Prologue

Ever since it was justified that the world is round, I started listing the groups of people in this universe that I don't really need to deal with during my not-so-intriguing lifetime.

First, STRANGERS.

I blinked my eyes twice, trying to convince my self that it's not really happening, that I bumped my head on the wall or something, and everything's just a hallucination.

Okay, okay. Breathe in. Breathe out.

"Miss, ah, p'wede bang umusog ka kahit kaunti lang? Naiipit na kasi ang tiyan ko. Pasensiya na, buntis kasi ako."

Damn. It's not a hallucination. I am really in a vehicle with three wheels, and I remember the days when I don't even care what to call it! Dahil sa nagkanda-leche-lecheng pangyayari sa araw na ito, I couldn't even have the guts to know the fucking reasons why Heather Cassia is in a tricycle!

"No need to tell me that you're pregnant. Not that I'm stupid to think that you're carrying a moon in your stomach." Umikot ang mata ko at hindi tinapunan ng tingin ang katabi kong mareklamo. "I'm not gonna move. Wala tayong batas para diyan sa hinihiling mo."

I told the driver earlier that I will triple the pay, or even more, yet he didn't listen. Aniya ay hipag niya raw ang buntis na ito at kagaya ko ay wala na rin itong ibang masakyan. Whatever happening right now is entirely the consequences of their decision.

Gumalaw ang babae. "Miss, wala nga talagang batas para dito. Ang hinihingi ko lang po ay ang kabutihang-loob ninyo sana."

Tuluyan na nga akong humarap sa babae at kitang-kita ko ang bahagya niyang pagkurap nang makita ang reaksiyon ko. I have no time playing like an angel. If they think I am evil, my deepest apology folks, I don't care.

"You know what?" Lumapit ako sa bandang tainga ng babae, bumulong. "If courtesy runs the world, we're now marching in an inevitable death. Because courtesy is oftentimes, if not always, the reason why someone dies. Anyway, coming from your little mouth, wala akong malalabag na batas. Screw your courtesy. I don't need to offer you that because I am pretty sure that our paths won't cross again. So, what for?"

Second, PARENTS.

"You should not buy whatever you want, Hid. Our business is now kissing bankruptcy, you should be aware."

Isa-isa kong inilapag ang mga paper bags na hawak ko sa salaming lamesa at nakangiting humarap kay mommy.

She's still in her business attire with her eyeglasses on, making her look intimidating and distant. Nevertheless, I have never been feared by her looks, her words, her actions, and her position. Good thing she can't blame me enough because I am her younger reflection. She can't criticize her own image after all.

"Mom," I dramatically exhaled, "I need all of these. Didn't you teach me to recognize my needs?"

Pansin ko ang pagkunot ng noo niya at hindi niya itinago ang eksaherada niyang pagbuntonghininga. "You're exactly doing the opposite, young lady. Those aren't your needs. And please, not again. We're not going to argue about this."

A fancy smile made its way to my lips. "That's why you should just shut up, Mom." For a second, I paused when I realized what I just said. Oh, careless little mouth.

"Are you disrespecting me now, Heather Cassia?" Now she's serious . . . and mad . . . and hurt. Jesus, here we go again.

"Mom-"

"Do not buy a new mobile phone, or another pair of shoes, or another set of cosmetics and jewelry, unless if it's completely necessary. Stop eating in expensive restaurants as well, because I am very much aware that we have enough food in the house. Don't abuse our money just because you think we are rich. We are now slowly going down, Hid. You're old enough, I should not be explaining now."

Tumalikod siya at humakbang na paalis, pero agad akong nagsalita na nagpatigil sa kanya.

"Isn't it too much? People of my age are enjoying their lives! Isn't it a shame that you want me to experience otherwise?"

"Heather!" My mother's eyes are wide enough to tell that she's now losing her temper. "Some people in your age can't even eat three times a day. What else do you want? You are lucky compared to the thousands of children in the difficult parts of the universe. Huwag kang isip-bata!"

My fingers clenched the hem of my shirt as my blood seems to rush in my head. Nagpupuyos na rin ako sa galit pero hindi ko iyon hinayaang lumabas. I held my head high and slowly approached her.

"Children do starve due to their parents' irresponsibility. If they aren't ready to support their family, why fuck at all?"

Napasinghap si mommy, hindi iyon nakatakas sa malakas kong pandinig. Bumakat ang ugat niya sa leeg at gumalaw ang panga niya sa galit at pagkabigla. 'Nga lang, hindi pa ako tapos. I am Heather Cassia Del Puerto, and I wasn't born to be corrected.

"So tell me, Mom. Were you just too obsessed with sex, or you're simply an irresponsible mother?"

"HEATHER!"

A deep, baritone voice echoed in my four-cornered room. Mas malakas lang ito nang kaunti ay sigurado akong mayayanig na ang buong mansion.

