Dalawang araw matapos kunin ng ama niya si Rye sa condo ay hindi na kami muli pang nagkita. He was constantly texting me though, madalas kapag hapon at gabi. Palagi niya akong binabalitaan ng mga nangyayari kaya kahit paano ay napapanatag akong ayos lang siya. He also said that he'd been avoiding interactions with his father, gusto ko sanang sabihin sa kaniya na hindi rin naman healthy ang ganoon kaya lang ayaw kong gawin ang pagpapayo ko sa simpleng palitan lang ng text. I would surely discuss it with him on our next session.

"Kailan pala ang balik mo sa... Italy ba?" Kumunot ang noo ni Zach, hindi sigurado kung doon nga ako namimirmihan. Kagaya nga ng sabi ko, I didn't keep them updated with my life kaya hindi niya alam.

Tumango ako, inabot ang kape na inilapag ni Sasa sa maliit na lamesa na nasa harapan namin ni Zach. Kami lang ang nasa patio, ang mag-iina ay nasa loob. Sabado ngayon at katatapos lang nilang mag-agahan nang dumating ako, gusto nga sana ni Zero na makipaglaro na sa akin kaya lang hindi pinapayagan ni Sasa hangga't hindi pa tapos sa mga assignment niya.

"Hindi ko pa sigurado," sagot ko bago sumimsim ng kape. Wala rin naman akong dapat balikan ng agaran sa Italy dahil narito naman na si Rye. Nangako rin ako kay Icen na hindi ako aalis hangga't hindi ko natutulungan si Zach.

Zach leaned back in his seat, his gaze drifting far into the green bushes of their garden. Hindi nasisilungan ng parasol ang bahagi ng kaniyang braso kaya tinatamaan iyon ng sinag ng araw, I couldn't help but notice the deep scars on his arms, stretching up to his elbows and even marking his knuckles. Hindi basta-basta ang mga pilat na iyon, the scars were jagged and uneven, evidences of the pain he must have endured. Each line seemed to tell a story of struggle and survival, bigla ay nabuhay na naman ang kuryosidad sa akin.

What happened to you, Zach?

"Hindi ka pa rin talaga nagbabago, no?" he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips as he turned his attention back to me. "Still the same Caice, palaging inaaral at iniestima ang mga nasa paligid."

Kinuha ko ang pagkakataong iyon para magtanong, napansin na rin naman niya ang ginagawa kong pag-obserba sa mga pilat na iyon. "Saan mo nakuha?"

He stiffened slightly, his eyes narrowing as he looked down at his arms. For a moment, I thought he might shut down, that I had pushed too hard. But then he sighed, a deep, weary sound that seemed to come from the depths of his soul.

"Unfortunate situation," he said simply, his voice devoid of emotion.

I waited, hoping he might elaborate, but he didn't. Mas humaba pang lalo ang katahimikan pero hindi na ako nagpilit pa, hindi na baleng matagalan ako kay Zach, ang mahalaga ay napapalagay naman ang loob niya sa akin.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it," I said softly, trying to ease the tension. "I just asked."

Zach shook his head, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "It's not that I don't want to talk about it. It's just... it's hard to find the right words. It was a dark time, Caice. I was trapped, both physically and mentally."

I nodded. Pilit kong hindi ipinahalata kung paanong nadudurog ang puso ko isipin pa lamang si Zach sa sitwasyong sinasabi niya. I wanted to ask more, pero parang natatakot rin ako sa mga puwede ko pang marinig.

Zach's eyes shifted, and he pursed his lips as he pointed at my left hand. "That tattoo," he said softly, "when did you get it?"

I glanced down at the skeleton snake inked onto my skin, its intricate design wrapping around my wrist, crawling to the back of my hand with the head resting on my middle finger.

"Seven years ago," I replied, trying to swallow the bitterness that rose in my throat. It was a symbol of a painful past, but also of strength and transformation.

"What does it mean?" Medyo kuryoso niyang tanong, tuluyang binaling sa akin ang atensyon.

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga bago iyon yukuin, my fingers tracing the tattoo's outline. "Re-invention," I said quietly. "Shedding of old skin, new beginnings, new life."

Zach studied the tattoo for a moment, his eyes tracing the lines and curves. "Why a skeleton snake?"

"It's a reminder," nilipat ko sa kaniya ang aking tingin, saglit na ngumiti at nagpatuloy. "A reminder that even after the darkest times, there's a chance to start anew. Snakes shed their skin to grow, to heal. The skeleton represents the past, the part of us that we leave behind. It's a symbol of transformation, of becoming something stronger."

