Napapasong tinulak ko si Ram.
Taimtim ko itong tinitigan, hilam na hilam ang mukha, nananakit ang katawan. At pagkatapos ng ilang segundo ay pumasok na ako sa loob ng kwarto. Agad na sumunod siya sa akin. Napatigil ako sa kalagitnaan ng kwarto.
Ram was the one who locked the door. I watched his tall frame go rigid as he looked at me. Mula ulo hanggang paa.
"Leave," I softly commanded.
Ito na ang pinakamababa at pinakapangit kong estado. Ito ang bersyon ko ng sarili na hindi ko kayang iharap sa iba, ang bersyong dinurog at binasag. I hope this version of myself satisfied whatever craving you searched for a long long time. So, leave me.
Ram immediately charged towards me. His large hands found my shoulders and held me tightly. Halos umangat ang buo kong katawan dahil doon.
"What happened to you? Who did this?" He flinched as he touched my arm. Puno iyon ng karmot.
"Does it matter, Ram? What will you do then?" I looked down, eyes starting to sting my whole face once again.
"Fuck! It does to me, Chrissy! Who fucking did this?" Ram was so fucking frustrated.
"Paano kung sinabi kong si Yllana ito? Tatahimik ka ba at magkukunwari ulit? Dahil iyon naman ang lagi mong ginagawa, 'di ba? Ang itanggi ako at ang pagmamahal ko sa'yo!" I shouted, tears streaming down my face.
"Damn it! Not in my life! Iyon lang ang ginusto ko buong buhay ko pero ayaw ibigay sa akin! Now, si Yllana ang gumagawa nito? Sino pa?"
"Your whole life, Ram? Your whole life of lying to me! Your whole life of trying to hide me! Your world might be of the biggest, richest ones but the truth was its suffocating! Bakit nang ako ang ginawa mong mundo mo ay naging masikip at masakit para sa akin?"
"That was my mistake years ago. Pinagsisisihan ko iyan hanggang ngayon, Chrissy. Yes! I obeyed the plans laid out for me, thinking I'll move on but guess what? Ito pa rin tayo! Ito pa rin ako! Ikaw pa rin!"
"Ako pa rin! Ako pa rin ang hindi mo kayang ipagsigawan sa mundo! Nothing can ever change that I loved a coward! Ako ang nangunguna at tumatanggap ng sakit para sa ating dalawa! And you know what? Its okay to me! I fucking love you that much! Its fucking okay but atleast try to fight! Even just a bit because I'm too exhausted right now! Look at me..."
Para akong yayanigin sa mga emosyong tumatakbo sa mga mata ni Ram, at ang alam kong ang akin ay wasak na wasak na. Together, ours was the different sets and kinds of disastrous calamities.
"Do I looked loved? Because if that's the case, your love is exhausting, selfish, angry. Too toxic. Nagpapakatanga na lang ako," I bit my lips angrily.
"Chrissy...don't say that please...let's get you cleaned up..." Nagkaroon ng panic sa mga mata ni Ram. Nagsimula siyang lumakad patungo sa akin, mga mata'y nagsusumamo ngunit umiling ako.
"I could get any man that I want but its you, Ram, always you. So why wasn't it always me? Every night, I ask myself, why wasn't it me? Bakit puro si Yllana na lang? Sana ay ako naman..." Kahit sandali, matikman ko lang ang lasa nang ipinaglaban.
Pinagdaop ko ang aking mga palad sa kaniyang harapan, astang nagdadasal. My fingertips touched my lips as I let him see all of me.
Its true, wasn't it? Na ako iyong naiinggit kaya ako nagkakaganito?
"Yes, its my fault. If you're like this, if you think like this. Its my failure alone, Chrissy. But that doesn't mean that I'll stop. Let me..." Inabot ni Ram ang aking mukha at kinawit ang mga takas na buhok sa aking tainga.
I let myself enjoy the tenderness in his eyes. The way it turned soft and pitiful. Awang-awa na siguro sa akin dahil kailanman ay ako lagi ang talunan. How I'll miss it the next few days, weeks, even longer.
