"Ate Louisse, good morning po. Dyan si Kuya Tris?" I smiled widely at Ate Amethyst and showed her the boxes of cookies I baked for Tristan and also for her. She is Tristan's secretary and I'm close to her so every time I am giving Tristan cookies I also brought for her. I'm calling Tristan 'kuya' kapag may nakakarinig pero kapag kaming dalawa lang Tris lang ang tawag ko sa kanya na ikinagagalit niya sa akin. Ang sabi niya I should call him Kuya pero ayoko. Why would I? Hindi naman kami magkadugo. Wala siyang magawa dahil sadyang matigas ang ulo ko. Inikot ko ang paningin sa paligid. Ang lawak nitong floor ng office ni Tris at silang dalawa lang ni Ate Amethyst ang nandito sa floor na ito. Maganda ang pagkagawa ng interior design, maganda sa mata ang mga lightings at higit sa lahat tahimik. Tiningnan ko ang pintuan ng room ni Kuya nakasarado ito. Hmm, he's busy perhaps? Madalas kasi kapag dinadalaw ko siya dito, naabutan ko siyang nakikipagtawanan kay Ate na kailanman ay hindi ni

"Huy Ezra Monique saglit, tinatanong kita kung kilala mo ba si Kuyang pogi. Tingnan mo o nakatingin sa 'yo. Kilala mo eh nagde-deny ka lang." sinundot pa ni Bethany ang tagiliran ko kaya kunot noo akong tumingin sa kanya. "Monique..." tawag niya sa pangalan ko pero hindi ko siya binalingan. Oh? Monique real quick? Akala ko ba kid? "I'm here to fetch you." he said in a baritone voice. Narinig ko ang pagsinghap ni Bethany. OA pa itong napatakip sa bibig niya. Palipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa aming dalawa nung lalaki pero inirapan ko lang siya. Alam ko na ang ganyang reaksyon mula sa kanya. Ano magsasaya na ba ako dahil sinusundo niya ako? "Your Dad asked me to." he added. Ah kaya naman pala andito dahil napag-utusan lang. Gusto ko tuloy matawa. Well, ano pa bang inaasahan mo Ezra? Do your really think he'll make an effort for you? Dream on kid. But yeah, no need, I can manage myself. Hindi ko kailangan ng sundo. Isa pa, hindi rin ako sanay na pinapasundo ni Daddy. Kelan pa si

"Look at the camera, Babe. Give me a fierce look..." Brenan's voice made me back from my reverie. Brenan is a photographer at the same time a friend and my manager. Sa ilang taon na kasama ko siya bilang photographer/manager sanay na ako sa pagtawag tawag niya sa akin ng babe. Pati ang ibang staff sanay na rin sa kanya. Brent is a filipino-american, magkakasundo kaming dalawa dahil kahit matanda siya sa akin ng ilang taon he treated me like his equal, hindi niya ako tinuturing na bata. Marunong din siyang managalog at gaya ko lumaki din siyang hindi umaasa sa mga magulang niya. Simula ng dumating ako dito sa Italy kung ano-anong trabaho ang pinasok ko. I did that to prove to my parents that I can be independent to them. Na kayang kong suportahan ang aking sarili. "Wala kang mararating sa katigasan ng ulo Ezra. If I know gusto mo lang doon sa Italy dahil doon libre kang gawin kung anong mga kalokohan mo. You really are a brat. Wala ka na ngang naiambag dito sa pamilya puro pasaway

Dear Ezra Monique, my budding family lawyer,I know you have a lot of emotions running through you the time you will be reading this letter. The same feeling I felt when your lolo died, but I was much older at the time that I I know life is like this. Life happens and so is death, so I really can't begin to truly comprehend what you are feeling, apo. Ezra, want to tell you that I am so incredibly sorry that I had to die while you are so young. I did absolutely everything I could to stay alive for as long as possible. But my battle has to end here. I wish I could extend more because I really want to see you reach your dream. I want to see my Ezra Monique in the court room defending her clients, fighting a battle that a good lawyer does.I am incredibly proud of you for everything you have done in your life. I will be watching over you every day to see what new and exciting things you will accomplish. I will be watching over you all the time, or at least I hope I can still let you fe

"I DISOWN YOU. Leave and disappear." Dad's voice is like a thunder that strike directly to my heart. I was hoping that Mom would counter what he said but that didn't happen. When I looked at them, they all look at me like they were disgusted. I was about to stand but someone stopped me. "Stay." He said, holding my wrist. I looked at him. I couldn't read any emotion in his eyes but I can feel the danger inside it. It's just a one word coming from him but it silence everyone. He's jaw was clenching when he look at my family one by one. Ate Ehra looked shock, lalo na ng makita niya ang paghawak ni Tristan sa palapulsuhan ko. The way he held my wrist, it's like he's holding his possession that no one can take away from him. Hindi ito masikip ngunit hindi rin maluwang na madali kong kalasin. Gulat ang mukha nilang tatlo. Kahit ako nagulat din. I didn't expect him to do that since he was just silent from the start. I saw Dad's jaw clenched and mom started throwing daggers at me. "I