CASS Nagtagis ang bagang ni Chad habang nakaupo sa shotgun seat at pabiling-biling ang ulo nang marahan sa sobrang panggigigil. Hindi niya matanggap na kasama namin ngayon si Zeke na enjoy na enjoy sa pakikinig ng musika sa nakasalpak na earphones sa magkabila niyang tenga. Gumagalaw pa ang ulo nito na animo’y sumasabay sa ritmo ng pinakikinggang kanta. “What a beautiful afternoon.” Halata sa boses ni Zeke na nagpaparinig siya sa aming dalawa ni Chad habang nakangiting aso at tutok na tutok pa rin sa cellphone. “If I could just toss your ass out of the car.” Matigas na ani ni Chad habang panay ang hawak nang mahigpit sa seatbelt. Halatang gusto na niyang basagin ang bungo ng kapatid. “This day is just great.” Muling sabi ni Zeke bago binitawan ang cellphone nya at sumandal sa upuan. Mukhang wala talaga itong pakialam sa pambabanta ng kapatid at nagawa pang maging kalmado sa kabila nang matalim na titig ni Chad. Panay ang tingin ko sa rear view mirror sa sobrang inis bago ko nili
CASS "Why? Because I'm a bastard?" This was the main reason why I did not want to tell him what I knew. Alam kong iisipin niya na na-turn off ako dahil anak siya sa labas ni tita Devin which was not and will never be true. Minahal ko siya nang walang dahilan. My heart chose him for no reason so I could never hate him just because he was a bastard. "Think whatever you want to think! Just leave me alone!" I wanted to tell him what I feel but it would only make everything worse. And besides, I made a promise that I had to keep. Gusto kong gawin ang lahat kahit mahirap, 'wag lang magkaroon ng rason sina tita Devin para palayasin si Zeke. The only problem is, he makes everything hard for me! I am no saint. Mahal ko siya at mahirap kalaban ang nararamdaman. What if he did something out of line and someone caught us? Paano kung makarating ito kay Chad at sa pamilya Trevoir? Everything would be a disaster if someone will see us right now pero bakit parang hindi natatakot si Zeke? "Did yo
CASS "I should have presented to drive this car awhile ago. I never thought you're a turtle driver." Napalingon ako sa katabi ko't tinitigan siya nang masama habang may kakaibang ngiti sa labi niyang nakaupo sa shotgun seat. Yep! Naupo siya sa shotgun kahit pa halos hugutin ko na ang leeg niya papunta sa back seat, talagang nagmatigas pa rin. "Kung wala kang sasabihing maganda, pwedeng manahimik ka na lang?" Itinaas ko pa ang kaliwang kilay ko bago mabilis na bumaling muli sa daan. Hanggang ngayon ba naman na siya mismo ang humihingi ng pabor, iinsultuhin niya pa rin ako? Where's the justice? Bakit ba napakasama niya? "Just admit it Cassidy, your actions are worth of insult. You suck at driving. There's no point in denying it." Biglang nagpantig ang tenga ko sa inis at walang sabi-sabing inapakan ang preno ng sasakyan. At dahil hindi nagsusuot ng seatbelt si Zeke ay bigla siyang tumama sa dashboard. "What the h*ll, Cass?" "Oops!" I turned to him and grinned as I watched him tou
CASS “I don’t have feelings for you anymore Zeke. Not even a bit.” As we stood still on the ground of the crowded mall, I waited for him to say that it was good to hear or even just a nod but instead, he squinted as he scanned my face. “Are you expecting me to believe your lies?” I was surprised with how he responded but I managed to keep it inside me and then I frowned at him, “Excuse me?” “If you’re take me for a fool then you’re totally wrong. Lying to me will never do you good, Cass. I’m not dumb and I’m telling you right now, I’ll squeeze everything out for you to speak the real words.” He sounded threatening like he was planning something bad. But before I could even speak again and scold him, he grabbed my arm just like how he always did and then he started walking. “Let’s go ‘cause I don’t want to hear your lies anymore.” Hindi niya man lang ako nilingon habang hila-hila ako sa pulsuhan hanggang sa marating na namin ang aracade station kung saan nakapila ang mga kabataan
