"Okay lang talaga?" I asked Timothee as I parked my car in front of their mansion.Sinabi ko sa kanya na hindi ko alam kung paano haharapin sina Mommy. After everything I knew, hindi ko na alam kung paano sila tratuhin. I'm scared of avoiding them kasi ayaw ko din silang saktan. Timothee told me that I can stay in their house. I was hesitant syempre. How can I come back in that house matapos ko siyang lokohin sa ilang buwan kong pananatili doon. It would remind me of everything I've done."Ava, I thought that we left the past behind us?" He faced me."I'm sorry. I still feel ashamed of what I did.""Stop it," seryosong sabi niya. "Let's not talk about it, okay? Tapos na 'yun Ava. I forgave you already."I nodded. "Okay."Pumasok na kami ni Timothee sa loob ng mansyon at halos walang pinagbago. Nandun pa rin 'yung mga bulaklak na minsan kong dinidiligan araw-araw. The front lawn is still as wide as ever. I bit my lower lip as we get closer to the entrance. Nakakakaba. Alam ko naman na
"Paano ko malalaman kung nagsasabi ka nga ng totoo? Nakita ko kung paano umiyak si Timothee. Hindi ko akalaing makikita ko siya nang ganun," Manang said as tears started forming in her eyes. "Kung pwede ko lang akuin ang sakit na nararamdaman niya ay ginawa ko na.""I'm sorry," yuko ko.Hindi ko na alam kung ano 'yung sasabihin. Saying sorry was what I think is the best thing to say. "Bakit ka sa akin nagso-sorry?"Huminga ako nang malalim. "Kasi alam kong nasaktan ka din na makitang ganun si Timothee." I paused. "Timothee and I settled our differences. Okay na po kami ngayon. We promised to be honest from now on at hindi ko na po siya sasaktan."She sighed. "Nakita ko kung gaano kalaki ang mga ngiti niya kamakailan. Siguro dahil din sa'yo," she said, looking at me. "Kapag narinig kong sinaksaktan mo ulit siya, huwag kang magpapakita sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang magagawa ko sa'yo."Bahagya akong yumuko. "Hinding-hindi na po 'yun mangyayari."She stared at me one last time befo
"Ava," I heard someone calling my name softly.Hindi ko pinansin ang boses na 'yun. I am sleeping comfortably in a soft bed. Dala siguro sa pagod kaya ako nakatulog agad. I remember after dinner, I felt so sleepy that I instantly fell asleep the moment I closed my eyes.After kong pinakilala kay Rosie and sarili ko, in a harsh way, Tito Vincent told us to eat instead of roasting each other. Of course nag-sorry naman ako agad. Ang bastos kaya nun sa harap ni Tito Vincent. Hindi na siguro kami magkakabati ni Rosie. Hindi naman din akong umasa na magustuhan niya ako. Well, kung ano 'yung ipapakita niya sa akin edi yun din ang ipapakita ko sa kanya."Ava," I heard it again.I groaned and turn to the side, away from the voice. Ayoko munang bumangon. Nagulat nalang ako nang may malambot na bagay na dumampi sa labi ko. Iminulat ko ang aking mga mata at doon ko nakita si Timothee na nakangisi."Halik lang pala ang makakagising sa iyo," he said.Nanlaki ang aking mga mata at napaatras habang
Lumapit ako sa kanya at ganun pa rin 'yung tingin niya sa akin. I decided to get a lipstick that would look natural on his lips. I took a brush para sana lagyan siya ng lipstick sa labi pero umiwas siya.I sighed. "Timothee...""Anong pinag-uusapan niyo ni Kento? Did your little crush on him came back now that you see him after a long time?" Tanong niya.Hindi nga ako nagkakamali. Nagseselos nga siya. I saw it coming."Hindi," iling ko. "I was apologizing for fooling him as well.""Bakit siya nakangiti sa'yo?""Turns out alam na niyang nagpapanggap lang ako noon pa," iling ko. "Now I understand why he's always been so understanding to me before.""Psh. Mas understanding pa ako," he whispered but I heard him anyway.I smiled. "So, can I put on your lipstick now?"Umiling siya. "Doon ka sa Kento mo.""Timothee naman. Let's not fight, okay? Maraming naghihintay sa'yo," I said.Hindi siya sumagot. His face is facing on the other side as if ignoring everything that I just said. Alam ko nam
