JASIA was left dumbfounded outside of Xibel's house. Muling tumawag ang kaniyang sekretarya kaya sinagot niya ito.

"Is everything all right, miss?"

Pinahid niya ang mga luha sa mga mata. "Xibel found out about this."

"What?!"

"But it's okay. I'll try explaining it to him. So, what was the result?" Naputol ang sasabihin nito kanina kaya hindi niya narinig kung ano talaga ang balita.

"It's confirmed, miss. Imris is your niece."

Muling bumagsak ang mga luha niya. After all that searching and regret she held for three years, finally, she found her--the baby she left in the orphanage.

"Thank you. I'll see you later." Pinatay na niya ang tawag bago hinarap muli ang bahay ni Xibel.

He got it all wrong. Hindi niya anak si Imris. Pero kahit na ganoon, tama ang sinabi nitong siya ang naging rason sa mga sinapit ni Imris. Hindi niya man alam ang detalye ngunit malakas ang kutob niya na malubha at hindi kaaya-ayang mga memorya ang naibigay niya sa bata matapos na iwan ito sa orphanage.

"Xibel!" She knocked on the door. Pinihit niya ang door knob ngunit ayaw nitong bumukas. "Xibel, please, let me in. Let me explain!"

Ilang minuto siyang nagtagal at nawala na rin sa utak niya kung ilang beses niyang isinigaw ang pangalan nito. Namamaos na ang kaniyang lalamunan subalit wala man lang kahit ni isa ang nagbukas sa kaniya.

Am I already not welcome?

Napahinga siya nang malalim upang pakalmahin ang sarili at makapag-isip kung paano niya ito ipapaliwanag sa lalaki. Dahil sa pangyayaring ito, paniguradong ilalayo ni Xibel sa kaniya si Imris kaya hangga't mas maaga pa, nais niyang bigyang linaw ang lahat.

Isang bumubusenang sasakyan ang umalingangaw sa kaniyang likuran dahilan para mapalingon siya. Napakunot ang kaniyang noo sa kulay pulang kotse na pumarada. Lalo lang sumama ang kaniyang pakiramdam nang makita kung sino ang nagmamay-ari doon.

"Hey." Nakangisi si Nevar na lumapit sa kaniya. May bandage ang braso nito.

"What are you doing here?"

"Can I talk to you?"

"I'm busy. Puwede bang umalis ka?" She glared at him before turning towards the door.

"Whoa! Why are you losing your composure? Something happened?" Tumabi ito sa kaniya. Hinawakan nito ang nakasarang pinto. "Did he lock you out? Did you have a falling out?"

"Nevar, please. Wala na akong oras para sa 'yo." Hinarap niya itong muli. Tinuro niya ang sasakyan nito. "Get inside your car and leave. Why are you suddenly barging in my life after all that you've done?"

"I want to tell you about something." He brushed his golden hair before putting both of his hands on his pocket.

"I'm not interested."

"Even if it's about the website spreading rumors about how you already have a child?"

Namilog kaagad ang mga mata niya. "What are you trying to say?"

"The culprit is in front of you." Nevar let out a sly smile, presenting himself as if he was the gift Jasia had been meaning to open.

"What?" Natigilan siya. Dahan-dahan siyang napaatras habang umalingawngaw sa tainga ang sinabi nito. Nagsimula ang rumor na iyon dalawang taon ang nakakalipas. She knew that someone powerful might be behind that website for its persistence, but she never thought it would be Nevar.

Pero bakit?

"Why did you do that?"

"Because I want you back."

God knew how she wanted to slap him after he spouted those words. What a jerk thing to say. They broke up because he cheated on her, and he wanted her back? Was he taking her for a fool? She may be desperate at times, but she wasn't dumb enough to go back in the arms who betrayed him.

"After we break up, your name starts to take over all the media. You've grown as a ballerina, and later on, you became the best in the Portal Shoe Company. You caught people's attention and you caught this one particular family I needed. Your fame will help me win this year's election, so I've been spreading rumors about you just for this day to come. I thought that when the rumor becomes unstoppable, I will show in the limelight and claim myself as the father of your rumored son. And then, you wouldn't be able to deny that anymore." He smiled, but then, it immediately faded. "At least that's what I thought. But some dude, ruin it for me."

"You're the worst." Iniwas niya ang tingin dahil hindi niya masikmura ang pagmumukha nito. She almost couldn't believe it.

She knew Nevar as a kind and gentle man. She was good to him, except that he cheated. But all those years that they had been together–all of those was all happy memories of her and Nevar. He never resorted to any sort of things just to manipulate her, but hearing this now, all the memories they had felt like it was never real.

