Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Victoria Abbel's Point of View

"Don't talk to me, dumb idiot." Iyon agad ang bati ko kay Damien, the oldest. Hindi niya na itinuloy ang sasabihin niya nang makita niya akong wala sa mood.

"Okay, okay, chill. Don't worry I don't have any plans to talk to you." Lucifer-incarnate. I tsked and walked straight in my room. Pagpasok ko pa lang nakita ko na agad ang standee ni Trevor. Dahil sa galit ko ay sinipa ko ito nang malakas. It fell down on the floor. At doon lang bumuhos ang mga luha ko. I'm really hurt. Hindi ko lang pinapakita na nasasaktan ako kanina. When I saw him kissed my friend Georginna, I quietly closed the door and left right away. God, why am I so stupid! Naiiyak kong pahayag at tinabunan ang aking mga mata ng aking favorite na unan. It was my favorite because its color is pastel pink. But anyways, I'm really crying non stop. Daig ko pa ang namatayan. I don't want to see Georginna's ugly face anymore! Kung pwede lang ay pwede ko siyang ipakick out right now. But I'm not that cold hearted to do that. But she kissed my man! Buong akala ko ayaw niya kay Trevor kasi madalas siyang hindi magbigay ng interest kung siya ang kausap. But why was she inside that room?! God! I am fuming mad right now.

No, Trevor is the one who kissed her. My subconscious said.

No! That two-faced ugly bitch kissed my Trevor. I cried harder than before.

But why am I crying in the first place? I'm so mad tonight. I'm mad at Trevor and I'm mad at myself. Why did I like him? And why did I let him break me? Dahil ba maliit ang boobs ko?

The thought of him kissing Georginna was painful for me to handle. I just let myself cry until I'm better. Ganon naman palagi, ilang beses na niya akong sinaktan. But I'm still running towards him. And accepting him wholeheartedly. My life revolves around him.

"Dinner is served, ugly duckling." Narinig ko ang sabi ni Clevon. Ang pangalawang dugyot kong kapatid.

"Go to hell!" I shouted. Kahit naiiyak ako ay hindi ko pa rin pinapahalata sa ibang tao na nasaskatan. Maybe that's my defense mechanism. But I curse a lot, like a sailor.

"Tell mom I don't want to eat," I said and lie down on my bed. I just stared at nothingness. Isang malakas na katok ang sumira sa pageemote ko.

"Hindi ka ba lalabas dyan, Abbel?" Rinig kong sabi ni Cainn, ang pangatlong dugyot kong kapatid.

"Hindi!" Inis kong turan. I just wanted to have a peaceful evening! Kahit nasa bahay ako ay wala man lang mapayapang lugar dito.

"Lalabas ka o sisirain ko ang pinto ng kwarto mo?" He said back at me.

"Sirain mo." Walang ganang kong sabi. Wala ako sa mood makipagusap ngayon sa mga tao pero pinipilit nila akong magsalita. But when I'm talking in the house nonstop, they tell me to shut up. Saan ba ako lulugar?

Narinig ko ang biglang pagkalabog ng pinto ko. Cainn is really trying to torn my door into pieces. That stupid maggot!

"Okay, okay, I'm going out now." Pinunasan ko ang luha na natuyo na sa mukha ko at humarap sa salamin. I smiled at the mirror and walked straight to the door. I opened the door just to see Cainn's ugly face.

"Stupid," I muttered.

Nang makarating kami sa dining table ay tahimik ang lahat. Alright, why are they being silent?

"Tori, come on, let's eat." My mother said. Umupo ako sa favorite spot ko sa dining table. Damien is on my left and Cainn is on my right.

"So..." simula ni mom. Mom is already 50 but she's still beautiful as ever. She's one of the directors of the University I'm staying at.

"We're going to migrate." Walang patumpik-tumpik na sinabi ni Dad. My dad was a businessman. Yeah, so basically, puro business ang trabaho ng aking angkan. Thought, they have different areas of specialty. The Stanislaski Clan is considered a power elite in our society. We have a connection in the three major institutions which is the state, economy, and military. Sounds fun? No, it's a nightmare for us.

But the problem is, some people are never satisfied. People strive harder to have the things they want because they have little, and they want more. And once they have more and they have everything on their plates, they wish to have little, to have a minimal life, to have less. And we are that some people.

