Reckless Abandon

Chapter One

Coming back doesn't have to feel homey and cozy all the time.

I know this, the moment na lumabas ako ng airport, wearing my dark Prada shades to hide my face. All my life this was my home, but that stopped three years ago nung napagdesisyunan kong iwan ang lahat dito para makapagsimulang muli. Pagkatapos ng lahat ng nangyari, ang tanging gusto ko na lang ay hindi makita habambuhay ang mga taong mas pinili akong saktan. And I did.

I chose to hide and get away from everyone and started a new life, a new me, para sa ikabubuti ng puso at isipan ko.

Three years...

Time really flies that fast, huh?

Tatlong taon na ang lumipas pero hinding hindi ko pa rin nakakalimutan lahat lahat. I remember everything. I remember all their names. I remember everything they did. Pero kahit ganun, I feel rather good. Kasi alam ko, hindi na ako ang dating Eureka na kilala nila noon. Hindi na ako ang dating Eureka na mahina. They no longer have that power over me. Hinding hindi na nila ako masasaktan pang muli.

My Grab Driver pulled up and I settled in the backseat. Pinanood ko ang mga dinaraanan naming tulay, mga sasakyan, at mga tao na nasa labas habang nakasandal ang aking ulo sa bintana. Nakakapanibago ang mga nakikita ko. It all feels familiar, but it's funny how I no longer feel safe in the country I grew up in. Pakiramdam ko may mangyayaring masama kahit anong oras. Pakiramdam ko may makakasalubong akong kakilala... o ayaw kong makita.

But whatever, this could be just me being paranoid. You got this, Eureka. You have prepared for this.

I snapped from my reverie when the driver spoke.

"Nandito na ho tayo, Maam." He pulled over outside a huge, tall gate. It's overshadowing whatever could be found inside, but I know it's somewhere big.

I stepped outside the cab and scanned the place. Napakalaking bahay para sa iisang tao. One lonely man wouldn't need these too much space. Dressed in my mink coat, a pair of boots and my immaculate tunic top, I felt immediately stuffy.

Nasa Pilipinas na nga ako. My clothes are starting to make me feel funny.

I pressed the doorbell frantically, telling whoever is inside that I have no patience to spare in my fiber. I need to get inside his house.

Bumukas ang magarang gate at sumilip ang maid doon. "Sino ho sila?"

"Ashton Whittaker's residence, is this it? I am his friend. I need to come inside immediately."

"Pasensya na po, Maam. Pero ipinagbilin niya po sa amin na hindi po siya tatanggap ng bisita ngayon."

"What do you mean? Do I look like give a rat's ass if he doesn't want visitors right now? Hindi ako kung sinu-sinong bisita lang. Kaibigan ko si Ashton!"

She raised a cocky tattooed eyebrow at me. "Madam, ang sabi sa amin walang kaibigan si Sir Ashton dito sa Pilipinas at hindi kami basta bastang tumatanggap ng mga nagpapakilalang kaibigan niya. Ilang beses na kaming pinagtangkaang pasukan ng mga babaeng..." she explained while throwing a dirty look at me from head to foot. "... nagpapanggap na kaibigan eh yun pala eh mga istalker lang na desperado siyang pikutin. Hindi mo na ako maloloko, kahit na mukhang mamahalin yang suot mo."

I gasped. I am in total shock right now. "Excuse me? Do I look like a hooker to you?"

"Sus, huwag mo na akong ingles inglesin. Alam ko na ang style na yan, Miss. Kaya mabuti pa eh umalis ka na."

I can feel the beads of sweat rolling on my temples from the raging heat of the sun and my anger rising. The nerve of this woman!

"You don't know who I am. Baka pagkatapos ng araw na 'to wala ka ng trabaho!"