Announcement:

Before proceeding in reading this newly updated chapter, I'd like to deeply apologize for not updating in almost 2 months. I have posted and stated everything that you need to know in my random book, again, entitled "Mangled Heart." You can check it anytime. Honestly, I don't wanna let you down, UniqueKorns and I hope you're still with me. Once again, I'm very, very sorry. May you enjoy this longest update I've written so far. Be red, stay unique!

•••••Raven's POV•••••

It is like I didn't sleep at all. Time runs so fast and I can still smell Miyahara's scent in the living room of our house. Not just that, I can still hear his annoying voice in my head.

Today is the day that I will finally go out and explore the outside world.

Matagal pang babalik si Ethan kaya sana hindi niya ito malalaman. I already told our maids and butlers not to tell Ethan or else they'll suffer the consequences. May mga pamilya pa sila at hindi ako magdadalawang-isip na idamay sila if they stab me in the back.

I'm sitting on the couch and browsing on my phone while waiting for Miyahara to pick me up. I'm wearing only my casual clothes-jeans, sneakers, black shirt and red hoodie jacket. Since sunglasses and face masks are a trend, I also packed mine just in case.

I was busy browsing my phone until a figure came to me. I didn't bother to look up and decided to just wait for whoever it is to speak.

"Ma'am R-Raven?"

Her voice was shaking. It's crazy but I sometimes love it when I smell the fear of people. Their fear of coming near me.

"Sigurado h-ho ba kayo na l-lalabas kayo n-ngayon?"

Napatigil ako sa ginagawa ko at tiningnan siya ng mabuti. Siya pala ang katulong namin na si Ann. She and Ethan are so close because she took care of him when our parents passed away. She tried to take care of me before but I didn't need it. I didn't need any care at all.

I raised a brow at her. "Excuse me?"

Nilakasan niya ang loob niya na magsalita. "Magagalit ho si sir Ethan kapag malalaman niya ito. Alam niyo naman po ang mangyayari kapag sinuway ni-"

"Hold on, who are you again?" I harshly cut her off. "Didn't we talk about this? You have no right to tell me what to do. I will do what I want and what I wanna do today is get the hell out of this house. Siguro malinaw na 'yon sa'yo, 'di ba?"

I stood up and crossed my arms. Wala siyang karapatan na pagsabihan ako kasi hindi niya ako anak at hindi niya kontrolado ang mga desisyon at kilos ko. I will let this serve as a lesson to her.

"Baka nakakalimutan mong maid at yaya ka lang ni Ethan. Kung makikinig siya sa lahat ng mga sasabihin mo then ibahin mo ako sa kaniya. Even if we've lived under the same roof for years, you still don't know me, Ann. I repeat, you have no right to tell me what to do kaya huwag kang pakialamera!"

Then suddenly I felt a presence on the doorway.

"Raven."

I slowly turned around and saw Miyahara standing there, looking seriously at me. Nakita ko rin yung isang katulong namin na nasa gilid niya. She jumped in surprise when she realized I was looking at her.

"P-Pasensya na, ma'am! H-Hinahanap niya kasi k-kayo eh at n-nakita ko rin siya d-dito kahapon k-kaya pinapasok ko n-nalang p-po." she said with full of fear in her voice.

Biglang sumabog ang pasensya ko kaya hindi ko mapigilang sabihin na, "Get out of my sight." Nagulat silang tatlo sa akin.

"P-Po?" Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Ann. Isa pa 'to.

"I said get out of my sight at huwag na huwag kayong magpapakita sakin ngayon!" Nagulat naman ang dalawa sa sigaw ko kaya nagmadali silang nawala sa paningin ko. I thought Miyahara left but he didn't. He just remained standing there, looking at me. "What?" I asked annoyingly.

"Is that how you treat th-"

"If you're going to lecture me like Ethan always does then just get the hell out. Hindi ko kayo kailangan!" Mga bwiset! Sinisira talaga nila ang araw ko. Bakit ba ang daming mga bwiset sa mundo?