CASS I heard his heavy sigh before he placed his head on my shoulder out of disappointment. Hindi ko na ito itinulak pa dahil ang nasa isip ko lang ngayon ay sagutin na ang tawag ni Mommy-bear dahil lalo iyon maiinis kapag hindi ako sumagot. I pressed the green button on the screen before putting the phone beside my ear then I speak. "Mommy-bear?" "Where are you?! Do you have any idea how late it is?" Halos mabitawan ko na sa sobrang pagkabigla ang cellphone sa sobrang lakas ng boses ni Mommy-bear sa kabilang linya. She was not just mad anymore. She was ready to kill me. "I'm on my way now. Something just came up." natataranta kong paliwanag bago pinilit si Zeke na paandarin na ang kotse. "I asked Chad and he said he thought you're on your way home after class! Where are you right now?" "I told you Mommy-bear I'm on my way. I'll see you in a minute." Hindi ko na siya pinasagot pa't agad kong binaba ang aking cellphone. Nanginginig ang mga kamay kong nilagay iyong muli sa loob ng
CASS “Okay ka lang, Cass? Lumilipad ata ang utak mo sa ibang dimensyon.” I turned to Trixy who was frowning while looking dubiously at me. Itinuturo niya sa akin ang hawak na kutsara habang nakaupo sa harap at malayang hinuhusgahan ako. I rolled my eyes before I sighed. “I’m fine. Iniisip ko lang ang research ko.” Apparently, there was a circulating rumor that our company was close to facing bankruptcy. Walang nabanggit sa akin si mama but I saw it on a site. Pinagpipiyestahan ang pamilya ko sa isang post and they were pointing some informations na kahit ako ay di ko alam. Ayoko munang sabihin iyon kay Trixy dahil labas naman siya roon. At higit sa lahat, chismis lang iyon. But I still need to ask mommybear about this. Hindi pwedeng manahimik lang ako sa isang tabi. “Research? Seryoso ka? Akala ko ba eh tinutulungan ka na ni Chadler?” tanong nito sabay ni tili na parang may dumapong ipis sa plato niya. Hindi ko alam kung nireregla sya ngayon o talagang mabilis lang ang mood swings
CASS The guys (excluding Zeke) were chatting at the living room like old buddies in a high school reunion. Kami namang mga babae ay nag-uusap tungkol sa kung anu-anong chismis dito sa kusina pero wala sa pinag-uusapan namin ang pokus ng utak ko. Panay ang silip ko sa front door ng bahay dahil hindi pa rin bumabalik si Zeke mula nang sinabi kong payag na akong makasal kay Chad. Panay ang baling ko sa pinto at kina tita sabay ngiti para hindi nila mahalata na hindi naman ako interesado sa pinag-uusapan nila. Ilang mintuo na ang nakalipas at hindi ko na kinaya pang maghintay kaya’t nagpaalam na ako sa kanila. “Excuse me, mommy, tita, I’ll be going now. Its already 11 and I really need to sleep.” Kapwa sila napatingin sa orasan na nakasabit sa pader sa taas ng kitchen cabinet bago ngumiti silang dalawa sa akin at tumango bilang pagsang-ayon. “Okay sugar-bum.” “Sleep tight, daughter-in-law.” Tumango ako’t lumabas ng kusina saka nagpaalam sa mga lalaki bago tumungo sa hagdan para umak
THIRD PERSON There are a lot of powerful people in the world and they are know for different kinds of reputation. There’s reign in business, popularity, politics, and of course, crimes. Dangerous people are known for having the most money including drug cartels, gangsters, mafias, and all the illegal organizations you can name and among them are the Del Fierros. A very known family for being the most powerful ruthless people. “I met my cousin again.” Kaiden was sitting on a black leather sofa before unbuttoning his school coat as he leaned his head at the back of the chair. He turned to the sitting lady infront of him as she blew her her smoke while her eyes squinted at him. “Is that why you came here?” His aunt infront of him was the most dangerous lady in the family. You could tell just by merely looking at her face that she could kill a man just by mere looking at her cold eyes. “Nope. I came here because this is Mansion Del Fierro and Iam a Del Fierro. I have my right to come