Chapter Thirty-six

One of the things I hadn’t gotten prepared when I entered this relationship with Kuya Yoongi, I didn’t get myself ready for all the waves of problem that would possibly come our way. Masyado akong nadala sa nararamdaman ko, na buong akala ko, dahil masaya ako, habang-buhay na kaming magiging masaya. I failed to educate my mind that being in a relationship meant I would have to face every problem coming our way. I failed to make my heart prepared for all the pain those problem entailed. Kaya siguro sobra akong nasaktan, kaya siguro sobra kong dinibdib iyong kay Ate Mira at Kuya Yoongi.

I became too loose with the outside variable and too focused with my emotions.

I already admitted that what happened with Ate Mira was just because of my immaturity again, that I just forgot how Kuya Yoongi told me it was just only me because I was firstly controlled by my aching heart. Na kahit pala gaano ka-sane ang utak ko, kung nasasaktan ang puso ko, hindi ito tatanggap ng kahit na anong rasyonal na pag-iisip kasi sinusunod nito iyong puso ko. I also realized that though yes, love is flawed, that there isn’t no perfect love, I realized once more that I, too, was very flawed.

I wasn't perfect, my heart wasn't perfectly in love.

I didn’t have in me the trust, because my young heart wasn’t educated enough, it didn’t have experience to get lesson from. It wasn’t enough reason to justify how I reacted but it was the truth, it was the truth of my imperfect heart. At ngayon, ngayon habang nasasaksihan ko kung paanong nagaganap ang lahat, napagtanto ko rin kung gaano pa nga talaga ako kabata para sa lahat ng ito. I didn’t also have in me the strength to see things as how the way they unfolded right in front of my eyes, I didn’t have in me the power to understand how our simple love was soon thrown into a very chaotic situation.

Iyong noong lihim at simpleng relasyon namin ay bigla na lang napunta sa pinakakinatatakutan namin pareho. I didn't even have the courage to stand up for the love I had come to meet because I was still very shocked and stunned about the sudden turns of events…

All I could think about was how they were all trying to take me away from Kuya Yoongi as if being with him wasn’t the safest I could be. As if he was not good enough for me, as if he would only bring devastation to me… I couldn’t grasp anything because it hurt so much.

Crying loudly, I let Daddy firmly yet carefully drag my weak figure down the staircase as I could hear loud growls and angry screams from the room I left from. Nasasaktan akong ala-alahanin ang bigo at takot na mukha ni Kuya Yoongi nang lumitaw ang mga magulang namin sa kuwarto ni Kuya Yexel dahil malamang narinig nila ang ingay roon. Aside from I was hurting for the obvious fears flashing in his kitten eyes, I was also afraid more so when Daddy and Mommy appeared from the door, tailing Tita Bella and Tito Thomas.

Hindi ko na rin pa kailangang marinig mula sa kanila na agad nilang naintindihan ang sitwasyon nang dumako ang mga mata nila sa akin. At tulad ng disappointment na nakita ko sa mga mata nina Tita Bella at Tito Thomas, ganoon din ang gumuhit sa mukha ng mga magulang ko.

Everything became so rush and blurry for me anymore but I still could remember how Daddy quickly took his jacket off and flew to where I was, carefully draping the garment around my body before he took my hand to silently drag me out of the room.

It was very silent at first, as what could only be heard around the room was each of our heavy breathes before Kuya Yoongi's frightened voice blared through the air.

“Where, wh-where… no, d-don’t take her…” Kuya Yoongi’s broken voice that was filled with his undeniable fears pained my heart so even though Daddy was firmly holding my wrist, I weakly tried to shake my hand off his grip in attempt to join Kuya Yoongi on the floor, and make him feel that we were fine… though I knew, I needed that more than anyone.

Ni wala na akong paki-alam pa sa iba pang mga taong nasa loob ng silid dahil ang tanging mahalaga lang sa akin ng mga oras na iyon ay ang makalapit kay Kuya Yoongi at ipakita sa kaniyang dalawa kami rito. Dalawa kaming lalaban para sa relasyon namin.

