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"L-Leo, wake up, please." I begged as I finally got close to him, but he was unconscious and his head was full of blood. I couldn't help but shake while trying to hold him.Paanong biglang naging ganito? We're so happy a while ago. Paanong hawak ko siya ngayon habang punong-puno ng dugo?I should go to the hospital. Bumuhos ulit ang luha ko nang isiping kapag hindi ko nadala siya agad sa hospital ay baka may mangyareng masama sa kanya.Sinulyapan ko si Tito at kahit punong-puno ako ng luha ay nagawa kong tignan siya gamit ang galit na tingin."Ang sama mo!" Sigaw ko and tried to get something para ihagis sa kanya.Pero kinuha lang niya ang phone nito at may kinausap. I can't believe when I heard what he say."Pumunta ka rito at ipapalinis ako sayo," he said before facing me.Dahil nanghihina ako ay para akong hangin nang hinila niya ako at ilapit sa sarili niya. Hindi ko akalain na ganito kasama ang lalake36My fault. They blame me because they are right that it is my fault, and that is what I cannot fully accept: that it is really my fault that he is in the hospital and in critical condition. He did nothing but love me, and at that point, he protected me. Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdamam o gagawin ko kapag natuloy ang masamang balak ng taong iyon sa'kin.Pero ngayon, hindi ko alam kung mapapatawad ko pa ang sarili kapag may nangyareng masama kay Leo. "Kumain ka. Kanina ka pa walang kain, namumutla ka na," sermon ni Herica sa'kin.It's already 6 pm at ang huling kain ko pa ay sa coffee shop, kasama ko pa Leo na nakangiti sa'kin at masaya kasi sinabi ko ng mahal ko siya.Pinunasan ko ang mata ko sa luha nang maalala ang huling kain namin. We're so happy. He is happy and even cried after hearing that I'm also in love with him. Kung alam ko lang hindi na sana ako pumunta sa bahay.Napasulyap ako sa singsing na b
37"Wala ka bang gagawin, Dad? That Joseph Vuenavista needs to learn. He almost raped my sister!" I heard an unfamiliar voice. Nanlalabo pa ang mata ko noong umilat ko ito at purong puting dingding ang nakita."Of course, may gagawin ako. Let's just wait until she wakes up, Van. Ayokong magpadalos-dalos. I need to hear from her what really happened," pati ang boses na iyon ay hindi pamilyar Pumikit akong muli bago sulyapan ang dalawang lalakeng nag-uusap sa gilid. Ang isa ay nakaupo, habang ang isa naman ay nakatayo. Ang mas bata ay ang nakatayo, pero halos manlabo ang paningin ko dulot ng luha nang makita ng maayos kung sino ang nakaupo sa sofa.Tumayo agad ito nang makitang dilat na ako."Are you ok, Iha?" Tanong nito agad sa'kin.Tinitigan ko siya. I was just 5 years old when I saw him. Ni hindi ko na maalala ang boses nito dahil bata pa ako noong huli ko siyang nakita, pero kahit anong pikit kong kalimutan ang mukha niy
38While eating, I asked him how he could know all of that. I remembered what he said when I woke up. Alam niyang muntik na akong gahasahin gayung ilan lang naman ang nakakaalam noon.He said that he heard Jerico explaining to Tita Jemni, but Tita Jemni really can't trust me. She believed in the results of the investigation even more. I can't blame Tita Jemni either. I did something wrong years ago, and now, dahil sa kagustuhan ni Leo na protektahan ako ay napahamak siya.Kahit sino namang ina kung napahamak ang anak dahil sa isang babae ay magagalit doon sa babae.I did what Van said. I eat and trust his word, na tutulungan niya ako, and I can't help but feel thankful to him when he handed me a uniform. Uniform ng nurse ang binigay niya kinabukasan. Tapos na kaming kumain at maganda na ang pakiramdam ko, hindi tulad kahapon, reason why he got out to get a nurse uniform for me.We are already willing to do it. He is already wear
39 "Miss Daryha Guevera, congratulations on your newest contract. I heard from Levi that it's a really big project for you, bigger than your last project." I smiled at what the producer said. I'm back here in the States, but this time I'm with my biological dad and my brother. They also introduced me to my Dad's wife, and I'm so happy that they accept me as part of their family. Daryha Guevera. I'm happy to finally use my dad's surname. Hindi ko akalain na magagamit ko ang surname ng totoong ama ko. It's been years since that happened. 2 years. I really don't want to leave him, lalo na sa panahong iyon, pero ginawa kasi alam kong iyon ang nakakabuti sa kanya. Nahirapan ako noong una, but I always remind myself that I need to be strong, na dapat ay panindigan ko ang desisyon ko dahil para iyon kay Leo. "So are you coming to Levi's party this nigh
