Chapter 1

6 YEARS AFTER

A sky full of stars is playing right now as I begin to step my feet on the red carpet. Never did I imagine to have this grand evening debut with so many people that were invited. Even those classmates of mine who really attended this evening. Thanks to mom and dad for putting an effort to set up this perfect debut.

Everyone is looking up at me and clapping. The instrument continued to play and descended down the stairs while from my back Sally was holding the tip of my gown so I could manage to walk and not to stumble. Sally is Meriya's one and only daughter and my only friend.

As I reached downstairs my dad bowed at me. He took my palm and kissed it's back. I wrapped my hands to my father's arm and began to walk at the center. We started dancing and other guys also took my hand so we could dance. 18 men to dance, 18 roses, 18 drinks. What a wonderful perfect night.

I was smiling at the center when emcee talked and later a girl stood up and I was shocked when she spilled water on my nightgown. She approached me in intense anger and took off my wig harsly. Everyone was murmuring and were shocked upon seeing me without a wig. My chest began to batter up fast.

"You don't deserve this luxury Adora, just give up. You are ugly, you don't deserve to be called Amirecan. You are a shame!" She shouted at me.

It was Annie. My cousin Mendra's daughter. We never get to like each other. Since she never likes me, she hates me so much and I don't understand why. Everyone started taking pictures of me and laughing. I was stunned and don't know what to do. All I could see and hear is their laughs, their gazes which makes me feel dizzy. 

Bottle of sweat was falling out of my forehead and my tears began to pour heavily. I step back wanting to get out of this place and hide somewhere they could never find me.  My eyes search for mom, dad, our maids, and Sally but they are nowhere to be found. As I continued stepping back I never noticed the table at my back that is full of wine glasses and 5 layer cake. I smashed the cake and the glasses were broken. I am all wet and full of icings. Yet, everyone never stops staring at me and taking videos. 

"Hide, Adora. Hide and never get out of your place until you feel hunger and die."

Annie laughed like an evil and everyone in the house also started laughing at me. I covered my ears as their laughter echoed in my ear and made me feel dizzy and frustrated.

"No!!"

I woke up in my bed chasing my breath, sweating profusely. I saw mama, Sally, and Meriya worrying about me. It was a dream. But it seems so real, I can even feel my chest beating continuously like there's no end.

"Oh God! You were dreaming sweetie."

Mom hugs me tight and I could see in her eyes how worried she was. Same thing with Sally and Meriya.

"We couldn't wake you up Adora. You were smiling in your sleep and then you began to scream as if you saw something scary." Sally explained what happened.

I let out a deep breath and smiled at them. "I am fine mom. Just a random nightmare."

"That's good to hear. It's your debut! What do you want for your day sweetie? I'll grant it."

I really wished to have a debut party but in my condition I just wanted to dream of it. For now, I want to enjoy my day. I want to enjoy the rest of my life without making any regrets.  And I want mom and dad to be with me but there's no other place where I could see them. Not outside our place 'coz I might catch anyone's attention and issues will spread. I don't want that to happen.

"I want to go out mom. I wanted to accustomed myself with the atmosphere of the outside world."

Mom glanced at Meriya. I know she's afraid of it but I know she will do everything for me. But for now, I wanted to embrace my fear. I want to try to battle with it. I don't want to lose just because I am afraid. I wanted to fully enjoy my life.

"Sure sweetie. But Sally will come with you." I smiled at mom and nodded. I can see excitement in Sally's eyes.

"Come on get up. Mang Glan will drive you and at 9 pm you should arrive home. Got it?"

"Yes mom!" I hugged her again and stood up. I glance at Sally and both of us are really excited to hang out. 

I began my shower, it didn't take that long since I am really excited yet nervous on my day. As I finished showering, I wrapped my body with a towel and went out of the bathroom. I opened my closet and found different clothes. I picked the black high waist jeans,  brown long turtleneck paired with cardigan. I really looked weird since I have no hair everywhere so I have to draw brows and put on lashes all the time.

After making an eyebrow I put my wig on. I immediately wear my black boots and I am done!  A sudden knock interrupted me. It was Sally. Sally is wearing simple black jeans and light blue long sleeve polo.

"Wow,"  I laughed at Sally's reaction. As if I slay.

"You're pretty."

"Of course, your Sally and we're friends." Sally laughs. She is really beautiful, simple yet elegant.

"You're prettier." I said at her and smiled at me and put her arm on my shoulder.

"Shut up girl. We're both pretty and no one can argue that." We both laughed at each other and headed out of my room.

Mang Glan is already at the garage waiting for us. Mom is at my back waving me a goodbye. "Be careful."

"Yes tita!"

"Thank you mom! Bye!" I give him a reassuring smile.

Sally and I we're so excited and we couldn't even remove the smile on our faces. At the same time I felt nervous. I just let out a deep breath. Sally held my hand and smiled.

"You don't have to worry. Since I am here! I am sure you'll have fun. I knew somewhere where we could enjoy our day. Is it okay with you to hang out with other people or just us?" 

I would like to hang out with different people but I am afraid of it. I am still conscious about myself. Sally again looked at me.

"Nevermind. We can have fun somewhere, just us, alone." 

"Nah, it's okay. I would like to try."

I saw Sally smile so happily and hugs me. "That's a great idea. One thing to battle your fear is to face them and I'll be the first one to witness your win." I just smiled at her to ease my nervousness.

Sally is my only friend. I never talked with anyone since I hate them all. I can see faked smiles from them and I don't like it. Sally is an extrovert, she has a lot of friends, but she chooses to hang out with me rather than those hundreds of people. Well, Sally is a little savage. That's why most of the people at school hated her. I adore her much, because she's brave enough to do whatever she wants to do without minding what others will say to her. I wished I could do that also. Be free without minding the hate from other people. 

