The Clarity of Love (Montereal Series #2)

01

"Oh? What are you doing here? Invited ka? Tsk." Agad akong hinarangan ng step sister ko. This witch is really getting into my nerves.

And hello? Party niya ba ito para mag-act siya ng ganiyan? So eww! Ma-attitude din talaga itong step sister ko, I really want to slap her face but still ayokong gumawa ng gulo. Besides hindi naman saakin ito party so I won't ruin this party. If saakin itong party, why not diba?

My Mom is not around, as usual. Hindi na din naman niya kailangan pumunta dito because she's not a Lozano anymore.

So as I was saying earlier I have a step sister. Good thing isa lang ang step sister ko. Kasi kung tatlo or dalawa sila, I can't handle that anymore. Tama na yung isang witch na step sister for me.

And ayun na nga. Yung witch na tinutukoy ko ay anak nung bagong wife ni Dad. Oo may bago siyang wife. Hindi kasi nagwork ang relationship nila ni Mom. I don't know why but maybe tama lang maman ang ginawa nila kasi if hindi sila maghihiwalay, kawawa lang sila pareho diba?

My point is, if things won't work out wag ng ipilit. Well, syempre I'm still sad because ofcourse sino ba naman ang may gusto mangyari yun? Wala naman sigurong matutuwa if maghiwalay ang parents diba? But I already accepted the fact na I don't have a perfect family.

Were here sa party ng friend ni Dad. Palagi niya din naman kasi akong sinasama sa mga lakad niya and ofcourse I'm his daughter so I need to be there for him since hindi niya naman tunay na anak si Beatrice. Oh look, name palang pang maldita na talaga.

"Clara!" I heard my name. I turned around ans I saw my bestfriend, Mila.

"Good thing you're here. I'm bored na ehh. Wala naman ako masyadong kakilala dito."

I can't stay here. I just can't. Hindi ko ka-vibes mga tao dito. Kami lang ni Mila ang nagkakaintindihan dito. Maybe magiisip na lang ako ng excuse para makauwi na but Dad called me. Ipapakilala niya daw ako sa family nung kaibigan niya. Syempre I also called Mila. Ayoko namang kausapin itong step sis ko.

"Oh iha, you're so beautiful." Pasimple kong finlip ang hair ko at mukhang nakita yun ni Beatrice.

"Any way, this is my son. Meet Ryder Axel Montereal."

Oh! Now I know! Sila pala ang Montereal family. Matunog kasi ang surname nila because of their business that's why most of the people here in the Philippines eh kilala sila. I just nod and looked at their son.

Our eyes met and I admit that he's too handsome. Masyado na siyang gwapo kaya siguro siya nagugustuhan ng mga girls. But I don't like him. Wala lang. I just don't like guys talaga. I don't do boyfriend after all.

Buong party eh nagpabida lang ang step sis ko doon sa mga Montereal. I guess she likes the one who's name is Ryder. Halata siya masyado eh. The way she looks sa guy na yun.

Nabored lang ako doon sa party kagabi and nakapagpuyat ako ng wala sa oras. Ang tagal kasi ni Dad. Ang sabi niya kasi sabay daw kaming umuwi.

I'm on my way na sa school namin. Back to normal na ulit. Kahit na hindi kami magkasama sa bahay ng step sis ko magkasama naman kami sa iisang school. Ganon ako kamalas.

Mas gusto ko kasing tumira kung nasaan si Mom, I just don't want the atmosphere doon sa bahay ni Dad knowing na there's an itchy bitchy witch.

"Oh? Tingin tingin mo diyan?" I noticed na kanina pa pala ako tinitignan ng babaeng ito.

I don't know her and I don't want to know her. Ayoko sa mga babaeng weirdo. Well, I have friends naman besides kay Mila. But they're just my friends. Friends as in kaibigan ganon lang. Iba kasi ang turing ko kay Mila. She's my best of friends and siya ang lagi kong kasama.

"Tara! May away daw na nagaganap banda doon!" And there most of the students nagsipagtakbuhan na papunta kung saan nagaganap ang war thingy.

I also joined them. Seems like it's exciting eh. I saw two girls laughing and katabi nila ang isang nerdy girl. I was shocked when I saw that nerdy girl. Paano sobrang dumi niya and then may kung anong natapon sa damit niya. So ewww! I just can't believe na uso pa din pala ang ganitong eksena.