Hindi ko siya nilingon. Isang pagod na buntonghininga ang pinakawalan ko, kasabay ng paglaro ko sa mga hibla ng aking buhok.

I know where our conversation is going, especially that dad is here. I can now clearly visualize the scenes from this minute onwards.

Yet at the end of discussion, the most appropriate conclusion came from me.

"I'm your daughter. My flesh and perceptions, my attitude and identity . . . are simply inherited by no other than you. Now rejoice."

Third, SISTER.

I pulled Aldrin's neckline as my fingers travelled to his abdomen. Our kiss deepened and our tongue played a perfect rhythm. A soft moan escaped from my lips as a strange heat started to overpower us both.

His rough palm traveled on my naked upper body. From my neck, he slowly went down to my breasts, stomach, until he reached my jewel. I bite my lips, trying not to make a sound. Yet as soon as he entered his finger inside my lower fleshy folds, I wasn't able to make a loud sound already. And as my moan enveloped the room, the door banged open, revealing the shocked expression of my sister.

"Anong . . . " She's speechless, and so am I.

No, not because I'm guilty that if only she didn't arrive, I'm already making out with her boyfriend. I'm speechless because I simply don't care about what-the-hell-is-happening? kind of questions.

Tumayo ako at nagdamit. Wala na akong gana. Malas.

"Ate, don't you dare leave the room without explaining!" my sister finally reacted after minutes of silence.

"Explain what? You've seen it. What you saw is exactly the explanation you are needing. Gotta go."

"Hindi!" pigil niya sa akin. "Kapatid kita. Hindi ba 'yun sapat para-"

"Para hindi ko gawin 'to?" nakataas-kilay kong tanong sa kanya. "You should thank me instead. I did what I deemed to be necessary. Nalaman mo na na m*****g iyang boyfriend mo at kaunting kaseksihan lang ay bumibigay na agad ang kaluluwa niya at handa nang malunod sa makamundong pagnanasa. Funny, right? Besides, kung sakali mang may nangyari sa amin, wala akong kasalanan doon. Pareho namin itong ginusto, at kung mayroon mang sagabal, ikaw 'yon."

Lumapit ako lalo sa kanya at bumulong. "Sometimes, you need to step out from your position because some things would make you realize that you don't deserve to be there."

Fourth, COUSINS.

"I'm wearing the color of my name sa upcoming university ball," my cousin, Aconite, stated. We are currently spending the rest of the day in our favorite café. Bumaling ito sa kaliwa. "What about you, ate Perrie?"

"The color of semperflorens, then. Magpapa-personalize ako."

"Me too," segunda naman ni Poppy.

"It's a deal. We should wear the color of our names."

"You have two names, two different colors," I nonchalantly reminded Aconite.

"Kahit ano na sa dalawa, okay lang naman," the Almighty Semperflorens cheerfully replied.

Poppy clapped her hands. "So, it's settled. Sa iisang tailoring shop na lang tayo magpapatahi para iisa na rin ang design. Oh my God, isn't that so sweet?"

"Don't give me that kind of shit, Poppy," I counteracted, caring less about my choice of words toward her. "Ano tayo, mga bata? Have your own design and I'll have mine."

"But, I'm okay with Poppy's idea, ate Hid," Nite spoke. "Ngayon lang naman, e. Aren't you proud that we are cousins?"

"Oh, what an emotional kind of persuasion," I dramatically commented. "Unfortunately, it didn't succeed to convince me. Bahala kayo kung gusto ninyong pare-pareho ang damit ninyo, parang tanga. Ako ang gagawa ng sarili kong disenyo."

"Heather!" May babala sa paraan ng pagtawag sa akin ni Perrie. "We are the eldest here, act like one."

I rolled my hair through my fingers. "Now the angel 20-year-old has spoken." Nagkibit-balikat ako. "And the evil 20-year-old is speechless."

I continued sipping my coffee, and when I'm done, I stood up and smiled at them. "Still, I'm not liking your ideas. Because as long as it didn't come from me, not a worthy thing to consider. Remember, I'm . . . the . . . best . . . Del Puerto."

I walked out, leaving them the kind of atmosphere that has never been strange to anyone who know me.

And lastly, HUSBAND.

Wait, husband?

"Mrs. Lavigne, kailangan daw po kayo ni Sir Lord sa opisina niya. Kung maaari daw ay naroon na kayo bago pumatak ang alas-onse."

Mariing nagdikit ang mga labi ko at pabagsak na ibinaba ang baso ng kape na hawak ko.

"Call me Heather Del Puerto, because I am not married, naiintindihan mo? Hindi ako kasal. At mas lalong hindi ko asawa si Lord Lavigne. NOT IN MY WILDEST DREAM!"

Because even though I am wrong . . . I AM RIGHT.