"I am so sorry of how we acted earlier, hija. Akala kasi namin..." She paused. "It won't happen again."Nasa harap ko ngayon Mommy ni Seb while he is standing behind me. Papauwi na kasi ako. Ayokong maabutan ng hating-gabi kasi delikado na sa byahe. I overthink a lot and I am already thinking of a worst case scenario."It's okay, Tita. We all make mistakes," I smiled assuringly.Napanguso siya bago ako hinawakan sa pisngi. "Why can't it be you? Gusto ko ng manugang na katulad mo."Napangiti ako at hinawakan yung kamay niya sa pisngi ko. "I'm sure there's someone for Seb, Tita. Maybe someone better?""Who could be better than you?" Nguso niya. "Osya. Mag-ingat ka sa byahe. Are you sure you're going to be okay? You can stay here for the night.""I'll be fine po. Thanks for the offer.""Okay," She nodded. "I'm sure this is not the last time that we will be seeing each other. See you soon!""Until then, Tita," I smiled. Nag-beso muna kami bago siya tuluyang nagpaalam at iniwan kami ni Se
"Kaia? Kaia! Open the door this instance!"Isang galit na boses ang gumising sa akin. I could tell that the sun did not rise yet. Hindi pa kasi sumisilip yung liwanag sa aking bintana. I assume that it's probably dawn. "If you don't open this door, sisirain ko to!" Sigaw ni Auntie.I groaned and forced myself up. Pagbubuksan ko naman talaga siya so she doesn't have to resort to violence. Besides, ano ba ang kinaputok ng butsi niya sa mga oras na ito?I opened the door and saw my Aunt fuming in anger. Kinusot ko ang aking mga mata. Nasa likuran niya at si Kali who still couldn't look at me in the eyes. Sa kabilang gilid naman ni Auntie ay yung katulong sa bahay dala yung susi ng pinto ko. Sisirain daw niya pintuan? May susi naman palang dala."Good morning, Auntie," I greeted her."Good morning? There's nothing good about my morning!" Nay diin niyang sabi.Kumunot yung noo ko. "Why?" Napalingon ako kay Kali na agad umiwas ng tingin. I nodded. "Is it because I let your favorite niece s
"I'm really sorry, Carol. I really must go," Paumanhin ko sa kasama."It's okay, Kaia. I understand."I tried so hard not to answer calls. I turned off my phone when Carol and I were talking— well, most of the time it was I who was talking. Palaging may tumatawag and it's usually Auntie or Kali. I don't want to talk to them pa kahit gaano pa kaimportante yung tawag. But my shop's landline rang. I thought it was from a customer. It turns out that it was my Auntie. Ibababa ko na sana yung tawag kaso she halted my by saying that the President invited us to lunch. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero ang sabi ni Auntie na dapat umuwi na ako.I feel sorry for Carol. Kasi iiwan ko siya. She's been with me the whole time, listening to my rants. Although I noticed how off she's been acting. "Are you sure you're okay? You don't seem okay," Sabi ko sa kanya.Umiling siya. "I'm okay, Kaia. You don't have to worry." She forced a smile.Tumango nalang ako, not fully convinced. "I'll call you later after
"You are engaged?!" Pasigaw na tanong ni Auntie.Nasa loob na kami ng sasakyan pauwi. After I told Mr. President about my engagement, he was devastated. Ang sabi nga niya na gusto nila ako para kay Sebastian. They all want me to be part of their family. Well, naalala din niya yung sinabi ni Seb sa dinner, that I am seeing someone. He knew that the possibility of me being Sebastian's wife is thin. Pero nagbabasakali pa rin siya. He told me that it was worth the shot.Auntie, on the other hand, was so confused on what to feel. Masaya ba siya kasi finally I found my match for this marriage season shits, o mag-aalala siya because I turned down the offer of the country's President. Panay nga yung pagso-sorry niya but the President, as the gentleman at he is, assured her that it is fine. It was my decision in the first place, sabi pa niya.Ngayong nasa sasakyan na kami, I was anticipating for Auntie to ask a lot of questions. She never asks about my life. Siguro ngayon lang. Big people are
