisin ni Sapphire ang makita pa ito at makasama sa iisang school especially when time comes na ikasal na nga siya kay Ruth. Lalo na ang makita pa siyang naghahatid-sundo ng kanilang mga anak sa mismong school kung saan nag-aaral si Sapphire. Wala pa'y naiimahe na niya ang mga mangyayari. "I'll just fix everything here, Mom. Right after the graduatio
DALAWANG ARAW bago ang pinaka-hihintay na prom night ng mga estudyante sa school, maraming bulong-bulongan tungkol sa theme at sa kaniya-kaniyang gowns na balak suutin ng ilan. Meanwhile, Sapphire just chose to volunteer to help on the preparation, especially on the decorating department. She heard about Maurice and some of her classmates volunteering on the said preparation. Ilang araw na silang wala sa classroom, excuse naman sila at isa pa'y wala na ring gaanong gawain sa academics. They're just waiting for the final examination and then graduation is waving. Maliban sa event organizer na ni-hire ng school ay naroon din si Mrs. Doqueza para magmando sa mga gawain at dahil naging malapit na rin naman sila ni Sapphire, hindi na ito nahirapang kumbinsihin ang Ginang. She badly need this, the distance from him, the silence from unnecessary noises, the diversion.
SA KABILA ng panghihina ay sinikap pa rin ni Sapphire na manglaban, maagap siyang tumakbo nang makawala siya subalit pumulupot lang din sa kaniyang baywang ang mga braso nito. He carried her back on the hidden place, he pinned her against the wall and with all the strength he got, he jailed Sapphire to stop him from scaping. "Why you're keep on doing this to me? Itinapon mo na'ko, hindi ba? Kasi dumating na iyong one great love mo! I know you will never gonna like me because we're far different. Kabaliktaran ako ng lahat sa kaniya!" "Hindi totoo 'yan, Sapphire." He look very troubled with his serious face and bloodshot eyes. "You listen to me first, please!" "No! I'm done listening to you. Dahil simula pa noon masasakit na salita lang din naman ang kaya mong ibigay sa akin, 'di ba? I'm a brat? I'm stupid? You hate me and you