PROLOGUE

SAM'S POV

"Sam, come here!"

My ear pricked up when I heard that shout from inside of our house. 

Groaning, ibinaba ko na ang librong binabasa ko.

My mom could really be so loud kapag gugustuhin nito. Although sometimes she was a bit irritating, I still love her so much. She's my best mom and would always be. A mom that would always gave her support in my studies pero hindi sa mga kalokohan ko.

And my dad?

Well, he's my best buddy and we're in the same boat kapag si mom na ang pinagtitripan namin.

Nag-iisa lang nila akong anak kaya naman ganun kami kaclose sa isa't-isa. Kahit gusto kong magkaroon ng kapatid, hindi na pwedeng magkaanak si mom dahil sa mahirap na raw para rito sabi ng doctor.

That was why being treated like a baby by them was inevitable. Na siyang pinakaayaw ko naman.

Hindi ako 'yong tipo na parang si Maria Clara kung kumilos dahil mas gusto kong kumilos na parang lalaki. Ang sarap naman kasing manuntok ng bullies sa school. 'Di bale ng masermonan ng mom ko, nandiyan naman si dad para icheer ako sa mga kalokohan ko, ng patago.

I smiled when I was reminded with those times when my dad got an earful from my mom. Catching him red handed by giving me those advise on how to treat bullies at kung saang parte ng boys mas magandang patamaan and that's "where the sun and moon doesn't shine" part.

At the thought of that, I chuckled in amusement before I answered her.

"Coming mom!" I shouted back in a laugh saka patakbo na'kong pumasok sa bahay namin with my book in hand.

Our status in life couldn't be called luxurious. It was just simple and enough to suffice all our needs and my "extra needs". My dad just co-owned a small construction company with his friend. A friend na kahit ni anino nito, 'di ko pa nakikita kahit na kailan.

When I was inside, I found my mom at the kitchen. She was probably checking if everything was all set now before we'd go out for a week-long visit to my aunt in Tagaytay.

"Your dad will be here in ten minutes, Samantha. Magbihis kana." She informed which I just responded with a nod before  I ran to my room.

My dad has a short meeting early this morning at sabing right after his meeting, we would drive out straight to Tagaytay.

And the thought of finally seeing my aunt again excites me. Today is actually my 14th birthday and we have planned to spend it for a week with my aunt Roselyn, my dad's younger sister. I love everything about her lalo na ang maliit na mansion niya roon.

With my ninja moves, nasuot ko na agad ang t-shirt at jeans ko and I quickly partnered it with my black sneakers.

I so love wearing sneakers. Pwede kang kumilos na parang ninja and you can perfectly kick anyone kung iinisin ka nila. After all, I love all about ninjas and wrestling.

Kaya nga nafufrustrate si mom sa'kin dahil para na'kong si 'The Rock from hollywood' imbes na maging si Cinderella.

My eyes instantly rolled upward at the thought of my mom na lagi akong pinagsasabihang magbihis babae na siyang pinakaayaw ko.

Magbihis babae for what?? Di naman ako rarampa sa school, aral-aral lang naman tapos konting kalokohan, basagan ng ulo lang naman.

I grinned at that when I remembered the horror look in my mom's face when I once punched a boy in school before. She had unfortunately heard that from our principal and because of that, I was grounded for a week!

Goodness! As if I had murdered anyone. 

My thoughts were suddenly interrupted when I heard a car horned from outside of our house.

My dad!

With that thought, I quickly ran downstairs in excitement and my smile widened when I was welcomed by my dad's embrace.

"Sweetie! Are you ready to go??" 

I smiled and nodded while looking up at him. 

He just smiled as well before he gave me a kiss on my forehead.

"Good. Kukunin ko na muna yung luggage natin and after that, we're all good to go." he happily announced before he headed to our sala and picked up our luggage. Mom helped him by carrying the hand carry bag.

Knowing that my help was not needed, I opted to just ran to our car outside and waited for them at the backseat instead.

After I buckled up my seatbelt around me, I let out a breath of excitement. 

I hope na maeenjoy namin ang visit naming ito. Minsan lang mag-ooff sa work ang dad ko so I'm really hopeful that we will have a good time with this.

Not long after, our car was now heading out to our destination. The ride will take up to 3 hours so I decided to just sleep until we reach Tagaytay.

Antay-antay lang Tagaytay. You will see me after my 3 hours sleep here!

I happily thought before I shut my eyes closed and let my dreams claimed me.

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I jolted up from my sleep when I heard that screeching sound of brakes and my mom's shout. A shout which caused me to blink my eyes a few times and wonder. Wondering why the hell she was doing that. With my still sleepy eyes, tumingin na'ko sa daan and my eyes widened in shock nang makita ko na ang rumaragasang truck papunta sa mismong sasakyan namin.

Shock made me stayed frozen on my seat with wide eyes habang naghihintay kung kailan kami babangga sa malaking truck na'yon, unable to register what was happening with my disoriented thoughts.

My mouth felt numb and breathing was so hard to do.

Napakabilis lang ng mga pangyayari. One second, nakatulala lang ako while my dad trying to maneuver the car and avoid that truck and the next thing I know, our car was being knocked down and started spinning around on that wide road.

Spinning like it would never stop.

Spinning my mind and my whole life.

And probably spinning it to ruin it after this horrific accident.

No sound came out from my mouth and my mom's shout suddenly stopped. Just like what my heart was doing at this moment, it suddenly stopped from beating.

