Chapter 5

Tinanaw ni isabella ang hotel kung saan siya nanggaling, rinig na rinig niya ang malakas na tugtog mula sa kanyang pwesto. Pinunasan niya ang kanyang mga mata gamit ang sariling kamay, ngunit patuloy parin ang pag agos ng kanyang mga luha sa kanyang pisngi.

She knew she couldn't go back in because her makeup was now ruined. Her mascara was smudged all over her face, making her look like a complete mess.

Nagpatuloy siya sa paglalakad at huminto nang makakita ng bench sa hindi kalayuan.

Isabella felt a surge of frustration building up inside her, and she wanted to let it out with a loud scream. But, as she opened her mouth to let out the scream, she found herself crying even harder. The tears streamed down her face, making her mascara run even more.

As she cried, she thought about all the things that had led her to this point. She thought about her family, and how they had always supported her, no matter what.

"Mommy..." she smiled bitterly. "Why did we end up like this?" Nanghihina nitong bulong. Napayakap siya sa kanyang sarili nang umihip ang malakas na hangin. Nanatili siya roon ng ilang minuto bago napagpasyahang umalis. She was about to get up and head back home when she saw someone approaching her. It was her brother. Kaagad niyang pinakalma ang sarili at pinunasan ang kanyang luha.

"Bell? Bakit nandito ka? Kanina pa kita hinahanap sa loob. Dad is looking for you too," Hindi agad napansin ng binata ang mugtong mga mata ni Isabella.

"I don't want to go back. I can't," Pinilit nitong ngumiti sa harapan ng kanyang kapatid.

"What happened?" Sinugod ni Ryan ng isang mahigpit na yakap si Isabella na agad naman nitong tinugunan. Muli siyang napaiyak sa bisig ng kapatid.

"Hushh." Hinagod niya ang kanyang likod bilang pagpapatahan. "Ano ba talagang nangyari? Why are you crying?" he asked calmy. Kumalas siya sa pagkakayakap nilang dalawa at sinapo ang mukha ng dalaga.

Isabella tried to wipe away the tears from her face and composed herself before speaking. "Don't worry about me. I can handle myself. Bumalik ka na sa loob, baka hinahanap ka na nila."

"What are siblings for Bella? I'm always here to listen. And no, I'm not going to leave you here alone. Babalik lang ako kung kasama kita."

"Look at me Ryan, sa tingin mo makakabalik pa ako sa loob sa ganitong itsura?" Malakas na napabuntong hininga ang kanyang kapatid. She wanted to keep her emotions to herself and didn't want to involve her brother.

"Gusto ko nang umuwi. Gusto ko munang mapag isa," wika ng dalaga habang nakatungo.

"I'll drive you home then. Kahit iyon nalang ang maitulong ko." Sabay silang naglakad patungo sa nakaparadang sasakyan.

Tahimik silang dalawa sa byahe. Nakadungaw lang si Isabella sa labas ng bintana at pinagmamasdan ang mga nadadaanang puno habang ang kapatid naman nito ay naka focus lamang sa pagmamaneho. Ilang minuto pa ang nakalipas nang huminto ang sasakyan ni Ryan sa labas ng kanyang condo. Binalingan niya ang kapatid at nagpasalamat.

"Rest," sambit ni Ryan kay Isabella habang bakas parin ang pag aalala sa mukha niya.

"I will, good night. Drive safely." Tumango ang binata bilang pagsagot. Bumaba na rin si Isabella at kinawayan ang paalis na sasakyan ng kapatid.

Kinuha niya ang kanyang phone sa dala niyang pouch. Isabella looked at the time on her phone and realized that it was already seven pm. The party had just started, but she couldn't bear to stay longer. She just wanted to go home and be alone.

As soon as she entered her condo, she went straight to her room and lay down on her bed. She didn't bother to turn on the lights, she just laid there in the darkness, staring up at the ceiling. She was exhausted, both physically and emotionally and she just wanted to sleep.

