Bukas na ng hapon ang flight ko and I already packed all of my things. Inayos ko rin ang ang kuwarto just in case plano ni Kaito na magpatuloy na ng iba niyang guest dito. Baka kasi sabihin na dugyotin ang huling natulog doon.

"Do you really have to leave already?" Kaito asked and I nodded before giving him a small smile.

Even though we both only met each other just exactly a month ago... I slowly got attached to him—not romantically but platonically.

Sa sandaling panahon na magkasama kami, I considered him as my friend. I saw comfort in him... Kinaya kong magtiwala sa kaniya kahit hindi ko siya gaanonh kilala. I just know that he has a Father that only cares about money and power and Mother that is so strict with him.

Ang alam naman niya'y mayroon lamang akong Nanay na nandiyan palagi para sa akin kahit anong mangyari at ang manloloko kong Tatay. He also knew about the issues I had when I was in college. The constant bullying, the fake rumors, the shitty baseless accusations.

"Wala ka lang ama! You don't belong in this program for Father's day." Sambit sa akin ng aking blockmate. Inirapan ko naman siya para maka-alis na dahil wala akong panahon para aksayahin ang oras ko sa babaeng 'to.

As I was about to walk pass her bigla niya naman ako hinila sa buhok at nawstatwa ang aking katawan nang mabuhusan ako ng maduming tubig.

Putangina!

Puti pa naman ang suot ko ngayon, letche! Hawak ko rin ang sample thesis statement na gagawin ko next academic year. Kingina, halos dalawang linggo ko ito pinaghirapan!

Wala na. Hindi na ako makakapasok next period, wala pa akong ma-ipapasa kay Prof. Valejjo.

"What the fuck do you want from me?" Nananahimik ako rito tapos pagtitripan ako. Buti sana kung wala akong dalang importateng mga papel kung saan nakasalalay ang grades ko. I was a scholar, and I have to maintain my GWA to keep my scholarship in this university.

I am studying at a prestigious school so I am not surprised that there are a lot of bullies and people who think highly of themselves. Hindi lang naman ngayong year ako nakaranas ng ganito. Nagsimula lahat ng ito noong second year ako nang malaman ng halos lahat na inggit sa akin na matalino ako at paborito ng lahat ng faculty members and even the dean.

I was a consistent dean's lister. Everyone was proud of me and decided to be my friend. I was a fool to accept everyone as my friend—because I was blackmailed.

'Yong isa sa mga kaibigan ko ay tinalot ako na sasabihin lahat ng mga komplikadong bagay tungkol sa pamilya ko kung hindi ko sasagutan at gagawin nga projects niya.

It fucked me up because I almost couldn't make my own work. I was not satisfied with my work and I almost skipped classes. I was only holding onto one thing to keep on studying. It is to finish my program because my Mom work so fucking hard just for me to be here.

Isang taon na lang e.

"Hindi ka nabibilang dito. Wala ka na ngang pera, wala ka ring Tatay. Sobrang lungkot siguro ng buhay mo 'no?" Another girl said sarcastically and I just stared at her with a blank expression. Hindi malungkot buhay ko dahil kahit kailan hindi ko inisip na darating ang panahong kakailanganin ko ang aking Ama.

He's a fucking jerk. I hated him so much.

"You are a whore! You even fucked one of our profs. just to pass his subject. Are you that desperate, bitch?" She said before slapping me pero hindi ako nagpasindak. It was all fake. It wasn't true that I slept with a professor just yo get a high grade. I am not that low. Nagmatigas lang ako dahil hindi p'wedeng magpa-api lang ako.

"Tangina mo, umuwi ka na! You better start making another statement because the deadline is in two days," humalakhak pa ang bruha.

When I arrived home, I went straight to my room without looking back at my Mom to greet her good afternoon. I don't want her to see me so vulnerable.

I cried loudly while I was in my bathroom—releasing all the pain that I have.

