Chapter Two

Happily waving my hand at my phone that was stretched by my other hand, I let my eyes travel to the left down corner of the screen where the fast up-going of comments from different people located. I smiled even more widely when I read how my viewers were all very happy to see me again.

'fraye ive long waited for your next live!'

'youre so pretty tonight frayanne!'

'i missed u fraye!'

'hi fraye pa-shot out naman!'

Hindi pa nag-iisang minuto akong nag-la-live ay marami na agad ang viewers ko, dagsa na rin ng comments at walang tigil ang paglitaw ng mga iba't ibang kulay ng hearts sa kanang bahagi ng screen. Sa sobrang bilis ng pag-angat ng mga comments ay hindi ko na nahahabol at nababasa ang karamihan, parang kung paanong mabilis na dumarami rin ang number ng viewers ko ngayong gabi.

From hundreds, it now jumped to thousands.

"I missed you all too so much! I've been very busy these past few days because of school. Sadly, I won't be in this live for long, my family's going to a party tonight that's why I'm all dressed up. Don't get me wrong, I didn't dress up for this party. I was just barely convinced by my mother to come with them..." Mahaba kong paliwanag saka nilingon ang mga magulang ko sa likod ng sasakyan dahil nasa shotgun seat ako.

My father was busy talking to someone from his phone while my mother immediately held my gaze, a small smile plastered on her deep red tainted lips and even with the lightly dim atmosphere inside the car, she still looked so stunning in my eyes.

My viewers were long ago aware of my parents, they were also aware where did I get such beauty. Nagkaroon kasi ako noon ng isang live stream kung saan ipinakilala ko sa kanila ang mga magulang ko, my parents were very game so they joined me. We had talked with my viewers, answered a few questions and done a few dares.

"Mommy, say something to my roses!" Hinarap ko kay Mommy ang screen ng phone ko at dahil hindi siya killjoy ay nakangiti siyang kumaway at bumati.

"Hi my sweat pea's roses! Please, entertain my daughter, she has been frowning 'cause yeah, it was hard convincing her to come with us. I hope you're all doing fine!"

Sabay kaming humagikgik ni Mommy bago ko ibinalik sa akin ang screen, I once again saw my reflection as I smiled sweetly for my viewers.

"That was my mother. I'll give you a peek of my Daddy, but just a peek 'cause he's busy talking with someone over the phone..." Bahagya ko namang hinarap kay Daddy ang screen para makita siya ng mga viewers ko at mas napangiti ako ng malaki nang nakuha niyang pang kumaway kahit na halatang seryoso siyang nakikinig sa kausap niya.

There were lots of comments asking about the party we would be attending tonight and I just had to lazily shake my head and nonchalantly answered after loudly reading one specific question. "Nothing special."

"Don't be like that, Fraye. Your Kuya Yoongi is a nice man." Nakuha pang sumabat ni Mommy pero ngumuso ako at natatawang nag-sorry sa mga viewers ko saka nagpaliwanag.

"Of course, y'all know Yoongi Min, who doesn't? Some of you might already know what's the occasion tonight and I don't really want to talk about him. Nag-live lang talaga ako dahil sa mga comments niyo sa last post ko, if only I could reply to you one by one but you see, I'm so busy. It's my last year in junior high and school's stressing me. Understand me please..."

Nagpasalamat ako nang mabasa ko ang mga response nila sa sinabi ko, some said I also needed to wind up and not let school stress me, some said I could strongly get past the stress and some sweetly cheered me up.

"Thank you, thank you for your support!" masaya kong sabi, mula sa gilid ng mga mata ko ay nakita ko na ang matayog na fortress ng The Park Villages kung nasaan ang lupain ng mga Min. "Anyway, I'll have to say goodbye for now! When free from school, I'll promise to tune in and we'll see each other again. I love you, my roses!"

Doing live and talking to people on IG had been one of the things I had grown to love ever since. It was true that it was refreshing and emotionally cheering to see a lot of people giving attention to me but the support and love they gave me were what really I sought for, were what truly made me come back.

