Chapter 1

The Bad Boy

Nahahapo ako nang magising mula sa isang panaginip. Isang masamang panaginip. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko.

I'm awake now. I managed to slowly even my breathing and to completely calm myself down.

It was the same bad dream I always had...

And it wasn't just a dream. It's also a memory of the past. In the past where I met an accident together with my Dad...

And since it happened my Mom and sister hated me... Especially my sister...

Ate Eris and I grew up close especially to our Dad. He was a gentle and kind person. Even if he was brave in court as a lawyer and later on became a Judge. But he was always gentle with me and my older siter, and our Mom.

Kalaunan ay tinigilan ko na rin ang pag-iisip noon. Tumingin ako sa bintana ng kwarto ko at nakita kong lumiliwanag na rin naman sa labas. Bumangon na ako para maghanda at pumasok sa university.

I'm taking up Political Science. And I'm on my third year now. Isang taon na lang at graduate na rin ako. And then I will proceed to law school just like Ate Eris...

My sister will also be back from studying abroad. Doon kasi siya pinag-aral ni Mommy ng law. Kagaya ng napag-usapan na rin nila noon ni Daddy nang nabubuhay pa siya...

Ginagawa pa rin ni Mommy ang mga napagplanuhan na nila noon ni Daddy.

"Rina, nandito si Axel." Pinaalam sa akin ni Manang.

Tumango ako at sinalubong na muna ang bisita namin. "Kuya," I smiled to Kuya Axel. He's Ate Eris' long-time boyfriend. Matagal na rin sila simula pa noong high school pa lang nila.

Ngumiti rin sa akin si Kuya Axel. "Hi, Rina! Si tita?"

"Pababa na rin po." I said. Sabay kasi naming susunduin ngayon sa airport si Ate Eris. Ako, si Mommy at si Kuya Axel.

Pagkatapos ay may hinanda rin na welcome back party ang family ni Kuya Axel for Ate Eris' return. Close talaga si Ate Eris sa pamilya nina Kuya Axel. At ang pamilya na rin namin. Their family has always been beside us especially after my father's passing...

Pagkatapos nang makababa na nga si Mommy ay tumuloy na rin kami sa airport para magsundo kay Ate Eris.

It's been years since she stayed abroad to study. Iyon ang gusto nina Mommy at sinunod din ni ate. Kahit pa kailangan muna nilang maghiwalay noon ni Kuya Axel. Because he stayed here in the country. They were on a long distance relationship for years, too.

Although nagpunta rin naman kami nina Mommy noong nagtapos si ate sa law school. Kasama rin namin noon si Kuya Axel. Pero nauna rin kami kay ate na bumalik dito dahil may mga trabaho pareho sina Mommy at Kuya Axel. While Ate Eris stayed for a little more there to prepare her things before going back here.

Pagdating namin sa airport ay hindi na rin naghintay nang matagal dahil nakita na rin namin agad si Ate Eris. Kumaway siya sa amin at nakangiting lumapit dala-dala ang mga inuwi niyang luggages. Lumapit na rin kami sa kaniya and Kuya Axel was quick to help my sister with her things.

"Eris." Mommy hugged ate.

Pagkatapos ay niyakap din ni Ate Eris si Kuya Axel.

While I just stood there on their side. Napangiti na rin ako nang makita kong magkayakap sina Ate Eris at Kuya Axel. They really love each other.

Nakita kong nakatingin pa sa akin si Ate Eris pero sumunod na rin ako kay Mommy na nagsabing umuwi na kami. But instead of going home, sa bahay nina Kuya Axel muna kami pumunta. As they prepared something for Ate Eris.

"Welcome back, Eris!" Sumabog din ang confetti.

Napangiti rin ako at nakita kong masaya rin na ngumiti si Ate Eris sa surprise nila sa kaniya.

Unang lumapit si tita, ang Mommy ni Kuya Axel kay Ate Eris. She hugged her, too. "Welcome back, hija. We've missed you. And congratulations!" Ngumiti sila sa isa't isa.

"Thank you, tita."

Pagkatapos ay nagyaya na rin na pumunta na sa dining room nila para kumain na.

