The next day, unang pumasok sa isip ko pagkagising ay ang sitwasyon ng mga magulang ko sa Pilipinas. Sure, I am still so angry at what they did to me—for betraying me like that—but I cannot ignore the fact that I still love them despite that.

Hunter and I were eating in a Japanese restaurant near the villa. The silence that I have right now is really making him uncomfortable, I know, but I just couldn't force myself to enjoy this trip lalo na't may problemang naghihintay sa akin pag-uwi.

"I have . . . something for you."

Napaangat ako ng tingin sa kan'ya habang mabagal na nginunguya ang tempura. He smiled a little before placing some papers on the table.

"I booked us a ticket to the Philippines. We'll leave by 1:00 p.m. All we have to do right now is to pack our things and drive to the airport."

My eyes started to heat instantly. I looked away and continued eating my breakfast.

"I don't want to go. You clearly went out of your way to make this trip happen for us. Hindi natin p'wedeng basta na lang uwian ang Pilipinas dahil lang sa problemang mayroon ako ngayon."

Napatigil ako sa pagkain nang hawakan niya ang kamay ko.

"Look at me, Aree." Marahan akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kan'ya. "We can always come back here. Sa ngayon, kailangan ka ng pamilya mo."

I smirked. "Seeing them is the last thing that I want right now. They lied to me, use everything I worked hard for, only for them to be fooled for the same fucking reason! Now, why would I want to see them? Bakit ko ipagpapalit ang pinagplanunan mo nang ilang linggo para doon?"

My eyes were fixed on him. I know that I am being so immature right now for telling him these things but I can't help it. Seeing him now hurts me more because based on his eyes . . . he pitied me.

"I will help you get through this hell hole—"

"I don't need your fucking help!" I said, shoving his hands away. "And they don't deserve it!"

He sighed. "I need to help you for my own sake, not yours. Kung tutulungan kita, hindi ko gagawin 'yon para sa 'yo—para magkautang na loob ka sa akin. I want to do this because this is what my heart tells me to . . . to be at peace."

My tears started to pool at the corner of my eyes. I felt embarassed but loved at the same time. I can't believe I'm thinking of these things at this situation, fuck it.

"Didn't I tell you before? Never meddle with my family issues, especially when it comes to money. I don't need your money—"

"This is not solely about money, Areeya."

His jaw clenched as he looked away for a second. He sighed before staring deeply at me once again.

"I will find all of those people who fooled your father and took your money . . . and we will take it all back. If you're thinking about me, paying all those debts that your parents have, no I won't. I promised I wouldn't cross that line. But let me do this for you, at least. I'll hunt them and bring them to jail."

I scoffed at that. "You think it's that easy?"

He smirked. "Everything is easy for me. Never underestimate me, Aree. I can do everything for the business that was given to me, but I can do better when it comes to you. You know me. I will make them pay and suffer more."

Hindi ko na napigilan pa ang sunod-sunod na pagtulo ng mga luha ko. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin sa kan'ya saka hinayaang bumuhos ang mga luha na lumalabas mula sa mga mata ko. Narinig ko ang pagtayo niya at paglalakad papunta sa akin. Niyakap niya ako at marahang hinagod ang likod ko para pakalmahin.

"I-I'm sorry. I never cried like this before but I couldn't help it. Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko. Hindi ko na alam kung dapat ko pa ba silang pagkatiwalaan pagkatapos nito. Hindi ko na alam, Hunter."

He shushed me while sobs are continuously coming out of my mouth as I talked.

"Hush. For now, let's do what we have to do. Saka mo na isipin ang susunod mong gagawin pagkatapos nito. They will understand whatever you decided to do. And if they still won't, I will."

I hugged him back as it is the only thing that I need right now.

I was never the person to pray to God and thank Him for all the things that He's doing for me but I did thank Him for having Hunter by my side. It was such a good comfort for the situation I am in now.

