Chapter 8: The Singularity2 days before Dean's deathVictoria Abbel's Point of View"Damien is staying here? Wow. That's new." Her name is Carla and she's the one who is responsible for cleaning the house. At ngayon naman ay nandito siya para maglinis ng buong bahay. May hawak itong trash bin na puno ng gusot na mga papel."I got a lot of trash from his room." Carla is a blonde woman and she's in her late fifties. Good thing she can still manage to do all the cleaning in our house. Palagi naman siyang may kasama maglinis, I don't know if it's her daughter or niece. I don't bother asking. That explains why she's holding a trash bin. That must be Trevor's trash.Ibinaba ko ang baso na may tubig at lumapit sa kanya."It's not Damien. There's another man residing here and now he's staying at Damien's room." Kinuha ko ang trash bin kay Carla at nagulat naman siya dahil sa ginawa ko. Kahit ako ay nagulat dahil sa ginawa ko."Ohhh, another brother of yours?" She asked while looking at me wi
Chapter 9: Fucked UpVictoria Abbel's Point of View"You bought a lot of things, should I still buy groceries?" Bungad sa akin ni Carla. May hawak itong purse at mukhang aalis na upang bumili ng stocks para dito sa bahay. When Trevor and I reached the driveway, I hurriedly went out and walk straight inside the house. That's where I saw Carla."Just go Carla, I bought this for myself." I said, niyakap ko ang mga binili ko at dumiretso sa loob ng kwarto. I put everything on my bed. I was planning to eat all of these. Maganda mag stress eating ngayon, lalo na sa sitwasyon ko. I open my laptop ang started watching a series in Netflix. Hindi ko namalayan kung anong oras na, kaya pagtingin ko sa orasan ay nagulat dahil alas diyes na ng gabi. Kaya naman pala, natapos ko na agad ang isang season. Oh shit! I mentally cursed when I realized that I forgot something. Hindi ko pa pala binibigyan ng pagkain ang nanay ko! She must be starving.I hurriedly went downstairs. Nakapatay na ang lahat ng i
Chapter 10: The CodeA day before Dean's Death Victoria Abbel's Point of ViewHanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin mawala sa isipan ko kung ano ang sinabi ni Trevor. How can he say that I am fucked up as he is? I didn't even know to myself that I am fucked up. Kahit habang naghahanda ako papuntang school ay iniisip ko pa rin ang sinasabi niya. Why is he always there, making my mind confused. He is so annoying and confusing at the same time.But the only question that I couldn't answer until now is: Why is he here?He can't be here. And why now? The idea of him being in the same place with me is chaos."I see you are spacing out in my class Miss Stanislaski." Nakuha ang aking atensiyon nang biglang banggitin ni Mrs. Roosevelt and apelyido ko. I didn't even know that I am spacing out. Nasa akin na ang atensiyon ng lahat and I started to become uncomfortable to my seat."Sorry." Sabi ko na lang at bumalik sa pagsusulat. Good thing I didn't saw any sign of Dean right now. Sa tuwing nakikita k
Chapter 11: The DinnerVictoria Abbel's Point of ViewNagulat ako nang biglang may kumatok sa pinto. I get all the notes scattered on my bed and hid them under the pillow. I even hid the remaining crumpled paper under my bed by kicking them."Bakit?" Sabi ko agad nang mabuksan ko ang aking pinto."I mean, why?" I said when I saw Carla in front of my door. Nagulat kasi ito dahil sa aking pagtatagalog."I'm going home, now. The dinner is served, eat when you feel it. I also got my salary today, thank you." She said. Tumango lang ako sa kanya at hinintay na siya ay umalis. I just really wanted to decipher the codes right now, na mula sa mga scratched paper ni Trevor. I felt like I'm invading his privacy but I'm Tori Abbel. I am always curious and I always find a way to satisfy my curiosity.Pagkatapos umalis ni Carla ay lumabas na rin ako to have dinner. Pero pababa pa lang ako ng hadgan, I saw Trevor across the room and met his eyes. Hindi pa rin ako nasasanay na dito na nakatira si Tre
