Gemini found herself in a small, cozy house in a squatter area that Carding had arranged for her. It was a far cry from the cold, dark room she had been confined to in her parents' house. The small house had simple furnishings, but to Gemini, it felt like her own haven. So peaceful and surrounded with positive auras. 

Carding had taken Gemini under his wing, providing her not only with a safe place to stay but also with emotional support. They knew that healing would take time, but they were determined to help her rebuild her life.

Pansamantalang pinatira ng binata si Gemini sa kanilang bahay kasama ang kanyang ina na si Nay Sonya at ang dalawa nitong mga kapatid na si Badong at Berting. Gustuhin man na patuluyin ni Inse si Gemini sa kanilang bahay ngunit inaalala niya ang kanyang Tiyahin at tatlong pinsan na ubod ng pagkaluho.

The first few days were a blur for Gemini. She spent most of her time in her room, processing the trauma she had endured and trying to come to terms with the revelations about her family's dark secrets. 

Inse and Carding checked on her regularly, offering a listening ear when she was ready to talk. They never pushed her to share more than she was comfortable with, understanding that healing was a gradual process.

Nabalik sa reyalidad si Gemini nang mayroong kumatok sa pintuan ng kanyang kwarto.

"Inse, hija, kumain ka na. Pinagdalhan na kita ng makakain." 

It was Nanay Sonya. 

Hindi sumagot si Gemini. Kusang bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa no'n si Nay Sonya na mayroong bitbit na tray na may lamang mga pagkain. 

Niyakap ni Gemini ang kanyang binti nang umupo si Nay Sonya sa kanyang kama at inilapag ang tray. 

"Kamusta ka na, hija?" Nakangiting tanong ni Nay Sonya. 

"I...I...d-don't know…" Nauutal na aniya sabay ibinaba ang kanyang ulo at napahikbi. "I don't know a-anymore, Nanay Sonya. H-Hindi ko na po alam kung kakayanin ko pa…"

Nakaramdam ang matanda ng awa sa dalaga kaya hindi niya na napigilang yakapin si Gemini.

"Pasensya na kung naranasan mo kung gaano kalupit ang mundo." Mahinang saad ni Nay Sonya. "Alam kong malalampasan mo rin ito, magtiwala ka lamang sa Diyos."

Umiling si Gemini. "N-No, Nanay…I-I think I deserve this. I've been a very b-bad girl, eh. Maybe this is my karma na po."

"No, anak. Alam kong mabait ka kaya hindi mo deserve ang ganitong kahayupang ginawa sayo. Bata ka pa and you're still exploring things. Hindi ito karma, isa itong kahayupang ginawa ng mga magulang mo. Wala kang kasalanan." Nay Sonya comforted Gemini.

Yumakap naman pabalik si Gemini at mas lalong napaiyak. Hinayaan lamang siya ni Nay Sonya na ilabas ang kanyang hinagpis. Tanging paghaplos at minsan pa'y hinahalikan niya ang ulo ni Gemini.

The next morning, Gemini mustered the courage to open up to Inse about her grandmother's death. She needed to talk about it, to make sense of the painful memories that had haunted her.

"I loved my grandmother so much," Gemini began, her voice trembling. "She was the only one who showed me kindness in that house. But I always thought she died of natural causes. How could my own sister..."

Inse listened empathetically, her presence a comforting anchor for Gemini's emotions. Hindi siya nagsasalita ngunit pinapakinggan niya si Gemini.

Gemini's tears are rolling down to her cheeks. "I just can't believe how twisted my family is. How could they do all those things?"

Nanginginig ang kamay na nagpunas si Gemini ng kanyang luha. "I don't know what to do anymore, Ate Inse. Since I was a child, I just wanted to have a happy family, not a fucked up one." 

Mapait siyang napatawa. "My family is bullshit. Everything is bullshit! Imagine…no, actually, you should believe me because I experienced this! I-I was raped by my own father! I was physically, mentally, and sexually abused by my own family. My friends left me without even saying a word! A-And the person I least expect not to leave…also left me! No one loves me! No one cares for me! I'm so pathetic! I-I don't want to live anymore, Ate. I j-just want to die! I want to end everything…"

Napasinghap naman si Inse at napakamot sa kanyang ulo.

"Alam mo, Gemini…gustuhin man kitang intindihin pero hindi kita maintindihan! Walangya, bobo ako sa english! You englishing me, no, no. I go home and go get carabao and drink it! My water in body is watering." Reklamo ni Inse.

Napahinto si Gemini sa pag-iyak at matagal na tinitigan si Inse.

"Hoy muret, anyare sa'yo, dre? Tulala ka na d'yan. Aba, baka may sayad ka na sa utak. Don't be brainy! I get hospital and dead. My head…ano…puta ano ba kasi english ng kumikirot? Ah, alam ko na. My head has kirotism, like magmatism and organism." Pumipitik-pitik pa sa harap niya si Inse.

"Unbelievable…I should be angry because she just wasted my energy and effort to talk but…I felt the opposite. Why is that?" Napailing si Gemini at mahinang napatawa. "Wow, I felt like it's been so long since the last time that I chuckled."

