CHAPTER 3: STAY OR RUN?

CELESTE

As I open my eyes the first thing I saw was a white ceiling, the irritating scent of the hospital was left on my nostrils. Bakit ako nasa hospital?

"C-Celeste thanks god you're already awake" Napahawak ako sa ulo ko dahil nakaramdam ako ng kirot roon, may benda ang ulo. Then I remember how Celstia gave me a slap hard at my both cheeks and how my Dad push me so hard, that made men lost my balance and my head slam on the table.

How cruel. Hindi ko akalain na magagawa iyon sa akin ang sarili kong tatay, na ako'y saktan. Kahit anong gawin ko na mag isip ng sapat na rason para gawin nya iyon sa akin ay wala akong maisip dahil sa tingin ko hindi naman iyon sapat na dahilan para saktan nya ako! Kahit na ulo ko ang tumama ay napakadelikado nun baka ikamatay ko pa!

"Celeste anak, may masakit ba sa iyo?" I saw my mother seating near me, ngayon ko lang napagtanto that she was holding my hand. Her eyes was reddish, worry was written on her face. Ng igala ko ang panigin ko nakita ko si Daddy sa hamba ng pinto, his not looking on my direction he was emotionless, ano pa nga bang ieexpect ko.

"I'm okay mom" I know she was hurt when I remove her hand that's holding my hand. Mabilis kong iniwas ang paningin ko. Celestia try to talk to me but I ignore her. Sa ngayon I just don't feel talking to them. I was confine on the hospital for two days, and on that passed days Dad never talk to me. Pare pareho lang sila, they only did is to hurt me. Puro mali ko na lamang ang napapansin nila.

"Where are you going Celeste?" I let a heavy sigh at hinarap si Celestia na kasalukuyang nakaupo sa couch kasama si Daddy. My dad was just silence at ang mga mata nito ay sa ibang direksyon nakatingin.

"Somewhere, I have a project to do. Don't wait for me on dinner baka di ako makauwi. I bring spare of clothes, i'm having a sleep over" hindi ko inaasahan ang paggawang paglingon ni Daddy sa gawi ko pero mabilis kong iniwas ang paningin ko. Punong puno ng galit at tampo ang dibdib ko dahil sa ginawa nya. Anak nya rin naman ako pero ng oras na iyon pakiramdam ko ay ibang tao ako sa paningin nya.

"T-take care" I just nod at Celestia at tuluyan ng lumabas ng bahay. I lied to them, i'm not having a project I just want to unwind. Hindi ko alam pero pakiramdam ko pag nasa bahay ko wala akong kalayaan. I don't have rights to do what I want and say what I wanted cause there's always a regulations I needed to follow.

Buong buhay ko wala akong ibang ginawa kundi ang sundin sila, I became a good girl, I was an achiever pero kulang pa rin sa kanila. No matter how I try my best it still not best for them. Wala akong kalayaan, lahat ng pagkukulong na ginawa nila sa akin ay natiis ko dahil ng mga panahong iyon ang tanging nasa isip ko lamang is they know what is best for me pero mukhang nagkamali ata ako, halos mapatay nga ako ng sarili kong ama.

"I told you Celeste you need this!" I gulp as I saw them, matagal na nila akong inaaya na sumama sa kanila pero tumanggi ako. Cause if my parents will know that there was a boys involve hindi nila ako papayagan. Napaupo ako ng bugahan ako ng usok ng sigarilyo ni Ivy. She is know for being a flirt, and that's why I don't understand myself when they invite me going at the bar I agree.

Wala naman siguro masama kung ngayon lang namana ko sasama sa kanila. I really don't understand myself why I don't wanted to talk to them for now. They made me sat on the available chair next to Keith, I don't know who is he but Ivy said his one of her hook up.

Hook up? I don't even know that, but I just remain silence cause they will just made fun of me. I was actually the opposite of them, I don't drunk but I think right know I need the alcohol for easing this angered inside my chest. I want to forget those thing that brings negative vibes at me even just for this moment, even just for a while. Nakakapagod din kasi minsan na wala kang masabihan ng mga problema mo, sinasarili mo lang.

I wanted to speak out those unsaid thoughts inside my head.

"You want this?" I was startled when someone arams clung on my waist and made me more close to him. It was Keith the man with a sexy brown eyes. He really look like a bad boy. There was a cut on his eyebrows, rings on his fingers, and those earrings. He smell like alcohol mix with his perfume and manly scent.

I can't denied that he has a strong charisma to girls at our campus, I even caught him making out at the locker, restroom and and all of it was in school premises. Wala na ata sa kanila ang mahuli.

"I-I don't drink a-alcohol"

"Your weak, that's why no one wanted to be friend with you" napahigpit ang hawak ko sa laylayan ng damit ko dahil sa sinabi nito. He was looking directly at my eyes at hindi ko ito inatrasan nakipagtitigan lang ito sa akin. But at the end he turn his gaze to the alcohol at the table and drink it all.

"So why are you here if you don't want to drink alcohol then?" He asked pero hindi nito ako nilingon, ang braso nitong nakapalupot sa bewang ko ay inalis na nito.

