Dad ordered the demolition of Matahom. Isang maliit na komunidad sa tagong probinsya ng Palawan, may mga pamilyang doon naninirahan at tahimik na nabubuhay. He had ordered the demolition dahil apektado ang maliit na bahaging iyon ng isla sa gagawing expansion ng hotel. The De Salvo Group bought Matahom, ngunit hindi gustong umalis ng mga tagaroon. Ipinaglalaban na lupa nila iyon, sa kanila. Doon na tumanda at nagkabuhay ang mga ito kaya hindi nakapagtataka kung ipapaglaban nila ang kanilang karapatang manatili.

How could my father do this? How could he justify destroying people's homes and lives just to make way for another luxury development? The thought of families being uprooted, their homes demolished, and their memories erased for the sake of profit made my stomach churn.

The realization was breaking me from the inside out.

Who was my father, really? The man who had raised me, who I had looked up to, now seemed like a stranger—a monster. He ordered the killing of those people, including Hans's dad. Walang tigil na iyon lamang ang tumatakbo sa aking isipan simula nang marinig ko iyon, each repetition more painful than the last. How could someone so close to me be capable of such cruelty?

I left Minnie at the pizzeria without a word. There was nothing I could say that would make the truth any lighter. Iniwan ko siya doon sa kagustuhang harapin ang aking ama. Lahat ng tanong na gumugulo sa aking isipan ay ito lang ang makakasagot.

Alam kong nasa resort ito ngayon kaya doon ako pumunta. I called another cousin for help, si Zach, dahil hindi bastang makakapasok ang tricycle sa resort. Kailangan pang magpasundo gamit ang ilang van na naroon. I was just thankful I had memorized the numbers of most of them, lalo iyong mga talagang malalapit sa akin.

"I'm sorry, hindi lang ako sanay sa ayos mo." Sabi ni Zach bago ibaling muli ang tingin sa daan habang nagmamaneho. Panay kasi ang sulyap niya sa maiksi kong buhok. "I heard about what happened between you and Uncle Vince, Caice. I hope you're okay."

Hindi ako nagsalita dahil natatakot akong baka kung ano ang masabi ko na hindi dapat. Hindi ngayon na gulong-gulo ang aking isipan at pakiramdam ko'y sasabog ako anumang oras.

Nang hindi ko siya imikan ay hindi na rin naman na muling nagsalita pa si Zach. Marahil ay naramdaman rin niya ang bigat na aking dinadala sa sandaling ito. Hindi pa naipaparadang maayos ni Zach ang sasakyan sa driveway ng hotel ay binuksan ko na ang pinto sa tabi ko at tumalon na akong pababa.

"Hintayin mo lang ako dito, Zach. Please?" Pakiusap ko sa kaniya na siyang tinanguan niya naman. "Thank you,"

Baka kasi mamaya ay wala akong masakyan paalis dito. Kailangan ko pa ang tulong niya pero hindi ko na siya kailangan pang samahan ako sa taas.

I knew my father would be here, overseeing the final preparations for the expansion. This was his kingdom, a monument to his power and ambition. As I walked through the grand lobby, the opulence felt suffocating. Bigla ay parang gusto kong masuka.

"Miss De Salvo, good afternoon," greeted the receptionist, her smile practiced and polite. "How may I assist you today?"

I had no time for pleasantries. Hindi ko ito pinansin at nagtuluy-tuloy lang ako sa pribadong elevator sa pinakadulo ng lobby. I punched in his code, bumukas iyon at pumasok ako sa loob. The ride up was agonizingly slow. I could feel my heart pounding, each beat echoing the anger I felt. When the elevator doors finally opened, I stepped out into the quiet hallway, the plush carpet muffling my footsteps as I approached the executive suite.

I paused outside the door, taking one last deep breath to steady myself. Then, with a resolve I didn't know I possessed, I pushed it open and walked inside.

My father was there, standing by the window, his back to me. He turned as he heard the door.