It almost made me break down on my knees and desperately hold him when I saw how his handsome face was fairly beaten up. A trickle of blood was on his lips to his chin, a rip on his precious lips was made. Purple bruises were forming around his eyes, and cheekbones, he looked too ruin and too messed up that he had ever had.

Kahit kailan ay hindi ko pa siya nakita sa ganitong kalagayan.

“Daddy, let me go to h-him—"

“No, Fraye! We’re leaving!” Bukod sa biglaang pagtataas ni Daddy ng boses ay ikinagulat ko rin nang malakas niya akong hinila palayo kay Kuya Yoongi na nagtangka ring abutin ako, naging mabilis din si Kuya Yexel para pigilan siya.

The tall and handsome man stared blandly at me as he stood in between us, keeping me from seeing his younger brother.

I couldn't believe I ever hoped for his comeback only to ruin what I had established with Kuya Yoongi. Ikatutuwa ko ang pagbabalik niya pero hindi sa ganitong paraan. I couldn't help but let my tears finally stream down my cheeks, seeing his soft features in an angry scowl, as if he was both angry and disappointed at me.

When Kuya Yexel hardly shook his head at me, Daddy then took no time in dragging me out of the room for real, not even giving everyone in the room a chance to speak. Si Mommy ay naramdaman kong tahimik na nakasunod sa amin habang nagkakaroon na ng buhay ang mga hikbi ko.

I meant, they couldn't do this to us. At least give us a chance to explain!

“No! Give her back!”

“Let me go, Kuya! You don’t know anything!”

“P-Please, don’t take her away from me!”

We were already down the stairs but my heart was still left in Kuya Yexel’s room, at Kuya Yoongi specifically, my heart was tearing apart for his pleads and screams that no one seemed to give in. Bukod sa galit na panenermon ni Kuya Yexel sa kaniya ay naririnig ko rin ang banayad na boses ni Tita Belle na sinusubukan siyang kalmahin.

I wished Daddy would give us the chance to explain and properly take our relationship out to them. Hindi iyong ganito, I knew we were wrong in keeping them this but they should also give us a chance.

Ni hindi ako makapaniwala kung gaano kabilis lang na nangyayari ang lahat. Last night, I was very upset with Kuya Yoongi, came the deepness of the night where we deeply talked and made love again, and then just this morning, Kuya Yexel arrived unannounced only to catch us both sleeping together. And now, Daddy was too angry to say the least, I would bet he was already planning on how to make me sit on a chair and bombard me with inquiries… kung ganoon ang gagawin niya, handa akong sagutin ang mga ibabato niyang tanong, huwag lang niya akong ilalayo kay Kuya Yoongi.

I could even beg to him, cry my eyes out at him just so he wouldn’t make me stay away from the man I loved. Tatanggapin ko ring ang disappointment nila sa akin, kasalanan ko, deserve ko iyon kaya tatanggapin ko pero, pero huwag lang talaga sana niyang palayuin ako kay Kuya Yoongi. Hindi ko kakayanin, I would hate to go against them but I couldn't promise them I would stay away if they told me to.

“Serge, I think you’re acting so drastic, we didn’t even say goodbye to the Min—“

“Because we’re pulling out of them, Elaina! If you still don’t understand what’s going on, I’ll tell you, their kid has been molesting my daughter!”

Hindi lang ako natigagal sa sinabing iyon ni Daddy dahil kitang-kita ko ang gulat sa mukha ni Mommy. She tried to open her mouth to say something but close it too when she couldn’t seem to find the words she was needing to say. Her eyes were shrinking from how the way Daddy was glaring at her, as if taking all the blame to her just because he was mad. Samantalang nasasaktan ako sa paraan ng takbo ng pag-iisip ni Daddy. I knew I was never rational, but above all, he should be the one who was rational here, right? Paanong nasasabi niya iyon?

They had known Kuya Yoongi since time immemorial, he knew Kuya Yoongi so how could he think that Kuya Yoongi would seriously do that to me? Naiintindihan ko ring baka dala lang ito ng pagiging overprotective niya, pero naisip man lang ba niya ang nararamdaman ko? Did he even ask me about what I thought about all this? Hindi ko rin dapat siya sinisisi dahil may kasalanan ako rito, naglihim ako pero hindi ko matanggap na ganoon ang tingin niya kay Kuya Yoongi.

