Melinda DiLaurentis had turned what should have been a tender, private moment with Rye into a whirlwind of chaos. The photograph of us hugging, iyong malungkot na paalaman naming iyon sa lobby ng building, became a weapon used to tarnish my already fragile reputation. Walang inaksayang oras ang balitang iyon. The next day, headlines screamed accusations of me not only stealing her husband but now also her son. The media had latched onto it with ravenous delight, further sensationalizing the rumors of me being a mistress. Na siyang lalong nagpagalit kay Tita Chi.

Wherever I went, it felt like chaos was my relentless shadow. I couldn't escape it, couldn't find a moment of peace without it creeping back into my life. Lalo akong napapagod dahil pakiramdam ko ay wala ng katapusan ang mga isipin sa buhay ko, hindi na ako napapayapa.

Tita Chi had called another family meeting, this time exclusively with the youngest generation of De Salvos. Mas mainit ang mata sa amin ng media ngayon lalo na at nalalapit ang kaarawan ni Uncle Exodus. Her anger was palpable even through the phone, a fury that promised a storm waiting to be unleashed upon us.

"Tinawagan ko na ang publicist ko to take actions sa mga rumor," pinisil ni Kourtney ang aking braso nang papasok na kami sa conference room kung saan naghihintay si Tita Chi at ang ilan pa. "I'll see what else I can do to help."

"Thank you," iyon na lang ang nasabi ko dahil bumukas na ang pinto.

Lahat kaming magpipinsan na kasalukuyang nasa Manila ay pinatawag ni Tita Chi sa De Salvo Tower. As I entered the conference room, the tension was suffocating. My cousins sat in silence, walang panghuhusga sa tingin ng mga ito. Tahimik lamang na nakamasid sa akin. Sa pinakadulong bahagi ng lamesa ay nakita ko si Audrey katabi si Oxygen.

She smiled at me when our eyes met. Audrey was a couple of years younger than me, kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay twenty-two lang ito o mas bata pa. Tapos ay ikakasal na. Kay Hans pa. Eh, ang tanda na nu'n!

Tita Chi stood at the head of the table, her eyes blazing with disappointment and anger. She didn't wait long to unleash her fury. Ni hindi na nito hinintay na makaupo ako.

"What on earth were you thinking, Caice?" she began, her voice cold and sharp. "Do you have any idea what kind of mess you've created? This family is already under scrutiny, and now this?"

Ngayon ko naintindihan kung bakit ganito na lang kung magalit si Tita Chi sa akin. What happened to Zach was too much at ang masangkot sa isa na namang usapin kagaya nito ay masyado nang mabigat para sa buong pamilya namin.

I wanted to explain, to tell her that the photograph with Rye had been innocent, that it had nothing to do with Melinda's twisted narrative. But the words felt lodged in my throat, the weight of the situation pressing down on me like a vice.

"Tita Chi," I started, my voice barely above a whisper, "it wasn't what it looks like. Rye was saying goodbye, and—"

"Goodbye?" she snapped, cutting me off. "You were hugging the son of a woman who's already accusing you of stealing her husband. Do you have any idea how that looks? Totoo man o hindi ang sinasabi mo ay hindi mahalaga iyon sa media, Caice! Alam mong I didn't really care what people think of us, pero iba ang sitwasyon ngayon. May sakit ang mommy mo. At ano sa tingin mo ang mararamdaman niya oras na malaman niya 'yan, and she would know. Mag-aalala na naman si Nicole imbes na ang iniintindi ay ang pagpapagamot niya, ikaw na naman ang iisipin. And we can't stop her from worrying, she's your mother."

The room felt like it was closing in on me. Si Mommy... Tama si Tita Chi, hindi makakabuti sa lagay ngayon ni Mommy kung sakaling maririnig niya ang ganitong klase ng balita. She would worry.

I looked around, seeking some form of support from my cousins, but they were all too caught up in their own discomfort to meet my eyes. Tanging si Kourtney lang ang sumalubong sa aking mga mata, she smiled tightly at alam kong nagpipigil itong magsalita lalo ngayong galit si Tita Chi.

"Tita Chi, I swear, that's nothing."

"That may be true," she said, her voice softening slightly, "but perception is everything in this family. And right now, the perception is that you're causing a scandal."

