Hinimatay ako sa nakita ko sa stage... Pig blood...

Who... Who in the world knew about my fear?!
Dalawang tao lang ang maaaring makaalam nito: sina Anna at Chazlene.

Pero hindi naman ito gagawin ni Anna, right?

Dali-daling humarurot sina Anna at Joshua upang alalayan ako mula sa pagtumba... And that's the last thing I saw bago ko ipikit ang aking mga mata.

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

"Good thing nagising ka na, Thraia Rose Sariaya" a voice of a woman was heard before I opened my eyes.

Bumangon ako, only to find out that it was Chazlene who is talking!

"I told you a month ago... Na itigil mo na 'yang career mo and be a better breeding machine for my older brother" I saw her smile... It was bright but it has a mixture of dark and evil.

"Bakit hindi ka nagsasalita, Rose? Dahil tama ako?" tumawa pa si Chazlene na animo'y isang demonyo na humahagikgik dahil nanalo siya kaysa sa anghel. "sinasabi ko naman sa'yo eh, Rose. Kahit kailan ay tama naman kaming mga Alvarez. You're just in denial to the truth"

I was infuriated. So I decided to speak.

"So ikaw ang may pasimuno sa nangyari sa akin kagabi?" I asked in a cold, stern tone at bigla siyang napatigil sa pagtawa.

"Just who are you to speak in that kind of tone—" akmang sasampalin niya ako but I gripped her hand.

"Akala ko ba magkaibigan tayo, Chazlene? Bakit ganito ka magsalita?" I articulated without minding this broken feeling inside.

Tumawa ang babae. "magkaibigan? Magkaibigan? Are you alright?" himas himas na niya ang kanyang tiyan, mukhang masakit na sa kakatawa.

Ano ba'ng nakakatawa?

I'm so infuriated but I chose not to burst out my feelings. As a Sariaya, ayokong mapahiya sa kalaban kaya I rationalize my feelings before slapping it to someone.

Bumulong ito sa akin. "kinaibigan lang kita to have my way on you... Ah, Rose... I realized that" napatigil siya. What did she realize?
"That duchess Maria Letizia Ackerman is a suitable wife for my dear older brother. A world-class businesswoman, a duchess of a large manor, a women who helped the people of Sariaya along with the Alvarez... Don't you think she's a better choice?" tawa ni Chazlene nang pagkalakas-lakas. Napatingin siya sa akin at tumigil ito kaagad when she saw my stern expression.

"I'm sorry Rose, did that infuriates you? Hindi ba kasi sinabi ko naman na sa'yo na pakasalan mo na agad si kuya. Hindi ba't gusto mo ibalik ang legacy ng Sariaya?" she smirked and opened her mini fan upang magpahangin despite na may aircon naman dito.

Anong ibig niyang sabihin from her last words?

"Chazlene Alvarez—"

She snickered. "oh dear, don't you know? Nalalaos na ang pamilya ninyo. Kaya ikaw na butihing anak, gawin mo ang best mo" lumapit na ito sa pintuan. Bago umalis ay nagsalita ito.

"And besides, kuya Luisito will try his best to be with you, even killing your number one fan just to be with you" umalis na ito and she left me dumbfounded.

No...

Is Chazlene threatening him? Or her? Or did they threaten him?

Fuck!

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

Isang linggo ang nakalilipas and Chazlene is taunting me. Magpapatuloy pa sana siya ngunit sinaway siya ni Luisito.

"Chazlene. You're disrespecting the mayor's daughter. May delikadesa ka ba?" he snarled at her and she immediately pouted.

Close na close ang dalawang magkapatid. But sometimes, kailangan rin ni Chazlene nang sermon galing sa kuya. Umalis ang babae at kami ni Luisito ang naiwan.

"How are you?" he asked. His smile is so innocent, para ba'ng hindi niya pinatay ang isa sa mga influential boys noong mga teenagers pa kami.

My first love who's feelings weren't reciprocated...

Clarkson Von Benitez...

That man that the duchess fell in love with.
The same boy whom he killed.

"Ayos lang, you?" I asked sincerely, as if I forgive him about the death of that long haired man. Tumango lang ang lalaki.

His stare is quite beautiful but dangerous. If he could kill Von because of his jealousy towards him and Maria, then he could do it to Joshua.

At hindi ako papayag na mangyari 'yon. I'll do everything in my power to protect him.
Kahit kapalit n'on ay ang buhay ko.

"I'm doing great, it's just that the family needs my presence kaya hindi ako nakakadalaw sa'yo. But you know that even if I am unavailable, nandito naman si Chazlene para dalawin ka" he smiled at me. It was pretentious, kasi una naman sa lahat alam niya ang pinaggagawa ng mga pamilya niya yet he didn't stop them. He supported them pa nga.

Tanga.

"Siya, aalis na rin ako mahal. Take care of yourself" he said sweetly and kissed my forehead, but he whispered in my ear and it made my blood run cold.

"But make sure na wala akong maririnig na bibisita 'yang lalaki mo. You don't want someone to get killed because of you, right?" ngisi niya at mahina ang kanyang pagtawa, a sign that he's a creepy guy and he's the person you don't want to mess with.

"Yes, yes, that's right, my love... Fear me" dagdag pa nito. Umalis na siya sa tabi ko at umalis na siya sa kwarto ko.

Maraming salamat naman.

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

Mayamaya ay dumating rito si Josh na may dala-dalang prutas at bulaklak. "you shouldn't have done that" natatawa kong ani sabay lagay ng bulaklak sa vase nito.

"Ayos lang po, masaya na po sa akin ang makita kang nakangiti" I sighed.

Napatingin ako sa kanya, mukhang malungkot at may matindi siyang pinagdaraanan. "are you alright? You know, you shouldn't worry about that event yesterday. Dadagdag pa 'yan sa iintindihin mo" I said.
"Pero—"

"You know what, Joshua? I love you—" bigla akong napatutop sa sinabi ko. Tinitigan lang ako ng lalaki at natawa siya.

"You love me as a fan, right?" he asked, his voice filled with fear. I was uncertain on how to answer it.

I...

How should I answer it?

Nararamdaman ko ang pag-init ng mga pisngi ko and the heat forming in my ears.

"Tell me you don't love me romantically" he nervously said, nakayuko na ito, animo'y nahihiya.

I lifted his chin up, and I was reluctant to face and touch his cheeks.

But I overcome it, at siniilan siya ng halik. I pulled away and breathed.

"I love you Joshua, romantically"