"Fine, I won't. Pero kalma lang, may lakad tayo ngayon, hindi ba?" I turned to look at him seriously at nagulat siya. "You really need to calm down, Raven."

I suddenly realized what he meant. Shit. I gulped and said, "Don't tell me..."

Tumango siya and it was the only answer I needed.

My eyes have turned into the color magenta purple again. Nag-iiba talaga ang kulay ng mga mata ko kapag nagagalit ako. Sana hindi ito nakita ng mga maids.

"Teka lang, kukuha ako ng tubig." Mabilis na tinungo ni Miyahara ang kitchen para kumuha ng tubig.

Umupo ako ulit sa couch and took a deep breath. Calm down. Calm down. Calm down. Napahawak ang mga kamay ko sa aking mga mata. I keep on repeating 'Calm down' in my head.

After a minute, Miyahara came back with a glass of water in hand. Tumabi siya sakin at pinainom ako ng tubig. I leaned my back on the couch and covered my eyes with my hand.

Hindi pwede masira ang araw na 'to. I have waited for this. This is my only chance.

"Magpahinga ka nalang kaya, Raisin? Pwede naman natin gawin 'to bukas o sa susunod na-"

"I'm fine and we will go. Now." I looked at him seriously again. I can feel that my eyes are back to normal.

He looked at me for a while then sighed. Tumango siya kaya tumayo na kami para lumabas na sa bahay. Paglabas namin ay nakita ko ang isang color black na LaFerrari na sasakyan.

"Nice car choice." I said.

"I know." he replied and opened the door for me. So I go in. "Gift ito ng parents ko nung eighteenth birthday ko."

"Cool."

"Stay here. May gagawin lang muna ako."

Kumunot ang noo ko pero bago pa man ako makapagtanong sa kanya ay pumasok siya ulit sa loob ng bahay. Ko. That idiot feels like he owns the house.

Anyway, his car smells like cake. Chocolate cake. I don't know why it smells like it. Hindi naman masakit sa ilong at nakakasawa kaya okay lang. His car is clean, in and out. Mahahalata talaga na bago. It's comfortable inside so it's not a problem at all.

Mga five minutes siguro bago niya sinara ang pinto sa bahay namin at pumasok sa loob ng kotse.

"Where were you? Feel na feel mo ata na ikaw ang owner ng house, 'no?" He just smiled then started the engine.

"'Wag kang mag-alala. Kinausap ko lang ang mga katulong niyo at ako na mismo ang humingi ng tawad." Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. He did what now? Hindi naman siya dapat gumawa ng ganun. He then looked at me again. "You shouldn't have treated them that way." dagdag pa niya.

He started driving.

I rolled my eyes at him. "You shouldn't have done that. Masyado ka ring pakialamero eh. Can't you just mind your own business? You don't have any responsibilities to them." I crossed my arms and leaned my back on the front seat.

"Hindi naman sa nakikialam ako, Raisin. I'm just telling you to do the right thing. Syempre, gusto lang nila na safe ka kasi inaalagaan ka nila. Maswerte ka nga kasi they care about you. Unlike the others, as long as binabayaran lang sila ng malaki ay ayos na. You should be thankful." he said without looking at me and keeping his attention on the road.

He does have a point. But those maids are just doing it kasi natatakot sila kay Ethan. Of course, they are afraid that he will kill their families. Alam nila na hindi kami isang ordinaryong assassin. We can get rid of everything and everyone if we want to.

"May responsibilad o wala, hindi 'yon hadlang sa paggawa ng tama at paghingi ng tawad."

I just gave him a 'what-ever-look' and say, "Give me a break. They're just doing good because they're afraid that their families might get involved."

Huminto kami nang makarating kami sa harap ng guard house. Nakita namin dun yung matandang lalaki na nakatira malapit sa bahay namin. He was the one that we were talking to yesterday.

