Chapter 1

I am Angelica de la Cruz. A simple woman living in a simple house with my strict parents and siblings. I have 6 siblings and I will admit it is hard to live with my six older brothers on guard.

I am 19 years old but I have not yet felt what they call thrill because I am afraid of disobeying my parents and siblings. Whenever I disobeyed them, I would be kneeling on a legume bill all day.

I am the only girl of the seven children of my m5other Eva and my father Erwin. So I experienced life not being free. I can't do the things a young woman can do

I can't use makeup, I can't wear sexy shorts and sexy clothes, I can't go out or have fun with friends, I can't accept a lover and especially fall in love.

One day, I promised my best friend that I would go to her birthday in their barrio. I had to find a way to fulfill my promise to my best friend Mary Grace. I went with my friends without letting mama and papa know. I know that if I ask permission from them, they will not let me go either.

We rode the tricycle with my friends. After ten minutes, we reached the jeepney parking and we got in it and left. I happily watched the tall trees, clean streams, scary cliffs,s, and zigzag roads we pass. The trip is tiring because of the uneven road but it is worth the effort because of the beautiful surroundings and fresh air you can breathe. We also traveled for two hours.

We got off the jeepney and I saw Mary Grace busy with her other guests. When she saw us she greeted us immediately. I asked her where their comfort room was because I was already urinating. She showed it to me. When I opened the door, there was a man putting face powder on his face while facing a mirror inside the cr. When he saw me he smiled sweetly. My heart trembling. I suddenly felt embarrassed at that moment. I was about to turn my back on him when he suddenly spoke. "Hi, you are Mary Grace's best friend aren't you?" he says. It was as if I was nailed to my feet. How did he know? I looked at him and said, "yes, I am". He smiled at me and said, "I am her cousin. I'm Joshua Taguinod," and held out his hand to me. "I'm Angelica de la Cruz," I said and we have a handshake.

Honestly, his hand is soft. I stared at his handsome face. I looked at his sharp nose, even his narrow eyes, his white teeth like in a toothpaste commercial,l and his small dimples that attract a woman when he smiled.

"See you around," he said.

I just nodded as a reply.

While I was inside the car, I smiled at the thought that he knew me even though we had just met. When I got out of the car, I immediately looked for Mary Grace and the rest of our friends. I was looking around when someone suddenly spoke behind me.

"You are looking for Mary Grace? He is in the back of the house with the rest of your friends. Do you want to go there with me?" he said.

I knew it was Joshua's voice so I turned to him and said, "Not anymore. I can manage to go there. Thanks anyway." I just smiled at him once and turned away.

When I got to the backyard I saw Mary Grace and all our friends laughing while eating. When she saw me she smiled and invited me to sit beside her. "I'll get your food too. Eat now. Thank you and you came here," said Mary Grace.

"Of course,e I'm your best friend so I just have to find a way for me to go to your birthday. Happy birthday best friend. I hope and pray that God will bless you and give you more birthdays to come. I wish you good health and happy life forever. I Love you bless. I didn't bring any gift for you." I said to her and hugged her. He also hugged me and said, "Thank you bless. Your presence is more important to me not the gift."

After we ate, Mary Grace left to get some wine for us. We just let her go. It's her birthday today so we'll give it to her. It is our first time drinking alcohol so we don't know the consequence of doing this. We went under the big mango tree herein the backyard where the round table made of curved acacia wood was ready. I took my cellphone out of my pocket to text my older brother Ronald. Somehow I still don't want them to worry when I don't come home to our house today. Even if they get angry and at least I can tell where I am.

To Ronald:

Brother, I'm here at my best friend's house. We're going to spend the night here. I won't say why because no matter what I say, I know that you won't believe me and you won't allow me again. Just trust m,e brother. I'm already mature. I can do it by myself. Don't worry I will be going home safe tomorrow. Please tell mom and dad as well. I'm sorry if it's sudden, brother." I sent my message.

I didn't wait for his reply. I turned off my cp first to make sure there was no disturbance to my short-term freedom.

Mary Grace returned with Joshua holding two plates in both hands. Plate with chicken caldareta and the other is grilled fish. Mary Grace was also holding two bottles of wine. Joshua looked at me and smiled. I don't know, my heartbeat suddenly gets stronger every time our eyes met. I can't understand how I feel every time he smiles at me. The feeling of being nervous that can not even explain. I didn't feel this way before.

I turned around and saw Mary Grace smiling at me. "Are you ok? Why are you gaping while looking at Joshua?" she whispered to me. I blushed at her word.

