"Uyy. Dito ka na, diyan nalang ako sa sahig mas trip ko dyan, mas malawak."

Ok, I know. And lame ng excuse ko pero kasi nakakahiya na talaga ng sobra. First nagpaalaga ako now aagawan ko pa ng bed? Edi ako na star.

"No it's fine. You can stay there para mas maayos pagpapahinga mo. I'll be down here *points to the floor.* when you need me."

"Ehhh."

"Ehh ano?"

He raised his eyebrows. Aba ang taray. Ako nga hindi ko magawa yan eh!

"Kung dito ka nalang kaya? Err. I mean..."

Nakakahiya. It's like I am inviting him to bed, which is technically yun nga yung ginagawa ko pero yung ano, basta! Alam niyo na yun!

"I get it, but thanks for the offer nalang. I can manage."

"Basta, for the record, I am being generous lang. Wala akong balak na gapangin ka wag ka mag-alala."

"Wala akong sinabing ganyan. Pero of you insist. Wag ka mag-alala, hindi rin ako magtatangka."

"I know that."

Hmp. Inirapan ko nga. Ang yabang niya akala mo kagwapuhan, which is gwapo nga naman talaga. Umakyat siya sa bed tapos humiga nang nakatalikod sa akin. Ichura namin ngayon, magkatalikuran ang saya lang eh. D:

"Salamat ah Blanche, good night."

Hindi na ako umimik, same goes nanahimik na rin siya. Hindi ko alam kung tulog na ba siya or nakatunganga lang. Basta, nahihiya ako sa lahat tapos siya pa nagtthank you sakin? Hanuuuuber.

Uhh. Massive headaches? Asan na ko?

"Araay." -.-

"Oh, Blanche magpahinga ka na muna."

O____O

Ohmygosh.

"Nasan ako? Anong ginagawa ko dito? Anong ginagawa mo dyan?"

"Well, this is MY room at nasa bahay ka namin. Anong ginagawa ko? Well.. I am supposed to be watching you, pero nainggit ata ako nakatulog din. Sorry."

"Ohmygosh. Halaaaaa. Salamat ng sobra, sorry sa sobrang abala. Ano bang nangyari?"

"Kasi sa taong nilalagnat at parang tangang nagdodoorbell sa labas ng bahay na ayaw naman siya papasukin sa loob ng limang minuto at bumubuhos pa ang ulan, normal naman sigurong himatayin ka."

Ahh. Oo nga pala. Hindi nga pala ako pinapapasok sa bahay. Kahit pala sikat eh mabait din. Pero wait, nasa kwarto niya ako. O.O

"Ops. Before you get the wrong idea, si Yaya nag undress, nagpunas at nagbihis sayo. I wouldn't dare touch a lady."

"Hindi ako nag-iisip nang ganyan noh. Pero uyy. Salamat talaga nang marami, pero nakakahiya na eh. Uuwi na ako. Salamat sa pag-aalala."

"Do you expect them na papasukin ka dun? Kanina ngang basang-basa ka na nagbibingi-bingihan sila eh."

"Pero..."

"Hijo! Oh you're classmates awake na pala. Hi, you can call me Tita Jane or MOMMY. Mom ni Riema, how're you feeling? Did my son wake you up or something? Anak naman, I told you be nice to ladies! Most especially to ladies as pretty as her!"

"Hala. Tita hindi naman po ako ginising. Nagkusa lang po siguro. Thank you po sa hospitality, pero kailangan ko na rin po umuwi, super sobra sa abala."

"No hija! I heard from Riema. Anong klaseng family naman yun? You can stay for the night. At isa pa, ikaw palang yung kaibigang dinala ng anak ko dito kaya I would like to know what makes you special. *winks.*"

"Ma naman! Sabi ko naman sayo wala lang time. Tsaka coincidence lang naman yung kanya eh. Ikaw na rin nagsabi, I should be nice to ladies. And I was nice to help her and let her stay dito diba?"

And poof, yung kabaitan na inaakala ko eh mali pala. Mayabang.

"Anyway. I told you, you can stay here for the night. Nga pala Ma, yung susi sa guest room dun ko na siya pag-stay."

