CHAPTER 1

"Ang sama talaga ng ugali ng lalaking 'yon" bulong ni Rinoa habang umiinom ng mango shake nang nakakunot ang noo. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin pala niya nauubos 'yon.

"He's always like that" Sabi naman ni Ariena.

"Buti na lang at hindi sinagot ni Camille 'yon."

"Camille? Who's that?" I asked

Umangat naman ang tingin sa akin ni Rinoa dahil medyo may kaliitan siya.

"Yung niligawan ni Sheldon dati kaso hindi siya sinagot dahil siguro may lahing satanas si Sheldon."

Camille?

Ah, that girl. Yung mala-anghel ang mukha pero hindi ang ugali. Well, bagay naman sila ni Sheldon kung nagkatuluyan sila. Narinig kong lumipat ng school dahil nagkaproblema ang company nila at kailangan niyang ipakasal. For business purposes.

"I'm gotta go now, Niona. See you tomorrow" sabi ni Rinoa at nakipag-beso sa akin nang makarating kami sa parking lot.

"See yah" sabi ko sa kanila ni Yena at hinintay ang sundo ko. Habang naghihintay ay nahagip ng mata ko ang pamilyar na mukha. Puro pasa ang mukha niya dahil sa bugbog. Iika-ika rin siyang maglakad kaya pinagtitinginan siya ng mga estudyanteng pauwi na rin.

Nagpatuloy lang siya sa paglalakad at hindi pinansin ang mga tingin sa kaniya. Nilakad niya lang hanggang sa makalabas siya ng gate. So, he's really a poor nerd, huh?

Maya-maya ay dumating na rin ang sundo ko. Saktong pagkapasok ko sa kotse ay tumunog ang cell phone ko. Bumungad sa akin ang message ni mommy. Kusang umikot ang mata ko sa nabasa.

"Kuya, sa Silver Cellar tayo" tumango lang ang driver ko at pinaandar na ang sasakyan. Nakatingin lang ako sa labas ng bintana buong byahe hanggang sa makarating kami sa five star restaurant na sinabi ni mommy.

I had no idea what she was doing here, and why I was being dragged along. I knew she was incredibly busy, with tons of people wanting to meet her because she's a famous fashion designer. I wasn't interested in her business meetings whenever she brought me along. I'd just get bored out of my mind, almost to the point of falling asleep.

"Miss Nionahlie?" a waiter interrupted my thoughts. I nodded. "This way, Ma'am," he guided me to the third floor and ushered me into a VIP room. "Enjoy, Ma'am," he said before closing the door.

As I faced the room, I was surprised by what I saw. "What the hell are you doing here?" I furrowed my brows, not moving from where I stood due to shock.

"Chill, I got dragged here too," he calmly replied, arrogantly seated beside a guy who was across from where my mom sat.

"Niona, mind your manners," my mom scolded. I just shrugged and sat beside my mom. My appetite disappeared the moment I laid eyes on the guy opposite me. It would be a waste of food if I had to eat alongside him.

"So, what am I doing here?" I asked my mom directly, knowing she understood that I hated listening to her meetings.

"Let's eat first," she said and began to eat. Both Sheldon and I hadn't touched our food yet, while his companion and my mom were already eating. Like me, Sheldon seemed uninterested.

"Nionahlie," my mom scolded when she noticed I hadn't touched my food.

"Mom, I'm not hungry—" she gave me a sharp look. I rolled my eyes and forced myself to eat. I heard a chuckle from the guy opposite me, so I shot him a glare. He just winked and started eating too.

Habang kumakain ay hindi ko maiwasang mapaisip kung sino ang lalaking katabi ni Sheldon at kung bakit pati si Sheldon ay nandito. Mukhang business man ang lalaking mukhang nasa 40s ang edad.

Hmm, it's so delicious," my mom broke the silence. "I think it's worth replacing some of your chefs in this restaurant," Sheldon's companion wiped his mouth before responding.

"Yes, after they received proposals from other restaurants, some of my chefs transferred,"

Mom nodded.