"Umalis ka na," I breathed.
Nanigas ang kaniyang kamay sa ere bago unti-unting bumaba. Ram looked stunned. He looked at me one last time before flinching as he closed his eyes. Pagbukas noon ay umuusbong nanaman muli roon ang iba't ibang mga banyagang emosyon.
"Let's get you cleaned up," he repeated.
So, I let him. The exhaustion weighed on me and I let him fix me. Pagod na pagod na ako. Its depressing. I even let him tuck me in just to see for myself how desperate I was for him.
Hapon na nang magising ako at wala na si Ram sa aking tabi.
I opened my phone to check for messages. I found out Papa and Harold was persistent on contacting me. Lahat ng mensaheng natanggap ko ay hindi ko binasa't dinelete agad. Even missed calls.
Uuwi na rin naman ako mamaya.
Pagkatapos magbura ng mga mensahe ay nagsulat ako nang para sa aking kapatid. Kailangan naming mag-usap. Ako ang makikipag-usap dahil sigurado akong pumutok na ang balita.
After packing up, I changed into a midnight black backless dress. The flowy skirt almost reached my calves, the sheer material leaving little to the imagination. After calling room service, I tied my hair in a tight updo before heading out.
Sa aking pag-alis ay para bang ako ang propetang pumarte sa pulang dagat. I stood out and a path was made for me as people stared at me or from my dark make-up.
The seaside cafe wasn't so crowded when I arrived. Tanaw na tanaw ang kalakhan ng anyong tubig at ang mga naglalakihang building sa kabilang dulo. I spotted Yllana already enjoying fruit cocktail with a Hawaiian umbrella on the side.
Paano bang tingnan ang isang taong alam mong matagal mo nang niloloko? To be honest, I don't know how. I can't feel her. I can't feel anything.
Was this how Ram felt when he's looking at me? Dahil matagal na panahon na rin naman kaming naglolokohan. Its unfair.
Life is so unfair.
"What is this, hija? Are you going to the beach or a funeral?" Isang boses na minamalat sa katandaan ang humatak pabalik ng aking atensyon.
I looked at Grandma, a bit stunned at her presence. She sported a white elegant dress with a gray shawl on top. Her almost white hair was parted in perfection.
"Having a little secret with your dear sister, hmm?" Pabalik-balik ang kaniyang kumikintab na mata mula sa akin at kay Yllana na nasa di-kalayuan.
"I'm actually here to say goodbye. Aalis na po ako..." I stated.
"Ahhh! So, its either her funeral o your funeral. Depende kung paano ka ba magpaalam."
"Grandma..."
"Shut up! Don't call me that. I feel so old when everybody calls me that, especially if its an outsider." Tumaas ang kaniyang kilay sa akin.
Napatikom ako ng bibig. Tingin ko'y lalapain ako ng buhay ng kaniyang mga ngisi. Though, nothing gave her away. Whether she already knows or not. But, if Yllana was this chill, then, nobody sang the forbidden song?
"How do you say goodbye to a person you'd probably never see in a million years?" I blurted out before I could help myself. Fuck, I said that? To Grandma?
Bumigat ang aking loob habang tinitingnan si Yllana sa likod ng aking madilim na raybans.
"A million years is very long time, Chrissy dear. So why say farewell at all? Just leave with no returns. No regrets. Its the art of surprise that matters..." She sighed to me so I nodded.
The sea breeze whizzed past my ears in careless whispers. Si Yllana lamang ang aking tinitingnan, naiisip ang realisasyon na humantong ako sa puntong tinawid ko ang pagmamahal kaysa sa respeto.
"Alam mo, noong dalaga pa si Mara ay hindi ako masyadong naghigpit diyan lalo pa't maraming manliligaw. Karapatan niyang matuto. Gumalaw. And then, this gorgeous boy with a physique of a man and with the eyes of a senior came. I already knew that he was different. Matindig. Magalang. May prinsipyo..."