"Huh? Didn't I tell you yesterday na pupunta sila Tita Nina mo dito? Do you expect them to go home immediately? Of course mag-over night pa yung mga yun. Alam mo naman tagal na hindi nakakapagchikahan."

Ang cute ng mom ni Riema, parang bata lang. Ang saya pa kausap. I wish ganyan yung mom ko.

Riema Andrew's P.O.V

"Huh? Didn't I tell you yesterday na pupunta sila Tita Nina mo dito? Do you expect them to go home immediately? Of course mag-over night pa yung mga yun. Alam mo naman tagal na hindi nakakapagchikahan."

Napaka-isip bata talaga ni Mom, but that's what I like about her para lang kami magkabarkada.

...

Wait, didn't I hear that right. May gagamit ng guest room?! Eh san magsstay si Blanche? Hindi naman pwede sa maid quarters, nakakahiya. Hindi naman pwede dito, awkward. Di naman pwede sa room ni Ate, gusto ko pa mabuhay.

"Pero Mom?!"

"She'll stay here, with you. At least mababantayan at maaalagaan mo pa siya. Besides, you're old enough. Alam mo na ang tama at mali. Sige mauuna na ako at baka nadidistorbo ko pagpapahinga niya, ikaw din Drew magpahinga ka na. Gnight!"

"Good night Mom."

And this is awkward.

--

Blanche Angelique's P.O.V

"Maaaaark! Ano ba yan! Ang gulo-gulo mo eh. Nakitang natutulog yung tao eh."

"Kasi naman Blanche, sabi ko sayo pumunta ka na sa clinic! Mapapagalitan ka na naman ni Sir eh! Bahala ka dyan!"

"Mind your own business, Mark. UGH. Ayan nawala tuloy antok ko! Ikaw kasi eh!"

Ugh. Ang sakit-sakit ng ulo ko. Epal talaga tong Mark na toh, himbing-himbing nang tulog nung tao tapos mang gigising. Bastos lang. Wait, may narinig akong gitara.

"HOOOOOOOOOY! Sino yung may dala at tumutugtog nung gitarang yun! Narinig ko! Ipahiram niyo naaaaaa~!"

"Grabe Blanche, kababaeng tao daig mo pa taong gubat kung makasigaw."

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA."

"Eh loko-loko pala kayo eh."

"Joke lang yun. Toh naman. Oh, eto na. Ingatan mo yan ah!"

"Sus, kala mo naman masisira ko toh. Anyway, thank you! Tara jamming!"

Paborito ko tong past time, gitara-gitara pag walang teacher. Yun nalang eh kung nagdadala sila at ipapahiram sakin. Pero pag wala naman, aba syempre! Matutulog ako!

"Huy! Tutugtog ka ba o hindi? Kami nalang muna."

"Wag ka nga magulo. Nag-iisip ako ng kanta eh."

Hmn. Ano kayang magandang kanta?

Ay alam ko na! Pero mukang konti lang nakakaalam nito. Most probably wala pa nga eh. Bahala na. Basta paborito ko toh.

"Ano ba yan Blanche! Yung alam naman namin."

"Eh bakit ba, favorite ko toh eh. Mamaya na."

"Oh, akala ko ba hindi niyo alam? Bakit sinabayan niyo ko?"

"Ha? Nag-iilusyon ka na naman. Tulog ka pa ata eh!"

"HAHAHAHAHA."

"Ulul. Pero seryoso? Wala talaga kayong narinig?"

"Uyy! Blanche! Wag ka naman manakot dyan!"

"Oo nga! Tanghaling tapat ghost stories trip mo!"

"Hindi naman ako nagloloko eh! Bahala nga kayo dyan! O gitara mo! Mamaya nalang ulit."

Sino kaya yung kumanta? Meron, hindi ako pwedeng magkamali. Matalas ata pandinig ko. Pero sino ba yun? Arte naman niya, ayaw pa umamin. Sakit sa bangs mag-isip. Bahala na, tara tulog!

"Ms. Fortaleza. Ms. Fortaleza! MS. FORTALEZA!"

*toink.*

"Ugh! Aray!"

"HAHAHAHA."

"Hoy Blanche gising na! Tawag ka ni Sir, sagutin mo daw yung problem sa board."

