"Anathasia, gusto mo ba ilagay 'yong poster dito? Tapos lipat natin 'yong isang lamesa roon sa opposite side para naman medyo lumuwag dito?"

I was drowning myself with work. Apat na araw na 'kong walang tulog. Gusto ko kasi magbukas na ito in two weeks. I want to earn my own salary. Gusto ko nang umikot ang perang nilabas ko. I want to be successful already like my father!

"Oo, sige. If you think it would make our business look better and pleasing, gawin mo na," I told her and she nodded. Tapos na kasi lahat ng construction dito and kami na lang ni Claire ang gagawa ng interior and design para bawas gastos sa akin.

Madali lang naman iyon dahil parehas naman kaming marunong sa ganito.

Umupo ako sa sahig noong napagdesisyonan naming magpahinga na. I was panting kasi panik panaob sa ladder para pinturahan 'yong office. We focused on our office today para bukas polishing and cleaning again ng buong store namin.

"Okay ka lang ba, Thasia?" Tanong ni Claire sa akin bago umupo sa tabi ko. I sighed before sitting upright at tumango naman ako sa kaniya.

"Kailan ba ako hindi naging okay?" I asked her and I chuckled.

"Sus! Hindi mo 'ko maloloko, Insan. We've been best friends since we were little! I am like your human diary kahit hindi mo alam!" She said and I smiled before thinking if I should tell her my problems.

Sabihin ko ba sa kaniya? Ah fuck it! "Ano kasi... May nalaman ako tungkol kay Daddy na tinago sa akin ni Mom." Pagkasabi ko noon ay nagiba ang expression sa mukha niya. Na parang alam niya ang pinaguusapan ko pero nagdududa pa rin kung tama ang kaniyang hinala.

Pero impossible naman na malaman niya! Kanino naman niya iyon malalaman?

"Tungkol ba ito sa mga sulat na pinapadala ni Tito Mikael at ang totoong rason kung bakit sila naghiwalay?" Tanong nito sa akin at napatayo ako sa gulat dahil alam niya nga ang nangyari! What the fuck?!

It took me a hot minute before replying to her. "What? Paano mo nalaman gago?" I asked her and she looked at me intently before answering my question. I was already thinking about so much! Did they plan this? Did they conspire behind my back about all this?

Everything is very overwhelming and I don't know if I should cry, rage, or just act like I don't feel anything.

"I know you too well, Fleurienne. Don't look at me like that," she warned me so I had to try and calm myself down. "Your Mom told my Mom and she told me. I don't know full and exact details but I know your father didn't cheat and he still cares for you not like how you think he didn't."

She really knows. Putangina bakit hindi niya man lang sinabi sa akin? "For how long did you know?" I asked in a monotone.

"Seven months."

"Tangina. You knew all along for that long and you didn't even bother telling me?!" I shouted before gripping onto my hair due to frustration. "Alam mo kung gaano ako naapektuhan dahil sa pag-alis ng tatay ko at sa paniniwala kong pagloloko niya sa nanay ko! I was hurting so damn much and you didn't tell me! Pinsan ba talaga kita?"

I walked out of the scene and slammed the door on her and I was in the main area of our store. Narinig kong sinundan ako ni Claire and she touched my shoulder. Hinarap niya ako sa kaniya at nakita niya na nagsimula nang tumulo ang mga luha kong gusto ko na agad mapawi.

"I wanted to tell you, Fleurienne! But fuck, you know I'm not allowed to disobey our parents' requests!" She shouted. "I kept that for so long that I was also enduring the pain that you will experience once you know everything."

We both stood there in silence while I was sobbing and when I recovered, I faced her again and hugged her. I couldn't stay mad at her because she's my lifeline.

"Are we good now?" She asked and I smiled before nodding. "Phew, that's good. Baka mawalan na ako ng income kapag tuluyan kang nagalit sa akin," she chuckled. I shook my head before getting my stuff. I have to start preparing now because Kaito will come and pick me up. Ilang araw na rin kasi kaming hindi nagkikita and he said he wants to talk to me.

It's weird because we both crave for each other's attention and time but we weren't together. Maybe we just both see ourselves in each other. We found comfort within us which we couldn't find in our households.

Everything that happened in our past that caused trauma are the ones that made us who we are right now.

We heard three knocks at the door and when Claire opened it, she gave me a side eye before letting Kaito in.

Nasa likod ko si Claire at hinihila niya 'yong damit ko dahil sa kilig. Pero sino ba ang hindi kikiligin sa hitsura ni Kaito ngayon? He was wearing a black muscle tee shirt and gray sweatpants. Kahit ako nagulat sa suot niya e!

Kaito walked towards me and held my cheeks, "What happened? Did you cry, love?" He asked at nanlaki mata ko noong sinabi niya iyon sa harap ni Claire. Gago! Baka kung ano isipin ng pinsan ko. She might call me a liar!

"Love? Gago, Anathasia Fleurienne Keller! Akala ko ba walang kayo?" Agad tinanggal ni Kaito ang kaniyang kamay sa aking pisngi bago umiwas ng tingin.