"Hey! The two of you! You know what? kayo ang mga low class trying hard maldita's and besides, you're not strong enough kahit anong gawin niyo kasi kung strong nga kayo, edi sana ako na lang ang kinalaban niyo. But sorry hindi ko kayo papatulan. That's cheap. Kaya ano pang ginagawa niyo? Go ahead and clean this mess!" Gosh! Yung beauty ko baka masira nito. Ang aga aga palang eh may mga nagmamaldita na.

"Oh? Baka inaantay niyo pang parusahan kayo ng head ng school? Move! Remember, I'm the daughter of Mr. Lozano. I can do whatever I want. Kung gusto ko kayong paalisin sa school na ito, I can!" I was about to walk but someone's grab my wrist.

"T-thank you." Oh si Nerdy girly lang pala. I thought yung dalawang girls na feeling maldita kanina.

"It's okay. No need to thank you." Umasta siya na parang she's going to hug me or beso me.

"Oopss! Sorry but I don't do hugs and beso and besides were not friends. If you're thinking na I'm so maarte to the highest level, you're right. Maarte ako kaya go ahead and magpalit ka na because look at yourself, it's ewww! Bye!" I waved my hand to say goodbye na sakaniya.

Buong araw ko sa school ay talaga namang napakaboring. What's new diba? I'm always bored naman. Sometimes gusyo kong lumipat ng school but since isa sa mga stockholder ng school si Dad, I don't have a choice.

"Clara, guess what? Sinali ka nila sa mga magtatanghal sa, wait! What do you call that nga? Aha! Theater like that. Isa ka daw sa mga bida doon." I looked at my bestfriend wearing my bored face.

"So what's the exciting part with that? I always used to be the drama queen or the actress when it comes with that thing even na labag sa kalooban ko." And then suddenly she screamed na lang out of nowhere kaya I need to slapped her nang matahimik siya.

"Si Ryder ang partner mo doon! That's the exciting part. Pwede mong mahawakan ang kamay niya, pwede mo siyang mayakap and the most exciting part is may chance pa kayo na magkaroon ng kissing scene." Parang akong na-choke when I heard that kissing scene thingy. Like ewww!

"You're so gross! Why would I kiss that man? And play lang yun Mila. No kiss, were not an artist na kailangan pang magkiss to make the audience shout, kilig or whatever you want to call! Payag naman akong partner ko siya but I have a rule! No kissing! No touch! No hugs!" Napatayo naman si Mila sa kinauupuan niya.

"WHAT?! No touch and no hugs? Duhh! Clara, it's just a play!"

Okay, I know where it goes. Baka magaway kami ng dahil lang dito kaya ang ending, I just accepted na lang na makakapartner ko yung lalaking yun and I have to do the hugs, and touch but please no kissing.

Aalis na sana kami ni Mila kaya lang there's a guy na lumapit saamin kaya napaupo kaming dalawa ulit sa upuan and guess who's that guy? No other than Ryder Montereal. He's so pa-cool! Pasalamat siya he's handsome kaya bagay niya naman.

"Hi Clarisse Raegan Lozano." Tumaas baba pa ang kilay niya with matching smirked.

"You don't have to mention my full name and why are you here? Were not friends! Were not even close! So back-off, Ryder Axel Montereal!" I decided to mention his full name para naman makaganti ako sakaniya.

Good thing I have a good memory. Naalala ko ang full name niya.

"Let's go! We need to talk." I raised a brow.

"Why would I talk to you? Sabi ng Mom ko, don't talk to strangers like you!" Mas lalo pa siyang nagsmirked. What's with this guy?

"Why would I talk to you? Sabi ng Mom ko, don't talk to strangers like you!" He mocked. Oh My God! The nerve of this man!

"May sasabihin ka pa?" I asked him. He just shrugged. "Then leave!" I looked at Mila, and sinenyasan ko siyang umalis na kami.

Tumayo na kami at paalis na sana. Kaya lang masyadong epal ang lalaking ito. Hindi kami makaalis alis dahil sakaniya.

I was so shocked when he grabbed my wrist. Hinila niya ako papunta kung saan.

"Get off your hands from me! Where are we going ba?!"

Oh Gosh! I'm so dead to the highest level!
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