Sa sumunod na mga araw ay mas naging lantaran ang pag-target ni Scar kay Aisha. Ito na mismo ang madalas na nagbubuhos ng tubig sa lunch niya, nagbubuhos ng juice sa ulo niya o di kaya’y tumitisod sa kanya upang matapon ang pagkain niya. Sa tuwing nasa klase naman, madalas ay binabato siya nito ng papel na dahilan kung bakit madalas itong mapuna ni Professor Lair sa klase nila.
Nag-tatawanan sila ni Sven nang biglang tisurin na naman siya ni Scar na di niya namalayang nasa gilid lang pala. Mabuti na lamang at nahawakan agad siya ni Sven kaya hindi siya tuluyang nasubsob.
“What’s your problem, Lopez?” iritadong tanong ni Sven nang matapos nitong alalayang makatayo ng maayos si Aisha. Maging ang kaibigan ay napipikon na sa mga ginagawa ni Scar rito kaya hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit pilit itong nagtitimpi kahit pa may karapatan naman itong lumaban at gumanti. Even if they say that Scar is influential, he knew that his background won’t lose to hers.<
“Still mad at me?” tanong ni Stanley nang makitang nagmumukmok mag-isa si Scar sa isang swing sa likod ng administration building. Sumakay ang binata sa swing na katabi ng inuupuan niya at inabutan siya nito ng ice cream. Nagtataka siyang pinagmasdan ang kamay nitong may hawak ng ice cream bago ito tuluyang kinuha. This scene is familiar to her. When they were younger, Stanley would give her ice cream every time she gets mad because she and Bella fought. It was always him who would ask forgiveness on her behalf. The only difference from the past is that he is asking forgiveness in behalf of Aisha instead of Bella. It would’ve been better if Bella comes back. She won’t feel this insulted if it was Bella because she knows that Bella deserved Stanley. Why does it even have to be that low-class girl? Why not… her? “I’m not used to the cold treatment, Scar,” dagdag pa nito nang hindi niya sinagot ang tanong nito. Itinuon niya na lang ang pagkain sa ice cream na bi
Magkasamang naglalunch si Sven at Aisha nang araw na iyon. Ilang araw na ang nakalipas simula nang mangyari ang pag-ganti niya kay Scar at ilang araw na din siyang hindi ginagambala nito. Itinuon ni Sven ang paningin kay Aisha bago ito lumingon sa kinaroroonan ng Royals na ngayon ay abala sa kani-kanilang mga ginagawa.“What’s wrong with Scar today? Is she tired of bothering you or maybe she was afraid you’ll put another insect in her locker?” nagtatakang tanong ni Sven bago tumawa ng mahina. “If what you did was effective in shutting her up, I wish you could’ve done it sooner.”“No matter what the reason is, I’m just relieved that she’s not bothering me,” she lazily said at napatingin kay Stanley na seryosong nakatingin sa laptop nito. An amused smile crept from her lips as she watched how handsome Stanley looked from afar. She just wished that he would stay like that-- handsome and away from her.
Habang naglalakad patungo sa classroom nila ay kanina pa tumatakbo sa isip ni Aisha ang huling sinabi ni Sven bago ito umuwi kahapon. What is so complicated in liking her? As far as she can remember, she have been a good friend to Sven. What’s so complicated about her?She chuckled at her own thoughts. Why is she trying so hard to deny it? She wasn’t dense and Sven was already making his moves more obvious every passing day. She didn’t have to pretend that she didn’t notice how Sven always tries to tell her his feelings for her. However, they only knew each other for a few months. Was it enough to call it romance? What if it was just a passing crush? She didn’t want to risk an indispensable friendship.“What are you thinking?” Nagulat siya sa biglang pag-sulpot ni Sven sa likod niya. He even tried to take her bag from her but she held onto it tightly. Sumimangot naman ang binata sa ginawa niya pero hinayaan naman siya nito. &ld
