My heart was beating erratically, even when I parted ways with Uno already—I wouldn't even be able to come back to my senses if not for the wedding organizer!

"The wedding's about to start Miss Brandi." I nodded my head and heaved a deep breath to keep my calm. Ewan ko ba kung bakit, but Uno really loves to screw with my head and it's getting annoying already!

Still, I just can't ignore the fact that I can't really avoid him...

I sighed.

"You okay?" I smiled at Hannah, one of our cousins, and nodded my head. Gosh, Brandi. Get yourself together.

I heaved a deep breath in and composed myself. Cameras were everywhere, and I knew I'd get shit from Anna if I'd show how disappointed I was with our families—mostly towards the Jerardos. Alam naman nila, e. They deserve all the hatred that's been going on within me and Chen.

They just don't care.

They never cared.

I roamed my eyes, trying to find where Uno is, to probably calm myself down for a while, even though he was the very reason why I was feeling like this. I didn't know why I suddenly felt off. Maybe it was the vibe, maybe because it felt lonely, maybe because deep down I realized everyone was just here to witness something dreadful. It was as if we're about to witness a crime scene—a murder.

Freedom being the victim.

What's new... freedom's long been dead the day we were born, anyway. We weren't supposed to be free.

We were supposed to be their puppets. The same version of their grim-ass selves, or maybe even worst. Hindi ko na talaga alam.

I didn't want to keep my eyes forward. The altar didn't look normal—it felt like sacrificial. As much as I wanted to tell myself that I should treat it sacred... nobody even was religious enough inside the church to even call it sacred.

Everyone just boasted power... fame... authority.

Everyone... they're all too alike. Pretentious.

But my stupid self couldn't just stop looking straight—it was as if I was trying to torture myself. And then... our eyes met.

Shit.

It felt horrible. I suddenly felt the need to run away. Just looking straight unto his eyes meant danger, his familiar lopsided grin... it was always enough to scare the shit out of me.

I shouldn't even be scared.

But Fallon's just a devil incarnate. Buti hindi siya nasunog.

"It's just for this day," I whispered to myself, holding the small bouquet of golden roses on my left and patting my chest with the other. I felt Hannah gently squeezing my left hand.

"Are you sick?" I shook my head and smiled. "Should I call the medics? Baka mapano ka naman..."

"I-I'm fine," I said, slowly regaining my composure. I already warned myself about Fallon and his stupid game—I needed to stay strong, for myself... for Chen. Napangiti naman sa'kin si Hannah at tinap na lang ang balikat ko.

"Whatever it is that's bothering you, I know it will pass," she said. I nodded my head, smiling a little.

A few seconds later, the music started playing and I started walking down the aisle, smiling at every camera I pass by, cautious not to look so grim in front of everyone. It looked weird when I saw Anna and Dad together, or maybe it was just the disgust within me. I smiled when our eyes met—I really can't recall the last time I saw him... still, I was happy seeing him again.

"Take care of her," I muttered under my breath upon getting close with Ali. He didn't say a word, but he smiled, nodding his head. I didn't even bother looking at Fallon, but his mere presence felt like he breathed nothing but death.

God, I wanted to strangle him.

I stood at my place, controlling my tears from falling, my eyes glued in front. The door slowly opened, and we all watched as Chen walked down the aisle. Cameras were immediate to capture every moment, every single moment...

But there's one thing the world might never know.

That one distant glance between her and Dash... the faint smile... the glistening of tears in the corners of their eyes...

I witnessed them all. If it was even possible, I could've had even heard the way their hearts broke as they watch themselves let go of each other... not even fighting anymore... watching as one gets tied to another person.

It was pretty much everything that a person wouldn't want to happen. Letting go of someone... what more watch them tell each other's vows in front of the world?

It was already enough for me to hate the Jerardos' and Juarez more.

I wasn't taking any of it anymore.