Nilingon ko si Grandma. I watched her cold eyes turned soft, almost tender from relieving a single memory years and years ago.
"That was your father, Governor Niklaus Cajucom. First look at him and I already knew that he'll reach beyond his dreams. Hindi ako nagkamali." Grandma smile sadly. "How badly I wanted your Papa for your Mama that time..."
"But things don't always go into plan. And sometimes, all we can do is to improvise," I added softly, a shock coming from Grandma's confession.
Hindi normal na ganoon kalambing ang boses niya, and to think that it just came from a memory, from a person.
"Correct," tango ni Grandma. "I improvised and look what a fucktard from Australia your mother got. Just look at the offspring."
Bahagya akong napahalakhak. I'm having clues of what type of girl Grandma was on her teenage, perfect blooming years.
"Child, if you're going to leave, leave quickly. Huwag ka nang magdrama pa. Drama's a waste of time and you already know that your sister is a drama queen. Now, be a good girl and say hi to your father for me."
Bineso ako ni Grandma bago ako iniwan. Kahit na wala na siya ay ang kaniyang matapang na pabango ay nakatayo pa rin sa aking tabi, isang misteryo pa rin sa akin kung alam na ba ang totoo o hindi.
Yllana doesn't deserve any of this, I figured.
She deserves the truth but a peace of mind was much important. She'll hate me in either way, anyway.I gave one last look at Yllana even though I may forget it - and I can't believe I'm taking Grandma's advice - I left.
Sa buhay kong ito, nasigurado ko nang isa akong mandirigma. Simula sa pagkabata at magpasa hanggan ngayon ay isa pa rin akong manlalaban. Nasusuntok, nasisipa at nabubugbog ng tadhana pero lumalaban pa rin.
I was a fighter. A weak fighter, but that weakness defined a more persistent meaning. That I was, at some point in my life, strong. Because, aren't we all the weak ones at the end of the day?
I was born out of immoral love. A wrong yet powerful love but to be born out of that gave my life a whole meaning. Mayroon namang tamang tao at panahon ngunit ang maling daan patungo sa akin ang kanilang pinili.
For my parents to choose that wrong path, to push their love even in the wrong side gave me hope. I knew for sure, that once upon a time, they fought a thousand battles just to have me.
Pero sapat ba iyon upang tumulak din ako para sa kaparehong daan? Hindi.
They chose that path knowing all else would fail. Its a bold move but very selfish on their part. I had to endure all my life. To fight. To grieve. I would've adored that kind of love if it had succeeded. But it didn't.
Walang tanungan pa dapat ang maganap. At kung mayroon man, may sagot na ako roon. Iyon ay ang pag-alis. sa lugar, sa tao, sa memorya, sa lahat.
Nakita ko na ang aking itim na bagahe nang sa aking muling paghirit ng hinga ay mayroong pares na mga mata akong nasipat. Itim na itim at determinado akong abutin.
Suddenly, all black uniformed men surrounded me, all four or five of them formed an arc around me like a barricade as I looked up.
"Come with me," Ram was at the center, towering over his bodyguards.
"I'm already leaving. As in now," iling ko. And I don't really want to stay here for another minute.
"Listen to me, Chrissy. Please come..." ang malalamig na mga mata ni Ram ay unti-unting lumambot. He crouched a bit so he'll reach my eyes. "Just this once, listen..." A very calm authoritative tone.
My eyes shifted to the receptionist and room boy waiting. Then, my eyes shifted back to Ram. Umayos ito ng tayo at inilahad ang kamay patungo sa akin.
He must've saw the pure hatred in my eyes and my defiance. At talagang hindi ako papayag. Ngunit sa isang mabilis na tango niya sa mga bodyguards ay umikot ang mga ito sa aming dalawa at nagsilbing harang.
They moved fast and I was being taken away with their flow. I cursed at Ram and every time, he flinched.
"I said, aalis na ako! What the hell do you want?" matinding asik ko sa kaniyang tainga.