"I-I'm fi-fine." I stuttered in response to her. I turned my attention to the wine she was holding."

By the way,y guys meet my cousin, Joshua Taguinod," said Mary Grace. "Joshua these are my friends, Solae while pointing to the girl sitting on her right side, next were Emilia, Fae, Sol, Anni,e and my best friend ________," "Angelica."Joshua cut off from what Mary Grace had to say." Do you already know each other?" Mary Grace said to Joshua.

"Yes, we met in cr earlier and talked," Joshua replied.

Yeah, while he was putting face powder on his face while facing the mirror in the c," I replied while looking at Grace but I could see Joshua out of the corner of my eye smiling and looking at me.

We started drinking and Joshua went back inside the house.

Biases, won't you be scolded when you come home tomorrow? I'm worried about you," Mary Grace said to me. "Don't worry be, my brothers probably won't lay hands on me. Even if they are like that, I know they still love me. I'm just scared of what they say but never they laid their hands on me." I answered.

Because you haven't disobeyed them yet. Are you still afraid of what they say? You are already nineteen years old my friend, you're not a child anymore" Emilia replied.

"If I were your friends I would run away and show them that I can handle myself." Fae proudly says.

"Don't say that Fae. It's not good advice for Angelica to run away. That is still disobedience for the parents. The important thing is that Angelica is not physically hurt by her family. All parents disciplined their children for their good. Because the parent knows better for the child. You will also understand that when you become a parent," said Solae.

I did not speak anymore but I took my phone and opened it. I moved away a little and just focused on my cellphone. My brother Ronald had no reply to my message to him. I opened my mobile data and log in to my Facebook account. I saw Joshua's friend request. I gladly accepted his friend request. I'll check his profile and I'm just impressed with his photos. I was also happy because his status is single. I want to chat with him but when I opened my messenger I read his chat.

Joshua Taguinod

"Thanks for accepting my friend request."

"I just want to know why you are always lonely."

"Is there something wrong? ordo you miss someone."

"Don't think about him, he still loves you."

I replied to his successive chats.

"It's not what you think. I'm happy for now. I just stayed away from them a little so I wouldn't get drunk. It's my first time drinking wine so it might have a different effect on me." I replied to him.

Can we talk? He immediately replied. "Where are you? My friends will call me killjoy when I leave them here," I replied.

"I'm already at home. I'll just call you. Is it ok?" he replied.

I was about to type when suddenly my phone rang.

"Excuse me, I'll just answer this," I ask my friends for permission to leave. They just nodded.

"Hello, how fast are you. I haven't said yes yet?" I opened up to him.

"You take so long to reply," he said while laughing.

"Funny? I answered him.

"I'm just happy, you know. Your voice is really like an angel. It softens my heart. It makes me fall in love with you," he whispered.

"What? Ah eh ..." I had nothing to say. But I'm thrilled.

"Yeah, I'm telling the truth. You're already imprinted in my mind as well. I can't understand how I feel about you," he said directly.

I could not speak. Suddenly I was dumbfounded and unable to think of what to say. My heart seemed to have just run fast and far away. At the same time, my face blushed.

"Hello, still there?" he said.

"Yes, I'm still here," I answered.

"Are you okay? You're not talking anymore," he says.

"I'm fine. I'm just surprised by what you are saying. You're so quick to say that." I replied.

"I'm sorry, am I talking too fast? I'll just take it easy," he said and deliberately slowed down the last sentence.

I chuckled and said, "I mean, you are so fast to feel that way. We just met this day. You only know my name. You don't even know if I have a boyfriend. You still don't know what family I have and most of all, I'm leaving tomorrow as well, and maybe we won't meet again." I said.

"I know, you don't have a boyfriend yet, do you? If there is, I will wait until you separate and when that happens I will not let you go. I will do everything to make you happy until you also have a reason not to let me go either," he said.

"I don't have a boyfriend yet. It's not because I don't have suitors but it's because my parents were very strict. Not only my parents but also my six brothers." I explained.

So you mean, you are afraid of them so you are also afraid to love?" he said.

"It seems like that. They always tell me, "study first, before lovers." If I disobey them, they will stop me from my studies." I said.

"Wow! You want to finish school so you're afraid to love? I'll wait for you to finish your study and fulfill your dreams but, can you include me among your friends?" he said.

"Sure why not," I replied.

"Thank you. If you have a problem, you can tell me. I'm ready to listen, I'm ready to help as much as I can, and please don't be shy. I noticed that you seem to be ashamed of me. Starting tomorrow don't be shy with me. I want us to be close to each other and one day I will be placed in the most special place in your heart." said Joshua. I'm thrilled. Joshua's words were very different from mine. What is the planning?

