Chapter 20

I Was 17

I woke up feeling heavy with a severe throbbing headache, I still wanted to fall asleep but the sunlight hitting my eyes is like urging me to open my eyes.

Where am I?

Unti-unti kong binuksan ang mga mata ko bagamat nasisilaw ako sa sinag ng araw. My vision was still blurry and it took a few seconds for my eyes to finally adjust.

I roamed my eyes around the room. It’s my room. I was at my room. How did I get here? I couldn’t remember what happened last night or how I still managed to go home.

Despite the heaviness that I am feeling all over my body, I still tried my best to get up and as I force myself to proceed to the bathroom, I couldn’t help but to hold on to the things inside my room to get a support. Hindi ako makalakad ng diretso dahil sa hilo. Ano ba ang nangyari sa akin kagabi?

My brain was bombarded with a lot of questions and confusion. Everything don’t feels right… it just don’t. And I don’t know why.

When I managed to get inside my bathroom, I immediately leaned on the sink to splash my face with water, thinking that it would somehow ease my headache and confusion.

My eyes were tightly shut while feeling the cold water through my face.

I stopped as some images from last night flashed through my head one by one. The only thing that I can hear is the water running from my faucet as I watch some of those memories at the back of my mind.

The conversation I had with Nika. Adam made me a drink. Red Sangria. We were both sitting on the bar counter. We were talking. He was drinking the whiskey and coke that he made himself while I was drinking the red sangria that he made for me. I felt dizzy. Everything was blurred.

I tried to think hard. I tried so hard to recall the next event and I got nothing. Nothing. Paulit-ulit lang na umiikot ang memorya ko sa mga pangyayaring naalala ko.

I clenched my teeth as I opened my eyes to look at myself through the mirror. I was still wearing the same dress that I was wearing last night. But it still feels wrong. I’m fully dressed yet I can still feel something foreign crawling on my skin. A foreign feeling that feels so wrong in so many ways.

I brushed my fingers through my hair and I stopped when I saw two red marks on the side of my neck. I released my hair, letting the strands cover those two red marks again.

Paulit-ulit akong umiling habang nakatingin pa rin sa sarili kong repleksyon mula sa salamin. No. No. That was nothing, right? That was nothing! Maybe I got bitten by an insect somewhere.

I did a few inhales and exhales trying to calm myself as I kept on chanting lies and denial inside my head, making myself believe that I’m perfectly fine.

I went outside my bathroom, wore a high neck shirt and a pair of cotton short, avoiding my reflection through the mirror as I kept on chanting those two words inside my head. ‘I’m’ and ‘fine’. I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m fine.

“Oh, gising ka na pala…” I almost jumped in my own skin the moment I heard Yaya Alma’s voice. Tiningnan ko siya.

“Yaya.” That’s the only thing that I managed to say while nodding my head.

Lumapit siya sa akin at bakas ang pag-alala sa kanyang mga mata. “Naparami ka ba ng inom kagabi? Nang ihatid ka dito ni Ciel ay bagsak na bagsak na ang katawan mo. Kinarga ka na nga lang niya… Gusto ko nga sanang kausapin at tanungin pero mukhang badtrip.” Pagkikwento niya.

I didn’t know what to feel the moment I heard Ciel’s name. Inihatid niya ako dito. How did that happen? He wasn’t at the party. Muli na namang inulan ng katanungan ang aking isipan.

“Mona… Ayos ka lang ba, nak?” Untag ni Yaya Alma sa akin.

I slightly shook my head to bring my senses back. “O-Opo… U-Uuwi po ba si Mommy ngayon?” Tanong ko.

“Wala siyang sinabi.” She answered, still eyeing me quizzically.

Tipid akong tumango. “S-Salamat.” I absentmindedly say before proceeding to the dining area.

--

6:42 AM. Iyan ang eksaktong oras na nakarating ako sa classroom namin. Half of the class were already here doing their own businesses but Ciel was sitting on the front row of the first column caught my attention.

He was quietly sitting there, alone and staring at exactly nothing. I felt a pinch and fear on my chest but I just clenched my fist before occupying the seat beside him.

Tila ba nahimasmasan siya nang may maramdaman siyang umupo sa tabi niya, he tilted his head towards my direction, looking at me with his mouth slightly parted.

“Hindi naman dito ang pwesto natin sa first period…” I told him, trying to sound casual even though I desperately wanted to scream and fall apart in front of him to ask him what happened but I was too terrified to know the answer. I spent the whole weekend making myself believe that I was fine. The marks on the side of my neck were nothing.

