Seasons

Deestination: Filipinas

Anntonia's POV:

"Good evening, Universe. This is Captain MMD speaking. DEEstination: Filipinas."

I've been secretly watching Michelle's national costume Instagram reel. This video literally makes me tear up, realizing that we're in this time that we rarely talk about, but never expected it to be this gut-wrenching.

"Deedee slayed."

Every time she talks, my heart feels buried in its designated grave. It's like a slow death, and I'm not even exaggerating.

I felt her hand slightly touching my leg. I moved a bit to put distance, but she followed me, as if craving to have her body close.

It's too suffocating. I can't bear all of this at once.

"I have to sleep. I still have a tough schedule tomorrow," I said, each word making my oxygen disappear.

"Come on,"

"Max, don't." I quickly moved away when she tried to get closer.

"What's your deal, Ann? Didn't we agree to make things up for losing our years of friendship?" Max responded. I was taken aback; there was a hint of possessiveness in her voice, making me scared.

"I didn't even tell you to come here." I had the guts to answer her.

I was mad the entire night, wanting to focus on the competition, and she was there, screaming like a stage wife and confronting me when I headed back to the backstage. She said I hadn't even given her a glance when she was in the crowd.

I wanted to slap it into her silly brain that acknowledging her presence is not a must for a candidate.

"Can't you just be grateful? I traveled all the way here just to see you," she said while laughing. She's trying to make it sound like a joke, but her voice says otherwise.

Her voice brings me too much fear.

I bit my lower lip to stop myself from bursting when she's literally just beside me. Being with her makes me feel like I'm being held by my neck, gripped tightly on my wrist, and controlled like a puppet.

This might be an exaggeration for others, but I have never felt this unsafe.

Max has changed a lot, and so have I. I just can't seem to say no when she asks me to stay with her because the head of the organization is with her, eyeing me as if it's my obligation to accompany Max.

I'm just a candidate vying for the crown. Why do I have to go through all of this?

"Max, please go. I need to rest," I softly said, trying to make her understand that her presence doesn't help.

"Then rest with me."

My whole system got triggered. In my mind, I was cursing at her.

"Why are you being like this?" I asked, still maintaining my composure.

"Like what?"

"Like you are not in a relationship," I said, emphasizing the words as if reminding her that this could be a form of cheating, and I refuse to be involved. "If you do this quite often, please, we had a long enough distance these past few years. I do hope I have the liberty to be out of your games."

"Hey, chill. It's cool off."

Be serious.

Is this still the way she perceives me? The one she runs into when things do not work for her?

I wanted to clutch my chest when it started to ache, but showing Max that she's making an impact on me is the last thing I'll ever do.

I am disappointed. I feel so low.