Putangina, hindi ko naman kasalanan kung bakit wala akong Tatay ah? Hindi ko rin kasalanan kung naghihirap ako para magkaroon ng mataas na grades! Scholarship ko kasi nakasalalay e. Bakit ba kasi nila 'to ginagawa sa akin?

"We still have a few hours, Rienne. Do you still want to do anything?" Kaito asked at napaisip naman ako bago ngumiti sa kaniya.

"Is there an archery range nearby?" I asked him and he squinted his eyes at me, trying to figure out what I am up to.

"Why? Are you planning to shoot me?" He asked and I chuckled. He still doesn't know that one of my hobbies was shooting arrows. Well... Since this would be our last time seeing each other, I might as well show him what I can do.

Alam ko kasing magiging busy siya after his graduation which is three days from now kaya hindi rin yan susunod sa akin sa Pilipinas. Alam kong wala 'yang plano bumalik doon dahil may ibang pinagiipunan siya.

"I'm not planning to do anything to you, dummy." I chuckled. "I just want to show you one last thing before I leave you here. Kasi alam kong hindi na ulit tayo magtatagpo ng landas. I might go back to the Philippines and carry on with my shitty life and try to make it more bearable."

Hindi siya nagsalita at tiningnan lang ang aking mukha, "Besides... I'm not going to be a cock block anymore to you since I'll be gone to your life and we both are going to be mutuals on Instagram na lang. You should thank me for giving you a higher chance of getting a girlfriend."

Doon siya natawa, "Oh please. I can make any girl fall in love with me—no sweat." Pagyayabang niya pa.

"What a narcissist," I rolled my eyes as I crossed my arms.

"Why? May angal ka?" Nilapit niya ang mukha niya sa akin. Ah, hinahamon niya ba 'ko?

"Hmm, Kai... You're wrong about something." I said before inching a bit closer to him. "You can't make every girl fall in love with you. Sobrang mali ka roon."

"Uhuh, why is that?"

"Because you didn't make me fall in love with you."

Doon siya natahimik at tumiklop. Lumayo siya sa akin bago kunin ang kaniyang jacket at susi. He cleared his throat before speaking, "Let's go, I'll take you there."

Nagtaka naman ako sa hitsura niya. Parang naiilang siya sa akin gano'n. Hinintay niya akong makalabas ng pintuan bago isara 'yon. We then made our way to the parking area para makiha kotse ni Kaito.

We drove for about twenty minutes before we arrived at the shooting range. I was so excited! Sana hindi pumalya mga tira ko ngayong araw para mapabilib ko sa akin si Kaito.

Nang makarating kami, we both signed up. There was an option where a person is going to teach us how to shoot using a bow but I told Kaito to leave the teaching up to me because I know I can teach someone.

"Are you really sure that we don't need someone to teach? Baka mamaya bigla mo 'kong mapatay. Marami pa akong mga pangarap, Anathasia Fleurienne." Kaito dramatically said kaya binatukan ko siya.

"Alam mo, for a guy that smokes, has tattoos, has piercings—you're a really dramatic person. Onti na lang maging artista ka sa ka-dramahan mo," I chuckled and he just made a face before following me in the main range.

I picked up a bow and arrow before going in front of the target. I was 3 meters away and I focused on the bullseye. I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled as I released the arrow and I jumped when I hit the bullseye.

I looked back at Kaito and he was unimpressed. Sinimangutan ko naman siya, "Ano? Are you just going to stand there like a tree post?"

"Psh, that was pure luck, love." Sambit niya sa akin and I felt tingles on my stomach when I heard the word 'love.' But I know that it was just him teasing me. He got a bow and arrow before aiming at the target but when he released the arrow, he completely missed.

I smirked before getting another arrow at nang bitiwan ko ang hawak sa tali, the arrow hit the current arrow lying on the bullseye, causing it to split in half with the recent arrow in the middle of it.

