1 Prologue ✈️

Heart Gabrielle's POV

"Magagawa mo ba 'yon?" Archer asked. We're here inside Mrs. Ricarte's office because she said she has futher questions about what happened today. Gusto kong lumubog na lang sa lupa dahil sa hiya. Hindi ko alam kung meron pa akong mukhang ihaharap o kung hahayaan pa nila akong pumasok dito bukas.

"Tinanong mo na 'yan kanina, nakakapagod ka na sagutin." Sagot ko dahil malapit nang maubos ang pasensya ko sa kaniya.

"Bakit ba kasi di ka na lang maniwala sa sinasabi nila? Tutal kahit ano namang sabihin ko, no one will believe me." I said.

He massage the temple of his head. "Ako! Paniniwalaan naman kita, I just want you to hear your truth!" He exclaimed.

"Ano ba?! Do you really want me to tell the truth or you want me to take the blame?" I asked him.

"Tell the truth!" He yell.

"Hindi ako magnanakaw, Archer!" I blurted out and met his gaze. There's a sudden tears in my eyes. I want to cry but I don't want to look weak in everyone's eyes. They're blaming me for something I never did. Gusto kong magalit pero wala naman akong masisisi.

"Hindi ko magagawa 'yon. Hindi ko alam paano napunta ang wallet mo sa bag ko," I nearly cried in front of him. He exhaled and look away. Ano bang inaasahan ko? That he'll believe me? Wala akong ibedensya. Isa pa, baka natutuwa pa nga si Archer e. He has another reason to hate me. We're not even friends for him to worry about me.

Mrs. Ricarte, the owner of the university enters the office and sit in her office chair. "Good afternoon po," I said but her gaze makes me more nervous. Sa kaniya nakasalalay ang kapalaran ko. Pwede akong mag-stay dito o ma-expel kung gugustuhin niya.

Tinignan ko ang nanginginig kong kamay. Fuck! I tried to stop it but I can't. Grr! Wag ka na kabahan, Gaby. Please!

"Archer, anak. Kailan mo na-realize na nawawala ang wallet mo?" Mrs. Ricarte asked.

"Tita Zen, sure akong hindi ko 'yon nawala."

"So, sure ka na ninakaw nga? Magkano ang laman ng wallet mo?" Mrs. Ricarte asked again then glance at me. Napaiwas agad ako ng tingin dahil sa takot. She really thinks that I'm a thief!

"Around six thousand but I'm sure na hindi si Heart ang nagnakaw, Tita Zen." Sagot ni Archer. Napaayos ako ng upo nang marinig ko 'yon. "Promise. She can't do that." Dagdag pa niya.

"How can you say that, Anak? They said she did it." Turo niya sa akin. Naalala ko kung paano ako tignan ng mga classmates ko after ng inspection na naganap.

"Hindi ako naniniwala sa kanila, Tita." Sagot ni Archer kaya napa-isip si Mrs. Ricarte. I gave him a weak smile and prevent my tears from faling when he glance at me. I didn't expect that from him but for some reasons, I was relieved.

Siguro iniisip na ni Mrs. Ricarte paalis ako. A part of me wants to stay here in Velenica University but there's also a part of me wishing that I could just disapprear.

But if I got expelled, sure ako na magagalit si Mama. Madi-disappoint ko siya, masisira ko ang tiwala niya at sayang ang scholarship na natanggap ko. Panigurado mahihirapan din ako maghanap ng bagong university dahil sa record ko dito.

Bigla namang may kumatok at pumasok si Zion, anak ni Mrs. Ricarte, bestfriend ni Archer sa loob ng office. "Mama," He said and offer Archer a fist bomb. Anong ginagawa niya dito? Kailangan bang narito pa siya? Ganito ba siya ka-suppportive na kaibigan?

I notice how they communicate with their glances, looks like they already talked about something. "Ma, this is non-sense. Pauwiin mo na 'tong dalawa. Naiinip na si Dash sa labas. Wala kaming driver," Sabi ni Zion at tinuro si Archer bilang driver niya. Archer glared at him but he totally ignores it.

"Anak, hindi ka dapat nakikielam dito, get out." Her mom said calmly.

"May plano ka po bang i-expel si Heart, Mama?" Zion asked worriedly.

"Yes, that's right." Mariin akong napapikit ng marinig 'yon. Pakiramdam ko lahat ng pagod ko at kailangang tanggapin ang kapalaran. Wala na akong magandang future.

"Ma, wag."

"Anong magagawa ko? Base 'yon sa university's policy. We should obey it," Mrs. Ricarte explained.

"Alam ko namang di magagawa ni Heart 'yon. Let her stay here, Ma." Zion said. gusto kong pigilan si Zion sa pagsasalita dahil ayokong ako pa ang dahilan ng pagtatalo nilang mag-ina.

"Are you asking me to use my authority to help her?" Mrs. Ricarte asked.

He glance at Archer before he answers. "Exactly, Ma." Pinalakihan ko sila ng mata para tumigil na sila. Eto ba ang pinag-usapan nila? Why do they have to help me? Naguguluhan ako. Wala naman silang mapapala sa akin. Pati si Mrs. Ricarte ay nagtataka na sa mga pangyayari.

"This is unethical,"

"Ma, naniniwala akong wala siyang kasalanan." Ulit ni Zion.

Mrs. Ricarte sighed. "Anak, I can use my authority." She assures her son after she glance at me. "But why? Why should I believeher? Is she your girlfriend, anak?" She asked.

"No, Ma!"

"Then why are you so worried about her?" Mrs. Ricarte exclaimed.

"Because she's my girlfriend, Tita Zen." Archer blurted out. My world suddenly came into a stop. I don't know if I heard it right or I'm just insane.

"She is my girlfriend." He repeats as he gazes at me, assures me that I heard it right.

"Yes, Ma! She's my bestfriend's girlfriend. So, I'm worried... She has to stay here. Bakit naman niya nanakawan ng wallet ang boyfriend

niya, diba?" Zion said to clear things out. Even Mrs. Ricarte is shocked about what Archer said.

Yeah, I'm his girlfriend.

What the fuck!