It was already dark when we arrived back to the Philippines. Hunter insisted on driving me on his own to the hospital where my father is confined. Sabi ni Mama sa text update niya kanina, nakalabas na raw ng operating room si Papa. May nakabara raw sa isang vein ng puso niya at iyon ang tinanggal, hence the cardiothoracic surgery. Hindi ko na inintindi ang inang medical terms. Ang importante na lang sa akin ay nalaman kong successful ang operation at may babayaran akong napakalaking bill sa hospital.

Hunter, on the other hand, is in touch with his lawyer. May iba rin aiyang tinatawagan. Based sa mga naririnig ko, pinapahanap na niya ang scammers ni Papa. Pero hindi naman niya mahahanap 'yon hangga't hindi niya naririnig ang detalye ng nangyari. Hindi nga namin pareho alam kung sino 'yon.

Nang makarating kami sa hospital, dumeretso kami sa information desk at binanggit ang buong pangalan ni Papa. Itinuro naman ng nurse sa amin kung nasaan si Papa kaya naman pumunta kaagad kami ro'n.

Unang nakita ko ay si Mama na kalalabas lang ng ward. Bakas sa mukha niya na wala siyang tulog o pahinga man lang. Nang makita niya ako, kitang-kita ko ang panginginig ng labi at ang mabilis na pagbuhos ng mga luha niya.

Sa halip na yumakap siya sa akin, napaupo siya sa sahig kasabay ng malakas na pag-iyak. Mabilis akong nag-iwas ng tingin habang sunod-sunod din na umaagos ang mga luha ko. I took a deep breath before I decided to walk towards her. Naupo rin ako sa harap niya saka siya niyakap.

"Kumalma ka, 'Ma. Okay na si Papa, hindi ba?" paulit-ulit na sabi ko habang hinahagod ang likod niya.

"H-Hindi 'yon. H-Hindi i-iyon! H-Hiyang-hiya na ako s-sa 'yo, a-anak ko!"

Umiling ako nang umiling bago paulit-ulit na pinakalma siya.

"Saka na natin pag-usapan 'yan. Sa ngayon, kumalma ka muna at magpahinga."

Ilang minuto pang umiyak nang umiyak si Mama habang nakaupo sa sahig bago namin siya napatayo. Pinauwi ko na muna siya at sinabing ako na muna ang bahalang mag-alaga at magbantay kay Papa. Babalitaan ko na lang siya kung sakaling magising na. Mabuti at pumayag dahil baka siya naman ang maospital kung sakaling pilitin niya ang sarili.

Hunter drove her home. Ikukuha niya rin daw ako ng gamit ko. Ayon sa kan'ya, sasamahan niya rin akong magbantay magdamag.

Habang wala siya, napaisip ako sa laki ng babayaran sa hospital. I know that RES Telecommunications has HMO benefits for their employees at may limang free dependent 'yon pero hindi naman unlimited ang coverage n'on. Sobrang laki ng hospital bill ngayon pa lang at alam kong kailangan kong ibenta ang kotse ko to fully paid it.

On top of that, babayaran ko na rin ang lahat ng utang ni Papa sa bank. Hindi ko alam kung ano o saan pa may utang si Papa pero hindi kaya ng puso kong tanggapin na ginawa niyang collateral ang titulo ng bahay at lupa namin para doon. I'd rather lose my car and condo unit than to lose the only thing that's keeping this family. Kaya ko namang mangupahan sa mas maliit na apartment at mag-commute everyday. Hindi naman ako nasanay sa buhay na mayroon ako ngayon.

Sa usaping sasakyan, isa lang ang taong pumasok sa isip ko. As I looked at Papa's sleeping face, napakuyom ako ng kamao bago hinanap ang number ni Leo sa contacts ko. Without thinking too much, I immediately dialled it.

And he answered it immediately.

"Areeya . . . hey."

I gulped. "H-Hey."