Peke lang ba lahat ng pinakita ng lalaki sa kaniya dati?

"I respected you. Hindi ko inakalang magagawa mo 'to sa akin. Alam mo bang marami kang nasira dahil lang sa rumor na iyon?!" Her already tear-stained face crumpled water again. The Nevar became blurry in her sight as she let them out of anger. Nanginginig ang mga kamay niyang tinuro ito. "I regret falling in love with you. I'm dumb for thinking I could sacrifice everything just to be with you. But I'm glad we broke up. Don't ever think I will want to be with you again."

Tumawa naman ito na lalong nakapagbigay inis sa kaniyang puso. He didn't seem to bother how hurt she was right now, just like that day. He was a heartless monster.

"You will return to me, Jasia. You have no choice but to return to me," makahulugan nitong sabi. Hinugot nito ang cellphone sa bulsa at winagayway sa kaniya. "Do you want to know what's inside this phone of mine? It's your cousin, Isabella."

Umurong ang mga luha niya. Napuno ng kalituhan ang kaniyang sistema kung bakit bigla na lang napasok si Isabella sa usapan. Pero hindi maganda ang kutob niya rito.

"Don't you dare spread rumors about her!"

"Oh, no. I won't. Because this is not just a mere rumor. It actually happened." Lumapit ito sa kaniya. Bigla nitong hinawakan ang kaniyang braso nang mahigpit at hinila siya palapit sa lalaki. He whispered, "My asshole of a cousin filmed them while doing the deed, Jasia."

"You jerk!" Marahas niya itong tinulak at walang pagdadalawang-isip na sinampal ito. Kumirot ang kaniyang palad sa lakas. Nais niyang makita ang nasaktan nitong mukha ngunit isang ngisi lang ang bumalandara sa harap niya.

Napakuyom ang kamao niya. How could they be so cruel. His guiltless face made her think of the days she was harassed--she wanted to strangle him to death. There was an intense bloodlust that she couldn't stop denying.

She wanted to kill him.

"Whoa! I didn't know you can look so furious like that." Pinahid nito ang dugo na tumulo mula sa labi. "But what can you do though?"

Umalingawngaw ang nakaririnding halakhak nito. Tuluyan na niyang nakalimutan ang lalaking minsan nang nagpasaya sa kaniya at ipinalit doon ang imaheng nasa harapan niya. Isang walang pusong demonyo.

"I'll give you one week. Decide, Jasia." Pinasok na nito ang cell phone sa bulsa. "Come back to me and save your cousin's image, or ruin everything for her."

"You're so desperate," she muttered in disbelief.

"I told you. I'll win you back." Tumalikod na ito sa kaniya ngunit wala pang segundo ay nilingon siya nitong muli. Tinuro nito ang sugatang braso. "Ah, right. I forgot to tell you. Do you know that your husband is a living witch? He hurt me, Jasia."

Naglakad na ito pabalik sa kotse. Hanggang sa tuluyan itong umalis, hindi nawala sa isipan niya ang mapang-inis nitong tawa at tingin.

Napatakip siya sa kaniyang mukha habang inaaya ang sariling kumalma. Kailanma'y hindi pumasok sa isipan niya ang sinabi nito tungkol kay Isabella at Drake. Alam niyang may nangyari sa dalawa pero hindi niya alam na ganoon pala kalala ang ginagawa ng walanghiya nitong ex.

Napatulala siya nang may mapagtanto.

Isabella started to change after she and Drake broke up because of a third party. Ayaw na nitong lumabas sa kuwarto at kahit niiisang beses nakita niya itong magsuot ng mga paborito nitong mga damit.

Jasia thought she was too heartbroken that she isolated herself. It just got worse when she got pregnant.

Akala niya'y iyon lang lahat ng rason kung bakit nagbago ang kaniyang pinsan, ngunit sa mga sinabi ni Nevar, posibleng marami pa siyang hindi alam sa nangyari dati.

Kumaripas siyang pumasok sa kaniyang kotse at pinaharurot ito pauwi sa kaniyang bahay.

She needed to talk to Isabella.

Nang makarating, tumakbo kaagad siya sa nakasara nitong kuwarto. Kinuha niya ang spare key sa kaniyang bulsa at binuksan ito.

"Isabella, I'm coming in!" Pinihit niya pabukas ang pinto.

Napatigil siya nang wala siyang makitang kahit isang anino sa kuwarto.

