Chapter Twenty-Three‘Prevent yourself from expecting too much to avoid huge disappointment.’Tila nakalimutan ni Eleanor ang batas nyang iyon sa sarili ng makarating sa pribadong building ng condo units na kanyang tinutuluyan.Her bubble of expectation popped the second she found no one in front of her condo’s door. Hindi naman ganoon kalaki ang ekspektasyon nya. But the fact that she expected Fourth Ycarius to be waiting in front of her condo’s door like what he said, and saw no one, created a slight pang in her chest. She was taken aback and the small smile she unconsciously had on her face faded. She walked towards the direction of her place – acting normal. Pero hindi ma-deny ang matamlay na ekspresyon sa mukha ni Eleanor. She didn’t realize that her lips are pouting while looking at her message box. Nagsimula syang tumipa sa kaniyang cellphone. ‘I’m just gonna notify him that I’m here.’ Aniya sa isip. ‘We agreed to meet here, so texting him is normal.’ Dagdag pa nya, kinukumb
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR“So, did you guys kissed?” Kaagad na sinaway ni Eleanor si Flare dahil sa malakas nitong boses. She stated those words too loud with full curiosity and excitement for Eleanor’s continuation of her story. “Hinaan mo nga nag boses mo!” pabulong nyang sigaw.Binawi nya ang kamay na itinakip nya sa bibig ng kaibigan.“Ekwento mo na kasi!” muli nitong sigaw, “Hinalikan ka ba nya? Or wait… ikaw ba ang humalik kay Fourth!?” Kahit nasa loob sila ng kaniyang condo ay nakakahiya paring pakinggan ang tanong nito. Lalo na’t napakalakas talaga ng pagkatanong ng kaibigan niya.Pagkatapos niyon ay pinagpatuloy nya ang pagkukuwento habang inaalala ang bawat detalye ng mga nangyari kagabi, basi sakanyang perspektibo.“Are you… going to sleep already?” mahinanahong tanong ni Fourth Ycarius ng pigilan sya nitong lumayo.Ramdam ni Eleanor ang mabilis na pag-init ng kanyang pisngi. Fourth was innocently waiting for her to answer his question. Habang sya naman ay naka-awang parin ang
Chapter Twenty-Five“I heard your cousin got back in the country with her child?”Eleanor asked, breaking the awkward silence surrounding them since the beginning of the movie they are currently watching. Hindi man sya nakatingin kay Fourth Ycarius na nasa kanyang tabi ay ramdam nya ang pagkagulat nito ng bitawan nya ang mga katagang iyon. She got curious with his sudden reaction, kaya napalingon sya sa lalaki. Sandaling nanlaki ang mga mata nito saka ibinuka ang mga labi – nagtatangkang magbigay ng pahayag sa sinimulan nyang konbersasyon. Maybe because it’s Eleanor’s first time asking something related to his personal life. Kaya ito nagulat. Simula ng pinalibutan sila ng katahimikan ay nag-iisip na si Eleanor ng puwede nilang pag-usapan. And the scene with her group mates earlier popped up in her mind. Kaya ito ang kaniyang naitanong. Plus, she’s also curious if it was indeed Fourth Ycarius that her group mates saw. “Y-yeah, we strolled around the city earlier.” Nautal na sagot
Chapter Twenty-Five“I heard your cousin got back in the country with her child?”Eleanor asked, breaking the awkward silence surrounding them since the beginning of the movie they are currently watching. Hindi man sya nakatingin kay Fourth Ycarius na nasa kanyang tabi ay ramdam nya ang pagkagulat nito ng bitawan nya ang mga katagang iyon. She got curious with his sudden reaction, kaya napalingon sya sa lalaki. Sandaling nanlaki ang mga mata nito saka ibinuka ang mga labi – nagtatangkang magbigay ng pahayag sa sinimulan nyang konbersasyon. Maybe because it’s Eleanor’s first time asking something related to his personal life. Kaya ito nagulat. Simula ng pinalibutan sila ng katahimikan ay nag-iisip na si Eleanor ng puwede nilang pag-usapan. And the scene with her group mates earlier popped up in her mind. Kaya ito ang kaniyang naitanong. Plus, she’s also curious if it was indeed Fourth Ycarius that her group mates saw. “Y-yeah, we strolled around the city earlier.” Nautal na sagot