"Caice! Caice! Oh, my God! Anak!" Si Mommy iyon na umahon mula sa couch sa receiving area, hindi ko pa ito agad mapapansin kung hindi pa ito magsasalita. Nagmamadaling tinakbo ako nito upang sana'y yakapin pero humakbang ako papalayo.

I saw the pain that registered on her face when I did that. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin, muli kong ibinalik ang aking mga mata kay Dad na nanatili lamang nakatayo sa may bintana, nakatingin sa akin.

"Totoo ba, Dad? Totoo bang ipinapatay mo ang mga residente ng Matahom kabilang ang ama ni Hans?" Hindi ko rin makilala ang sarili kong tinig dahil puno iyon ng galit. I had never been this angry before. Gusto kong manghina sa sobrang galit na aking nararamdaman. "You ordered the demolition!"

Dad didn't move, kalmado pa rin itong nakatayo at tila hindi man lang nayanig sa sinasabi ko. The more it made me hate him!

"Why did you order the demolition of Matahom? Why did you kill those people?"

"Caice, you don't understand—"

"No, you don't understand!" I interrupted, stepping closer. "Those were real people with real lives. You killed them! Do you have any idea what you've done? Ni minsan ba ay inisip mo kung anong mangyayari sa mga naiwan at naapektuhan ng ginawa mo?"

He took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure. Hindi na siya makatingin ng diretso sa akin. "Sometimes difficult decisions have to be made—"

"Difficult decisions?" I repeated, my voice rising. "You've destroyed lives! You've turned into a monster, and for what? More money? More power?"

Dad's voice seemed detached. Para bang hindi siya ang kausap ko. Parang demonyo. "Well, darling, this is how the world works. It's about survival of the fittest. They were in the way—"

"They were not in the way!" I shouted, tears streaming down my face. "They were people, Dad. You can't just destroy them for your own gain."

There was a long silence as we stared at each other, the chasm between us growing wider with each passing second. Finally, he spoke, his voice cold and unyielding. "You need to understand, Caice. This is our world."

"No," I said, my voice steady. "This is your world. And I want no part of it."

Nilingon ko si Mommy na nanatili lamang nakatayo sa likod ko, she looked so worried pero ni hindi makuhang magsalita.

"Are you listening to this, Mom? Dad killed those people! Mga taong wala namang ginagawang masama! He took their livelihood and killed them all! How are you okay with this?"

My mother remained silent, her tears streaming down her face, a silent witness to the horror that had unfolded. She couldn't meet my gaze, her sobs the only response to my plea.

Mas lalong nadurog ang puso ko dahil pinatunayan lamang nito ang kinatatakunan ko. She knew all these years... She knew and didn't say a word. Mom knew Dad was a monster.

My father's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "So, your boyfriend has finally told you about it, huh?"

I turned to him sharply, my eyes blazing with fury. "Leave Hans alone. He didn't say a word about your cruelty. It wasn't too hard to guess why. Hans didn't want me to know that my own father is a monster."

"You should've been wiser by now, Caice. Hans is using you to get to me. And he's done a good job of it." Sabi niya sa malamig na tinig. "Ano bang akala mo? Hindi ko siya gusto para sa'yo dahil mahirap siya? Hindi ko siya gusto para sa'yo dahil alam kong ginagamit ka lang niya para pasakitan ako."

"That's not true!" I shouted, my voice cracking. "Hans loves me. He's never wanted anything from you or your filthy money!"

"He's been manipulating you, Caice," Dad said, his tone infuriatingly calm. "All of this—your rebellion, your anger—it's exactly what he wanted. He's been playing you from the start."

"No!" I screamed, stepping further to him, my fists clenched. "You don't get to twist this around. This is all on you, Dad. You destroyed those people's lives for your own gain, and now kami ni Hans ang sisirain mo?"

"Open your eyes, Caice!" he barked, his composure slipping. "This is how the world works. It's about power and control. You think Hans is some saint? He's a tool, a pawn trying to undermine me."