Tumango-tango si Zach na tila ba nakukuha niyang husto ang gusto kong sabihin. "It's about survival, about finding strength in the midst of pain."

"Exactly," in a way, masasabi ko na pareho kami ni Zach. May mga gustong kalimutan, lagpasan, paglabanan. Siguro'y magkaibang bigat at sakit, pero parehong mabigat at masakit. "Palatandaan lang na no matter what we've been through, we can come out the other side stronger. We can reinvent ourselves."

"I guess we all need that reminder sometimes,"

"We do," sang-ayon ko. "And it's okay to take your time. Healing isn't a race, Zach."

He seemed to ponder my words, then suddenly tried to steer the conversation in a different direction. "So, what tattoo do you think I should get?"

Hindi pa handa si Zach pag-usapan iyon sa ngayon. Hinayaan ko siya. "To cover your arms?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Maybe my whole body."

His casual tone couldn't mask the underlying pain, and I realized this was his way of telling me the scars didn't end where I could see them. Saan pa kung ganoon?

"It's your decision, Zach. Tattoos can be a powerful way to reclaim your body, to turn your scars into something meaningful." Wala sa loob kong sagot, hindi ko na kasi mapigilang isipin kung paano niya nakuha ang mga pilat na iyon. Anong mga pang-aabuso ang kinakailangan niyang pagdaanan? Oh, Zach.

Zach's gaze turned introspective as he traced the faint lines on his arm. "I just want to feel... like I'm in control again."

Bigla ay lalo akong nalungkot. Para maramdaman mo iyon sa sarili mong katawan, sa sarili mong buhay, you must have been subjected into unimaginable torture.

Gusto kong sabihin sa kaniya na walang kahit anong tattoo ang makakagawa nu'n. Healing comes from within. Ikaw at ikaw ang gagamot sa sarili mo. Ikaw at ikaw ang tutulong sa sarili mo.

There was a silence between us, comfortable yet charged with unspoken thoughts. I gently reached for his arm, my fingers brushing against his skin before giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"You know, my service is always available for you, right? Whether it's talking or just being here."

His eyes softened, and he gave a small, appreciative smile. "Pag-iisipan ko, Caice."

Ito ang unang beses niyang sinabi ang mga salitang iyon, and I would hold on to that. Hihintayin kong maging handa si Zach. Hihintayin kong makayanan niyang pag-usapan ang mga bagay na ayaw niya nang balikan. I knew that Zach wasn't just doing this for himself, para rin kay Sasa at sa mga anak nila.

Tanghali na nang umalis ako kanila Zach. Gusto pa sana ni Zero na maglaro kami pagkatapos ng lunch, kaya lang ayaw ko naman masyadong makaabala sa kanilang pamilya. Sabado, dapat ay ubusin nila ang oras nang sila lang pamilya. Isa pa kahit paano'y masaya na ako sa naging takbo ng usapan namin ni Zach. He was slowly opening up, and that was a good sign.

Magtutuloy-tuloy na sana ako sa lift nang makapasok sa building nang may tumawag sa akin. The thick Italian accent already told me who it was. I halted my steps and turned around, seeing Silas DiLaurentis walking up to me. Sabado ngayon, and yet he looked sharp in a silver business tuxedo, may iilang napapalingon sa amin. Paanong hindi? Eh, bukod sa matangkad ay agaw atensyon rin talaga ang presensya niya. He looked like an Italian double-o-seven, impeccably dressed and every bit as imposing.

"What can I do for you, Mr. DiLaurentis?" I asked, keeping my tone neutral.

Kampante naman akong walang nangyaring masama kay Rye dahil hindi naman siya mukhang nababahala o ano. Nag-text rin naman ito sa akin kaninang umaga upang bumati at sabihing maayos ang naging tulog nito kagabi.

Silas didn't look like someone who beat around the bush, and true to form, he got straight to the point. "I want to hire you."

I raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to elaborate. "Hire me? For what, exactly?"

Oo, pinag-uusapan namin ang bagay na ito sa gitna ng lobby. Nakuha niya na ng husto ang kuryosidad ko kaya hindi ko na rin siya inayang maupo, kahit sa lounges man lang. Wala na rin akong pakialam kung dinadaan-daanan kami ng mga tao. Mukhang ganoon rin naman siya.

"Rye needs your help more than you know," sabi niya habang ang mga mata ay hindi inaalis sa akin. Ganito ba siya makipag-negosasyon? Dinadaan sa tingin? Well, his piercing blue eyes couldn't cut it for me. "And so do I. I want you to be his personal therapist."

"I already am," I pointed out. Totoo naman. Kliyente ko na si Rye, matagal na. Hindi ba niya alam? I was already in his payroll. Binabayaran niya na ako para tulungan ang anak niya sa propesyunal na aspeto.