I opened the window and the moment the car steps out the gate I can't help but to get excited. We're almost out of our land. I can see from here the mountains and small buildings from the city. Since I am now a college student I have to move on to a big university. Our house is too far from the city so I think I would ask mom to find me some dorm to stay in with Sally.

The ride took half an hour. Sally even fell asleep and I was just watching the roads and buildings as we reached the city. Cars, busses, jeepneys were all over the place. I can't stand the noise so I already closed the window and leaned on my sit. Sally wakes up already.

"Oh God we're here!"

No one's more excited than Sally. Sally used to live in the city she visited us every weekend only. We got to see each other again if it's school days.

"So where are we going?"

"Somewhere fun!"

I just laugh because of her immense enthusiasm. Mang Glan parked the car somewhere. I have no idea about the city since I always am hiding.

"Let's meet here."

We nodded in response to Mang Glan and headed out the car. It is my first time going out so I am very excited and tense. My eyes glanced at the buildings of the city, the place is a little bit crowded and noisy. As we started walking I could see different pictures of people. Some were glancing at us making me feel uncomfortable. I held Sally's arm like a baby. 

"Relax! They won't bite you." Sally laughed at me. "They are scary, gosh."

"We'll be heading to the mall first, starting playing arcades and whatsoever. Let's roam the place before we go to the party."

It's 1 in the afternoon and the heat of the sun is burning my skin. Did she mention 'party'?  

"Party?" I asked her to confirm. 

"Yes. Just a small gathering of friends. You'll sure meet a lot of people. They are good."

I don't think so. I might just ignore them or maybe try? I should also get along with different kinds of people to get rid of my anxiousness and shyness. If you get along with others you'll know more about yourself, about myself.

We stop by in front of a tall building with crowded people inside. "Let's go?"

I smiled at Sally and held her arm tight, making her laugh.  Sally is more familiar with this place and I don't want to lose my path on the way. We began marching inside the building. I was amused by the aura of the place.

They were many dresses, clothes, toys inside. It was like heaven and just wanted to purchase each item you will see. I excitingly took the rabbit pink hat and wear it. I faced the mirror and smiled ridiculously. 

"You should try this too," I took the blue one and gave it to Sally. People were glancing at us. Maybe they think we're crazy, well we don't care and just have fun. 

We took the two hats and looked for another item to purchase. We roam around the mall and buy anything dazzling in our eyes. I could never remove the smile on my face. After paying for the items we bought we headed to the arcade and played every game inside. It was fun and I was jumping and laughing the whole time. Well people were kinda interrupted by our laughs but we don't mind, think whatever they think this is arcade! And this is life!

There was so much fun in the arcade and we even tried the toy claw machine. I am a very competitive person and give my full attention to it.

"I wanted the octopus toy,  please get it! Get it! Yeah! Go on baby, come with me." I hardly press the button of the machine and is so excited when the octopus hang in the grabber. I felt so much nervousness as the grabber moves, I want it please. I jump into happiness when I finally got the octopus. I took it and hug it tight.

"Yes you made it!" Sally just laughed at me and grabbed my arm.

"Let's eat." I nodded and followed her out. We chose the nearest fast food chain and ordered a lot of food.

This day is a fulfillment. I never expected that I would be going to do this in my life. Well, I am a human and this is all natural. Just that, I never used to. All my life I was stuck at home playing with our maids, farm workers, and so Nicolo, our white pony horse.

I eat like a hungry beggar as the foods were served, you only live ones live crazier because you can never do that when you get old and die. I was able to do this by Sally's help, I can't imagine roaming in this city alone. After our meal we go to a public comfort room where we could change our clothes, the one that we bought earlier at the mall. I took off my long sleeve 'cuz it's getting hotter and hotter. I changed it with my navy blue halter string top, I also took off my jeans and changed it with a denim black skirt. I also wear a knitted blue and brown cardigan. All is done. Sally wears the same jeans but she wears a white button up Open Back Crop halter top which makes her sexier and hotter.

I took off my wig for a while and wiped my head and put it in again. I retouch my face and so does Sally. We are alone in the comfort room and no one is yet coming in. All done!

"Let's go."

We went out of the comfort room holding our paper bags. We decided to find Mang Glan to put our paper bags in the car. We went inside the car to head out to our next place.

I don't want to take the jeep, I don't like over crowded area. The car stopped in front of a not so big house, it was quiet and I think no one was inside. Me and Sally went out of the car and went inside the house. There were vehicles outside the house, I wonder why it feels so quite. 

We already reached in front of the door and as Sally opened the door knob I was shocked to the point that I might collapse. The place was soundproof. A noisy and crowded place welcomes us. When someone saw Sally a girl approached us and hugged us both. 

"I thought you wouldn't come. Hi Adora! I'm Dem." The girl is smiling at me and offered her hands to me which I accepted.

"Come on!"

Dem led us the way. I couldn't stand the noise and the disco lights. I just held Sally's arm tight and followed Dem until we reached a couch. There are one, two, three, more than three people inside the house. I couldn't count them all and I am preoccupied by the atmosphere of the place.

"Adora, this is Gray." Sally caught my attention and introduced me to the guys and ladies. 

"I'm Ella."

"Clarisse."

"Joshua."

"Dylan."

"Nick."

"Amster."

I heard a lot of names but wasn't able to memorize them.  There were so many drinks and foods inside. And I am like 'wow'. I didn't imagine coming to this place. I hate crowds but I can't say no now.