My mother's sobs grew louder, each one like a dagger to my heart. "Stop it," she whispered through her tears. "Please, both of you, stop."

"Mom, he's trying to justify murder!" I said, turning to her. "You can't let him get away with this! Tapos ano? Guguluhin naman niya ang isip ko tungkol kay Hans? Mom, mahal ako ni Hans! Alam ko! Naramdaman ko! Mahal niya ako!"

"Your father's right, Caice," she said quietly, her voice trembling. "Hans was using you..."

"You're both delusional," I said, shaking my head in disbelief.

My father shook his head, an air of cold finality in his movements. "His uncle, Ramon has already admitted it, Caice. He sent Hans to lure you in, to make you fall hard. The plan was to leave you just when you thought you were way up high, to ruin you in a way that's unrepairable."

"No..." I whispered, stepping back. "No, that's not true."

Bigla ay pumasok sa aking isipan ang lahat ng namagitan sa amin ni Hans. No. Ayaw ko. Hindi ko kayang paniwalaan na hindi totoo ang lahat ng iyon. Mahal ako ni Hans. Mahal niya ako. Naniniwala ako doon. Panghahawakan ko iyon.

"Believe what you want," he said, his voice like ice. "But this is the reality. Hans was never in love with you. It was all a scheme, a plot to bring me down through you."

My heart felt like it was shattering into a million pieces. I couldn't breathe. "You're lying," I said, my voice breaking. "Hans loves me. I know he does."

"Love?" my father sneered. "This is the real world. People use each other. That's how it works."

"Stop it!" I screamed, the tears streaming down my face. "Just stop it! I can't listen to any more of this."

I stepped away from them, the walls of the room closing in on me, the air thick with their betrayal.

"I don't want any part of you anymore," malakas kong sigaw na ramdam ko pa ang sakit ng lalamunan ko sa ginawa kong iyon. "You're a monster, Dad. And I won't let you destroy me."

Tinalikuran ko na silang pareho. Ramdam kong susunod sana sa akin si Mommy pero hindi ko siya pinansin. Galit ako. Galit at nasasaktan. They're my family. I had trusted them my whole life tapos ngayon ganito? Ito ang mga malalaman ko?

My heart pounding in my chest. I didn't know where I was going, but I knew I had to get away from them, from their lies and manipulation. Hindi ko na alam kung paano ako nakababa at nakalabas ng hotel.

I ran down the street, my vision blurred by tears. My thoughts were a chaotic whirlpool of pain and confusion. Hans... could it be true? Could he really have been using me all along? The thought was unbearable, but so was the thought of my father's monstrous deeds.

I finally stopped, out of breath, leaning against a tree for support. The world felt like it was spinning out of control. I needed to think, to clear my head. But the pain was too overwhelming.

"Caice,"

Si Zach. Nilingon ko siya. Nakalimutan kong pinaghintay ko nga pala siya sa akin.

"Kanina pa kita tinatawag nilagpasan mo lang ako," sabi niya habang humihingal ng bahagya sa ginawang paghabol sa akin.

Nanghihina akong kumapit sa kaniya, patuloy lang sa pag-iyak. Zach took me in his arms without a word, hugging me closely. Hindi siya nagsalita, ipinaramdam niya lang sa akin na nandyan siya. I had never felt so weak na para na akong mamamatay sa sakit.

After what felt like an eternity, Zach gently pulled back, guiding me toward his waiting car. "Come on, let's get you out of here," he said softly.

Once we were seated in the car, Zach looked at me with concern. "Where do you want to go, Caice?"

"Take me to the bus terminal," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He hesitated, clearly unsure about my request. "Are you sure? Maybe you should go home and rest. We can talk to your parents—"

"No!" I interrupted, my voice firm despite my tears. "I can't go back there. Please, Zach, just take me to the bus terminal. I need to get away."

He nodded, understanding the desperation in my voice. "Okay, Caice. If that's what you want." He started the car and drove towards the terminal.