Our family never knows what satisfaction is. We always strive harder to be on the top but we always wished to have a normal life. Ironic isn't it?

"Seriously? Bakit biglaan naman, Mom?" Rinig kong sabi ni Cainn.

"Your dad was planning to enter politics for a while now. As he dropped that news to the media last week, he started to receive blackmails and death threats." Hindi ako makapaniwala sa narinig ko.

"Dad was about to enter politics?" I asked without any idea at all. Bakit wala naman akong kaide-ideya sa sinasabi ng nanay ko. Sinamaan ako ng tingin ni Clevon.

"Hindi mo alam nangyayari sa pamilya mo dahil busy ka sa paghahabol sa lalaki mo." He said flatly. I pouted my lips. Pero kinilig naman ako bigla sa sinabi niyang lalaki mo. Oh my! Supportado talaga nila ako kay Trevor. Hay, Trevor, hindi pa kita pinapakilala sa pamilya ko pero tanggap ka na nila.

"Note the sarcasm, please." He added. Cainn facepalmed.

"Toring, you being a Stanislaski is such a waste." Umiliing pa niyang sabi. Hindi ko maiwasang sipain siya sa paa. He said ouch. Victory is mine! Hmp!

"Enough you three." Saway sa amin ni Damien.

"Pwede bang makinig muna kayo? Hindi na kayo mga bata." Nakakunot noo niyang sabi sa amin. I bite my tongue so I can shut up.

I don't have any idea what my parents are talking about. Maybe I don't engage myself with my family affairs. Or maybe the fact that I stopped watching and readings the news. That's why I don't have any idea at all.

But sending blackmails and death threats are considered dangerous things.

"So we decided to migrate to New York right away. Your life will also be in danger, our whole family. Your Dad already dropped out to be a candidate for the next election but still, we can't be sure and we can't risk our safety." My mother said, full of love and worry. My mother really cared about our family.

"How about my studies, Mom? I'm graduating this year." Clevon said.

"You're a Stanislaski, kid. Nothing is impossible." My dad said.

"I'm fine with it," Cainn said.

"It think it's a better idea, Dad. I can start working on our company in New York once we arrive." Sabi ni Damien na akala mo'y natutuwa ako sa kanyang kasipagan.

"Mom..." I purse my lips and looked at my mom with a tears eye.

"Ayokong umalis. Trevor is here and I can't afford to be away from him." Nahilot na lang ni Damien ang kanyang ulo dahil sa sinabi ko.

"Victoria please, don't be so difficult," Dad said.

Paano kung umalis ako, makahanap ng ibang babae si Trevor?

"We're staying there for good, Tori. You can start your new life there. Stop throwing yourself to someone who doesn't even like you. You are a Stanislaski, know your worth." Damien said and stood up from his seat. Bigla akong nasaktan sa sinabi ni Damien pero hindi ko na lang ito ipinahalata. Tumingin ako kay Mom for support pero binigyan niya lang ako ng isang malungkot na ngiti.

"Please don't risk our safety for your selfish demands, Victoria Abbel. Grow up, stop being so immature. And don't act like your life only revolves around Trevor. Tandaan mo, Trevor isn't a Sun, and you're not a planet. Don't be so Trevor-centered." Bigla na lang sumingkit ang mga mata ko sa sinabi ni Clevon. Is that supposed to be a joke?

"Ha ha ha, so funny," I said sarcastically.

"Victoria Abbel." Seryosong saway sa akin ng tatay ko. This is what I'm talking about. They are always exceeding to their limit and what does we have in return? Nothing but danger. Bakit hindi na lang makuntento ang mga tao? Bakit hindi na lang sila maging masaya sa kung meron sila?

"Tomorrow, when you go to the university make sure to get all your necessary files. Para madali kayong makapasok sa university sa New York. Pack your things now, and once we settle everything here, we're off to go." My mom said.

I cried that night. Minsan, nasasaktan ako sa mga sinasabi ng mga kapatid ko sa akin. But the truth is sweet, it tastes bitter.

Truth hurts, ika nga nila. I cried to sleep thinking that I should give up on Trevor. And my heart aches from that thought.

