Prologue

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or events is purely coincidental.

The story contains strong language inappropriate for readers aged 15 and below. 

PROLOGUE

Tuwid ang naging lakad ko, hindi pinapansin ang ilang tingin sa akin ng mga tao. I greeted few people I was comfortable with.

“Hey there, Rae.” Yuwi winked at me and laughed when she noticed how grumpy I was today. “Oh babe, are you ready to welcome your memories?”

I rolled my eyes and started fixing my things for our meeting later. I have no time to play today. I wanted this meeting to be successful. I wanted to show him how much of a better person I was now.

“I can’t believe he just added another memory yesterday,” she exaggerated. “Sorry, who are you again?”

I couldn’t believe him! I hated how he acted like that in front of so many people. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit kailangan niyang magpanggap na kahit kalian ay hindi niya ako kilala o nakita man lang. Was he mad because of our past?

“Why? Are you mad because he humiliated you in front of our workers or are you mad because he forgot you?” Umiling ako at hindi na piniling sagutin ang mga tanong niya. Tatahimik din naman ‘yan kapag napagod. “Okay.” Muli siyang tumawa at simpleng kinuha ang gamit malapit sa table ko. “I’ll be back before the meeting starts. See yah, bae!”

I watched her walk her way out of the room. Nang makalabas siya ay ‘tsaka ko sinara ang laptop ko. I massaged the bridge of my nose and sighed. Minasahe ko ang batok habang nakapatong ang parehas na siko sa table. Why was I so affected?

Ipinatong ko ang ulo ko sa table. I should sleep first. Kulang ang naging tulog ko kagabi kakaisip sa nangyari kahapon. My thoughts slowly flew somewhere until I slept peacefully.

“M-mama?” I shouted while walking through the dark. I didn’t where was I now. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako napadpad. Kanina lang ay nasa opisina pa ako pero hindi ko alam kung paano ako napunta rito.

“D-dad!” I shouted again, trying to call the persons who couldn’t be here anymore. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit sila ang hinahanap ng bibig ko. Why would I try to find them?

“Eyshen!” Lumaki ang mata ko at mabilis na tumakbo nang marinig ang boses na iyon. There I saw my mom being hurt by few men. Mabilis akong lumapit kanila Mama pero nagulat nang bigla akong hablutin ng isang lalaki. My eyes widened at what I saw.

“T-tito Arthur.” Art’s dad creepily smiled at me and showed me a picture of the man I didn’t want to see now.

“You killed your own parents!”

Mabilis ang paghinga ko nang magising mula sa panaginip. There, I saw the man I was scared and happy to see again. I was so scared that it might be true again. It scared me how he was still not good for me. Hanggang ngayon kapahamakan pa rin ang dala mo sa akin. And it scared me more how I was still wanting him.

He was just a drop of memories for me, just a nightmare. But I didn’t know why I kept on chasing him.