Chapter 1
Victoria Abbel's Point of View
"When will you stop massaging your breast?" I heard someone said. Halos mabulunan ako dahil sa sinabi niya, kaya naman agad kong tinanggal ang pagkahawak sa dibdib ko. Napayuko na lang ako sa table dahil sa kahihiyan.
"Kelan ba malaki 'tong dibdib ko!? Kahit anong gawin ko hanggang ganito na lang talaga siguro 'to." Halos maiyak kong sabi. We are here in the cafeteria and I was with my friend named Georginna. And yes, even if we are in the cafeteria, I absentmindedly cupped my breast and started pinching it! I just hoped no one is looking at me. That will be embarrassing. I just remembered when I used to be in middle school, we are required to attend the flag ceremony. When the Philippine anthem was played in the stereo, you have to put your hands on your left chest, little did I know instead of putting my hands on my left chest, I am cupping my breast! Geez, there is really something wrong at me. Masyadong malaki ang epekto ng sinabi ni Trevor sakin noong bata pa ako.
"Subukan mo kayang magpaturok?" Georginna asked and sat beside me. She's got one piece apple and a yogurt. Georginna is my friend of mine since we're 7th grade. Isa lang siyang kaibigan ko while she's got more than one. Actually, I'm still thankful since I have her. 'Yung iba kasing tao lumalapit lang sa akin dahil sa apelyido ko. And since then, I started choosing my friend. At isa lang talaga ang natirang matatag at totoo, and she's Georginna. She's not that well-off but at least she's real. She's living with the scholarship granted by my parents. What can I say? We are really that rich.
"No! I want everything natural." I flipped my hair. Narinig kong bigla siyang naubo sa sinabi ko.
"Natural, huh? That's why you're always wearing contact lenses." I rolled my eyes at her. Yes, my eye is aqua blue. Blame me for having a Stanislaski blood. Pero dahil masyadong agaw pansin ay mas pinipili kong tabunan ito at magsuot ng contact lenses.
"You're already eighteen yet you still like the Dmitri guy?" Napasimangot ako habang nire-real talk ni Georginna.
"Hindi mo lang ako maiintindihan dahil hindi mo nararamdaman ang nararamdaman ko!" I said and pouted my lips. Yes, it's been what...6 years? Anim na taon na ako nagpapansin kay Trevor Dmitri, pero hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ding pagunlad ang pagtingin niya sa akin.
"So, anong balak mo after nitong lunch break?" Georginna asked me. Oo nga pala, Foundation day ngayon ng school, and there will be no classes because of activity period.
"Duh! Tinatanong pa ba 'yan? I'm going to wait for Trevor's performance this evening!" Excited kong pahayag. Trevor is a graduating student, while I'm still stuck here in senior high school! He's not a music major but every time there's an event here at the University, his band always plays. At syempre, hindi ako papahuli. Every gig, I am there. Always present, supporting my future husband. My concern is that he's famous at this university. Kaya naman marami din ang nagkakagusto sa kanya at hindi lang ako. Annoying.
"Daydreaming again? When will you accept that he doesn't like you back?" I gave her a death glare.
"He likes me, okay? In denial lang siya! Hmp!" I get my sandwich on the table and stand up, and left the table.
"Keep saying that to yourself, Tori. Good luck with that!" I heard her as she waves her hand at me. Bago pa ako makalabas ng cafeteria ay ilang babae ang lumapit sa kanya. They are five and they are handing me flowers and chocolates.
"Kapatid mo si Cainn diba? Pwede bang pakibagay sa kanya 'to?"
"Pinsan mo si Nikos diba? Can you give this to him?"
"Close ba kayo ng pinsan mong si Kalev? Baka kasi hindi niya ito tanggapin kung ako mismo ang magbibigay sa kanya."
"Kapatid ni Clevon!" Tawag sa akin ng isa pang babae. "Please give this to him, please." And handed me a box of chocolate cookies. Clevon hated chocolates.