"Twenty-four-seven," Silas clarified. "A stay-in therapist, if that's a thing."

I stared at him, taken aback by the suggestion. Anong ibig niyang sabihin? Kung uuwi silang Italy ngayon ay sasama ako, ganoon? Alam kong kailangan ako ni Rye, pero hindi ko rin magagawang umalis at iwan si Zach ng ganito.

"Mr. DiLaurentis, that's not how therapy works. I can't just move in and be available around the clock." Matigas kong sabi, mas sinalubong ang kaniyang nanunubok na mga mata.

"I can pay. Triple your rate, or just name your price."

Alam ko rin na kaya niyang gawin iyon. Kilala ang mga DiLaurentis sa Italy, they owned chains of Michelin-Starred restaurants. Hindi ko nga lang sigurado kung anong background nito ni Silas, kung chef ba siya o ano. Mukhang hindi naman. Then again, hindi iyon sapat para mapasunod ako.

"Not everything can be bought by money, Mr. DiLaurentis." Tumaas ang sulok ng aking mga labi, hindi pa rin nagpapatinag.

Silas's expression remained impassive, though I could see a flicker of frustration in his eyes. "This isn't just about money. This is about my son. He's been through a lot, and he needs stability. You're the only person he's responded to, the only one he trusts."

"I understand that," tumango ako dahil totoo namang nauunawan ko iyon, kaya nga ginagawa ko ang lahat para matulungan si Rye, hindi ba? "But my presence alone isn't going to fix everything. Rye needs a stable home environment."

Totoo naman ang sinasabi ko. Hindi lang ang tulong ko ang kailangan ni Rye, kailangan rin niya ang ama niya.

"I'm willing to provide that," Silas said earnestly. "But I need your help to make it happen. I don't know how to connect with him."

Wala sa itsura nito ang basta na lang aamin ng kahinaan, but he did it anyway. "Mr. DiLaurentis, therapy is a process. It's about building trust and creating a safe space for Rye to open up. It can't be rushed or forced."

"That's why I need your help," he insisted. "Your guidance. Rye doesn't speak to anyone at home."

"Maybe he doesn't feel like it's home."

Silas's eyes flickered with a mix of frustration and desperation. "Exactly. He needs you, your help, more than anything else."

I took a deep breath, contemplating the weight of his request. Moving in with them, living in their house—it was a massive commitment, one that blurred the lines between professional and personal. But Rye was different. He was tough, and his father was right—Rye only responded to me.

"What you're asking for is... unconventional," mahina kong sabi, sandaling nakuha ang atensyon ko ng lalaking nasa frontdesk dahil hindi sa receptionist nakabaling ang atensyon nito kundi sa akin. Sa amin ni Silas. Hindi ko na ikinagulat ang biglang pag-angat ng phone nito para pasimple kaming kunan ng larawan.

Fuck pap. They were everywhere! Sa Soledad ay hindi ganito. Lalong hindi sa Italy! Pero dito sa Manila, parang lahat ng nasa media ay habol na habol sa pamilya namin. Lahat ng puwedeng ibalita ay ibabalita.

Medyo umatras ako, iginiya si Silas sa hilera ng mga upuan, sa bahaging natatakpan ng mural wall na nagsisilbing debisyon ng bahaging iyon sa kabuoan ng lobby. Kumunot pa ang noo ni Silas ngunit agad ring naupo, pinagmamasdan ako ng husto.

"Moving in, being there 24/7—it's not something that's done lightly. It could complicate things, make boundaries difficult to maintain." Mahinahon kong sabi bago muling ituon ang atensyon ko sa kaniya. Totoong mahalaga sa akin si Rye, kaya lang, ano naman ang magiging dating noon sa ibang tao? Sa mommy niya? Kahit pa ba sabihing may restraining order ito kay Rye at hindi ko alam kung ano pang kaso ang sinampa laban dito, she was still the mother and the wife.

"I understand that," Silas said, his tone more measured. Na para bang naisip na niya ang lahat ng posibleng mangyari.

His wife was a narcissistic bitch. Mrs. DiLaurentis wouldn't take this lightly.

"But Rye needs stability. He needs someone who can be there for him consistently. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen."

I nodded, weighing the pros and cons. On one hand, it was a significant step out of my comfort zone. On the other hand, Rye's well-being was at stake, and the usual methods weren't working. He needed more than just weekly sessions—he needed someone who could be a constant presence, someone he could rely on.

