The Uptight Brat (EDITING)

Chapter Three

I did run away. I couldn't take it anymore, I felt tired and suffocated.

The back garden is quite peaceful, so I chose to stay here. They're in the front garden, kaya hindi ako mahihirapang bumalik. May bench na malapit sa fountain kaya umupo ako roon and tried to take deep breaths while looking up.

The stars are shining brightly, and I can't help but feel sad. I got reminded of how I have wished upon so many shooting stars, but none of them came true. I love stars, it's just that I stopped wishing on them anymore. Wala namang natutupad, umaasa lang ako sa wala, nag-aantay lang ako sa wala.

It's a tiring cycle - hoping and then getting disappointed.

I took of my pumps bago ko pinatong ang mga paa ko sa bench at niyakap ang tuhod ko. 

"Ditching your party?" 

"I'm not." Sumagot ako na hindi lumilingon sa nagtatanong.

"Really? I think you can lie better than." Bakas ang pang-aasar a boses niya which made me roll my eyes.

"What is it to you?" Walang ganang sagot ko. I only got to see him when he sat at the fountain bench near the metal bench I'm occupying. My brows raised in surprised nang ma-mukhaan ko siya. He's the guy from the garden near the school, the one taking photos at the same time as I did.

I rolled my eyes at him bago ko pinatong ang baba ko sa tuhod ko. I wanted to get my phone but I left it in my room when I went out. I can get it, but I'm scared that they might panic kapag 'di nila ako nakita. I am not rude enough to let that happen.

"You obviously don't like the party. Halata sa itsura mo." My brows furrowed as I looked at him, but I could not meet his gaze for some reason, so I focused my attention on the fountain instead. Tama lang ang lakas ng tubig and the way it sounds is calming and pleasing to my ears. 

'Di ko na namalayan na nakatulog pala ako. I only noticed when I almost fell off the bench and when I heard someone laugh.

I glared at him kaya tumikhim siya in hopes to hide his laugh. I fixed myself and wore my pumbs again, pero 'nong tumayo ako ay muntik akong matuba because of disorientation. Naramdaman ko ang pag-hawak niya sa braso ko to steady me up pero tinaggal ko rin 'yon.

"I'm okay." Mabilis na sabi ko sakanya and left him immediately. The moment I got to the front garden, someone grabbed me by my arms. 

"Kanina ka pa namin hinahanap at ng pres, i-interviewhin ka raw nila saglit. 'San ka ba galing?" Bulong ni Mommy sa akin, and even though she sounds calm, I can tell she is annoyed. My brows furrowed and I looked at her intently.  

Anger boiled inside me, idagdag pa na kagigising ko lang, plus my great dislike of this world they belong to. Talagang sasabog ako. I've been holding it for so long after all.

"I don't want to be interviewed. Isn't it enough that I already got dragged into your world without my consent? It's enough that you showed them my face when I was a child, and you parading me tonight for the world to see is more than enough.  I have compromised already when I agreed to this party, I am not compromising again just so you could keep up with the pretense in your sob story of reconnection. I do not want to be involved in your business, I do not want the media to stick their nose into my life. I am not obliged to answer their questions just because you are a famous actress. Force me to have an interview with them and you'll find me gone the next day. I've been wanting to do that since day one anyway."

That might have escalated quickly, but that's just the way it is. I am not a celebrity, I never dreamt to be one. And I never wanted to be a part of that world. Yes, my mom is a celebrity per se, but that doesn't mean that the show business world has the right to invade my privacy.