Grabe naman toh. Balak pa mambulabog. Aray aray~ Ang sakit! Batuhin ba naman ako ng chalk. Sakto pa sa noo ko. Lalo tuloy sumakit yung feeling sa ulo ko! Ano ba tong balak ipa-solve sakin? Hmn. Analytical Geometry lang pala eh. AMF.

"Ayan. Ano wala kang mai-sagot noh? Patulog-tulog kasi! Makinig ka nga!"

"Kapal naman Sir. Minemental ko po. Katamad mag sulat eh. Ahmmn. Sir bali yung diameter po nung circle ay 8. Alam kong tama ako Sir, kaya pwede na ho ba akong matulog ulit?"

"Fine."

Yan. Yabang pa eh. Nakakairita talaga yung mga gantong teacher. Mampapahiya pa, fail naman. Baka mapahiya ako niyan. Math pa tinuturo niya. Kung AP toh pwede pa eh.

"Whoa. Ang galing mo talaga Blanche! Turuan mo nga ako niyan minsan. Di ko maintindihan magturo tong teacher natin eh."

"Shut up Mark. Di pa rin kita bati. Wag mo nga akong kausapin. Wag mo na rin ako gisingin, paki sabi na rin sa iba. Alam mo namang magigising din ako eh. Thanks."

Haaay. Grabe, puro ako tulog ngayon. Bakit ba parang ang bigat ng feeling ko? Hmn. Sana hindi ako gambalain ni Mark.

--

Reima Andrew's P.O.V

Paborito kong kanta toh. Akala ko konti lang makakaalam. Bihira na kasi yung fan ng Imago sa school. Pati rin pala si Blanche.

Crap. Narinig niya ako. Ang talas naman ng pandinig nitong babaeng toh.

"Uy bro! Tara kailangan na nating bumaba sa gym! Pag tayo na-late ewan ko nalang kung ano pang parusa ibibigay ni coach."

"Ay sh*t. Oo nga. Tara."

Whew. Saved. Akala ko mapapaamin pa ako eh. I don't like others to know that I sing. Kasi ang tinging nila sa guys na kumakanta, gay. Guys should only play balls. Kaya sa school, sikat ako. Player eh, soon-to-be captain pa.

7:30 PM, school.

Damn, may exam pala sa Geometry bukas! Naiwanan ko pa yung notebook ko sa classroom. Tatakbuhin ko pa papunta dun, pagod na ko! Sana di pa nadaan si Kuya Janitor dun kundi deadbol na ko.

Thank God bukas pa. Wait, bat may tao pa? Si Blanche yun ah? Tulog pa rin? Anong balak nyan? Mag-overnight dito sa school? Magising nga.

"Blanche." *pokes.* *pokes.*

"Blanche. Uyy!" *pokes harder.*

"UGH! Anak naman ng.. Maaaaark~ Sabi ko wag mo kong gigisingin eh!"

Mark? Mark Roesete? Sa gwapo kong toh? Ang layo! Pero may pagkasira din talaga toh. Pero ang cute niya matulog. Hay. Ano ba tong pinagsasasabi ko?!

"Blanche, uuy. Gumising ka na. Si Reima toh. 7:30 na kaya, balak mo ba mag-overnight dito sa school?"

"Ha? Anong pinagsasasasabi mo?"

--

Blanche Angelique's P.O.V

"Ha? Anong pinagsasasabi mo?"

O______________O

Holysh*t! Gabi na nga! Hala! Patay ako nito!

"Hala naman! Tinotoo naman masyado ni Mark yung hindi pag gising sakin. Lechugas. Pano ko nito. Hala!" :((

Patay ako nito kina Mama. Panigurado hindi ako papasukin ng bahay nun kahit anong mangyari.

*BOOM.* << Kidlat yan. **SHHHHH.** << Sabay umulan.

Tapos uulan pa! Grabe naman! Araaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! Ang sakit sobra ng ulo ko. Nahihilo ako.

--

Reima Andrew's P.O.V

Hala ka nga naman o. Umulan pa. Hindi ko pa naman din nilabas yung payong ko sa sasakyan. Yes, sasakyan. Nagddrive ako papuntang school. Legal toh sa school kasi pumayag naman yung principal which is a friend of my Mom.

