KABANATA 23
"HI you must be Praia, the one my brothers are talking about, I'm Florence" she said with a wide grin.
Wow. She's okay and looked so fine while my dad is burried six fit underground and my mom is behind bars.
Nakokonsensya kaya sya sa pag-alis at pagatatagong ginawa nya? O may balak kaya syang sabihin ang totoo.
Pain, anger and dark thoughts are creeping me out so I tried to make it all go away.
"Hi. Come here join us" hindi ko alam kung paano ko yun nasabi ng diretso sa kabila ng bukol na namumuo sa lalamunan ko.
"Oh no. I'm done eating breakfast, makiki-sit in lang ako para mangamusta. Magiging busy kasi ako mamaya"
Pinanood ko syang maingat na umupo sa tabi ni Sydney.
She's so beautiful and I'm sure that every man would kneel and beg for her kaya nagtataka ako na daddy ko pa talaga ang napili nya. He's
Hi I would love to hear your thoughts about this novel. Feel free to leave it here. Love, Marya
KABANATA 24TINITIGAN ko ang sarili kong repleksyon sa salamin at bahagyang hindi makapaniwala.The bloody red off shoulder dress fits me perfectly na para bang isinukat yun sa akin. Umabot sa gitna ng kaliwang hita ang slit noon na nagdagdag sa eleganteng disenyo.I tied my hair in a low ponytail after blow drying it and paired the outfit with a maroon pumps na nakuha kong naka-kahon pa malapit sa night stand. I made my makeup darker on purpose dahil yun ang mas bagay sa damit. Sapat lang para i-highlight ang kilay berde kong mata at maputing balat.Ilang beses na akong nagbihis ng pormal at madalas din akong mag-ayos ng ganito noon pero parang nakakapanibago dahil nasanay ako sa four months na minsan ay wala kahit lip balm o face powder.Matagal pa bago ko tuluyang nakumbinsi ang sarili ko na bumaba.I almost choked up with my own saliva when I saw Zu
KABANATA 25DAHAN-DAHAN akong bumangon sa kama ng maalala ang nangyari nang nagdaang gabi.My head is slightly throbbing maybe because of the wine last night. Ang katawan ko naman ay parang dinaanan ng kung anong bagyo. Daig ko pa ang nabugbog dahil sa sakit ng buong katawan ko. Plus I'm so sore down there.We did it only once but it feels like a hundred rounds. Damn.My face turned red upon remembering that we barely made it to his room coz we are both fucked up. Ngayon lang ako tinamaan ng hiya sa inasal ko kagabi. Hindi ko pwedeng isisi ang kagagahan ko sa alak dahil clearly, mababa ang alcohol content ng wine at ginusto ko ang nangyari.I checked where am I at napagtantong nasa kwarto ako ni Zurich, suot ang isang malaking na gray t shirt. I'm wearing a panty but not a bra so I secretly thank him na makapal ang pinasuot nya sakin.Hindi ko maalalang binih
KABANATA 26"PRAIA, Erza called malapit na daw sila" Maria said as she approached me."Okay..." I slowly clapped my hand to get their attention "They're coming guys"Syria and Zero Monteclaro wasn't here coz they have an important trip abroad as well as Keiv na nasa Manila for work.The coffee shop employees was all invited dahil ipinag-utos ni Keiv na isara muna yun buong araw dahil doon gaganapin ang party.Samantalang iilan lang ang mga nagta-trabaho sa C&M. We also invited some guest na kaedad ni Sydney pati ang mga parents nila para makompleto ang children's party at ang mga empleyado ng resort na off duty. All in all, marami naman ang nakarating at halos lahat ng upuan ay occupied.As planned, it was prince and princess themed kaya kanya-kanyang ball gown at suit ang mga bata habang kami naman ay naka-casual lang.