Morning came easily. I saw myself sitting on the passenger seat next to Cainn. I don't even bother wearing a uniform.

"Zombie, make sure that you will be back exactly 30 minutes from now on. I will do the same. Please don't make me wait." Cainn said with a smug face. I nodded my head and slam his car door.

"Be careful to my baby, Abbel!" Naiinis na tawag niya sa akin.

"Careful your face, smurf!" Ganti ko sa kanya at tumakbo sa loob ng university. We are to get our important documents. Pero dahil magkaiba kami ng department ay iba ang way niya sa akin.

I walked into the corridor, alone. It's not new to me. I always walked in the corridor with myself. I heard someone say that if you walk alone in the school corridor means you are lonely. But people should realize that being alone doesn't make you lonely. It just means that you are strong enough to savor the serenity of solitude.

Being alone doesn't make you less of a human.

"Tori." May tumawag sa pangalan ko mula sa aking likuran. I know that voice, hinding hindi ko makakalimutan ang boses na 'yon. That's the voice of an evil creator. Okay, siguro medyo sumobra ako sa word na evil but she's such a witch for doing that to me.

"Don't call my name anymore and I don't want to talk to you either. Get lost, Georginna." I tried my best to be calm. Kung hindi siguro ako makapag pigil sa mg oras na ito ay baka umuwi ito na wala ng mapapasukan na unibersidad. But I'm not that cruel or maybe I am I just didn't acknowledge it.

"I'm so sorry but let me explain. It's not what you think." She tried to approach me but I choose to step backward. Tumingin ako sa orasan ko. Kaunting minuto na lang ay matatapos ang 30 minutes na binigay sa akon ni Cainn.

"It doesn't matter, Georginna. You don't have to explain anymore. I'm tired of your shit. Wag ka nang magsalita, dumadagdag ka lang sa polusyon." Sabi ko pa. Pero dahil isang siyang makulit na nilalang ay sinubukan niya pa rin akong hawakan. She don't have the right to touch me.

Isang malutong na sampal ang inabot niya sa akin.

"Stay away." I slapped her because of jealousy. I envy her. I've been chasing Trevor since I was twelve. Pero mas nauna pa niyang n*******n si Trevor. Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong umiyak. Hinding hindi ako iiyak sa harapan niya.

"I'm so sorry." That's all she said. I turned my heels away from her. Dumiretso ako kung saan ako dapat pumunta. I gather everything I needed and left the office in an instant.

I just wanted to see Trevor one more time. That's why I run towards the College Department. I saw Nikos with Severus and Raven. Playing football on the field. Kalev and Alexander are just sitting on the bleachers.

"Where is Trevor?" Sigaw ko sa kanilang lima. Parehas silang nagkatinginan sa isa't isa bago tumingin sa akin.

"You should know better," Nikos said. Oo nga pala! Bigla ko na lang naalala na nasa music room siya! I hurriedly run towards the music room. It was one of the special rooms in this University. It costs a lot, but it will be yours. Yes, as in it will become your property in school.

And I was right, I saw Trevor in the hallway and about to enter the room. He's dazzling as ever. Pero may nakalagay na headphones sa kanyang tenga kaya wala siyang pakialam kung anong nangyayari sa paligid niya. He's always like that. When he's listening to music, nothing else matters.

"Trevor!" Sigaw ko, kahit alam kong hindi niya ako maririnig. He saw me in front of him but he didn't even bother to acknowledge my presence. Ouch.

"I'm leaving." Sabi ko pa habang lumalapit sa kanya. Hindi pa rin niya ako pinansin at akmang bubuksan na ang pinto ng music room nang hawakan ko ang kamay niya. Just to stop. Tinaasan niya ako ng isang kilay. Due to frustration, I get his earphones and put it at my back. Nakita ko kung paano kumunot ang noo niya. Just like the first time we met, 6 years ago.

"I said I'm leaving!" I firmly said.

"For good." Hindi ko man lang nakitaan nang emosyon ang mukha niya. Umaasa ako na kahit paano kung malalaman niya na aalis ako ay mapagtanto niyang hindi niya kayang mawala ako sa buhay niya. But who am I kidding?

He stared at me blankly.

"Go, I don't care."

*******