Tia Margaret
Flynn Archer
He saw me crying again outside our house. It was dark, but I know it's him.
I know, because he's my bestfriend.
"Palagi nalang ba kitang makikitang umiiyak sa labas ng bahay ninyo nang gabing-gabi na?" Archer asked before he sat beside me.
"At palagi ka namang dumarating kapag malungkot ako." Sabi ko habang unti-unti na akong kumakalma dahil sa pagdating niya.
"Why are you crying, Tia? Is it about your dad, again?"
"Yeah. You know it's always about him."
But I lied. It's not about my real father anymore, because I've already forgiven him for leaving me and my mom for another woman. I am crying because I realized that having a new dad is harder than my father leaving us. It is harder for me because he's doing something to me that I never experienced from my dad and that even my mom doesn't know.
Alam kong kung hindi kami iniwan ng dad ko ay hindi naman mag-aasawang muli si mama. But I can't just put the blame on him if my stepdad is not a good guy. And I also can't put the blame on mom if she doesn't know what her new husband's doing to me because he had this good side of him that he always shows in front of everybody, and that he's only bad when we're alone together. So that makes me scared of him. So damn scared!
"Okay. I understand." Archer said bago niya hinawakan ang kamay ko na tanging pwede lang niyang gawin sa akin kaya hinayaan ko na lang din siya.
Nanatili kaming nakaupo sa labas ng bahay ko habang iniisip na mapalad pa rin ako dahil meron akong bestfriend na handa akong damayan kahit na hindi niya alam ang totoong dahilan kung bakit ako umiiyak.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Malakas na sigaw ng isang dalaga. Dinig na dinig ang boses nito sa buong kabahayan sa lakas ng pagkakasigaw nito na nagmumula sa may study room.
“Calm down Collette. Why are you screaming at your father?” anang ginoo na ama ng dalaga.
“You want me to calm down? You want me to CALM DOWN? For goodness sake dad, how can I calm down when you want me to marry a stranger all of a sudden? Dad, this is insane!” histerikal na wika ng dalaga.
“Hija, Axel is a good guy. And I know he will be a responsible husband for you. He’s smart, handsome and rich. He can help you manage our business when I’m gone.” Anang kanyang ama. “And he is your childhood friend before his family migrated abroad. Hindi mo na ba siya natatandaan.
“No! You cannot drag me into this foolishness of yours!” ani Collette. “Hindi ko siya natatandaan at kung matandaan ko man siya, di ko pa rin siya pakakasalan.” at tumayo na para iwan ang kanyang ama.
Collete couldn't understand her father for bringing up that arranged marriage all of a sudden. Axel is part of his past and she already buried his memories together with their friendship. Kaya naman hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit bigla na lang itong susulpot sa buhay niya at gusto siyang pakasalan.
She needs to find a way to escape at ang tanging paraan na naisip niya eh ang tumakas at manirahan sa isang pribadong isla na pagmamay-ari ng dati niyang manliligaw. But what if destiny steps in and she meet someone she would fall for? Will she go for it to revenge with her father or will karma walks in?