"Gab! Oh my god, we are all worried about you. Saan ka ba galing? Kumain ka na ba? You missed dinner. Terrence said lumabas ka daw. Akala namin naligaw ka na." Bakas sa mukha ni Sandy ang pag-aalala.
Napatingin si Gab sa paligid niya. Hindi pa siya tuluyang nakakapasok sa sala ay niyakap na agad siya ni Sandy. Nandoon rin ang daddy niya, si Terrence, Sophia, Clint at iba pang katulong nila sa villa.
"Get off me." Alam ni Gab na nasaktan si Sandy sa sinabi niya. Ngunit hindi siya sanay sa yakap nito. She's afraid that she'll forget the feeling of her mother's hug kapag nasanay siya sa yakap ni Sandy. Agad namang kumalas si Sandy
"Sorry, I'm just worried." Pilit na ngiti ni Sandy sa kanya. Great, Gab. You hurt her. Nakokonsensya siya pero yun lang ang alam niyang paraan para mapanatiling sariwa ang memorya ng kanyang ina.
Naglakad na siya patungong hagdan para umakyat ka sa kanyang kwarto ng magsalita si Gerard.
"Hindi mo man lang ba sasabihin kung saan ka galing? Lahat kami nag-aalala dito pero parang wala lang sayo. You are getting worse Gabrielle. At least apologize to us especially to Sandy, she even called the police to look for you."
Humarap si Gab kay Sandy.
"Sorry.. but next time, please don't bother."
"GABRIELLE!" Sigaw ni Gerard sa kanya.
"Gerard, it's okay. Sige na Gab, umakyat kana baka pagod kana. Padadalhan rin kita ng pagkain baka di ka pa kumakain."
"Again, don't bother."
Tuluyan ng tumayo si Gerard sa kinauupuan nito. Agad namang lumapit dito si Sandy at pinigilan.
"Gabrielle, tell me. Ano bang problema mo? We've been trying to reach out to you since Arielle's death." Gab flinched when she heard her mother's name.
"Then stop trying!" Gab said aloud. She ran up the stairs and locked herself in her room. Her heart beat is racing. It's been a while when she heard her mother's name from her father. Mommy, mommy, mommy. She whispered as she trying to calm herself down but no to avail. Lumapit siya sa kanyang kama, inangat nito ang kutson at kinuha ang tinatagong sleeping pills. She's been taking it to have dreamless sleep. Ever since nalaman niyang ikakasal ulit ang daddy niya, her nightmare constantly appears on her dreams. Sleeping pills helps her to have at least peaceful sleep. She took one and lie down on her bed.
Alas nuwebe emedya na ng umaga ng magising si Gabrielle. That sleeping pills usually kick in for about 10 hours. Wala naman itong masamang side effects.
After cleaning herself, she unlocked the door but when she about to open it, the least person she wanted to see first in the morning open the door and closed again after he enters her room.
"Past nine huh? Everybody is busy for the wedding preparation pero ang maid of honor ay kababangon pa lang sa kama nito."
Umatras ng kaunti si Gab dahil sa lapit ng distansya nila ni Terrence. Tiningnan niya ito. He's wearing his usual grouchy face when he was alone with her.
"Maid of honor? You entered the wrong room, ass."
"No, princess. My mom wants you to be her maid of honor ever since Tito asked her to marry him. Of course, we are so against it. But seeing how pitiful you react last night, might as well give you the honor to be one of the most important person in the wedding. You know, to reciprocate the pain you felt when your own father turned up against you."
His sharp words directly stab her defenseless heart. Naiintindihan ni Gab ang galit nito lalo na dahil sa inasal niya kagabi. She's angry at herself too. But she have to continue her charade.
"Really? Then I geniunely accept the honor. Mas madali kong magagawa ang plano kong pagsira sa kasal nila if I became one of the most important part of it." Gab said, with all of her courage. She can sense the change in Terrence' aura. You pushed the wrong button, Gab. Sa unang pagkakataon ay nakaramdam siya ng takot dito.
Humakbang ito papalapit sa kanya, she wanted to move but she don't have the strength. She can feel her knees weakens. Sinalubong na lamang niya ang nagliliyab na mata nito para hindi nito mahalata ang takot na nadarama niya.
"You messed up with the wrong person, princess." He whispered to her ears. Ilang pulgada lang ang pagitan nila, yumuko pa ito ng ilang pulgada para mabulong ang mga katagang iyon sa kanya. He's freaking 6" tall and she's just 5"3'. Now, she's having goosebumps as she felt his cool breath across her face. "Remember, I'm watching every act you make when you're around my Mom and Sophia. Oh, scratch that, even they are not around, I'm watching you. Just one single mistake, princess, and I will become your worst nightmare."
Lumayo na ito sa kanya. The devil's look is gone. All you can see is the cold expression of his handsome face. "Now, dress up princess. We have lots of things to do. Be at the pool area at exactly 10am. And be sure to show up if you don't want me to carry you from here to the pool. Believe me, I'll do it if I have to." And he left her, dumbfounded.
Napasigaw sa inis si Gab. Inis kay Terrence at inis sa sarili niya dahil sa reaksyon niya kanina. Now, she's losing her control over that man. Ayaw niyang sumunod dito pero alam niyang gagawin nito ang banta nito kanina. She can't win by force over him. Napasabunot na lang siya sa inis. Nahagip ng kanyang mata ang wall clock sa dingding ng kanyang kwarto. 9:52. She cursed.
Mabilis na nagpalit ng t-shirt at pantalon ito. Her usual get up. Blue shirt, faded pants and black converse. Hindi na siya nagsuklay at tinali na lang ang buhok into a ponytail. She looked again at the wall clock. 9:57. And she hurriedly leave her room to meet her nemesis.
