Thank you for reading this book until the end. This is the ending. Let's see each other in my next story. God bless everyone!
I saw her first when she walked in the pedestrian lane while I was waiting for the red signal to turn green. She's wearing her school uniform—hugging her two books while wearing an earphone.She caught my attention, and I don't know why I was stunned when it's obvious that she was way younger than me. Hindi ko na namalayang nag-go signal na at kung hindi pa nagbusina ang sasakyang nasa likuran ko ay mapapako na talaga ang mga mata ko sa kanya.That was the first, and she did not get out of my mind easily. Tatlong araw ko siyang naiisip at pinipigilan ko lang 'yong sarili ko na ipahanap siya.But fate seem like playing with me when I saw her in a bookstore. Sinamahan ko 'yong kaibigan ko sa mall kahit na hindi ko hilig na pumunta rito. Kung hindi lang ako natalo sa car racing namin edi hindi na sana ako parang alila niya."Bro, bantayan mo muna. Kailangan ko ng canvas—"I groaned and cut him off."Fuck! Bilisan mo!" I said annoyingly.Sinipa ko pa ng bahagya iyong cart sa inis. Tatawa-
THE heavy rain makes me sad. I have always felt this way every time it rains. But now, there is a valid reason to make me feel unhappy. I am driving my way to the hospital for my sister. She was in a car accident with her husband, and now... they are both in critical condition. I prayed hard and called all the saints I knew to help them survive this battle. My tears kept falling at mas lumalala ang pag-aalala ko habang lumilipas ang bawat minuto. Nanginginig ang buo kong katawan. I can't hide the fact that there's so much running in my head right now. I don't want to entertain any negativity, but I felt weak hearing Mrs. Roberts' voice of wanting me so badly to be in a hurry. I knew there was something wrong, kaya nagsimula na rin akong mag-panic. I almost hit the tree because of my nervousness. Thank God, I was still alive when I parked the car in the hospital and hurriedly went inside. "I-iyong patient na dinala dito dahil sa car accident. She's in the operating room.
TEN YEARS AGO It was a typical day when I decided to come out for a jog. Crystal was in the backyard—watering the plants when I stepped out of the door. "I’ll jog lang muna. Gusto mo ba ng pandesal?" tanong ko at huminto sa harap niya. Pandesal is a bread that we usually eat every morning. It's already five-thirty AM, sumisikat na rin ang araw. She looked and nodded at me. "Just five pieces. Nakapag luto na rin ako ng fried rice, bacon, and hotdogs for breakfast. Uuwi sila Mommy at Daddy ngayong umaga kaya dapat na maraming pagkain mamaya," she said as she watered her plants. "Copy!" I answered and adjusted my earphone habang naghahanap ng music na ipapatugtog. I locked the gate and bid goodbye to my sister. "Dustin! Dito!" My head automatically turns to the woman living a few blocks away from our house. They are probably new in this neighborhood. The woman is in her forties, and she's petite. Her hair is short, and she has chinky eyes like mine. I am familiar with our neigh
KABANATA 2:I know that in time, they will become a couple. But I didn't expect that this would be that day. Mom and Dad went out on a vacation trip. It was planned two months ago when Crystal and I decided to buy them a ticket and book a hotel resto Palawan for their wedding anniversary.Since we are old enough to take care of ourselves, we opted to stay at home and let our parents enjoy their vacation without us. We have a family business and own multiple hardware stores in the Philippines. My parents are hardworking people. Ever since they started our business, they have been very committed to it, and we wanted to give them the best gift, kaya iyong napili namin ni Crystal ay package tour para sa dalawa."Crystal?"Sinilip ko sa sala pero wala siya kaya akala ko nasa kwarto pero wala din pala. I checked the other rooms pero wala din siya."Nasaan na ba 'yon?" I asked myself.Nagmamadali pa akong bumaba sa hagdan. Wala nga yata akong kasama sa loob ng bahay. I started to get panic.
