Against the World (Merciless Billionaire Series #3)

PROLOGUE

Five years that have passed, I'm already successful. I'm glad that our feelings aren't mutual at all. We're friends before but became distant when Kia Elena, my twin, told him that I've feelings towards him.

Of course! Sino naman ang taong maniniwala sa'kin when they always thought I was a demon?!

Ngumiti ako nang maalala ang mapait na ipinaranas nila. Kia Elena, made our parents believe that I was the one who break our relationship. Even though he was the one who did it.

I shrugged my shoulders as I reminisce the past. My parents disowned me after the night wherein I slapped Kia for telling fake news.

Isang katok nang pintuan ang nagpawala lahat nang pait ng aking kahapon, "Ma'am.. M-May naghahanap sa inyo... Papasukin ko po ba?" aniya na ikinatango ko na lang.

Inayos ko ang white coat ko. The  unwanted rebel of the Hermosa clan were a Doctor already.

I looked at the door. Inilabas nito ang isang mukha ng ginang na matagal ng hindi ako kinaawaan. Beside her was Kia Elena.

I cleared my throat at nangalumbaba, "Ano 'yon, Mrs. Hermosa? May maitutulong ba 'ko?" tanong ko. "Pero I'm not on my duty ngayon eh. I'll just treat you special nalang." dagdag ko.

Ngumiti siya, "K-Kakamustahin lang sana kita 'nak. You grew beautifully at you're a doctor already..." Nangilid ang luha ko. Agad akong nag-iwas nang tingin.

"Ayos lang ako... Umalis na kayo at huwag na kayong babalik pa rito." tugon ko.

Ngayon lang ako nakarinig ng isang kamusta. Ilang taon ang lumipas ngunit ngayon lang.

Iniwan ni Kia ang ginang at lumakad nang mabilis papunta sa'kin, "Huwag kang bastos Herra! Doctor ka lang, ganyan ka na!" sigaw niya at sinampal ako.

Ngumisi ako nang sarkastiko, "Weh? Hindi ba't kabastosan rin ang pinapakita mo ngayon? Umalis na kayo rito dahil kahit kailan hindi na ako babalik sa poder ninyo." sumbat ko.

"Anak... Wag naman--"

"Sinabi nang umalis kayo rito! Umalis! O gusto niyo na namang maging demonyo ako?!" sigaw kong muli.

Nakatanggap na naman ako nang sampal galing kay Kia. Aba nakakailan ka na ah?

"Ano pa ang gusto niyo rito? Na nalulugi na ang kompanya niyo at hihingi ng pera saken?! Pahanapin niyo yang depotang Kia mo!"

"Hindi... Gusto ka naming kamustahin, Herra ko... Ilang taon na kitang hindi nakita..." pagsusumamo niya.

"Tama na... Tama na ang drama mo. Helen Grace, umalis ka na rito. Umalis na kayo!" taboy ko.

"Babalik nalang kami 'pag maayos ka na... Mahal ka namin..." aniya at lumabas na sa silid kasama si Kia.

Napahikbi naman ako. Mahal ko rin po kayo, ma... Pero natatakot na ako sa inyo.

Kasalukuyan akong nag-aayos para sa reunion ng batch namin. Tinawagan ako kanina ni Hershey at pinaalam na sa mini gym raw ng Campus V. gaganapin iyon.

Hershey Vargaz were my friend since college. Same vibes kami at puro kalokohan noon ang alam.

No wonder, napaibig siya ng isang Vela Ocampo rin.

Natapos ang trenta minutong pag-aayos. Isinuot ko ang yellow na off-shoulder dress above knee iyon. Kulay dilaw rin ang kulay ng flat shoes ko.

Bagay ito sa kulay ko. Lumabas na ako sa aking kwarto at agad dumeretso sa sasakyan kong Mercedes Benz. I put my seatbelt on and started the engine.

Nakarating ako roon pasado alas syete ng gabi. Lumabas ako sa sasakyan at pumasok na. Maraming sasakyan ang nakaparada sa labas ng mini gym.

Ngumiti ako at lumapit sa isang round table. "Narito na ang CumLaude natin! Kumpleto na," panimula nung master of ceremony. Right. I was the CumLaude back then. Below Kia and Aven.

"Good evening... Take your seats. As we've gathered here, let us welcome the master of this event. Ms. Kia Elena and Mr. Aven Santiago." patuloy nito at agad namang nagpalakpakan ang lahat.

Aven... We're both against the world and also against the love but why you let me fell without trying to catch me?

Oh. He was against the world because he wasn't able to love my sister. I was against the world too because they didn't gave me chance.

"Architect Kia Elena? Since you're in this stage. Share your struggles in life. Then you, Doctora Isabelle and your past friend, Aven."

Kinuha ni Kia ang mic, "I doesn't have any struggles in life because someone received it for me... Lovely isn't it? Anyway, I wasn't able to talk a lot dahil pinagod ako ni Ven kagabi." aniya then chuckled. So what are you trying to say huh?

Hiyawan ang nakumento ng mga tao dahil kay Kia. Pumunta rin ako sa stage at kinuha ang mic.

"Good evening... First of all congratulations because you got your dreams after the tough battles. Y'all saw me as the villain of your own but only Hershey tried to understand me. My life was tough and every single day was a free trial in hell. Masampal ng upuan. Mabugbog ng dos por dos. Binabato ng isang bato. You all see me? Your unwanted rebelling school mate didn't complain a word. Ininda ko lahat. I know... How did you say I was a rebelling daughter when all I did is to make them proud?" panimula ko.

It was been also a year since the last time I complained. The gym filled with a defeaning silent.

"And also, for my almost. Engineer Aven Santiago, I am sorry because you thought I was Kia. Wether we'd be each other's end game or not? I am glad that somehow I was part of your life. I'm thankful that I experienced being your friend and if ever fate will cross our paths again? I don't want to be involved in your life again... Even in my next life. Even in the afterlife..."

Pinangiliran ako ng luha. I have to ruin this nice event. It would be better if after this I'll go to other country again.

"You shall not love someone if you know your relationships would be a one-sided only... I'm sorry I had to ruin your event, ate Kia. I love you so much, Aven Santiago. Farewell..."

Ibinaba ko na ang mic na hawak ko at tumakbo papuntang sasakyan ko. Rumagasa ang ulan dahilan kung bakit nabasa ako.

"Stay... Herra Isabelle Hermosa- Santiago! I said stay... Stay with me..." sigaw nito sa mic.

Hindi na pwede... Seven years had passed I'm into him but now? I had to free myself. Pinapalaya na kita... Aven...