“Mona…” He called me and I clenched my jaw. I don’t like the sound of his approach. I don’t like the look on his face, as if he’s about to tell me something that might expose the truth that I wasn’t fine. Everything is not.

Nagbaba ako nang tingin sa kanyang kamay na nasa ibabaw ng armchair niya katabi ang phone niya na nakapatong doon. It was tightly clenched and I noticed a wound on his knuckles, a wound that was about a day or two long based from my inspection.

“What happened to your hand?” I asked him before he could even say a word.

He closes his mouth before looking down on his knuckle. Muli niya akong tiningnan.

“We need to talk, Mona.” He firmly said, ignoring my question.

“It’s too early. I’m not in the mood to talk yet.” I reasoned out, gathering every ounce of me to sound casual.

“Mona, listen to me.” Mariin niyang sabi.

“Ciel, give me a brea—”

“Mona!” My sentence was suddenly interrupted by Castro’s horrified voice. She hurriedly approached us and now she’s standing in front of me and Ciel.

“Anong nangyari sa’yo, Castro?” Kunot noo kong tanong habang nakatingin sa kanya. Hawak-hawak niya ang phone niya habang nakatingin sa akin. She looks nervous, worried, and in pain. Three emotions that managed to fit in her face.

“Castro!” I pressed.

She bit her bottom lip hard before tapping the screen of her phone. Maya-maya ay hinarap niya sa akin ang phone niya.

I suddenly felt numb all over the moment I saw my face and before I could even watch the whole video a hand snatched it away from Castro’s hand.

Tiningnan ko si Ciel na tiim bagang na nakatingin sa akin habang mariing umiiling.

“Ciel…” I said, almost breathless. I was shaking hard. My body and voice. They’re both shaking.

His jaw clenched harder.

“Give it to me…” Halos pabulong ko nang pakiusap.

“Mona…”

“I WANT TO FUCKING SEE IT!” I yelled, my voice was too loud and desperate and it boomed around the four corners of this big room.

The people in the room were all taken aback, including Ciel and I took advantage of that to snatch the phone away from him.

I watched the video, holding Castro’s phone with my shaking hands.

My eyes narrowed, feeling my heart beating fast as sweat start falling on my temples. I felt a big lump on my throat, making it hard for me to breathe and speak.

I was lying on the bed, almost unconscious. Adam was saying things to me, asking if I’m okay. I was just murmuring words and he kept on saying words to me, saying that I look beautiful and such while he’s planting kisses on my face to my neck and up to my mouth.

The tears that I’ve been holding back began falling abundantly the moment I saw myself responding to his kisses.

“W-Why am I kissing him back?” I asked myself and I couldn’t even recognize my own voice because it sounds so broken and disappointed for kissing someone that I don’t even like. Why did I do it? Why am I kissing him back as if I wanted to?

From my mouth, his kisses went down on my neck as his hands began touching my chest. He was touching my chest! And what broke me even more is when I heard myself moaning and arching my back towards him. I clenched my jaw, painfully swallowing all the screams that I wanted to let out at the top of my lungs.

“W-Why am I moaning? Why am I pushing myself to him?” Buong pait kong tanong habang panay ang aking paghikbi. The video ended there and I tilted my head to look at Ciel who looks livid and broken, he looks like as if he wanted to scream and fall apart too but he was trying so hard to pull himself together.

I roamed my eyes around the room and everyone was looking at me and I’ve never felt so naked in my whole life. Their stares were so heavy that it starts to slowly suffocate me, as if my heart was being pressed into four thick walls. My eyes stopped on the front door where Cyprian and Colton were currently standing and based from the look on their faces, the sadness and sorry in their eyes, I knew… they saw it, too.

I can’t breathe… I feel so suffocated… I feel so naked. I was desperately in need of air and I know that I won’t get it here. Not inside this room with people inside who saw how disgusting I am.

Despite how weak I am at the moment, I decided to do what I think is the best option left for me… and that is to run away from all their judgmental stares without even standing up for myself.

I used to be so good and so brave from standing up for myself but this time, I don’t know how to. It’s as if my voice and capability to stand for what I believed in was taken away from me.

The moment I saw those two red marks on the side of my neck, I knew there’s something wrong but I chose to ignore it make up some reasons because I can’t accept the fact that I was touched and kissed against my will. 

Sexual harassment is something that I never liked talking about and most importantly, it is something that I never wanted to experience. No woman does. No man does.

