Prologue
"Say hi baby girl, go on." I shyly hid at my mother's back while my head is popping out just to see the handsome boy that I could ever see. He's not smiling and not hospitable. Or maybe ganon talaga siya. He has this bored look on his face and looks like he isn't interested in the party. A twelve-year-old girl like me, as spoiled as I am, my mother is always calling me a baby girl because I'm their Unica Hija. Sumama ako sa reunion party na pinuntahan ni Mom and she let me. Sa Dmitri Mansion ginanap ang reunion party at di ko akalain na dito ko makikita ang magiging love of my life ko! My eyes just turned heart-shaped!
Napatingin ulit ako sa batang lalaki na hindi pa din ngumingiti. Napakagwapo niya talaga, mas gwapo sa mga dugyot kong kapatid, hindi ko mapigilan na ngumiti at magpacute sa harapan niya. May nakalagay na headphones na nakasabit sa may leeg niya and his hands were inside his pocket. Malapit na mapagod ang labi ko kakangiti sa kanya.
"This is Trevor, my son. Bakit hindi muna kayo maglarong dalawa?" Sabi ng magandang babae na nasa tabi ng gwapong lalaking nagngangalang Trevor. Mas matangkad siya sa akin, though, my mother is always telling me I'm too tall for my age. Pero mas matangkad pa rin siya! Nakita kong sumama ang tingin ni Trevor at umismid.
"I'm too old to play with a little girl, Mom."
"You're just seventeen, Trevor! You are still young, at least for me and please don't act like an adult. Play with Victoria. Isn't she cute." His mother pinched my little cheeks, but not enough to make me groan in pain. Bumaling naman ang paningil niya sa sa nanay ko.
"Ophelia, let's go. Samahan na natin ang dati nating kaklase." Sabi ng Mom ni Trevor which is hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa din alam ang pangalan.
"That's a good idea Beatrix." Sabi naman ni Mom. Tumingin siya sa akin. Lalong lumawak ang ngiti ko dahil iiwan nila kaming dalawa.
"Victoria be nice, okay? Dito ka muna kay Trevor. Maglaro muna kayong dalawa." At tsaka umalis si Mom kasama si Tita Beatrix na kakaalam ko lang na iyon pala ang pangalan ng future mother-in-law ko. Should I start calling her Mom too?
"Play with your own, little girl. I'm out." Tatalikod na sana siya ng pigilan ko siya. I touched his hands and then he winced with my touch. Oh, he doesn't want to be touched?
He glared at me but I'm used with that stares. Ang mga dugyot kong mga Kuya ganyan tumingin sa akin kapag nakakagawa ako ng kasalanan sa kanila.
"Sabi kasi maglalaro tayong dalawa." I pouted.
"What are you? Five years old?" Tumingin siya sa akin mula sa mukha ko hanggang sa paa.
"I'm twelve." I smiled sweetly. "And I'm going to be a teen." Masaya kong pahayag ng malalaman kong malapit na akong mag thirteen. So puwede na din akong iaddress na teenager.
"Still young. Piss off." Umakyat siya ng hagdan at iniwan akong nakasimangot sa labas.
No!
Sigaw ng isip ko. I was born to be a fighter. My dad is always telling me if I want something, go for it. Kung gusto ko hindi ko titigilan hanggang mapasakin. Pagkakita ko pa lang kay Trevor, nagustuhan ko na siya at kahit napakasungit niya sa akin.
Umakyat din ako ng hagdan at sinundan kung saan siya pupunta. Akmang papasok na siya ng kwarto niya ng agad akong tumakbo at pumasok din sa kwarto niya ng walang pahintulot.
"What the actual fuck!" He cursed. Hindi ko siya pinansin. My brothers used to curse like that too. At sa tingin ko may mabuting naiidulot din pala ang mga kapatid ko sa akin. Nasasanay na ako sa mga kadugyutan nila.
"Wow." I said in excitement. Ang ganda ng kwarto niya. Napakalaki. There's a computer set on the table. Laptop and psp na nasa king size na kama niya. Black and white lang ang kulay na makikita sa kwarto niya. Marami ding iba't-ibang instruments. May electric guitar at ang isa naman ay bass.