Also, I had never heard Daddy raised a voice at my Mommy, let alone stared at her like he hated her to pits, they weren't also the perfect couple that ever existed but they never showed me that they regretted ever marrying each other. They somehow fought but never really raised voices at each other. I felt guilty for it was me the reason why this was all happening.

Kung sinabi ko ba noon sa kanila ang tungkol sa amin ni Kuya Yoongi, magiging ganito ba? Maybe this was the reason why Kuya Yoongi was too afraid to let our parents know about us. Maybe he knew they would act like this…

Getting enough courage to stand up for what my heart wanted, I stopped walking when we were about to reach the main door of the Min Mansion, forcefully taking my wrist from my Daddy's grip and bravely meeting his confused eyes that instantly flickered to mine. Kahit kailan hindi ako sumuway sa mga magulang ko, kahit kailan ay hindi ako gumawa ng kahit na anong bagay na ikagagalit nila. Like they said, I was raised perfectly, but that didn’t mean, I couldn’t stand up for my heart.

Ngayon lang, ngayon ko lang gagawin.

I couldn't yet afford to lose what I had with Kuya Yoongi, we were just starting. Katulad nang sinabi niya noon, masyado pang maaga para masira kami ng ganito. I knew he could fight for us, but for now, I would girl up and take the lead first since he was too vulnerable and incapable now when everyone seemed to put a shackle around him to keep him from fighting, so I would fight first, for us.

“Kuya Yoongi is my boyfriend, Daddy. He didn’t molest me like what you said… we did what we did with both of our consents…” I firmly told Daddy, my other hand softly caressing my wrist that had the marks of Daddy’s fingers.

Nang dumako roon ang mga mata niya ay nakita ko ang unti-unting pagkakabasag ng matigas niyang anyo. His face softened as he slowly reached for my wrist, his hand carefully taking place of my hand to caress the marks he did.

My young aching heart instantly softened by how the way he quickly showed affection to me, remembering how he always pampered me, remembering how he would rather go through difficulties for me, remembering how he would do anything for me. My Daddy loved me so much but I wanted to know just for how much, because I knew, with what I would seriously ask for them, it wouldn’t be easy to just give in to me.

Kay Mommy, may pag-asa, pero kay Daddy, imposible.

“No, baby. You’re still seventeen, you still don’t know what you’re saying. We’ll go home and you’ll take a rest, okay? Let us handle this for you…” His other hand carefully caress my cheek, his thumb softly wiping out the stray tears that littered on my face as he smiled painfully at me.

My Daddy must have probably known too well how simple soft talks from him could easily drag me in. Of course, he knew. Hindi na ako nagprotesta pa nang matapos niyang patakan ng mabilis pero marahang halik ang noo ko ay nagpatuloy na kami sa paglalakad palabas ng Min Mansion, palayo kay Kuya Yoongi.

Deep inside me, I just wished this would be just a phase again in our relationship, I hoped we could both get through this… we were strong, right? I hoped we were…

I couldn't rest. How could I rest if my mind was left at where Kuya Yoongi was, busy thinking about what might probably be happening already at the Min mansion. I didn't even know what Tito Thomas and Tita Bella had to say about this, about all this. Hindi rin ba sila pabor? Ilalayo rin ba nila si Kuya Yoongi sa akin?

Quickly shaking my head at that horrible thought, I was instantly up from sitting on the edge of my bed, paling at the very thought that at the passing second, a lot could happen. Kung maiisipan mang ilayo ni Tita Bella si Kuya Yoongi sa akin, kaya nilang gawin iyon anumang oras. I trusted that Kuya Yoongi could do anything against that, but what were the chances they would hold him up? Min Agents guards were pretty strong…

Oh no, mas hindi ko kakayanin kung si Kuya Yoongi ang lalayo!