Tiningnan ko ng masama ang huling babaeng magsasalita. Kinuha ko ang hawak niyang heart shaped design na lunch box at kinuha ito.
"Is this for Damien?" I asked her. Dahan dahan itong tumango. Geez, Damien was no longer in school yet there are still girls who keeps on giving him food and flowers. Huminga muna ako mg malalim at tumingin sa limang babae.
"Consider these as done." Hindi maipinta ang kanilang mga mata dahil sa saya. I smiled sincerely at them as I walk outside the cafeteria. First thing first, hindi ako naiinis sa kanila. Why would I? Sa ganitong paraan lang nila maipapakita ang paghanga nila sa mga kapatid at pinsan ko. And of course, I am like them too. Sino ba naman ako para pigilan sila sa gusto nilang gawin? If they want to give these things to them, then I will help them.
Kaya naman kahit may gagawin pa ako ay mas inuna kong hanapin ang aking mga kapatid. I saw Nikos first, with Kalev and Alexander.
"Nikos! Kalev! Wait!" sabi ko sa kanila nang bigla na lang nila akong lagpasan. What's wrong with them? Napailing na lang ako, oo nga pala ganito naman palagi. If we're in school, they don't acknowledge me as their cousin, and even my brothers don't acknowledge me as their sister! Kapag nakita nila ako sa hallway, lalagpasan lang nila ako! Gosh!
"What?" Bored na sabi ni Nikos sa akin at si Kalev naman ay nakatingin lang sa akin. Natatakot talaga ako sa kanya sa tuwing tinitingnan niya ako ng ganyan. Na para bang may kasalanan akong nagawa sa kanya. Nagtaasana bigla ang balahibo ko sa batok.
"This came from your admirers!" I said.
Kalev shrugged his shoulders and didn't even bother looking at me. Lumapit naman sa akin si Nikos ang tiningnan ang mga dala ko.
"Hmm...Throw it away." He said and put his hand inside his pocket. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. This is exactly why I hate them! Wala silang pakialam sa nararamdaman ng mga babaeng nagkakagusto sa kanila.
"Here it goes." I heard Alexander say.
"You asshole!" Sigaw ko kay Nikos at binato sa kanya ang mga bulaklak.
"What?" Natatawang sabi niya sa akin. Siguro ay pinagtatawanan na naman niya ang mukha ko.
I'm fuming mad!
"You're such a dick! Wala na sa sanang magkagusto sa'yo." I said and stick my tongue out. Nikos patted my shoulders.
"Chill out, cousin. Huwag mo naman sanang ibuhos sa akin ang frustration mo dahil hanggang ngayon hindi ka pinapansin ni Trevor." Nikos really love teasing me about Trevor. Trevor is their friend and he's really a snob.
"Bakit naman napasok si Trevor sa usapan?" Naiinis kong turan. Ibinaba ko lahat ng mga dapat kong ibigay para kay Nikos at Kalev. I crossed my shoulders and put it on my chest.
"By the way, impossibleng mangyari na walang magkakagusto sa akin. I'm Nikos, remember?" I rolled my eyes at him.
"Look, it's Trevor." Turo niya sa likod ko. Bigla akong nataranta.
"How do I look? How do I look?" Natatarantang sabi ko at pinipigilan ko ang sarili kong tumingin sa aking likuran.
"You looked like an egg." I kicked his foot and turn around but Trevor isn't there.
"Got you!" He said and laugh frantically.
"God, Tori. You looked like an ugly swan." He said still laughing. Ang lakas talagang mangasar nitong lalaking 'to! What's wrong with this guy! He really likes it when I am panicking. Nikos and his weirdness.
"Fuck you, a-hole!" Sigaw ko at pinaghahampas siya ng mga bulaklak.
"She's really a Stanislaski, don't you think?" I heard Alexander say, who's carrying a biology book.
"A nasty one," Kalev said back, giving a small chuckle.
