Nilagpasan ko siya papunta sa mga gamit ko. I grabbed a few clothes and then I rolled them para magkasiya sa sling bag ko. This guy is crazy as hell! That's it! I carefully placed my camera parts inside my sling bag. "Sorry dad..." I mumbled as I caress it. I left my other cameras in Philippines... I sighed. I brought this with me as his promise... now. Argh! Don't you cry in this place of his, Daliah! I fixed my slingbag and marched to the door. Hindi ko alam ano bang dapat kong maramdaman ngayon. He didn't even say a thing! Ano bang problema niya? Besides, I really saw it with my eyes. He purposely dropped my camera on the floor. I can't be mistaken. I thought... talking to him about some stuff... about his father, I can resonate with him. Pero ano 'to? Argh! Nang nakalabas na ako ng building, I saw his motorcycle. I kicked it. There. Naglakad-lakad pa ako palayo sa place na yun. Where will I go now? Dun ba sa men ni dad? Asan ba sila? I used my hands as an amplifier and screamed, "Hey! Where the hell are y'all?! I'm here! Daliah Ty! Come and get me now!" I stopped for a moment to catch my breath. I noticed that some people are murmuring things. I don't freaking care! Lakad takbo ang ginawa ko. Kay uncle. Tama. Wala akong class ngayong araw pero I'm sure bukas naman university ngayon. Uncle... if I go to him, he will give me to his or dad's men right? In short I will be handed to someone else... they talked about some custody before... so hindi kay dad? Argh! No! I won't stoop down to him! Not after what happened... speaking of which, 'pag nalaman ko talaga kung sino yung person na nagbuko sa akin kay uncle... kung hindi lang nakialam yun, maybe I still got the upper hand. Gosh... saan na ako ngayon? I looked at the sky. It's orange color is calming... I let myself kneel on the ground. Naramdaman kong may pumatak sa nose ko. I brought my finger to it ... what-- I quickly closed my eyes nang lumakas na yung mga droplets. It's raining! I hugged my sling bag and crouched on the ground. I looked at my sling bag. Maya-maya pa ay may mainit akong naramdaman... hot tears rolling down my cheeks. "Ah! I hate this! Dad! Dad! Dad... when will you come?" I stood up and walked. Napatingin ako sa isang dad na hawak yung kamay ng anak niya. They are sharing the umbrella. I looked down. "Pupunta ka pa ba dad? I broke it... I let it get destroyed... sorry." I mumbled to myself. I clenched my fist and walked. Napatingin ako sa ilaw sa isang place. Ah, ito na yun. Yung school. Yung pinag-aralan ng guy na yun... Screw him! "It was the day of the open house! We kissed on the bench and now we're still together!" Napatingin ako sa nagsalita. A girl speaking with her friend. Her eyes are shimmering, it stands out in this rainy weather. "Yeah, I certainly bet your boyfriend will never leave you, just like how the legend puts it! Haha!" her friend answered. Bench? Anong bench-- Gosh. Kung totoo yun, bakit hindi kami magkasundo ngayon? He's being a jerk. OMG. I mean, it's not that I like him... Argh! No. Legend lang yan. I kept on hearing that nonsense. What the hell? Why am I thinking about this all of a sudden? He did something horrible to me! It's not gonna change! Napagod na ba siyang tulungan ako? Maybe he could at least lend an umbrella to me. Just like how others do it. It's still raining and I think basa na rin yung mga clothes ko sa bag. Argh. I walked to a bus stop para sumilong. This really sucks. I sighed. Tell me, what did I do to deserve all these freaking hellish things? I mean, I just blackmailed uncle but he got me in the end! Tapos ano pa? I didn't take school seriously. I mean who does? Actually, I helped... yeah, I helped him. WHAT THE HELL! He hasn't paid me yet! I look through my bag and my wallet. This won't let me live! Bakit ba kasi ganito? If I could just go home to Philippines right now, I will. But uncle said otherwise. I can't stand to him without any sort of "panakot" or whatever. My uncle said I can't leave the country for some reason and my dad sent men for me to transfer me to another custody kasi raw mag-isa ako that time. Omg. I'm all alone now... What the hell people?! Wait. I want neither of them! I just want to go home! Tumayo na ako at tumakbo. I can't stay here, alone. Baka mamaya... I catch my breath nang nasa harapan na ako ng resto bar. Right, dito muna ako. I'll think things through with alcohol. That's the best way to do it! Pagpasok ko, I was greeted and hugged by the dark, but lively lights of the bar. I went to the counter and motioned to the bartender. He just nodded and prepared my drink. Pagkaabot sa akin nung drink ay ininom ko kaagad 'to. "Ah, one more," I requested