Maybe, I was truly a mess like how messy my mind was because I just found myself being dragged by my feet, as I quickly paced towards and out of the door of my room and only stopped when I reached the door of my parents' room. Nawala na rin sa isipan ko ang kumatok pa dahil pinangungunahan na ako ng isipan ko, dumagdag pa ang takot na nananatili pa rin sa puso ko.

If I said I never had something I had truly fought for, then I would say, Kuya Yoongi and our relationship would be the first.

The time, and all that I had gone through with Kuya Yoongi had somehow thought me how to fight for what was mine, for what I wanted. I couldn't yet lose Kuya Yoongi and all that we had because I didn't even know anymore how to live without him, and all of what we had. Siguro nga magiging mali kung susuway ako sa mga magulang ko, they could also reason out to me again and again how I was still so young with all this, pero hihintayin ko pa bang mawala siya sa akin bago ko tuluyang maunawaang hindi naman pumipili ng edad ang pag-ibig. Because if it does, then Kuya Yoongi could have chosen Ate Mira over me, but he didn't, he chose me.

It was me who he loved so I would girl up, be mature with this and fight for us.

Gasping silently when finding the door unlocked, I just shook my head to throw away any unnecessary thoughts and silently crossed the door only to find no one inside. The bedsheet was clean and tidy because of the absence of occupants last night. Iisipin ko na sanang baka nasa living room ang mga magulang ko kung hindi lang ako nakarinig ng mga ingay mula sa veranda kung saang may makapal na kurtina ang nagsisilbing harang para makita ko ang labas.

The sliding glass door was slightly opened that was why I could hear voices.

"You can't just decide alone so fast about this, Sergio. We both know that Thomas and Bella also have a say to this…" It was first the careful yet stern voice of my Mommy.

"Then what do you want me to do? Ask them nicely to let us withdraw from them? El, I can't even imagine meeting them again without remembering how I saw our daughter looking so ruined and vulnerable on that bed earlier! I couldn't even imagine what that kid had been doing to her behind our backs!" Followed suit was the thundering voice of my Daddy, seething with undeniable anger.

"Then at least have the decency to call them and inform them about your decision! We have a deal we signed with them! Almost all of our men are Min Agents people!"

"Tsk, what? They'll sue us for breaching the contract? What about I file a case against their son for sexually harassing my child?! God, El, my baby's not even legal yet!"

Hindi ko napigilang matutop ang bibig ko sa narinig. My heart wasn't only panicking about the fact that my Daddy was planning to pull out from the Mins, but about the possibility of him, filing a case against Kuya Yoongi! I meant, I was old enough to understand how the basic rules of law run. I was not legal yet, and if Daddy would seriously file a case against Kuya Yoongi, we both couldn't do anything about it.

Makukulong si Kuya Yoongi!

"You know what? You're trying to make me feel like I'm a freaking bad mother, like the worst of all! We are talking about our daughter here, Sergio! Anak natin! And though I'm also very disappointed with we she did, I still can store an effort to hear her out, like give her the chance to explain herself! I trust that she'll never do things that can hurt us! And she's old enough for her sake!"

"No! She's just seventeen! She should be just enjoying her teenage life, like goof with her dolls and play with her friends! No, El, no, I can't just stay still like this!"

"You're just afraid to see her grow, Serge! You're so unbelievable! She's already a lady, and probably currently caught up in the phase of maturity! And to tell you frankly, Yoongi isn't that bad, he's a good kid and trustworthy! You're just being difficult for something you're still not ready for!"

Hindi ko kinakaya ang pagsasagutan nila sa mga nagtataasan nilang mga boses kaya mabilis akong bumalik sa kuwarto ko. I made sure I locked the door before I threw myself on the bed, instantly curling as I hugged one of my pillows. Doon ko ibinuhos iyong lahat ng sakit, takot at frustration ko sa lahat ng mga nangyayari. I even came to a point where I just wished what was happening was like the simplicity of Kuya Yoongi bringing Ate Mira to their mansion and I was just being jealous.

At least, that was bearable. I could cry by myself without having both of my parents fight over it, without them getting tangled into this complicated turmoil my relationship with Kuya Yoongi was suddenly thrown into.

