“Don’t worry, I’m at the lobby na. Let’s just say that I got here late because a douchebag decided to start a fist fight,” he said from the other line. Agad akong kinabahan. He got into a fight, siguradong may pasa or sugat s’ya.  “You got into a fight at the club?” tanong ko. Nakarinig na lang ako ng mahina tawa. He didn’t speak but I heard a ding. Looks like he’s already coming up. Shortly after the ding the call ended.  In my hospital gown, I stepped out of my room to fetch Elias. Nurses were looking at me. Wala na akong pakialam sa kanila at pumunta na ako sa may elevator. Saktong pagdating ko sa tapat ng elevator ay bumukas ito. A drunk Elias with a bruise on the lips greeted me. He spazzed out from the elevator. He looks like

“Welcome home to your new house, Miss Savannah,” Kuya Jerome’s voice sends shivers to my spine. There’s something in it that gives me goosebumps rather than warmth. Lumabas ako sa sasakyan at nagmasid. Just like our previous house there is a huge front yawn. The only different thing is that the walls are higher. It feels more like a prison than a home. Lumakad ako papunta sa main entrance. Pagpasok ko ay agad akong sinalubong ng mga kasambahay. Drastic changes huh? “Nakahanda na po ako iyong kwarto, Miss,” wika ng hindi ko kilalang babae. Tinitigan ko lang s’ya. She’s definitely a new face inside our house. Bumaling ako sa babaeng kakalabas lang ng kusina at nagpupunas pa ng kamay habang naglalakad papalapit samin. Ngumiti ito sakin at tila ba inaanalisa kung anong maling ginawa ng babaeng kaharap ko. I knew Isla back when I was in highschool. Isla is the same age as me. S’ya ang tumutulong noon kay mom tuwing may handaan sa bahay. Like dinner with relatives. “Sav, naayos ko na ang

That same night we moved into my grandma’s house in Batangas. I’m pissed off because ever since the ambush, things keep changing. I feel suffocated inside my grandma’s house since I must act prim and proper all the time. Nakakapagod na.“Mom, the anniversary is tomorrow. The venue is Okada Manila, so I’ll be driving to my condo in Manila. Doon na ako magmumula para less hassle,” I told mom while I was fixing my luggage. We’ve been staying in Batangas for 2 weeks and I’m not having it. Every dinner, they always talk about politics and how I should follow my dad’s footsteps. Hindi na lang ako kumikibo para makaiwas sa gulo.“Alright. Are you going to get your car? Or you want someone to go get it na lang?”tanong ni mom. Well, that was easy.“Sasabay na lang ako kay Isla pabalik sa bahay since kukuha s’ya ng mga gamit.” I stood up to collect my books from the console table. Babalik si Isla sa bahay to get dad some clothes and supplies.Dad also requested some files from his office. Wala t

Never in my life have I imagined that I’ll be having so much excitement in my life. Pakiramdam ko bumalik ako sa pagkabata na aliw na aliw sa mga bagong bagay. Dwight and I drove away from the campus . I managed to escape my bodyguards and here we are now at the mall parking lot enjoying our coffee. “Seems like I’ve missed so much in your life,” Dwight said before handing me my coffee. I smiled at him. Unlike his younger brother, he preferred black coffee. Well I guess it suits their personality. Eli is the playful one while Dwight is the mysterious one. “Yeah, my life has been a rollercoaster since I got back from Bahrain.” I stared at him waiting for his reaction. This will be a great start. I opted to start from the moment I left him in Bahrain. “I heard that you booked a different flight. You went to the States,” I said. He smiled bitterly before taking a sip of his coffee. “Yeah, I needed to talk to my mom. I was so lost. You made me feel ecstatic while we were in Bahrain t

“Hoy, bakit ka umiiyak?” Hinawakan ko ang pisngi ko at totoo ngang may luha. This is so frustrating. I stood up from the sofa which made them pay attention to me. Isaac also stood up to guide me out of the sofa. I was about to thank him and tell the group that I’ll be going when a baritone voice behind me spoke which made me gasp. “I’ll take her home.” Napapikit na lang ako. How the heck will I explain it to them? “Sav, do you know this guy?”tanong ni Isaac na ngayon ay masama na ang tingin kay Eli. Tumango ako bago humarap sa grupo. “Mauna na ako sa inyo. Just call me kung papunta na kayo sa unit para masabihan ko ang front desk.” They all just nodded and continue to talk and drink. Naramdaman kong hinawakan ni Eli ang braso ko para alalayan ako. “Sav, ako na lang ang maghahatid sa’yo,”wika ni Isaac na ngayon ay nakasunod sa’min ni Eli. “Bro, it’s alright. She knows me. She will go home without a scratch I promised.” Nakita kong nagtatagis na ang bagang ni Eli, indikasyon na nau