Ram flinched again and closed his eyes shut. A large vein protruded on the side of his forehead signaling his distress. Nang lingunin niya ako ay hirap na hirap ang kaniyang mga mata, tila ba pinipilit na maging malamig ngunit nalilito rin.
"I want you to know the truth..."
"That's useless. I already know the truth. And all this time, Ram, ngayon mo lang gustong ipagtapat?" I tried to pry his hands reaching me.
Why, now, huh? Why now when it won't matter anymore? Because you're triggered by my confessions earlier?!
"And I want them to know the truth. No more running," he added.
"The word itself shouldn't come out from your mouth. Its what you always do. Lie. Even to yourself," malamig kong saad.
His eyes spoke of the things that was hurting him. Bakas sa mukha niya ang sakit at kalituhan ngunit patuloy pa rin siya sa paglalakad. As if very determined that doing that might fix this, fix me.
"Wala ka nang magagawa pa, Ram. Tanggapin mo na sa sarili mo na napabayaan mo ako at hindi nirespeto. Tayong dalawa ang may kasalanan. Accept it just like I did."
Tumingin ako nang diretso sa nilalakaran, taas-noo pagkatapos. Tahimik kaming naglakad patungo sa ilang mga pasilyo. Hanggang sa naramdaman ko ang marahang paghawak ng isang kamay sa aking likod.
I tried to pried it away again but his hand grasped mine in a very tight grip. Stunned, I looked up at him but he's already staring down silently.
Ang kaniyang mga mata ay namumula at pikit ng pikit. Mabilis ang pagtaas-baba ng kaniyang dibdib at ang paghinga. Ang kaniyang kamay na nakagapos sa akin ay tila ba sinasabing tigilan ko na dahil hindi na niya kaya ang aking mga salita.
"We're here. Get inside," malamig niyang saad bago ako binitiwan.
I gulped down the large rock on my throat and remained hard as that rock. I was the first to enter the room, then Ram and the three remaining guards other than the two who guarded the door.
Malaki ang kwartong nasa pinakaituktok ng casino hotel. Tanaw na tanaw sa gilid ang kalakhan ng buong syudad sa isang buong pader na bintana. Pula ang malambot na carpet, namamayagpag ang chandelier sa itaas. At sa loob ng eleganteng kwarto ay nakita ko rin sina Tita Riyeh, Tito Jesse, at ang tatlo kong pinsan na sina Sandy.
The husband of my mother, and Yllana's father, Mr. Alejandre was also here.
What is this?
"Sit down, hija," ani Tita Rye.
I looked at the two one seaters infront of them. Nakaupo ang tatlong nakakatanda, habang ang mga naiwan ay nakadungaw sa likod ng itim na sofa.
Carefully, I sat down and so did Ram. The passive faces of my relatives aside from my evil cousins made the room tensioned. I looked at Mr. Alejandre. Too much tension.
They know.
"The CCTV caught everything in that hallway. Pinunta ko iyon kila Jessica at Fitz, at hindi nila itinanggi. I asked for Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Alejandre, as well as Mr. Benjamin Alejandre. Gusto kong magharap-harap na," Ram's deep voice softly lingered in the air.
He was looking at me with such finality. I could hear the gears turning in his head, never backing down. Nahugot ko ang hininga at binalik ang tingin sa mga Alejandre. Sandy smirked at me.
Well, then. At some point in my life, this will eventually happen. Nothing can ever be done for them to forget what we did behind their backs. Might as well get this over with. Bring it.
"Well, where's my sister? Si Mama at si Grandma?" Diniretso ko ng tingin ang magpipinsan, at ang aking mga kamag-anak.
"I advised Ram not to. Huwag muna sa ngayon dahil reunion. Maraming nakapalibot na Alejandre rito. And most importantly, kailangan ng buwelo pagdating sa mag-ina," Tito Jesse nodded at me, his eyes going skeptical for a moment.