"Tangina, ayoko na nga mag-english! Basta ang masasabi ko lang sayo, laban lang! Malalagpasan mo din 'yang mga pagsubok na 'yan. Nandito kami at tutulungan ka namin. At nga pala, nakulong na ang mga magulang mo at pinagbabayaran na nila ang mga kasalanan nila. Nahuli kasi sa akto ang mga magulang mo na nagbebenta ng shabu at tumestigo si Ate Eva sa mga kahayupan nila kaya ayun sa kulungan ang bagsak nila pero may problema nga lang. Ang kapatid mo, nakatakas pero 'wag kang mag-alala dahil hinahanap na siya ngayon ng mga pulis."

Gemini felt like crying. But this time, she felt crying with joy. 

Finally…

Hearing that her parents are now in jail give her relief. Kahit pa alam niyang pagala-gala pa ang kanyang kakambal, it's a relief for her that her parents are now being punished. Gemanie is now powerless so anytime pwede siyang mahuli.

Nagulat si Inse nang bigla siyang dambahin ng yakap ni Gemini.

"Thank you, Ate Inse. Please pasabi kay Kuya Carding salamat sa mga tulong niya. T-This is…i don't even know what word to say but thank you! You saved me…"

As days turned into weeks, Gemini slowly began to regain her sense of self. Inse and Carding encouraged her to pursue her interests and dreams. 

Gemini also started attending therapy sessions, where she could address the trauma she had experienced and learn coping mechanisms. It wasn't easy, but she was determined to heal and move forward.

Dahil mayaman ang kanyang mga magulang, lahat ng mga ari-arian nila ay napunta kay Gemini. And her sister is still nowhere to be found. Gemini accepted her parent's wealth, but not for herself. Lahat ng mga gamit na galing sa kanyang mga magulang ay ibinenta niya at ang lahat ng perang nakuha niya ay ibinigay niya sa nga orphanage. Nag-donate din siya ng mga relief goods para sa mga nakatira sa squatter kung saan siya nakatira ngayon. 

Gemini also decided to sell their mansion. Hindi niya pa kakayaning manirahan doon. And now, she's living with Carding's house. In that small household, she was treated like a princess. They care for her, they love her and they give her the attention na kahit kailan ay hindi naibigay ng kanyang mga magulang. 

Kahit na ang sugalero at asal gangster na kaaway ni Inse at kapatid ni Carding na si Berting ay tinuring siya na parang prinsesa dahil wala silang kapatid na babae.

Si Badong naman ay mas matanda lamang sa kanya ng dalawang taon sa kanya ngunit kung makaasta ito ay akala mo siya ang tatay dahil sobra itong protective sa kanya. Kahit bibili lamang siya sa tindahan, palaging nakabantay si Badong. Naiintindihan naman niya ang binata dahil squatter ang tinitirhan nila, paniguradong maraming masasamang tao. 

Kasalukuyang kumakain si Gemini ng biscuit habang nakatambay sa karinderya ni Nay Sonya. Katatapos lamang niyang maghugas ng pinggan at wala nang tao sa kainan kaya pinagpahinga muna siya at pinagmeryenda.

Gemini felt proud for herself dahil unti-unti siyang natututo ng mga bagay-bagay. Unti-unti siyang nagiging independent at nararanasan niya ang mga bagay na kahit kailan ay hindi niya inaasahang mangyayari. 

"Gem!" Napalingon si Gemini sa kanyang kanan at napangiti nang makita niya ang kanyang Kuya Badong. 

Tumayo si Gemini at yumakap kay Badong. Tumingkayad si Gemini upang halikan sa pisngi ang kanyang kuya at malawak na ngumiti. 

"Kuya, ang aga mo po ngayon, ah." Gemini said. 

"Maaga kaming pinalabas ngayon kasi may meeting daw lahat ng Prof." Sagot naman ni Badong. 

Napansin ni Gemini ang isang malaking kahon sa harap ng karinderya. Napakunot ang kanyang noo at nagtanong. 

"What is that, kuya? Are those my stuff?"

"Ah, nga pala, napadaan ako kila Ate Eva kanina. Pinabibigay niya 'yang karton na 'yan. Mga gamit mo daw, 'yan lang ang nakuha niyang mga gamit mo sa mansion ninyo bago ito mabenta." Turan ni Badong. 

Dahan-dahang lumapit si Gemini sa kahon at binuksan. Ang una nitong napansin ay ang kanyang gitara na niregalo sa kanya ng kanyang lola. 

Dinampot 'yon ni Gemini saka niyakap. Naglandas ang kanyang mga luha mula sa kanyang mga mata. 

"I miss you, Lola." She uttered.

Soon, Lola...I will be successful. I will reach my dreams. I promise you that. 

One evening, as Gemini sat on the small balcony of their small house, gazing at the city lights, she felt a newfound sense of hope. She had escaped the darkness of her past and was now on a path to rebuilding her life.

Inse and Carding's family had become her new family, the family she had never truly known. Their unwavering support and love had given her the strength to endure and overcome her past.

Dinampot niya ang kanyang gitara saka nag-strum. She was humming a song when suddenly, she thought of something.

"Tarius...it's been a while. Where are you?" She whispered. "Maybe...you were on the rooftop...waiting for me." With that, Gemini smiled. "Wait for me, Tarius. I'm coming...I will wait for you. Kahit gaano katagal. I will wait...just stay with me…"

As she looked out at the city that held so many possibilities, Gemini knew that her journey was far from over. But she was no longer alone, and she was ready to embrace the new beginning that awaited her.