And only my tears could tell kung anong nararamdaman ko ngayon.

Panic, fear, an excruciating pain on my head with the grievous impact and the stinging sensation on my skin.

And then our car stopped spinning. Probably because it had done enough damage on us.

Enough damage that left me in a half conscious state. I felt like I was being pricked by thousands of needles. Everything I felt was an agonizing pain.

I was still sitting at the backseat with my seat belt on. With difficulties to even move a finger, I tried to glance at the front seats. They aren't moving anymore nor shouting. 

I tried so hard to reach out for them but to my utter annoyance, my hand shook terribly.  Pero hindi! They were just reach away from me and--------

I froze when my gaze catches the sight of my arm. It was covered with sticky blood and with shards of mirror deeply stuck in my skin.

B-BLOOD!

At the sight of it, my breathing became more ragged and I  felt more nauseous than ever.

I gasped for air, wanting to clear my foggy mind.

Tears blurred my eyes more and not long, tears rolled down on my cheeks as silent sobs came out from my mouth.

M-mom? D-Dad? I called out but I don't think they have even heard it dahil hindi parin kumikilos ang mga ito. Probably because no sound had came out from me.

I wanted to see them so bad.  I wanted to make sure that they were okay but my hands felt like it was paralyzed to even do that. It won't let me reach for them at the  front seats. My whole body was immovable and useless.

S-SHIT!

M-Mom...D-Dad... Wake up....

I tried to call out again but still, no voice had came out from me while trying to keep my eyes open..

I won't sleep....I won't sleep....I won't----

"Check them out."

When I suddenly heard that voice outside, relief surged through me. Relieved that help had finally come.

Help us....H-Help us...

I called out but again, no voice had came out while still trying so hard to keep myself conscious. I wanted to shout at pagalitan ang sarili ko dahil hindi ko man lang magawang makapagsalita but my body won't just let me.

And I hate myself for that! 

Kahit hindi ko na halos maibuka ang mga mata ko ngayon, I could still see the man from outside opening the  car door at the driver's seat. He touched my dad, probably checking his pulse at pagkatapos ang mom ko naman. And I couldn't be more happier than that.

Yes, that's right. Help them..hel----

"They're dead..!"

I froze at that.

D-Dead??? 

This time, breathing was almost impossible to do.

N-No! they are not! M-Mom... D-Dad....

I felt like my world had suddenly crumbled with that absurd news. Gusto kong magwala... Gusto kong yakapin ang mga ito and brought them to the hospital to save them but my body won't even allow me. My damn body won't just let me! It stopped me from everything I wanted to do right now and even stopping me to save them!

Feeling helpless right now, more tears fell on my cheeks like waterfalls.

Then I mentally shook my head. Not wanted to believe that lies..

Buhay pa sila! I just heard that wrong... yes, hindi sila patay! They were just unconscious and they need an immediate help!

Then the other man came to my side.

I felt him touched my neck, probably to check my pulse. I tried to open my eyes wide to tell them that I was still here and they have to help my parent----

"We don't need to kill her...She's dying after all.."

I felt like I was struck by a lightning when that unfamiliar voice of a man uttered that before taking his hand off of my neck. Kahit na sa murang edad ko, I wasn't dumb enough not to understand what those words means.

They are not here to help us but to kill us all.

At that realization, mas lalo pa'kong 'di makahinga ngayon.

No! I won't allow that! I won't die here! Not now! Not when my parents need me to call help,... help from any good Samaritan out there at hindi sa mga taong ito!

I tried very hard to half open my eyes to atleast see their darn faces and it took me a great effort to do that and thank God, I did with blurry eyes.

This is for my parents so I have to do this..

With my eyes half opened, I was only greeted with a half body of a man na malapit lang sa'kin habang kausap ang isa pang lalaki. Not even his face!

S-Shit!

I studied his lower body to find any clue para makilala ito. Ito yung time na kailangan kong maging matatag and use my head to think wise.

Wala akong ibang makita sa suot niya. He was in business suit so it was no doubt he was in business fiels like my dad.

I continued searching for anything and focused my blurry eyes in his hands.

Just let me have a clue, God. Just let me... Just give me anything to identify this man. Let me please. I beg that in my mind. Just let m-----

I squeezed my eyes out when I spotted something on his finger. Something which granted my wish.

A ring...

A signet ring was on his hand.

Yes. That's right. This ring will do dahil sa naaalala ko, men usually wear that kind of ring as an heirloom....... A family heirloom.

Yes, that was it. I weakly smiled at that in my mind as hope blooming inside me.

Two scripted letters were engraved on it but I couldn't see it clearly. My mind started to feel so foggy but no, not now.

I tried to squeeze my eyes hard again then opened it to clearly see its details. That's the only thing that could help me to identify them.

If I ever survive from this car wreck, I have to atleast find this man. And I have to start with that ring.

Again, I tried to clear my blurry eyes kahit mahirap gawin 'yon with my consciousness started to ebb away to utter darkness.

But I have to see it. I have to....

Script letter O and F??

yes, it was something like that..... something like that..

Something that I had to remember no matter what.

And before I could even confirm if it was right, total darkness claimed me.

Something O and F..I have to remember that... I have to find that ring and seek justice for my parents. Pero bago ang lahat ng 'yon, I have to live first and do what I must do after that.

Seek for the truth so that justice will be served. For ruining my perfect life.

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