As we drove, the reality of my situation bore down on me. My father's actions, the accusations against Hans, and the sheer weight of betrayal from my parents felt like a heavy burden on my chest. I stared out the window, trying to hold back more tears, feeling a mixture of anger, sadness, and confusion.

Gulong-gulo na ako. Bakit ba nangyayari ang lahat ng 'to? Ano bang ginawa kong mali? Ano bang ginawa kong masama? Bakit ang sakit sakit?

Zach glanced over at me occasionally, worry etched on his face, but he remained silent, giving me the space I needed.

We reached the bus terminal, and Zach parked the car, turning to face me. "Are you sure about this, Caice? Hindi ko tatanungin kung saan ka pupunta pero kung sasabihin mo sa akin na kailangan mo ng kasama, sasamahan kita. You don't have to do this alone."

"I have to, Zach,"

I need to find Hans. I need to hear the truth from him.

He sighed, nodding. "Okay. Just... be careful, alright? And if you need anything, call me. I'll always be here for you."

"Thank you, Zach,"

He gave me a small smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "You'll be okay, Caice. You're stronger than you think."

I nodded, taking a deep breath as I stepped out of the car. With one last look at Zach, I turned and headed towards the terminal.

Sa buong byahe patungong San Vicente ay tila pinipilipit ng husto ang dibdib ko. The thought of Hans possibly using me gnawed at my mind. What if it was true? What if my father's accusations held some grain of truth? The pain of that possibility was almost unbearable.

Hans. The man I had fallen so deeply in love with. Could he have been using me all along? If he had, could I really blame him? What my father did to his family and his people was monstrous. My father had taken everything from Hans—his home, his family, his future. Compared to that, using me to get back at my father seemed almost trivial, yet it cut so deeply into my heart.

The bus ride felt like an eternity, each bump and jolt reminding me of the turbulent thoughts swirling in my mind. I kept replaying everything, every moment Hans and I had shared, searching for signs, clues that might reveal the truth. My head told me to be rational, to consider the possibility that Hans might have had ulterior motives, but my heart refused to believe it. The love I felt from him had always seemed genuine, deep, and unyielding.

When the bus finally reached San Vicente, I felt numb. My legs carried me forward, but my mind was elsewhere, lost in a haze of confusion and pain.

I walked through the familiar paths, the sandy trails leading to the beach, yet I felt disconnected from everything around me.

The beach was quiet, the sound of the waves gently crashing against the shore a stark contrast to the chaos in my mind. As I approached the kubo where Hans and I had made a home, my steps slowed. Memories of our time together flooded back—moments of laughter, of whispered promises, of shared dreams. Could all of that have been a lie?

Bubuksan ko pa lang sana ang pinto nang may magsalita mula sa loob.

Babae.

May ibang tao sa loob?

"Gusto ko lang tulungan ka, Hans."

"Cynthia, hindi ka dapat basta-bastang lumalapit sa akin. Sinasagot ko naman ang mga tawag mo, ah. Tinatanggap ko ang mga tulong mo. Hindi na kailangang pumunta ka pa dito."

"But I need to see you! Nag-alala ako nang hindi mo sagutin ang tawag ko kanina kaya pinuntahan kita dito."

"At ano? Kapag nalaman na naman ng asawa mo ano na naman ang gagawin niya sa'yo? Sasaktan ka na naman. Kapag nagsawa sa'yo ako na naman ang paaabangan."

"H-hindi na ginagawa iyon sa akin ni Alfredo, Hans."

"Anong hindi? Eh, may pasa ka na naman nga sa braso. Hindi ko alam kung bakit panay ang pagtitiis mo sa lalaking iyon. Iwan mo na. Hindi ganyan ang pagmamahal."

"Kung iiwan ko ba si Alfredo ay sasama ka na sa'kin? Hans, mahal kita. Ikaw lang naman ang inaalala ko. Ikaw lang ang mahalaga sa akin."

