Chapter 1

ce's boyfriend for a long time. He was wealthy, though not excessively so. He came from a well-known and rich family in the country.

 

"What does this mean?" Ate Alice shouted. Tears streamed down her face as she stared at the man lying in bed with me. "Robert, Jane, what does this mean? Why did you do this to me?" she sobbed.

 

Her tears were flowing endlessly. I didn't know what to say because I couldn't remember anything. All I could recall was that it was Ate Alice's 21st birthday party last night, with lots of guests and everyone having a great time. When I looked at my dad, he was looking at us with a stern gaze. My mom's stare at me was filled with disappointment, as if I had committed a grave mistake. And Ate Ara was almost hysterical with anger and frustration.

 

"You're only eighteen and you're already fooling around, Jane, and with your sister's boyfriend, no less," Mommy scolded me, following it with a slap. I felt my face go numb from the pain. "Mommy, I'm sorry, I didn't know," I cried, tears streaming down my face. "I don't remember what happened. I don't remember anything." I turned to the guy next to me, who seemed just as confused about what was happening. He looked at Ate Alice, who was already crying.

 

Robert, on the other hand, was lost for words. "Kuya Robert, how did this happen? Did you--" I couldn't finish my sentence before Ate Alice grabbed me by the hair and started pulling. She pulled so hard that it felt like my scalp was being torn off. I couldn't resist because I was clutching the blanket tightly to cover my nudity. "You shameless snake!" Ate Alice shouted at me while pulling my hair. "Why did you, my sister, take away the man I love? I'll tear you apart." She continued to pull my hair so forcefully that it felt like it was about to come off.

 

"Alice, that's enough," Daddy shouted. "There's nothing we can do now to change what happened. He turned to Robert. "Let's talk, Robert. Explain to me why you're here in Jane's bed." Daddy looked disappointed, and his gaze shifted between me and Robert. He looked like he was trying to control his anger. Robert stammered, "Uncle, I don't know what happened. Why am I here... I don't remember... I'm confused."

 

"Babe, why did you betray me?" Ate Alice wailed. "Why my sister?" She couldn't accept it, and her heart was filled with pain. "Mommy, Daddy, I can't accept this," she cried. "It hurts so much."

 

I couldn't understand why this had happened. Out of all the people in the world, why did it have to be my sister's boyfriend? "Ate, I'm sorry," I said tearfully. "I don't know... I don't remember anything." I cried, trying to keep up with the stream of tears. I was confused about everything that had happened.

 

Until now, my mind couldn't process why this had happened. Ate Alice and Kuya Robert are getting married next month. They love each other, and I witnessed it. But why did this happen?

 

"Well, since this has happened, there's nothing we can do to change it," Daddy said. " Emma, Alice, let's leave this room." He looked at both of them. "You two," he said to me and Robert, "fix yourselves up. We need to talk. And Robert, I'll call your parents to come over." Daddy walked towards the door, while Ate Alice continued to give me a disdainful look. Tear drops still fell from her eyes. Mommy also gave me a stern gaze. She approached Ate Alice and led her out of the room, where Daddy was waiting. I could still hear Ate Alice sobbing before the door closed with a loud bang.

 

"Kuya," I said. "How... why?" I didn't know how to start the conversation after Mommy, Daddy, and Ate