Who Are You (Completed)

Kabanata 27

dumaan ang isang linggo after the encounter i had with Vlad Seyer, the one week was quite fast. Adam is still staying in my apartment, my relationship with Franco's are back. Classes are become more stressful. naging mas busy ako sa mga sumunod na araw. malapit na ang Christmas break kaya tambak kami sa requirements. 

nagsisimula na ding lumamig ang paligid and i can feel it right now while walking down the street papuntang Belle Rive. tahimik na hallway ang sumalubong sakin ng makarating ako sa Belle Rive at makarating sa Department building. i was about to head down to my classroom when Arisse showed up.

"Arisse" bati ko sa kanya.  i stared at her when i realize there's something wrong with her. nakatayo lang sya sa gilid ng hallway at nakatitig sakin. 

lumapit ako sa kanya. "Anong problema?" tanong ko sa kanya. she handed me her phone nagtataka ko yung inabot at tinignan ang screen. 

It's was a post from a group. main group ito ng mga students ng Belle Rive. the post was came from anonymous account. 

Arrisse Dey an ambitious adopted child.  

my eyes went down to read the comments, some of it came from her friends. 

"Omyghad! she's adopted"

"boo! stop being part of student council, you outcast!"

"Brat Orphan!" 

"trying hard to be Dey, well in fact you're nothing"  Penelope commented. 

hinila ni Arisse ang cellphone nya sa kamay ko. i look at her. i can't read her mind. it was blank. 

"Arisse, i didn't do it" sabi ko sa kanya. 

silang dalawa lang ni Valeen ang nakakalam nito at ako. i accidentally know it when i am searching for Valeen's life information's. Valeen and her was in the same orphanage back then. 

"i know" she said. "i know its not you, i think it's Seyer" Arisse

napakurap ako. 

"I know everything Val..i mean Dale" ngumiti sya sakin. "I know that Valeen is dead, what Seyer's did to you, How you get here in Belle Rive, Seyer's plan and your relationship now with Adam. i know it's you Dale from the very start" Arisse

hindi ako nakapag salita. she take a deep breath bago nagsalita ulit. "Remember when you comeback 3 years ago as Valeen? from the first time i saw you i know you're not her. Valeen told me everything about her relationship with the Seyer, about her being Valeen Seyer. yun ang di alam ng mga Seyer that Valeen already told me everything bago ka nya iligtas ng gabing yon." 

walang ano man ang lumalabas na salita sa bibig ko, kaya nag patuloy lang si Arisse. it seemed like she's been keeping it since that day. 

"I've known my best friend since were young. we grow up together kaya hindi mo ako maloloko but i don't know what to do, i can't think my best friend just died without doing anything that's why i play along. nalaman kong hawak ka ng mga Seyer sa leeg, you have no choice. i wanted to understand and help you but anger have devoured me"

"Arisse.."

"It would be better if you're a selfish bitch just so i can hate you. but you're not. for the 3 years being with you as much as i hate to admit it, you are one of the rare people i know aside from Valeen who really cares for me, you are too. i know you're not just pretending, all the things we have was true and i realize that's how Adam loves you and i can't change that fact. dun palang talo na ako" 

saglit na natawa si Arisse and whipped her tears. "I keep it for so long to give justice for Valeen, i wanted to have a revenge with the Seyer by myself. but i realize as the days, months and years goes by my goal was change, it was now to save you." 

"I hated to admit it because I'm sacred that Valeen might think that i am replacing her. but no! she's irreplaceable. "

"But you're not Valeen and i have no reason now to stay with you, besides you already get them back with you, i should know my place now" Arisse. napatingin sya sa suot kong bracelet. it was her gift noong nakapasok ako sa Belle Rive. hinila nya ito sa kamay ko, hindi ko alam kung gano kalakas yon pero napigtal ito. hindi ako nakaramdam ng kahit na anong sakit. my heart just heavy as clouds full of storm. 

"my image has been broken, i have nothing now but just to save myself. its so hard for me to let go the friendship we had but I am done. I'm sure you can manage. Good bye.. Dale" 

i didn't expect na ganito pala kasakit, naramdaman ko ang pag tulo ng luha ko pero hinayaan ko lang ito. Si Arisse. ang best friend ko. 

Maybe it is right for the both of us. we really not meant to be friends, i am just the one who pretended to be her best friend and that will stay forever. 

Flashback

tinignan kong muli ang address na binigay nila Vlad sakin, mula sa pwesto ko ay tinanaw ko ang Belle Rive. its just a walk in distance from here. kinuha ko ang susi sa bulsa ko at binuksan ang pintuan ng apartment ni Valeen. it was small studio type apartment.  napansin ko ang mga grocery na nakapatong sa lamesa and all the stuff's she left. 

"Thank God! your back!! i miss you so much!!" 

halos ma out of balance ako sa gulat ng isang babae mula sa kama ang bumangon at niyakap ako. i know her, she's Arisse Dey one of the popular student in Belle Rive, she also one of my circle friends because she's a friend of my friends. i just didn't know she's close with Valeen.

"akala ko hindi kana babalik" Arisse whispered. 

days had past, it becomes months and years. Arisse help me to be more Valeen, hindi mahirap gayahin si Valeen because somehow we have similar personalities, like me she don't talk too much, she hated being sweet, she doesn't have a lots of friends just Arisse. but i know i am not a perfect pretender. it's really difficult to live in other person's life. sinasamahan ako ni Arisse pumunta sa foundation kung saan sila nagkakilala ni Valeen i also find out that the foundation was the medium of Seyers to stay connected with Valeen. financially. 

Valeen was the daughter of Athalia Seyer the one who said to be killed by Stallions Family, but i know it is not true, It was just an accident but Seyer's can't accept it especially  Antonio Seyer. they keep on blaming Stallions for everything that happened to their Family, They put Valeen away by believing  it will be safe for her. Vlad and Van stays with Seyer's Valeen's brothers. they plan a revenge for Stallions, buy attacking each one of them. Adam comes first because he is the most notorious gangster in the family. they took me for him but their plan turned upside down, because of me. Valeen knew the plans but never agree to it, she saved me but it comes to her death. 

i always watched Adam and other franco's from a far. i loved to work in Arisse Cafe's because sometimes i see them there. i also visiting secretly my mom. my 3 years being Valeen was really hard. i cried everyday up to point it make me weak and useless. i really want to escaped and tell my mom everything to tell Adam everything but every time i attempt to do it. Vlad hurts me and treated me with his words such us Seyer's will kill my mom, Adam and everyone else i love. 

that's why i keep it all for almost 3 years thinking someday all of these will end. babalik ako bilang Dale. kailan man ay hindi ako nagtanim ng sama ng loob kay Adam at sa pamilya nya. i love him so much at kailan man hindi ko pinagsisihan na nadamay ako sa alitan ng pamilya nya at ng Seyer. i just promised to myself na ipaghihiganti ko si Dad at ang sarili ko.