During her toughest times, Seraphina Ramiro found herself falling harder for Kasper Lacsamana, as every time they were together filled her with hope and a renewed sense of purpose, pulling her back to life.
Kasper, however, was afraid of getting too...
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The faint sobs drifted through the air, each sound heavy with horror, desperation, and innocence that couldn't possibly go unnoticed. Nana was just fourteen then, huddled in her closet, heart pounding as she recognized the same monstrous voices that had come from her parents.
Ganoon palagi ang eksena tuwing uuwi ang mga ito galing sa trabaho. Ang alam niya'y nag-aaway ang mag-asawa, pero sa mga ganitong circumstances alam na niyang gagawin siya ng mga itong punching bag.
Siya ang nagsisilbing tool ng mga ito para i-release lahat ng galit nila, siya ang napagbubuntungan at sinasaktan hanggang sa pakiramdam nila'y okay na sila ulit. Iyon ang pinagtataka ni Nana, kung inampon ba siya ng mga ito noong seven years old siya for that purpose.
Life had been much better when she was still surrounded by kids her age, ones she could spend all day playing with-kids who, like her, had no parents and understood her in a way no one else could.
It all came crashing down when a couple appeared at the children's home, offering her a chance at a better life. Nothing had been the same for her since. Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit maraming nagbago sa kanya kung ikukumpara sa kung gaano siya ka-carefree noong bata.
Makarinig lang ng kaunting ingay ngayon ay nanginginig na agad ang buong katawan niya, the last time she heard a loud noise in her ears was when she blasted music through her earphones, and it was a million times better than the distant voices she had to endure.
"There you are!" Nana gasped, followed by a loud cry as the light from her bedroom flooded into the now-opened closet. The woman had found her.
Hindi ito ang hide and seek na nakasanayan niya noong bata siya, hindi lang basta kapag nahanap ka ay magiging taya ka. Sa laro ng buhay, hindi kailan man naranasan ni Nana na ipagtanggol ang sarili at ilagay sila sa posisyon niya.
Isang malakas na sampal ang natanggap niya sa magkabilang pisngi nang hilahin siya nito palabas, nanginginig ang tuhod ni Nana habang minabuting tumayo at harapin siya.
"Ano itong narinig ko na pumunta ka ng Xavion?"
Halos mabingi siya sa lakas ng boses nito, napapikit si Nana nang hilahin nito ang buhok niya habang naghihintay ito ng sagot. Pakiramdam ni Nana ay parang nasusunog ang anit niya sa hapdi, may iilang scabs pa siya rito na hindi pa fully nahe-heal.
Buhat iyon nang paulit-ulit na paghila nito sa buhok niya. What's more, she developed a severe manifestation of anxiety to the point that Nana was digging her nails into her scalp.
Everything that troubled her mind affected her in every aspect-her studies, the way she interacted with people, and her concentration. She felt angry, even at herself
"Kailan ko pa sinabing pwede kang pumunta doon? Hindi kita pinapasok sa all-girls' school para lang malaman kong pumupunta sa school na 'yun. Para ano? Nakikipagkita ka ba sa boyfriend mo? Sagot!"