Chapter 12: WarmthCurrent DayVictoria Abbel's Point of ViewTumingin ako kay Trevor at tsaka bumalik ang aking tingin kay Nikos na hanggang ngayon ay hindi maalis ang kunot sa kanyang mukha."The Dean guy is dead," Nikos repeated. I stiffened from my place. Everything is coming to me right now. The blood from Trevor's shirt, the weird notes from Trevor's trash bin, Trevor's words by saying he will make me prouder, and Trevor's way of trying to read what's going inside my head.With a bored look, Trevor sipped from his hot coffee and sat down comfortably in the chair.Nang mapansin ko ang dugo sa aking kamay ay agad akong tumakbo sa sink upang hugasan agad ito. Kahit ang suot kong damit ay nagkaroon ng stain ng dugo. After thirty minutes, I heard a car parking in our garage. It was Nikos, who's drunk and wasted. Nakita ko siyang humiga na lang sa sofa at hinayaan. Where did they go last night?"Victoria, say something please. Hindi ako sanay na ganito ka katahimik." Nikos said while
Chapter 13: The ConfrontationVictoria Abbel's Point of ViewI looked at Trevor walking towards the two police officers. Hanggang ngayon ang lakas pa rin ng tibok ng puso ko dahil sa maaring mangyari sa kanya. Everything is just coming back at me. The moment when he asked me to accompany him to the hardware store, the things he bought there, his scratch papers, and about last night when I felt the something sticky on his shirt. And that is blood! It's so weird. And now, the news about Dean's death broke out and everything is just messed up. For God's sake, there are two police officers at our freaking door! At mas lalong hindi ako makapaniwala na parang wala lang na nakatayo ang mabutihin kong pinsan. "No! Trevor is not here!" Bigla na lang lumabas ito sa aking bibig. Kaya naman napatingin si Trevor at Nikos sa akin. Nikos looked me as is he's asking what game I am playing at right as of this moment. But what could I do? Turn Trevor in? No way. I couldn't believe myself. Ilang beses
Chapter 14: The StarTrevor Dmitri's Point of View"That's why you shouldn't let your friend become your coworker." I put my hands on my forehead and didn't even bother to say a word."Oh on the second thought, he's not even a friend but your manager." I was really stupid for hiring someone I know as my manager. I need someone to organize all my stuff and shits. Like handling all our finances, making schedules and many more.My record label becomes so demanding that I have to make music every now and then and travel to the world to promote my music together with my bandmates. Hindi na sumagi sa isip ko na gagawin sa akin 'yon ng manager ko. He fucking stole money from me. His name is Jim and we used to be bandmates way back in middle school.I should have listened to Nikos and not hired someone I'm closed with. But shit really happened. Those who will fuck you from ay ang mga taong kakilala mo pa. Damn."Do you want to press charges?" Tanong sa akin ni Nikos habang pinaglalaruan sa ka
Chapter 15: The Cold EveningVictoria Abbel's Point of ViewThis one-week suspension is surely killing me from the inside. I sighed and rolled my body in the bed.I only heard that Nikos went back in the Philippines yesterday. Hindi man lang siya nagsabi sa akin. But then again, nagkulong lang naman ako sa loob ng kwarto ko ng ilang oras. Besides, his job is done at wala naman na siyang iba pang gagawin dito. I still couldn't believe that Dean is dead for unknown reason. It's just so sudden. And Trevor still giving me the cold shoulders. Nothing is new.His purpose here is still a mystery. What I know about Trevor is that he always has a plan. And this is one of the reasons why I liked him back then. He's decisive and he never acted based on his feelings. It's always about logic. Maybe, that is one of the many reasons why I am attracted to him. Geez, lahat naman siguro ng babae ay na attract sa ganong lalaki at hindi rin ako naiiba. He's a genius. Plus, he's really handsome and gorgeo
