"No..." I whispered under my breath.I see nothing but darkness around me. I know for sure na sa akin nakatingin ang lahat. They may be judging me right now. Gusto kong maiyak pero pinigilan ko lang yung sarili ko. Lev, saan ka na? Kali? Sebastian? Where are you?Napuno ng bulungan ang buong paligid. Gusto ko nalang kainin ako ng lupa dahil sa hiya. "You thought this day wouldn't come?" She scoffed. "Kaia Dorchner, isang business woman at kinababaliwan ng mga kalalakihan. She's smart, pretty, and raised by a well-known family. So well known that everyone wants to be like them. That's how influential they are."Lumingon siya sa akin at tinaasan ako ng kilay. "But who would've thought that Miss goody two shoes could be this mischievious? She's tricking everyone!""That's enough, Becca!" May biglang sumita.I then saw Lev running towards me and hid me behind him. Kumapit ako sa suot niyang damit, as if trying to get protection from him. I've never been this vulnerable, ever!"What?" Ino

"Kanina ka pa ngumingiti d'yan," Lev chuckled. "I hope that I am the reason."Napailing nalang ako at tila hindi mawala yung ngiti sa aking mga labi. I've been staring down the sunflower crochet that I am holding. I feel so overwhelm to know how much effort he puts in making this. Talagang naalala niya yung sinabi ko that these are my favorites. "You are," ngiti ko. "I still can't believe that you made this. How?""I learned from the internet. Nanunuod ako ng video tutorials and I thought that it would be very easy. Turns out, sobrang hirap pala!" Iling niya."Ano namang naisip mo? Pwede ka namang bumili," I asked."Where's the effort in that?" Ngiti niya. "Gusto ko kasi yung DIY like I made it myself. I figured that it would feel romantic if I put effort on a gift. You are that special, Kaia.""Awe." Napalabi nalang ako. "Thank you."Lev and I are currently outside, taking a stroll. After we had our nap, naisipan naming libutin muna yung paligid. With the sun setting on the horizon,

"Kaia, are we okay?" Tanong ni Lev nang makapasok kami sa kwarto.Dumiretso ako sa bag ko para kumuha ng bagong masusuot. I decided to take a bath bago matulog. Palalamigin ko muna yung ulo ko sa ngayon. I don't want ny anger to be out of control. Okay lang sana kung nasa sariling bahay ako. "No."Nagtanong pa itong isang 'to kahit alam naman niya yung sagot. God! Can't he read the room? Talaga bang napaka-naive ni Lev? Even before! Noong nagkagusto pa siya kay Kali ay hindi niya talaga naisip kung ano yung mararamdaman ko kapag kasama niya ito. Kulang ata sa untog."Can we talk?" He asked. "Sige na, Kaia. Hindi ako mapakali hangga't hindi tayo okay.""Why don't you go talk to Patty, then? Tutal close naman kayo. Siguro alam niya kung bakit ako nagkakaganito," irap ko."Nag-usap kayo? You told her why you were mad?" He asked.Nasapo ko ang aking noo bago siya nilingon. Ang sabog naman kung mag-isip nitong si Lev. "Seriously, Lev? 'Yan talaga ang naisip mo?""So you didn't talk?"I s

"What?!" Nagising ako dahil sa boses ni Lev. Unti-unti kong minulat ang aking mga mata at nakitang umaga na pala. Siguro nasa 9 am na. But what made Lev shout like that?Napalingon ako sa kanya and he's already standing. Nasa tenga niya yung phone niya. He's talking to someone and I can tell that something is wrong. Nakakunot ang kanyang noo at pakurap-kurap na din yung mga mata niya. It seems like he's in a hurry. Dali-dali niya din kasing isinuot yung lower niya na nasa sahig."I'm coming."Binaba niya yung tawag at dali-daling nagbihis."Lev? What's going on?" I asked.Napalingon siya sa akin at pilit ngumti. "I'm sorry, baby, but we need to go.""Go? Where?""I'll explain while we're on the way. Magbihis ka na at ihanda yung mga gamit mo." Sabi niya at pumasok sa banyo.Naguguluhan man ay ginawa ko yung utos niya. Pumasok na din ako sa banyo para maghilamos at magsipilyo. After that, I prepared my things. Buti nalang hindi ko inilabas lahat ng gamit ko sa bag. It took me a few mi

We heard the gates open. Halos magkasabay kaming napalingon dito. I heard the wheels making impact on the pebbles outside of the house. Si Auntie."Quick! Pumasok ka na sa kwarto mo!" Pagmamadali ni Kali sa akin.As I was told, I ran upstairs before Auntie could get in. Dali-dali pa akong nagbihis ng pambahay at winasak yung buhok. I immediately went to bed and covered myself with the comforter."Nasaan si Kaia? Alam kong wala siya dito!" I could hear Auntie's voice echoing in the hallways."N-Nasa silid niya lang po!" Sagot ni Kali."I am not a fool, Kali. Narinig ko na magkasama sila ng batang Laurier at nagtanan pa raw. Kaya pala you two are becoming suspiscious." Sabi ni Auntie."Nagsasabi po kami ng totoo!" Kali insisted. "Hindi pa rin niya ginalaw yung pagkain niya. Hindi din namin nakitang lumabas ng silid kaya imposibleng nakipagtanan yun.""Siguro hindi niyo napansin o di kaya'y alam niyo pero nagbubulag-bulagan lang kayo." Auntie paused. "Kapag wala si Kaia pagkabukas ko ng