Prologue: At the Party

"Omg! Ava, you're so drunk na! I think we need to get her home, Shermaine."

I still can hear how loud the voice of Frances is, it's like she swallowed a large megaphone because of her voice! Sumabay pa sa kaniya ang ingay ng mga tugtugan dito sa bar. Kanina pa kami umiinom dito at dahil mahihina ang mga kasama ko sa inuman ay lasing na sila. Well, si Frances lang naman ang mahina sa amin.

"Lagot na naman tayo kina tita niyan!" Shermaine panicked while picking my purse and phone na nahulog na dahil sa kalikutan ko. 

As if my mom would care for me. I chuckled with my thoughts. How I wish they would scold me for doing things like this. How I wish they give attention to me.. but they don't.

"Can you two stop? I am okay!" I yelled at both of them when they started panicking. I felt my surroundings spinning so I decided to sit down. Kanina pa kami sumasayaw sa gitna at wala man lang lumapit na lalake sa akin!

Ugh! I wore my sexiest dress this night at wala man lang nakapansin? Tanga ba sila or bulag? Hindi man lang nila ma-appreciate ang ganda ko. Nakakaloka!

"Hey, seriously, we need to go home," Frances warned me and even dabbed my shoulders, finding support dahil nahihilo na rin siya.

"I will drive but let's take a little more time," I said that made them groan.

I know myself, I can still manage to go home with my state. Hindi na ako bata! For Pete's sake, I am 24 years old, an independent and gorgeous lady.

"Oh, my God! Doon ka sumuka!" Narinig kong sigaw ni Shermaine and I saw Frances on the ground, puking. "Sis, I won't clean that! Girl, ang disgusting mo!" Pinalo niya sa balikat si Frances na mukhang nanghina na sa kakasuka. 

I can smell her puke that made me want to puke, too. "Idala mo sa banyo! Ang dugyot naman niyan!" I laughed with how miserable Frances is. 

Inalalayan naman ni Shermaine si Frances para tumayo and fortunately ay naitakbo niya ito sa banyo. I called for a crew to clean the mess my friend did. 

I was so shy about what Frances does. Napa-facepalm nalang ako dahil sa hiya. These two are my closest friend since I was young. We're like the 'Tres Marias' because of our tight bond. My parents say they are a bad influence on me but who cares? 

I think they are more than worse than these two. 

Frances and Shermaine are always here for me when I have my problems but my own parents? They would probably go for an early meeting than talk to me. 

I grew up independent with them but not with their money. I know I am a spoiled girl with my parent's money but that's okay. At least, pera ng magulang ko. 

I felt my surroundings rotating kaya napasandal ako sa couch namin. "Fuck alcohol!" I complained. I must be so drunk right now dahil naf-feel ko na ang sobrang sakit ng ulo ko. 

"Do you need help?" A familiar voice talked in front of me. My body stiffens when I hear his voice.. once again. "May kasama ka ba?"

I know I must not feel this kind of feeling once again but why does my heart feel like it's ripping off? I glanced at the face of the person in front of me and I am not mistaken. It's him.. it's Matthew.. my ex-boyfriend. 

"What?" I furrowed my brows at him. "No.. I have my friends.. d-don't mind me." I stuttered.

I wanted to slap my face to stop myself from showing him I am still affected by him. I wanted to say I want him to carry me like he used to do back then but I just can't because it's not possible to do it anymore. 

I felt the urge of crying when I saw his perfect features. His long nose, his round dark eyes, his sharp jawline, his pink lips, and his naughty hair. I wanted to touch them once again but I can't and it won't happen again.

"Oh, good to know." Malalim ang boses niya na nagpangatog ng mga tuhod ko. 

Halos manghina ako nang walang mga salita ang lumabas sa bibig ko. I know I am drunk but his presence made me sober. His aura made me feel the old feeling I used to feel before. 

Tangina, ang rupok ko!

"Babe, let's go?" My lips suddenly formed a bitter smile when I saw a girl approaching him and calling him.. babe. 

I know I must be strong right now dahil iyon ang itinuro ko sa sarili ko but right now? I am just a dumbfounded girl looking at my ex-boyfriend with his new girlfriend. 

"Siya na ba yung bago?" I asked him. He slowly nods and the girl just looked at me with her curious eyes. "Ang pangit." I looked at the girl from head to toe, with a disgusted face. 

I stood up and left the two of them in disbelief. It's true! Ang pangit nung ipinalit niya sa akin! It's a bit offensive dahil sa ganda kong ito ay ipapalit niya ako sa mukhang nanay ko? I scoffed when I walked towards the comfort room. 

I went into the comfort room to look for my friends. Bumuntong-hininga ako dahil sa nangyari kanina. Inayos ko ang mukha ko sa harap ng salamin at nag-retouch ng make-up. Muntik pang masira ang mascara ko dahil nag-tubig pala ang mata ko kanina.

Hayop na Matthew!

"I'm pretty and worth it. I must not suffer from my past. I am Ava Beverly Clemente and I exist to be beautiful and not to be hurt. Period!" I tried to cheer up myself. 

Irita akong naghanap sa mga cubicle ng comfort room at hinanap ang dalawa kong kasama. Where the hell are they? Nagsuka ba ng isang galon yung si Frances at napakatagal nila?

"Oh, my God. Sino 'yan?" Halos mapatalon ako nang may maaninag na puting ilaw na dumaan sa gilid ko. It's so fast I couldn't see it. 

Naglakad ako papunta sa lugar kung saan ko nakita yung liwanag. "Frances, is this a kind of prank? Shermaine?" I called them while trying to walk slowly. "Kapag ako nahimatay dito, sasakalin ko kayo pag-gising ko!" I warned them but no one replied to me.

Natakot ako nang kaunti dahil parang ako lang ang tao na nandito sa banyo. This time hindi ko na marinig ang tugtog sa labas but I can hear some footsteps. I became attentive with my surroundings at lumingon sa paligid. 

"Who's that?" Halos sumigaw na ako dahil sa kaba. Wala akong marinig kung hindi mga kaluskos lang. "Who the hell is that? Ipapakulong kita!"