"Oh, it's you!"

I looked at the man who was pointing at me. He was on his way out of the elevator when he got on again. "Sheen right?" he asked as the door closed. It's just the two of us.

"You knew me?" I tried to remember where I saw him. His face seems familiar. I wiped my cheek and stopped sobbing. "Paolo is the name. Did you forget me right away? I am Jhon Rey's friend. The one who welcomed you that night."

"Ahhh..." I nodded. He was the man who greeted me at Jhon Rey's birthday party. The man who gave me that wine. I didn't see his face that much because it was dark that night and only party lights served as light.

"So why is a beautiful young lady crying? Were you here to see Jhon Rey? Have you two broken up?"

I looked at him and smiled.

"We're not even in a relationship to break up."

"Oh, I see. Maybe he hasn't gotten over that one yet."

The elevator opened and I got out. I turned to him, wondering why he was following me.

"Tell me what happened; baka matulungan kita," he said. From the happy face he had, it suddenly changed. His face became serious.

"Nah, I'm fine. Nothing really happened," I answered. After all, he's still a stranger, and I don't have the guts to talk to someone and even talk about what I am going through.

"Really? Then why were you crying a while ago? Dahil lang sa wala?"

I twitched. Why is he so curious about my problem?

"You know, even though Jhon Rey is my friend, hindi naman ako 'yong tipo ng kaibigan na nangungunsinti. You are not the first one Jhon Rey cheated on if you only knew."

Umiling ako. "No, no cheating happened to us because we were not in a relationship," I corrected.

"But he was kissing you intensely that night."

I gulped. So he witnessed that too.

I felt ashamed. That means he also knows something happened between me and his friend. That made me feel low.

"I thought you two were in a relationship, kaya hindi ko siya pinigilan," paliwanag niya.

"What about that girl who was before me?" I asked curiously remembering what happened that night.

"That woman kissed him first."

I felt my heartbeat become stronger.

I don't know why I suddenly feel like I'm running out of breath.

"Mukhang alam ko kung bakit mo pinuntahan si Jhon Rey," sambit niya. "You know, there's nothing wrong about telling your problems to someone. Sometimes, it is relieving to tell it to strangers 'cause they won't judge you. The bad thing is keeping it all to yourself. It will cause you so much trouble inside that will suffocate you and lead you to suicide. Based on research, that is the first reason why people are depressed, 'cause they suppress it all inside that will cause them to insanity. And through insanity, there will be the time that you will unconsciously end your life than think about life being too short to be shortened. What I mean is, it's okay to vent it out sometimes. There's always someone who is willing to listen to your rants. You just need to find your people. We're humans that have the heart to help others when in need. You don't have to fight alone."

Napanganga ako sa sinabi niya. Mahaba, pero tumagos sa puso ko bawat salitang tinuran niya.

"W-what are you again?" I asked because I couldn't believe what he said.

"I am soon to be a psychiatrist; that's why my terms are kinda weird. Just so you know, I am Paolo Rod," pagpapakilala niya.

"Sheen May Velasco." I reached for his hand.

"So tell me what's going on between you and my friend."

Magsasalita na sana ako nang humarang si Derrick. Nasa parking lot na pala kami. Hindi ko namalayan dahil sa pag-uusap naming dalawa.

"I guess you don't have time to talk today. Here's my business card whenever you need someone to listen to you. And remember, a problem always has a solution. Just wait and you will see."

Inabot ko ang business card niyabago tumango. Nagpaalam na ako sa kaniya bago ako sumakay sa sasakyan ni Derrick.

"Your father is looking for you," balita niya sa akin.

"Bakit daw?"

"He wants to know how it went."

Napabuntong-hininga ako.

"Seems like he's ready to throw the bomb," komento ko, hoping that I was wrong.

Ilang sandali lang ay nakabalik na ako sa bahay. Nadatnan kong nagtatalo ang mga magulang ko.

"You can't do that, Maynard! Hindi dapat malaman ng tao ang kalagayan ng anak natin. Ano na lang ang sasabihin sa kaniya ng mga tao? Paano ang pag-aaral niya? And your business will be in a worse position."

"Then, should I blackmail them, Sheena? Tell them to fix this, or else they'll be in a mess too. Will they listen to us? That will only put our daughter's life at stake."

Napakagat ako sa labi ko. Ayaw kong marinig ang pagtatalo nila tungkol sa akin.

"If I don't act now, they will surely prevent our move. So I had no choice but to leak this in public so they will be forced to act on what they did. Their son started this mess. I will not allow us to be the only ones to suffer."