It is a morbid place that no one ever wanted to go in. 

But what if no one believes in me? What if I tell them that I was harassed pero walang maniniwala sa akin kapag  nakita nila ang video na iyon? 

Alam ko sa sarili ko na hindi ko ginusto ang nangyaring iyon but the way I reacted in the video says otherwise. I was kissing him back, I was moaning, and I was pushing myself into him!

Sinong tanga ang maniniwala na hindi ko ginusto iyon?! Who would believe that what happened to me is a sexual harassment?! 

I sobbed hard as I stared at my reflection through the mirror. My hand slowly lifted up to the side of my neck, my fingertips touched the marks that he left there that I covered with concealer.

I feel so disgusted with myself. I wanted to scream at my own reflection. I wanted to lose control, I wanted that disgusting video to stop replaying inside my mind. I just want to make it stop. How do I make it stop?

“You are disgusting!” I firmly hissed at myself through clenched teeth. “You are disgusting! You are—”

I stopped mid-sentence the moment I felt a pair of strong arms wrapped around me from behind. “You are not…” He kept on whispering through my ear as he held me tightly while I was falling apart.

Wala akong ibang nagawa kung hindi humagulgol. I allowed myself to be weak, I let myself fall into pieces under his tight embrace.

“Shh… Baby, I’m here. I’m here… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…” His lips were still pressed on my ear, coaxing me, softly whispering his words that never failed to penetrate my heart while his arms were firmly wrapped around me.

I tightly shut my eyes, sobbing nonstop, letting all my tears fall as he kept on whispering through my ear.

“It wasn’t your fault, baby. Hindi mo ginusto ang nangyari. You didn’t want any of that… Don’t blame yourself, please. Don’t do this to yourself…” He whispered and his voice was almost cracking. He sounded as if he was in pain and it’s making my heart ache even more.

“H-He kissed me… H-He touched me in places that I-I never wanted to be touched. I don’t even know what happened next… D-Did he manage to undress me? I don’t even know! I can’t even remember anything!” Umiiyak kong sumbong sa kanya. I was crying so hard that I couldn’t even talk and breathe properly.

He shook his head against mine. “No… No, he didn’t. I came, baby. And I’m sorry for being late… Kung kaagad lang sana akong dumating kahit dulo ng daliri mo hindi niya sana nahawakan. I’m so sorry, Mona… I’m so sorry…” Mas lalo akong napahagulgol sa sinabi niya and I don’t know for what reason. Is it because I felt kind of relieved that he didn’t manage to go further or is it because Ciel was blaming himself for what happened to me.

“It wasn’t your fault…” I cried. “It was mine. I should have listened to you! I should have not worn that provocative dress! I should have not drank! Kasalanan ko… Kasalanan ko…” Buong pait kong paghikbi. I was so stupid. Bakit ba hindi ako nakinig? Bakit ba ang tigas ng ulo ko?

“Mona,” He slowly let go of me, holding me by the shoulders and gently turning me around to face him. His hands went up to may face, gently touching my cheeks as he stared at me, softly and feeling sorry.

“Listen to me,” he said. “Stop blaming yourself for the things that you are not responsible for. The dress you wore or you being drunk is not an excuse for him to harass you. It’s not your fault that he’s a fucking imbecile who has no respect in his bones. And in the first place, you as a woman shouldn’t be demanding for respect, Mona… It should be freely given to you. It is a man’s responsibility to know better that he should never take advantage of a woman who is under the influence of alcohol. Wala kang kasalanan, Mona… hindi mo kasalanan na putang ina siya!” He said through clenched teeth.

 I’ve never seen him this angry and hurt at the same time. If I was just on my normal state, I would touch his face to calm him because I don’t want to see him this angry or hurt. But I don’t know how to. I don’t know how to calm him when my fear is slowly eating me.

“Who would believe that I was harassed? Did you see the video? I was responding! I was moani—“

“Stop,” he firmly said through clenched teeth. And I did, I did stop.

He dropped his hands on his sides. He tilted his head up to the ceiling, letting out a firm hiss before putting his hands on the back of his head as if he’s trying to compose himself. He pushed a one last harsh sigh before opening his eyes, facing me again and holding me on both shoulders.

“Mona, just because your body responds to what he’s doing that doesn’t mean that you were not harassed. He fucking touched you without your consent! Yes, you were drunk, but is that a consent for him to touch you? No! It is not! You being drunk was never a consent for him to fucking touch you! Hindi mo kasalanan, wala kang kasalanan dito…” He told me, carefully and sincerely, trying to make me understand that it wasn’t my fault. 

