"Thanks for the advice Maria" Von said with a smile on his face, he touched his bandaged forehead then laughed.

He stared at me. With such admiration on his eyes.

Bumagal ang oras, ang araw ay nananatiling matirik sa maaliwalas na umaga, ang mga bulaklak ay malamyo na sumasabay sa himig ng hangin.

He held my hand, then kissed it.

Just, what is this feeling?

I remembered na pagbati ang ibig sabihin nito ayon sa yaya ko noong nasa kulungan ako.

"If a male kissed the female's hand, alam mo ba ibig sabihin n'on?" tanong sa akin ni yaya, I was 8 years old that time, wearing a lousy brown dress.

Umiling ako, my mind is so innocent, and can't handle the old society.

"That means that either they love the person, or they're greeting them" aniya. "ang ganda mo talagang bata ka, I guess duke Ackerman will be proud of you" she pinched my nose as a sign of my cuteness.

"Ano po ang duke?" tanong kong muli. My mind is starting to pick things little by little.
From the head of the family definitions, from love, gestures, I picked it up.

But there's no hope na makakalaya ako sa apat na corner ng kulungan na ito.

That is... Until ate Tracy freed me.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

"Ba't ka naiyak?" he got shocked at what he saw. "did you remember something na nakapagpasakit sa'yo?" he got on full nurse mode.

Tumayo siya at lumapit sa akin. "whatever is that, umiyak ka, maaari mo akong maging sandalan" he said, inilapit niya ang upuan na nasa tapat ko at itinabi 'yon sa akin.

It's sad, I didn't think that those words... Are her last words.

"Wala. May naalala lang ako" I sniffed on my handkerchief at inihilig ang ulo ko sa kanya.

"You don't have to remember it kung ganito ang kalalabasan. Cry whatever you want" aniya, at niyakap ako.

Hinimas himas niya ang buhok ko, I don't know but I feel safe in his arms.

"Ubusin na natin 'yung shortcake at baka langawin" tawa niya. I smiled at kumain na rin.

"Sana payagan ka ni duke Ackerman na pumunta sa amin" aniya at tawa niya. "sana talaga HAHAHA" I laughed.

Tumayo na siya at inayos ang pinagkainan. "well, ingat ka ha, hope we can meet someday sa Benitez mansion" paalam niya at umalis sa harap ko.

I love you...

Mga katagang tangi kong sabihin ngunit hindi ko masabi dahil sa hiya.

Or maybe... He has someone and he looks at me as his friend.

"Ayos ka lang po ba ma'am Maria?" one of the maids asked. Tumango lang ako at umalis na.

I looked at the gate, binuksan ito ng mga guards at lumabas na si Von.

Never looking back.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

"Ma'am, may dala akong tubig" aniya ni yaya Mirachella at binuksan ang pinto. Inilapag niya ang tubig sa bedside table ko. "mukhang malalim ang iniisip mo ah" aniya.

"Ayos lang po ako yaya" ngiti ko. "ba't nga po pala abala sina ate Tracy at papa?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Inaayos nila papeles mo po ma'am para makapag-aral ka" my eyes shimmered at what I heard.

Makakapag-aral na ako!

"Saan po ako mag-aaral?" tanong ko ulit sa katulong.

"Same school kung saan po nag-aaral sina ma'am Tracy at sir Von"

I smiled at the fact na makikita ko ulit siya, hindi lang tuwing umaga, kundi pati hapon.
"And tinatanong po ni duke kung ano pong kurso ang kukunin n'yo po"

"Kurso?" tanong ko.

"Senior high na po kayo ni ma'am Tracy next year kaya't nagtatanong na po si sir kung ano pong kurso ang kukunin n'yo po" paliwanag ng yaya ko.

"May listahan na binigay po si sir para pumili po kayo ng strand na kukunin " kinuha niya ang listahan ng mga strand na pipiliin.

ABM – Accountancy, Business, and Management

STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

HUMSS – Humanities and Social Sciences

GAS – General Academic Strand

I unfolded the paper and it reveals the future job of each strand, and other minor strands.

So STEM pala ang engineering huh?

"May napili na po kayo ma'am?" tanong ulit niya.

I doubt myself, handling a business is hectic, Von and his twin brother told me about the positive side of business, even its negativity.

"Stay lowkey, they're just trying to pull you down, and pag pinatulan mo sila, you prove yourself that you're weak than them" aniya ni Von na may pinipindot sa tablet niya.

"But speaking your opinion can make people think that you oppose the one who knows "better" than you" dagdag pa ni Vincent.

"And? Why your talking about business on me?" I smug. The older Benitez laughed at my expression.

"Eh diba you told us na I-kwento pagiging young businessmen namin?"

Shit.

I touched my head and awkwardly said sorry.

"But in school, mahirap engineering, too many theories ni isa wala kaming nakuha HAHAHA" tawa ni Von at tumingin sa akin. "eh ang gagawin lang naman is maggawa ng bahay, right kuya?"

The older twin laughed at his younger twin's opinion.

"Gagawin yata ng papa mo na 200 IQ mo Maria" tawa ni Vincent.

"Pero ba't malapit kayo sa pamilya namin?" tanong ko while looking at Von na nakatingin sa akin. Ngunit nabasag ang pagtingin sa isa't isa nang magsalita si Vincent.

"Mahiya kayo sa single oh!"

"Maghanap ka kasi ng girlfriend mo, napakababaero mo, baka maya si Maria Letizia na napuntirya mo" tawa ko sa away nilang magkambal.

Sinabi ko ulit ang tanong ko sa kanila. "well, the bond between the two families are so close to each other, 'yung tatay mo ang nagpa-renovate ng garden sa Benitez mansion for free" Von said with a smile on his face.

"Well, kung papayagan ka ng papa mo na bumisita ka sa amin" Vincent smirked and looked at the stunning Manor.

"Well, aalis na kami" paalam ni Von at niyakap ako.

"Pakisabi kay papa ABM ang kukunin ko" desidido na ako.

There's positive in every things, but I want to take things uniquely.

I don't want to be an engineer or architect, but a damn businesswoman who will take the duchy well.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

"ABM? Are you serious about this Letizia?" tanong sa akin ni papa. Nasa opisina ako and it was covered by wooden floors, and not-so luxury wooden things.

Tumango ako. I'm fucking innocent!

I don't even know if I can be successful of this.

"Maria, our family is full of engineers and architects. We are worldwide known since the old times, and your going to defy it?" it was low and doesn't shown any signs of anger but the duke seems not satisfied to my answer.

"Ito ba 'yung napapala mo sa kakadikit mo kay Ciara Tracy?" tinaas niya ang kaliwa niyang kilay.

"That woman wants to be an actress, but is now dictated to be an architect by Sally" aniya ni papa.

"Magdecide ka ng maayos Maria, we have to fix all of your papers para makapasok ka ng maayos"

I sighed. Tumango ako at umalis ng opisina.

And still, my brain is undecorated about it.

What should I choose? My dream? Or their dream?