Kaylee woke up feeling a bit bliss. Nakangiti kaagad siya habang sinasalubong ang magandang sikat ng araw na tumatama sa mukha n'ya.
"Good morning, Earth." masayang aniya pa. Malakas siyang napabuntong hininga habang nakangiti parin. Masaya si Kaylee lalo na't araw ng pagkabuhay n'ya. It's her birthday, kahit pa nga hindi ito naaalala ng mga magulang n'ya at tanging siya at mga kaibigan n'ya ang mag celebrate nito. "It's my birthday." masayang usal n'ya sa sarili n'ya at saka dumeretso sa banyo para maligo na at bumaba para sa breakfast. Sa araw na iyon ay pinayagan siya ng mga magulang n'ya na lumabas kasama mga kaibigan n'ya. Nang matapos na siyang maligo ay bumaba na rin siya. Medyo maraming pagkain na nakahanda dahil alam ng mga katulong nila na birthday n'ya. "Happy birthday po ma'am." bati ng lahat ng katulong nila sakanya at mas lalong lumaki ang ngiti n'ya. Her parents doesn't remember her birthday or would they even try to remember it to celebrate it with her. And Kaylee used to be so sad back when she was a kid but she got used to it specially when all their maids made her feel that she's not alone in her own birthday. That even though her own parent neglected her and left her alone all the time for work and gambling in Casino, their maids are always gonna be there to celebrate it with her. "Thank you everyo—" hindi niya natuloy ang dapat n'yang sasabihin ng biglang lumabas ang isang driver nila na may dalang cake at nakasinding kandila sa gitna nito. Mas natuwa si Kaylee doon. Sabay-sabay siyang kinantahan ng mga ito at sumasabay naman ng palakpak si Kaylee sa mga ito. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY MA'AM KAYLEE!" Sigaw ng lahat kaya pumikit si Kaylee para mag wish doon. Ang hiling ni Kaylee ay sana makalaya na siya mula sa mga kamay ng mga magulang n'ya. Sana makapag desisyon na siya para sa sarili n'ya at sana hayaan na siya ng mga ito. Matapos hilingin iyon ni Kaylee ay iminulat n'ya ang mga mata at hinipan ang kandila. Sabay-sabay silang nagpalakpakan. "Thank you everyone. I really appreciate y'all for remembering my birthday every year, you guys are an angel." pasasalamat n'ya sa lahat at kitang-kita ni Kaylee ang saya sa mga mata at ngiti ng lahat. "Oh kumain na tayo. Sabayan n'yo akong kumain lahat." aniya pa at tumango naman ang mga ito. Habang kumakain sila ay hindi mapigilan ni Kaylee na mapalingon sa hagdanan hoping that her parents haven't left yet. She's an adult now, she got used to not celebrate her birthday with her parents and them forgetting about it since she was 9 years old. But even so, she still hopes, a little bit of hope na sana maalala ng mga magulang or kahit man lang maabutan nilang nag celebrate sila ng mga katulong ng birthday n'ya pero wala. "Maaga po silang umalis." bulong ng isang katulong sakanya na katabi n'yang kumakain. "Alam ko, hindi ko lang mapigilang umasa ng konti." malungkot siyang ngumiti dito at naging malungkot din ito. Gayun paman, nagpatuloy na sila sa pagkain ng breakfast at celebrasyon ng birthday n'ya. Kaylee felt happy, she knows that. Even when forgotten, she still feels happy and appreciate those people who remember and in this life, that's all that matters Kaylee ready herself the whole day for the reason that she and her friends are planning to enjoy the rest of her birthday in a bar. They will drink and dance all their problems away, kaya naman namili na si Kaylee ng susuotin n'ya. Madling dumaan ang oras at alas otso na ng gabi kaya naman nagpahatid na siya aa driver n'ya sa bar na sinabi ng mga kaibigan n'ya. Nauna na sila doon samantalang si Kaylee ay paparating palang. "Kuya, huwag n'yo napo akong hintayin. Pinayagan naman ako nila mommy na magtagal, baka iha-hatid lang ako ni Celeste or kapag hindi po I'll just text you po." aniya pa sa driver. "Sige po ma'am." tugon naman nito sakanya at hindi nagtagal ay nakarating na siya sa bar kung saan sila magsi-celebrate ng mga kaibigan n'ya. "Mag-ingat po kayo