Chapter 1 ( DREAMS )

I dreamed of a happy life that doesn't come to an end, but I guess, a happy one doesn't exist to last. It was just a short time-lapse, when everything seemed fine. When we think, we are living a life according to our plan. But they said, our future doesn't depend on what we thought it could be. Even how many times we planned for a specific scenario, there is always something and someone that will ruin it. That will ruin us, and that someone and something that will eventually convince us to better escape realities and hide from the misery that the world gives.

"Get out of my territory weirdo." 

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't know that it's your place." I bowed my head and took my bag quickly. I was about to find another chair when she spoke again. "Hey!" I turned my head in her direction.

"Yes?"

"Your freaking dirty book!" I was about to walk and get my stuff when she suddenly threw my book away. I tried to calm myself and avoid her. It was the 20th time, I guess? that she called me names, and made fun of me. Hindi ko maintindihan, maybe I was just too ignorant to know. How would someone like me know and understand them?

Ever Since we moved here in the Philippines, my life has become hell. Well, it's better than my life in America because bullying there are more intense and physical but I have my dad that time. Ngayon? Wala na, I only have my mom who doesn't really care about me.

I am alone all along.

"Miss Beischel, how many times do I need to tell you that no one is allowed to wear contact lense and dye their hair with another color!"

"But Professor, my eye color is natural and my hair does too."

"Don't lie to me Ms. Beischel. Given the color of the eye, there is no natural gray color in our hair. Get rid of your freaking highlights, this is not a fashion school! Get it?" napatango na lang ako at yumuko sa kahihiyan. Another day of embarrassment, I am used to it. People don't seem to like me anyway. No one ever did.

"Hi."

"Hi." I smiled at the woman who sat in front of me. "I'm Quiscelle, how about you?"

"Rohesia, that's my name." sambit ko dito. 

"What a pretty name, Rohesia. You don't look like a Filipina. Are you perhaps an American?" I nodded.

"Yes but not hundred percent, my dad is American and my mom is an Italian."

"Ohh! Wow, but why are you here? I mean, sorry to meddle, why aren't you living in Italy or America?" 

"Uhmm, it was such a long story eh."

"Oh, okay. But, you're pretty good in Tagalog huh. Ilang taon ka na ba dito sa Pilipinas?"

"2 years, we moved here two years ago." two years ago since my dad died. It has been two years since the only person who took my side died. Since then, mom decided to leave America and live in the Philippines. We are not allowed to enter Italy again and I guess I was the one to be blamed for that. I was the reason why my grandfather, Sergio Berlusconi, the President of Italy kicked us out. My mom fell in love with an American, although it is not really forbidden. My mom disobeyed our clan's one and only rule.

‘ Do not marry someone that is not part of our Political Dynasty. ’

Inshort, we are only allowed to marry someone from our clan. Even if it's our relatives. Hindi ko alam kung bakit iyon ang batas sa pamilyang kinalakihan ni mommy. It was only from our clan, from the Berlusconi family. I've read a few articles from Italy that our family has been critiqued because of my grandfather's rule about marriage. Marrying someone that is part of our family is completely an insane idea. 

"Do you, have friends?" umiling ako dito. "You look a bit, uhm sad. Wanna come and join us later? At Hiragi's Bar Club."

"I don't drink alcohol." 

"Don't worry, they serve light alcohol only. That was near the highschool building of Hiraya, you know." I tiptoed my feet and eventually agreed on her. It was the first time someone asked me out and joined them. Sa dalawang taon kong nandito, no one dared to talk to me or even make friends with me.

I smiled upon imagining the scenario building up my mind. One more step, and then I'm going to finally live the life of a normal College Student.

"Where are you going at this hour, Rohesia?"

"Uhh mi, someone invited me-"

"Cut the shit out of it, no one wants to make friends with you Rohesia. Look at yourself, you are different from other people. Do you really think they want you as their friend huh?!"

"M-Mi…"

"Just go and do whatever you want!" napayuko na lamang ako at dahan-dahang lumabas ng bahay. As if she has a single concern about me. She was never a mother to me since I was a child. She only cares about my dad's love.

Only for his love.

"OMG! You look so gorgeous, Rohesia."

"Uhm, Quiscelle…you said they don't serve hard liquors? Pero wala akong nakikitang mild liquors dito."

"Uhh, Yeah maybe they're out of stock. Kahapon kasi may party dito, and most of them are underage that's why they don't have stocks of alcohol for teens here." I nodded upon hearing her answer and roamed my eyes around the bar. There's few people here tonight. Ang akala ko ay marami sila.

"Everyone, meet Rohesia Beischel. Our new found friend." 

"Hi Rohesia! It's a pleasure to meet you." I smiled with their warm welcome and finally, tears escaped from my eyes. I can't help not to cry. All my life, no one welcomed me like this. No one ever did these kind of things to me.

"Hey, don't cry Rohesia. You are welcome in the group."

"Thank you." I sincerely muttered. Inaya nila ako sa table nila at nagsimulang makipagkwentuhan sa kanila.

"Try this Rohesia."

"Ahh, hindi ako umiinom."

"Ohh come on, don't disappoint us Rohesia." ani pa ni Quiscelle. Nag-aalangan akong kinuha ang baso at dahan-dahang ininom iyon. I didn't like it's taste, it was bitter.

"One more glass, Rohesia."

"Uhh hindi-"

"Come on, alam mo ba when Quiscelle entered our group. She really got drunk kahit pa pinaubos lang namin sa kanya ang anim na baso. She really finished all the liquors set in the table." I looked at her and she just smiled at me and nodded. 

