Aliyah Yajaira Liwanag has been struggling with life ever since their family fell apart, kaya naman nang makatanggap siya ng offer mula sa isa sa pinakamayaman sa bansa na si Benedict Amadeo ay agad-agad niya itong tinanggap. Sino ba ang makakatangg...
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Ang daming bilin. Ang daming paalala. Ang bawat salitang aking tinatanggap ay tila ba mas nakakapagpabigat sa aking dibdib at nakadaragdag lamang sa lamig na aking nararamdaman.
I don't feel ready to face them. I am getting overwhelmed by the information and reminders.
Everything is making me dizzy.
Yet there was a familiar warmth that reached for my hand. Napahugot ako ng malalim na hininga bago ko tiningnan si Conrad. Binitiwan niya ako bago lumapat sa aking likod ang kaniyang kamay at marahan niya iyong hinagod.
"It's okay. Everything's going to be okay," he assured me quietly.
Parang biglang nanahimik ang paligid dahil sa kaniya.
Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga bago ako marahang tumango.
I need to make this work. Hindi ako puwedeng pumalya kung kailan nandito na kami. Why am I suddenly getting cold feet? I have waited for this! I have worked hard for this, which is why I need this to succeed.
Blake handed me an unopened bottle of water na siyang kinuha ni Conrad para buksan. I don't need water right now. Baka mamaya ay saka pa umandar ang pantog ko.
"No, thank you. I just need some air. Can we go out for a while?" I asked, looking at Conrad.
Tiningnan muna nito ang kaniyang relo bago siya tumango. Conrad led the way while he was tightly holding my hand.
When I looked back, there was something in the way that Blake was looking at us. I gave him a small smile before I brought my sight forward. I couldn't figure out if it was hurt or regret, and I didn't really care. Sinabi ko naman na noon, he had his chance, and no matter how hard he works o kahit ano pa ang gawin niya, I will never go back to him because he was never my home.
Nang makalabas sa gusali ay humanap kami ni Conrad ng punong masisilungan. Hindi ko nabilang kung ilang malalim na hininga ang aking pinakawalan.
"Things will be fine," mahinang sabi ni Conrad. Muli na naman niyang hinawakan ang aking kamay. "We worked hard for this day. We will get the justice you deserve. They will pay for what they have done," he assured me as he kissed the back of my hand.
"You're going to be fine, and we've got your back," he continued with a warm smile.
Muli akong humugot ng hininga. I couldn't bring myself to believe that everything would be fine. I have witnessed how money works its way, and I can't help but fear how much it could twist the truth.
Kailangan kong tatagan ang loob ko. Kailangan kong ilaban ito. I was born to fight and survive. Hindi ako basta-basta aatras.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't worry about it too much, right?"
"And you shouldn't be sorry for feeling this way, too," sagot naman nito.
"I can't help it. Paano kung may mangyaring hindi natin inaasahan?"