"Maybe you wanted this cigarettes?" Napaubo nanaman ako dahil malapit lang sa akin si Ivy sa gawi ko napunta ang usok. Amoy sigarilyo na ako panigurado. I heard them chuckle kung kaya't bahagya akong napayuko dahil sa kahihiyan.

"Try this Celeste you will love this" Irene said who's now seating at the lap of Bryan kung kaya't napaiwas ako ng tingin. Are they really like this, so vulgar and aggressive.

"Try it babe, I swear you will love it" napatingin ako sa gawi ni Keith, he offer me the glass that he just used. Inilagay nya ito sa kamay ko, I was just staring on it for a minute until I heard them cheering me.

"GO CELESTE YOU CAN DO IT!"

"THAT TASTE GOOD CELESTE TRY THAT!" gusto kong masuka ng tunggain ko ito. Rinig na rinig ko ang hiyawan nila, it was taste bitter and its too acidic. The sweet taste of the alcohol was after taste. Is this how taste the alcohol is huh. It's not actually bad but I won't drink it again just this for moment.

"I TOLD YOU ITS GREAT!" Keith was smiling widely at me after I get another glass of alcohol at the table. Hindi ko namalayan na naparami na ang inom ko, we already arrive at the club at dumagdag sa hilo ko ang ilaw sa club ang malakas na hiyawan ng mga tao. I hold onto the arms of Keith, gladly he just let me.

"Careful" I almost lost my balance when someone bump my shoulder mabuti na lang naalalayan ako ni Keith. Ng makahanap kami ng pwesto they start from drinking alcohol. Hindi ko makaya ang mga alak dahil hindi naman ako sanay I easily got drunk and feel nausea.

"Where are you going Celeste?" Tanong sa akin ni Ivy ng akmang tumayo ako.

"I'm going to restroom"

"I'll follow y---"

"H-Hindi na Keith kaya ko pa" they nod at me, medyo natagalan ako sa pagpunta sa restroom dahil sa dami ng tao at nakakaramdam na ako ng sobrang pagkahilo. I vomit twice, my head hurts. Naghilamos ako upang bahagyang mahimasmasan. Mabilis akong lumabas ng restroom. But when I already going back on our seat I saw a familliar man at the counter. Naningkit ang mata ko ng makumpira kung sino ito.

"What is he doing here?" even I was drunk I'm sure that it was Noah Arkanghel. I watch him as he sip on his glass, he was so sexy. I don't know pero sa kaniya lang ako nakaramdam ng atraksiyon na nararamdaman ko ngayon.

I made a paces to go near enough for me to saw his every move, I just wish that he won't caught me staring at her. And I know that if he saw me he here, he will definitely tell it to Celestia.

I was just staring at him, there's a lot of girl who approach him but he just ignore it. Acting like a loyal boyfriend to Celestia huh. Until a familliar face of woman approach him, I rolled my eyes as the girl kissed him at cheeks. I should take a picture of it, pero hindi ko dala ang cellphone ko. Lumapit pa ako rito upang marinig ang pinag-uusapan nila.

"I didn't expect that I will saw you here Noah, what are you doing here?"

"Just this night" I can't help but to smile when I heard his sexy voice that a little bit husky mukhang tinamaan na ito ng ispirito ng alak.

"Then i'll be with you at the whole night" I gritted my teeth as I saw the girl caress Noah's arm, but it seems like Noah didn't even care.

Why is he letting this woman caressing his arm! For god sake he has girlfriend and it was my sister! I am just concern at my sister no other than that.

"Stop it Diana will you"

"Why don't you miss me?" can I just break this glass at her head! She's pissing me off!

"Why would I, I already made it clear to you what happen between us was just one night stand! Just stay away!" I can't help but to grin as he throw away the hands of the woman who's caressing the arm of Noah.

"I don't care if it---"

"I also don't care about you, I have a girlfriend" I saw how the girl became more interested at mas lumapit pa ito kay Noah. Aba matigas talaga ang bungo ng isang ito eh!

"Why don't you have some plenty time with me Mr. Taken. I'll swear you will have some fun c'mon stop acting like your loyal to her" kung pwepwede lang sana ako lumapit at hilain ang buhok ng babaeng ito sa kalandian.

"I'm with my girlfriend" my jaw drop at what Noah said. Celestia was here? But, knowing her sister she never go at the club kaya imposible na nandito si Celestia. Or Noah was talking to another woman? Is he two timing my sister?!

"Where is she then? Introduce me to her then Noah Arkanghel, knowing you. You never had a serious relationship"

"If i'm going to introduce you to her will you stop meddling with me again? Ahh whatever" I saw how Arkanghel rolled his eyes and drink the alcohol at the glass that the bartender serve.

"Where is she? I bet she's beautiful, don't disappoint me"

"Yeah she is, actually she's watching us over there" hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko ng lumingon sa gawi ko si Arkanghel. He was looking at my direction as he drink on his glass, his adams apple move up and down his eyes never leave me. My heart beat so fast as he stood where he was seating and made a paces near me. The music at the whole area turn to a soft melody, he was looking at me while holding the glass of wine as he walk with full of vanity to where I was hiding.

Calm down Celeste! Calm down!

I don't what should I do anymore, should I run and pretend that I didn't saw him, or I will just stay still and wait for him to go near me?

Should I stay or run?