(FHS #5) Silverianne Villafranca only wanted one thing when she came to Filimon Heights - freedom. However, she got more than what she bargained for the moment she met the town's local rebel who comes with a crazy package.
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"Silver? Ba't gising ka pa?"
Dali-dali kong pinunasan ang luha ko bago lumingon kay Tita. Itinaas ko ang baso ng ice cream. "Nag-crave lang po bigla."
Ngumiti si Tita, bakas ang antok sa mukha. Sa kabila nito, binuksan niya ang ref at kinuha ang malaking lalagyan ng ice cream. Dala rin ang isang kutsara, tinabihan niya ako sa mesa.
"Anong problema?" tanong niya kaya naman napakurap-kurap ako.
"W-wala po."
"Ang boyfriend mo ba?"
"Po?" Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa gulat.
Tumawa si Tita at nagsimulang kumain mula sa mismong lalagyan. "Si Reika ang source ko. 'Wag mo nang ikaila."
"A-alam niyang kami na?" I felt bad all of a sudden.
She nodded with a smile. "Hindi kayo magaling magtago. Reika figured it out months ago. She's just waiting for you to confirm it."
Napabuntong-hininga ako at isinalampak ang likod ko sa sandalan ng upuan. "I feel bad for not telling her. She's my best friend..."
"But?" Tita smiled knowingly.
"I don't know... I'm scared." Napatitig ako sa hinlalaki at hintuturo kong nagsimulang maglikot.
"Scared of what?"
"For Slade to find out..." I sighed, my heart beginning to hammer inside my chest.
Tita chuckled. "Sa pagkaka-kwento ni Reika, close naman kayo ni Slade? Bakit natatakot kang malaman ng kakambal mo? He doesn't seem like the strict type."
My pointing finger began to move, picking on the skin on the side of my thumb. "H-he can be strict but it's not really the problem.."
"Then what's the problem, Silver?" Tita asked. "Come on, sweetie. You can always tell me."
"I'm scared for my parents to find out..." I looked at Tita weakly.
"You don't have to be scared of them. You're under our care, we won't let them hurt you again," Tita said, grabbing ahold of my hand. I can see nothing but love and sympathy in her eyes.
"I know this will sound weird," I paused and closed my eyes shut, "pero iniisip ko pa lang na alam na nila, parang nababawasan na ang saya ko."
"Do you really think they won't like Jethro?" tanong ni Tita.
Umiling ako. "My parents will love Jethro and his family."
"Wait, your parents will love him. What's wrong with that?" She smiled in confusion as she scratched the end of the tip of her eyebrow.
"That's the problem, Tita. My parents will love him and his family, so much that they will want to be involved with them. I can already imagine my parents trying to use the Filimons for the sole purpose of enriching their empire. I can already imagine them using Jethro's kindness for their own gain. And if our relationship fails, they will crucify me for letting go of a Filimon. Relationships are unpredictable! Hindi porke't mahal namin ang isa't isa, kami na talaga hanggang sa huli. B-but my parents won't understand that! They will hate me again! I will disappoint everyone--"