Hindi naman nagkukulang ang mga magulang ko sa pagbibigay ng suporta at pagmamahal sa akin, pero sa estado ng pagkatao ko, ibang atensyon ang hinahanap ko. Not from my parents, but for people I could at least call friends even just through the virtual world I chose to live in.

Sa Instagram ako pinaka-active, madalas akong mag-post ng mga pictures ko, ng mga personal na bagay na pag-aari ko, mga food interest ko maging ng mga lugar na pinupuntahan ko. People would always tell me how they loved everything I posted, they loved how I would always come out very open to them and they loved just every little even trivial things I did.

Nakakatawa lang kasi in reality, hindi naman talaga ako socially active na tao. Yes, I would talk to people but I didn't really include myself into circle or squad of peer. Bahay-school lang ako parati, hindi mahigpit ang mga magulang ko pero siguro kasi lumaki akong kakaunting tao lang ang mga nakakasalamuha ko plus Kuya Yoongi didn't let me go out when I was staying at their house before.

Mas strict pa siya sa mga magulang ko, sa totoo lang.

Just like the usual, the Min Mansion was decorated elegantly and beautifully like how it had always been whenever there was a special occasion. The main living room that now turned into a wide hall was filled with well-dressed people, everyone was too busy happily chatting with each other, person by person, and perfectly clothed tables were placed around the hall.

I could even faintly hear them all, business, business, business and business. Sanay na ako, occasion like this often used for business possible merging, investments or just simply boast who was at the top of the biggest hierarchy. Hindi man pareho sabihin ng mga magulang ko, alam kong hindi rin nila maiiwasang hindi isipin ang negosyo ngayong gabi lalo na at narito ang mga malalaking tao sa langaran ng business.

Sa diretsong direksyong naaabot ng mga mata ko ay naroon ang grand staircase, sa ibaba nito katulad ng dati ay naroon pa rin ang puting grand piano ngunit sa halip na isang batang lalaki ang naka-upo roon at nagmamani-obra ng keyboard, isang matipuno at guwapo-guwapong binata ang nagpapatugtog ng piano.

Just nothing changed through the years aside from he had just grown so mature and much more handsome compared to the boy I had in my memory, he still could play the piano very well. Everyone was still very dazed at his music and my fear for him still lingered within my heart.

Kuya Yoongi still had this effect on me, even after all those years. That... that man was supposed to be the highlight of this night.

Ilang buwan din kaming hindi nagkita, ilang buwan na akong hindi nagpupunta rito sa Min Mansion dahil hindi na ako kailangang ibilin pa ng mga magulang ko sa Min Family, malaki na ako at kaya ko na ang sarili ko.

Ilang buwan na, kaya siguro tila naninibago ako ngayon sa hitsura niya, sobrang puti pa rin naman niya, sobrang itim pa rin ng buhok niya at kahit naka-sideview siya ay pansin ko ang natural niyang tamad na eskpresyon.

He was playing the piano so lazily, it was as if he was just doing an easy thing for him and if I just didn't know him personally, I would think he was bored but no, that was his normalcy.

'I wish to become a rock in my next life.'

How could I forget that phrase?

Sana lang ngayon birthday niya, kung iyan pa rin ang wish niya ay sarilihin na lang niya. Sawang-sawa na ako, o maging ang mga bisita niya sa paulit-ulit niyang wish tuwing birthday niya.

"Fraye!"

Naputol ang paninitig ko sa lalaking nagpapatugtog ng piano nang may pigurang lumitaw sa harap ko na nakapagpatalon sa akin sa gulat. A hand also appeared in front of my face, swaying as if pulling me from the unknown trance that shortly trapped me.

Seeing the familiar smiling face in front me, my lips immediately pulled up for a wide smile, probably showing my set of whites and I almost jumped him a hug in excitement.