Timothee and I stayed inside their hotel room. Hindi pa kasi bumalik si Kento and Timothee insisted for me to stay. I couldn't say no matapos niyang sabihin na magc-cuddle kami. It's something that I need right now. Nakayakap ako sa kanya habang siya naman ay nilalaro ang buhok ko habang nakahiga. "Ava," he called."Yes?""I've been meaning to tell you something," sabi niya.Kumunot 'yung noo ko at nilingon siya. "Ano 'yun?""Ano kasi. I don't want to keep secrets from you and I am getting more guilty as time goes by," he said.Nagsimula na akong kabahan. Is it something that would upset me? Kaya ko bang magalit kay Timothee? He's the only person I have left and when I feel betrayed by him, kanina nalang ako tatakbo? Sino ang natira para sa akin?"Say it."He sighed. "I'm sorry but I've been in contact with your parents."Napakurap ako. "Since when?""Since yesterday," kamot niya sa ulo. "They know where we are. Alam nila na sa akin ka lalapit. Your Dad knows kasi na nililigawan kita
"Happy Birthday to you~ Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday our Ava~ Happy Birthday to you!"Everyone clapped their hands after I blew the candle. It's my 25th birthday at kasama mo ang buong pamilya. Sina Daddy, Mommy, Tito Diego, Peter, and Sofia. Kasama ko din si Timothee, his Dad Tito Vincent and her mother, Manang Abby. Nasa isang beach resort kami at sinadya kong dito kami kasi naaalala ko na nangako ako sa sarili na dalhin si Manang Abby dito as this is one of her dreams.After Timothee told the world about our relationship, the media keeps on tailing me. I became one of the most recent searches in the country. Inuungkat nila yung buhay ko later found out that I am a businessman's daughter. Nalaman din nila yung clothing line ko. Akala ko ib-boycott nila business ko pero sa katunayan mas marami pa akong naging customers.It was hard for the people to accept the fact that Timothee is courting me. Pati 'yung company na naghandle kay Timothee ay hindi inaa
"You mean this is the guy that I'm going to marry?" Taas-kilay kong tanong sa sarili.I stared at the guy sleeping on his bed, completely drunk. Halos humalik na nga siya sa sahig dahil sa kalasingan. Buti nalang nakauwi pa siya. Yumuko ako para silipin yung mukha niya. Tumaas yung magkabila kong kilay sa nakita.Gwapo siya at matipuno yung pangangatawan. He looks like someone that every girl would want to hook up with. Ang tangi ko lang alam sa kanya ay mayaman siya. Well, of course! My dad wouldn't agree for me to marry someone who's not rich. I mean, everything is for the company."Ito ang una mong trabaho para sa unang araw mo dito," said someone behind me. "Siguraduhin mong maayos ang pagkahiga niya at huwag kang magkamaling gumawa ng hindi kanais-nais."I turned around and saw the mayordoma of the household. Pinantayan ko siya ng tingin. I squinted my eyes at her and thought of how dare she command me like that. Pero nung tumaas yung kilay niya ay saka pa ako natauhan."May pro
"What does he want this time?" I asked the woman walking beside me."May importante lang daw siyang sasabihin sa inyo ma'am," the woman stuttered."Hindi ba pwedeng sabihin niya lang sa akin through a phone call? Kailangan ko pa bang puntahan siya sa office niya?""Yes. I believe so."I rolled my eyes heavenwards. My dad always wants to get everything that he wants. Walking beside me is his secretary about my age. Kanina pa ako tinatawagan nito kahit natutulog pa. Gaano ba ka importante yung sasabihin ni Daddy para dapat ko siyang puntahan sa personal?Hindi na ako nag-abalang kumatok at agad binuksan yung office door niya. Napaangat siya ng tingin sa akin at agad ngumiti nang makita ako."My beautiful daughter!" Bati niya sa akin.Walang gana akong umupo sa bakanteng upuan sa harap ng desk niya. I couldn't reciprocate the enthusiasm that he beamed at me. Sino ba ang may gustong gisingin alas kwatro ng umaga?"What is it, Dad? This better be important," I said."Oh? Going down to busi