"Tanga! Wala lang iyon," I said. "He just likes teasing me, that's all." I defended Kaito and she still didn't believe me. Pero wala na akong panahon para mag explain pa.

"Aalis na kami, Claire. Also, wala ako bukas kaya mag day off ka na lang din siguro. We'll polish the area at Saturday or next week before the soft launch," I told her at abot tainga ang ngiti niya habang tumatango.

Noong nakalabas na kami ng lugar ay kinuha ni Kaito ang gamit ko. "Why are you showing your muscles and wearing sweatpants? Are you here to make girls thirsty for you? Are you that desperate for a girl?" I asked him and he licked his bottom lip before answering.

"Bakit? Nauuhaw ka ba sa akin? Or are you jealous of the girls that might want me, hmm?"

I rolled my eyes before crossing my arms, "Dream on, Kaito. Alam ko naman na wala kang panahon para sa mga babaeng may gusto sa iyo," I said confidently.

"No, you're wrong. I have time for one girl that likes me," he grinned and I raised a brow. "You wanna know who's the girl I am talking about?" He asked and I gave him a curious look before gesturing to him to talk.

"You," he whispered and I punched his shoulder.

"As if I like you," I laughed it out. But he might be right. I might like him already and it's getting really obvious. Should I stay away from him? No, it would make me even guiltier that I like him!

It was almost 6 PM and we're both in his car on the way to meet my father. It was more than twenty minutes drive kaya nagdadaldalan na lang kami ni Kaito.

"Are you really sure and ready about this, Blossom? You don't have to rush yourself." He asked me as he held my hand as he played with it.

"I'm fine, Kaito. It's okay."

When we arrived at the place, I saw a black Bugatti EV and a man standing beside it. And that man was my father who I last saw sixteen years ago.

Lumabas ako ng kotse and Kaito also went outside but stayed near his car. Dahan dahan akong lumapit kay Daddy and I almost cried when I saw him at first glance. He looks exactly the same as me.

I noticed that my Dad was also on the verge of crying so I walked towards him leaving us a foot away from each other.

"Puwede ba kitang yakapin, anak ko?" He asked and I nodded. Once I felt his embrace, all the bad memories, all the pain, all the hatred... It washed away. I cried into his shirt and it felt so good being in between his arms.

Lumayo naman ako sa kaniya para punasan mga luha ko, "Sorry. Nabasa ko po 'yong blazer niyo ng luha ko and he shook his head."

"It's okay, love. Damit lang iyan." He said before looking at my face. "You grew up so beautiful, anak... I just can't believe you're here in front of me Ana." He told me and I gave him a small smile.

I was lost for speech. Hindi ko alam sasabihin ko kay Dad. I had a lot of questions prepared but right now I was lost for words.

"How are you, Ana?" Dad asked and I smiled before answering him.

"Surviving. Been dealing with a lot of things right now," I answered and Dad gave me a look that I can't explain. He eyed Kaito who was looking at us pero umiwas ng tingin noong lumingon kaming dalawa.

"Do your problems involve boy problems?" He asked and I chuckled before shaking my head.

"I've been stressed about the business I am going to launch—hopefully next week. I was overthinking about that a lot and... My issues with Mom grew bigger. Lalo na noong nalaman ko na pinapadalhan niyo pa rin po ako ng mga sulat kahit hindi ko kayo narereplayan."

"Hmm. Your mother must've said something for you to hate me so much to think that I don't love you anymore?" He asked and I teared up again. "Why are you crying again, Ana? Do you not hear I love you from your Mom often?" He asked and I nodded before hugging him again.

"You didn't cheat on Mom, right?" I asked just to confirm and he shook his head.

"God, no. I could never do such a thing," he replied and I smiled. We both got caught up in each other's life in a short span of time but it was already getting dark out so me and Kaito have to leave already. But of course for courtesy, I asked Kaito to come up to us so that he can meet my father.

"Dad, this is Kaito. Kaito, this is my father," I introduced them to one another and Kaito took my Dad's hand para mag mano.

"I like him already," Dad whispered and I chuckled. "I know you both are busy people but would you maybe want to go back to my mansion?" Dad offered and I quickly shook my head.

"Oh, no na po, Daddy. It's getting late already but maybe next time," I answered him but he still convinced us.

"Come on, Ana. Eat dinner with me and my family if that's okay with you? I just want more time with my daughter," Dad pleaded and I glanced at Kaito who was giving me a sign of approval so I sighed defeatedly before agreeing.

Nagconvoy kami papunta sa mansion ni Dad na thirty minutes away from here.

I was nervous because what if my Dad's new family doesn't like me in their household? U don't want to start another issue with other people because I already am so tired of everything.

Pero nawala lahat ng kaba ko noong nakita ko ang ngiti ni Kaito sa akin. "Don't worry, I'm here by your side for support. Hindi ako mawawala."

How I wish for him to really be right here for eternity.