Wala ako sa sariling sumama kay Rick paupo sa isang mahabang table. The program started and I couldn't even catch up with it. This is my fucking engagement party and I'm supposed to be the happiest. Pero paano? Paano ako magiging masaya kung ganito?

It's like I'm being pushed in hell. It's like I'm being forced to live with the demons.

Sobrang hirap sa pakiramdam. Ang sakit lang.

From where I was sitting, I saw my father on the opposite table, katabi ang kanyang asawa at anak...si Racquel at Rachel.

Nanikip ang dibdib ko habang tinitingnan sila. They looked so happy. Ang kanyang asawa ay malayang nakasandal sa kanya at siya naman ay nakangiti habang nakikipag-usap kay Rachel.

While me?

Hindi man ba nila naisip kung okay sa akin ang lahat ng ito? Kung okay lang ba ako...

Ni kumustahin ako hindi nila magawa, and after almost four years, ito pa ang gagawin nila.

Napangiti ako nang mapakla. Maybe they would feel happy after marrying me off dahil sa wakas ay mawawala na sa puder nila ang isang pabigat.

"Tonight, we are gathered here to witness the engagement of Klio Adrasteia Villamor and Xandrick Zaragoza..." the host announced and the audience immediately applauded.

Masayang-masaya sila at akala siguro nila masaya ako.

"Klio, are you okay?" Xandrick asked and tried to hold my hand ngunit mabilis ko iyong kinabig palayo.

I know I shouldn't hate him dahil katulad ko ay sunud-sunuran din siya sa pamilya niya, but I just couldn't help it. Lalo na't nagpapakita rin siya ng motibo na gusto rin niya ang mga nangyayari. At isa pa, what he know ay may boyfriend ako but he still agreed with this freaking set-up?

Ano 'yon? Wala siyang isip at willing pa rin siya kahit na alam niyang may jowa ako? O baka naman, obsessed siya at gusto niya talaga akong maging asawa?

He's ridiculous!

"I-I'm okay," I managed to answer after a few seconds.

"You sure? Aakyat na tayo sa stage maya-maya," he added and smiled at me.

I nodded.

But no, I wouldn't fucking go to that stage.

I need to escape.

"Oh, can I go to the comfort room? Naiihi na kasi ako." I asked Rick.

Tumango naman siya. "Sure, samahan na kita."

Agad akong umiling. "Huwag na, nakakahiya naman sa mga bisita, kung pati ikaw i-exit. Papasama nalang ako sa mga chaperone na pinadala ni dad," I answered and gave him a smile.

"Are you sure you're gonna be fine? Okay lang naman kung sasamahan kita e." He insisted.

"Hindi, huwag na. Kaya ko naman 'yon," I chuckled and squeezed his hand, kahit na diring-diri na ako.

"Okay then," he muttered and lifted my hand to kiss it.

Eww. Mas okay pa yatang si Alaric ang gumawa kaysa siya.

Rick's good looking and rich, alright, pero ayoko lang talaga sa mga taong kulang sa common sense!

I stood after that and the chaperones immediately followed me. Nang makapasok sa CR ay agad kong kinalkal ang sling bad na dala ko, pa rin ang bulsa ng suot kong short mula sa ilalim ng aking gown. Ngunit wala akong mahanap na makakatulong sa akin, lowbat na rin ang phone ko.

I was getting hopeless, but suddenly, I found a piece of card at the back of my phone.

It was the card that Alaric gave me at hindi ko nga maalala kung paano napunta iyon sa likod ng phone. Maybe I just put it there out of anger.

An idea suddenly struck my mind at agad kong tinawag ang chaperone.

"Miss, do you have your phone with you?" I asked, smiling.

Tumango naman siya.

"Can I borrow it? Please, I'll just have to call my bestfriend." I asked again, maintaining the friendly expression.

Wala namang pag-aalinlangang ibinigay ng babae sa akin ang phone niya. Pumasok muli ako sa CR at agad na tinawagan ang numero.

"Sumagot ka, please..." I muttered when it started ringing.

And he really did answer!

"Hello, who is this?" He answered.

"Hello, Alaric?" Panimula ko.

"Whoa, your voice sounds familiar. Uhm, let me guess, girlfriend ko?"

I rolled my eyes.

"C-Can you please come here? I need you!" I pleaded, not minding if I sounded so desperate already.

"Why? What happened? Where are you?" Sunod-sunod niyang tanong.

"I-I'll just send the address after this call. Just please...come. I'll wait for you at the backgate."

I immediately ended the call after that and sent him the address. I told him not to reply at ibinalik ko na ang phone sa chaperone.

"Thanks," I muttered. "Let's go back?" Nakangiti kong tanong.

Tumango naman siya at nagsimulang maglakad.

We were walking in the hallway when a group of people, who are probably dancers, walked with us and there, I found an opportunity to speak.

I sneakily joined their group and rode the elevator with them. Luckily, the color of my gown blended well with the bright colors they're wearing kung kaya't hindi ako napansin ng mga staff.

Mabilis akong naglakad palabas and searched for the back gate.

Matagal bago ko iyon nakita dahil maraming tao sa paligid and I needed to be careful so they won't notice me, panigurado kasi ay hinahanap na ako ngayon sa loob.

I was about to get out of the gate when suddenly, a strong hand grabbed me.

"Hey, let go!" I yelled.

"It's me, babe." He whispered at agad naman akong kumalma.

I turned my back and I was immediately greeted by his mesmerising eyes.

But I immediately cut my stare when someone yelled.

"Ayon siya!"

Alaric held my hand and pulled me.

"Let's go," aniya at hinila ako para tumakbo.

My brows furrowed as I followed his lead. I'm sure I didn't tell him what's happening pero bakit tila alam na niya ang nangyayari?

"Can you still run or should I carry you now?" He asked and smirked.

Napasimangot ako at tumigil.

"Just a sec," I muttered as I took off the heels I'm wearing. "Now, let's run." I smiled as I pulled him.

We were both panting when we got into his car at agad niya iyong binuksan para makapasok ako.

"Mukhang gagawin mo pa yata akong accomplice sa krimeng ginawa mo ah," he chuckled as he started the engine.

I rolled my eyes. "Duh, I'm not a criminal! At wala lang talaga akong choice kasi ikaw lang ang available."

"Aray, ang sakit mo naman. Hindi ba pwedeng I just made myself available for my babe?" He chuckled.

"Gagi, alis na tayo!" I panicked and hit him on the arm when someone suddenly approached our car.

"Are you sure you really want to escape with me?" He asked again and flashed me a mischievous smile.

Mas lalo naman akong nataranta nang makita ang mga guards na palabas na ng back gate.

"Yes, yes! And I'll do everything you want! Just please...help me this time." I begged him and held his arm.

Bahagya naman siyang napatigil dahil do'n. There was a glint of foreign expression in his eyes but it also immediately disappeared.

"Okay then, saan mo gustong pumunta?" He asked and started driving.

I sighed.

"Just take me somewhere far from them."