He chuckled. "Merry Christmas. H-How are you?"

Paulit-ulit kong kinagat ang kuko bago sumagot. "I-I'm sorry for calling you now. Kakapalan ko na ang mukha ko. I-I'm in a hospital right now and I need—"

"Wait, what? What happened? Are you hurt? What do you need? Nasaang hospital ka? I'll go now."

I chuckled but tears immediately fell as I missed the friendship we used to have. He's still so genuine to me despite everything I did.

"It was Papa. He had a heart attack. I'll text you the address. And I'll tell you everything when you get here, okay?"

Right after the call was dropped, I texted him the address. He immediately reacted like on iMessage and that's when I know that he's driving 120kph now to come to me.

He has always been like that.

And in less than 20 minutes, he's standing outside the room, waiting for me. I smiled before I walked towards him. He immediately welcomed me with a warm hug.

"I'm sorry ngayon lang ako."

I shook my head. "No. I'm sorry for everything I did."

He hugged me tighter. "You did the right thing, Aree."

Since Papa's sleeping soundly, nag-stay na lang kami sa waiting area at doon ko kinwento sa kan'ya lahat.

"So, you need to sell your car?" I nodded. "Alam ba ni Hunter ang lahat ng 'to?"

I looked away. "Of course. Nasa Japan kami when I received the news. Hinatid niya si Mama pauwi. Also para kumuha ng gamit ko. But . . . hindi niya alam na ibinibenta ko ang sasakyan ko."

Tumango-tango siya. "Better not let him know dahil alam kong hindi rin siya papayag. He'd go his way out to help you."

I slightly smiled. "Yup. His kindness is burdening me."

"Why, though? Aren't you two a thing already? More than fuckbuddies?" I didn't answer. "That's what a partner is supposed to do, though—help each other through hardships."

I shook my head. "We're still at that phase and I don't think I'll ever be in a serious relationship with him, considering my situation right now. Hindi ko kaya."

Bahagya siyang ngumuso bago tumango.

"Well, since alam ko namang hindi mo gusto na makialam ako sa pamilya mo, the only thing I could do for you is to refer you to a friend na nagba-buy and sell ng sasakyan. Don't worry, hindi niya bibilhin ng mura 'yan dahil halos bago pa naman. Ako rin ang bahala. Just give me all the details and the car key."

Tumango ako bago yumakap sa kan'ya. "Thank you so much, Leo, for everything. I won't cut you off anymore."

He chuckled. "Dapat lang."

We continued chatting about Papa's condition plus what really happened that made him end up here when someone stood in front of us. Nag-angat ako ng tingin. I was shocked to see Hunter staring darkly at us, with bags of food and coffee in his hands. Nakaramdam ako ng takot sa itsura niya ngayon habang nakatitig kay Leo.

"What the fuck is this guy doing here?"

I gulped, looking away, before standing up. "I told him what happened. Isa pa, my parents knew him for a decade. He deserves to know."

"And she needed my help," Leo added which made me more tensed.

Hunter smirked before looking at Leo. "Since you're already here, might as well spare us an hour or two because my girlfriend and I have something to talk about."

Leo smirked. "Si Areeya lang ang binibigyan ko ng gan'yang pabor, eh." He looked at me. "Do you want me to do what he asked me to?"

I shut my eyes tightly, facepalming, before nodding.

"I'm really sorry. Pakibantayan muna si Papa. Babalik din ako kaagad. Babawi ako sa 'yo, Leo."

After I said that, Hunter placed the food on the seat beside Leo and grabbed my wrist as we walked out of the scene.

Hindi ko na alam kung anong mangyayari at pag-uusapan. At this point, tinanggal ko na lang talaga ang lahat ng hiya sa katawan ko dahil alam kong hindi naman ako matutulungan nito.

If Hunter decided to stop helping me after finding out that I asked for Leo's help, wala akong magagawa. It's my fault and I should just bear with the consequence.