"Kuya Fern! You're invited!" masaya kong sabi, pinilit na pinanatili ang sarili sa puwesto ko. Nakakatuwang malamang nandito siya dahil ayaw kong ma-out of place sa party na ito.

I didn't want to join my parents with the other parents because it would only bore me to death, Kuya Yexel was still out of the country for his two years MBA so he was not here to entertain me. The reason why I didn't really like to go here in the first place.

I kind of missed him to be honest.

"Yeah, I was surprised when Mom told me we'll be attending a Min's party tonight. Mukhang hindi na galit sa amin iyong labanos na lalaking iyon," Kuya Fern answered me while laughing carefree referring to the birthday boy, he looked too laid-back with his simple black plain shirt under a lavender tuxedo matching a lavender slacks.

May black magnetic earrings siya sa magkabilang tainga at may silver necklace, ang kaliwang pulupulsuhan ay may dekorasyong silver watch. Maayos na sinuklay palikod ang may kahabaan niyang buhok, soft ang features niya kaya madalas siyang mapagkamalang babae at kaya bumagay rin sa kaniya ang medyo mahabang buhok.

Well, no, Fernando Neven de Asis was a Casanova. He maybe a pretty face, he could be so soft and very feminine but not when seen kissing a whoever girl at the hood of his car in the parking lot of their university. Wala ako roon para ma-witness iyon pero parating nakakalat sa explore section ng IG ko ang mga kaharutan niya. Madalas kasi siyang i-mention sa mga comments section ng mga posts kung nasaan siya.

Kung gaano ka-active ang actual life niya, ganoon din ka-active ang social online life niya.

Seriously, ikinakahiya na siya-sila ng buong angkan ng mga de Asis.

Napanguso ako nang banggitin niya ang isa rin sa mga dahilan kung bakit hindi ko talaga gustong-gusto na uma-attend ng mga Min's parties. Kung puwede nga lang sanang siya na lang ang nasa labas ng bansa at si Kuya Yexel ang narito e. I would be the happiest! Magpapasalamat talaga ako ng lubos sa kanila Tita Bella at Tito Thomas oras na ipadala nila sa labas ng bansa si Kuya Yoongi.

"Oh you don't know how I miss the softness of my bed now, Kuya. Pinilit na naman ako ni Mommy-"

"What's new, Fraye? Kaya nga naisip kong hanapin ka kaagad, I couldn't let the little girl mope the whole evening while people are enjoying. Tara kay Key?"

Mabilis na nagliwanag ang mukha ko sa sinabi niya, nilayasan ng inis ang buong sistema ko at pakiramdam ko, nagtatalunan na ang mga lamang-loob ko sa saya dahil nandito sa party ngayon ay dalawa sa mga paborito kong tao.

Seeing my excitement, Kuya Fern chuckled softly before smoothly lending his hands for me to take. He looked like a Prince asking his Princess to run away with him, and I couldn't believe I was that Princess. Mas lalong magagalit sa akin ang mga babaeng nahuhumaling sa kaniya, madalas akong makatanggap ng mga pagbabanta sa comment section ng IG posts ko mula sa mga babae, they were all warning me to stay away from him.

Mayroon din namang ilan mula sa mga babaeng nagkakagusto kay Kuya Key pero mas maraming war-freak kay Kuya Fern. Like hindi ba nila alam na hindi ko kailanman isusulong ang incest? Couldn't they conduct a little research first before attacking me on my posts?

Baka mapahiya sila kapag nalaman nilang pinsan ng mga lalaking kinahuhumalingan nila ang inaatake nila.

Mabuti na lang at mahal na mahal ako ng mga roses ko at palagi akong pinagtatanggol, madalas ko naman silang payuhan na huwag sumali sa mga online wars kaya mga behave sila.

"Yeah, he's with someone. He has the guts to bring a plus one when we're just barely invited, but he said, sa laki ng okasyon ngayong gabi, hindi na raw sila mapapansin."

