Forty-three"Miss Dashelle, Mr. Luivega wants to talk to you," Kio said, one of the trainee as soon as he saw me entered the office.I place my expensive bag at my table and seat at my place instead of heading my way out to meet him. O freaking come on! "Why do he need to talk to me early in the morning, again? In fact, I don't have business to him," I said irritatingly. He just shrugged his head. Since my training started 4 days ago he keep asking me to go to his office early in the morning without any particular reason. I just don't get him, why do he need to talk to me when in fact we just ended up fighting. That's our routine since my first day here. And what really annoys me is that freaking Angel-eech who keep acting like a saint in front of him. O freaking come on! I really want to kill that psycho. Thinking about her really makes me boil in anger. "Miss Dashelle, hand this to Mr. Luivega's office," and as usual this scenario happened again. I just took the folder without
Forty-fourFein is right, hindi ito masosolve if I'll keep acting bitter. I shouldn't be mad at him kasi he did lang naman what he need to do that time, even if it's too painful to bear. But I can take it out to my system because my love for him is more than enough to trust him. This is how love works. Mag aaway then okay na naman. That's normal. Those days that I treated him coldly proves me that whatever happens, at the end of the day he still the one for me.I'm freaking Moon Dashelle, but I freakingly am crazy over the guy whom I want to share my future and days with. Days has passed, we still the same. We became more mature to think of some possibilities. Minsan nag aaway pa rin kami, but we immediately talk about it then okay na naman ako. All things that bothers us ay pinag uusapan namin, gaano man kaliit o kalaki iyan. We set aside our pride and ego, because that's not important, what matter to us both is we have each other at the end of the day. "Love, can I buy this?" I
Forty-five"Hi Ate," nakangiting bati sa akin ni René ang nakababatang kapatid ni Chas, lumapit siya sa akin at bigla pa akong niyakap. I just do the same. What are they doing here? "Where's Ren? Are you two living together?" she asked bitchly as she roamed her eyes everywhere before she raised a brow at me. "This place isn't as messy as before," she addedI raised a brow. "You are not as ugly as before," I mocked.And doh? Hindi ako pinalaking maganda para maglinis, kaya nga may maids to do their jobs di ba? So freaking annoying! She rolled her eyes. Doh? She thinks it's bagay to her? This sister of Chas is really getting onto my nerves. "Ate Rion, stop being a witch," René interfered. "Anyway Ate Dash, we're just here to visit Kuya kasi he is not always visiting us at home," she said with a smile on her face.Rion sat down comfortably at the sofa, still acting like a bitch. "Can't you get us at least drinks or water? Like what's your role here?" she asked impatiently when I sat
Forty-six"Even Chas?"I closed my fists and heaved a deep sigh.I stared at the last photo that being sent to me. It's Chas and Angel-eech last night. They're together last night. I somewhat feel betrayed inside me. Walang sinabi si Chas tungkol dito, na magkasama sila sa dinner, o well I didn't ask din naman, but.... It somehow pains me. Annoying! I have tons of questions na tuloy sa isip ko. I trust him. I really do. But I don't trust this Angel-eech. She really knows how to bitch around with Chas. "Chas will probably have a reason," I said unsure. O yeah. Probably he has. "So, what's your plan?" she asked. Parehong kaming nakaharap sa salamin. She's fixing her hair and make up. She looks awfully hideous kahit na she is wearing make up. "Just what I said. I'll make them pay for everything," I said firmly. I just need to know who the freaking girl is, but I can't seem to recognize her face. It's blurry and hindi gaanong nakikita ang face. O freaking geez! "Why do your dad ba
