Chapter 1 – Slave for 24/7
“Mga manloloko kayo!”
Nagising na lang si Lana mula sa pagkakatulog niya nang may sumigaw. Then she saw her best friend, Cheska, crying frantically at the front.
Kaagad naman napatingin si Lana sa kaliwa’t kanan niya at mas lalo pang nagulat sa nakita niya.
She was naked and she was sleeping beside with Gino! Her best friend’s boyfriend.
Bigla naman niyang naalala ang nangyari sa kanila kagabi. She was so drunk that she had the courage to flirt with her best friend’s boyfriend at a club then after that, wala na siyang maalala sa sumunod pang nangyari.
“C-Cheska, i-it’s not what you think—“
“You traitors!” hindi siya natapos sa pagsasalita niya nang sumigaw kaagad ito. Cheska was giving them a murderous glare. Hindi pa rin ito tumitigil sa pag-iyak
Naiyak na rin si Lana dahil dito. She didn’t know what she just did. She was just in love and drunk.
“Cheska, I-I’m sorry.. H-Hindi ko sinasadya.. Cheska—“
“Hindi mo sinadya?!” she bitterly interrupted as tears was still flowing into her eyes. “Lana.. you’re my best friend! Simula pagkabata, magkaibigan na tayo. Pero ano ‘tong ginawa mo? Of all the guys? You’re making out with my boyfriend!” sumbat nito sa kanya kaya naman mas lalo pa siyang naiyak. Her best friend was right. She was a traitor.
“Cheska, babe, it’s just a drunken night, wala—“
“You!” dinuro nito si Gino na katabi lang ni Lana.”We’re over!” sigaw nito sa lalake habang parehas din silang binibigyan ng tinging puno ng hinanakit at panghihinayang.
Then Cheska looked at Lana again, “I trusted you.. so much with my life.. Pero heto, ikaw itong kaibigan ko ang nanloko sa kin..” napailing pa ito. “You ruined our friendship, Lana.” Cheska bitterly added.
“From now on, I don’t want to see your fucking faces anymore!”
---
“Jerome!”
She was hysterically running when she arrived at hospital’s ICU. Bigla kasi siyang tinawagan ng pinsan niyang si Jerome, her father just had an heart attack. Nasa isang public hospital kasi siya nang tinawagan siya ng pinsan niya tungkol sa Papa niya. She was currently a post graduate intern for medicine. Soon, she will be in her residency years for specialization.
“Lana,” napalingon naman kaagad sa kanya ang pinsan niya, “Si Tito.. kritikal siya.” Malungkot na sabi nito as they both glanced at window which divided them from her father’s bed.
Hindi alam ni Lana kung anong mararamdaman niya, she knew, any minute, she will break down into tears. “B-Bakit? Hindi ba niya nainom yung gamot niya?” she forced herself not to cry. She knew, everyone knew his father had a heart disease.
“Hindi ko alam pero bigla siyang nagwala pagkatapos inatake sa puso,” umiling pa si Jerome sa kanya, “Ang restaurant ng Papa mo, tuluyan ng nalugi, Lan. Kinuha ito ng Torres Corp dahil sa utang ng Papa mo sa mga Torres. Then he was enraged, nagwala ang Papa mo kaya tinanggal siya bilang board member ng Torres Corporation.”
Lana knew na palugi na ang restaurant ng family nila. She remembered na ang Mama niya at ang Papa niya ang nagpalago ng resto but when her mother died because of colon cancer four years ago, unting-unti na rin itong nalulugi. Her father was so depressed kaya naging isa rin yung rason para malugi ang resto. Because of what happened to her mom, that's why she wanted to become a doctor.