40 "Van, Kent might look for me. I can't go," I frustratedly said to Van when he said we were going to the bar today. "Mom was willing to look for him, Daryha. Come on, naka-oo na ako kay James. Nakakahiya kung hindi tayo pupunta," sambit naman nito. "Bakit kasi umoo ka kaagad?" Inis na sambit ko. "Kasi alam kong hihindi ka. Come on. Mag-ayos ka na at pupunta na tayo," sambit pa nito. James was a son of our president, so I can't help but be frustrated now because he has said yes, and I don't want to be rude, especially because James is kind to me. "Pumunta ka na, Daryha. Ako na ang bahala kay Kent," bumagsak ang balikat ko nang marinig iyon kay Tita Geva na ngayon ay hawak si Kent. "You have work tomorrow again. You have so much time to unwind, but you have done nothing but work and go home after. There is nothing wrong if you focus all your time and attention on Kent, but don't be too hard on yourself. Daryha," Van said. Napairap ako at tuluyan ng walang nagawa. Nang mag-alas
41"Daryha, let's go." I heard a serious voice. James diverted his attention to Van, as did Leo and Levi, who both glanced at Van.Hindi na ako nagdalawang isip. Tumayo ako at pilit na ngumiti kila James at Levi. It was hard for me to look straight into his eyes, but I did my best to do that. I smiled at him. He just stared at me blankly, na para bang ni minsan ay hindi niya sinabing mahal niya ako.Nanikip ang dibdib ko at pinigilan ang nagbabadyang luha sa mata ko. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at naglakad para malapitan si Van. "We go first, James. I'm sorry," paumanhin ni Van kila James."Stay a little bit, Van," sinubukan pang kumbinsihin ni Levi si Van, pero pakoramdam ko ay gusto na rin talagang umalis ni Van.Tumayo naman si James at niyakap ako and say his goodbye. Aalis na sana kami, pero mabilis kaming pinigilan ni James."Oh, I'm sorry. By the way, before you two go, I want to introduce Mr. Leozardo Luenco to you, Van. Mr. Luenco, this is Vanzeus Guevera," pakilala nito."Oh. I
42I did what he said. Right in front of him, I called Van and told him that he didn't have to pick me up, but Van said he would still come. He said that I would go with James and the president to the place, but we would go home together. Doon na raw kami magkikita.Tudo tingin ako sa side mirror, malinaw ko kasing nakikita ang kotse ni Leo na nakasunod sa amin."Really, mom? That's good, so we can be able to have our photoshoot in there hotel," I just glanced at James when I heard his happy words to the President."I was really shocked why he suddenly offered his hotels in the Philippines, but well, business is business, and he will have benefits if he lends us his hotels," sambit naman ni President.Philippines? Mukhang napansin ni James ang pagtataka ko sa usapan nila nang sulyapan niya ako sa front mirror ng kotse."This is the project that will be held in the Philippines, and we're lucky that Mr. Luenco offered his hotel. If you don't know, Mr. Luenco is a billionaire. His hotel
43"Mr. Luenco, what do you think are you doing?" Tanong ko, pero nahimigan ko ang sariling gulat sa boses ko.He didn't speak, nagpumiglas ako para mabitiwan, but a car suddenly parked in front of us. The same driver I saw last time got out of that car."Ano ba? Ano ba 'to?" Nagtatakang tanong ko sa kanya at patuloy na tinatanggal ang kamay niya sa palapulsuan ko."Pumasok ka," mariin na sambit niya."N-No! What is this, Mr. Luenco? You think it's nice to pull someone like this? And you think sasama ako sayo? Makakarating ito kay President!" Iritang sambit ko. "Let's talk," seryoso nitong sambit na ikinatawa ko."Bakit kailangan ako? You had a girl beside you a while ago! Kung gusto mo ng kausap, pwede naman siya! Bakit kailangan mo pa akong hilahin!" "I said let's talk, Ryha!" Bulyaw niya na nagpatigil sa'kin.Pareho kaming natahinik sa biglaang tinuran niya. Napapikit siya at bumuntong hininga."Please, let's talk," mas malumanay na sambit na niya.Ayokong paasahin ang sarili kon