"Kaito, you made me feel something so intense and true, set my heart and soul afire. A spark that ignites and burns anew, a force that'll never expire. He was more than a fleeting thought, or a passing fancy of the mind. He was something that can't be bought, and one that is hard to find."

I smiled while telling the thoughts I had trouble expressing. "You were a warmth that spread throughout my being, a light that shines from deep within. You have a sense of joy that's all-consuming, a feeling that I can't begin to rein in."

"In love ka nang tanga ka," bigla akong binatukan ni Claire noong binabasa ko ang tulang sinulat ko tungkol kay Kaito. We both haven't talked about what happened and I am dying to tell him that I also feel something for him.

But ang update ko galing kay Tita is that he has been handling their business or we could say currently in training. Malapit na kasi ilipat sa kaniya ang pangalan ng mga kumpanya nila but his father needs to make sure if he's worthy or not.

Hindi ko na muna siya guguluhin para naman hindi ako maka-abala sa kanila. He has to prove his father wrong that he'll just be a disappointment. I know Kaito is a star, he can do this!

"May mga fans ka raw sa labas, gusto ng autograph mo."

I stood up and checked myself in the mirror first before going outside the office. Nakita ko ang isang grupo ng mga babae na may hawak na pentel pen and also the clothes they bought.

"Can you sign my shoes, Ate Rienne?" A girl asked and I smiled before nodding. It was an original air force kicks. Mahal 'to ah!

"Sure ka ba? Mamahalin 'tong sapatos mo and I don't want to ruin it," I asked her first but she was persistent kaya pinirmahan ko na ito bago pa siya magreklamo na ang bagal ko. A lot of them also took pictures of me and even told me that they recommended and promoted the store sa lahat ng social media nila.

"Aww, you guys are really sweet. I'm so happy that you guys love the shop, we're actually already thinking on where to build our next branch pero medyo matagal pa iyon dahil wala pa kaming budget hahaha. I appreciate all of you," I told them and gave them hugs.

"Ate Rienne, gusto niyo po ba gumawa kami ng fan page para sa Blossom Apparel?" One of them asked at ngumiti naman ako noong nakaisip ako ng idea.

"How about the two of you become the admin of our content team? Tapos the rest would become the ambassador of BA?" I asked at agad naman sila nagtilian at tumalon-talon. Dinala ko silang lahat sa office para ma-discuss kung paano mangyayari.

"Rienne, napaka-impulsive mo talaga magdesisyon," Claire chuckled while she was making a contract for the six of them to sign.

"Please, kung hindi ako impulsive magdesisyon e 'di wala ngayon ang BA," I told he and she nodded.

Habang hinihintay namin si Claire matapos mag-print, the girls and I talked about a lot of girly stuff. I actually had fun talking to them because they are at the younger side of our generation. Lahat sila senior high lang at isa lang sa kanila ang first year college.

Noong natapos na sila pumirma, lumabas ulit sila sa main store and I gave them a small kit as a gift for being the people who will continue to endorse our brand. Gumawa na rin kami ng group chat para roon namin ituloy ang conversation.

After a few more hours of doing business, I felt very happy because business is doing greath and I may have a potential boyfriend after a few weeks.

While me and Claire were tidying up our store, my cellphone cried and I excitedly reached for it, hoping it was from him but it was from a neighbor from my house. Ano kaya mayroon at tumatawag siya sa akin? We aren't exactly close.

Kung iisipin ko nga, siya ang nangunguna sa mga walang kwentang kwento tungkol sa akin and I despise her for that. Pero mukhang emergency ito or may kailangan talaga sa akin. Huwag lang sana siya manghingi ng pera sa akin dahil may negosyo na ako.

Kung gano'n mumurahin ko siya! Tangina ba niya? Hindi niya ako pinaniwalaan noon na kaya ko tapos bigla siya manghihingi ng pera? Kapal naman niya!

"Hello po?" I tried to sound respectful.

[Fleurienne, asan ka hija?] Tanong niya sa akin at kumunot agad noo ko. Manghihingi nga yata talaga ng pera!

"Nasa trabaho po, bakit?"

[May nangyayari kasi ngayon sa bahay niyo. Kanina pa kami nakakarinig ng sigawan pati basag ng mga pinggan. Baka gusto mo sana awatin mga Mama mo?]

I sighed before massaging the temples of my head, "My Mom and Stepfather are probably just arguing. It happens all the time. Hayaan niyo na lang sila, they,ll stop eventually."

[Hija, kanina pa kami ni Aling Susan nandito sa labas ng bahay niyo. Mahigit trenta minuto na silang nagsisigawan. Narinig ko pa nga kanina hikbi ng Mama mo e.] I shrugged. Ayaw ko pa naman bumalik sa pamamahay na iyon.

Who knows? Maybe this was just a set up just to make me go back home.

I was about to hung up when I heard a loud noise from the end of the line. It was so loud that I dropped my phone. It sounded like a gunshot. I took my bag and rushed to a near taxi lane. Nagpahatid ako sa labas ng subdivision namin saka tumakbo papunta sa bahay namin.

Maraming nakapaligid doon na mga kapit bahay kaya hinawi ko sila para makapasok ako sa loob ng bahay. When I got in the gate, I kicked the door open my jaw immediately dropped with what was happening in front of me. My heart was racing as I slowly approached them.

