Tutor Unscramble

Thor and I grew up together—we were the definition of childhood sweethearts. We'd promised to attend the same university, graduate, and marry right after senior year. Everyone envied us. They said we were a perfect match, destined for a lifetime together. And I believed that too. I truly thought I'd spend the rest of my life with him. Until the final semester of our senior year in high school, when a new transfer student named Lina joined our class. At first, the two barely spoke. But as they grew familiar, their bond deepened in ways I could no longer ignore. He started staying after school to tutor her, bringing her breakfast every morning. When she was upset, he'd take her for a drive along the coast. If she craved Italian steak, he'd have fresh cuts flown in. Even during her period, he'd quietly prepare everything she needed. I was furious. I confronted him, argued with him, and even threatened to break up. The first time I said it, he thought I was joking and coaxed me out of my anger. The second time, he dismissed it as another tantrum and tried different ways to please me. The third time, he broke down—standing outside my house in the pouring rain all night, half kneeling before me, begging for forgiveness. Again and again, I tried to leave, and every time, he refused to let me go. Yet with each reconciliation, something in him shifted. He started taking me for granted, assuming I would always come back. His patience wore thin. His apologies turned perfunctory. Even when he came to make peace, there was no sincerity left in his voice. So I said it for the hundredth time, and that was the last. That was the moment I finally gave up on him.

Bianca Samonte is a famous college instructor in department of nursing. Pinili niyang magturo kaysa ituloy ay propesyon bilang isang nurse dahil sa trahedyang nangyari noon sa kanya. Naging mailap sa lalaki, dahil rito sa edad na bente-nwebe anyos ay tinanggap na niyang tatanda na siya ng dalaga. Ngunit nagkamali siya sa iniisip nang alukin siya ni Mayor Madrigal na maging tutor at personal assistant ng kanyang nag-iisang tagapagmanang anak na si Darius Rhyl Frio Madrigal na nasa ika-apat na taon sa kolehiyo bilang isang civil engineering student. Kararating lamang nito ng bansa at doble ang pag-iingat sa kanya dahil ito ay may amnesia dahil sa kinasangkutan na trahedyo noong bata pa. Marami nang natanggal na personal assistant ni Darius dahil kalaunay nagiging babae niya na ang mga ito at iyon ang labis na ayaw ni Mayor Madrigal. Sa isip ni Bianca na malayong matutulad siya sa mga babaeng iyon dahil malayo ang agwat ng edad nila. 'Di hamak na mas matanda siya ng limang taon kay Darius. Bianca was confident na kaya niyang sanggahin ang lahat kapilyuhan at kalandian ng binata, ngunit kalaunay unti-unti na itong bumibigay sa karisma na hatak ni Darius. Laging may pangamba sa kanyang isip na makakasama ito sa kanyang iniingatang trabaho at imahe sa lipunan. Iniisip din ni Bianca na masyadong malayo ang edad nilang dalawa at maraming tao na huhusga sa kanila. Mapaglaro ang tadhana, na ang kahapong bangungot ni Bianca ay muling bumalik sa pagpasok ni Darius sa kanyang buhay. Na ang lalaking pinaglilingkuran niya ngayon ay siyang bata na kasama niya noon nang mangyari ang isang malagim na trahedya. Paano kung unti-unting mauungkat ang kahapong bangungot na sisira sa kanyang pagkatao at ang nabuong pagmamahalan nila ni Darius? Taktakbo ba siya uli o lalaban na para sa hustisya at pag-ibig?