Isabella closed her eyes, and finally felt like she was home. She was on her safe space, where she could finally be alone with her thoughts and process everything that happened.

Napabangon si Isabella nang mag ring ang kanyang cellphone. Papikit pikit niya itong inabot at tiningan ang caller ID.

Napatulala siya rito nang makitang ama niya ang tumatawag. Nag aalangan pa ito kung sasagutin niya ang tawag o hindi, ngunit patuloy ang pagring nito kaya napipilitan niya itong sinagot.

"I'm sorry Dad.." Agad na paghingi niya ng tawad.

"Why did you leave the party so early? Ang daming nagtatanong kung nasaan ka at hindi ko alam kung ano ang isasagot ko!" her father's voice was sharp and angry.

"Don't you know how much this celebration meant to me? You made me look like a fool in front of my friends!" Walang ibang magawa si Isabella kung hindi ang tumulala habang nagagalit ang kanyang ama sa kabilang linya. "Wala kang kwentang anak!" Isabella's heart shattered as she heard her father's words. The pain in his voice, the anger and disgust, they were all too much for her to bear. She felt like she was failing in everything she did, and that her father would never see her as anything more than a disappointment.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she tried to fight back the sobs that threatened to escape. She didn't want her father to see how much his words had hurt her, but it was too late. The pain was too great, the betrayal too deep.

Isabella hung up the phone, unable to bear another word from her father's mouth. She needed to be away from everything and everyone. She needed to figure out a way to move forward, to heal from the pain that her father had caused.

She needs to be strong but the pain is too much to handle. Isabella decided to go to a club and to drink until she couldn't feel the pain anymore. She knew that it wasn't the best coping mechanism, but she couldn't face her emotions head-on right now. She needed a distraction, a way to numb the pain.

As she walked into the club, she could feel the music pulsing through her body, the bass rattling her bones. She ordered a drink and started to sip it, feeling the alcohol slowly take effect.

For a moment, she thought that maybe she had found the solution to her problems. Maybe all she needed was to forget, to live in the moment and not think about the past or the future. Maybe that was the key to happiness, to letting go of all the pain and the worry.

Ilang oras ang nagdaan at hindi parin umaalis ang sakit na nararamdaman niya. Napatitig siya sa sa inuming nasa harap niya at walang sabi sabing nilagok iyon ng diretsuhan.

Patuloy lang ito sa ginagawa niya nang may marinig na tumatawag sa kanyang pangalan. She turned around and saw Davis standing next to her.

"Such a mess." he said, reaching out to touch her arm. "I saw you sitting here and I thought you might need someone to talk to." Seryoso itong nakatingin sa kanya. Kahit na malamig ang pagkakasabi ni Davis ay mababakas mo parin sa kanyang mukha ang pag aalala. "So, what happened?"

Isabella took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. She was surprised to see Davis, but also relieved to have him nearby.

"My father and I had a big fight, and he said some really hurtful things to me," wika niya sa mababang tono.

Davis nodded, understanding the pain in Isabella's voice. He put his arm around her shoulders, drawing her close.

"Do you want to get out of here?" he asked. "We can go for a walk or get something to eat, whatever you need." Itinabi niya ang alak nang muli sana itong aabutin ng dalaga.

"Alcohol wasn't going to fix your problems, it'll just going to make things worse, believe me. Let's go outside." Hinila siya ni Davis palabas sa club. Wala itong nagawa kung hindi magpaubaya dahil wala na itong lakas para makipag argumento sa kasama. Dinala niya ito sa loob ng kanyang sasakyan.

"Dito tayo, maingay sa loob." May inaabot si Davis sa backseat. Nang makuha niya ang isang leather jacket ay ibinigay niya iyon kay Isabella. Ngayon niya lang napagtanto na hindi pa siya nakakapagpalit ng damit mula kanina.

"Thanks...""

Isabella was grateful for Davis's help. She had been feeling so lost, and it made her feel better just to have someone by her side.