"Tell us how did this...happen," masama ang tingin sa akin ni Mr. Alejandre. Sandy murmured something in his ear that made him turn red in anger.
Sandy made a face behind them. Fuck you, Sandy. Fuck you. Wait for me later.
"The engagement papers of me and your daughter was a fraud, Sir. Ako ang nag-utos na maging ganoon ang set-up without the knowledge of my family, especially my mother. My mother may have hated Yllana but she wasn't that ruthless," Ram started, looking at me every second or two.
Liar. Always a liar. Fucking liar.
"I thought si Eunice na ang pinakamasamang tao sa mundo, iyong anak pa pala niya. No offense," Tita Riyeh butted in, though looking entertained.
"Why did you do it? Bakit mo gustong lokohin ang si Yllana at kami, bastard?" Fitz was next.
"Fitz..."
"I don't want to have a permanent tie with a woman whose family opposes mine. I don't want to live like that. No other agendas."
"So you don't have agendas pero si Eunice ang mayroon, tama ba? She plans still on destroying us by merging two families. The other one will stay faithful, and the other one will secretly do the dirty job..." saad ni Tita Rye, tila ba mukhang kilalang-kilala ang ina ni Ram.
"That woman..." Mr. Alejandre muttered in his breath.
"None of this would have happened if I didn't let it. Ako ang may kasalanan, at hindi si Eunice Donofrio. Put all the blame on me because I'm the only Donofrio here." Ram flatly stated that had everyone quiet.
Sinilip ko sina Jessica na hilam na hilam ang mukha, mukhang iyak ng iyak mula kanina. You too, wait for me.
"Kung gusto ni Eunice na bumagsak kaming mga Alejandre, bakit hindi ko nararamdaman? Well, ngayong iba na ang CEO ay kasalanan niya na iyon. But the company under Yllana's care, naka boost ang lahat. Nothing happened, if not, improved," si Tito Jesse.
"I didn't push through with the liquidation, Sir. Ipinasa lahat sa akin ni Yllana nang siya ang umupo pero hindi ko kayo dinaya. Not a single penny. I helped Yllana to get your company back in a good shape. With my own firm, with my own money..." Ram looked at me as if in permission.
That I didn't know. Iniisip ko pa lamang na magkasama na sila at nagtutulungan, and they became successful at it, burned me eternally.
Alam kong bankcrupt na ang mga Alejandre at ang tanging solusyon na lamang nila ay ang pagpapakasal ng isang eredera sa isang bilyunaryong pamilya. They succeeded. They're once again at the top now.
All because of Ram.
"And you did this when you're in Urdaneta? Iyong panahong kadarating mo lang ng Pilipinas, away from Yllana, and getting to know our Chrissy?" Tita Riyeh concluded. Its starting to hit me, like a light was on my path.
Ram nodded and looked at me once again. My face remained passive.
"She's not ours, Tita Rye," Sandy interrupted.
"Oh. Right."
"Where did you first met, hmm? At anong plano mo kay Chrissy? Bakit si Chrissy pa?" Pinangunahan na ako ni Tito Jesse.
That question made Ram go stiff. His knuckles was slightly turning white, and he looked at me once again. I, too, waited for his response. Bakit ako?
"I got curious. Yllana always mentions you, finds a way for you to be the topic. Gustong-gusto si Chrissy ng kapatid niya."
"Just curious? How about a pawn? You saw me as an alas, didn't you? Hindi lamang ako isang pagkakadiskubre," malamig kong saad. Hindi ko na maisiksik pa ang pag-iinit ng puso para kay Yllana.
"Chrissy's right. Ano bang tingin mo sa sarili mo? Na mamahalin ka ng isang lalaki dahil lang sa sarili mong iyan?"
"Sandy!" Tito Jesse exclaimed.
"Sandy's right, Jesse! Wala namang magmamahal diyan kung ganiyan ang pag-uugali. Nang-aagaw!" Mukhang aatakihin na sa galit si Mr. Alejandre.
He was about to get up from his seat but the bodyguards nearby moved. That made him shook his head and look at me in fury. Tinatagan ko.