I nodded my head while my lips were  shaking. “I’m sorry…” I said, almost whispering. If there’s a guy who I would like to kiss or touch me that would be Ciel. Ciel and Ciel alone. 

Umiling siya. “Not your fault, baby… Not your fault.” He softly said. 

“Ciel is right, Mona.” Ciel and I both looked at the entrance and there we saw Colton and Cyprian approaching us. Banyo ito ng babae at alam kong ayaw na ayaw nilang pumasok dito pero heto ngayon sila, hindi nag atubiling puntahan ako. 

Colton was holding a bottled water while Cyprian’s holding a pack of tissue. 

Marahang binatawan ni Ciel ang mga braso ko bago siya sumandal sa may sink at tiningnan ang dalawa. 

Mas lalo akong naiyak dahil sa pagdating nilang dalawa. “I’m so sorry… N-Nakakahiya ako.” I said between my sobs. 

Cyprian immediately hugged me. He gently caressed my hair and my back. Mas lalo akong napahagulgol sa dibdib niya. 

“Shh… It’s not your fault. It’ll be okay, Mona… Nandito lang kami. We don’t believe whatever the hell in that video… Kung sino man ang mas nakakakilala sa’yo, kami ‘yon.” He gently said. 

“Did that stupid dummy account sent you the video, too?” I heard Ciel asked. Hindi ko alam kung sino ang kausap niya dahil nakakulong pa rin ako sa mga bisig ni Cyprian habang pinupunasan niya ang pinaghalong luha at pawis sa mukha ko gamit ang tissue na dala niya. 

“Yeah. This morning. Nasend din sa mga kaklase natin… Hindi ko lang alam sa iba. Wala pa’ng sinasasabi si Kiel o si Phil sa’kin. Putang ina talaga no’n. Wala ba’ng nanay ‘yon?” I heard Colton replied. 

I broke away from Cyprian to face Colton. “Why would he fucking spread that video? Hindi pa ba sapat na binastos niya ako?!” I hissed, almost hysterically. 

He eyed me for a second, spreading an arm to reach out for me. 

“Come here,” he said, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. 

“I don’t know what the fuck is his reason for pulling this sick shit but we’re here, okay? We will stand up for you. You don’t deserve this. No woman deserves to be treated like this.” He calmly said. “Cyprian and I strictly told the class not to spread the video. Our adviser also told everyone to delete it.” Aniya. 

“Here,” he said, handing be the bottled water. 

“T-Thank you.” I heard my own voice cracking again as I accepted the bottle. 

“May naalala ka na ba? Marami ka ba’ng nainom? Do you remember accepting a drink from a stranger that might have caused you to blackout or become unconscious?” Colton carefully asked me. 

Ciel who was leaning on the sink stood up straight, eyeing Colton firmly with his lips parted. “What do you mean, Colton?” Ciel asked, his eyes grew a little wider. It’s as if he knew what was Colton’s talking about but he needed a confirmation. 

“I think she was drugged.” Colton said. Maging ako ay napasinghap sa sinabi niya. 

“H-Hindi ako uminom n-nang marami…” I said and my voice was shaking as I looked at Ciel. “K-Kasi sabi mo, eh. Sabi mo h’wag akong iinom nang madami. I-I just drank the R-Red Sangria t-that Adam made for me. ‘Yun lang, Ciel. H-Hindi ako uminom nang madami.” I cried. 

Ciel’s features darkened, his jaw clenched in anger but his eyes were full of anguish. Rage, agony, and wrath. All those three were him and there is no in between. 

“PUTANG INA NIYA! PAPATAYIN KO SIYA!” He screamed through gritted teeth and my whole body turned stiff. I wanted to stop him but I couldn’t move a single muscle. I was terrified. He was so angry and hurt and it pains and scares me to see him like this. 

Good thing Cyprian was there to firmly hold Ciel by the shoulder to stop him. 

“Ciel, calm the fuck down!” Cyprian hissed as he tried to stop him.

“How can I fucking calm down, huh?! That motherfucker drugged Mona! I never knew that he’d go this far! Mapapatay ko talaga ang putanginang ‘yon! Gago siya!” He was losing control that’s why Colton had to break away from me to stop him, too. 

“H’wag kang magpadalos-dalos!” Cyprian said. 

“Bitawan niyo ‘ko!” 