All the girl's efforts had gone to waste. My two older brothers told me to fuck off. Aba akala mo naman ay ikinagwapo nila ang pagiging a-hole?! Hindi lang alam ng mga fan girls nilang mga dugyot sila lalo na sa bahay. Argh!
"Geez, they are so annoying," I whispered in the air.
Anyway, the show is almost starting. Nandito ako ngayon sa school amphitheater, waiting for Trevor to perform. I was on the first column, perks of being a Stanislaki. Being a Stanislaski has a lot of benefits yet tiring. They said we have all the luxury in the world, all the advantages, everything but people only know the surface. They don't bother looking inside what's really inside our family. I just don't want to spoil the fun, I'll just keep my mouth shut.
"Make some noise, everyone! Trevor Dmitri and his group is already here!" Sabi ng MC kaya nagsigawan lahat ng tao. At syempre, papahuli ba ako? Nilaksan ko ang aking sigaw as I saw the man of my life on the big stadium. Gosh! He's dazzling like a star from the sky and he's really born as an artist. Sino bang hindi magkakagusto kay Trevor? Even though he's quiet, he is still attractive as ever. To tell you the fact na mayroon akong standee niya sa loob ng kwarto ko. My brothers find it creepy. I consider it as my happiness. He's really handsome in his get up. It was a simple long sleeve and a pants. His eyes is mesmerizing. Para bang inaakit ka niya sa mga tingin pa lang niya at ang tangos ng kanyang ilong. Para bang hinulma ito ng maayos. Even his jawline! And his lips is to die for. Ilang taon ko na rin gustong halikan ang kanyang mga labi. Simula siguro noong twelve ako ay pinapanaginipan ko na kung gaano kalambot ang kanyang mga labi. I rarely see him smile though. That's why I like more about Trevor. He was so mysterious. And I love mysterious things.
My ship went down in a sea of sound
When I woke up alone, I had everything
Fuck!!! He really got a good voice. I curse under my breath when I heard him sing the first verse.
A handful of moments, I wished I could change
And a tongue like a nightmare that cut like a blade
Oh god! Pakiramdam ko tuloy kaming dalawa lang ni Trevor ang nasa buong lugar. No audiences, no band mates, just us.
In a city of fools, I was careful and cool
But they tore me apart like a hurricane
A handful of moments, I wished I could change
But I was carried away
And our eyes met! Halos kumawala na ang puso ko sa aking dibdib. And I'm afraid that my heartbeat is louder than the speaker.
Give me a therapy, I'm a walking travesty
But I'm smiling at everything
Therapy, you were never a friend to me
And you can keep all your misery
Pero napasimangot na lang ako ng bigla niyang iniwas ang kanyang mga mata. Ganon na ba niya ako hindi kagustong makita? Oh! Bigla ko tuloy hinawakan ang dibdib ko. I should better work on my breasts and maybe, he can finally notice me!
Hanggang matapos ang tatlong kanta ay nanatili akong nakatayo sa amphitheater. Hinayaan ko lang magsilabasan ang mga tao. When the way is visible, I walk straight to the backstage.
I just wanted to greet him, just like what I used to do. Binuksan ko lahat ng mga rooms sa back stage. There are five rooms in total, at apat na ang nabubuksan ko. Maybe they are using the fifth room. I excitedly opened the door.
Ang laki ng ngiti ko nang makita ko si Trevor. But my smile doesn't lasted that long when I saw him with a girl. Nakita ako agad ni Trevor and I saw him smirked while looking at me. He pull the girl towards him while still looking at me. As he whispered something before crashing his lips to the girl. He's kissing someone in front of me and I almost lost my breathing. Sumakit bigla ang dibdib ko sa aking nakita, lalo na at biglang umungol ang babae.
"Hmm...Trevor." To my shock, halos malaglag ang panga ko sa sahig. It was Georginna.
