Kabanata 1

Aesther's Point of View.

Maingay at makulay ang sumalubong sa aming magbabarkada. Nasa isang bar kami ngayon sa BGC. Narito kami upang i-celebrate ang pagka-graduate namin from highschool at ang simula ng aming daan patungo sa mga pangarap namin.

Charot. Syempre andito kami para magsaya at makahanap ng panibagong jowa!

"So Girls, saan kayo papasok ng kolehiyo?" Sefa asked. Her whole name is Sereniah Phayii Zasterius. Sa aming apat ay siya ang pinaka matanda. She's second year college taking up Law in Ateneo De Manila.

"Sa De La Salle ako pumasa ng entrance exam." Tanya said. She's Tanya Guerrera. Sumunod siya kay Sefa. She wants to take BS Accountancy.

"Sa UST naman ako pumasa." El said. She's Elissa Daphne Masche. Ang pinaka bata sa aming apat. She wants to take BS Civil Engineering.

"Woah, so kaniya-kaniya tayo? Sa UP Diliman ako pumasa." I smirked. I want to take BS Architecture.

"Every Friday, Girl's Night Out, ha! Arat na, bingwit na girls!" sigaw ni Sefa. Naginuman na lamang kami at nagsayawan. I am wearing a black tube and maong shorts. I also wore a denim jacket and black pumps. Hinayaan 'kong nakalugay ang buhok ko and I dance with the girls habang sumasabay ang buhok ko sa direction ng katawan ko.

"Babe, magpahula tayo!" sigaw sa akin ni El. Bahagyang kumunot naman ang noo ko. Seriously? Uso pa ang hula-hula ngayong henerasyon?

"'Lul, di naman totoo 'yon!" sigaw ko pabalik. Kailangan magsigawan e, ang ingay dito sa loob ng bar.

"Tanga! Oks lang, gwapo naman 'yung manghuhula! Keri na 'yun!" napailing na lamang ako at hinayaang hatakin niya ako. Kahit medyo pa-gewang gewang kami maglakad ay nakalabas kami sa bar at nagpunta sa likuran ng restaurant na katabi nito.

"Babe!" sigaw ni Jerv at umakbay kay El. Umirap naman ito at pabagsak na inalis ang kamay. Natawa naman ako.

"Hindi ka na supportive, Settang ah!" inambangan ko siya ng suntok.

"Hey, Mirgo!" salubong ni El.

"Hey!" bumeso naman ang lalaki sa amin.

"This is my best friend, Aesther. Aesther, meet my friend--- Unra. But, he wants to call him Mirgo." we shaked hands and he lead us the way.

"Papahula kayo sa bestfriend namin?" tanong nito at agad naman sumang-ayon si El.

Well, he look harmless naman. He look nice and noisy.

"He's a matchmaker and lahat talaga ng sinasabi niya ay totoo." I rolled my eyes even though they can't see it.

"Kyopid!" napatingin ako sa tinawag ni Unra. They are both tall and handsome. But this 'kyopid' ay walang ekspresyon sa mukha. He's taller than Unra. Pero gwapo siya, hihi. Kaso mukhang masungit.

Baka nireregla ang koya.

"Good evening, ladies. Sino ang papahula sa inyo?" tanong niya without looking at us. How rude.

"Me, first!" sigaw ni El.

"Well, you will end up with an Architect. But, you will end up in a big trouble which may lead you to death." seryosong saad nito habang nakatingin sa palad ni El. Pansin 'kong natulala si El kaya hinablot ko agad ang kamay niya.

"What the fuck are you saying, dude?!" bulyaw ko. Pakiramdam ko ay nawala ang tama ng alak sa katawan ko. Mabilis na kumulo naman ang dugo ko sa sinabi niya.

"But, you will be successful and you will meet your husband during college days. An architect." tuloy-tuloy nitong sinabi at binalewala ang sinabi ko. Napalitan naman ng kilig ang gaga.

"Ayii," nagpacute pa ang bruha sa akin. Ayii is my nickname.

"What's your name?" he asked without looking at us.

"I am Elissa Daphne Masche. Call me El."

"Not you, her." itinuro niya ako.

"Oh, she's---"

"Why do you have to know?" mariin 'kong tinanong.

"Your father... is a jerk." mabilis na namuo ang mga luha ko.

"While your mom... has the highest standards." I remained silent.

"Your brother... is the best."

"Your younger sister... is better than you."

"E, ikaw? You are weak?" mabilis na tumulo ang mga luha ko.

"You don't know nothing about me." We stared at each other while my tears keep on falling.