"Rina!" Janine came to me and she was smiling.

Ngumiti rin ako sa kaibigan ko. She's my best friend. And also Kuya Axel's younger sister.

Nauna na sina ate at ang parents namin. Sumunod na lang kami ni Janine sa kanila. And she's talking to me while we follow our families to their dining room.

"I tried inviting Ethan here. Pero busy raw siya, eh." Janine pouted a bit when she said it.

Bumaling ako sa kaniya at ngumiti na lang. "Baka may importanteng ginawa lang din siya." I said.

Tumango naman sa akin si Janine pagkatapos.

And then I sighed secretly.

Ethan was both our childhood friend.

I was aware that Janine had feelings for him ever since. Noong high school pa lang kami nang malaman ko. And Janine told me that she likes Ethan...

And then one time Ethan had confessed his feelings to me instead...

At ang una kong naisip ay si Janine. Alam ko na gusto niya rin si Ethan. At masasaktan siya kapag nalaman niya ito.

I already thought of dumping Ethan right away. Right then and there. Para kay Janine...

But then how cruel it was when she was also there when Ethan confessed to me. It was messed up.

"Janine, sandali lang—" Sinundan ko siya pagkatapos niyang marinig ang sinabi ni Ethan at nag-walk out siya...

Halos marahas niya naman akong hinarap. "What now, Rina?"

Umiling ako sa kaniya. Pero magsasalita pa lang ako ay inunahan din niya ako.

"You know that I like him!"

Tumango ako sa kaniya. "Yes, I know. Hindi ko rin naman ito alam, Janine. I didn't expect Ethan would..." Umiling ako. "Hindi ko rin naman siya sasagutin..." I reassured her...

Nanatili ang tingin sa akin ni Janine. Hanggang sa unti-unti siyang tumango sa akin.

After talking to her I went back to Ethan. We were just having a friends meeting when he suddenly confessed to me...

Hindi rin naman ako manhid. Kahit noon pa man ay napapansin at nakikita ko na rin naman ang actions ni Ethan. But there's also Janine...

"Ethan, I'm sorry..." I can only say to him again now.

And to tell honestly, this wasn't also the first time anymore that he had expressed his feelings to me. Ginawa na rin niya ito noong high school pa lang kami. He told me that he like me. But I told him back then that we were still young at that time...

And I wasn't ready for that kind of relationship yet.

And then Ethan became quiet after that. Pero isang araw ay kinompronta niya rin ako.

I was at the university. Magtatapos na ang semester kaya naman naghahanda na rin kami na magpasa ng mga kailangan pa naming ipasa bago magtapos ang semester. I was with my other friends Kassandra and Bianca. They are also my friends from high school. Naging kaibigan din namin nina Janine at Ethan na mga kababata ko naman.

But the two left to use the women's washroom. Kaya naman naiwan ako ritong mag-isa in an empty classroom when Ethan came in and talked to me.

"Ethan—"

"I wanna know, Rina. Why you can't be with me... We've known each other since we were young. And I thought you liked me, too..." He said.

Umiling naman ako sa kaniya...

"Was there... someone else? Do you like someone else, Rina?" He asked me.

At hindi naman ako nakasagot agad... And I panicked.

I thought that if I'd tell him now that I do like someone else, then maybe he would start to dislike me and forget about his feelings for me...

And then Ethan would start seeing Janina...

Kaya lang kapag nagtanong siya kung sino, hindi ko alam kung sino ang sasabihin ko...

And through the room's wide windows I saw someone who was just passing by. I didn't really know the guy. But I remember Kassandra and Bianca were talking about him last time. And I was there with my friends so I heard a few things about him from them. And because of my panic I just told Ethan his name...

Tumango ako sa tanong sa akin ni Ethan kanina. "Yes, Ethan. I like someone else..." I also gulped. "Kalyx Gavin Sevilla..." I said his name.

Ethan's lips parted.

Pero hindi ko na mabawi ang sinabi ko ngayon lang.

But why... of all people... Why does it have to be the bad boy Kalyx Gavin Sevilla?

Deep inside I can only sigh. Because it's done now after all...