ma'am." saad ng driver n'ya sakanya nang makalabas siya at tinanguan naman n'ya ito at nginitian. Nagmadali nang pumasok si Kaylee sa loob ng bar and she was stunned kasi kahit sa labas palang ay halata mo ng sobrang mamahalin ng bar na ito pero nagtaka siya ng walang malakas na tunog ng music at walang ilaw pero nagpatuloy parin si Kaylee. "dito namamatay ang mga bida sa mga drama eh." she whispers to herself while opening the door. And the moment she open the door, biglang umilaw ang buong paligid at lahat ng tao kinantahan siya ng happy birthday while smiling at her. Gulat na gulat si Kaylee sa pakulo ng mga kaibigan n'ya. Her friends even goes out of the crowd just to be infront of her and holding and two tier cake. "Make a wish." nakangiting saad ni Celeste sakanya. Pumikit si Kaylee and wished the same wish she did this morning at saka hinipan ang kandila sa cake n'ya. "Thank you" aniya pa sa lahat nang sabay-sabay silang nagpalakpakan. "Okay everyone, you can order whatever you want. it's on us for tonight!" sigaw ni Amelia sa lahat at tumili ang lahat dahil sa saya. Naglakad sila papunta sa isang vip table na may designs na happy birthday sakanya and they look like the celebrity of that bar. "Teka, did you rent the whole bar?" malakas n'yang tanong sa mga ito dahil nagsimula na ang malakas na music. "No, but we told everyone before you came to sing you a happy birthday song and every order they make will be on us tonight." sagot ni Ava sakanya. "Oh wait, someone wants to talk to you." sabay harap sakanya ng cellphone at andoon si Grace aa kabilang linya na sobrang laki ng ngiti. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY DEAR FRIENDS!!! I'LL BE HOME IN TWO WEEKS, I HAVE YOUR GIFT NA!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" sigaw pa nito sa kabilang linya na sobrang napaka energetic. Sakanilang magka-kaibigan, si Grace ang pinaka sobrang taas ng energy. "Thank you, I'll wait for your gift for me." aniya pa dito at tumango naman din ito. Hindi rin nagtagal ang usapan nila dahil may gagawin pa ito kaya binaba na nila ang tawag. They then enjoy the night. Drinking and dancing on the dance floor. They want to become wasted while celebrating the birthday of Kaylee. Kaylee herself is enjoying. She's the happiest when she's with her friends no matter where they are or what they do as long as it's not bad. Table at dance floor lang sila pabalik-balik. Minsan mag-uusap sa table about random things and then kapag nagustuhan ang mysic ay tatayo or hindi kaya pupunta sa dance floor para sumayaw, lahat sila enjoy na enjoy. "Guys, I'll go to the bathroom muna." she said to them at tinanguan naman siya ng mga ito. While walking to enter the bathroom, someone from behind her spoke. "So it's your birthday." kumunot ang noo ni Kaylee doon dahil napaka pamilyar ng boses nito. Nilingon n'ya ito and her widen when she saw who it was pero segundo lang ay nakabawi na rin siya mula sa pagkakabigla. It was Mr. Monaco. The ruthless billionaire of today's generation na nakasagutan n'ya last week sa isang shop ng mall. Isang linggo din siyang natakot doon na baka may gawin nga ito sakanya dahil sa pakikipag sagutan n'ya dito, she also search about him and the people on social media are saying the same thing as what her friends had told her. "It is, why?" buong tapang na sagot ni Kaylee dito. Natatakot talaga siya dito dahil kahit noon palang na una n'ya itong nakita, may aura na itong nakakatakot paano pa kaya sa pangalawang beses n'ya itong nakita n nakasandal sa men's bathroom at taimtim na nakatingin sakanya. The man smirk at her. "I love how beave you are the other week to talk to me that way and embarrassed me infront of everyone." he said while still glaring at her na para bang papatayin na siya nito. "you started it first. you called me a thief without an evidence just because my card wouldn't work. Calling you stupid is much more okay than being called a thief by some stranger who's