Buong magdamag akong umiyak lang nang umiyak. I even wished I could just call Kuya Yoongi and talk to him so he could assure me once more that what we were having now was just a phase, that this would pass and we would be fine again. I wanted him to make me feel again that everything was going to be fine. Pero paano ko gagawin iyon kung hawak ko nga ang phone ko pero wala naman akong number niya. Like I never thought I would need his number until now. Of course I couldn't call their home landline, for sure, no one in there would let me talk to him.

Ano na kaya ang ginagawa niya? Gusto rin ba niyang makita ako? Katulad ko, iniisip din ba niya kung ano nang mangyayari sa amin? Kung paano na kami ngayon?

I wanted to try Kuya Yexel. He always supported me, like I knew he would be on my side, that maybe he was just shocked to what he had got to deal when he came from a flight, maybe he just didn't know what he was doing earlier and had leashed out to us because well, that was how anyone would react. Maybe I could already talk to him, tell him about Kuya Yoongi and I, and maybe he would help us. Or would he really?

Hindi ko alam.

And for every passing second, minute and hour, I was getting crazy thinking about all the possible things that could happen at this point. The worst was Kuya Yoongi being taken away from or me being taken away from him. Neither was pleasing. Both were devastating.

I expected Daddy to call me for inquiries, like I spent almost an hour creating a list of facts I would tell him, I even promised myself to be honest with him, with them but a whole day had already passed, until dinner came, he never called me for inquiries or just a talk, I was only called by a maid for dinner.

Sa hapag ay tahimik kaming tatlo. It even hurt me seeing my Mommy's swollen eyes, reminding me how my eyes felt swollen too. I couldn't imagine my Mommy crying so much, like for long just because of me. They weren't also talking so it made me feel guilty thinking they were not good. In order to escape such a painful situation, I quickly finished my food to run back to my room and locked myself in again.

It went like that for the next days. Mas mahirap lang sa mga sumunod na araw dahil napagtanto ko magkagalit talaga ang mga magulang ko. Every time at the dining table, I would just feel my appetite dropping that would result into me, not eating much and leaving the table first. Nalaman ko ring humiwalay ng kuwarto si Mommy kay Daddy.

Just how could everything fall into this, into the ruining of my family?

Also, I noticed how men that guarded our manor seemed to change, they were all now new faces. Kahit si Mang Estacio na driver ko ay hindi ko nakita nang unang araw ng pagbabalik-eskwela. My new driver seemed nice as he lightly smiled at me when he opened the door for me, so I just let it pass. But when I reached the school and no Pagoda Blue arrived to meet me, I realized that this was all real.

Tuluyan na ngang pinutol ni Daddy ang koneksiyon namin sa mga Min.

"Seriously, it feels weird not having Totoro and his birthstones with you. I'm not saying that I miss Totoro, okay? I must've just gotten used to their presence…" Cali inconsiderately told me while we were having our lunch, not at The Min's, but at some dine-in restaurant just also around the school.

The driver, that came out also as my personal bodyguard instructed me a while ago that he was tasked to make sure I wouldn't go near The Min's restaurant.

My Daddy wasn't just playing anymore I knew, but I couldn't help but think how absurd everything was. Like just for until he would do this? Everything was coming out as immaturity for me. It felt to me like he was trying to prove a point when it was pointless at this point! Sino ba rito ang gusto niyang maapektuhan sa mga ginagawa niya? Dahil kung ang mga Min ang gusto niyang maapektuhan, puwes, dinadamay niya ako!

He was trying to make me live a life I wasn't used to! He was putting me into such an ordeal I didn't even want to deal with!

Kahit na gusto kong matawa sa itinawag ni Cali kay Aquamarine at Garnet, hindi ko magawa dahil hindi na nakakatuwa ang mga nangyayari. Malapit na ako sa puntong luluhod ako sa harap ng Daddy ko at magmaka-awang huwag niyang gawin ang lahat ng ito. I was just trying to make myself believe that he was my father, he loved me so much and that he wouldn't do anything that would harm me, though he had been already hurting me.