KABANATA 3: CRYSTAL and I agreed that our uncle Ricky will manage our entire family business. Hindi kasi kami talaga mahilig ni Crystal sa negosyo. Pumayag na lang kami na may shares kami sa negosyo pero hindi ganoon kalaki kumpara sa shares ni Uncle Ricky. I want to be a model. Sa totoo lang, sabi nila ay hindi ko na kailangan na mag-aral kasi lahat naman p'wedeng mag-model basta may looks and body ka lang. Kaya lang, my mom and dad will not agree that's why I pursued my course which is BSED. Pareho kami ni Crystal. "She's not picking up my calls." Napapikit ako habang kausap si Dustin sa kabilang line. Ganito siya, kapag magka-away sila ni Crystal at kapag hindi niya makontak. Ako 'yong kinukulit niya. "I'll try to call her for you, okay?" I said calmly kahit medyo may kaunting iritasyon sa akin dahil may ginagawa ako ngayon pero tumawag lang siya sa akin para ipaalam na hindi niya makausap ang kapatid ko. "I'm sorry. I know you're busy. I am just worried. Alam ko tapos na ang
KABANATA 4:BINALEWALA ko 'yong nararamdaman ko noon para sa kanya. Noong una, akala ko crush lang 'yon pero iba na habang tumatagal. Sa t'wing nakikita ko siya, iba ang reaksyon ng katawan ko.I just figured it out when I assessed my feelings. Kung bakit ganito na lang ako sa kapag nakikita ko sila ni Crystal. Back then, I realized it was not a crush at all. I secretly love him, and I immediately shut my feelings down.Pinaniwala ko 'yong sarili ko na makakalimutan ko rin at hindi ako masasaktan. I just need to divert my attention that's why I flew to Manila to pursue my dreams. Hindi lang dahil sa pangarap ko kaya ako umalis sa Cavite, kung hindi para hindi ko sila makita ni Crystal.I love my sister. I don't want any conflict so I kept it to myself. Pinaniwala ko 'yong sarili ko na hindi ko mahal 'yong lalaking mahal niya. They both love each other. Iyon naman ang gusto ko. Mahanap ni Crystal iyong lalaki na magmamahal sa kanya ng buong-buo at aalagaan siya pero habang naroon ako,
KABANATA 5:KITANG-KITA ko ang pagkunot ng noo ni Blake dahil sa matalim na titig ni Dustin. Tumikhim ako. Magsasalita sana ako kaso naunahan ako ni Dustin."Who is he? I didn't know you were dating someone?" He said using his powerful voice, and his eyes narrowed at me.Nagkatinginan kami ni Blake. Ngumiti ako sa kanya pero para bang ngiwi iyon. Hindi ako sanay sa ganitong side ni Dustin. Sobrang seryoso niya. Medyo natakot ako bigla."Uh, I believe you—"Dustin cut him off. Iritado nitong niluwagan ang necktie niya habang pinapatunog ang leeg na tila ba pagod siyang makipag-usap kay Blake kahit na hindi pa nga nakakasimula."Are you Cassiedy?""Dustin," I warned him. Tumayo na ako at hinawakan siya sa braso. Nahuli ko pang napatingin si Blake doon, bago nag-angat ng tingin sa akin. Naningkit ang mga mata niya kay Dustin pero tila ba walang pakialam ang isa. Bumaling sa akin na hindi maipinta ang mukha niya."Don't scare him, please. He's my suitor—""You're what?" Nagsalubong ang ki
KABANATA 6:HINATID ako ni Dustin nang gabing 'yon sa condo at umuwi na rin agad. Pagpasok ko sa condo, tawag agad ni Crystal ang bumungad sa akin. She asked me questions about Blake. Of course, alam niya kung anong nangyari dahil binalita ni Dustin iyon sa kanya agad.We talked and I told her my sentiments about her husband's rudeness. Isa pa, pinaintindi ko sa kanya na pareho lang kami ng edad at hindi big deal kung makipag-date ako o mag-boyfriend na ako. Siya nga kasal na. Hindi ko nga alam na kinasal na pala. May sinabi ba akong masama sa kanila? Nangialam ba ako? Hindi naman, 'di ba?"I'm sorry. Maybe I was just too worried about you. Baka kasi masakta—"Napapikit ako bago ko pinutol ang sasabihin niya."Crystal, I won't learn anything if you guys will interfere with my love life. It's actually none of your business. We're both adult. Kung nasa college tayo at pinapakielaman niyo ko. Baka maintindihan ko pa. Pero ngayon? Ano 'yon? Gumawa ng scene si Dustin kanina. Nakakahiya sa