Bakit ayaw pa kaya tumayo nito? Hala. Kanina pa ba toh, hindi ko lang napansin? Namumutla si Blanche.

"Ok ka lang? Namumutla ka eh."

"Ha? Oo. Okay lang naman siguro. Medyo nahihilo lang ako."

Tumayo na siya, pero bumagsak pa. Buti nalang nasalo ko. Ang lambot ng balat niya, ang init.

"Blanche may lagnat ka ah! Bakit hindi ka pa pumunta sa clinic kanina?!"

"Ha? Anong lagnat? Wala lang yan. Sige, bitawan mo na ako. Okay na ako."

"Anong ok at wala lang? Wag ka makulit, aalalayan na kita. Akin na yung bag mo ako na magdadala."

"Ha? Wag na. Nakaalalay ka na nga tapos ikaw pa magdadala ng bag ko. Wag na nakakahiya. Tsaka di ka ba nabibigatan niyan? Halos pasan mo ko tapos dala mo bag mo pang training?"

"Macho ata toh. Pero swear, okay lang talaga. Akin na."

Ang kulit naman nito. In denial na magkasakit, desperado pa lumala. Nako, pano ko itatawid toh. Hindi ko naman pwede paglakarin o pagcommute-in pa-uwi. Ihahatid ko siya, pero ang layo ng sasakyan ko dito. Di ko naman pwedeng iwan dito at balikan nalang kasi baka kung ano pang mag-yari. UGGGGH.

Ay wait, may jacket pala ako dito. Tama tama! Yun nalang.

"Oh, suotin mo para di ka ganun mabasa. Ihahatid na kita kesa naman magcommute ka pa umuwi."

"Ha? Eh pano ka? Edi ikaw naman nabasa? Nakakahiya."

Nandun yung concern sa mata niya. Pero grabe ah.

"Ikaw yung may sakit, so ikaw yung priority. Besides, kagaya nga ng sinabi ko, macho naman ako eh. Tara na."

Akay-akay ko na siya habang naglalakad papunta. Sana hindi siya ganoong nababasa kundi patay ako nito.

Sa wakas nandito na rin kami. Nginig na nginig siya.

Nagmamadali na ako magdrive. Natatakot ako baka kung ano nang nangyayari sakanya. Ayaw ko pa naman ding nakakakita ng ganto, hindi ko alam yung gagawin ko.

Siguro naisip niyo, bat alam ko kung saan siya nakatira. May dahilan, pero ayaw ko na munang i-share, sa susunod nalang.

"Blanche, gising. Nandito na tayo sa bahay niyo."

--

Blanche Angelique's P.O.V

"Blanche, gising. Nandito na tayo sa bahay niyo."

Hala, nakatulog pa ako. NAKAKAHIYA NA NG SOBRA. Ang lamig pa. >.< Nandito na daw kami sa bahay? Ang bilis? Tsaka pano niya nalaman bahay namin? Ughh. Uuuuuulo koooo~!

"Sige salamat ah."

Binuksan ko yung pinto at madaliang lumabas. 8:03 na ayon sa water-proof kong relo. For sure, hindi na ako pagbubuksan ng pinto.

*DING DONG.*

"Ma!"

*DING DONG.*

"Maaaa~!"

Sabi ko na eh.

--

Reima Andrew's P.O.V

Ang tagal na niyang nakatayo pero bakit ganun hindi siya pinagbubuksan ng pinto. Kitang-kita ko, nanginginig na siya sa lamig. Masyado namang maaga para matulog yung pamilya niya tsaka sa doorbell, magigising sila. Bakit ganun?

*tick tock tick tock.*

Mag 5 minutes na ah.

*BLAGSH.*

Sh*t. Nag-collapse na si Blanche!

"Huyy! Huyy!"

Lalong tumaas yung lagnat niya. Bakit naman ganun? Hindi siya pinagbuksan? Bahala na. Feeling ko tuloy responsibility ko siya. Kung ayaw siya papasukin, dun nalang muna siya sa bahay.

*RING~*

"Yaya, pa-open naman yung guest room. Tapos pahanda na rin ng dalawang towel ng cooling tape tsaka paracetamol. Maglabas ka na rin ng clothes ni Ate. Thank you Yaya!"