Epilogue"Trevor, can you move closer to the right?" Dad said while steading the camera in front of us. Trevor stood awkwardly at my right side. Pinipigilan kong hindi umiling kaya naman itinuon ko na lang ang atensiyon ko sa camera. Hinawakan ko rin ng mahigpit ang bulaklak na hawak ko. I just graduated from College today and I couldn't be happier.With all the dramas that I've experienced for the past months, I got delayed in my studies. I took an additional year to catch up with my subjects. Luckily, I finally gain my diploma. I was wearing a black dress underneath my toga. Sumasakit na rin ang paa ko dahil sa heels na suot ko.And now, we are taking a picture to commemorate the day but Trevor looked a little shy. The place was swamped with people and he seems a little uncomfortable. Nothing new. He's not really fond of crowds. He was wearing an all-black clothes since he wanted to match his outfit to mine. That color emphasizes his pale skin even more. Isa pa kahit nakasuot na ako
Chapter 55: Finally HisVictoria Abbel's Point of View"Tobi was born melancholic." I stared at the portrait in front of me. The portrait is huge, just like something that you can put in an art gallery. Habang nagsasalita si Trevor ay tiningnan ko ang photograph ni Tobi na hindi man lang ngumingiti. He was just staring right at the camera without any expression on his face. His face was just like what I remembered back then. He really looked like Trevor in his teenage years.Nandito ako ngayon sa mansion ng mga Dmitri. It's already two weeks when I left the hospital. My wound is not fully healed but I can walk now. Kahit may nararamdaman pa rin akong kaunting kirot ay kaya ko pa rin maglakad. Trevor introduced me as his girlfriend to his parents earlier. And now we are looking at his brother's portrait at the second floor of the house."He died so young and unexpectedly." Paninimula ni Tevor. My heart aches for Trevor. Losing someone you care about must really hurt. It's like cutting
Chapter 54: ReflectionVictoria Abbel's Point of View"Are you sure you wanna drop the charges?" Nikos asked more than ten times already."Oo, ilang beses ko pa ba kailangan ulitin?" I tried not to roll my eyes at him."Ngayon, alam mo na pakiramdam sa tuwing paulit-ulit ka Toring?" Natatawang sambit nito habang inuunti-unti niya ng pagkain ang grapes na dinala ni Cainn para sa akin."Huwag mong ibalik sa akin." Napasimangot na sabi ko sa kanya at nag cross arms."Your parents don't want to drop the charges. Even Trevor. He wants them behind bars in case they'll do something to you again." Popping out the grapes in his mouth, he looked rather calm in this situation. Biglang pumasok naman si Georginna sa aking isipan. Whenever I remembered the hurt in her eyes, I felt her anger toward me. It was my fault, I admit it. That's why I don't think she deserves to be put behind bars. It should be me."I don't think Georginna will do it again." Naibulong ko na lang sa sarili ko. Ngunit dahil t
Chapter 53: Real MonsterVictoria Abbel's Point of ViewMonsters are real. I used to be afraid of them when I used to be a kid. I remembered when mom always read me stories to sleep, the monster is always the villain. Growing up, I didn't know that I am that monster.There is a monster living inside me and most of the time it wins. How many people should I hurt first before getting what I want? Hindi ko na mabilang sa kamay ko ang mga taong nasaktan ko."Is there anyone who will come for you?" Napukaw ni Nigel ang aking atensiyon. I guess he only applied as the band's manager for this plan. He was the only one with me right now. Georginna left minutes ago, probably getting something from outside. I don't know. Bigla akong napailing sa tanong ni Nigel."I bet no one will ever notice that I am missing." Napahinga na lang ako ng malalim dahil sa naisip ko. That's the truth. Mukhang kahit ang mga kapatid ko ay hindi ako hahanapin. It's not like I'm expecting from them."Good. Georginna's
Chapter 52: Ghost of the PastVictoria Abbel's Point of ViewWhen I tried opening my eyes, I felt kinda dizzy. Kahit ang paligid ko ay malabo. Maybe my eyes are just adjusting to the light that is not well-lit.What happened? Naitanong ko na lang sa sarili ko habang pilit binubuksan ang mata ko. Ang tanging naalala ko lang ay naglalakad ako palayo sa mansion ng mga Dmitri. Feeling confused because all along I thought I was in love with Trevor. Then suddenly, I felt something sharp inserted on my neck as I started losing my consciousness. Ngayon naman ay parang bibiyakin sa dalawa sa sobrang sakit ang aking ulo. Para na rin akong mabubulag sa liwanag. Kahit ang ibang parte ng katawan ko ay hindi ko maramdaman."Gising ka na ba?" Someone speaks. A man with a gentle voice. I tried remembering where I heard his voice."Naririnig mo ba ako?" I heard him again. I tried opening my mouth but all I can feel is pain in the part of my jaw."Yes." I tried pushing myself to answer. My voice is ras