buying lingerie for his girlfriend." siguro dala narin ng alak kaya mas lalong tumatapang si Kaylee sa pagsagot ng mas malala kay Mr. Monaco. Hindi makapaniwala si Alexander Monaco sa naririnig n'ya mula kay Kaylee. "Are you for real woman? you made me a pervert in that shop just because i bought a lingerie for my girlfriend." medyo nagagalit na ito sakanya. ngumiti si Kaylee dito. "And you made me like thief just because my card got declined, so quits." she said and enter the bathroom para takasan si Alexander at ang napaka talas nitong tingin sakanya. Kung nakakamatay lang ang titig baka matagal na siyang nakahandusay sa sahig. Twenty minutes had passed, Kaylee is praying na sana wala na doon si Alexander sa labas and she was thankful na wala na ito doon. Nang makabalik na siya sa table nila ng mga kaibigan n'ya, nagtaka pa ang mga ito kung bakit ang tagal n'yang nag banyo. "I encounter a demon upon entering." she said to them that added to thw confusion but Kaylee just told them that it's just nothing and they just need to enjoy the party. They just enjoy the rest of the night at nawala narin naman sa isip ni Kaylee si Alexander na nakasalubong nito kanina. They continue drinking and dancing and Kaylee had a blast birthday celebration. Around 3 a.m ay umuwi narin siya. Her friends are drunk while she is a bit drunk as well. Kaya nag text siya sa driver n'ya na kunin sila, hinatid din nila ang mga kaibigan n'ya sa mga bahay-bahay nito bago sila umuwi ng tuluyan. Nang makauwi siya, akala n'ya tulog na ang mga magulang n'ya perk nagulat siya nang marinig ang mga ito na nag-aaway parin sa study room nila. "for sure talo na naman sila sa sugal." aniya pa sa sarili at nagpatuloy lang sa paglalakad papunta sa kwarto n'ya at hindi kalaunan ay nakatulog na siya. Morning came, Kaylee woke up with a bit of headache. And it was already 9 a.m, napaungol na lamang si Kaylee sa sakit ng ulo n'ya. "argh, my head." aniya pa habang nakahawak sa ulo n'ya. Pero sinubukan n'yang bumangon at bababa kasi paniguradong mag-aalala ang mga katulong nila na parang guardian n'ya narin. Nag toothbrush pa muna siya at naghilamos bago bumaba. Habang naglalakad si Kaylee papuntang dining area, napahinto siya ng masilayan ang mga magulang niya na kumakain. Kumunot ang noo n'ya doon hanggang sa nilingon siya ng mommy n'ya. "oh you're awake, come join us." malumanay nitong sabi sakanya. She has never heard those gentle voice for so long, so so long. Kaylee can sense that something is up with them. Hindi gumalaw si Kaylee at gulat na nagtataka paring nakatingin sa mga magulang n'ya. "Well don't just stand there and sit here with us to have breakfast" ani ng daddy n'ya ng mapansing hindi siga gumalaw kaya dali-daling naglakad si Kaylee paupo sa dining table. Hindi n'ya mapigilang mapatingin sa mg magulang n'ya na para bang hindi n'ya narinig ang mga ito na nag-aaway kaninang madaling araw nang makauwi siya. "How was your birthday? did you celebrate ut wuth anyone happily?" tanong pa ng mommy n'ya sakanya habang nagsasandok siya ng pagkain. "i did. i spent my birthday with the people i love and i was so happy." she replied to hit a nerve but all she heard was a deep sigh from her own parents. "well then that's good." tanging sinabi lang ng mommy n'ya. Kaylee can't take it anymore and drop her spoon and fork and looked at her parents. "okay, what's going on. what do you guys want?" aniya pa, animo'y parang nawala na ang sakit ng ulo n'ya. "What do you mean?" kunwari nagtataka pang tanong ng daddy n'ya. kaylee smirked. "What's with you, are you guys sick and you're eating breakfast with me? i know something's going on, i know you have something to discuss with me so just spill it so we can get over it." medyo nagagalit na siya sa mga ito. Nagtinginan silang dalawa at natawa si Kaylee dahil na realize n'yang meron nga. "so meron nga, i was not wrong. What is it, say it!" she said. "You're getting