CHAPTER 2

》AERA SUMMER P.O.V.《

All I ever longed for was a simple life. Hindi ako mahilig sa bisyo, sa kayamanan. I just wanted a peaceful life—makapagtapos ng pag-aaral with a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy. Ngunit magsisimula pa lang ang kwento ng buhay ko simula nang pumasok ako sa sikat na university para sa natanggap kong full scholarship. University kung saan halos lahat ng nag-aaral ay may matataas na estado sa buhay.

I am Aera Summer Santiago. I was ordinary by most standards—an 18 year's old from a small family business, with two older brothers who now have families of their own, and a father who treated me like I didn’t exist. My mother died when I was born.

Yeah, my father was always cold toward me and never really considered me his only daughter—but I didn’t mind. I always tried to understand him. That’s why I chose Accountancy, so maybe, one day, he would acknowledge me with a degree—even if it wasn’t my dream course.

And so I lived softly—skin like milk glass, dark blonde hair, lips naturally pink, and eyes always filled with quiet happiness.

But from the moment I stepped into the university, my simple life unraveled.

And it was all because of these two guys.

—

Gabriel Lawson.

My childhood crush. The boy who once shared candies with me after school. But after an incident where Gabriel’s parents discovered I had feelings for him, we were immediately forbidden to be close—because of my family status. That’s the day my feelings for him stopped.

Gabriel Lawson is one of the campus crushes—tall, fair-skinned, with warm brown eyes that crinkled when he smiled. A funny guy. Gabriel is famous for being a gentleman, with a sweet flirtatious smile and kindness toward others. He’s 20 years old. His family owns the Lawson Company, one of the country’s largest retail empires. His life was nothing like mine.

He was the reason I got my scholarship so easily.

“Hindi mo dapat ginawa 'yon, Gabo. Hindi ko kailangan ng kapit. Baka sabihin nila mahina ako,” I said. But we both just laughed. “But anyways, I’m still thankful to you.”

—

Then came Hans Calix Devraux.

Tall. Dark. Handsome. Broad-shouldered. Always dressed sharply. His eyes—cold and sharp—rarely see his emotions. Girls always praised him even if he was known as the bad guy. Well, his handsomeness never declined.

Unlike Gabriel’s golden retriever energy, Calix was like a black jaguar—ready to pounce at any moment.

His name echoed through every corner of the university.

He was the youngest billionaire in the country, owner of three multinational companies.

But rumor had it both of Calix’s parents were gone. He had no one left. No family, only his empire to guide him. And I overheard whispers that he was connected to the mafia—that he might even be a mafia boss, with connections tangled deep in every industry.

But to me… he was just a simple guy. Studying like any other student. Still learning. Just a quiet presence in my life. He always helped me with my schoolwork. He’s 21 years old—a fourth-year college student, also taking up Accountancy. I always turned to him when I struggled with projects and research. And me? I’m just a first-year student, same course, far behind him.

He helped me without complaints. He was always there for me. I once fell in love with him because of how sweet and gentle he was with me. Pero na-realize ko agad na hindi pwede. Sobrang taas niya. Ako? Ang baba ko lang. Ang hirap niyang abutin. Kapag naiisip ko 'yon, unti-unti kong pinipilit sa sarili ko—hindi pwede. Friends lang. Hanggang doon na lang.

The two of them always helped and protected me at all cost.

But also because of them, my life begans to be miserable.

Hindi mawawala ang selos at inggit ng mga fans nila. I always got into trouble because of them. But they always sided with me. Always with me.

—

But I thought that's the only problem I will experienced.

"Miss, hindi kayo pwede basta basta mag-report. Baka illusion mo lang 'yon. May patunay ka ba na may pumapasok sa apartment mo? Baka naman may pinagbigyan ka nang password nang Apartment mo na mga kaibigan mo, kaya may nakakapasok." Saad ng pulis sa akin.

"H-Hindi ako nagkakamali, officer. Wala rin ako pinagbibigyan ng password ng apartment ko po. Maniwala po kayo sa'kin, try nyo po mag inspect." Pagpupumilit ko.

"Hey, what happened? Are you okay?" Bigla namang sumulpot si Gabriel.

"Inspect her apartment now." Calix came, firm and cold.

...

"Huminahon ka muna.. Ibig mo bang sabihin may nag-aayos ng mga gamit mo sa bahay mo? May nagbabago rin sa mga gamit mo, nadadagdagan?" Tanong ni Gabriel at tumango tango naman ako.

Kaagad naman siyang natawa.

Nandito kami ngayun sa condo ni Calix. Bawal kasi ako sa bahay ni Gabriel dahil ayaw sa akin ng parents niya.

Kaagad naman ako napatakip ng mukha at gusto ko na lamang umiyak.

"Walang nakakatawa 'yon, natatakot ako. Dati nasa labas lang ng apartment ko yung pagkain na pinapadala nung stalker, ngayun nasa loob na ng apartment ko, nakalagay sa lamesa with flowers." Saad ko sa kanila ng may bahid ng takot.

"Nilinis na ng stalker mo yung kalat mo sa apartment mo lagi kasing magulo." Biro ni Calix.

"This is not funny guys, this is alarming. What if sa isang iglap, makidnap ako? Mawala ako? Patayin ako? Hindi ba kayo nag aalala sa akin?" Tanong ko sa kanila pero parang natatawa lang sila sa nagiging reaksyon ko ngayon.

"Tapos yung pinapadala laging flowers, color black. Sino bang hindi matatakot don? Color black yung bulaklak." Saad ko sa kanila.

"Well, the color black flowers represent an obsession, that guy is obsessed on you." Saad ni Gabriel na mas lalong nagpataas ng balahibo ko.

"Minsan lagi ko nararamdaman pag wala na kayong dalawa, may nakasunod sa akin. Natatakot na ako lagi mag-isa. Mag iisang taon pa lang ako rito sa university natatakot na ako." Naiiyak na saad ko sa kanila.

"Huwag ka na umiyak." Patahan ni Gab. "Nagluto ako ng paborito mo." Saad muli nito at inilagay sa harap ko ang mga pagkain na niluto niya.

"Well, if you want, you can stay here while your apartment is under inspection." Saad ni Calix.

"Kapag matutulog si baby Aera rito, dito rin ako matutulog.." binigyan naman ng masamang tingin ni Gab si Calix. "Baka may gawin ka pa sa kaniya." Saad nito ng may pambabanta.

"Well, that's not impossible. Right babe?" Malambing na saad ni Calix at inakbayan ako.

"Hmm?" Tanong ko habang ang bibig ay puno ng pagkain.

Well this is my coping mechanism—ang kumain. Para maiwasan ko ng ilang saglit ang pag-aalala sa problema ko.

"Sa sofa na ako matutulog, kayong dalawang boys, dun na kayo sa kama, magtabi kayo." Saad ko sa kanilang dalawa habang nakataas ang isang paa habang kumakain.

Tumunog naman bigla ang phone ko.

I know na walang sino mang magtatangka na mag text sa akin ng ganitong oras ng gabi, kundi si Gab at Calix lang naman.

"No, dun ka na sa bedroom, kami na rito sa sala." Calix.

But the moment I saw the text of the sender...

I dropped my phone.

From: 09×××××××××

“Run if you want. Hide if you want. It won’t change a thing. Not even the police or your friend can not help you. You can't escape me. Mark my words, darling."

Mga salitang bumaon sa mga kalamnan ko at nagpanginig ng katawan ko. Tila ilang segundo ako hindi makagalaw.

Parang bumabaligtad ang sikmura ko.

Anong gagawin ko? Natatakot ako..