Prologue//
Ezekiel
"Karylle!" Dinig ko ang katok ni mom kaya tinanggal ko ang earphone ko at tumayo na.
Tamad kong binuksan ang pinto. "What now, mom?" She threw the paper on my face! "W-what the hell.." I whispered when I realized that this is my exam paper, with the score of 36/100.
"Explain! I need your explanation, karylle!" Sigaw niya. Napalunok ako.
"Mom, failing grade does not mean failure in life." Ngumiti ako ng matamis at sinarado ang pinto.
'Yan ang lagi kong sinasabi tuwing mababa ang mga scores ko sa exam, quizes, and grades.
Actually, I reserved my smart brain for college.
I'm fourth year high school, nagtransferred ako doon sa school noong third year ako. Nag first and second naman ako sa ibang school na malapit lang din naman dito. At sa buong buhay ko hindi ko pa nararanasan maging matalino. But you know, low scores, low grades does not surprised me anymore, I'm used to it.
My life is normal. I have complete family, i'm the only child, we have hospital named REFUERZO HOSPITAL.
The next day, I need to go downstairs to eat, ayaw kasi ni dad na hindi kami sabay sabay kakain. But don't worry, I already ready my ears for the sermons. Yes, I'm used to it too.
"Good morning.." Umupo ako sa upuan at nagsimula nang kumain. My mom glared at me, she's in front of me, si dad naman ay nasa gitna.
"Ellie.." Napalingon ako kay dad when he called my second name. Actually dad prefer to call me Ellie than Karylle.
"Yes dad, i'm sorry." I said, reffering to my exam. I continue eating. It's Saturday that's why I don't have class.
"No, I just want to ask you if you really want to be a doctor? Or you want to be a lawyer? FA? Engineer? What? You know I won't force you to be a doctor if you don't want." He said. I bit my lower lip.
"Nathaniel.." Mariin na ani mom. "She need to be a doctor, sino na lang ang mamamahala ng ospital kapag wala na tayong dalawa?" Mom caught my attention.
Well, she's right.
"I'll be a doctor, then."
"Are you sure about that, Ellie? If you're worrying about the hospital, me with your mom will make a baby then," He said and laughed. Uminit ang pisngi ni mom.
"Dad naman! Ayoko ng kapatid!"
"Okay, okay." Dad, still laughing.
I'm a daddy's girl, si dad kasi ang laging nakakaintindi sa 'kin, si mom laging galit. When i failed, he just said "Better luck next time, Ellie." It feels like i'm free of everything for him, it feels like I can do all the thing I want to do.
Except for having a boyfriend, of course. Well, having a boyfriend is not included with my plans. I mean, this life is enough, more than enough.
I have bestfriend? Yes. I have one, si Glissy. Nakilala ko siya noong first day ko sa school na 'yon. She's friendly, 'yung una hindi ko pa maintindihan kung bakit papalit-palit siya ng dinadalang lalaki. Pero ngayon sanay na ko. Medyo may pagkalandi kasi siya.
After eating breakfast, I went to my room again and start scrolling on my phone.
Glissy:
Good morning.
Ako:
Morning, any plan for today?
Glissy:
i don't know, i'm tired.
Ako:
Tired? May ginawa ka ba kagabi?
Glissy:
alam mo na..
and she sent a photo.
I looked at the picture she sent, she's sitting on a boy's lap! I don't know who is this guy. But he's kinda familiar.
Ako:
woah.
Glissy:
Shh.
Ako:
What about party later?
Hindi na siya nagreply, baka may ginagawa. So kinuha ko ang two piece ko at pumunta sa swimming pool doon sa likod ng bahay namin.
inenjoy ko ang lamig ng tubig na humahaplos sa aking balat. Nang maalala na matagal na pala noong nagpost ako sa instagram ay tinawag ko ang katulong namin.
"Yaya!" I shouted. Mabilis naman siyang pumunta. "Picture mo ko.."
"Walang problema, ma'am!" Kinuha niya ang phone ko. She's always my photographer.
After the pictorial I immediately posted it on ig. With a caption of:
@Elliegance
Saturday is boring.