***

The Wedding pretty much ended within an hour, and as much as I wanted to leave the church already because it felt suffocating inside, I still had to comply with the mandatory family pictures with our whole clan, and then probably a bunch with Anna and Dad. Heck, I'd probably pass as an actress already.

"How are you?" Dad asked after breaking the hug. I was glad that Anna excused herself to talk to Tita Chari and Tita Franchesca, she still knows her place when it comes to me and my father, I'd give her that.

I smiled, "I'm okay, dad," I answered, and if only this weird myth that liars get burned inside a church, I would've had probably turned to ashes. I wasn't really religious, but I knew the rules, I knew what God wanted.

And I'm sure as hell that He hated seeing us inside this place.

Funny how we all reeked lies and hatred.

"I'm sorry..." Dad trailed, holding my hand and squeezing it gently. "I didn't get to witness your college graduation, dear."

I beamed. It wasn't really a big deal—sanay naman akong maging independent, and I know that Dad loves me. Sure, at some point, I felt that it was unfair because I wasn't with him on my big day, but I was mature enough to understand him.

And maybe I just didn't like it seeing him with Anna.

Would I be considered evil already for not wanting him beside his legal wife? My dad's very, very kind. He was never influenced by the dirty world of politics, or maybe because he busied himself well enough that he could care less about what was happening within our families.

And I won't even deny... I know dad has his fair share of problems, too, when it comes to the company he's working at.

And I know it sounds... too selfless, too... shallow of a reason for me not to tell what happened with me within the years that he was out of my reach... sure he knew I was homeschooled—just months after I turned nineteen, a month after I was suddenly engaged to Fallon... and then a day after I told Anna what practically happened to me.

I was fucking nineteen.

I was just starting a new life. I was just starting to dream of becoming a doctor. And it felt like they took everything away... they even wanted me to be thankful because they allowed me to study at home for the first two years!

Sure... Lolo knows what happened. Sure, he probably wanted to help me.

Still at the end of the day, power still matters over blood.

"Nak..."

"Dad... it's okay, okay? It's not really a big deal," I uttered. "As long as I know that you care for me... that you'll be there for me, it's fine."

Dad smiled, tapping my shoulder, "I'm proud of you," he said. "Lucy and I will always be proud of you, Brianna. Remember that."

I bobbed my head before he excused himself and went to Anna. Napa-buntonghininga na lang ako, I was even late to realize that I wasn't breathing properly anymore.

"Hey." Nagulat ako nang may biglang tumapik sa balikat ko. Napangiti na lang ako nang makita ko si Uno. "Di ka pa ba gutom? Balak mo lang tumambay dito sa labas?"

Sinimangutan ko siya, "Hinihintay ko lang sila Gio," sabi ko.

"You're still not telling your dad."

I paused for a while bago ngumiti nang bahagya.

"It's better that he doesn't know," I replied. "I don't want him to latch hate on Anna, she's still his wife after all." It felt like I answered good enough that I already wanted to write my words in a memoir, pero nagulat na naman ako nang bigla niyang pinitik ang noo ko.

"Ba't ba namimitik ka ng noo?!" I hissed in annoyance.

Uno shrugged his shoulders, "You're overly nice, you're making me hate you more."

I clicked my tongue, "E 'di hate me," I said. "Diyan ka naman magaling."

"Dumbo. As if I can really hate you," he replied, putting his hands inside the pockets of his slacks before walking away from me. Hahabulin ko pa sana siya pero dumating na rin sila Gio.

"Baliw," bulong ko bago ako sumakay sa loob ng sasakyan. And just before we left for the venue's reception, he looked at my direction and smiled.

Pagkarating namin ng Okada, I wasn't really surprised, but seeing that different media personnel, trying to capture every moment, doubled their number—some were even broadcasting it live—just made me want to stab myself and live a completely different life away from the cameras and endless interviews.

Gio and my bodyguards immediately ushered me inside the venue. Reporters were quick to wave their hands para tumingin ako sa cameras nila, and God, if this wasn't even gonna make them hate me I would've probably screamed at them to screw off.

