Few minutes after the Ynareses went out of our mansion, Maverick and Spencer bid their goodbyes too.

Mav and Spence wanted to stay because they will still talk to me but when mom started crying silently, that's when they decided to leave. They said it's supposed to be a family thing.

Ni hindi ko man lang naihatid sa labas ang dalawa dahil na rin sa pagkabigla nang marinig ang pigil na hikbi ni mommy kasabay ng pag-alog ng kanyang mga balikat.

She's my mother and we've been in the same household since I was born, I never saw her cry. She's not expressive, especially to us, her sons and daughter. She's always heartless. She always wants us to follow whatever she said to the point that it feels suffocating. She's always strict, a perfectionist, manipulative.

I thought she's normally like that. I mean, akala ko ganoon lang talaga siya. I used to see her as a worst mother.

Reason why I didn't expect her to believe me when I told them I was raped by Draven, a son their friend. She didn't even ask me for a proof. She... believe my words.

And right now, as I watch her weep, I'm doubting everything I used to think about her.

She's not heartless, she only needs to be tough, to become firm, because she's a mother. She's not strict, she only wants to protect her family. She's not expressive... because maybe she doesn't know how to express her emotions.

She's a perfectionist and manipulative but maybe, it's because that's what she thought that is best for us. She only wants the best for her family.

I suddenly remember when she confronted Maverick when we were still young. She caught me outside the house and I'm with Maverick. She told him to stay away from me as he is a son of a rapist and she even said Mav might rape me like what his father did to his mom.

She's that blunt. Her words, it really stings. At siguro, roon ako natututo noong bata ako. Her hurtful words made me refrain myself from doing the same mistake.

And she only wants to protect me.
I'm only five years old that time if I'm not mistaken. At kung ganoong tao nga si Maverick, katulad ng sinasabi ni Mommy, wala akong laban kung gagawan niya ako ng masama. But I know Maverick, he won't do it no matter what. Kahit sa ibang babae man ay hindi niya gagawin iyon.

"Amaryllis, you're hurting your mother. Tell me, about what you said earlier, is that true?"

Mataman kong nilingon ang direksyon ni Daddy, sa ginawang 'yon ay nahagip ng aking paningin ang mga mata ni Fritz na nakatutok sa akin. With my lips pressed, I gave him a smile before turning to dad.

Napakurap ako nang magtama ang aming mga mata.

"Is that true?" His brows creased a bit just by asking. "I know you, you've become stubborn the past few years. And about what you said earlier? That's not a good joke. This might ruin our family's relationship with the Ynareses."

He really asked me that? He think I'm lying? How I wish I really am just kidding. But I'm not. I won't lie when it comes to things like this!

"I'm not lying, Dad." As much as I want to shout for doubting me, I choose to answer him calmly because he's talking to me in a calm way which is new because we're always either shouting or hissing at each other everytime we're talking, but I made my voice firm to make him feel my sincerity.

He angled his jaw. "Amaryllis," he called using a warning tone.

I let out a low chuckle. "Do you wanna know when did it happened?"

No one answered but I know all of them were listening, waiting for me to continue.

"It was seven years ago when you're pushing me to marry Draven. I told all of you, I have a boyfriend but you didn't listen."

"T-that night, I was planning to elope with my boyfriend but Draven got me."

"Elope with your boyfriend? Naririnig mo ba ang sarili mo? You were--" Dad trailed off as he hastily massage his temples. "You were just seventeen that time! At anong ipakakain sayo ng nobyo mo na hindi man lang nagawang humarap sa amin noon? You're not thinking, Amaryllis!"

"I'm planning to go b-back, just after my eighteenth birthday, after we got married. Babalik naman ako, Dad."

"Married!" My dad's voice raised. His eyes enlarged while piercing on me. "You're planning to get married at seventeen without telling your parents? Ni hindi namin kilala ang sinasabi mong pakakasalan mo? Anong alam mo sa pag-aasawa? At nasaan ngayon ang nobyong sinasabi mo? Wala hindi ba? Hindi nagtatagal ang mga ganoong relasyon! Bata pa kayo at--"

"It's Maverick Markov, the owner of MPL, one of LM&L's business partners," I stated, answering his question on who my boyfriend is.

Napakurap si Dad at nahihiwagaang napatitig sa akin. "You've got to be kidding me, Amaryllis. Mr. Markov is a Russian tycoon--"

"Can't you remember him?" I asked and tilted my head. "He's our neighbor when I was a child. The child whom you both called a rapist just because he's a product of rape. And Markov is his biological father's surname."

The memories last night vanished as I heard someone knocked on my office's door. Kasabay noon ang pagbukas ng pinto at pagbungad sa akin ni Chaileigh.

An emotion is still present in her eyes. Kanina ko pa napapansin iyon noong unang nagtama ang aming mga mata simula nang araw na ito. Seems like she want to tell or ask me something but she can't find time to spill it.

Pumasok siya ngunit bahagya lamang na isinara ang pinto. "Katrice is outside, Maverick's... ex? She wants to talk to you. Papapasukin ko ba?"

Mataman akong napakurap habang naalala ang huling pagtatagpo ng aming landas. It was at Maverick's unit.

Tumango ako. "Let her in."

I can still remember how she tried to broke Mav and I apart though I can't help but feel sad for her. Maverick's her friend. At tingin ko, nasira iyon dahil sa ginawa niya sa amin.

I instantly saw Katrice beside the door, entering. She's wearing her dress, it's not that fitted but not too loose also. As always, she looks so sophisticated and elegant as she walked. But I immediately feels like something's off.

Chaileigh gave me a glance before leaving me with Katrice alone in my office.

"Amaryllis," she called.

I pointed the chair in front of my table, gesturing her to sit but she didn't. She just gave it a glance before completely ignoring it. Marahan siyang umiling.