***
Chapter 2Victoria Abbel's Point of View"Don't talk to me, dumb idiot." Iyon agad ang bati ko kay Damien, the oldest. Hindi niya na itinuloy ang sasabihin niya nang makita niya akong wala sa mood."Okay, okay, chill. Don't worry I don't have any plans to talk to you." Lucifer-incarnate. I tsked and walked straight in my room. Pagpasok ko pa lang nakita ko na agad ang standee ni Trevor. Dahil sa galit ko ay sinipa ko ito nang malakas. It fell down on the floor. At doon lang bumuhos ang mga luha ko. I'm really hurt. Hindi ko lang pinapakita na nasasaktan ako kanina. When I saw him kissed my friend Georginna, I quietly closed the door and left right away. God, why am I so stupid! Naiiyak kong pahayag at tinabunan ang aking mga mata ng aking favorite na unan. It was my favorite because its color is pastel pink. But anyways, I'm really crying non stop. Daig ko pa ang namatayan. I don't want to see Georginna's ugly face anymore! Kung pwede lang ay pwede ko siyang ipakick out right now. But
Chapter 3Victoria Abbel's Point of View"You really wanted me to tag along?" Pangatlong beses na naitanong ito ni Elizabeth. Halos dumugo na ang tenga ko sa paulit ulit niyang tanong. Still, I tried to be more understanding. She was locked inside her own house due to some accident. Ngunit ngayon ay pinapayagan na itong lumabas.She knew that I'll be staying in New York, so she wants to spend more time with me. Kaya naman naisipan ko siyang isama sa party isang party."Wow! This house is beautiful, is it okay if we go there?" I facepalmed."Just come with me Eliza, I promise you this is going to be fun, and just enjoy the night, okay?" Tumango siya sa akin kahit nararamdaman ko ang kanyang pangamba. I think it's normal to feel that way, she's been locked up all her life. I wonder how her parents will react to this if they will know that I brought their princess to a party. Sometimes, alam kong ayaw ipasama sakin si Elizabeth. I don't know why? Mabait naman ako.Anyway, we're here in t
Chapter 43 years laterVictoria Abbel's Point of ViewIsang malutong ang sampal ang inabot niya mula sa akin. Nagulat ito dahil sa aking ginawa at halatang hindi niya inaasahan ang ginawa ko. Everyone gasped from what I did."What's that for, babe?" Ngumisi pa ito nang nakakaloko habang nakahawak sa kanyang pisnge."You fucking tell them that it wasn't me! You imbecile." I shouted at the top of my lungs. Saan ba pinaglihi itong lalaking 'to ng mama niya. Sandali nga, may mama ba siya? Mukhang nakulangan sa aruga ng magulang!He stood up from his chair and put his hand on my shoulders. I sighed in relief. Finally, he'll gonna clean the mess he'd made."Gather up everyone! The rumor is real. She's the one in the video. And yes, we're fucking each other that time." Everyone murmured and muttered something ill about me. Huminga muna ako ng malalim at tinanggal ang pagkahawak niya sa akin.His name is Dean and he's a dickhead, an asshole, a brute, you name it. I knew him since I transferr
Chapter 5: Guess Our GuestVictoria Abbel's Point of ViewI don't wanna eat in the dining area again. Kaya naman ay nagpadeliver na lang ako ng pizza at kinain ito sa kwarto ko. I don't want to see Cainn today and I know he doesn't want to see me as well. I guess we don't really like each other. Kahit kami na lagi ang magkasamang dalawa ay madalas kaming mag-away. They say that it's normal to fight but both of us are not really on good terms. Maybe my parents are to blame for which they name us after the famous story in the bible which is the story of Cain and Abel. The only difference was, that I am a girl. Actually, Cainn was my favorite brother, but we grew up apart since that day.Morning came and I started cooking breakfast for two. Natutunan ko magluto simula nang magstay kami dito. We only have two maids, one for the laundry and one for cleaning the house. May specific na araw lang sila pumupunta dito. And I don't usually see them because I'm not at home always. I prefer going