"Hmm, so it seems the outcome turned out well. That's just how life is sometimes, isn't it? Some events need to change for the betterment of all," she remarked.

"Yes, so I hope the same goes for this family union,"

That's when I got alarmed. "What?"

"Oh, I'm sorry for not introducing my daughter to you sooner," Mom held my hand on the table. "This is my daughter, Nionahlie." She gestured towards me. "Niona, He is Harris Windsor, the CEO of Windsor Company."

Windsor? I glanced at Sheldon. So, he's Sheldon's father? "Nice to meet you, Nionahlie," I returned my gaze to Mr. Windsor as he greeted me.

I forced a smile and nodded slightly. "Nice to meet you too, Mr. Windsor"

He chuckled "Just call me dad," he said. I looked at him in disbelief. My brain seemed to reject what I heard. Just what the hell?

"Mom?" I questioned.

"Sheldon, meet Niona, she'll also be your sister in the future," I heard Sheldon's dad say, so I looked at him.

"Hello, sister," he said with a playful smile. I just gave him a glare.

"You two are in the same school, right? I think you see each other there often," his dad added.

"Yes, we see each other all the time," he said, tilting his head slightly.

"I almost courted her because my sister's just my ideal type," I widened my eyes at what he said. It seemed like his dad and my mom didn't expect what he said. I gave him a threatening look.

Nagulat kami nang bigla siyang tumayo. "Tapos na akong kumain, pwede na ba akong umalis?" Tanong niya sa tatay niya.

Hmm? They're not in good terms?

"Sit down" his dad said, authoritatively. Pero hindi nakinig si Sheldon at nanatili lang siyang nakatayo. "I said, sit down"

Tumayo na rin ang tatay niya nang hindi ito nakinig. Hinawakan niya sa balikat si Sheldon saka ito hinarap sa kaniya at sinampal na ikinagulat ko. Bumaling ako kay mommy na mukhang nagulat din sa ginawa ni Mr. Windsor.

"Sit down, Sheldon Fitzgerald"

He scoffed "Ngayon ay may dahilan na ako kung bakit ayaw kong umupo" Humarap siya sa amin at saka yumuko nang bahagya. "Enjoy you food..." he looked at his father "as a soon to be family" aniya saka naglakad palabas ng room.

Huminga nang malalim si Mr. Windsor bago kami hinarap ni mommy. "Let me apologize on his behalf. I'm sorry for that"

I managed to smile at him "No, don't. I'm going to make him apologize to me" sabi ko at umalis na rin dahil nasasakal ako sa atmosphere ng kwarto. Sumasakit ang ulo ko sa mga nangyayari ngayon.

Naabutan kong papasakay na ng kotse si Sheldon kaya tinawag ko siya.

"Hey, brother" Tumingin naman siya sa gawi ko habang hawak ang pinto ng sasakyan niya.

"What? Huwag mong sabihing nandito ka para hilahin ako pabalik doon?"

I chuckled "Of course not. Kabaliktaran ang gagawin ko"

"I'm glad" sabi niya sabay bukas ng pinto.

"You don't like this marriage, too, right?"

Napahinto siya sa pagsakay at tumingin sa akin.

"How can you say so?"

I raised my eyebrow "Your attitude earlier"

Mayabang siyang tumawa at bahagyang lumapit sa akin.

"I did that because I can't stand my father's presence. Wala naman akong sinabing tutol ako sa kasalang magaganap"

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ko.

"Isa pa, bakit ako tututol kung company namin ang magbe-benefit sa kasal na 'to?"

Kumunot ang noo ko. "What do you mean?"

"Don't you know what marriage means for people like us?"

"That's why I'm asking what you mean. You'd better be specific" Sabi ko habang pinipigilan ang sariling mainis.

"It may seem a marriage, but it's more like a merger. It means that my dad will have rights in your company. And if it goes on, my dad might even take over your company," he arrogantly stated.

"Do everything you can to stop this wedding," he said before getting into the car. I thought he was leaving, but he lowered the window and glanced at me. "You wouldn't want to have your surname replaced by Windsor, right?" He smirked before driving off.