"I admit that I saw Chrissy as a very destructive weapon for such prestigious family. I planned for a week to stay there in Urdaneta to really see if it could work. Pero pangatlong araw pa lamang nang nagdesisyon na akong bilhin ang pinagtatrabahuhan ni Chrissy. Isang linggo, naging dalawa at tatlo. Until a month, I realized I was actually enjoying my stay..."
"You fell in love. In a month. Huh." Tita Rye looked impressed.
Napabasa ako ng pang-ibabang labi at sinuri si Ram. He was clenching his fists, his chest looked strained but his eyes told me different things. He looked at me and nodded to Tita Rye.
Liar...liar...liar!
"Sa huli ay wala akong nakamit sa kahit anong mga planong inilaan para sa akin. I didn't touched any money of your companies, and I got occupied with Chrissy. I was actually thinking to never go back. I already have my own firm. Hindi ko na ginusto ko ang kaparte ko sa hacienda. All that I cared about was my life in the province with a certain waitress..."
Stop lying, Ram! Tell them the truth! How you planned to deceive me and my sister because you're the devil himself! Tingin ko ay mababaliw na ako sa umaapaw na emosyon!
"That doesn't work out like that, Ibrahim. Hindi mo pwedeng pangakuan ng kasal ang isang babae pagkatapos ay may kinakaharap pa lang iba," its Tito Jesse.
"I agree with Jesse. Nagkabuhol na pero kahit baligtarin mo, it will look like its Chrissy's fault. You may have stayed on the right side, but this tiny little hole you didn't patched up turned into a blackhole."
"Si Chrissy naman talaga ang may kasalanan! Kung hindi siya nagpalandi kay Ram, babalik si Ram kay Yllana and there will be a true engagement!" sigaw ni Jessica.
"I was trying to secretly dodge her by making her hate me, or quit the job. But it was still me who finds a way to reach her. Ako ang may kasalanan sa amin, Jessica, Sandy."
"Did you even love Yllana? Even just a bit?" Fitz looked like he was ready to kill Ram. But his words had already killed me.
Binalingan ko rin siya ng tingin doon. Napatingin ang lahat sa kaniya para sa kaniyang sagot. Ako ang unang hinanap ng kaniyang mga mata at umiling siya nang walang pag-aalinlangan.
"Mabait na tao si Yllana. Naging magkaibigan kami pagkatapos naming pag-usapan ang lahat. After Chrissy left...and... We became friends, but I couldn't put myself in that situation."
I bit my lips. Ni hindi ko na alam kung maniniwala ba ako sa mga salita ni Ram. Was he lying again? Sa akin at sa aking mga kadugo? Was this Ram or his skillful lying alone? Damn!
Friends? Friends? Friends! Naging magkaibigan pa sila noong umalis ako patungong Cebu! Genuine friends or a part of his plan again? Friends!
"Friends...and not husband and wife, all these years you're fooling them but not me. Alam na alam ko kung nagsasama ba ang isang babae at isang lalaki sa iisang bubong. Tell me, Ram, ilang beses sa isang buwan kayo nagkikita ni Yllana nang umalis si Chrissy?" Tita Rye once again asked another clever question.
"Once every two or three months if needed. Our secretaries are the ones communicating. A phonecall is a much practical method. Nagkakausap kami sa telepono ng isang beses sa isang buwan."
"Clever. Tsk, tsk," Tita Rye shook her head.
Kung minsan lamang sa iilang buwan, bakit kung umasta si Yllana ay para bang nagtatabi kayo gabi-gabi? Because she missed you that much? Because she's inlove with you, and desperate for you too?
Hindi ko alam kung anong pwersa ang nagbibigkis sa aking mga emosyon. Gusto na nitong kumawala. I feel like bursting from all these revelations.