"That was amazing!" I exclaimed matapos naming lumabas sa sinehan. "God! I never watched DC in such a long time! It brings me a lot of memories."I am a Detective Conan fan since I can remember. Basta I found myself binging from all the seasons and movies, including the OVAs. "You really like it, don't you?" Ngiti ni Lev.I nodded. "Yeah.""It shows. It's my first time seeing you smile like this," Turo niya sa mukha ko.Napahinto ako and realized how much emotions I've shown. Tama nga siya. I never smiled so much like this. Siguro I never really wanted to. You know. Show emotions. Kapag masyado ka kasing showy, people will know your weaknesses. I never want them to use that against me. I cleared my throat. "Let's go home."Una akong naglakad sa kanya pero hinawakan niya ako sa pulsuhan, stopping me from going away."Teka lang. Uuwi na tayo? But we only watched a movie," nguso niya.Tumaas ang magkabila kong kilay. "Isn't that a date already? Sabi mo movie date, hindi ba? Nagawa na n
"The President made it clear that his son and Kaia Dorchner is not a couple..." I read the article.Pagkapasok ko pa lang ng bahay at ito agad ang bumungad sa akin. Auntie, who is not usually interested in my life, approached me with her tablet on her hand. Inabot niya ito sa akin para mabasa kung ano yung nakasulat."The President fulfilled his promise," she sighed. "I thought that he's going to hate us forever."Umiling ako. "Hindi ganung tao ang pagkilala ko sa kanila. Don't worry, Auntie.""Well. All's well ends well. Kumusta yung lakad niyo?" She asked randomly.I stared at her as if she've grown another head. "Seriously?""What?" She asked confusely."Auntie, never kang nagtanong sa lakad ko. Making conversations with me is harder itself. Kulang nalang you'd pretend that I'm invisible," I said bluntly."Alam mo, yan ang ayaw ko sa'yo. You speak freely without filter," She said. "Ang pranka mo.""At least I'm not being plastic." I proudly replied. "Mas gusto mo bang I treat you b
Lumapit si Lev sa akin, may dalang bouquet. My heart started beating fast kaya napahawak ako sa dibdib. He didn't avoid eye contact. Nakangiti lang din siya habang papalapit. Hindi ko na alam kung ano yung hitsura ko basta gusto ko nang tumakbo papalayo sa kanya."Kaia," ngiti niya. Sobrang lapit na niya talaga at laking gulat ko nang halikan niya ako sa noo. "Flowers for you."Everyone was watching us, waiting for my next move. Itinaas ko ang aking kamay at kinuha mula sa kanya yung bouquet. Pilit akong ngumiti sa kanya."Thanks, Lev. You don't have to," ngiti ko pabalik.Ngumiti siya sa akin ay inakbayan ako, hinarap yung pamilya niya. "Mom, mga ate, this is Kaia. My fiancée," pakilala niya sa akin sa kanila.Ngumiti yung mom niya habang yung mga kapatid niyang babae ay tipid lang na ngumiti."A beautiful couple, indeed," ngiti ng ina niya. "Should I expect beautiful babies?""For sure, Elena," dagdag ni Auntie.Tumawa ang dalawa. Gusto kong kainin nalang ako ng lupa. Ano daw? Babie
"Kakausapin ko sina Ate mamaya, Kaia. I'm so sorry," paumanhin ni Lev.Nasa rooftop kaming dalawa. Unang umuwi yung mom niya kasama mga kapatid niya. Nagpaiwan si Lev to talk to me. Alam ko naman kung ano yung pag-uusapan namin. How his sisters acted earlier was so rude. Buti nalang hindi tumaas yung sungay ko. Kung hindi baka minura ko na sila nang todo."They don't like me. Grabe talaga," I said. "Hindi pa nga kami nakapag-usap ever tapos ayaw na nila sa akin. Paano na kaya in the near future?""Alam mo naman na overprotective sila sa akin. Ayaw lang nila akong masaktan," sabi niya."Pero okay lang sa kanila na mang-insulto sa iba? Wow. Iba din," irap ko."I'm really sorry, Kaia."I sighed. I'm so frustrated right now. Hindi kasi ako yung tipo na pinapabayaan yung tao na insultuhin ako. Nagmamadilta ako kanina but it was mild. Yung parang tikim muna. Para masabi din nila na hindi ako nagpapaapi. Ikaw ba naman ang sabihang wimp kung gusto mo ba. Humarap ako kay Lev at hinawakan siya