"Wait," Pinigilan ko si Miyahara sa pagbukas ng car window at dali-daling sinuot ang hoodie at mask ko. This is para hindi ako ma-recognize ng guard. Who knows, baka inutusan siya ni Ethan na magbantay kung sakaling lalabas ako.

When I was done, I nodded to Miyahara and so he let his window down. Nakita kami nung matanda at nakilala niya kaagad ako. Ngunit, ngumiti lang ito sa amin and didn't say a word at all.

"Salamat po, kuya!" He waved to the security guard. Ngumiti lang ito sa aming dalawa.

"Ingat ho kayo, sir!"

"Take care of your girlfriend." Tiningnan ko ng masama yung matanda pero tumawa lang ito.

"Sege po. Mauna na kami." And with that, he closed the window and started driving again.

"People should know that we're not a couple." Hinubad ko muna ang hoodie and mask ko since tinted naman ang loob ng kotse.

"I won't let that happen. Masyado kang moody para maging girlfriend ng campus hearthrob." he said arrogantly at tumawa.

"Campus hearthrob? You're not referring to yourself, are you? Kasi kung oo, mahiya ka naman sa sarili mo o kahit sa akin man lang." Tumawa siya sa sinabi ko.

"Hindi mo lang alam, Raisin kung ilang babae ang gustong-gustong makasama ako. Swerte ka nga kasi masosolo mo ako the whole day today." He looked at me for a second and winked.

A sudden weird feeling came to me. "Eww. Shut up, you narcissist." Geez, seriously? Hindi nalang siya nahiya sa sarili niya. Narcissist talaga.

Tumawa lang ulit siya.

I looked outside the car window and finally, nakalabas na rin ako ng bahay at subdivision na iba ang kasama.

I hope this day will be perfect.

-----

"We're here." I immediately went out after we parked the car.

I suddenly felt an excited feeling dahil first time kong makakapasok ng mall na hindi si Ethan ang kasama. I don't know, I just feel so... free.

He immediately followed me after securing his car. "Woah, woah, woah! Slow down! Ready na ba ang disguise mo?"

I only put on my hoddie. "This should do it. What do you think?" Tinanong ko siya kasi mas alam niya kung ano ang gagawin sa mga crowded places.

He thought for a moment.

"I think the mask will do better." Tinuro niya ang mask na hinahawakan ko.

He does have a point. Hinubad ko ang hoodie ko at sinuot ang mask.

"Better. Mas marami kasing gumagamit ng mask ngayon kaya hindi ka na mahahalata sa iba." He reached out his out hand to me. "Tara?"

I raised my brow at his hand. "Only if you get your hand out of my sight." Na-gets rin naman niya kaagad kaya tumikhim nalang siya.

"Sorry, tara?" I nodded to him at pumasok na kami sa mall.

Pagpasok namin ay namangha ako. It's not the mall that I'm surprised about, actually. Kundi ang feeling na parang malaya ka na. I've been through a lot of malls, not just here in the Philipines but also in the other countries. Pero iba lang talaga kapag feeling mo walang mga matang nakabantay sa'yo. I just feel nothing but me.

"Feeling free?" tanong sakin ni Miyahara.

I quickly nodded. "Yes! Masarap sa feeling na walang mga matang nakabantay sa'yo." sabi ko.

"I'm glad to know." Ngumiti siya sa akin. "Raven Saldoviana, welcome to Shimuya Super Malls."

Mas lalo pa akong na-excite dahil sa pag-welcome niya sa akin. Nakita ko kaagad yung arcade malapit lang sa kinatatayuan namin kaya hinila ko si Miyahara doon. Nagulat siya pero hinayaan lang niya ako.

His hand are hot unlike mine. I can really say that I'm safe around him.

We played with a bunch of arcade games and spent an hour there until we had enough. Naglibot-libot muna kami sa iba't ibang lugar sa mall hanggang sa nakaramdam na kami ng gutom.

"My stomach's growling." I said.

"Ako rin. Sa'n mo ba gustong kumain? Saang restaurant ba ang gusto mo?" tanong niya at nilingon ako since nauna siyang maglakad sa akin.