“Miss, your father wants to see you in his office,” bungad ng maid kay Scar nang makababa ito sa sasakyan na nagsundo sa kanya sa CU.Agad na pumasok si Scar sa loob ng bahay at nagmamadaling pumunta sa office ng Daddy niya. Malapad ang ngiti niya nang pumasok siya sa office ngunit seryosong mukha ng Daddy, Mommy at maging ng Kuya niya ang bumungad sa kanya.“You’re all home,” hindi makapaniwalang sabi niya. She smiled widely when she saw them since it was very rare for their family to be in the same place.“I need to talk to you, young miss,” seryosong sabi ng Kuya niya.She looked at him with confused eyes unaware of what’s happening.“Jasper,” her father called out to her brother with a warning tone. “Save that for later. I need to talk to her.”Walang nagawa ang kuya niya kundi ang tumango bago ito lumabas ng opisina kasama ang mommy nila. She faced her dad with a sm
“Here.” Nagtatakang tinignan ni Scar si Stanley nang may ilapag itong maliit na kahon sa harapan niya.“What’s that?” pang-uusisa ni Meth na katabi lamang niya. Maging ang mga kasama nila ay nagtataka dahil sa kakaibang ikinikilos nito.“Open it,” he lazily said as he sat next to Bryce who is busy with his newfound hobby which is reading.Nag-aalangang kinuha niya ang kahon at binuksan ito. She was stunned because inside the box is a moon-shaped earring. Just by the looks of it, she is sure that the earrings are made of white gold and the gems shaped like the crescent moon are made of diamond. Maging si Meth ay nagdududang napatingin kay Stan nang masilip nito ang kahon.“What’s that gift for?” tanong ni Meth na tila ba alam kung anong nasa isip niya. Maging siya ay tumingin nang may pagtataka. There was no reason for him to give her a present. Was it because he thought she was sad yesterday?
“What are you doing here all alone?” tanong ni Aisha nang lapitan niya si Stanley na tila may malalim na iniisip. He was at the back of a building, sitting on the grass under the shade of a tree.Kakabalik lang ni AIsha sa CU matapos niyang kausapin ang isang lalaking nadaanan niyang namamalimos kanina. Natuwa pa nga siya dahil nakita niya rin doon si Meth na tila iniwanan na talaga ang mga bad habits nito.Tumingin si Stan sa kwintas na nakasabit sa leeg niya at napayuko. Nagtaka naman si Aisha at nagdesisyon na tabihan ito ngunit nang makita siyang umupo ay agad itong humiga at ginawang unan ang hita niya.“You liked my gift right?” tanong nito at malungkot na ngumiti.Napahawak siya sa pendant at tumango. She sensed that something was wrong with Stanley, but she couldn’t specifically point it out. Ano kayang iniisip nito?“She didn’t like my gift. That’s a set. The necklace is for you, the earrings
“Stop it already,” disappointed na sabi ni Stan kay Scar na ngayon ay pinapanood si Sven na akayin si Aisha palayo sa kanila.Scar gave him an exasperated look. She even looked at Meth and Bryce who also seemed disappointed with what she did then she realized that only Stephen was on her side.“Why is everyone defending her?” sabi niya at may hinanakit na tinignan isa-isa sina Bryce at Meth.“Because it’s obvious that you are wrong this time,” mahinang sabi ni Meth at yumuko. She had been friends with Scarlet for long as they could remember and it somehow felt like they betrayed her. However, they couldn’t just tolerate her.“What did I do wrong? I just told everyone the truth. That girl isn’t an angel!” giit ni Scar.“What do you know about her?” sabat naman ni Stanley.Her knees felt weak when Stan looked at her with pain in his eyes. Was he hurt because she slan
“You think I’ll leave you alone like that?” Pagharang ni Scar kay Aisha nang makita niya itong naglalakad sa parking lot ng CU. She just couldn’t let the day end without a payback after the humiliation and betrayal that she felt.“Not now, Scar. I have an appointment today,” sagot ni Aisha na pilit iniiwasan si Scar pero patuloy pa rin sa pagharang sa kanya.“Who? Your dirty old man?” malakas na sabi ni Scar na nagpatigil sa kanya.She heaved a sigh and rolled her eyes. Just how low would she stoop? Aisha didn’t want to see her acting so pathetic. Since when did she start feeling inferior and jealous?“We both know that I’m not that kind of person,” seryosong sabi niya.“I don’t know,” Scar shrugged. Gumilid pa ito dahil may itim na sasakyang nagpark sa gilid nila.“Just stop it already,” saway niya dito at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad pero hind