"Do you play?" Sabi ko at tumingin sa kanya. Ang sama lalo ng tingin niya sa akin. Tingin na nakakamatay.
"Get. The fuck. Out. Of. My. Room. Now!" He boomed. It sent shivers down to my spine. Bakit imbis na matakot ako mas kinilig ako? Umiling ako.
"Gusto ko dito lang ako sa tabi mo. I like you." Diretsong pahayag ko. Umismid ulit siya sa akin.
"I don't like you." Agad niyang sabi. My little heart broke into pieces pero ipinagsawalang bahala ko lang yun.
"It's okay. Hindi naman kita prinipressure. Pagisipan mo yan ng mabuti." Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang balikat ko. Oh no! Hahalikan ba niya ako? Sa kanya ko ba mararanasan ang magiging first real kiss ko!? Naexcite ako bigla kaya pinikit ko ang mga mata ko. And then...
He pushed me out of his room. "Ohh!" Napasigaw ako. Muntikan ko ng mahalikan ang sahig! Buti na lang hindi ako na out of balance.
Hinawakan niya ang doorknob. "You better work on your breast." He said while eyeing my breast.
"Fuck off." He muttered at sinarhan ng malakas ang pinto niya. Napangiti na lang ako sa ginawa niya. Yieehh. Kinikilig lang siya ayaw lang niya aminin.
Bumaba ako ng hagdan na may ngiti sa labi ko. Magugustuhan rin niya ako. I'm sure of it. A guy like him just need a little push.
* * *
Chapter 1 Victoria Abbel's Point of View"When will you stop massaging your breast?" I heard someone said. Halos mabulunan ako dahil sa sinabi niya, kaya naman agad kong tinanggal ang pagkahawak sa dibdib ko. Napayuko na lang ako sa table dahil sa kahihiyan."Kelan ba malaki 'tong dibdib ko!? Kahit anong gawin ko hanggang ganito na lang talaga siguro 'to." Halos maiyak kong sabi. We are here in the cafeteria and I was with my friend named Georginna. And yes, even if we are in the cafeteria, I absentmindedly cupped my breast and started pinching it! I just hoped no one is looking at me. That will be embarrassing. I just remembered when I used to be in middle school, we are required to attend the flag ceremony. When the Philippine anthem was played in the stereo, you have to put your hands on your left chest, little did I know instead of putting my hands on my left chest, I am cupping my breast! Geez, there is really something wrong at me. Masyadong malaki ang epekto ng sinabi ni Trevo
Chapter 2Victoria 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
Chapter 3Victoria Abbel's Point of View"You really wanted me to tag along?" Pangatlong beses na naitanong ito ni Elizabeth. Halos dumugo na ang tenga ko sa paulit ulit niyang tanong. Still, I tried to be more understanding. She was locked inside her own house due to some accident. Ngunit ngayon ay pinapayagan na itong lumabas.She knew that I'll be staying in New York, so she wants to spend more time with me. Kaya naman naisipan ko siyang isama sa party isang party."Wow! This house is beautiful, is it okay if we go there?" I facepalmed."Just come with me Eliza, I promise you this is going to be fun, and just enjoy the night, okay?" Tumango siya sa akin kahit nararamdaman ko ang kanyang pangamba. I think it's normal to feel that way, she's been locked up all her life. I wonder how her parents will react to this if they will know that I brought their princess to a party. Sometimes, alam kong ayaw ipasama sakin si Elizabeth. I don't know why? Mabait naman ako.Anyway, we're here in t
Chapter 43 years laterVictoria Abbel's Point of ViewIsang malutong ang sampal ang inabot niya mula sa akin. Nagulat ito dahil sa aking ginawa at halatang hindi niya inaasahan ang ginawa ko. Everyone gasped from what I did."What's that for, babe?" Ngumisi pa ito nang nakakaloko habang nakahawak sa kanyang pisnge."You fucking tell them that it wasn't me! You imbecile." I shouted at the top of my lungs. Saan ba pinaglihi itong lalaking 'to ng mama niya. Sandali nga, may mama ba siya? Mukhang nakulangan sa aruga ng magulang!He stood up from his chair and put his hand on my shoulders. I sighed in relief. Finally, he'll gonna clean the mess he'd made."Gather up everyone! The rumor is real. She's the one in the video. And yes, we're fucking each other that time." Everyone murmured and muttered something ill about me. Huminga muna ako ng malalim at tinanggal ang pagkahawak niya sa akin.His name is Dean and he's a dickhead, an asshole, a brute, you name it. I knew him since I transferr