That man.

Nakatingin na naman ako sa labas na bintana gaya ng usual kong ginagawa sa tuwing nasa sasakyan ako. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin matanggal ang inis ko sa sinabi ni Sheldon. He's so arrogant. Parang mukha niya lang, napakayabang.

Habang iniisip ang mga naganap kanina ay may nakita akong naglalakad sa pedestrian lane nang paika-ika. May hawak siyang dalawang garbage bag at nakasumbrero. Sumasabay siya sa isang matandang mabagal maglakad. Malapit nang magkulay green ang stoplight at tanging silang dalawa na lang ang naglalakad. Nasa kulay orange na pero nasa gitna pa rin sila ng pedestrian lane. Nang mapalitan ng green ay binusinahan sila dahil sa makupad nilang paglalakad.

Dahil nasa gilid kami ay kami ang huling umandar. Nanatili ang tingin ko sa kanilang dalawa. Sa tingin ko ay nagpapasalamat ang matanda sa nerd na 'yon. Nagtama ang mga mata namin nang madaanan namin sila. Hindi niya ako makikita dahil tinted ang sasakyan ko. Sinundan ko pa siya ng tingin hanggang sa malagpasan na namin siya. Nakita ko sa rearview mirror na nakatayo lang siya roon at naghihintay na magpula ulit ang stoplight.

Naka-uniform siya na sa tingin ko ay doon siya nagtatrabaho. Tiningnan ko ang orasang pambisig. It's already seven pm. Nagtagal ng isang oras ang dinner namin.

Nang makarating sa bahay ay dumiretso ako sa kwarto para magpahinga. Bago ako maligo ay nagpicture muna ako at nagpost sa social media. Ilang minuto pa lang ay umani na iyon ng maraming likes and comments. May mga nagshare pa na hinayaan ko lang. Alam ko namang may mga basher ako at hindi maganda ang sinasabi nila sa comments kaya hindi ko tinitingnan 'yon. Minsan ay may nagta-tag pa sa akin. Hindi ko na lang din pinapansin dahil alam kong naiinggit lang sila sa akin.

People really are something else. If you're beautiful, you have haters because they're jealous. If you're ugly, you still have haters because they find amusement in your looks. People's tastes in this world are really different.

Kinabukasan ay dating gawi na naman. Makikinig na naman ako ng music habang naglalakad sa parking lot dahil maraming maiingay na bubuyog sa paligid. Taas noo akong naglakad hanggang sa room. I know I'm maarte, maldita, masungit, whatever they want to call me. Wala naman akong pakialam dahil iyon ang nakikita nila sa akin. Hanga ako dahil hindi sila napapagod mainggit sa akin. Marahil ay ayon na lang talaga ang maiaambag nila sa buhay ko.

"Alright, class, let's delve into the fascinating world of economic and political systems throughout history. These systems are the backbone of societies, shaping how resources are managed and how power is wielded. Today, we'll explore the different types of economic and political systems that have existed over time."

Yeah, right. Nandito na naman ako sa history ni prof.

"First, let's talk about economic systems. Picture this: You're living in ancient times, and your society operates on a traditional economy. What does that mean? Well, it means that economic decisions are based on customs, traditions, and barter systems passed down through generations. There's no fancy market or government intervention here – just good ol' fashioned tradition..."

Should I just sleep?

"Now, fast forward to the medieval period. Feudalism is the name of the game. In this system, land is owned by lords who grant portions of it to peasants in exchange for labor or military service. It's a hierarchical system, with power and wealth concentrated in the hands of the nobility."

Nope, mahuhuli ako ni prof lalo na't nasa gitna ako. Hmm...what to do? What to do?

"But not every society has embraced democracy. In some places, like ancient Rome, you'll find yourself under the rule of an emperor in a monarchy. Power is centralized in the hands of a single individual, often passed down through hereditary succession..."

Ugh, this is so boring. Yumuko ako habang ang dalawang siko ay nasa lamesa at ang magkasalikop na kamay ay nasa batok. I want to go home.

"Miss Davies?"

