32 He didn't come back that night. Tsk! Damn him! Iyon ba ang wala lang? Obvious na nilalayuan niya iyong tanong ko. Nalasing na ako at lahat, pero ni anino niya ay hindi ko na nakita pa. In the end, Kyle took us home. Maybe he doesn't care even if I get drunk.Ano naman kasi ang pumasok sa isip mo, Affeya? Na kakaripas siya ng takbo pabalik kasi ayaw niyang malasing ka? That's bvllshit!Umuwi ako noong gabing iyon na lasing na lasing. Mabuti na lang at tulog na ang kambal, kung hindi ay nakita nila akong lasing na lasing. I don't want to be a bad influence on my son and daughter."Yehey! We are going to buy our school supplies! And we are going to J0llibee!" Zally was jumping for joy when I told them to go to bed early because we are going to the mall tomorrow, and then after that, we are going to the amusement park.Hindi kasi kami natuloy noong isang araw dahil may dinaluhan akong importanteng meeting.It's been 5 days since that night. I don't know if he is just busy or if he is

34 - "You okay?" Agad akong napatingin kay Ivo nang tanungin niya ako. Napatango ako. Siya nga dapat ang kailangang tanungin ko non."I'm fine; I just couldn't stop thinking about Tita Vina crying earlier. I don't know why I felt something saka medyo nagulat lang ako kung saan tinungo ng usapan. Zally is now calling Tita Vina Mamita. Nakakabigla iyong mga nangyare," I said while looking at Zally, who was now busy getting school supplies.Ivo don't say anything after that kaya ako naman ang nagtanong sa kanya."How about you? Aren't you going to go to Janica and talk to her? I don't know how your relationship works, but I think she saw that kiss a while ago. Maybe she's overthinking now. I'm also a girl, Ivo; I know she already can't stop thinking about what happened. Marami na siyang tanong sa isip non panigurado," I said and immediately approached Zally as I pushed the shopping cart. Lumalayo na kasi siya ng kaunti."Zally, just get the things you need," sambit ko dahil kuha na siya

36 - "What?" I immediately asked him violently when he blocked my path.I want to talk to him, but I can't talk to him right now after what happened. Maybe instead of us being able to talk properly, I'll just yell at him because of the extreme annoyance I feel towards him."Anong problema mo? Kung ano man iyang plano mong sabihin sa akin ngayon para harangan pa ako, sayo na lang iyan. I still need to do something. I won't waste my time on you." Tuloy tuloy na sambi ko nang hindi siya nagsalita agad."Iwan ko muna kayo—" It's Anna, pero hindi ko siya hinayaang ituloy ang sasabihin niya. She doesn't need to leave. Gaya ng sabi ko, ayokong sayangin ang oras ko sa taong 'to. How dare he make my daughter cry?"Stay here, Anna," seryoso kong sambit kay Anna.Napanguso siya at alanganing tumango sa akin."Ngayon, pwede bang lumayas ka sa harapan ko? May importante pa akong gagawin," baling ko naman kay Yrony.He sigh at hindi ko alam kung anong meron sa kanya. Para siyang naging maamong as

38I don't know why he is suddenly the CEO of that construction company. Isn't he the one who owns and runs his family's company, so why? Why is he the CEO of this construction company?"These are our sample designs," the architect said while standing in front and discussing their plan for the restaurant designs and all.Binaba ko ang tingin sa lamesa ko dahil may hardcoppies naman silang binigay sa amin. It's good… No, it's not just good, It's almost perfect. They seem to be right that the architects working for this company do a good job, but of course it's not all about the designs, and I know that they know that. I want the new restaurant building to be beautiful—not just beautiful, but I want it perfect. Gusto kong maganda, pero matibay at hindi tinipid."The designs were good, but what about the quality? I will be a bit rude here, but I know that you heard about the building na gumuho dahil binulsa ang malaking pundo. I'm not saying that you will pocket the other funds of this

40"Hoy! Anong meron at parang may plano kang maglasing? May problema ka ba? I was surprised by your sudden call, huh?" Anna asked, but I didn't answer even one of his questions."Hinay hinay lang. Mahaba pa naman ang gabi," natatawang dugtong pa nito nang tuloy tuloy ang pag inom ko ng alak sa harap niya.I didn't say anything to her or even listen to her na maghinay hinay lang. I just took the other glass of alcohol that was in front of us at agad muling ininom ang lahat ng laman nito. Dahil sa ginawa ko ay malutong na lang siyang napamura.Si Ivo at ang kambal ay nasa bahay ni Daddy, and Ivo said a while ago na pwede kaming lumabas ni Anna, so I'm here. Sa totoo lang, wala rin naman talaga akong plano na pumunta sa kung saan, but after what happened, I think I need this. Kailangan kong makalimot.Why is he like that? Why is he shocked, and what is he saying? And why did I let that happen again? Why did I let him kiss me again and occupy my mind? Shìt! After he said those words, he