KABANATA 27 "GOOD afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Honestly nagtatampo ako, may pa-surprise birthday party pala sa anak ko pero hindi ako imbitado" Sya lang ang tumawa sa sarili nyang joke habang ako ay hindi makapag react. My heart was beating fast and loud that I've already figured out that something bad might happen today specially because of Venice's sudden arrival. "Anyway happy birthday to my baby at dala ko ang regalong hindi ko alam kung maganda ba o masama para sayo" "What the hell? Kuya do something" si Florence lang ang nag react Nagsimula na ang bulung-bulungan ng ibang mga invited na guest. May mga ilan akong marinig na pasimpleng nagpapahayag ng pagkairita sa biglaang
KABANATA 28ALAS nwebe na ng makadaong kami sa Sta. Elena kaya imbis na sumakay sa bus ay naghanap ako ng pwedeng matuluyan. Sa tulong ng mabait na aleng napagtanungan ko, napadpad ako sa isang hindi ganoon kalaking inn.Wala na akong oras para pumili ng iba kaya kumuha na lang ako ng isang kwarto. The last thing I want to do is to rest. I've been through so much today.Gaya ng cabin, hindi rin gaanong malaki ang kwartong nakuha ko pero imbis na magreklamo naging thankful pa ako. At least makakatulog ako ng maayos ngayong gabi.Ibinaba ko lang ang gamit ko at naghalughog sa maleta ng damit para makapaligo na ako.I took a half bath and immediately doze off to bed.I found myself crying hard the next morning coz I thought I'm still living on Zurich's villa. That I would woke up early, check on Sydney and cook breakfast for the three of us.
KABANATA 29HINDI na ako nagpatumpik-tumpik pa. Pagkaalis ko sa opisina ni tita dumiretso ako kay mommy."Mom..."She looked tinner now. Well it's been almost four months since I last saw and checked her. Somehow nakonsensya ako. Mukhang nahihirapan na sya dito."I missed you" bulong nya ng bumitaw sa yakap ko."Me too"Umupo sya at ganon din ako. Inilahad ko ang dalang mga prutas na sinulyapan lang nya."How are you?""I'm g-great..." I slightly stammered.Am I great? Really?"Good to hear that"I sigh coz I'm torn between telling her about my new discovery or staying quite and solve things on my own so that it won't add to her suffering here.And the end of my discussion with rational self, I decided to tell her.
KABANATA 30As if in a cue, Tammara came out of her room looking so anxious."Xaicee I told you to wait in my room. Bakit nandito ka sa sala?" tanong nya at padabog na lumapit sa bata."Ugh... It's boring in there so I went here"Napakurap-kurap ako at tahimik na minura ang sarili ko.Bakit naman mapapadpad dito ang batang yun Praia? The last time I checked, galit na galit sya sayo. Ni hindi nga nakinig sa paliwanag mo hindi ba? Can't you just move your fucking ass of? Stop daydreaming and please wake up... They will never forgive you."Hay naku" Tammy rolled her eyes before it went on me "Praia you're here"Tipid na ngiti lang ang isinukli ko sa kanya.Right. It's not Sydney."Come here little girl"The kid immediately obeyed like a puppy and stand beside Tammy.
KABANATA 31I PROBABLY looked anxious now. Parang gusto ko ng mahimatay sa kinatatayuan ko ng kaswal na bumati si Keiv Monteclaro na parang walang nangyari.Denver was also grinning at me for an unknown reason like his family doesn't hate me.Lima sila sa couch--- ang boss ko, ang 'DATING' boss ko, si Denver, Keiv at Cairo.Nandoon din si Victoria kaya baka may meeting sila.All of them looks fine with my presence except for him who was intently looking at me with a blank stare. Hindi ko sya mabasa kaya nag-iwas na lang ako ng tingin.In an awkward situation like this, what should I do? Should I pretend that they aren't existing? Or should I talk to them like nothing happened? All the choices can worsen the situation."Don't you wanna greet her?" I heard Cairo's voice.I'm too nervous to analyze what they're talking a