"Ok friend," I said.

He laughed on the other line. Even his laughter was thrilling. He makes me smile.

"Ok, go to sleep. Don't stay up, you'll get pimples. Good night and sweet dreams," he said. "Good night too, bye .." I replied and I ended the call. I went back to my seat next to my best friend who was already drunk.

"Why do you take so long for your conversation? Who is he? He just wants to keep you away from here so you don't get drunk," she said.

"No bias friend. We just talked a lot so we talked a long time." I replied.

"Wait me here, I'll just get you some more wine just for you. Don't have a loophole," she said and she stood up. "Don't worry. Let's just go to sleep. We still have class tomorrow, remember?" I replied.

Those with us also just shrugged. "Anyway, let's just go to sleep. Let us go inside. Let's just sleep next to each other in my room. We're all women so there's no malice." said Mary Grace.

We decide to take a shower first before we sleep. It feels good to have someone with you in everything you do. The feeling that you are not alone.

We lay on the puzzle mat laid out on the floor. We slept well and I was the first to wake up. I went first into the bathroom to brush my teeth and take a bath. When I came out, I saw that they were still sound asleep. I decided to leave the room and just wait on the terrace. I saw the mother of Mary Grace and I greeted her and she greeted me as well.

"I'll leave you here first. I'll just get some coffee in the kitchen to warm your stomach. It's too cold here right?" said Aunt Shony.

"Yes, aunt. Thank you." I replied.

I took my cellphone out of my pocket and I was surprised when I saw three mis calls coming from my brother Ronald. I also looked at his text and read it.

From: Ronald

"Where are you?"

"Just make sure you don't do things you'll regret later."

"STUDY FIRST, BEFORE LOVERS." "Come home early, we need to talk."

I was nervous about my brother's last text. I immediately went back to Mary Grace's room and tried to wake them up and got my things ready. They were still drowsy but when they saw that I was getting ready, they got up too.

"What happened best friend, why do you seem to be in a hurry?" Mary Grace asked.

"I need to go home, older brother Ronald texted me. He said I'm going home early because we need to talk." I said.

"We'll have a picnic afterward. We'll just return to Tuguegarao this afternoon." Grace replied.

"I can't go on the picnic anymore, you just go with our friends. I need to go home now." I said.

"Come with us besty, please?" she begs.

"I'm sorry, but I can't. I hope you understand me." I said.

"Ok, come with Joshua to make sure you're safe on the trip," said Grace. "What? Why is he going anywhere?" I asked in shock.

"In Tuguegarao too. Come, let me talk to him," she said.

I quietly walked out of the house but I was nervous. I don't know what caused my heartbeat to speed up. Is it because of my older brother's message or because I was with Joshua on my trip?

We found Mary Grace's mother on the terrace with coffee glasses in front of her. I will also say goodbye to her.

"I'm leaving, aunt. Thank you very much. I enjoyed my stay here." I said. "Have some coffee first, Mary Grace still has someone to talk to. Wait for her," Aunt Shony says.

I just nodded to her and took a glass of coffee. I sat down first while having coffee and waiting for Mary Grace. I turned to look at the road and saw Joshua talking to a beautiful woman. Joshua keeps on smiling while listening to what the woman saying. I don't know the woman but I think, she was closed to Joshua. I didn't realize that Grace had arrived and she was smiling watching me as I looked at Joshua and the woman with him.

"She is Joshua's best friend so don't be surprised," she Grace while still looking at me with a smile on her lips. "Why are you smiling at me like that? What are you thinking, hmm?" I replied.

"I already told him that he was going to ride you," she loses my question.

"Ok, thanks." I just replied.

"Drink your coffee first then you can leave. But if you change your mind, you can come with us," she said.

No bees. You know me. Once that I decided, it is final." I replied to her. "Ok, you're the one to follow. Always be careful," she says.

We got up and walked to where Joshua was. As we approached Joshua, my heart pounded even more until our eyes met and he smiled at me. I just smiled at him so that he wouldn't notice that I was not comfortable with him.

"Good morning Ange." Joshua greeted me.

"Good morning too," I replied.

"Meet my best friend Lea Lopez. Lea, she's Angelica de la Cruz Grace's best friend," he said.

"Nice meeting you Angelica," said Leah.

"Nice meeting you too," I answered.

Cousin, you will take care of my best friend. Be careful when you drive, ok? Mary Grace says.