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
Fifty-oneI left her office at ease. Hindi nawala ang tinginan sa akin ng mga estudyante. Lahat ay nagtatanong at puno ng pangkukutya. Ang iba ay nagbubulungan na para bang kinaganda nila ang ipinapakita nila sa akin ngayon. I flipped my hair beautifully and with class showing them my earings cost almost a million and walk confidently like a pro model flexing my expensive clothes, bag, and boots. "Ya Hussy— O geez!" she quirked when my bodyguards blocked her. "Ya building blocks just wanna remind you, I'm one of those people who she keep pestering when she ran home," she said so sure as she rolled her eyes. Bahagya nila akong tinignan, sinenyasan ko lang sila kaya agad silang umalis sa harap ni Hoochie na umuusok na ang ilong sa galit. "What do you want?" I asked impatiently "Let's talk," she said seriously looking at me intently. "Then talk.""Privately," she said and started to walk. I raised a brow."Wait me in the car," I said ordering the two who immediately followed me.
Fifty-two"You're really here..." hinaplos ko ang mukha niya habang titig na titig na nakatingin sa kanya. Hinawakan niya ang kamay kong nasa pisngi niya at hinalikan ito kasabay ng paghila niya palapit sa akin upang yakapin akong muli."Love, I ain't dreaming right?" I asked staring at him intently. He kissed my forehead and wipe away my tears. "Uhm. Stop crying. I'm here, Love. Hindi kita iiwan," mahinahong turan niya. Sobrang lakas ng kabog ng puso ko na tila kakawala ito sa akin. Simula ng dumating siya ay hindi siya nag tanong sa akin, ngunit na sa tabi ko lang siya at inaalo ako sa tuwing makikita niya akong napapaiyak na lang. Natatakot ako na baka alam na niya... I can't bear it anymore. Ayokong dumagdag sa problema niya. I don't wanna stress him up more. "Oww. My Love looks like lost weight. Namiss mo ba ako ng sobra sobra kaya hindi ka makakain ng maayos? Nandito na ako," pagbibiro niya Nakatitig lang ako sa kanya, pinagmamasdang maigi ang mukha niya. His eyes are deep
Fifty-three"Chaster...." Something inside me sting. Napahawak ako ng mahigpit sa kanya. I feel like any seconds I'll break down. I started to breathe hard as if there's someone choking me. I closed my eyes intently as tears continously falling. I'm hardly breathing. Ramdam ko ang panginginig ng kamay ko at pagpawis nito. "You knew it all along and pretended that you don't. You knew it all along that my family is the reason why you're in crisis right now, but you remained silent and endure it all alone. Why didn't you tell me? Bakit hindi mo sinasabi sa akin na nahihirapan ka? Bakit iniinda mo mag isa?" tuloy tuloy na turan ko. Hindi siya umimik malamig ang tingin na ibinaling niya sa akin. Nakakapanlambot at nakakapanghina, I never imagined that he'll going to be treat me like this. It's harsh, yet painful. With his cold eyes and stare, I know... my nightmare is about to come. I'm afraid. "That's why you're acting like this. That's why you keep treating me like this. That's why..
Fifty-four"I will no longer calling you Tito, because you finally and officially became my Dad tonight. Thank you po for introducing us your family. Akala ko, hanggang sa dulo magtatago pa rin kami bilang isang sampid sa pamilya, pero ngayon po... maraming maraming salamat Daddy."Halos masuka ako dahil sa naririnig ko. It's so creepy and nerve-racking. So ewys. Hence, I think her drama was perfectly made. She's now getting a sympathy. Tahimik lang akong nakikinig waiting for my time to show them the real deal. "Kahit na minsan iniisip ko na hindi kami nababagay sa mundo niyo, pero hindi niyo po pinaramdam sa amin na iba kami. Mga pasko, birthdays, at ano mang okasyon na patago nating cine-celebrate dahil natatakot kayo na malaman ng iba ang lahat, hindi dahil kinakahiya niyo kami kundi dahil prinoprotektahan niyo kami. "I sneered. "Protect? Did I heard it right? So, while he's busy protecting you my mom is suffering secretly. What a piece of trashes," I bluntly said. "Protecting m