"Isabella?"

A loud gushing of shower caught her attention, making her run towards the bathroom. And there, she found her. Nanghina ang kaniyang mga tuhod nang maabutan ang sitwasyon nito. Panay ang hagulgol habang nakasubsob ang mukha sa pagitan ng mga tuhod.

"Isabella . . ." Pinatay niya ang shower at nilapitan ito. "What happened? What happened to you?"

"Why are you here?" Inangat nito ang tingin. Pulang-pula ang mga nito habang namumuti na ang mga labi.

"Gosh, how long did you keep doing this?" alala niyang saad sa babae. Hinila niya ito patayo. Ang akala niya'y itataboy na nama ln siya nito ngunit nagpatangay lang si Isabella, mukhang wala na itong lakas pa para paalisin siya.

Here she thought, she got better. It looked like it just got worse.

Binihisan niya ito at tinuyo ang mga buhok. Pagkatapos ay pinaupo sa kama.

"Can you tell me what happened?"

Nanatiling nakayuko si Isabella. Walang buhay ang mga mata nitong nakatitig sa kawalan. "I don't know where to start."

"I don't care how messy it is." Hinaplos niya ang buhok nito. "Just tell me everything."

Namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan ng dalawa nang hindi sumagot si Isabella. Ilang sandali, bigla na lang itong humikbi. Sinandal niya ang ulo nito sa kaniyang dibdib at hinayaang umiyak.

She would wait for her to open up. Unlike last time, she would try harder to reach out for her this time.

She also had something she had to tell her.

"Jas . . ." Niyakap siya nito pabalik. "Jas, napapagod na ako."

Hinagod niya ang likuran nito. "What made you feel that way?"

"Nakita ko ulit si Drake."

Napatigil siya sa paghagod. Napalunok siya sa takot ng susunod nitong sasabihin. When did it happened? Ginulo ba nito si Isabella? Was it because of Nevar?

"What did he do?"

Umiling ito. "He's still a piece of shit. Paulit-ulit niyang binabanggit ang araw na 'yon, Jas. Ayoko nang marinig iyon, b-but you know what he told me?" Bumitaw ito sa yakap. "He asked me to do it again with him."

Jasia cursed in between her whispers. Hinawakan niya ang magkabila nitong pisngi. "Then what did you do? Tell me you slapped him. Tell me you beat that asshole!"

"I did. I did slap him pero . . ." Nanginginig ang mga kamay nitong hinawakan ang kaniyang palad. "I just feel worse. Pakiramdam ko ang dumi-dumi ko."

Namuo ang mga luha niya sa mga mata. Hindi niya kayang titigan si Isabella. She already once saw her defeated face, and now, she was seeing it again. And it broke her heart how she couldn't even do anything to make her feel better. She still felt the same like four years ago. The wound Drake left never healed nor even got scarred.

"Ayokong gawin iyon, Jas. Ayokong may mangyari sa aming dalalawa no'ng gabing iyon, pero hindi niya ako tinigilan kaya wala akong nagawa sa huli kundi pumayag." Mabibigat ang mga hiningang binitiwan nito. "And what's even worse is I like it somehow. I liked that something happened between us that night. And I thought we would be inseparable after that, but the next day, I found him sleeping with someone else."

Napatakip ito sa sariling mukha at muling napahagulgol.

That asshole of a Drake really took Isabella for granted. No'ng una pa lang niyang makita ang lalaking iyon noon, hindi na maganda ang kutob niya. She tried asking Isabella about the guy, but all she could her were good things--too good things.

She shouldn't have given him the benefit of the doubt. If only she knew this would have happened, she would have separated the two in any means possible even if it meant she would look like the villain between them. She might have prevented this from happening.

"He told me he only wanted my body. He said he just wanted to have a taste with me, that I am just one of the many women he slept with. Ang sakit marinig 'yon mula sa kaniya pero mas lalo akong nagalit sa sarili ko. I couldn't believe I enjoyed that night with an asshole. I wanted to forget that night and act like it never happened but I already feel so disgusted. I was fully taken for granted. " Mariin nitong hinawakan ang kaniyang mga braso. "He filmed what happened between us that night without me knowing, Jas. He used it against me to threaten me kapag hindi ako pumayag."