"Kung gano'n, ipakasal mo na lang siya."

Natigil ako sa paglakad nang marinig 'yon kay mom. Hindi ko alam bakit sa pagkakataong iyon ay hindi ko magawang maging masaya. Ito ang sinasabi ni Jhon Rey kanina na baka pilitin ko siyang magpakasal sa akin. Napapikit ako. Lalo niya akong kamumuhian kapag nalaman niya 'to.

"Wala tayong ibang paraan. Hindi mo naman gustong ipalaglag ni Sheen May ang bata, hindi ba?" tanong pa ni mom. "Hindi mo rin gustong ipakasal si Sheen May kay Jhunel dahil gusto mong pagbayarin ang pamilya ni Carpio dito at lalong hindi rin naman papayag ang pamilya ng mga Mercado na maikasal sa pamilya natin dahil sa nangyari."

Napabuntong-hininga si dad. Ngayon ko lang siya nakitang hindi alam ang gagawin na para bang naiipit sa sitwasyon. Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ako dahil sa unang pagkakataon, pinag-uusapan nila ako na para bang nag-aalala sila sa akin at sa kalagayan ko.  So this is what having a family is like?

Pareho silang napatingin sa akin.

"Oh, narito na pala ang magaling mong anak," bati sa akin ni dad.

"Sweetie," sinalubong ako ni mom. She brushed her hands against my arms. "How are you?"

Hindi ako nakasagot dahil nagsalita na kaagad si dad para tanungin ako.

"Ano? Nakausap mo na ba ang magaling na ama ng batang dinadala mo?"

Tumango ako.

"Does he know now that you're pregnant?"

Again, I nodded.

"What did he say?"

I couldn't speak.

That was my only chance to prove to my father that I can fix this, but even I don't know what to do.

"Sa hugis ng mukha mo, mukhang hindi ka niya tinanggap. Sinasabi ko na nga ba. Kilala ko ang asal ng mga hayop na 'yan kaya una palang pinaiwas na kita sa lalaking 'yon, pero hindi ka nakinig."

I was dumbfounded.

"I'm sorry, dad."

"Can your sorry fix all this?"

Napayuko ako.

"Are you happy now that you finally got what you wanted?"

I bit my lip.

"You successfully sabotaged your wedding with Mercados, and now we have no choice but to ask my rival to take responsibility for what they did. Is this how you got revenge on me?"

I sniffed. I did not plan all of this. This is not what I wish for.

"Maybe there's another way for us to solve this," mom commented.

I heard my father exhale deeply. "I have thought of another way." I saw him grit his teeth.

Nagkatinginan kami ni mom.

"Kung hindi siya madadala sa maayos na usapan, baril ko ang makikipag-usap sa kaniya."

"Dad, please no," sambit ko. Humarang ako sa dadaanan niya.

"Kung hindi rin naman siya mapakikinabangan, mabuti nang walang makinabang sa kaniya."

Sinagi niya ako bago tuluyang umalis sa pamamahay namin. Kasunod ang mga lalaking naka-uniporme na itim na isa-isang pumasok sa itim na van. May mga dala silang baril.

Umusbong ang kaba sa dibdib ko.
Hindi ko inasahang magiging ganito kagulo ang mundo ko.

I looked at Mom. We were both worried about what might happen. I don't want dad to kill someone as much as I don't want Jhon Rey to die, even though he is treating me bitterly.

I have to do something. I have to fix this, even if I don't have any idea how.

I bite my nails as I repeatedly walk in one place.

I suddenly noticed a piece of paper in my pocket. I looked at it and remembered the man who gave it to me. I immediately dialed the number on the business card on my cell phone.

I bit my lip as I waited for the person on the other line to answer.

Please, please answer this call. You're my last chance to save Jhon Rey.

I snapped when someone spoke on the other line.

"Hello?" he answered

My nervousness was immediately relieved, and it seemed like I saw some light of hope.

"I think I need your help," I stammered.

"Who's this?" tanong niya.

"Your friend is in danger."

"My friend? And whom are you talking about? Who are you?"

"It's me, Sheen May," I muttered.

"Sheen May?" He repeated what I said. I also heard a man's voice mention my name, and it seems my suspicion was right. He is in Jhon Rey's unit. I remembered that I met him earlier in the elevator, and it looked like he was heading there.

"What do you mean by my friend being in danger, Sheen May?"

"My father is on his way to kill him."