I took the glass of liquor again and drank it. It was my fifth glass and I already felt my head spinning. I am not used to it, and I don't want it's taste.

Pero kailangan kong inumin ito. They were the only ones who treated and welcomed me warmly like this. I never had a friend and they are open and want me to be one of them.

"Good girl Rohesia!"

"Sorry, I felt a little bit dizzy." sambit ko. My vision started to get blurry. Ramdam ko na din ang pagbagsak ng talukap ng mga mata ko but I tried my best to stay awake.

"Silly girl, she really thought we wanted to be friends with her huh."

"You really are good with your words, Quiscelle. " 

"Qui-quiscelle…"

"Boys, ano pang tinatanga nyo. You want to have fun tonight diba?"

"She's a good catch Quis. She have a slim waist and a big…boobs. Maagang pabirthday!" ramdam ko ang paglapit nila sa akin. I was still unconscious but I know what they are doing. They started to unbutton my blouse and started roaming their hands on my body. Wala akong ibang nagawa kung hindi ang umiyak. Kahit nagsimula na akong magpapapalag ay wala ng lakas ang buong katawan ko. They started doing things on my body, alam ko ding may mga camera na nakatutok sa akin. They are all laughing and staring at me. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin, gusto kong sumigaw at tumakbo ngunit wala akong magawa. 

"Fuck, Julio, Quiscelle! The fucking Heredita are here!

"Huh?! Paanong?"

"Fuck wala na tayo lalabasan- ahh!"

"Quiscelle here-"

Gun shots.

All I hear were gunshots. Nangibabaw ang tunog ng mga putok ng baril sa sistema ko. I couldn't see anything but I heard everything. They are dying, they are slowly dying.

"ROHESIA WAKE UP! IDIOTA, DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IS IT HUH?!" agad akong napabalikwas sa kinahihigaan ko at tinitigan si mommy. Agad kong ineksamina ang paligid. I am inside my room, at… walang masakit sa katawan ko. 

"Stop babbling something and get up Rohesia. You'll be late for your class, idiota."

"Mi, did I go somewhere last night?"

"Why would you? You don't have any friends, do you really think someone wants to ask you out?!"

"So, I was here the whole time?"

"Of Course! You're speaking nonsense again. Go fix yourself quickly!" then she slammed the door.

Agad kong inalala ang nangyari kagabi- no it was just a dream. Panaginip lang ang lahat ng iyon?? Pero mukhang totoo. It was way to realistic. And it was my first time having a dream. Ever Since I was a child I have no dreams or, maybe it was the first time I remembered my dream.

Pero mukhang totoong-totoo ang panaginip ko. And those guys, and Quiscelle. I see her somewhere before. Anong ginagawa nila sa panaginip ko?

"How long is your class today?"

"7 hours straight mi."

"Make sure you're telling the truth. We'll be meeting someone tonight so be better here before 9:00." tumango ako kay mommy at sumakay na ng sasakyan. I was quietly observing the city while manong Heraldo was driving when the bar in my dreams suddenly popped up my mind.

"Kuya, pwedeng pakidiretso ako sa Hiragi Bar Club."

"Po? Hindi ho ba may klase kayo-"

"May iche-check lang po ako." sambit ko. Tumango lang ito at nag-U-Turn. Papalapit na kami sa lugar na iyon ng mapansin kong maraming tao ang nandoon. There were police and medical staffs that are in that place. Agad akong bumaba ng kotse at tumakbo sa lugar na iyon. Halos manginig ang buong kalamnan ko at mapaluhod nang makita ko ang mga mukhang nakita ko sa panaginip ko. They were those guys and girls who appeared in my dream last night. I even saw Quiscelle. She has multiple stab on her chest. 

Dahan-dahan akong lumapit sa pinangyarihan at ganoon na lang ang gulat ko na parehong-pareho ang ayos ng lugar na iyon mula sa napaginipan ko. 

"K-Kuya, ano pong nagyari dito?"

"Someone killed those group of people here last night. Ang ayon sa imbestigasyon, it was the same group na nanggulo sa bar na ito ang mga pumatay."

"Heredita po ba ang pangalan ng grupo?" alanganing tanong ko. Napakagat ako sa kuko ko habang hindi mapakaling sinisilip ang loob. Inilalabas na nila ang mga bangkay mula doon, may mga nakatabong puting tela na din sa kanila upang hindi makita ng iba pa ngunit pumukaw sa atensyon ko ang bahagyang nakitang damit ng babae na nandoon.

It was Quiscelle's, dress that night.

"Oo tama ka, paano mo nalaman?"

"Ahh, narinig ko lang po." sagot ko. "Ah kuya, wala na po bang ibang nakita pa or naabutan silang kasama dyan?"

" Wala naman, kaibigan ko kasi ang may-ari nito at sila-sila lang ang nadatnan. Bakit?" umiling ako at agad na naglakad palayo dito.

I was so hesitant and confuses when I got back to the car. Lahat ng pangyayari, yung lugar, yung mga taong sangkot. Lahat sila ay nakita ko sa panaginip ko. They were here exactly at 9:00 PM last night. That was the time when I got there in my dreams. 

Paanong nandoon ako sa pangyayaring iyon? Paanong, nakita ko sila sa panaginip ko. Paanong, nakita ko sila at nasaksihan ang pangyayaring iyon sa panaginip ko?? At bakit, bakit ganoon ang naging sitwasyon ko sa panaginip na iyon??

How did they end up getting killed, in my own dreams?