Pagkapasok namin sa loob ng hall, wala na ring pinapasok na reporters kaya nakahinga na rin ako nang maluwag. Marami na ring tao sa loob, pero wala pa rin sila Chen kaya lumapit na lang muna ako kina Hannah, since may entrance pa raw ang entourage for the program.

"Mukha kang sira."

Inirapan ko si Uno, "Role mo ba talagang lait-laitin ako pag magkasama tayo?"

Uno laughed but he didn't reply. Kumuha na lang ako ng mocktail nang may dumaan na waiter, and took a sip from it.

"Have you read the documents?"

Pinanlakihan ko ng mata si Uno at bumulong, "Are you stupid?! Why are you asking me that, here?"

He chuckled, "As if they'll know what the hell I'm talking about," he replied. "Nabasa mo na?"

I shook my head. Truth be told, hindi ko siya binasa, and honestly, Ali was right to tell that it wouldn't really be useful—but, it would be big enough for the media to build a story out of a DNA result and a case that wasn't broadcasted for the public to know—na kaya pala hinayaan lang nilang makulong si Ali kasi hindi naman pala talaga siya Juarez.

It would make them look villainous in the eyes of every Filipino.

It would make Senator Franchesca a liar—when she's been pursuing laws related to families, for mothers and their children. Tapos... ang unang-una pala niyang ginagago ay sarili niyang anak.

People will conclude a lot, that's for sure. Kung bakit kailangang ganonin si Ali—in the first place, why adopt a child if you cannot even love them wholeheartedly?

Ah, Politics. It really makes you the biggest hypocrite.

"Won't you say hello, my dear Brianna Andi?" I froze on my spot upon hearing his voice... he was so close to me that I could even hear his heavy breathings. I looked at him unto his eyes, we were probably measuring each other's stares—and I wouldn't back down tonight.

I can't backdown forever.

I flashed a sweet smile at him and raised the glass that I was holding, "Congratulations on Ali's wedding," I uttered. "I suppose you're next?"

Ali's smile faded for a while, his eyebrow raising for a split-second before he regained his poise, "I guess..." he uttered. "If you just say yes, Brandi. Hindi naman ako naniniwala sa sukob."

He flashed another smile and clasped his hands together, still holding a flute of champagne, "Ah... well, I guess you're not scared anymore, aren't you?" he said through gritted teeth, walking towards me... getting closer and closer as my breathing gets slowly hitched. It felt like I was losing myself.

"What if... I tell you that Alex Sanchez... is dead?" he whispered, sending chills to my spine. I was stoned, I couldn't even look at him... I was shaking in fear and in anger... "Well I guess I'll leave you two." I watched Fallon's steps as he walks away from us. Nagulat na lang din ako nang biglang may humila sa akin. Sumunod lang ako hanggang sa makarating kami sa isang open space. Role na ba talaga niyang laging hilahin ako sa kung saan?

"Breathe, Brandi, breathe," bulong niya habang nakahawak sa magkabilang balikat ko. I didn't even realize that I was crying so hard already kaya hindi na rin ako makahinga nang maayos. Uno let me cry habang nakatayo lang kami at nakahawak pa rin siya sa balikat ko. "Stop, stop crying..."

"A-Alex... Alex is dead, Uno..." I whispered. "They did it... they killed her."

"Shh..." he breathed, pulling me into a crushing hug. "Don't be scared, Brandi... I'm here, okay? Nandito lang ako."

"Uno..." Please don't do this.

"Hm?"

Instead of answering, humiwalay na lang ako sa pagkakayakap sa kaniya at dahan-dahang pinunasan ang pisngi ko. Great... Just great.

"Okay ka na?"

I nodded, "Thank you," I said.

But please don't do this Uno...

Uno smiled. And God, I swear... I'd gladly stab myself already.

Because... shit.

It's true.

I like him. So bad.

And it felt like I had no plans of stopping already.