My Stepfather was holding towels, he looked worried and pissed. I glanced at the living room and the coffee tables were shattered into pieces. My Mom was holding a gun in her hand and she was trembling with fear because I saw them.

She had blood splatters on her shirt and when I saw my Dad lying on the floor, barely holding on to his life. He was looking at me and mouthed 'I love you so much, anak' before he closed his eyes and I felt as if the ground disappeared under me. I collapsed on the floor as the tears flow down.

My mind was reeling in shock and disbelief. I kept on piching myself again and again, hoping that somehow he's going to open his eyes again just to feel my embrace, that I would wake up from this shit show nightmare.

"Bakit mo pinatay ang aking ama?" I asked and my voice was quivering. Mom dropped the gun before standing up but as she got closer, I stepped back. "Answer my fucking question, Mother." I said in calm but a warning tone.

"S-sorry, anak." Bulong niya sa hangin and I felt a surge of anger. Tangina ba niya?! "Hindi ko sinasadya, maniwala ka sa akin—"

"Putangina. Ganiyan ba kakitid utak mo't pinatay mo ang sarili kong ama para lang makuha mo muli ang loob ko? Tarantado ka na? Inutil ka ba? Mas matanda ka sa akin pero bakit parang ikaw ang may utak na syete anyos?" I was crying because of anger. Nakaka-putangina naman kasi talaga ginawa niya e!

"Alam mo ba kung... Ano iisipin ng mga tao sa iyong dalawa? Kingina... Pinatay mo 'yong taong kahit papaano sinubukang bumawi sa akin pagka-lipas ng ilang taon! Alam mo naman na ilang taon akong nangulila, nagtimpi, nagdusa sa lahat ng taong wala siya. I was fucking bullied, dropped out of college, and you only still thought of yourself?" I was still crying.

The pain was bearable when he left us back then because... I thought he cheated on us—that he wouldn't show his face again to my family. But he came back, and since he's lying on the floor, lifeless. The pain would be too much to even be bearable for a human who's suffering from a lot.

I swallowed a lump on my throat before standing up. I took a deep breath before glaring at them. I wiped the tears off my face before gathering up all my strength to say my final words. "You both are so fucking selfish to take him away from me again. I hopw you both have the money to get a decent lawyer, because I will find one to put you two in jail to rot." I took out my phone to dial an ambulance and the police to get the crime scene investigated. While I was holding up my phone I glanced at them, "Mark my words, I will get you both convicted."

"Anak... Please don't—"

"Ano? Putangina hindi ka pa rin ba tapos paikutin at guluhin ang utak ko? Haven't you had enough of all the manipulation? Hindi ka ba naaawa sa akin? Kailangan niyong makulong kaya wala kayong magagawa." I turned my back against them before making the calls for the important authorities.

I sat down on the pavement outside our house and took out the lighter Kaito gave me. Oh how I miss him. I really am in need of his hug after all this.

I took out a cigarette stick from the box I always keep in me just in case for... Fucked emergencies like this. I placed the cigarette on my mouth but didn't have the courage to light it up. Hindi ko kayang ma-adik ulit sa ganitong bisyo.

I took out my phone to call my Father's wife, and after one ring she immediately picked up. "Tita..." I started and there was silence.

[I know, love. Send me the location, I'll be there in twenty.]

She knew? Did my Dad knew that my Mom was planning something bad against him? Kung alam naman niya pala bakit pa siya pumunta?

Tita and my siblings came after the said time and the both of them rushed towards me for a hug. Tears immediately dropped the moment they cried on my chest. Ako ang panganay kaya dapat matapang ako, pero wala namang matapang na hindi umiiyak 'di ba? Hindi ko kayang 'wag umiyak dahil sa sandaling panahon na kasama ko si Daddy... Ay nawala na ulit siya sa akin.

Ang unfair naman talaga ng mundo 'no?

I stood up to go farther away from the house to dial Kaito's number, I really need him right now.

Noong tinawagan ko siya ay nagriring lang ang kaniyang telepono. Bakit hindi niya sinasagot? Maybe I should just go to his hotel, may naiwan kasi ako roon na panyo at pabango ko.

I offered to take my siblings home so that Tita would be the one to talk to the police. I would just have to come back after I spend time with Kaito. When I arrived at the hotel, I went straight up to his room pero noong kumatok ako walang sumagot sa pintuan. He's still out working?

I should probably go back down to the reception area and ask the staff.

"Good evening, Ma'am. How may I help you?"

"Where is the guy from room 608? Has he not returned yet?" I asked.

"Oh, hold on, Ma'am." She typed in her computer and after a minute she spoke, "It looks like Mr. Ren has already checked out six hours ago."

Kumunot naman noo ko. He left already? Hindi niya man lang sinabi sa akin?

What the fuck?

Habang naglalakad ako papunta sa labas, para akong nalantay na halaman. Grabe talaga ang mundo. Parang ang sarap na lang mawala e. Ginagago talaga ako puta.

Why did he leave without a goodbye? How was I supposed to continue feeling like I'm living without him?

Paano ko masasabi sa kaniya na siya rin ang sinisigaw ng puso ko?