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX“An invitation arrived at my office this morning.” Bungad ni Sky Kristos ng makapasok ito sa meeting room.Nakalutang ang isipan ni Eleanor simula ng makarating sya sa Scarletti. They’re about to discuss the information Cloud had found about the party that Syleria’s boss invited her to. Pero ayaw tumuon ng atensyon ni Eleanor sa topikong iyon.“What invitation?” walang ekspresyong tanong ni Cloud sa kakambal habang abala sa kanyang laptop. “The same gold invitation that our Empress received.” Sagot nito, “I almost planned to gatecrash at their party you know?” nguso niya pa habang tinatapik-tapik ang invitation sa sariling palad. Tuloy-tuloy ang pag-uusap ng dalawa. Habang nanatiling nakatitig si Eleanor sa mga dokumentong nasa harapan nya. While she’s completely thinking of a different issue.“Let me see that.” Sky followed and handed the invitation to his twin brother.Where could she possibly misplaced her family picture?Ang natitirang souvenir sa pinakamasaya
Chapter Twenty-Seven “Enjoy the party everyone!” Mr. Delgarde exclaimed in delight. He ended his speech with a proud smile formed in his lips. Sinalubong nito ang ipinakilalang kaibigan at pumunta sa kanIyang pamilya. Eleanor was stunned. Nanatiling nakatitig ang mga mata nya sa lalaking pinalibutan ng mga Delgarde. She never expected to hear another person’s name with the same surname as hers. Especially in this party. She had thought about a lot of possible information she can get from the person who invited her to the party, and from the party itself. Pero hindi nya inaasahang may makikilala syang isang Scarletti sa okasyong dadaluhan nya ngayong gabi. Roland Scarletti. Are they related?The last Scarletti she knew was her father. At wala syang kakilalang ibang kamag-anak nito. She also doesn’t know anyone from her mother’s side. Which made her feel lonely at times. Dahil ang tanging alam nya lamang ay ang mga responsibilidad na kinalakihan nya. She’s Healia Eleanor Scarletti
DISCLAIMER: This story is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, business, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual person, living or dead is purely coincidental. Chapter One MABILIS na inabot ni El ang kanyang bayad sa driver ng taxi-ng sinakyan nya. Binuksan nya ang pintuan at mabilis na tumakbo papasok ng University kung saan sya nag-aaral. Syempre ayaw naman nyang malate, at Lunes pa naman ngayon. Baka mamaya, imbis na buong free time syang magbabasa sa library ay sa paglilinis ng mga banyo ang bagsak nya kapag naging makupad sya. Hindi na nabati ni El ang school guard- na madalas nyang gawin- sa sobrang pagmamadali. Laking pasalamat nya't sanay sya sa takbuhan kaya mabilis syang nakapasok sa classroom nila. 'If ever na nalate ako, sasakalin ko tala
Chapter TwoELEANOR stretch her arms, after finishing her paper works. Humikab pa sya bago tumayo at tinapon ang sarili sa kama nya. It's past 11 pm, laking pasalamat nya at nasanay na sya sa pagpupuyat, at wala pa ito sa mga nakaraang pagpupuyat nya. Sometimes she finishes at 4 am and sleep afterwards. Kadalasan, kapag wala si Tanda, ay hindi na sya nakakatulog.'Dapat talaga magdemand na ko ng day off!' Muling pagpasok ng ideya sa isip nya.She slapped her face lightly, to wake her up. Saka muling tumayo para pumunta ng banyo para maligo. But before that, umupo muna sya at tumingin sa salamin na nasa gilid ng kama nya.She removed her contact lens, making her emerald eyes, exposed. By that, she can see the girl replica of her Father.Sunod nyang tinanggal ang wig na suot nya. Tsaka tinanggal ang pagkakatali ng kanyang tunay na buhok.