I smirked when I saw the comments.
@Davis: bored? Do your assignments.
@Aljurshy: hot naman pu.
@Aizaharington: ganda, sexy, hot, utak na lang kulang.
@Amberfrnr: yass, lezzgoo.
@Harris: add to cart.
@Glissymndn: haha
Pinatay ko na lang ang phone ko at pumunta sa kwarto. After taking a shower, I checked on my phone and saw Glissy's reply.
Glissy:
okay, 6pm tom. Pool party.
Well, atleast hindi ganoon kaboring ang weekend ko. Time ran and mom called me for dinner.
"Karylle, why don't you study instead of attending that party, huh? Napakagala mong bata ka." Ani mom while eating. Ngumiwi ako. Napaka killjoy talaga ni mom.
"Karen, hayaan mo na ang bata, ito naman." Si dad. I smirked.
"Thanks, dad." Nagflying kiss ako sakanya.
"Pag talaga hindi mo inayos yaang pagaaral mo, ililipat ulit kita ng school!" nanalaki ang mata ko kay mom.
"What?! You can't do that to me!" agad kong sagot. Alam ko naman kasi na kahit kailan hindi aayos ang pagaaral ko. "Dad." Called my dad, asking for help.
"She's just kidding anak," he laughed. Ngumuso ako. "Anyway, bibisita ako mamaya sa ospital, padadagdagan ko ang body guard dito, para may magbantay." I nodded.
"Ikaw din mom?" She shook her head.
"Nope," I nodded and continue eating. After eating umakyat na 'ko sa kwarto ko.
So i checked my phone, again.
@emazing: pretty :)
She commented. She's my cousin in my dad's side, syempre she's rich too, my dad's family is rich–no, the richest. My mom's family is not rich but not that poor either. Well kaya ganyan siya kastrict sa grades ko ay dati kasi ay magaganda ang grades niya. My mom graduated as suma cumlaude in her school. Ewan ko nga kung bakit hindi ko nakuha ang pagiging matalino ni mom.
Kinuha ko ang laptop ko, I searched the new released MV of my favorite kpop group. I sang and dance at the same time. That was fun!
Ala-una na ng madaling araw nang inuhaw ako. Bumaba ako, madilim na but i'm not scared, not at all. I opened the ref and kinuha ko ang water. I was about to drink but I heard some foot steps.
I cleared my throat at unti unting lumapit galing sa ingay. My heart start beating so fast when I heard something dropped in the living room. I used my phone for flashlight.
"M-mom? D-dad? Yaya? Bodyguard?" I shouted, trembling.
Nang makarating sa pinto ng living room, my eyes widened! The door is open! I was about to open the lights at the living room when someone grabbed my arms and tinakpan ang bibig ko.
Oh god! Nagpumiglas ako but I'm not strong enough!
"Wag kang malikot!" boses ng isang lalaki. I didn't listen, sumigaw sigaw ako, kahit wala namang ingay na lumalabas sa bibig ko.
Omygod lord, katapusan ko na ba?! Oh no, hindi pwede! Hindi pwede!
I stopped from moving when I feel something metal on my neck. Nanlaki ang mata ko.
Jusko lord!
"Isa..hindi ka titigil?" I swallowed, hard.
My eyes widened when I heard mom's call.
"Karylle?"
"Sh*t!" Angil ng lalaki.
"MMMM!!!" MOMMY!!
"Lakad! Bilis!" Hinila niya 'ko, still holding a knife. I don't know where are we going! I can't see anything!
He cursed hard, when someone opened the lights. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita si mom na shock na nakatingin sa 'min.
Nagsimula nanaman akong magpumiglas. Mommy help!
"JUSKO! ANAK!" Sigaw ni mom. So nervous. She tried to go near us but she stopped immediately when this guy talked.
"Wag kang lalapit!" idiniin niya ang kutsilyo sa aking leeg. Naiiyak na 'ko, omygod why are you doing this to me?!
Nagsimula nang magdatingan ang mga bodyguard namin, lalapit na sana sila but my mom stopped them.
Unti-unting naglakad ang lalaki, of course with me! He can't escape without me!