"Does it really have to be in a restaurant?" I started thinking for a moment kung saan ko ba talaga gustong kumain. Gusto ko ring mag-try sa fast food chain. Palagi nalang kasi kaming kumakain sa restaurant ni Ethan eh. Gusto ko ring mag-try sa iba. "How about sa ZacDonalds?"

He hesitated. "Sure ka?" Nag-uusap kasi kami about sa mga bagay-bagay kanina sa biyahe at isa na sa mga sinabi ko na hindi ako sanay kumain sa mga fast food chain and street foods.

Tumango ako. Hindi nalang siya umangal pa at tinungo nalang namin ang ZacDonalds.

We immediately get ourselves some seat when we reached the fast food chain. Nag-order lang ako ng cheesy mushroom steak, cheesy fries and ham and cheese burger. While spicy chicken and bacon burger naman kay Miyahara.

The food was delicious and everything was worth it. Of course, Miyahara's treat. Siya ang may kasalanan sakin eh.

"I want ice cream." Nagulat siya ng bigla kong tinuro ang isang ice cream store.

Tiningnan niya ako. "Marami ka nang kinain. Pagkatapos natin dun sa ZacDonalds ay kumain ka pa ng favorite red velvet cake dun sa Oishi Cake Shop, tapos uminom ka pa ng kape, tapos kumain ka na naman ng red velvet cupcake, tapos uminom ka na naman ng Java chip, and then-" Blah. Blah. Blah. I immediately cut him off.

"Nagrereklamo ka ba?"

Napakurap naman siya ng ilang beses.

"Straight tagalog ah!" I rolled my eyes at him.

"Whatever."

"Malamang, nagrereklamo ako, Raisin. Inuubos mo allowance ko eh." Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

"Sino ba ang may kasalanan satin? Ikaw naman, 'di ba? Didn't you promise to me na babawi ka sakin? This is your chance. Unless," I gave him a poker face. "You want me to take back my 'apology accepted?'"

Natahimik naman siya sa sinabi ko. "Ayaw mo naman sigurong bumalik sa Blandon High without me accepting your apology, right? Magagalit pa sa'yo si Velas-"

"Okay, okay! Sege na nga! Anong flavor ba ang gusto mo?" I smiled deep inside kasi na convince ko rin siya.

Sinabi ko sa kanya ang flavor na gusto ko.

"Oh, sege. Dito ka lang, ha? Huwag na huwag kang aalis ng hindi pa ako tapos mag-order. Gets?"

Tumango nalang ako sa kanya para makapag-order na rin siya. Gutom na kasi ako eh.

Medjo mahaba rin yung line kaya napag-isipan kong umupo muna sa bench na hindi masyadong malayo sa ice cream stall. I was just looking at Miyahara and the line until suddenly, may naramdaman akong presensya sa likod ko.

"Don't you dare touch me."

Mabilis kong hinawakan ng mahigpit ang wrist ng taong nasa likod ko at inis siyang nilingon. Then I even tightened the grip of my hand to the person's wrist when I saw who it was.

"I love your reflexes, darling. Pero 'wag kang mag-alalala, 'di naman kita sasaktan eh." The girl smiled innocently.

I let go of her wrist, but still keeping my guards up. Hinawakan niya ang wrist niya. "Tight grip. Namumula yung pulso ko oh!" The idiot showed it to me.

While looking at her, I keep on thinking kung saan ko ba talaga nakita ang mukha niya. She looks so familiar.

She finally let go of her wrist then turned her attention back to me.

"Hindi mo 'ko naaalala, 'no?" she asked.

I knew I've seen her somewhere. But where?

She gave me a devilish grin before saying,

"My name's Nicka, Nickalaine Sagurano and we met a few days ago."

*~*~*~*~*~*

BHTDH's new cover will soon be out now, made by my dearest friend, xNurtellax Thank you so so much, girl! You definitely nailed it! Check it out soon, UniqueKorns!