Forty-seven"Love, here," tinapik ko ang bed ko para umupo siya sa tabi ko. Nanatili lang naman siyang nakatayo habang tahimik na pinagmamasdan ang loob ng room ko. I secretly smiled. "Love," I called him once more.He looks bothered when he stared back at me. Kanina pa siya hindi mapakali. He keep scratching the back of his head and biting his lips. Tumayo ako at nilapitan siya. Natawa naman ako nang bigla siyang lumayo sa akin ng akma ko siyang yayakapin."What's with you?" I asked laughing. I wrapped my arms around his nape. He hold my waists. I smiled dearly to him as I gave him a peck on the lips. He groaned when I deepen the kiss. "Love, we're at your place," he softly said when our lips parted. I hold his hand. "So?" I asked with my brow arched. "We're not doing anything naman that can kill someone," I added. I wrapped my arms around his waists too. We're now likely hugging each other. "But Love—," "Okay. Let's eat then," I cut him off. "Food," I continued when he sudde
Forty-eight"Love, the exam is so easy," nakangiting pagkukwento ko sa kanya over the phone. "I think I'll get a perfect score," pagyayabang ko. I heard him laughed on the other line. I really freakingly miss him so much. "I miss you, Love," I said trying to sound cool, but inside me is freakingly sad. (I misses you more, Love. Days without you suffocates me. I wish you're here right now para mawala agad ang pagod ko.) Mas lalo ko tuloy siyang namiss nang marinig ko ang boses niya. It's been days since he left, but still he didn't able to forget to call me each days. "What are you doing right now, Love?" (Nakahiga habang iniisip ka, Love.) Mas lalong lumawak ang pagkakangiti ko na halos umabot na sa tenga ko. Kahit malayo siya ngayon ay hindi pa rin siya nabibigo na gawing baliw ang puso. It's crazily beating so fast. "Psh. Stop making my heart flutter, Love. You're giving me heart attack. May exam pa ako mamaya," pagbibiro ko.Natawa na lang kami sa sari-sarili naming jokes.
Forty-nineSaglit niya akong tinapunan ng tingin bago muling binalingan si Dad na mukhang wala lang ang ginawa ni Lolo sa kanya. Mabilis na humarang sa akin ang mga pinsan ko nang lumapit sa akin ang mga bodyguards ni Lolo. "Papa, I'm her father and I have all the rights to discipline her. Alam niyo ho ba ang ginawa niya ngayong kahihiyan?! She cheated! She stole the answer key for pete's sake!"Without even asking me, they already believed it. "Did you already ask her what happened? Sinabi ba niyang ginawa niya iyon? Hindi magagawa ng apo ko ang sinasabi mo, dahil hindi pinalaki ng mali nang anak ko ang apo ko! At sa ayaw at sa gusto ng pamilyang ito! Kukunin ko ang apo ko, magkamatayan man tayo!" Mas lalong humigpit ang hawak ni Clay sa kamay ko. Ang mga pinsan ko ay handang handa nang makipagpatayan sa mga naglalakihang bodyguards ni Lolo. "Papa, hindi mo pwedeng kunin ang batang iyan—." "Ni hindi mo siya kayang tawaging anak, tapos sasabihin mo sa akin na ikaw ang ama niya?!
Fifty."Leave," I said coldly. "Miss Dashelle, kailangan niyo raw pong kumain sabi ng lolo niyo." I glared at her, she immediately put the tray on the table and leave hurriedly. I didn't bother to move, and just stay on my pace, sitting like a kid at the cold floor while hugging my knees together. It seems like I'm a lost girl in the darkness. Since that day happened, I decided to left home and come to Lolo. I'm afraid that If I stay there, I will lost myself. My life was covered of betrayals, lies, pain, dark past.... I couldn't bear it. It's so painful. All of the people I trusted, that I think will never lie to me, they all betrayed me. My cousins that I treated my backup turns out my own opponents, they all bunches of liars, because they knew it all along, that the family that Dad brought home is the family they all protected because they are afraid that I might discover it. They all lie. I feel like living in a nightmare without any escape. My mind is freakingly killing me wi
EpilogueThings I didn't expect to happen. People I didn't expect that will come into my life, love I didn't expect to receive, and a woman I didn't expect that I will going to spend my whole life with. Unexpected things really do happen, na dati ay hindi ako naniniwala, pero simula ng dumating siya sa buhay ko lahat nagawa kong paniwalaan, lahat ng imposible ay naging posible para sa akin. I met her at the right time, and at the perfect place. "Dude, sino yang tinitingnan mo?" tanong ni Hans na lumapit sa akin at inabutan ako ng yosi. "Yung pinsan ni Clay," sagot ko ng hindi tinatanggal ang pagkakatingin sa kanya. I fell in love at first sight. I admit it. "Dude, punta ako sa bahay niyo mamaya," paalala ko kay Clay. "Sige dude."I got chance to finally meet her. Mas maganda pala siya sa malapitan. "Apakaarte," nakangising sabi ko habang nakatingin sa kanya. Umirap naman siya sa akin agad. "Apakaattitude."She makes face. I chuckled. She's cute. Finally, I got her attention.