Chapter 51: The VillainTrevor Dmitri's Point of ViewVictoria is in our house.Her image flashed in my mind, wandering aimlessly in the whole house. There's a high possibility that she will see our family picture. Mom had this habit of putting our family picture everywhere. As if doing that made her a good mom. I want to get her out of the house and just pull her closer in my arms. Ako lang dapat ang makikita niya.There are only a few moments in my life when I felt scared. I can even count all of them with my fingers. It's funny that it's all about Victoria Abbel. It's always been about her all the fucking time!Once I reached the house where I grew up, the smell of lavender and rose water greeted me. I can even see my birth mother approaching my place"Trevor! Bakit hindi mo sinabi na pupunta ka? You rarely come here.""I'm here for Victoria," I said plain and simple. I couldn't even force myself to greet her with a happy birthday. All parents damage their children. That's a fact t
Chapter 50: Childhood First LoveVictoria Abbel's Point of View"I told you to buy me pizza." My face sunk when I saw Cainn without holding anything. Nagkibit balikat lang ito at pinitik ang noo ko at tsaka naglakad papasok sa loob. I made an ouch sound and rub my forehead.Sinundan ko siya ng tingin at prenteng naupo sa couch. It's already evening and Cainn is the first brother of mine to arrive. Prente itong nakaupo kaya naman may bigla na lang akong naisip na gawin."Ouch! Mom! Victoria just step on my foot!" Sigaw niya habang hinihilot ang paa na inapakan ko. I stick my tongue out and gave him a meh expression. I don't even know if mom can hear us."That's for not buying me pizza. Nag expect pa naman ako. Hmpf!""You didn't say please." He said with a frown. Pinakita pa niya sa akin ang text message ko sa na nagpapabili ako ng pizza. Buy me pizza on your way home. That was the text message I sent him."And you didn't give me money. How am I supposed to buy if you don't have money?
Chapter 49: The InvitationVictoria Abbel's Point of ViewTrevor wasn't joking when he told me he will change my tires. He did it quietly and here I am standing behind to assist him. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa nakikita ko. The timid and frail Trevor can actually change tires. That was so unexpected. I thought all he can do is sing and play instruments. Silly me. There is really a lot to know about Trevor."You and Nigel, huh?" Trevor peeked at me."I told you, it's purely coincidence. Nakita niya lang ako na inaayos ang gulong ng aking kotse. And then he started helping me despite my refusal." I tried explaining the situation. I thought he was gonna give this topic up."You should have called me. I'm just thirty minutes away." He sounded a little hurt or that is how I assume it was. Napansin ko ang pagkapula ng kanyang tenga pababa ng kanyang leeg. Is Trevor actually jealous but so shy to show it?"How could I call you? I'm avoiding you, duh.""Kahit na. You c
Chapter 48: ReconciliationVictoria Abbel's Point of ViewI kicked the car wheel as hard as I can.Why now? Naibulong ko na lang ito sa aking sarili. Parang sunod-sunod na yata ang kamalasan na nangyayari sakin ngayon. Last week it was when Trevor and I argued. I don't even want to talk about it. It will only make me furious. And since then, I've been avoiding Trevor.Now, my car tire is flat. Napahawak na lang ako sa aking bewang at habang tinitingnan ang flat na gulong ng aking kotse. Napatingin na rin ako sa aking relo, mas lalo lang akong malilate kung titigan ko lang ito. I opened the trunk of the car and get the spare tire, jack, and lug wrench.Good thing that the car stopped away from the traffic. Changing the tires won't be difficult. Dad taught us how to change the tires, I used to complain a lot. I didn't know that I could use what he taught me now. I appreciate my dad even more. He taught me a lot of things that are useful for everyday life. Too bad that I was mean to him