Litong-lito ako sa lahat ng naririnig ko. Ano? Anong ibig sabihin nito? Ang babaeng kausap ni Hans, ang babaeng nasa loob. Si Cynthia Almacen. Halos mawala na sa isip ko na kanina'y tumawag nga pala ito habang kausap ko si Minnie, at ano nga ba ang sinabi ni Minnie sa akin? May relasyon ito at si Hans.

And now this?

What the fuck is happening?

Confusion clouded my mind, it was as though the universe had conspired to drop all the bombs on me at once, and it was suffocating, bruising. I stood there, frozen, unable to process everything. Ang lakas ng tibok ng puso ko. Ang sakit.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I needed to understand what was going on. I needed to confront Hans.

Summoning all the strength I had left, I walked towards the door, each step heavy with dread. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions—anger, betrayal, confusion, and a desperate hope that there was some explanation that could make sense of all this.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside, my heart racing. Hans and Cynthia both looked up, startled by my sudden entrance.

"Caice," agad na nakabawi si Hans at humakbang papalapit sa akin. Umatras ako para iwasan ang akmang paghawak niya sa akin kaya kumunot ang kaniyang noo. Lalong nag-alala nang mapansin ang itsura ko, kanina pa ako umiiyak kaya malamang ay hindi na maintindihan ang itsura ko. "What happened?"

Nilingon ako ng babaeng nasa gilid. She looked poised and sophisticated, siguro ay kaedad ito ni Mommy. Nagtama ang aming mga mata at tumiim ang aking bagang, no. Hans couldn't...

"Mauuna na ako, Hans. Mag-usap na lang tayong muli sa susunod," hinaplos nito ang braso ni Hans nang lagpasan kami, tapos ay tuluyan ng umalis.

Hans and I stood there, staring at each other, words failing us. Pain filled the space between us, choking me, making it hard to breathe. I wanted to scream, to cry, to lash out, but I couldn't find my voice. The reality of the situation was too overwhelming.

"Caice, please... talk to me," Hans finally said, his voice soft and pleading. He took a tentative step closer, but I stepped back again, shaking my head. "Anong problema?"

Mula sa bag ko ay nilabas ko ang envelope na may lamang pera, iyong ibinigay sa akin ni Spring kanina. Doon. Doon nagsimula ang araw ko at sa kung saan saan na napunta.

Galit kong itinapon iyon sa dibdib ni Hans, bumagsak sa sahig at nagkalat ang perang laman nu'n. Tumiim ang kaniyang bagang sa aking ginawa ngunit hindi ako nagsalita.

"Iyan, pera 'yan. Magkano pa ang kailangan mo, Hans?"

"Caice—"

"Umalis ako kanina para makipagkita kay Spring at kunin 'yan kasi kakailanganin natin 'yan. Hiniram ko kay Reid, para pareho tayong makapag-aral. Sabay. Walang maiiwan. Kasi, 'di ba? Pagsisikapan nating pareho. Kasi, 'di ba? Kakayanin natin?"

Bago ko pa mapigilan ay nagsimula na namang mag-unahan sa pagbuhos ang mga luha mula sa aking mga mata. Ang sakit. Sobrang sakit.

"I saw Minnie, and she told me everything!" Sigaw ko at halos madurog ako nang makita kong bigla siyang natigilan. With that, I knew that he already knew what I was about to say. "Totoo ba 'to, Hans? Totoo ba ang lahat ng 'to? Ikaw at ako? Tayo? Totoo pa ba 'tong pilit kong nilalaban? Hans, hirap na hirap na ako. Ang sakit sakit na. Tatay ko 'yun, pamilya ko. Pero ikaw, ikaw ang pinili ko. Ikaw ang pipiliin ko."

Hans didn't move. He stood there, watching me cry, his expression pained and conflicted. My heart shattered as I waited for his response. Para akong sasabog na hindi ko maintindihan.

"Tell me, Hans," I demanded, my voice trembling. "Did your uncle force you to lure me, to deceive me?"

Hans swallowed hard. "Caice, I..."

