Everything happened so fast. The next thing I knew, Conan already pressed his lips against mine. His kisses were torrid, reckless and very demanding.

More than anything, it was painful.

Because his lips were not the ones I've been longing to.

I found myself kissing him back. Ipinikit ko na lamang ang mga mata ko dahil ayaw ko siyang makita. It was very selfish of me, but I still returned his kisses and touched him the way he wanted, full of lust and desire.

Sinuklian ko parin ang mga halik at haplos niya bagama't iba ang pangalang naglalaro sa isip ko. Habang pinapaulanan niya ng halik ang buong katawan ko, mas lalong nadurog ang puso ko.

Dahil alam ko kung sino talaga ang gusto ko.

Hindi siya. Hindi si Conan.

It was him.

Atticus Sylvensen VII was the only one for me, the man that I once dreamed to be my husband. He was the great love of my life. I struggled to keep myself alive through those years of abuse and captivity for him.

I reminded myself everyday that I need to survive because someone was waiting for me, and it was none other than him.

But he broke his faith on me.

Alam kong matagal ang tatlong taon, pero bakit hindi niya ako hinintay? Sa tingin niya ba talaga, kaya ko siyang iwan nang gano'n na lang? Why didn't he wait for me? Why didn't he look for me? How could he love someone else?

Hindi kita susumbatan dahil alam kong masaya ka na ngayon. Pero gusto ko lang malaman ang sagot, Atticus. May natirira ka pa bang pagmamahal para sa akin? Kahit konti lang. Desperado na ako.

"I am in love with you, Stellar."

Iyon ang mga salitang binitawan ni Conan. As he continued planting soft kisses on my body, it was getting more and more unbearable. When he finally entered my womanhood, my eyes watered with tears.

Conan moaned as he held me by the waist and thrusted deeper into me. "You have no idea how many times I've dreamed of this. I want you, Stellar. I've always been in love with you and nothing has changed until now."

Tears streamed down to my cheeks.

"But I am in love with somebody else."

His eyes twitched.

"I am in love with somebody else, Conan." I said in between sobs. "There's only one person that I've loved throughout these years and it's not you. I'm sorry."

His tears fell when I lovingly cupped his cheeks.

"Thank you for the friendship. I wouldn't have survived without you, Conan. I owe you my life. Thank you so much."

He subconsciously pulled away from me. Wala sa sariling napaupo siya sa kama at natulala sa kawalan. Minadali ko ang pagbihis at walang imik akong tumakbo palabas ng kwarto niya.

I didn't deserve him. He was too good for me.

Umalis ako. Hindi ko na pinansin ang mga kaibigan ni Conan na bumagsak na sa sobrang kalasingan. Basta tumakbo ako, tumakbo ako palayo sa kanilang lahat.

Hanggang sa dalhin ako ng mga paa ko sa isang lugar kung saan nagbago nang tuluyan ang buong buhay ko.

"Nandito na ako, Auxen! Ano pa bang gusto mo?!" I was walking aimlessly in the parking lot when a familiar voice reached my ears. "I'm doing my best to see you without getting caught!"

It was Gaia Venice.

"Until when are we gonna hide?!"

I hid myself from a distance. The man she was talking to looked oddly familiar. Matangkad ito, matikas ang pangangatawan at may suot na salamin. At first glance, I mistook him as Atticus. But his hair was brushed up and features were sharper, so it wasn't him.

I had a bad feeling about it. Just by hearing some key words, I already had a hunch of what's really happening.

"Learn to wait. Why are you so impatient? Ako ang naiipit dito! Do you think cheating on your brother is easy?"

Naiyukom ko ang aking mga kamao dahil tama nga ang hinala ko. May namamagitan sa kanilang dalawa. Nahuli ko na mismo ang isda sa sarili nitong bibig, kay Gaia na mismo nanggaling ang kawalang hiyaan niya.

Wala sa sariling napaatras ako at unti-unting umusbong ang galit sa dibdib ko. I couldn't believe it. Pagkatapos ng lahat ng paghihirap na ipinaranas niya sa akin para lang makuha si Atticus, lolokohin niya lang ito?

Uminit ang mga mata ko at tuluyan na akong napaiyak sa sobrang galit. Agad kong kinapa ang phone sa bulsa ko at nanginginig ko itong inilabas. Kailangan niya 'tong malaman. Wala akong pakialam kung hindi pa kami nakakapag-usap nang maayos. Ang mahalaga, malaman niyang niloloko siya ng babaeng ipinalit niya sa akin.

"Sagutin mo, Atticus." paulit-ulit kong bulong.

I tried for another time but he still didn't answer. I was just about to call again when someone grabbed my phone and pushed me against the wall. I inhaled sharply.

"Listening to other people's conversation, huh? Hello, my dear sister. Long time no see. How have you been?" Gaia said through gritted teeth. I grunted in discomfort when she strangled me. "Well, screw that. Who cares about you? More importantly, did you hear anything?"

Pinanlisikan ko siya ng mga mata. "You slut! After stealing Atticus from me, how could you cheat on him? Can't your pussy be satisfied with one man?!" sigaw ko at dinuraan ko siya sa mukha. "You don't deserve to be loved, you whore! I will tell Atticus about this!"

Mukhang hindi niya nagustuhan ang mga sinabi ko.Gaia pulled my hair then scratched my face whenever she had the chance. Pilit naman kaming inaawat ng lalaking nagngangalang Auxen ngunit walang pumansin sa kanya at tinulak ko pa siya sa gilid dahil sagabal siya.

"Stop sticking your nose to other people's business, you adopted bitch!" she shouted then slapped me hard on my face. "But if you want his attention so bad, then tell him! Tignan ko lang kung paniwalaan ka pa niya pagkatapos ng pang-iiwan mo sa kanya."

Napikon naman ako kaya sinabunutan ko ulit siya. Gumanti naman siya sa akin ngunit gano'n na lamang ang gulat ko nang maglabas siya ng isang kutsilyo mula sa kanyang bulsa.

"Gaia!" Auxen seemed horrified by the knife. Halatang kinakabahan ito sa kilos ng kasama niya. "Put the knife down. Just let her go!" pakiusap niya at akmang lalapit sa amin pero tinutok ni Gaia ang hawak sa kanya.

"Mahal mo ako, hindi ba?" naghahamong tanong ni Gaia Venice."If you really love me, then clean after my mess. This wench needs to be eliminated right here and now."

I stood rooted to my position when she lunged at me. Time seemed to have stopped as my foster sister attacked me with her knife. I was too shocked to even speak out.

My face distorted in pain when she stabbed me on my chest. I saw the dumbfounded look on Auxen's face, but Gaia was clearer in my sight more than anything else.

Because she was laughing hysterically to my face.

Blood oozed from the side of my mouth when she continued stabbing me on the chest. She seemed to be enjoying the moment. The sordid scene ended when she pierced the knife through my heart.

"See you in hell, you ungrateful bitch."

It felt like my whole life replayed before my eyes. Atticus was the first one that I saw on the verge of my death. I remembered those days when we started dating and shared our first kiss. Those moments when we wasted our time bickering all day, they were trivial yet memorable.

This life was worth living.

Because I met him. If it's not him, then I'd rather not fall in love again. It was now or never. It was him or no one.

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