"I don't want to think about them, Cali…" I answered my friend who was still so oblivious about what was really happening to my life.

She casually shrugged her shoulder as she picked her spoon only to toy with her food like what I had been doing. Wala akong gana. Hindi ako makakain ng matino gayong hirap akong sanayin ang sarili ko sa mga pagbabagong nangyayari sa buhay ko rito sa school.

"I mean, if they got fired, I don't think there's a valid reason for it. I might not like Totoro but I know, they're the best you have." I knew she was sincere because there was no way she would give such an honest compliment when she hated Pagoda Blue so much.

"Just things aren't going well at home these days, Cali…" mahinang sabi ko, hindi ko magawang sabihin sa kaniya ang gulong nangyayari ngayon. Yes, she was my best friend but what was happening right now wasn't just only about Kuya Yoongi and I, the current state of my family had also been at sake with this.

Conflict of our family stayed only at home, at the safety of the de Asis manor.

Mukhang naintindihan naman niya iyon dahil hindi na siya nagsalita pa. She just lazily finished her food as I completely discarded the idea of finishing mine. Our way back to our classroom wasn't easy because we bumped with the soccer team, with Dawn Vonmorte leading the group.

I wasn't really having in me the time and energy to still deal with Dawn. I wasn't still very over how she casually acted around Kuya Yoongi before, even had the guts to tell him that we knew each other when we weren't more than just a passing shoulders, snickers and a roll of her eyes from her at me. Hindi ko rin naman siya pinapansin noon, pero maayos ko siyang nadi-deal kasi madalas ko siyang intindihin.

So maybe, when they stopped as she stood tall in front of me and I just continued walking like I didn't see her very disturbing figure with her sport uniform, maybe it had gotten so much to her that she needed to harshly hold my arm and drastically drag me back in front of her. I literally didn't have the energy so it was easy for her to do it.

"Hey!" Cali even protested but I just gave her an assuring smile when I turned her way before completely giving my attention to Dawn.

Noon, iniintindi kong wala lang talaga siguro siyang magawa sa buhay kaya ako ang napipili niyang pag-trip-an minsan pero dahil wala akong lakas at panahon para intindihin siya ngayon, naisip kong siguro ay kulang lang talaga siya sa pansin.

I also never fought back, but when she seriously pissed me off with my current mood, I wouldn't think twice to throw a defense for myself.

"Look who's acting so demure here. Why don't you tell everyone here how you're being a pawn by your parents to seduce the youngest son of the Mins? You got the guts to ignore Daniel Kang because you already have one of the heirs to the Min Industry, that's why." Humalukipkip siya saka ako nginisian nang unti-unting manlaki ang mga mata ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Her voice wasn't too loud but it was enough to get anyone's attention who were littering at the hallway.

"Wh-Where did you get that?" I terrifyingly asked her. I wasn't being afraid about all the lies she just blurt out just now, I was more concerned about how the hell did she even know that. Like I was so sure the Mins wouldn't make such lies to feed people, I believed they wouldn't do that to us though our families were kind of in a very complicated situation right now.

Mas lalong lumapad ang ngising nasa mga labi niya na para bang nagugustuhan niya ang nakikita mula sa mukha ko. Cali who was behind me, already advanced to me to stand by my side, and from my peripheral vision, I could see her intently staring at me, but for now, there was nothing I wanted my focus on but on what Dawn had to say.

"Oh, of course, you don't know. Your family wasn't invited. The Mins threw a welcome party for Yexel Min for his come back the other last night, and you'll never believe how everyone at the party was talking about how disgusting your family is. Tss, I mean, look at you? It wasn't a shock anymore with that disgusting beauty." And she laughed mockingly at me while disgustingly pointing me as if she really wasn't surprised anymore.

"That's n-not true…" I lowly said, slowly shaking my head to wrong her lies. I meant, hindi iyon gagawin sa amin ng mga Min! Our families had been friends since time immemorial and I believed what happened wouldn't be the reason for us to be like this!

Lilipas din ito! Makaka-usad kaming lahat!