"Just tell me the truth!" I interrupted, my frustration and anguish pouring out. "I need to hear it from you."

He closed his eyes for a moment, as if gathering the strength to speak. When he opened them again, he nodded.

The world seemed to tilt around me, the weight of his words crushing my chest. I stumbled back, shaking my head in disbelief.

"So, it was all a lie? Everything we had... was it just a game to you?"

"No, Caice!" Hans exclaimed, stepping forward but stopping when I flinched. "Hindi ako pumayag. Hindi ko ginawa. Mahal kita, Caice. Totoo ang lahat ng ipinakita ko sa'yo. Totoo ang lahat ng sinabi ko sa'yo. Mahal kita."

"And I'm supposed to believe you now?" I whispered, tears streaming down my face. "Mahal mo ko, pero bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin ang totoo? Why didn't you come clean when you knew how much I was fighting for us?"

"I was scared," he admitted, his voice trembling. "Natakot akong hindi ka naman maniniwala sa akin na hindi ko ginawa, Caice. Hindi ko sinunod ang gusto ni Tiyo Ramon. Hindi ko sinabi dahil natakot ako na iwan mo ako at hindi kita masisisi kung iyon nga ang mangyayari."

"Well, congratulations, Hans," I said bitterly. "You got what you feared most. Pare-pareho kayo! Akala ko kilala ko kayo pero hindi! Niloloko niyo lang akong lahat!"

Hans's jaws tightened, but he didn't say a word. The silence was deafening. I felt so disgusted that I couldn't even look at him anymore. He was having an affair with an older woman? It was a no-brainer now that he used me. It was just a punch in the gut. I felt nauseated.

"And to think I was willing to throw everything away for you?" I continued, my voice shaking with emotion. "I was ready to leave my family, my life, everything! And you were just playing me the whole time? You, my father, your fucking cougar!"

Hans looked stricken, his face pale.

Napapagod na ako. Ayaw ko na.

Ang gulo-gulo na.

Ang sakit-sakit na.

"Caice..."

"Pagod na ko... Ayaw ko na..."

With a final, heart-wrenching glance, I turned and walked away. Hindi niya ako pinigilan. Hinayaan niya ako dahil pareho naming alam na walang katapusan ang gulong 'to. The chaos would just go on and on unti one of us drop dead. At sa pagkakataong ito, ako iyon.

Each step felt like a dagger to my heart, but I knew I needed space to heal. The love we shared was real, but so was the betrayal. And now, I needed to find a way to piece myself back together, one step at a time.

Hindi ko alam kung paano pa ako nakarating ng bus terminal mula sa pampang, wala na ako sa sarili. Wala akong kahit anong dala. Lahat iniwan ko. Lahat ng sa'kin ay iniwan ko. Iniwan ko kay Hans.

Pati siya ay iniwan ko.

I needed to make a call, but I didn't have money. Kahit piso ay walang naiwan sa akin. Niyuko ko ang mga alahas na suot ko. Ang bracelet at kuwintas na bigay ni Hans, nasasaktan ako at nagagalit, but I didn't have it in me to give them away.

Pumunta ako sa isang tindahan kung saan may payphone, umiiyak pa rin at humihikbi kaya naman halos lahat ng madadaanan ko ay napapalingon. I didn't care.

Inabot ko ang telepono, walang pagdadalawang isip kong hinubad ang natatanging singsing na nasa aking hinliliit. My father gifted me that ring when I was seven. I never took that off, kahit pa nakalakihan ko na'y inilipat ko lang iyon. But now, I was so done.

Nanlaki ang mata ng tindera nang iyon ang ibayad ko. Purong ginto iyon, mataas ang value. Hindi ko pinansin nang magtanong ito ng kung ano, ni hindi ko pinakinggan.

Sa telepono lamang ako nakatingin habang nagtitipa ng numero ng isang taong alam kong mapapagkatiwalaan ko lalo sa ganitong panahon. I knew he would never fail me.

"Uncle Roy... Please, help me."