"W-wag mong sasaktan ang anak ko, jusko.." she started crying. "Please.."
Binuksan ng lalaki ang pinto, unti unti siyang lumabas, of course, still with me! The bodyguards are alert but they still can't go near us. What the hell!
Hanggang makarating kami sa gate ay he's still holding the knife, and yes still with me! Kailan ba niya ako papakawalan?! He can escape now!
Si mom naman ay sinusundan kami, she's trembling and crying, why is she crying, instead of calling dad for help?!
Akala ko ay bibitawan niya na 'ko nang makarating na kami sa tapat ng motor niya, but I was wrong! Binuhat niya 'ko at sinakay sa motor niya! Mabilis niyang pinaandar iyon, but I can't jump out of here because he's still holding me!
"WHAT THE HELL, LET ME GO!!" Hinampas hampas ko siya. "LET ME GO, PLEASE PLEASE OMYGOD KIDNAPPER!"
"Manahimik ka nga!" Ngayon ay kita ko na ang mukha niya.
"Let me go na kasi! Ano bang kailangan mo sa 'kin? You escaped now!" hinampas hampas ko siya. Lord guide me!
"Not yet, kaya manahimik ka dyan babae!" mas pinabilis niya pa ang andar nya. I saw our van in our back kaya nagkaroon ako ng onting pagasa.
"MAGDAHAN DAHAN KA NAMAN! ANG BILIS MO MAGPAANDAR! KAPAG AKO NAHULOG DITO!" sigaw ko.
"Kung pwede lang kitang ihulog, ginawa ko na." He cursed again. I think I'll really die this time.
Ngayon ay hindi ko na makita ang van namin sa likod. Ngayon ay hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko.
Unti unting bumagal ang takbo ng motor, tumigil siya sa gilid ng tulay. Binitawan niya ako kaya nakababa agad ako.
"KIDNAPPER!!" Inis na sigaw ko. Tinabi niya ang motor niya. Tinalikuran ko siya at nagsimula nang maglakad.
I don't know where is this place! Paano na 'ko uuwi nito!
"Hoy!" Hindi ko siya pinansin. "Saan ka pupunta?!" Hinawakan niya ang braso ko.
"Edi uuwi! Nakakainis naman kasi! Tatakas na lang kailangan kasama pa 'ko!" I started crying like a baby.
"Sorry okay? Sorry! Hindi ka pwedeng umuwi dahil hindi mo naman alam kung saan to!"
Hinawi ko ang kamay niya. "LETCHE! WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO THEN? COME WITH YOU?!"
"Look, hindi ako masamang tao." Kalmadong aniya.
"Wow! Yes! You don't look like a bad guy but what you did was bad!"
"I know, I'm sorry, kailangan ko lang ng pera." Napatigil ako sa pagiyak.
"Bakit hindi ka magtrabaho?" bumuntong hininga siya at sumandal sa motor niya.
"Hindi mo maiintindihan." Ginulo niya ang buhok niya. Tinignan niya 'ko mula ulo hanggang paa. Nakadress lang ako kaya nanginginig na 'ko sa lamig. And this is all his fault!
Agad kong tinakpan ang aking dibdib gamit ang mga braso. "Where are you looking at?! Bastos!" Nagtiim bagang siya at hinubad ang jacket. Lumapit siya sa 'kin at sinuot iyon sa 'kin.
Wow, after kidnapping me, he's being nice! Wow!
"Iuwi mo na 'ko!"
"Hindi kita pwedeng iuwi." Ininguso niya ang likod. Napalingon ako don. I saw our van. lumiwanag ang mukha ko.
Napalingon ako sakanya na ngayon ay nakasakay na sa motor niya.
"Hey wait!" napalingon siya sa 'kin. Binigay ko ang phone ko.
"You said you need money! Keep this then!" kumurap kurap siya. "Here! Dalian mo na! Paparating na sila oh! Sell this!" Pwede naman akong bumili ng bagong phone.
"Okay." Aniya at tinanggap iyon at sinimulan na ang makina.
"What is your name?! Hey!"
"Ezekiel." Aniya at mabilis nang pinaandar ang motor niya.