married!""WHAT!? WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" hindi napigilan ni Kaylee ang sarili na sumigaw dahil sa sinabi ng mommy n'ya. "Well, you're not getting any younger. You are already 26 years old so therefore, you should be married already." nakangiti pa nitong tugon sakanya na para bang hindi big deal para dito ang magpakasal. "Are you out of your mind?" her mom and dad looked at her in disbelief dahil sa tanong at uri ng pagtatanong n'ya dito. "Do you think marriage is a joke and just nothing to you? do you think marriage should done just because someone turns 26 years old? I'm 26 years old, so? ni wala man lang nga kayong binigay na gift man lang kahit late na, tapos sasabihin n'yo sa'kin ngayon na magpapakasal ako? did you guys lose your brain while gambling in the casin—" hindi natuloy ni Kaylee ang sasabihin n'ya ng biglang dumapo sa pisngi n'ya ang palad ng mommy n'ya habang ang daddy n'ya ay walang pakialam sa nangyayari. "Watch your tone young lady, you're being such a rude b
"Slow down, Kaylee!" Celeste hissed at her, even hold her wrist so that she would stop drinking. She has been drinking for 2 hours now since they arrived at the bar. Kaylee messaged her friends after what her own parents did to her. She told them that she needs some drink and that alone screams that she has a problem that's why her friends didn't say no. "Tell us what's the problem! Tell us hindi iyong parang magpapakamatay kana diyan dahil sa pag-iinom mo. Dalawang oras kanang hindi tumitigil sa pag-iinom diyan, tapos tumakas kapa sainyo. At least tell us something so we know how to console you." ani pa ni Ava sakanya na tinanguan naman ni Celeste at Amelia. Kaylee drink another shot of whiskey and looks at her friends. "My great parents, my super great parents are the worst of all the worst!" she said slightly shouting. kumunot ang noo ng mga kaibigan n'ya sa sinabi n'ya. "What did they do this time?" tanong pa ni Celeste. Huminga ng malalim si Kaylee at uminom ulit ng is
"No! I'm n-not going anywhere." she said to him and even run away from him and goes back to the crowd. Kaylee is so drunk already, she might forget everything about what she did tonight when morning came. Kaylee dances again and grab another drink but Alexander caught her again. "Woman, you need to go home." he hissed on her ears. Iwinaksi no Kaylee ang kamay nito. "Ano ba, I want to have fun tonight. This might be the night na hindi na ako single. I don't know what my husband's real identity and I don't know if I'm able to party again so will you please get lost and just let me party? I don't even know you." Kaylee straightly said to him na para bang hindi siya lasing. Nang natahimik na ito ay saka lang ulit sumayaw si Kaylee at sumayaw. She keeps dancing and drinking, while Alexander are just guarding her because someone might touch her again. But Kaylee looks at Alexander and gave him a drink, ayaw pa sana nitong uminom pero pinilit ito ni Kaylee kaya uminom narin ito kasabay
Kaylee worked up feeling the headache and sore down there. Napahawak siya sa ulo n'ya ay napa-araw sa sakit na nadarama ng katawan n'ya. "What happened last night?" half asleep and while holding still her head, she quietly asked to herself nang biglang may nahawakan ang isang kamay n'ya sa gilid n'ya. Kaagad siyang napalingon doon at nanlaki ang mga mata ng may makitang lalaking nakatalikod sakanya at hubad iyon. Kaagad na tiningnan ni Kaylee ang sarili at hubad din siya. Kaagad siyang tumayo pero hindi paman siya tuluyang nakatayo ay napaigik siya sa sakit na nadarama n'ya sa gitnang hita n'ya. "Fuck! that hurts so much." she said in quiet voice para hindi magising ang lalaki sa tabi n'ya. She calmed down and slowly get off the bed and wore her dress. Paika-ika din siyang lumabas ng hotel room na iyon hanggang sa makalabas siya sa hotel building at sumakay sa taxi. Nakahinga ng maluwag si Kaylee, at pilit inaalala ang mga nangyari at ginawa n'ya kagabi. She remembers dancing,