"Pure luck my ass," I gave Kaito a middle finger before starting to teach him how to shoot an arrow. I of course taught him the basic grip on the bow and the perfect stance.

"Saan mo ba natutunan 'tong pag pa-pana, Rienne?" He asked and my unwanted memories started flashing in my mind like I remembered something forbidden. It was like a fucking curse.

"Anak, hindi ka ba kakain?"

Iyon ang bungad sa akin ni Mommy noong bumaba ako sa hapag kainan ng nakabihis. I wanted to clear my mind... I need to do something to prevent myself from doing self harm.

I have been clean for almost a month now and I can't break that streak.

"Hindi na. Kailangan ko magpahangin, i-lock mo na ang pintuan mamaya dahil baka hindi ako umuwi. I might stay at Jea's house if I ever wind up there." I told her before leaving the small house we live in.

I don't even consider this house my home—considering the fact that I don't have a father anymore. My dad left me when I was still a kid. It pained me up until now because the troubles I encounter right now... siya ang puno't dulo noon.

He... cheated on my Mom. Hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin tanggap. Nagtataka nga ako dahil mabilis nakalimot si Mommy sa pang-gagago ng ama ko. After a month, she already had a new boyfriend. I couldn't complain back then because I was still a child.

I remember what my father promised me before he left... He promised that he would send me letters every once in a while. Naghintay ako, but it never came. That's why while growing up... I hated him so much.

I found myself crying in the streets while holding a bottle of beer. I have a seven AM class tomorrow and yet I am here drinking in the streets. What the fuck is wrong with me?

After sulking, I walked towards an alley and I saw a sign that said "Shooting Range." I was curious to see what's inside. Anong klaseng shooting range kaya iyon? Kasi kung baril 'yon, baka p'wede ko nang tapusin buhay ko.

I was wrong... It was an archery range. Bigla kong na-realize na isa 'tong magandang paraan para maglabas ng galit.

An instructor guided me throughout and eventually, I got the hang of holding a bow and shooting arrows.

But while I was in the middle of shooting arrows, biglang bumigay ang dalawa kong binti dahil sa pagod at walang tulog. It was already three AM at bakit pa rin ako nandito?

Dahil sa putanginang mga problema na hindi ko matakas-takasan.

Wala nang araw na hindi ko narinig ang pangalan ng tatay ko. Wala nang araw na hindi ko narinig ang mga hindi totoo na sabi sabi tungkol sa akin.

Tanginang buhay talaga 'to.

"That's it."

He looked at me very puzzled but didn't ask further questions because he knows that talking about my father is a sensitive topic.

Ilang oras lang kami rito sa shooting range at napagdesisyonan naming kumain.

We talked a lot about our future plans and stuff. It made me happy talking to someone again.

Kaito is... One of a kind.

As much as I want to keep him by my side forever—I can't. Kahit masyado kaming maraming problema sa buhay, mataas pa rin ang mga ambisyon namin.

You might be wondering what happened to my girl friends that I met here in Japan. Well, they're still my friends. We just have different plans set for us so we all are now focused to chase our dreams, may plano pa naman kami ulit magkita pero in a few months pa iyon.

I remember the days when they were shipping me and Kaito. They all think that we were perfect together, pero para sa akin hindi. Parehas kaming maraming hindi pa alam, we're both fragile.

Besides, I haven't thought of him like a significant other. Wala akong panahon para roon kasi alam kong maliit ang chance na maging kami. But... I sometimes don't know how to explain what I am feeling towards him. Pero sigurado akong wal lang iyon because we're just platonic.

We both aren't ready for anything related to love. Parehas kaming nasaktan in many ways that this universe can possibly imagine.

And hurt people, hurt people.

I don't want to hurt him.

Habang kumakain ako, nakita ko ang IG story ni Kaito.

It was a collage of our photos together with a small caption on the bottom.

Safe skies, my blossom. Let fate bring us together again ;)