I felt my heart sink. Chaos seemed to follow me wherever I went, twisting every situation into something dark and destructive. I was tired, so incredibly tired of fighting against a tide that never seemed to turn in my favor.

"I don't know what to do," I admitted, my voice breaking. "It feels like no matter what I do, it's always wrong."

Tita Chi sighed, her anger giving way to a weary frustration. She looked at me for a few moments, her gaze intense and searching. Then, she glanced around the room, her eyes meeting Kourtney's. They exchanged a silent communication. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nakapailalim sa tinginan ng mga ito at wala akong sapat na lakas upang intindihin pa iyon.

Kourtney nodded slightly, as if giving Tita Chi some unspoken permission to proceed. Tita Chi's shoulders relaxed a fraction, and she turned her attention back to me, her expression softening just a little.

"We need to control the narrative. You need to stay away from Melinda, from her family. Focus on our own issues, on helping your mother. Leave the media to us." Tahimik niyang sabi.

I nodded, feeling a sense of helplessness wash over me. It seemed like no matter how hard I tried, chaos would always find a way to ensnare me. All I could do was take Tita Chi's advice and hope that, somehow, the storm would pass. But deep down, I couldn't shake the feeling that chaos was a permanent part of my life, an inescapable shadow that would follow me wherever I went.

"Okay. I can do that." Mahina man ang tinig ko ay committed ako sa aking sinabi. I would not allow Melinda DiLaurentis to drag me into another scandal.

I looked around the room, seeing the worry etched on the faces of my cousins. It was a stark reminder that the scandal didn't just affect me; it rippled through the entire family, staining our name and complicating our lives.

"Anong oras ang balik mo sa Cebu, Oxygen?" Binalingan ni Tita Chi si Oxygen na sandaling nag-isip, niyuko pa ang relo bago sagutin ang tanong.

"Siguro ay bukas ng umaga na po, Tita Chi. Dinalaw pa ni Gabby sina Dad at baka doon niya piliing tumuloy kami ngayong gabi."

"I'm sorry you had to cut your vacation short." Si Tita Chi ulit bago may kung anong niyuko sa cellphone nito. She seemed to be texting someone base sa pangungunot ng noo nito at paggalaw ng mga daliri.

"Walang problema, Tita Chi. Gusto na rin naman ni Gabby na makauwi. Hindi makatulog ng maayos pag malayo sa tatlo." Natatawang bahagi ni Oxygen na siyang nagpangiti rin sa iba pang nasa silid.

"How are the kids? Hindi ba't nasa Cebu ang tatlo? Sino ang kasama?" Paris asked, kanina pa ito tahimik na nakikinig lamang sa usapan.

Tumango si Oxygen. "Derek and Tami offered to babysit. Sa bahay sila tumutuloy simula nang umalis kami ni Gabgab."

"Oh," tumango-tango si Paris. "I didn't know they were in Cebu. Balak sana naming magbakasyon ni Aidan doon next month, dadalhin namin ang mga bata. Tapos na kaya ang waterpark nu'n? Doon excited si Riley, eh."

Napataas ang aking kilay, nakuha na rin ang atensyon ko ng kanilang usapan. May waterpark ang CHR doon? Oxygen seemed to be going all out sa ipinatayo nitong branch ng hotel sa Cebu. He seemed to really be making his name there.

"Oo, tapos na ang construction noon bago pa kami umalis ni Gabgab. May mga ilang permit na lang na hinihintay maaprubahan, ilang site visits din. Wala naman ng isang buwan at kakayanin ng maging operational, kaya na 'yon next month. Pumunta kayo, matutuwa rin na may ibang makakalaro 'yung tatlo. Si Saint, sawang-sawa na 'yun sa mukha ko."

Natawa si Paris maging sina Kade at Kourtney na nakikinig rin sa usapan ng dalawa.

"Sige, kakausapin ko si Aidan para maplano na namin. Bigyan mo sana ako ng gulf view suite, alam kong maraming guests ang hotel sa ganitong panahon pero kung magagawan mo sana ng paraan na iyon ang mabook sa amin ay mas maganda." Ngumisi si Paris, natawa naman si Audrey sa pasimpleng request nito kay Oxygen.

As the conversation continued around me, I took a moment to look around the table, observing my cousins. Marriage and family life had indeed changed them. Paris, who had barely spoken to anyone before, was now more connected with everyone. She used to keep to herself, preferring solitude over socializing, but now, her smile was brighter, and her laughter was more frequent. She seemed happier, more at ease, and it was heartwarming to see her this way.