to him. "Daliah, what should you do? You are being held in this country, can't even walk alone because of those creepy peeps... gosh." I shivered while mumbling to myself when I felt the familiar cold metal pressed against my waist. So dad... what was that? I... I'm your daughter, right? You told me you will come to me as long as I have the camera... I even envisioned us doing photography together... but you left for business. You followed that woman. You obeyed her... I'm starting to think it's really her... I reached for my phone. Thankfully hindi siya basa. I dialed his phone number again. I stared at my phone... but nothing. Argh! I need answers now! Gosh, could someone tell me what this mess is? "Here, ma'am." He slid the glass to the counter. I held it and moved it in circular motion. Just like me. Running in circles. The guy helped me from weird peeps running after me. Pati nung nakaraan... why? I kept on asking this. I wish it's dad... My eyes widened when a hand reached for my glass from my hand. What the hell dude? I looked to my right to face him. That. That look again... I kept on losing myself in those eyes. Why do I keep on seeing this when it's just all his facade? I know... I know that I know nothing. His darkened eyes bore into mine. He drank my drink! WHAT THE? "What the hell is your problem?! I paid for that... yeah. You haven't paid for my work pa pala!" I snorted. He just glared at me. Right through my soul. Why does he keep on doing this? Anong napapala niya rito? "Just... leave me alone--" "Breach of contract. Though it's an oral one, at least have some integrity." he stated. WHAT. Who is he to talk to me like that? Contract? What contract? Ah yung deal? Gosh. "I don't care. Sue me or whatever. As if you can." I looked away from him and motioned my hands to the bartender to give me another drink. He got it but he didn't move. He's looking to my side. I looked to my right. What is he trying to do now? The bartender went to accommodate the other customers. Then this guy is looking at me now. Stop it. Just stop. He moved closer to me. His sweat is rolling down his body. Did he run? "For what happened, I...I'm sorry." he started. Oh? Bakit narealize ba niyang needed talaga ng editor kaya ganito? Back off, sucker. I just stared at him. Sige, bahala ka manghula ng emotion ko ngayon. "Daliah," he calls out. I rolled my eyes and looked away. Again. I can't stand this... "...sorry. I didn't realize it. It's my fault and I take responsibility for it." he continued. Ha, who is he fooling now? It may not be a big deal to him but for me it is! Akala ko maiintindihan niya ako. But... wait. I didn't tell him about dad, the promises and everything... But still! I managed to bring myself to look at him. His eyes... bakit blank sila kanina? Para bang wala siyang nararamdaman? "Actually, it's... nevermind." he added. What the hell is it? "Ano yun?" I asked. "Will you go back with me?" he asks while leaning closer to me. Hindi man lang ako sinagot. Go back? Ha, pasalamat ka. Hindi ko pala nasabi sa iyo yung tungkol dun... pero kasalanan pa rin niya! "I need an answer not a question," I replied. "Answer me first. Now." he demanded. Woah, parang kanina lang ang bait. What's with this authoritative voice again? Gosh! This guy... ano naman kung sumama ako sa kaniya? Ah, need pala ng worker. Alright, I need money too so yeah. Argh. This jerk. Only two weeks, Daliah. I haven't forgotten about what happened earlier. Pero I guess I just needed to get through the remaining weeks... then goodbye na. For good. I should be searching for places na pala... then I need to figure out how to get out of this country without uncle tailing my back... "Daliah," he calls out again. "Okay. Just to finish this hell. Don't be comfortable like I forgot what you did," I answered. "It's... it's..." he murmured something. "The hell? Sabihin mo na kasi." He looked away while scratching his nape. The hell? "It's nothing. Come on, since you agreed to me. Basang-basa ka pa." he said as he... he is stripping! His jacket... I stared at the black jacket of his, now in my hand. "Let's go," he motioned to me to go out. Just this time... tapos I will go out na talaga. I just needed to finish this. After nito, I'll come to you dad. Yes... I need answers. I need dad. Nobody is giving me what I need. I won't let my uncle nor my family stop me. Dad, choose me this time, please? By then, I guess staying with Marcus... basta. You told me this is the right thing diba dad? Para gawin ko yung tama? I'm confused about what you want me to do, I want to speak with you. Regarding Marcus, he knows it or not, this guy is not telling me everything.