Inilibot ni Aisha ang paningin nang makapasok siya sa function hall ng Galaxy Hotel. Everyone seem to be busy socializing but there are people who noticed her presence in the venue. “Bella!” pagtawag sa kanya ni Scar at kinawayan siya. Napangiti siya at tinahak ang daan papalapit sa mga ito. Kasama ni Scar sa table sina Stanley, Bryce, Meth, Stephen at maging si Jam na napangasawa ni Stephen. “You came alone?” tanong ng kanyang kapatid na karga-karga ang kanyang pamangkin na si Storm. “Yes. Sven came to the venue ahead of time because he wants to help with the preparations of the event,” paliwanag niya matapos umupo sa tabi nito. “You didn’t help?” tanong naman ni Scar na nagtataka dahil alam nito na gustong-gusto niyang tumulong sa paghahanda ng party na ito. Ilang gabi niyang kausap sa phone ang kaibigan at parati niyang sinasabi rito na gusto niyang tumulong. “I can’t leave Bailey behind,” sagot niya na lamang na halata ang pagkadis
Matapos ang ilang minuto ay sinabi na ng MC kung ano ang susunod na parte ng program. Para naman sa 18 candles ay tumayo si Meth. Bahagya pa itong napangiwi nang tumutok rito ang spotlight at nadako sa kanya ang atensyon ng lahat.“Hey, Bella. We both know that I don’t like this kind of attention but I’m doing this for you.” Pilit na tumawa si Meth para ibsan ang kabang nararamdaman. “Bella is someone who always cares for others in a unique way. She brought me to a street diner one day and told me things that made me realized how wrong my lifestyle is. With just a few days after coming back, she already made her impact in my life,” nakangiting sabi nito bago muling humarap sa kanya.“So for our dear Bella, my only wish is for you to be happy. Because you are a Morisson, you can have all the material things that you want. But you’re not a materialistic person, so I’m hoping that you’ll also receive the things t
Matapos siyang maisayaw ng kanyang ama ay sunod na lumapit si Professor Lair at nakangiting iniabot sa kanya ang isa pang pink rose. Natawa siya nang bahagya pa itong nag-bow bago nito kinuha ang kamay niya at isinayaw rin siya.“You look stunning today,” pagpuri nito sa kanya habang magiliw silang sumasabay sa tugtog.“More than my Mom?” tanong niya at umiling ito bilang sagot. Natawa na lang siya dahil sa paningin nito ay ang ina niya pa rin ang pinakamaganda. “You couldn’t even agree with me on my brithday?”Sabay silang natawa sa sinabi niya. Mr. Lair looked at her with a proud gaze and she suddenly felt tearing up. It was him who stood beside his gramps while raising her. He loved her mother and that love was strong enough to be extended to her. She would forever be grateful for her uncle who loved her like his own flesh and blood.“It feels like it was just yesterday. When you were a young girl who go
It was a hectic day. Ang lahat ay abala sa kani-kanilang ginagawa dahil ilang oras na lamang at mag-uumpisa na ang party. Ang mga organizers ay hindi mapirmi sa isang tabi at paulit-ulit na chinecheck kung walang diperensya ang mga ilaw at maging ang musikang gagamitin. Ang mga nasa audio booth naman ay sinisiguradong walang magiging problema sa kanilang mga kagamitan at maging sa mga speakers na gagamitin.Sa loob ng kusina ay hindi magkandaugaga ang mga nagluluto para masigurong matatapos nilang lutuin ang lahat ng pagkain bago pa man magumpisa at ang iba naman ay abala sa paghahanda ng dessert at ng mga inumin.Abala ang lahat at maging ang mga make-up artist sa loob ng kwarto ni Aisha ay aligaga upang ayusan siya. They wanted her to look her best in her special day. Everyone will be anticipating the BM group’s heiress and they are tasked to make her shine the brightest in the hall.They are all excited except for Aisha who is staring blankly at the mir
