I have a stalker. That I was sure of. Kilala n'ya kung sino ako even if I was hiding my identity for so many years now. After I ran away from home, I never used the name Primrose again. But this stalker... alam n'yang iyon ang pangalan ko. The stalker knew that I was Xanthe Primrose Larrazabal.
I thought that it was Ashton at first dahil pagkatapos kong makatanggap ng letter ay sunod s'yang magpapakita. But after what happened, after I saw the flower that the stalker sent me, sigurado na akong hindi ang kapatid ko ang nagpapadala ng mga letter. I was sure that Ashton wouldn't do that to me. Especially when he gave me a white gold primrose necklace on my sixteenth birthday. He knew that it was the only good memory I had of him that was left that night. Hindi n'ya sisirain iyon.
Come to think of it, I haven't seen Ashton for more than a year now. Mabilis n'ya akong nahahanap dati. He had sources. He had money.
Did he already give up? I haven't read any articles that were related to the business world. Did... something happen to him?
No... that wouldn't be. If that was the case, makakarating iyon sa 'kin kahit anong iwas ko pang hindi makibalita sa business world. The Larrazabal is such an important and big name that the world would shake if something happened to them.
Even though I've found out the secret about our family, I don't wish them bad. Pamilya ko pa rin sila. And it was tough to feel so conflicted like this, which is why I chose to run away. I didn't want to become a hypocrite.
But, right now... I hope that they are all okay.
I checked my reflection in the full-length mirror. Tonight was the company anniversary party at pinag-hald day lang ang ilan sa mga employees, kasama na ang department namin, so we could prepare for the party. Sa malapit lang din na hotel ang venue, and Lyda told me na sabay na lang kami sa taxi so we could share the fare para makatipid kami.
My dress was just simple. A long cocktail bodycon silver dress with a tube top that emphasized my curves. It had a slit that reached half of my left thigh para hindi ako mahirapang gumalaw. Other than that, wala nang naging ibang design ang dress. I chose this dahil ito ang mura, and it still looked elegant.
I also wore silver heels with rhinestones on the straps. Inilugay ko lang sa likod ang buhok kong tuwid at mahaba but I wore a silver hairpin full of rhinestones on each side, just above my ears, to keep my hair in place so it wouldn't get on my face. Hindi na rin ako masyadong naglagay ng makeup dahil matatakpan naman ng mask mamaya.
My mask was simple, too. It was a sparkly silver mask with black and white feathers on the right. I didn't want to look too... excessive today and just went with a style that I could easily blend with the crowd and wouldn't attract too much attention. I didn't want anyone to recognize me. Especially now that some of the guests might know about the Larrazabal.
Habang nag-aayos nga ako kanina ay hindi ko maiwasang ipagkumpara iyong dati sa ngayon. Before, my dress would be by a well-known designer, as would my shoes. Hindi ko na kailangang kumilos at uupo na lang while a hairstylist and makeup artist would do their magic on me. I would even request them to make me the center of attention, even though it wasn't my party.
But right now... it was so different.
My phone beeped, and I received a chat from Lyda saying na nasa labas na s'ya. I peeked through the window and saw that a cab was parked right outside my house. Pinasadahan ko ulit ng tingin ang sarili ko sa salamin for the last time before I took my purse and went down.
"Ang gorgeous naman," sabi agad ni Lyda nang tumabi ako sa kanya sa backseat ng cab. "Wala na, may nanalo na. Tapos na ang laban."
I giggled and playfully flipped my hair. Dahil sa haba ay sumama ang ilang hibla sa mga daliri ko kaya inayos ko iyon at muling inilagay sa likod.