I shrugged my shoulders off as I rose from my seat. Dahilan kung bakit nagkapantay kami. The only thing in between us is the table and the documents resting at the top of it.

The corner of my lips tugged as I offered her a smile. "What brings you here?" I asked.

'Cause I have no idea why. I can't think of any.

I decided to be casual to her despite what she did. Maybe she really loves Maverick reason why she did what she did that almost... almost broke Mav and I apart. But that doesn't mean what she did is right. In any ways, it was wrong.

Tipid niyang sinuklian ang aking ngiti. "It won't take long. I just..." She seems hesitant as she trailed off. "I've seen your video," she stated and avoided my gaze.

My lips parted as I didn't expect her to be here because of my video. Marahan akong napalunok at hindi na niya kailangang linawin pa kung ano ang video na tinutukoy niya.

I know it's still fresh in her mind as the video leaked just last day but why is she here, telling me that?

I have no idea if the video's still circulating at the social media though Mav and Spence told me they already asked a team to take down those videos. Deep inside, somehow it affects me. Sino ba namang hindi maaapektuhan doon? Even some of our employees are staring at me differently earlier. Alam kong nakita at napanood nila iyon.

But I choose to ignore what happened. I choose to ignore those stares. They don't know anything. And their opinion doesn't matter. Think whatever they want to think about me. My family, my friends, and Maverick's opinions are the only ones who matters to me.

Muli niyang ibinalik sa akin ang kanyang mga mata. "I know that's not Maverick you're with. Hindi si Maverick 'yon. I know him and definitely it's not him. Y-you cheated on him? D-do you even know how he loves you? Then you..." Napakagat siya sa pang-ibabang labi nang matantong tumalim ang aking mga mata. And it's not just her voice that is trembling, pati ang mga mata niya ay matamang kumukurap at nangingislap. Para bang nagbabadya ang mga luha roon.

Cheated on Mav? Heck, I won't do that!

Muli siyang naglakad at ngayon ay tuluyan nang lumapit sa akin, tila hindi sapat sa kanya na naroon siya sa harapan ng aking lamesa.

Kumunot ang aking noo nang abutin niya ang aking kamay. Marahan niyang pinisil ito habang nakikiusap ang mga mata. "A-Amaryllis, you cheated on him. Hindi mo na siya pwedeng balikan. H-help me, help me. S-sabihin mong ako na lang. Tell Maverick that I'll be a good girlfriend. I won't cheat on him--"

"What the fuck are you talking about?" The sympathy I'm feeling for her earlier vanished. Tila binuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig at agad kong hinablot ang aking kamay mula sa pagkakahawak niya.

Nahihiwagaan ko siyang tinitigan. Muli niyang sinubukang abutin ang aking kamay ngunit agad akong napaatras. I let out a sarcastic breath.

Of all people, bakit niya sasabihin sa akin ang mga bagay na 'yon? Is she insane? I'm Maverick's girlfriend. Ngayon ay magmamakaawa siya sa aking itulak si Maverick papunta sa kanya? At dahil ano? That she's a better girlfriend? She won't cheat? Girl, you have no idea on what happened!

"Leave."

"A-Amaryllis--"

"Are you out of your mind? Bakit sa 'kin mo sinasabi ang mga 'yan? I'm Maverick's girlfriend for Pete's sake! If you have something to tell him, tell it directly. Hindi 'yung ipasasabi mo pa sa 'kin." Dismayado ko siyang inilingan.

"Goodness, you think I'll tell him those? I won't. Kaya kung gusto mong makarating kay Maverick ang mga sinabi mo, ikaw mismo ang lumapit sa kanya. And I didn't cheat on him!" I can't imagine myself doing to Mav.

"Now, leave. Don't make me repeat myself, Katrice."

"You cheated on Maverick! You don't deserve him! You, cheater!" she shouted angrily right in my face, gone the elegant and sophisticated friend of Maverick that I know.

Namilog ang aking mga mata at agad na naramdaman ang pag-taas ng dugo sa aking ulo. "Leave! Fucking leave!"

How dare her call me a cheater!

"I'll convince Maverick to leave you. I'm sure he'll do," mariing sambit niya bago ako padabog na tinalikuran, kasabay naman noon ang pagbukas ng pinto ng aking ng opisina.

Chaileigh entered. Bahagyang nakakunot ang noo at palagay ko ay narinig ang sigawan namin ni Katrice.

Walang salitang nilagpasan ni Katrice si Chaileigh at matapos makalabas ay agad na sinarado ni Cha ang pinto sa kanyang likuran.

I gently massaged my temples as I let my body fall on my swivel chair.

Cha stopped in front of my table and sat down on the chair, ang upuang inalok ko kay Katrice na hindi niya pinansin. "I heard what she said. That you... cheated on Maverick?"

"Do you believe her?"

She smirked at me. "I don't."

"Why?"

"I just know," mapaglarong sambit niya at nakangisi pa akong tinitigan, tila nanghahamon kung ipagpapatuloy ba niya ang sasabihin. "Siguro dahil... nasaksihan ko kung gaano ka kapatay na patay kay Maverick? So you cheating on Mav? That's impossible."

Marahan akong napailing habang may supil na ngiti sa mga labi. Though I deep inside, I can still feel my blood boiling at Katrice's accusations.

"I supposed that's because of the... video? Are you alright?" nananantyang tanong niya.

"Hmm. She told me that, she assumed I cheated because of that video." Sarkastiko akong natawa. "But I'm fine."

"Of course, you won't cheat because it's you and Mav--"

"It's not Maverick." I cutted his words.

I watched her as her eyes widened a fraction and her mouth opened voluntarily.

I started telling her everything. Beginning from the start where I told Mav about the idea of eloping.

__________