Hindi ko na alam kung anong gagawin ko. Hindi ko na alam kung anong sasabihin sakin ni Mommy pag nalaman niya toh. Tapos hiniraman ko pa ng damit na kay Ate. Lagot ako lalo. Pero parang may choice ako eh.

"Oh Drew anong nangyari dyan sa kasama mo?"

"Mamaya na paliwanag Yaya, bihisan niyo na muna siya tapos painumin ng gamot o."

"Oo, ikaw rin magpalit ka na. Nga pala, nasa Mommy mo yung susi sa guest room kaya hindi ko ma-open. Dito nalang muna siya sa quarters habang magpapalit ka."

Drat. Kung kelan kailangan saka naman tinangay ni Mommy yung susi o. Hindi ko sure kung kelan siya makakauwi. Hindi naman pwede sa quarters si Blanche kasi marami na sila doon, mas lalong hindi pwede sa kwarto ko, UGGGH. Bahala na.

"Hijo, Drew. Kumain ka na muna, ako na magbabantay sakanya."

"Sige Yaya, okay lang po ako."

I had no choice. Ngayon nandito si Blanche sa kwarto ko, at binabantayan ko siya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero hindi ko siya magawang iwanan. Bakit?

Hmmn. *pokes.*

"Drew? Anak?"

"Mom?"

HOLY!@#$%^&*()_ O____________O

"Mom!"

"Shh. Hijo, magising yang kaibigan mo. Sinabi na sakin ni Yaya sa akin. Ako na magbabantay sakanya, kumain ka muna baka magkasakit ka rin."

"Thanks Mom. Pero okay lang ako. Mom, yung susi sa guest room?"

"Ahh, that. You see, magsstay yung friend ko dito. And I am letting her use the room. Dito nalang muna yung friend mo sa room mo. May tiwala naman ako sayo eh."

"Pero Mom?!"

"I trust you darling. Besides, kanina hindi mo nga siya maiwanan para kumain eh. By the way, what's her name?"

"Blanche. Blanche Angelique."

"What a beautiful name. It suits her angelic face. Osya, I will entertain my amigas outside muna ah. Don't worry, they know nothing. Good night dear."

"Good night Mom."

The figure in front of me, stretching his arms. Is he calling me? Curiosity strikes, I reached his hands. When my palm met his, he held me tight. It made me feel secure. We walked. He guided me towards a garden. The only colored place in this world of snow.

When I entered the garden at pang of astonishment hit me. Such complicated yet relaxing scene, a perplex and colorful view. I was still lost in thought when he pulled me and gestured me to sit on the swing. The silence is deafening. A minute later, he pulled something out of his pocket. The necklace tita gave me. He stood up and wear it around my neck afterwards he look at me straight in the eye and he flashed a very sweet and sincere smile despite his painful eyes.

When the smile disappeared, my vision became blurry, my head hurts then the last thing I remember is his lips on my forehead and another blackout.

What's happening? I want to ask them but the words didn't came out of my mouth. I tried opening my eyes, but my eyelids felt heavier than before and so does my body. I feel stiff and cold.

"Aya, it's time." Time for what?

"Ghelo, wait for your Dad outside."

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Ready for what?!

"I've waited for this, I just don't know if Yana can accept it though." Accept what?!

"She will."

Everything's silent for a while. And then I felt electricity inside me. It hurts and tickles me at the same time. I can hear Mom at tita chanting something. As their chants began to volume up the amount of electricity gushing inside me increase, after a while, it stopped and I felt numb.

A moment later the pain began. I started screaming my lungs out. It hurts. As if my bones are melting. I feel hot. I screamed more, louder. They're pinning me down, what's happening?! It feels like trillions of needles and knives, pricking and stabbing me over and over again.

"Sweetie, stay still. The pain will subside later on." How can I stay still if I'm in this kind of pain?!

Even though I know I can't, I tried my hardest. Am I going to die?

"Yes yes! I'm going~ I'm changing already!" LOL. Truth is I still am lying down on my bed face on my pillow. I am too tired to get up. I don't know what with today anyway. =.=

"Arianna Thalia Merced Fortaleza!" Shoot. This is not good. Mom only calls me that if she's really angry. I jumped out of my bed, grabbed my glasses on top of my table and ran downstairs. Thankfully I slept in my shorts and spaghetti straps not my PJ's on.