"Oh, really? Matalino ka naman, maganda, sexy, pero bakit ikaw ang pinaka mahina?" he sarcastically laughed at me.

"I hate you. I. FUCKING. HATE. YOU!" sigaw ko at umalis na sa lugar na 'yun.

"Ayii!" I keep on crying on El's chest.

I was stoned and entwined when I suddenly felt different kind of pain in my heart. I felt out of oxygen.

"Oh, shit!" El cursed.

"I am so sorry, Ayii. I am so sorry." she keeps on saying those words while hugging me.

We didn't went back to the bar and just texted them. Paguwi ko sa bahay ay isang malakas na sampal ang natanggap ko.

"You are disgrace to this family!" napatingin ako kay daddy. I saw my younger sister smirked at me.

I didn't do any wrong, what is it this time?

"Dad, kakagraduate lang ni Ayii bilang Valedictorian! What the hell are you talking about?!" bulyaw ni kuya while trying to hide me behind him.

"She's taking Architecture! I told her to take up Business Management!" sigaw ni daddy sakin.

"Just leave her alone!" sigaw ni kuya.

"Umalis ka sa pamamahay ko. Wala akong anak na walang kwenta!" duon na ako tuluyang nawalan ng lakas.

"E, si Maple? Tinanggap namin siya sa pagkakamali mo fucking years ago! Hindi mo ba napapansin, dad?! She keep on messing up! Palagi niyang sinisiraan at sinasaktan si Ayii!" ramdam ko ang galit ni kuya.

Ang sakit. Ang sakit, sakit.

"Get out. Leave, Aesther. I don't want to see your face anymore." saad ni daddy. Napayuko naman ako at dahan-dahang umalis sa likod ni kuya.

"I'm sorry for not being a perfect daughter, mom, dad." saad ko at dali-daling umakyat sa kwarto. I went inside my closet and cried. Ganun ako everytime I feel lonely and empty. I always go in a cabinet then cry. Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras akong nagkulong sa cabinet at umiyak ng umiyak.

"Umalis ka sa pamamahay ko. Wala akong anak na walang kwenta!"

"Oh, really? Matalino ka naman, maganda, sexy, pero bakit ikaw ang pinaka mahina?"

"You are disgrace to this family!"

Simpleng mga salita lamang pero sobrang sakit.

"Aesther?" someone opened my cabinet. Sa pabango pa lamang ay alam 'kong si mommy and daddy ang nandito sa loob ng kwarto ko.

"I am sorry sa lahat ng nagawa at nasabi ko, Aesther. God knows how much I love you." I looked away, pretending not to care. When Dad and Mom hugged me, pinigilan ko ang sarili 'kong h'wag umiyak sa kanila.

"Aesther, we will talk about this tomorrow okay?" mom asked me.

"Mom, Dad, I want to be independent."

"Okay, okay. We'll buy you a condo near your school. We will continue supporting you, hon." mom and dad both kissed me on forehead and left my room. Duon ko na hindi napigilang umiyak hanggang sa nakatulog na rin ako sa loob ng cabinet.

****

Nagising ako ng may maamoy akong masarap na pagkain. Hmm, smells delicious! I know kuya made me breakfast again. He's like this whenever I am sad.

I opened my eyes and I saw kuya sitting on the couch while reading--- uh, some, kind of, he's damn papers.

Nagderetso ako sa banyo para magsipilyo at maghilamos. Namumugto ang mga mata ko dahil kagabi. Naligo na rin ako at nagsuot ng leggings and white halter top.

I was stunned when I remembered something. I didn't remember laying on my bed! Argh, maybe kuya brought me again.

"Morning, kuya." bati ko and seat beside him. He raised a brow on me.

Tch, 'ke aga-aga ang sungit!

"Good morning, Ayii. I saw you sleeping in your closet, again. So, I brought you in your bed. Ang bigat mo! Do some workouts!" he massaged his head while looking at me directly on the eyes.

"I always do my workouts!" hatol ko at nagumpisang kumain. Fried rice, Sunny side up and Bacon! He also made me hot chocolate.

"Tch, too much eating can also lead you to death!" I glared at him. Napakasama talaga ng kuya ko. I am just hungry, duh!

"Nakakamatay din kapag hindi ka kumakain. So, eat!" nagpatuloy kami sa away hanggang sa pumasok sina mom and dad sa kwarto ko.

"9 am, aalis tayo." saad ni daddy. Kuya rolled his eyes.

"Ano na naman ba?"

"Maghahanap tayo ng condo for Ayii and also for you, Maui." Kuya's name is Sherwin Maur Grospe. While my younger sister, Mayadice Apple Grospe.