Chapter 6: Such A HassleVictoria Abbel's Point of ViewThis day is literally not my day. Somebody just made some stupid prank on me. Pagdating ko sa parking lot ay nakita kong flat ang isang gulong at may nakatusok na folding knife dito. I removed the folding knife and throw it into the nearest bin. Nahilamos ko na lang ang aking kamay sa aking mukha. Unfortunately, I don't have any spare tires. I can't go home without a ride. Lalo na at walang busses sa ganitong oras o kaya naman ay taxi. If I want to commute, I should walk well for thirty minutes in order to reach the highway. And I hate walking. Whoever made this to my car really hates me so much and the only one who I can think of is Dean.I told him earlier that my lawyer is now fixing the mess he made. Saying my lawyer is something good to say and hear. I have never been this thankful to Nikos. Akalain mo 'yun, nagagamit niya ang kanyang pinagaralan.I fished my phone inside my pocket and scrolled down through my contacts. Sino
Chapter 7: Isolated Victoria Abbel's Point of ViewThe whole ride was awfully quiet. Ganon naman palagi, wala nang bago doon. He's the type of man who speaks fewer words.When we reached the garage, binilisan kong umalis sa loob ng kotse niya. I was really wondering why he's staying with us. Is this a lame joke? Trevor Dmitri is really living with us now? Akala ko ba ay sinusumpa niya ang pagkatao ko pero tingnan mo nga naman ngayon, he's here."Tori," he called my name when I'm about to get inside the house. Geez! Why does he keep on calling me Tori?! I'm now starting to hate my name. The way he pronounced my name is like he was seducing me with his words. And I told myself that I shouldn't fall for his schemes because I'm so done. Totoo nga ang sinasabi nilang may limit ang isang tao. Humans are weak, they get tired, and they get exhausted from something. I wish I have superior powers that can remove all the feelings I have for Trevor. Sana paggising ko, wala na siya sa isipan ko. S
Chapter 8: The Singularity2 days before Dean's deathVictoria Abbel's Point of View"Damien is staying here? Wow. That's new." Her name is Carla and she's the one who is responsible for cleaning the house. At ngayon naman ay nandito siya para maglinis ng buong bahay. May hawak itong trash bin na puno ng gusot na mga papel."I got a lot of trash from his room." Carla is a blonde woman and she's in her late fifties. Good thing she can still manage to do all the cleaning in our house. Palagi naman siyang may kasama maglinis, I don't know if it's her daughter or niece. I don't bother asking. That explains why she's holding a trash bin. That must be Trevor's trash.Ibinaba ko ang baso na may tubig at lumapit sa kanya."It's not Damien. There's another man residing here and now he's staying at Damien's room." Kinuha ko ang trash bin kay Carla at nagulat naman siya dahil sa ginawa ko. Kahit ako ay nagulat dahil sa ginawa ko."Ohhh, another brother of yours?" She asked while looking at me wi
Chapter 9: Fucked UpVictoria Abbel's Point of View"You bought a lot of things, should I still buy groceries?" Bungad sa akin ni Carla. May hawak itong purse at mukhang aalis na upang bumili ng stocks para dito sa bahay. When Trevor and I reached the driveway, I hurriedly went out and walk straight inside the house. That's where I saw Carla."Just go Carla, I bought this for myself." I said, niyakap ko ang mga binili ko at dumiretso sa loob ng kwarto. I put everything on my bed. I was planning to eat all of these. Maganda mag stress eating ngayon, lalo na sa sitwasyon ko. I open my laptop ang started watching a series in Netflix. Hindi ko namalayan kung anong oras na, kaya pagtingin ko sa orasan ay nagulat dahil alas diyes na ng gabi. Kaya naman pala, natapos ko na agad ang isang season. Oh shit! I mentally cursed when I realized that I forgot something. Hindi ko pa pala binibigyan ng pagkain ang nanay ko! She must be starving.I hurriedly went downstairs. Nakapatay na ang lahat ng i