Prologo

People say there's no place like home. Kahit anong ganda ng lugar na pinupuntahan mo, wala pa ring makatatalo sa comfort ng tinatawag nating tahanan. It might be a person, might be a dog or any animal, and it might be your actual home.

But for me, I haven't found the one or the thing I could call my true home. My parents? I love them but alam mo iyon, may mga araw talaga na ayaw mo sa mga magulang mo.

Yup, those kind of feelings.

"Lili, pupunta ka ba ngayon sa SCC? Ano nga ulit iyong kukunin mong degree program?"

Huminto ako sa pag-drawing at lumingon sa ama kong nasa may pintuan, his right hand was on the doorknob while his other hand was holding a cup of coffee.

My father, Julius Vera is a former military officer, a general. But he retired because of my mother. Maselan ang pagbubuntis sa akin ni Mama noon kaya napagdesisyonan niyang alagaan nalang si Mama.

I smiled. "Opo, pupunta ako mamayang alas onse. Financial Management po iyong kukunin kong degree program."

Tumaas ang kilay ni Papa. "Diba gusto mo mag-Fine Arts? Why the sudden change of plans, anak?"

I sighed. "Alam mo namang ayaw ni Mama sa gusto kong kunin sa college, Papa."

Lumapit si Papa sa akin at umupo sa tabi ko, kaharap namin ang small terrace ng kwarto ko which I've been drawing all this time. My father sipped his coffee before speaking.

"Pagbutihin mo ang pag-aaral, anak. Don't disappoint your mother."

My mother, Mara Satuita-Vera is a financial analyst. She's not strict but there's something about her that made her so intimidating, pati si Papa tiklop nga rin, e. My mother wants me to become like her that's why she let me take Financial Management which I don't like, by the way.

I just smiled and nodded at my father as he stood up and left the room. I focused my eyes on the sketch I'm holding until I heard the door closed. When it did, isinandal ko ang likod ko sa headboard ng kama at tinignan ang tanawin sa labas—puro bahay since we live on a subdivision. The houses were all identical here in Midori Plains kaya hindi rin "masakit" sa mata tingnan.

Nang natapos ako mag-drawing, I closed my sketchbook and put it back on the drawer beside my bed. Bago pumasok sa bathroom ay hinanda ko muna ang susuotin kong damit papunta sa bago kong school. St. Cecilia's College is a Catholic school so I must wear something decent that's why I chose to wear a soft pink long-sleeved dress and a pair of white flat sandals.

Pagkatapos magbihis at maglagay ng minimal makeup sa mukha ay bumaba na ako para magpaalam kay Mama at Papa na nasa opisina nila.

Our house is big because they bought two houses at ipinarenovate nalang nila para maging isa. My mother needs a big office and at nakiki-opisina na rin si Papa.

According to him, Mama looks so sexy sitting on her table, with her furrowed brows and a serious face while reading something on her papers. I can't help but to look at my father weirdly when he said that to me. He should've kept it to himself, so TMI. Hindi naman halatang head over heels ang Papa, 'no?

"Ma, Pa..." I called them as I knocked the door. I didn't bother opening it, baka makita ko lang si Papa na titig na titig kay Mama habang nagtatrabaho. "Punta na po ako sa school. Magpapahatid nalang ako kay Manong Ramon."

"Take care, anak!" si Papa.

"Mm," si Mama.

Lumabas na ako ng bahay at pumunta sa garage area. Nakita ko si Manong Ramon na kumakain sa munting kwarto niya sa garage.

"Early lunch?"

Napahinto si Manong sa pagkain at tumayo. "Ma'am Lilianna! Aalis na po ba tayo?"

Umiling ako. "Kain ka muna diyan, Manong. Hindi naman ako nagmamadali. Pasok muna ako sa kotse."

The moment I entered the car, I opened my phone and a message popped up. It's a group chat of my batchmates, more like their group chat kasi wala naman akong kaibigan sa kanila. They're intimated by my mother's presence due to her resting bitch face and because my father knows how to shoot a gun. Hindi sa outcast ako, they just seldom talk to me.

Good thing I graduated senior high school.

Binasa ko ang chat ng class mayor na si Zoey. She said that she and the officers plans to have a class beach trip to Sumilon Island.

I arched a brow because I didn't know this was planned by the class officers. I'm the treasurer of the class.

Binalewala ko nalang and turned off the phone since wala naman akong gaanong games na naka-install. I just took a nap until I heard the engine roar to life.

"SCC, ma'am?"

Nginitian ko si Manong. "Yes po, please."

The distance from Midori Plains Subdivision to St. Cecilia's College is not that long, it's only a 10-minute drive, more or less.

After a few minutes, we arrived at the parking area of the school. I thanked Manong Ramon and asked him to wait for me kasi hindi naman ako magtatagal dito. I gave him money to buy a snack on the school canteen since nasa gilid lang ito ng parking area.

There are many students around since we will be getting our class schedules today. There's no entrance exam in this school so I just need to know my schedule.

Nang nakuha ko na ang schedule ko ay napabuntong-hininga nalang ako. This is it, I'm finally in college... though the degree program is not my cup of tea, I guess I'd just learn to love it. Wala naman akong choice, e.

Naglalakad na ako patungo sa canteen para sana puntahan si Manong Ramon nang biglang nag-ingay ang cell phone ko. I opened it and it revealed three chats from Zoey.

Zoey Abella:

hi lil! nabasa mo naman ang chat ko sa gc, ryt? pls collect the fee from our classmates until the end of the week. thx!

I sighed and typed my reply.

Lilianna Vera:

noted, zo.

Lumipat naman ako sa group chat and informed my classmates regarding sa fee. Sinabihan ko rin sila kung saan kami magkikita sa araw na sinabi ko. Wala naman silang problema roon and immediately agreed.

I puffed a breath and closed my phone. I was about to walk again nang may bigla akong naramdamang malamig sa may dibdib ko. I looked down and my eyes widened nang matanto ko ang nangyari.

My dress got dripping wet!

I looked at the person in front of me at natigilan. Moreno skin, jet black eyes, wavy black hair, a white t-shirt and a black jeans. One thing to describe him—he's gorgeous. But that's not the point right now!

"You! Watch where you're going!" I hissed.

Akala ko ay magso-sorry ang lalaki pero he only stared at my wet chest and then looked back into my eyes.

"Stop texting while walking," he said in a monotone and I saw his eyes move downwards. "Red bra, my cup of tea."

I gasped and covered my chest as he chuckled and walked away. Nakalimutan kong manipis lang pala itong dress na sinusuot ko!

That damn brute!