"Hindi ka pumayag sa alin?" Namilog ang mga mata niya. She hoped that she was just thinking wrong but--

"We did it many times. Even though I broke up with him, nakipagtalik pa rin ako sa kaniya ng ilang beses kasi palagi niya akong tinatakot na ikakalat niya ang video namin. Ayaw niya akong lubayan." Napasabunot ito sa sariling buhok. "At kahit na ganoon, nagawa ko pa ring magustuhan iyong ginagawa niya sa akin. Kahit na ayaw ko, parang hindi nakikinig iyong katawan ko. Kahit gusto kong masuka, ayaw makinig ng katawan ko, Jas. Nakakadiri ako! Diring-diring ako sa sarili ko!"

Napatakip si Jasia sa sariling bibig habang ang mga luha na kanina niya pa pinipigilan ay nagraragasa nang lumabas. Hindi niya ito alam. Hindi niya alam ang kababuyang ginagawa ng walanghiyang lalaking iyon sa pinsan niya. Gusto niyang sugurin ngayon din si Drake dahil sa ginawa nito.

"H-how long did he keep doing that to you?"

"I don't know. I don't know, Jas. Ilang beses niya akong ginalaw na hindi ko na alam kung gaano ko katagal na ginawa iyon. Basta isang araw, nagising na lang ako na ayaw na raw niya sa akin. Na nagsawa na raw siya sa katawan ko at tapos na raw siya sa akin. Pero, Jas . . ." Her face covered with sweat begged in front of her. "Until now I can still feel he is touching me. Jas, hindi ko maalis ang mga kamay niya sa katawan ko. Anong gagawin ko? Hindi ko na alam!"

"Isabella . . ." Jasia couldn't do anything as well. She couldn't find the right words to say. Instead, she felt worse too for she knew that feeling herself. The touch of that old man from the Portal Shoe company still lingered on her leg. And it kept her thinking that it was her fault for following him.

"I'm sorry." Niyakap niya ito. Ramdam niya ang panginginig sa buo nitong katawan. "I'm so sorry you have to go through that."

"Jas, I want to forget all of it. I wanted to move on pero hindi ko magawa, Jas, lalo na't nakapatay ako ng isang inosenteng tao."

Natigilan siya. "What d-do you mean?"

"The baby . . ." She sobbed. "The baby that I put all my anger into . . . I killed my child."

Hindi nakasagot si Jasia.

No'ng nabuntis si Isabella, siya, ang kaniyang sekretarya, at ang ina niyang nasa States ngayon ang nag-alaga kay Isabella. Wala nang mga magulang si Isabella simula pa no'ng nasa elementarya pa lang ito kaya naman sa kanila na ito nanirahan.

They wanted to help Isabella raised the child, but she became hateful towards her future baby. Ilang beses nitong sinubukang patayin ang bata sa loob ng tiyan. Ayaw nitong mabuhay ang bata. Wala itong ibang maramdaman kundi galit at pagkadisgusto sa sinapupunan.

Isabella was just sixteen that time, after all. Hindi na rin sila nagulat kung ganoon ang naging reaskyon nito. May kinabukasan pang naghihintay rito at isa rin itong sikat na manunulat. Kapag nalaman ng lahat na nagkaanak siya sa murang edad pa lang, paniguradong malaking backlash ang matatanggap nito.

At ayaw niyang mangyari iyon kay Isabella. She was too young to handle that kind of mess, so they decided to pronounce the child as dead after her labor. Ngunit sa katanuyan ay nasa kaniya ang bata. Tinago niya ng ilang buwan ang anak nito ngunit kaagad niya rin namang binitiwan.

No'ng mga taong iyon, umusbong na rin ang career niya bilang isang ballerina. Sunod-sunod na ang mga lead role na nakukuha niya. Dahil sa takot na mabahiran ang kaniyang pangalan kapag nalaman nilang may tinatago siyang bata, pinili niyang iwan ang bata sa isang orphanage.

But she regretted it afterwards. Her decision was too selfish, and so, she went to the orphanage a year later after she left the baby. However, the orphanage was already closed. Hindi niya alam kung saan na napunta ang mga bata na nandoon sa coastal orphanage.

That day, she decided to fund every orphanage she could find in hopes she would find her Ella.

Sa paghahanap niya, hindi niya inakalang nasa tabi na niya pala. It must have been fate that put them back together.

Imris was Isabella's child.

Pero hindi niya pa kayang sabihin ito ngayon. Sa sitwasyon ng babae, natatakot siyang baka kamuhian lang nito si Imris.

Bukod doon, marami pa siyang kailangang gawin.

Muli niyang niyakap si Isabella habang iniisip ang lalaking nanakit nito.

She swore to make them regret what they did to her. Maraming taon na ang nasayang subalit hindi pa huli ang lahat.

She would get even with them.