Colton pushed Ciel on the chest. “Tumigil ka na, Alfieri! Natatakot na si Mona sa’yo!” He hissed and that’s when Ciel’s resistance slowly stopped, as if his muscles turned weak. 

He slowly tilted his face towards my direction and I saw his deep brown eyes slightly narrowed the moment he saw my reaction. I couldn’t still move. 

Nag-iwas siya nang tingin at napasabunot sa kanyang buhok. “Putangina…” He hissed, his face is facing the floor and his hands were firmly placed on the back of his head as his chest heaved up and down. 

We all turned quiet for a moment. Puro mga mabibigat na buntong hininga lamang nila ang aking naririnig. 

“M-Mona…” Lahat kami ay halos sabay-sabay na napatingin doon sa may bukana nitong CR nang marinig namin ang isang pamilyar na boses. 

“Courtney?” Cyprian said. 

Hindi siya tiningnan ni Courtney at nagtuloy-tuloy lang siya sa paglapit sa akin. 

“W-What are you doing here?” I asked the moment I found my voice. The three Cs’ eyes were on us now. They were just quietly staring, anticipating for what Courtney’s going to say. 

“M-Mona, I-I’m sorry…” She said, almost crying. 

My eyes grew wider. “B-Bakit ka nagso-sorry?”

“I-I heard Nika and Adam. They planned all of this.” 

I gasped when I heard Nika’s name and I’m sure as hell that my three guy friends did, too. 

“N-Nika? Kasali si Nika?! And why would they do this to me?! Anong kasalanan ko sa kanila?!” 

“N-Nika hates you and Adam… He’s into you. They thought they would both benefit from all this. Nika wanted to ruin your reputation, gusto ka niyang siraan sa lahat lalo na kay Ciel and Adam agreed to all her plans because he thinks that if he had a video scandal with you, no man would ever take you seriously and you’d have no choice but to be with him instead.” She explained, almost crying. 

Narinig kong napamura ang tatlo kong kaibigan pero ako wala akong nasabi. My angry tears were the one speaking for me. 

“But the video, sa classroom lang natin kinalat ni Nika ‘yon.” She added. 

“Wow. And we should be damn grateful for that? Tangina? Anong klaseng babae ang maninira ng kapwa niya babae? The fuck!” Sarcastic na sabi ni Cyprian. 

“How could they do this to me…” I cried, almost breathless. “Buong buhay ko wala silang ginawa kung hindi bastusin ako! Hindi pa ba sapat na ginawa niyong impyerno ang buhay ko noon, Courtney?! What else do you want from me?! Wala naman akong ginagawa sa inyo! Bakit niyo ako sinasaktan nang ganito!” Buong pait kong iyak. I never knew that heartless people really do exist. 

I chose to forgive but this is what they would give me in return? 

“I’m sorry, Mona… I’m sorry…” She cried. 

“Well, if you’re really sorry you would stand as Mona’s witness against Nika and Adam.” Ciel’s firm voice caught everyone’s attention. 

“Hindi namin papalampasin ‘to, Courtney. We want justice and we’ll get that easily if you would stand up against your imbecile friends.” Ciel added with finality. He’s serious and no one could ever stop him. 

I looked at Courtney, she looks caught off guard and terrified at the same time. 

She looked at me, begging. “M-Mona, ayaw kong madamay dito. G-Gusto kong sabihin sa’yo ang nalalaman ko pero ayokong madamay… At h-hindi pwedeng malaman ni Nika na sa akin nanggaling ang mga ‘to. She would kill me, Mona!” She desperately begged. 

“Yun lang…” I heard Colton’s sarcastic comment. “Could this day get any better? Tanginang ‘yan.” Bulong pa niya at napahilamos sa kanyang mukha. All my friends were feeling stressed as well because of my situation and I feel bad. I feel bad that they have to be involved with this. 

“Mona? Please? Promise me?” She begged. 

I clenched my jaw before nodding my head. I saw my friends’ were quite taken aback from what I just did but Courtney’s face was quite relieved. 

“Hindi ka ba nagu-guilty niyan, Courtney? Look at her. Look at Mona. She respected your decision kahit na kayo itong walang respeto sa kanya! Do you remeber when Adam was verbally harassing you? She stood up for you there, Courtney! Why couldn’t you do the same, huh?” Cyprian said. 

Tiningnan ko si Cyprian at inilingan. I don’t want him to guilt trip Courtney. Naiintindihan ko naman ang sitwasyon niya. Naiipit siya. And sometimes, in this world, you can never get the same favor back so, when you do good, never expect something in return from the someone whom you did good. To expect less is saving yourself from the disappointment.