Hindi inaasahan ni Aisha ang pagdalaw ng mga kaibigan sa bahay niya nang araw na iyon. It was a weekend and the party would be tomorrow evening, so she expected that they will be preparing for the party as well.“Happy birthday, Bella!” sabay-sabay na sigaw ng mga ito at nagpaputok pa ng party pooper. Lumapit si Scar na may hawak na cake para ipa-ihip sa kanya ang kandila.“Make a wish, B.” Nakangiting utos ni Scar na iniharap sa kanya ang cake.Ginantihan niya ito ng ngiti bago ipinikit ang kanyang mga mata. Her wish is for them to grow happily. Nothing more, nothing less.Matapos ang paghiling ay iminulat niya ang mga mata at hinipan ang kandila. Sabay na nagpalakpakan ang mga ito at hinila na siya papunta sa poolside ng bahay nila.Hindi siya makapaniwalang naghanda ng pool party ang mga ito sa sarili niyang bahay. Iilang sandali lamang ay handa na para magswimming ang mga ito samantalang siya ay nakaupo lang sa gilid ng
Chapter 48: Longing for a MomPinagmasdan ni Aisha ang papaalis na sasakyan ni Stephen at siniguradong wala na ito nang mapagdesisyunan niyang pumasok na sa kanila. Madilim na ang paligid kaya naman nagulat siya nang pagtalikod niya ay bumungad sa kanya si Sven na nakasandal sa punong malapit lamang sa gate nila.“I thought it would be Stanley, but seeing Stephen isn’t that surprising,” malamig na sabi ni Sven habang nakatingin sa kanya.Napansin niyang nagtitimpi ito nang makita niya ang masamang tingin nito sa lugar kung saan pumarada ang sasakyan ni Stephen kanina lang. His hands were clenched into fists and he was also gritting his teeth.“What are you doing here?” tanong niya rito. Pinilit niyang patatagin ang boses niya sa harap ng binata kahit pa napakabilis ng pagpintig ng kanyang puso.Just seeing him in front of her awakened the emotions that she tried to bury deep within her heart. She wants
Lumipas pa ang ilang araw na wala pa rin sa sarili si Aisha kaya naman hindi mapigilan ng mga Royals na mag-alala. They have never seen her in this state before, that’s why they don’t know what to do. Isa pang dahilan kung bakit sila nag-aalala ay dahil pinipilit pa rin ni Aisha ang sarili na magmukhang ayos lang kahit halata naman na hindi maayos ang lagay niya.“You look thinner, B. Are you starving yourself?” nag-aalalang tanong ni Scar nang magkita sila sa studio ni Bryce pagkatapos ng kani-kanilang mga klase.Umiling si Aisha at ngumiti. “Why would I starve myself? I just don’t have that much of an appetite lately.”Of course, it was a lie. She just didn’t want them to worry about her since she can still handle her pain.“Are you sure?” maging si Meth ay lumapit na rin at umupo sa tabi niya.“Hey! Don’t treat me like this. I’m not going to waste my life just because
Nag-aalalang pinagmasdan ni Scar si Aisha. Nanatili itong tahimik at mukhang wala sa sarili simula nang pumasok sa cafeteria si Sven. Somehow, she empathizes with her because she knows how much it hurts to see the one they love being happy with someone else. It may be safe to say that she understands her pain because she had been there before.“B, you should eat more.” Ibinigay niya kay Aisha ang isang plato ng spaghetti at wala sa sariling tinanggap naman ito ng huli.Napatingin siya sa iba pa nilang kasama at lahat sila ay nag-aalalang pinapanood si Aisha na wala sa sariling kumakain. Matapos nitong ngumuya ay dinampot nito ang isang baso ng softdrinks at bago pa man siya makagalaw ay naunahan na siya ni Stanley.“Bellatrix Morrison,” Stanley called her with a stern voice.Aisha looked blankly at him and gave him a confused look. “Why?”Stanley sighed. “You’re not allowed to drink carbonated drinks.
Na-late ng gising si Aisha kinabukasan kaya nagmamadali siya nang makapasok sa campus. Sa kanyang pagpasok sa gate ay nakita niya si Scar na halos kakalabas lang rin sa sasakyan nito. Nginitian niya ang dalaga at nang makita siya nito ay agad siyang hinila papunta sa studio ni Bryce. Nakangiting nagpatianod naman siya rito dahil vacant niya pa naman at ilang oras pa bago ang susunod niyang klase kung saan kaklase niya ang Royals.“You should always hang out with us,” sabi ni Scar nang makarating na sila sa studio.Maliban kay Stanley, lahat sila ay napatitig sa pintuan nang makita silang magkasamang pumasok ni Scar sa studio. Napatayo si Bryce at itinuro sila na mukhang hindi pa yata makapaniwala.“Am I dreaming?” tanong nito at kinusot pa ang mga mata.“Why, Bryce? Did you not sleep well last night?” pang-aasar ni Scar at ngumiti.“Whoa!” sabi naman ni Stephen at itinuro si Scar. “It’s be