When Everything Changed (Currently Rewriting)

❁ Chapter 21

|CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE|

"Mabuhay! Welcome to the Philippines!" greeted one of the employees at the airport. I gave her a warm-smile for the wonderful welcome.

The warm air slapped my face as we exited the air-conditioned airport. The sun shone with intense heat from above. "Damn it's hot! How can anyone stand the heat?"

"Angeli. People here are adapted to this heat," noted Nikki. "Now, let's pull over a cab and go to our hotel."

We walked over to the line of cabs waiting for customers to ask for a ride. We entered the cab as the driver loaded our luggages in the trunk.

"Where to Ma'am?" asked the driver as he seated himself in the driver seat.

"Sofitel Plaza," said Nikki towards the taxi driver. She turned towards me and asked, "Where is Sean?"

"Far away from me as possible," I muttered. Nikki sensed some uneasiness about the topic and turned her gazed towards the outside view.

Soon, we reached the hotel which was situated near the bay. I payed the driver with extra tip as he finished unloading our luggages. "Thank you ma'am," said the driver with a broad smile. I snapped my head towards one of the guy in uniform.

"Good afternoon ma'am. Welcome to Sofitel Plaza!" greeted a bellboy. "Let me help you with your luggages." We entered the grand-looking lobby and proceeded towards the check-in counter. After checking in, we rode up the elevator towards our room.

"Thank you," squeaked Nikki to the bellboy as she closed the door.

I walked inside one of the bedrooms and threw myself onto the bed full of pillows. "Stupid jet-lag," I mumbled.

"An! Get your ass up! We need to breathe in some fresh air after being in the plane for hours! Let's take a walk down the boulevard," suggested Nik. I got up and trudged outside my room.

"I do need to breathe," I said. "Let's go!"

"You are going out looking like that?" Nikki exclaimed as she pointed a finger at me with an expression of disgust. "I know I am not that girly kind of girl, but I am pretty sure I am that girl who cares about how hygienic I look."

"What's wrong with my appearance?" I asked. I walked towards the mirror and looked at my reflection. "Oh. That's why."

"You look like you live in the streets. Now change and fix all of that!" Nikki waved her hands in front me and left. I hurriedly fixed myself and ran out of the bedroom.

"Let's go."

"Now tell me. What happened between you and Sean? Why would you want to run away?" I responded with silence.

"This is soo unlike you Angeli. You never run away from your problems. Is it that bad that you had to? Angeli, please answer me."

"Well, I guess I will have to at some point," I finally answered. I closed me eyes and relaxed my muscles. The sea breeze flapped my hair. I inhaled the salty scent of the ocean.

"Aren't you going to explain to me what happened?" My eyes snapped open.

"I had enough with all the bullshit. What Sean did was the last straw. I couldn't stand it anymore."

"What did Sean do?" asked Nikki.

"He abuses me, yet threatening to rape me was the deal."

I heard a loud gasp slipped out of Nikki's lips. "The sick bastard! Why hadn't you told me about is? Why hadn't you like reported him to authorities? He isn't allowed to do these to you."