Sixty-nineHave you ever dealt with something you can't handle? Dealing with it, until you realize something won't be the same again. Maybe that's how it really works, that you can't hold everything, that there are things that you need to let go for you to hold yourself from falling apart. "Ate, you're drinking again?" Ella asked as soon as she saw me at the veranda. "I'm not drinking, I'm just unwinding," I plainly answered as I drink in one shot the beer in can I'm holding. I heaved a deep sigh as I stared blankly at the sky above us. Even the sky is freakingly not on my side, there's no stars, even the moon is hiding from me. It's been a week since I decided to get back. As soon as the gallery finished, I immediately booked a flight. Wala na akong rason pa para mag stay sa Pilipinas. Yes, I do have my family there and friends, but I don't think it's enough for me to stay. "New York is still the same," I muttered to myself as I pursed my lips and closed my eyes intently when a
Sixty-eightI successfully park the car outside the Korean restaurant. Nauna akong lumabas sa kanya at naglakad papasok sa resto. I can't breathe with him by my side. His giving me feelings I tried to forget. Every time I stared at his eyes, akala ko okay na ako, but everything just turned upside down. My efforts just got wasted all of a sudden. Yes, I still like him... no, I still love him, but I freakingly know that we can't be together anymore. He already have Angel-eech. He turned his back at me again, while I'm still waiting for him to get me back. Sumuko na naman siya dahil lang sinabi ko sa kanya na everything is a mistake that night. Hindi ako maghahabol, dahil hindi iyon gawin ng magaganda. The foods I ordered just came, napatingin ako sa labas dahil hindi pa rin dumarating si Chaster. O freaking come on.Mariin kong naipikit ang mga mata ko. Tatayo na sana ako para puntahan siya ng bigla siyang pumasok. Pinanood ko siya habang nililibot ang mga mata niya sa kabuuan ng rest
Sixty-seven"Ate, problem," bungad agad ni Ella sa akin pagkapasok na pagkapasok niya sa office ko. By the expression of her face and on how she reacts, I might say that it's really a problem. I put down the folder I'm holding, and took off my Bone Prone Optical Glasses of Chrome Hearts as I raised a brow at her."What?"She heaved a deep sigh as she place the folder she's holding to my table. My brows immediately furrowed when I saw what's in the folder. "I contacted the owner of the photo-art the other day, remember the owner of 'Sweet Dull Memories' na kasali sa exhibit next week. I did reached her —" "So? What's the catch? I told you to settle those arts rights?" "She suddenly said that she doesn't want her work to be displayed." I stared at her, trying to process what she just said. "A collector just contacted me and saw our pamphlet to our website, and she want that certain photo-arts personally."I massage my temple out of frustration all of a sudden. O freaking come on,
Sixty-sixI've never been good of leaving things behind, because I'm always be the one who is being left behind, but despite of that I learned so many things, like finding out who's there for me, and never left when I needed someone the most. I learned to face everything without fear. I learned to forgive but I know I'll never forger everything. "Will you still keep someone that hurt you and cause you so much pain?" Pare-pareho nila akong nilingon ng magsalita ako"Oo naman," sagot agad ni Sunny na wala man lang pagdadalawang isip"No," firmed na sagot ni Vivi"Why not?" taas kilay na sagot ni Shantelle "What for?" simpeng sagot ni MilleThey have different point of views and thoughts. Maybe because, we have different experiences. We tend to still accept someone despite of hurting us, not because they're being martyr, but because they sitll love that someone. On the contrary, some people doesn't want to try it again, not because they're coward, but because they are too afraid to be