Si Oxygen naman ay naging mas responsable kaysa sa pagkakatanda ko. I remembered him as someone who often shirked duties, always finding ways to avoid responsibilities as a teenager. But now, he was handling family matters with a level of maturity that surprised me. Nagawa pa nga nitong palawigin ang sakop ng hotel. His growth was evident, and it made me proud to see how far he had come.

Kourtney, too, had changed. She used to be outspoken and a bit impulsive, but now she seemed more reserved. Her assertive nature had softened, and she brought a calming presence to situations like this.

So this is what love does to people, huh? It molds them, transforms them into better versions of themselves. Parang ang bilis bilis ng panahon. Ang dami ng nagbago.

I then turned my gaze to Kade. Kade, who had always been a paragon of perfection in my eyes, didn't seem to need the transformative power of love. He was already perfect as he was.

Sandaling tumayo si Tita Chi at may sinagot na tawag, hindi iyon inabot ng dalawang minuto ay bumalik rin naman siyang agad, resuming her place at the head of the table. She looked at Kourtney knowingly and nodded. Another one of their silent conversations. Then she turned to Oxygen and said, "We will go as planned."

What will go as planned?

I was confused and was about to ask what she meant when Kourtney stood up.

"Well, I'm really famished. It's been a long day," she announced. "I need to get some food in me. Kaya mauuna na kami ni Caice."

She didn't give me a chance to protest, pulling me up with her.

"Goodbye, everyone," she called out, her tone cheerful but her grip on my arm firm.

"What's going on?" I whispered as we walked away from the table. "Why are we leaving?"

Kourtney smiled playfully. "I just need to get some air. We'll grab a quick bite and then head back. Trust me."

Bahagya ko na lamang nalingunan ang mga naiwan sa lamesa, patuloy ang usapan nina Oxygen at Tita Chi. Hindi ko na iyon narinig nang tuluyan kaming makalabas ni Kourtney. Hindi pa rin niya binitawan ang aking braso kahit nasa elevator na kami, akala mo'y makakawala ako sa kaniya.

"Saan mo gustong kumain?" She asked, yawning.

It was ten in the morning, bakit parang antok na antok naman ang isang 'to?

"Ikaw na ang bahala, hindi naman ako gaanong gutom."

Kourtney nodded thoughtfully. "It's better if we have breakfast at my fiancé's restaurant. He's got some amazing new dishes on the menu."

I blinked in surprise. "Wait, Marco's your fiancé now?"

She laughed softly, nodding. "Yeah, I guess you've been a little out of the loop. Marco proposed to me, and we're already planning the wedding."

Masaya kong niyakap si Kourtney. Ni wala sa hinagap ko na sa aming dalawa ay siya ang mauunang lumagay sa tahimik. Si Kourtney na puro laro lamang ang alam. Well, at least one of us is winning.

"Congratulations! That's amazing, Kourtney." Hinalikan ko pa ang kaniyang pisngi nang humalakhak siya. Totoong masaya ako para sa kaniya dahil ramdam kong ganoon rin siya.

"Thanks," she said, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "You'll be my maid of honor, of course."

"Of course," I agreed, feeling a warmth spread through me. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. At talagang dito mo sa elevator sinabi sa akin 'yan, huh!"

"Hindi ko pa naman pa balak ipaalam, kaya lang nadulas na ako. What to do?" She shrugged and grinned at me. Bakas ang labis na kasiyahan sa kinang ng kaniyang mga mata. "Well, siguro naman ay hindi masama sa pamahiin or whatever na sabay ikasal ang mag pinsan sa parehong taon, hindi ba? That's for magkapatid only, right? I didn't know kasi when Audrey is planning to get married. They haven't set the date yet, but I think it's better kung kausapin ko rin nga sila so I know when to set mine."

The heights of my happiness dropped to its breaking point just like that as I was reminded that Audrey and Hans, too, were about to get married. Damn, that was something I found hard to swallow. It felt as if a cold, heavy stone had been lodged in my chest, each breath growing more labored with the weight of the realization. For a moment, I had allowed myself to be swept away by Kourtney's infectious joy, but now, reality came crashing back in a merciless wave.

"Oh, the media is going to love us! Two of the De Salvos are about to give them the wedding of the century!"