Well, Kuya Key had a point. Kung may kaibigan lang din nga ako, baka mas ganahan pa akong magpunta rito sa party dahil puwede kong kaladkarin dito kaso ay wala naman. I had friends on IG, but I couldn't really drag them here because they were just my virtual friends. They were nice but I didn't personally know them, I actually hoped I did though.

Nang tinanggap ko ang kamay ni Kuya Fern matapos kong masigurong abala na ang mga magulang ko sa pakikipag-usap sa iba pang bisita, naglakad na kami patungo sa direksyon kung nasaan si Kuya Key. Hahanapin ako ng mga magulang ko mamaya for sure, pero sa ngayon, nakikita kong abala sila sa pakikipagkamustuhan.

If I was just the same old Fraye before, I would have clung on my mother's dress and tailed after her wherever she went but I had grown, I was not the same old passive girl before though still the out-casted one.

All the way, people could still store time to spare us attention, both male and female. May ilang naglakas-loob na bumati sa amin na masaya naman naming binati pabalik, may ilan din niyaya kami sa table nila at may ilang nag-alok ng inumin sa amin, all while hearing the mellow ear-warming music still blaring in the air.

Napakagaling pa rin talaga niyang magpatugtog ng piano, mas gumaling pa nga siya sa totoo lang.

Wala akong kakilala sa mga taong lumapit sa amin, wala man akong kaibigan ay marunong naman akong makisama. It was just that people in my school just didn't really want me in their circle, they didn't include me in their squad. Not that I wanted to, pero kung may makikipagkaibigan sa akin ay tatanggapin ko, ang kaso ay wala.

Nowadays, not because you were kind, you would instantly have friends.

Sa isang mesa kung nasaan si Kuya Key ay naroon din ang mga magulang niya at ang mga magulang ni Kuya Fern, malayo-layo pa kami roon pero kita ko nang bukod sa mga pamilyar na mukha ay may bagong mukha roon.

My parents probably didn't know that they were here, Mommy might have gone to greet them first if they knew.

Elegantly clad in a flesh-colored flowing dress, matching perfectly the colour of a delicate fair skin, a beautiful lady sat beside a man who handsomely had his flesh-colored tuxedo match the lady's dress. Maayos na naka-french bun ang itim na buhok ng babae pero nakikita ko ang ilang kulot na hiblang nalaglag sa gilid ng mukha niya.

She was smiling over what the lady in front of her was saying.

"Don't think anything, Fraye, she might be just another flavour of the week," Kuya Fern said from beside me as if he knew what was running on my mind.

Ngumuso ako saka mas pinakatitigan pa ang magandang babaeng palapit na ng palapit sa paningin ko. I could easily appreciate true beauty, and the girl seemed so soft and very innocent for Kuya Key who knew nothing but to play girls-play with girls.

Hindi naman siya nagpapa-iyak, hindi sila pareho ng nagpapa-iyak ng mga babae dahil marunong silang pumili, they were only up for those girls who were also up for games.

Playing safe ang mga gunggong.

"But she's really beautiful..." I uttered only above a whisper because I knew, I couldn't get involved with their relationship.

"All his girls are beautiful, Fraye." Humalakhak siya na para bang nakakatawa ang sinabi ko.

Napapatagal ang paglapit namin sa table nina Kuya Key dahil may ilan talagang sinasalubong kami at nakikipag-usap kay Kuya Fern, may ilang sinubukan akong kausapin pero tipid na ngiti lang ang ibinibigay ko.

"Go away, Gavin, my little pretty cousin will forever be unavailable. Go and turn a blind eye on her beauty or better yet, lemme just pull your eyeballs out-" Hindi na natapos ni Kuya Fern ang sinasabi niya dahil mabilis na tumango na ang lalaking nasa harap namin, agad na nag-iwas ng tingin at walang sabi-sabing umalis na.