"So, are you going to push this, hijo? Kailan niyo sasabihin kila Yllana at Mara? And oh, Grandma? This will be a war," pagbabanta ni Tito Jesse,
"War had already started a long time ago, Sir. Ako ang gumawa kaya ako rin ang tatapos," Ram stated and tilted his head towards my cousins. "And you...make sure that its a three versus three. Touch her again and I'll withdraw my shares on your company..."
"Oh god. Sandy! Fitz! Jessica! Apologize to Chrissy! Its the company we're talking about!"
"No! Ako na hihingi ng tawad sa babaeng ito? She'll regret what she did to Yllana!" maanghang na sigaw ni Sandy.
"Sandy! Your mouth!"
I remained silent, still absorbing everything.
Ram suddenly stood up, and buttoned his vest. He stood out on the room, his eyes more captivating than the chandelier above. But most importantly, the way he carried himself dragged more attention.
"I was selfish and proud, a lying coward. I didn't know what to do until Chrissy came in and showed me the right path. I owe everything to her, and yet this is what I gave in return. Hindi ko na mapapatawad pa ang sarili ko, pero hayaan niyo po akong gumawa ng solusyon. Ako ang bubuhat sa lahat. But just so you know, its not Yllana or...another girl. Its Chrissy that I will choose. Always. Even if she doesn't choose me right now, or in another lifetime."
Tingin ko'y dudugo na ang aking pang-ibabang labi sa kakakagat nito. Pinipigilan ko ang pag-iinit ng sulok ng aking mga mata. I was barely holding it together. I couldn't react properly. Kung tatakbo ako o tatanggi o tatanggap.
Ram suddenly looked down at me. He crouched to my level and whispered on my ear.
"Just a little more. Hang on, baby..." Ram pulled back, his eyes turning soft once again bago naging natural na malamig.
Tita Riyeh clapped like a mad seal in the background and my cousins' faces turned sour.
"Sir Benjamin, I need to talk to you privately. Gato, Ren, Peter, bantayan niyo..." Ram glanced at me one last time before heading out with his other two bodyguards, with Mr. Alejandre who probably killed me in his mind a thousand times earlier.
Nagpaalam na rin sina Tito Jesse, at Tita Riyeh na mukhang sumakit din ang ulo. Jessica received a call from her husband so I was left with Sandy and Fitz.
"Oh, you are so dead!" Hindi pa man ako nakakakurap ay sinugod na ako ni Sandy. Her talons immediately found my hair but a resounding slap on her cheek made her clutch her face.
Namanhid kaagad ang aking palad ngunit sarap na sarap ako. Umiling ako kaagad sa mga bodyguards na aaksyon na agad. Get out. I don't need you!
"You slut! Lumalaban ka na ngayon!" Sandy pointed at me.
Kinuha ko ang vase sa ibabaw ng coffee table na naglalaman ng tubig. I splashed her face with its dirt and she screamed some more. Susugudin na ako dapat ni Fitz ngunit mabilis ang aking mga bodyguard.
"Now, its one versus one! Magaling ka lang naman kapag may kasama!" Binaon ko ang aking mga kuko sa kaniyang ulo habang nagsisimula na siyang magsisigaw, Fitz helpless on the side.
"I'm not a slut! I'm not a fucking gold digger! I'm probably richer than your broke ass family! You deserve the dirt!" Patuloy ang aking paghila sa kaniyang ulo at pananampal sa kaniyang mukha.
Lahat ng ginawa niya sa akin ay ibinalik ko. Lahat ng sinabi niya sa akin ay binawi ko. Sana ay naririto pa si Jessica dahil hindi nila ako maaawat!
"All my life, you made me feel like I didn't belong. You wore the royal crowns while I sweep the floor you walk on. This is for me!" I slapped her already red face and released her.
"Tell Jessica she's next," I pointed at Fitz who was rapidly dialing on his phone.
Sandy was crying on the floor, clutching her face full of scratches from my now broken nails. Dumiretso na ako patungong pinto, at halos takbuhan ako ni Fitz. The bodyguards stood by my side.
"Don't you ever set foot on the south or you'll be sorry," I said as I left.