"Oh really? Actually, what I'm surprised about is you still don't know about this. Like, care to check the social media since you're a famewhore, right? For sure, even your stupid fans have already turned on you. Tsk, tsk, tsk, let's go girls, can't stay long anymore with someone as disgusting as her…"

Even when they were gone, I remained standing still at where they left me, still too damned thinking about what Dawn had broken to me. My heart, that had already been going through so much, felt like being squeezed as I took in all of what Dawn said. I knew they were all lies but if they weren't really freed from the Mins, then how come she knew about it? Paanong nalaman man lang niya ang tungkol sa amin ni Kuya Yoongi?! Ni wala akong ideya na nagpa-party ang mga Min para sa pagbabalik ni Kuya Yexel. And of course, everyone would have wondered why we weren't invited!

And Kuya Yoongi! I meant, could he really let something like that spread like wildfire and poison everyone's minds? I didn't seduce him! And I never did for money or for what people might have been believing now! Mahal ko iyong tao! At kung may nang-akit man sa amin dito, hindi ba't siya iyon? It was him who lured me into this!

The hollowed and painful feeling in my heart just doubled when I sensed how everyone in the hallway was throwing a disgusted look at me, like everything Dawn said was all enough for them to believe such crap. My crying session was yet up later the night but with what happened, I couldn't help but let tears wet my cheeks.

Bakit naman sunod-sunod yata lahat ng mga problemang dumarating sa akin?

"F-Fraye…" Cali's soft but broken voice from behind me didn't even sooth what I was feeling, if anything, it only added to the pain.

"Are you going to judge me too like everyone—" Hindi ko na natapos ang sinasabi ko nang maramdaman ko ang biglang paghawak niya sa braso ko bago ko matagpuan ang sarili kong yakap-yakap niya. Her soft cries then followed as she spoke against my shoulder, despite how sobs were keeping her from speaking properly she still spoke.

"I know y-you more than those people, Fraye! I'm not going to be going down their le-level, and judge you without even knowing e-everything! I've always known how nice you are as a person, that when I found out that my… m-my brother likes you, I was more than ecstatic because I knew, he wasn't wrong in liking you! I know you're more than these girls, you're far better than any girl I've known! What I just hate about you is you really tend to keep secrets f-from me! Paano kita ide-defend sa mga monsters na nang-aaway sa'yo kung wala akong alam?" As she rambled about this and that of her feelings, her hug to me was tightening, to the point that she was already squeezing me.

Hindi ko ininda iyon dahil pina-iyak na talaga ako ng mga sinasabi niya. She was really the best of friend I had ever got. Nasaktan ko na ang kapatid niya pero hindi niya iyon ginawang dahilan para magalit sa akin. She fairly understood my side. At ngayon, nanatili siya sa tabi ko sa kabila ng judgement ng lahat sa akin. I actually didn't need those people's thought about me, I only needed one people, which was Cali to believe in me.

I wasn't still saying anything to her, but she was already assuming that I couldn't do it. Because she knew, I couldn't, I wouldn't.

"Thank you, Cali…" I gratefully told her, hugging her back, but not how they way she was squeezing me.

"Hm, now trust me and let me know what happened…"

And so, she had me ditched the whole class as I had her sat on a chair in front of me, inside the same restaurant where we were earlier. I told her everything that happened, from the Christmas night, to the first morning of the year. She silently listened to me, had her gapped her mouth with the few details, twitched her mouth and blinked her eyes. Lastly, she cried with me when I got to the point where our family left the Min mansion and I told her it was the last time I had seen Kuya Yoongi.

"That… that sounded so hard and painful. I'm s-sorry you have to go through that…"

Smiling at her, I slowly shook my head. "Don't be sorry. I brought this to myself. I don't even know anymore how he's doing. If what Dawn said is really true, I don't think I could afford if he didn't do anything about it."

She carefully held both of my hands that were on top of the table as she smiled back despite the tears that were still trekking down her cheeks. "I'm sure he did. For now, sundin mo na lang muna ang gusto ng mga magulang mo. In time, everything will be right back to their right place, and you'll be fine, you'll both be fine…"

Somehow, the was the most comforting things I had heard after all that happened.