Kuya is serious among all of us. He is taking Law School in Ateneo De Manila. Kuya and Sefa were blockmates. Second year college. Maple, she's stronger than me but she is not smart like us. I mean, she is that 'happy-go-lucky' type of a girl. She is a party girl, sings a lot and has a lot of exes. While me, I also party a lot but I prioritize my studies over party and specially, boys. I don't have any ex.

We bought a condo near my school and we went also to look for a condo for my kuya. Maple stayed in the house since she is still in second year high school. We bought all the things that we need and I took all of my stuffs and went to my condo.

Finally, I got my freedom. Wala ng makakasakit sa akin.

From: Sefa

9:48 pm

Ayii! Come in our house tomorrow! We will be having a foam party. All of us will go and we have a lot of visitors. Don't forget to wear your sexy dresses! Love'yah!

I sighed. I did reply and did my skincare routine before sleeping on my bed. I hope Maple will be happy that me and kuya are now gone in that fucking hell.

2 months pa bago magpasukan, so I must enjoy dahil magiging busy na. I drink my milk and lock the door and the windows before going to bed.

****

Maraming tao ang sumalubong sa amin ni El. Nagsasayawan sila at parang bagong labas sa kulungan. I am wearing a black bralette and maong shorts. I tucked-in a black see-through top and a maroon pumps. I tied my hair in a bun and put some heavy makeup.

"Girls!" sinalubong kami ng yakap ni Sefa.

"Where the hell is Tans?" I asked Sefa.

"She's already drunk." napamura kami ni Sefa. We really are late.

Pagkapasok namin ay nabasa agad kami dahil nagpaulan sila ng madaming bubbles at sinabuyan kami ng tubig.

"Sefa, asan ang restroom niyo?" I asked her. Itinuro niya naman ang dulo ng hallway. I thanked her and immediately left them. I was holding the door knob when I heard some doing darts, I think?

Pumasok ako sa isang kwarto malapit sa restroom at nakita ko si Kyopid na may hawak na isang pana. Umalis ako sa kwartong 'yon at natigilan ako dahil may mga pana akong nakita na nakasabit sa mga dingding. I stared at those for a minute.

Archery, huh? Marunong ako n'yan pero hindi ko matarget ang pula. Palagi na lamang sa gilid. Sa pagsasayaw lamang ako magaling, never in sports.

"Howard Hill."

"Ay, palakang bakla!" napahawak ako sa dibdib ko dahil sa gulat. I saw Kyopid behind me while holding his bow.

Anak ng, nanggugulat e!

"Oh," he chuckled. I rolled my eyes and stared at those bows again.

"You know, Howard Hill?" tanong niya sa akin.

"Yea, he's known for being 'The World's Greatest Archer' an expert bowman for two decades." I answered him without looking at him.

"How about, Brady Ellison?" he asked me again. I let out a heavy sigh before answering him.

"Ranked one as the male recurve archer in this world. He switched from compound bows to recurve."

"Who was the best archer? Arjun or Karan?" I looked at him.

"Arjun." I simply answered him. He raised a brow on me.

"Why?"

"Oh, come on! They were not enemies before Rangbhoomi! I mean, Arjun was praised for being the best archer but Karan wanted to defeat Arjun to prove that his better." I rolled my eyes again, once more.

He's about to open his mouth when we heard someone yell.

"There you are!" sabay kaming napatingin kay Sefa. She's holding two hard drinks.

"You two met already?!" sigaw nito. Kumapit naman siya kaagad kay Kyopid kaya napaiwas ako ng tingin.

Why do I feel something terrible? Seriously? What's wrong with you, Aesther?!

"El's been looking for you everywhere! Akala ko 'nga ay nakabingwit ka na!" sigaw nito. I laughed a fake one.

"I'll go now, bye." dali-dali akong umalis at nagtungo sa backyard nila. I saw Tans and El dancing and getting wild. Naglalakad naman ako sa gilid ng pool ng dahan-dahan dahil naka-pumps ako at madulas ang floor. Napatingin ako ng magbuga ang machine ng mga bula ngunit napalitan ito ng matinding kaba ng may nakabunggo sa akin. Dahilan para mahulog ako sa pool.

For God's sake, I have a phobia when it comes to pool!

My tears started to fall while I am drowning. Suddenly, I felt someone lift me. My hands were trembling and I couldn't stop coughing.

"Are you okay?" Nakita ko kung gaano nag-aalala si Kyopid sa akin. He wrap me using a towel and helped me get up. When I looked around, other people keep on dancing and I saw Sefa looked away. That was the time I excuse myself and went back to my unit.

What the hell is happening?