"Ma'am Kaylee? pinapababa na po kayo ng mommy at daddy n'yo po." rinig ni Kaylee sa Yaya nila habang nagbibihis pa siya. "Tell them to wait, I'm still not done here." she said at narinig n'ya naman ang papaalis na tunog ng sapatos nito. Kaylee sighed in so much annoyance habang sinusuot n'ya ang dress n'ya. Her own mother told her to wear dress para daw presentable tingnan sa mga Monaco. It's been a week since her parents told her about the wedding and since then, they've been busy forcing her to wear this or that for the Monaco Family. Kaylee already meet the parents of the man that she will be married to and she can say that they're nice people but his grandparent and him as well, she haven't meet them yet. She was told that the name is Riker, her parents won't tell her his whole name kasi yun daw ang request ng groom. 20 minutes had passed and finally, Kaylee is done dressing up at bumaba narin siya sa sala kung saan naghihintay ang mga magulang n'ya. Her mom had this annoy
While Kaylee's family and the family that she's about to be part of are eating lunch, hindi mapigilang mapaisip ni Kaylee ang sinabi ng ginang sakanya kanina. Kung paano siya nakilala ng apo nito papakasalan n'ya. "Kaylee, dear. You seem occupied, penny for your thoughts?" sobrang malumanay talaga ng boses nito, para bang anytime ay makakatulog siya. Ngumiti si Kaylee dito bago nagsalita. "May naisip lang po, just ignore it po Mrs. Monaco." aniya pa dito at kumunot ang noo nito dahil sa sinabi n'ya. "Mrs. Monaco? that's ridiculous, that's so formal. You're about to be a Monaco, you're about to marry my grandson so that's make my grand daughter as well. Call me Grandma or Lola, whatever you prefer." anito pa sakanya. "And you can call me grandpa as well." pabirong kumindat ang asawa din ng matandang babae. Kaylee just hopes that her groom is as kind as his grandparents so it wouldn't be so hard for her to live everyday in a marriage that she never wants in the first place. "Sure
It's the day of the wedding. Kaylee is already wide awake and just staring at the ceiling of her own hotel room. She doesn't want to get up nor prepare for the big event, after all it's not her who wants this, she's just being used in order to save the company and in order to save her parents from utter humiliation for having a billion debt to the Monaco family. She wants to be saved but how, when she knows that her life wouldn't be easy if she choose to runaway from this hell.When God showers the earth with misfortune, she was outside devouring every single inch of it, look where she is right now. "Miss Kaylee, it's time for your make over." Kaylee sighed when she heard that from outside of the door. Is she really gonna get married to a man she doesn't know at all, may it be his face or personality?Despite her having a doubts of the decisions she has made, she still gets up and walk to the door to open it. She was then greeted by the smiling face of her make up artist and the rest
"Are you ready?" nasa sasakyan na sila. She is accompanied by Celeste and Grace. While Ava and Amelia ay nauna na sa simbahan. nagbuntong hininga si Kaylee. "I wanna run away." she said out of knowhere. "Let's go." sagot naman ni Celeste at hinampas naman ito ni Grace. "Maka let's go ka diyan, akala mo talaga tatantanan itong si Kaylee ng parents n'ya kapag naging runaway bride 'to." sumimangot si Celeste sa sinabi ni Grace. "I was just joking when I said that I wanna runaway." tumawa si Kaylee kay Celeste. "Anyway, let's go inside and get married." she said at nauna ng bumaba si Celeste at Grace. Habang siya ay naghihintay sa sasakyan at hinihintay lang ang hudyat ng wedding coordinator. Nang tinulungan na siya nitong lumabas at tumayo sa harap ng pinto ng simbahan, sobrang kinabahan si Kaylee. She looked around, there's no one except her and the wedding coordinator, she could really run away if she wanted to, she really wants to but would it be worth it? alam n'ya ang kayang g