“I’m sorry…” Courtney said. 

“You should be.” Ani Colton sa mababang tono. Napayuko siya, hindi ko alam dahil ba sa takot sa tatlo o dahil sa hiya. 

“Sige na, Courtney. Umalis ka na. Bumalik ka na sa classroom.” I told her. 

She looked at me, sadly. “Sorry talaga, Mona.” She said before rushing out of the girl’s comfort room. 

Sandali kaming nanahimik at nagtinginang apat. Not knowing what to say or do because of how fucked up the situation is. 

“Courtney!” Lahat kami ay napatingin kay Nika na hinihingal dahil yata sa kakamadali papunta dito. I clenched my teeth the moment I saw her. This motherfucker! Kung hindi lang ako nangako kay Courtney ay ingungudngod ko siya! 

“What are you guys doing here?” She said, giving us a fake clueless smile. Fuck you! 

“How about you, Nika? What the hell are you doing here?” It was Ciel who was currently taking slow yet intimidating steps towards Nika. Cyprian and Colton even had to step backwards to make a way for Ciel. 

Nika’s body shook in fear but of course, she’s trying so hard to hide pero halata pa rin. 

“J-Just here to check on Courtney.” She said, stammering and couldn’t even look Ciel straight in the eyes. “P-Pero wala pala siya dito. S-Sige, aalis na ako.” She frantically said and she’s about to rush out from the comfort room but Ciel was quick enough to go on her way. 

“Nagmamadali ka yata?” Ciel’s voice was calm yet intimidating as hell. 

“C-Ciel…” 

“Hey, Nika… Look at me in the eyes.” Ciel said, almost whispering. Nika did look at him the eyes. “That’s good… Now breathe in and breathe out. Relax…” Ciel urged with faint grin on his lips. Sinunod ni Nika bawat sinasabi niya. What the hell is he trying to do?

“Ayan… Dapat ganyan ka parati para hindi halata na may krimen kang ginawa.” His voice turned firmer and his eyes grew wider, bringing back the fear and intimidation that Nika was feeling a few seconds ago. 

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

Natawa nang pagak si Ciel. “You know what, Nika? My mother strictly told me to never ever disrespect women... but I’m making you an exception because you are far from being a woman, Nika, you’re a fucking trash. And you can ruin Mona’s reputation all you want but that still doesn’t change the fact that she’s way better than you.” Ciel’s words were so harsh and firm that they immediately brought Nika in tears. 

“G-Gusto ko lang namang makaganti kay Mona d-dahil lahat na lang kinukuha niya sa akin. S-Siya parati ang m-matalino, siya parati ang pinapansin mo.” She sobbed. 

A mocking laugh rose from Ciel’s throat. He even licked his bottom lip as if he’s growing impatient and he couldn’t believe that all of these are coming from her. 

Ang kapal ng mukha niya! 

“At ikaw pa ang may kapal ng mukha para gumanti? Are you fucking hearing how ridiculous you sound, Nika? You and your friends did nothing but to make Mona’s life miserable! And you’re telling me that you wanted me to notice you?” Muli siyang natawa nang pagak. 

“Kahit kailan ay hinding-hindi kita titingnan o kahit lingunin man lang ay hindi ko gagawin. I’m not and will never be into women who have no respect for other women, Nika. Hindi ko rin gugustuhing ipakilala ang isang babaeng katulad mo sa mga magulang ko. Ikaw pa talaga ang nagkakalat ng putanginang video na ‘yon...” Napailing si Ciel. “I’ve always knew that you have no class but I didn’t know that you could be worse than that. Kapwa mo babae, sinisiraan mo? Nakakahiya ka.” Mababa ang kanyang boses ngunit ang mga salita niya ay puno nang diin. 

His words’ firmness were enough to scream at Nika. 

“You, Nika Alcantara and Adam De Guzman, mark this damn day because I fucking swear to God! I will make you both pay for this. I will make sure that you will get what you fucking deserve in any way that I can. Tandaan mo ‘yan.” He heartlessly warned and then the next thing I felt was his hands, wrapping around my wrist, gently guiding me to get out of the comfort room. 

Cyprian and Colton followed us, leaving Nika there... alone and crying. 

__________________________________

For everyone who has been secretly fighting their battles. My heart is always with you. The abuse can torture you but it can never make you less of an incredible person that you are.

Thank you for still choosing to breathe in spite... you, breathing and living is a proof that you are stronger than all your weaknesses.