I stopped on Ghelo's door and slammed it so hard. Hard enough to hear him moan and curse under his breath. Ghelo's a light sleeper. He wakes up in simple noises, when somebody turns on the light, and when someone around him moves. My exact opposite.

"Arianna! Hurry up!" Shoot, I forgot mom. I ran down the stairs again. This is tiring considering the fact that I just woke up and my body's still not functioning well.

"Mom! What's wrong with you?! Waking me up early in the morning!"

"You actually forgot didn't you?" She said while raising an eyebrow. How come she can do that while I can't?!

"Your silence means you forgot. For heaven's sake Arianna it's your 16th birthday today! Happy Birthday Sweetie. I love you so much!" And she hugged me tight, tighter than the usual, as if she doesn't want to let me go. She kissed both my cheeks, my forehead, my nose. I mean it's sweet but I can sense that there's something wrong. But I dismissed it immediately.

I hugged her tight and muttered "I love you too Mom. So much." And kissed her on her cheek.

"Now now, your Tita Minchet is already waiting for you outside. Final preparations. I don't want my baby's 16th birthday to go haywire. I'll be in the kitchen cooking if you need me."

"Thanks Mom!" I can feel the excitement creeping down my spine. I wonder what'll happen later.

As I was scanning our garden I saw a figure standing in a very elegant way. *gasp.* I ran towards the figure and embraced her.

"Tita Minchet! I miss you! I thought Mom was just joking when she told me you're here waiting. I can't believe it! Tita I missed you so much!" She hugged my tighter. In the same way Mom did.

"I miss you to sweetheart. I can't believe my little angel is now blooming into a fine young woman. Happy sweet sixteen dear. Oh and by the way, I have a surprise for you. At the back of the car. Be back here after getting your present." She threw me her car keys and winked. I giggled and ran towards the parking lot. I can see her Purple Porsche R8. Beautiful.

As I walked closer to the car, I am feeling excited and nervous. Tita Minchet gives me strange yet wonderful gifts each year. And she says that i should keep everything for further usage and she'll be mad at me if I lose a single one of them. She started giving me those when I was 9.

A felt a cold wind past me. *shivers.* Guess stepping outside in spaghetti-straps is not a good idea but this is better than nothing. LOL. I unlocked the door and opened it. To my dismay, my "surprise" is a 5x7 colored-cardboard box. But then again I remembered, tita is just to bizarre for this simplicity. I untied the ribbon, and opened the lid.

My jaw dropped and my eyes widened. What I saw was way beyond what I expected. It's a chain necklace. But no ordinary one. It's pendant is star-shaped and made from glass which allows you to see the universe-like content . Remember seeing pictures of black space with lots of colorful dots, that's what the inside looks like. I am at awe. I sat there shocked and amazed. Tita really didn't let me down.

I wore the necklace, something felt wrong but I didn't mind it maybe because it's just that I am not used to necklaces. I hurried back to tita. I stepped, locked the door and ran.

"I see you liked it." I reassured her with a smile.

"That necklace is a very important one Yana, so I hope like the other gifts I gave you, you'll take proper care."

"I will tita, thank you!" I kissed her again, suddenly I felt dizzy. What's wrong with me? Lack of sleep perhaps. I staggered when I walked and eventually fell unconscious.

My questions were answered by the figure I saw. The man in my dreams.

I was 9 when I started dreaming of this guy. His face and other features were blurred except for his eyes. His eyes were striking gray. They say that the eyes are the mirrors to your soul and I have the talent to read other people through their eyes. And it seems to me that there is something that he is hiding or rather, he was in pain or something. Before it only happen once a month, or maybe once for every other two.

But as I grew older, my dreams became more frequent. The intensity of the pain in his eyes grew even more each passing dream. And as every dream pass, more of his figure is being exposed.

Last night, the night before I turn 16, his figure was shown, revealed. A handsome figure was upon me. His clothes were torn, and his body was a mess. Blood oozing from a lot of scratches from his body. I was right. He was in pain. But how? Why? Why I am the only one dreaming of this handsome figure? And who is he? Is he my savior from this hell-hole?