Chapter 5: Guess Our GuestVictoria Abbel's Point of ViewI don't wanna eat in the dining area again. Kaya naman ay nagpadeliver na lang ako ng pizza at kinain ito sa kwarto ko. I don't want to see Cainn today and I know he doesn't want to see me as well. I guess we don't really like each other. Kahit kami na lagi ang magkasamang dalawa ay madalas kaming mag-away. They say that it's normal to fight but both of us are not really on good terms. Maybe my parents are to blame for which they name us after the famous story in the bible which is the story of Cain and Abel. The only difference was, that I am a girl. Actually, Cainn was my favorite brother, but we grew up apart since that day.Morning came and I started cooking breakfast for two. Natutunan ko magluto simula nang magstay kami dito. We only have two maids, one for the laundry and one for cleaning the house. May specific na araw lang sila pumupunta dito. And I don't usually see them because I'm not at home always. I prefer going
Chapter 6: Such A HassleVictoria Abbel's Point of ViewThis day is literally not my day. Somebody just made some stupid prank on me. Pagdating ko sa parking lot ay nakita kong flat ang isang gulong at may nakatusok na folding knife dito. I removed the folding knife and throw it into the nearest bin. Nahilamos ko na lang ang aking kamay sa aking mukha. Unfortunately, I don't have any spare tires. I can't go home without a ride. Lalo na at walang busses sa ganitong oras o kaya naman ay taxi. If I want to commute, I should walk well for thirty minutes in order to reach the highway. And I hate walking. Whoever made this to my car really hates me so much and the only one who I can think of is Dean.I told him earlier that my lawyer is now fixing the mess he made. Saying my lawyer is something good to say and hear. I have never been this thankful to Nikos. Akalain mo 'yun, nagagamit niya ang kanyang pinagaralan.I fished my phone inside my pocket and scrolled down through my contacts. Sino
Chapter 7: Isolated Victoria Abbel's Point of ViewThe whole ride was awfully quiet. Ganon naman palagi, wala nang bago doon. He's the type of man who speaks fewer words.When we reached the garage, binilisan kong umalis sa loob ng kotse niya. I was really wondering why he's staying with us. Is this a lame joke? Trevor Dmitri is really living with us now? Akala ko ba ay sinusumpa niya ang pagkatao ko pero tingnan mo nga naman ngayon, he's here."Tori," he called my name when I'm about to get inside the house. Geez! Why does he keep on calling me Tori?! I'm now starting to hate my name. The way he pronounced my name is like he was seducing me with his words. And I told myself that I shouldn't fall for his schemes because I'm so done. Totoo nga ang sinasabi nilang may limit ang isang tao. Humans are weak, they get tired, and they get exhausted from something. I wish I have superior powers that can remove all the feelings I have for Trevor. Sana paggising ko, wala na siya sa isipan ko. S
Chapter 8: The Singularity2 days before Dean's deathVictoria Abbel's Point of View"Damien is staying here? Wow. That's new." Her name is Carla and she's the one who is responsible for cleaning the house. At ngayon naman ay nandito siya para maglinis ng buong bahay. May hawak itong trash bin na puno ng gusot na mga papel."I got a lot of trash from his room." Carla is a blonde woman and she's in her late fifties. Good thing she can still manage to do all the cleaning in our house. Palagi naman siyang may kasama maglinis, I don't know if it's her daughter or niece. I don't bother asking. That explains why she's holding a trash bin. That must be Trevor's trash.Ibinaba ko ang baso na may tubig at lumapit sa kanya."It's not Damien. There's another man residing here and now he's staying at Damien's room." Kinuha ko ang trash bin kay Carla at nagulat naman siya dahil sa ginawa ko. Kahit ako ay nagulat dahil sa ginawa ko."Ohhh, another brother of yours?" She asked while looking at me wi