Hinila ako ni Kuya Fern sa tabi niya na para bang ipinagdadamot na ako sa mga lalaking magtatangka pang gawin ang ginawa ng lalaki kanina, ramdam ko ang higpit ng hawak niya sa kamay ko kaya alam kong hindi talaga niya nagustuhan iyon.

The guy was just asking him about my name, and no, you couldn't really ask my cousins about things like that. Kung gaano kaluwag sa akin si Daddy at Mommy ay ganoon naman sila kahigpit, palibhasa parehong mga only child lang din katulad ko. Ako lang ang babaeng maaari nilang paglaanan nila ng proteksiyon mula sa mga lalaking katulad nila, mga lalaking paglalaro lang ang alam.

What did Tito Santi and Tito Luigi have been telling them again?

"Stop fooling around with girls, si Fraye lang ang babae sa inyo. You don't want your karma get even on her, right?"

Pareho silang natatahimik kapag naririnig iyan pero hindi talaga tumitigil, kasi ginagawa naman nila ang lahat para hindi ako gantihan ng sinasabi ng mga Daddy nilang mga karma nila.

"You could've just sent him away in a nice way, Kuya. Kaya napagkakamalan akong masungit ng mga roses ko e, they said, I don't entertain new friends!" nakasimangot na sabi ko nang magsimula na kaming maglakad ulit. I knew, I inherited my mother's sharp features. Madalas akong mapagkamalang maldita, that was why I didn't really put makeup on my face just so I couldn't enlighten more my sharp feature.

I was not maldita, I was actually very nice.

"And it's like it's a bad thing? It's natural 'cause you're an outcast," he said that like it was a normal good thing to say.

Nalukot ang mukha ko at marahas na hinila mula sa kaniya ang kamay ko, madali ko iyong nagawa dahil hindi niya inaasahan saka ko siya matalim na tinitigan. "I'm not an outcast!"

They didn't know how I desperately sought for friends, they didn't know how I could settle for anything just to get me into their circle of friends and how I could do anything just to have a friend. Nakakasawa na ring parati na lang akong mag-isang kumakain sa The Min's restaurant, mag-isa sa mesa kapag library period dahil walang may gustong makisama sa akin at kapag groupings ay napipilitan ang iba.

If only people would seriously let me know why they were doing this to me.

Imbis na makisabay pa sa kaniya ay inunahan ko na siya sa paglalakad. With my closed fist and shoulders' quick pace; up and down, I let my feet walk fast before he could say anything again that would only stress me how right he was about my life.

I was not an outcast! It was just that, people were out casting me! Magkaiba iyon!

Hindi pa man ako nakaka-ilang hakbang ay napatigil na ako sa mabilis na paglalakad at muntik nang sumubsob sa taong biglang humarang sa daraanan ko kasabay nang panunuot sa ilong ko ng pamilyar na amoy.

Strawberry... and I knew too well who owned that sweet smell in this sea of people.

Just then, I noticed how the air was now dominated by a new different feels of music, gone was the mellow tune of keys being played but exchanged with the melancholic pulling of string and blowing of tube; the orchestra.

For an instance, I suddenly felt like hitting myself for acting upset-mode to Kuya Fern and for even bravely pulling a walkout stunt because of the fear that once again found every nerve in my being. Lifting my head also seemed like a very difficult thing to do because meeting his eyes wouldn't be so nice so I just urged myself to look down.

Mas magandang titigan ang pares niya ng puting loaf shoes kaysa ang makita ko ang mukha niya!

"Don't think of escaping anymore, Julie, sa akin ka sasama buong gabi ng okasiyong ito." And even before I could turn my head back to seek help from my cousin who was probably now watching us, Kuya Yoongi's lazy yet hard voice immediately blared my ear, sending undeniable fear to my system and uplifting my stomach only to be tossed down also.

I felt like vomiting, out of fear. Pakiramdam ko napako na ng tuluyan ang talampakan ko sa sahig at nanigas na ako sa kinatatayuan, gusto kong tumakbo pero alam ko kung anong mangyayari kapag ginawa ko iyon.