Sixty-five"Chaster and I, are dating," she happily announced at the middle of the dinner. Napuno ng tanungan ang hapag kainan habang ako ay patuloy pa ring kumakain. Ramdam ko ang tingin sa akin ng mga pinsan ko pero hindi ko na lang ito pinansin. "What? You and Kuya Chaster are dating?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Ella. "Actually po, I didn't expect din po that he'll asked me out, kasi I'm still rooting him with Dashelle."I sneered. I couldn't stop myself to glare at her. Is she for real? O freaking come on. "Ya. Being hypocrite doesn't have cure," I mocked as I sip onto my wine. "If you really dating him, you freakingly don't need to drag my name out. Halatang nagpapabida ka na naman," dagdag ko. I don't know what's her deal. O freaking come on. So they're dating? Humigpit ang hawak ko sa kutsarang hawak ko. "I'm just saying lang naman," she fake a smile. My brows furrowed. "So? Do I need to care with your relationship?"What's wrong with this bitch? O geez. So she wante
Sixty-four Last day na namin ngayon, maagang natapos ang convention dahil magkakaroon ng party mamayang gabi. Ella and I just spend our free time sleeping. Chaster is so persistent, he really never failed to annoys me. Ugh. Nagising ako ng tumunog ang phone ko. Half-sleep, I answered the call. "What?" tamad na tamad na tanong ko. Halos hindi ko pa maibukas ang mata ko dahil sa antok. (I love you—) Mas mabilis pa kay flash na inend ko ang call ng marinig ko kung sino ang tumawag. Binato ko sa kung saan ang phone ko. Narinig ko itong tumunog pero hinayaan ko na lang ito.Another way to pester me. He really knows his ways. "Saan ka pupunta, Ate? Akala ko ba hindi ka a-attend sa party?" tanong ni Ella na busy pa rin sa pag aayos niya para sa party. She'll going to attend the party. "Do I need to ask permission or report to you everything I do?" I asked with my brow archedHumaba naman agad ang nguso niya. Kinuha niya ang coat niya na nakapatong sa kama niya at sinuot ito. We hav
Sixty-three"Ate," tawag pansin sa akin ni Ella ng dinantay ko ang ulo ko sa balikat niya. "I'm so sleepy. The presentation is so boring," I said yawning. My eyes unintentionally closed, because I freakingly am so sleepy. I woke up early in the morning just to hear some boring presentations? O freaking come on. "Just wake me up when it's done," tamad na tamad na turan ko. Kinawit ko ang braso ko sa braso niya para mas maging komportable ako sa paghilig sa kanya. Hindi naman na siya nagreklamo. "Just go back to your hotel room if you're just going to sleep here."Nagpantig ang tenga ko dahil sa narinig ko, at tila nawala ang pagkakaantok ko. Taas kilay kong tinignan ang nagsalita, it's Chaster na nakaupo sa likuran ko, straight face at emotionless lang ang tingin niya sa akin na tumagal ng ilang segundo bago siya nag iwas nang tingin at tinuon ang atensyon sa harapan. "Conceited pathetic idiotic moronic sleazy freaking creature," sambit ko. Muli niya akong nilingon, ngayon ay ma
Sixty-two "What do you want to talk about?" I asked with my brow furrowed as soon as I saw him sitting comfortably at the couch near the glass window of the restaurant. He smiled and wave his hand when he saw me. I just rolled my eyes. I placed my bag at the table and sat comfortably in front of him with my cross legs and arms. "Let’s eat first," he said instead answering my question. I flipped my hair beautifully with class. He started eating na as soon I sat down while me still busy showing my hates to him."Huwag mo kong masyadong titigan, baka mafall ka ulit sa akin." I chuckled sarcastically as I flipped my hair elegantly. "Excuse me? I'm not staring at you, it just happened that you're in front of me," I stated fiercely, baka isipin niya tinititigan ko talaga siya. "Fall my ass," I added. Doh? There's no hell way I do that. He chuckled as if he was so amaze on what I've said. "I'm just joking you don't need to be guilty." Agad nag salubong ang kilay ko dahil sa sinabi