"You're asking for a lot," gusto ko sanang humingi ng panahon para pag-isipan iyon, kaya lang alam kong kinakailangan rin nito ang agarang desisyon ko. "But I know you're right. Your son needs help. If we're going to do this, we need to set some ground rules."

"Whatever you need." Silas agreed readily.

"First," I said, ticking off points on my fingers, "we need to maintain professional boundaries. This isn't about becoming part of your family, it's about helping Rye. Second, you need to be actively involved in his therapy. I can't do this alone—you need to be part of the process."

Mainam rin na mapadali at mapabilis ang lahat para kay Rye. He hated his father, alam kong wala itong tiwala sa kaniya. Kung bakit ay palaisipan pa rin sa akin.

Hindi nagsalita si Silas, tumango lang. Damn, this man looked like a predator always ready to attack. Nakakatakot kung titignan, pero hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi ko iyon maramdaman. Baka dahil halata ang labis niyang pangangailangan sa akin. He saw me as the only person who could help rebuild the son his wife broke.

"And third," I continued, "this isn't a permanent solution. It's a stepping stone. The goal is to help Rye develop the skills and confidence he needs to eventually cope on his own."

"Understood," Silas said. "So, you'll do it?"

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, I'll do it. But remember, this is a partnership. We both need to be committed to making this work for Rye's sake."

A wave of relief washed over his features, softening the hard lines of his face. Bago pa siya tuluyang magsaya ay may pahabol pa ako.

"But just so you know," I added, my tone firm, "I can't leave the country. I'm also helping someone else here."

Kailangan rin ako ni Zach.

His jaw tightened at my words, but he nodded. "We're staying. We'll make it work here."

I extended my hand, offering a polite, professional handshake. "Deal then, Mr. DiLaurentis."

He took my hand, his grip firm yet respectful. His hand was warm, the pressure just right—assertive but not overpowering.

"Deal," he repeated, giving a single, decisive shake. "Ms. Sandejas."

"Please, call me Caice," I corrected him, offering a small smile. Hindi lang talaga ako sanay na tawagain ng ganyan.

"Caice, then," he acknowledged with a slight nod. "And you can call me Silas."

Silas.

The next few days were a whirlwind of adjustments and emotions as I moved into the DiLaurentis mansion. The grand estate, nestled in the heart of the city. Hindi na ako nagtaka pa na ganoon ang itsura ng tirahan ng mga ito. High walls and security personnel patrolled the grounds, giving the place an air of both safety and isolation. I could see why Rye felt trapped here, despite its grandeur. Mukhang ganito rin talaga si Silas, kailangan maraming nakabantay. Oh, well. Importanteng tao nga naman kasi ito.

When I told Icen about my move, his reaction was a mixture of shock and confusion. I offered him little explanation, simply stating that I needed to be Rye's stay-in therapist. Halata man ang pag-aalala ay hinayaan naman ako nito sa aking naging desisyon. Gusto nga lang nito na tuwina'y balitaan ko siya.

As I settled into the mansion, I quickly found my place. The days were structured around Rye's needs, our therapy sessions, and ensuring he felt as comfortable as possible. We spent hours talking in a quiet room overlooking the lush garden. Nakikita kong unti-unti ay napapalagay si Rye sa lugar. Hindi iyon madali para sa kaniya, alam ko. Kaya naman malaking bagay para sa akin na makitang pursigido rin siyang baguhin ang kalagayan niya.

Meanwhile, the outside world buzzed with scandal. News broke of an alleged indecent relationship between me and Silvanus DiLaurentis. The photo taken in the lobby of the condo building spread like wildfire. Headlines screamed accusations, labeling me a mistress and a homewrecker. The tabloids were relentless, spinning tales of betrayal and seduction that had no basis in reality.

Pilipinas nga naman. Kayang kaya kang gawing kahit anong magustuhan nila.

But I couldn't care less about the gossip. The sensationalism and public judgment were inconsequential compared to the real work that needed to be done. Rye was my truth, my focus. The outside noise was just that—noise.

Silas DiLaurentis, despite the harsh public scrutiny, was committed to helping his son. Our interactions were professional, centered around Rye's well-being. We formed an unlikely alliance, united by our desire to see Rye thrive.

Hindi pa rin siya madalas na kausapin ni Rye, pero kahit paano'y hindi na ito umiiwas tuwing lalapit ang ama. Nauunawaan naman ni Silas na kailangan rin niyang bigyan ng sapat na panahon ang kaniyang anak. Sa lahat ba naman ng pinagdaanan nito, maliit na bagay na lang ang pagkalooban mo ito ng panahong gamutin ang sarili.

Hindi na bale kung ano ang isipin ng iba sa akin, ang mahalaga ay matulungan ko si Rye.