Why was I moping again earlier, not wanting to attend this occasion anyway?

"Come, my friends are here. Taehyung has been looking for you."

It was because I loathed to see the very existence of this man who knew nothing but to act dominant against me and think like he owned my very own existence, just because I couldn't fight him!

Could I just call for Daddy now?

Nilakasan ko ang loob ko at nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya, pinigilan ko ang suminghap nang makita ko ang ayos niya. Hindi ko naman talaga ma-ipagkakailang napaka-guwapo ni Kuya Yoongi, para siyang si Kuya Fern na may soft features. Sila iyong mga lalaking suotan lang ng wig at dress ay magmumukha ng babae.

He looked too soft and very gorgeous in his white tuxedo above a white shirt, he handsomely matched it with his white slacks. Ang tanging itim lang sa kaniya ngayon ay ang magulo niyang buhok na parati namang ganoon, sobrang puti niya kaya kapansin-pansin talaga siya sa dami ng tao.

He would just stand in the middle of the crowd and every people's eyes would easily find him.

Tulad ng dati ay tila mahuhulog na ang mga mata niya dahil sa antok gayong sigurado naman akong wala siyang ginawa kung hindi ang matulog lang at ang mga maninipis na labi ay mamasa-masa kaya mas lumilitaw ang kapulaan. He looked like he just kissed someone... like he had just come from a lip-locking situation.

"I... I-I'm with Kuya Fern, Kuya Key's also here," mahinang sagot ko, takot na baka maling galaw ko lang o maling salitang lalabas sa bibig ko ay ikagalit na niya.

"Yeah, I already informed our guards so they're out now to drag them out of my house. They're not supposed to be he-"

"W-What? But they're invited..." I hardly bit my lower lip when I saw how his very black eyebrows lightly furrowed, his lips slightly parted as his pair of kitten eyes slowly blinked.

No, Fraye! You know more than cutting him off!

"I did not invite them. Why would I invite those thugs?" Dumiin ang tono ng boses niya saka tumagos ang tingin niya sa likod ko, ang pag-iigting ng panga niya ang nagsabi sa aking nakita na niya si Kuya Fern. Kung bakit galit na galit siya sa mga pinsan ko, no one knew. "What bullshit is this? Who invited that ass-faced thug-"

"I'll come with you!" Mabilis kong hinawakan ang braso niya nang tangkain niyang lagpasan ako para malamang sugurin si Kuya Fern, ni hindi ko na nilingon pa ang pinsan kong iyon kahit na gusto ko na siyang sabihan kung gaano siya katanga para manatili pa roon sa kinaroroonan niya.

Yes, who invited Kuya Fern and Kuya Key? Probably, Tita Bella invited their families so they would really tag along.

Hindi naman takot ang mga pinsan ko sa kaniya, madalas pa nga nilang pagbiruan ang galit sa kanila ni Kuya Yoongi, ang hindi lang nila maintindihan ay kung bakit parang ang laki ng kasalanan nila rito.

Hindi ko rin alam.

Tamad niya akong binalingan bago unti-unting bumaba sa braso niyang hawak ko ang mga mata niya kaya mabilis ko rin siyang binitawan, nilulukob na naman ng takot ang dibdib ko dahil sa puwede niyang gawin. I didn't want to get spanked again. Malaki na ako, dalaga na ako! Lalabas na talagang pang-ha-harass kung papaluin na naman niya ako! Isa pa, may malisya na sa akin ang lahat ng mga ginagawa niya!

"Wait there, Julie, hindi mo pa ako binabati. Greet me first and I'll let the bullshit go, I'll let your thugs of a cousin freely walk in my house and enjoy the occasion."

He then smirked, his naughty tongue dangerously sticking out as it playfully poked at the side of his lips making me gasp and my heart fall down my stomach, awakening the sleeping butterflies for a feast that would soon be the imitation of this occasion.

I had always known that he was a dangerous man but he just proved me now how dangerous he was.

To the bits, I would say.