Agad akong umayos ng upo. "Yes, sir?"

"Are you not feeling well?" Humakbang siya palapit na agad kong pinigilan.

"No, sir. I'm fine"

Tumango siya at nagpatuloy na naman sa magdi-discuss. I rolled my eyes and looked outside the window. Biglang may dumaan na nerd na lalaki. Hindi ko siya namukhaan dahil nakasuot siya ng cap pero may malaking salamin at may hawak na mga libro at notebook sa kamay. Third floor ang library at bago makaakyat doon ay kailangang dumaan sa room namin dahil pinakadulo ang hagdan.

Atlas, natapos din ang history nang wala akong natutunan. Well, ayaw ko rin namang makinig. Dumating ang next subject namin. As usual, parang may invisible earphones sa tenga ko dahil wala akong naririnig. Marami akong iniisip kaya walang pumapasok na kahit ano sa tenga ko.

Pagkatapos ng klase ay agad akong lumabas ng room. Habang naglalakad sa papuntang locker room para sana ilagay ang bag ko ay nakita ko na namang may nagkakagulo.

"Gosh, this school is such a mess." I muttered under my breath as I navigated through the chaos. There's trouble everywhere I look. Sometimes, even right in front of the dean's office, there's a brawl going on.

"Hey, know your place," a familiar voice snapped.

"You should know who you're messing with, you idiot," another one chimed in.

"OMG, the cousins are back!" exclaimed the girl standing beside me, her eyes glued to the commotion. I strained to see through the crowd, catching only glimpses of bodies moving and the occasional flash of a fist connecting with its target. It was hard to make out who was involved in the scuffle, but it was clear that someone was taking a beating.

Deciding it was best not to get involved, I made my way to my locker, determined to retrieve my belongings and avoid getting caught up in the drama. After locating my locker number amidst the sea of metal doors, I swiftly unlocked it, stashed my bag inside, and secured it with a click.

Exiting the locker area, I headed toward the cafeteria, my stomach growling in anticipation of lunch. As I approached our usual spot, I spotted Rinoa already seated, a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Hey, girl. Guess what?" she said, a smirk playing on her lips as she leaned in conspiratorially.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's up?"

"Nandito na ulit sina Mckenzie at Kent," she announced with a hint of excitement.

Ah, those cousins who were friends with Sheldon. Actually, they were a group of four. But they had to split up when the cousins had to leave to study abroad. Another guy went to the US and hasn't returned yet. I heard something bad happened between him and Sheldon, so he left too. Damn, Sheldon's the only one left here in the Philippines. Bullying gets even worse in this school when all four of them are together.

"It's just Sheldon left here in the Philippines," I remarked, recalling the rumors that had circulated after their departure. "With them back, things are bound to get interesting again."

Rinoa nodded in agreement, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "You bet they will. Bullying's about to reach a whole new level with those three reunited."

My lunch was anything but peaceful thanks to Rinoa's incessant chatter. I swear, I have no idea where this girl gets her energy from. It's not like her parents are noisy – well, except for her grandma. That woman is the last person I would not want to talk to whenever I get invited to their family dinners. Whenever she starts talking, she just doesn't stop. By the time I leave, my head is spinning from all her words. With the amount she talks, not a single thing registers in my brain.

But despite the overwhelming verbosity of Rinoa's family gatherings, I couldn't deny that there was a certain warmth and familiarity to them that I found oddly comforting. There was a sense of completeness and unity that pervaded the air, as if each member of the family played an integral role in the collective tapestry of their lives. And I had to admit, there was something undeniably enviable about the way they interacted with one another – the easy banter, the shared laughter, the genuine affection that seemed to flow effortlessly between them. It was a stark contrast to the fractured dynamics of my own family, where silence often reigned supreme and communication was more a matter of necessity than pleasure.

As I sat there, half-listening to Rinoa's animated recounting of her latest escapades, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy at the idyllic familial bliss she seemed to take for granted. She was so fortunate to have been born into such a loving and supportive family, where wealth and happiness seemed to go hand in hand. I couldn't help but marvel at the sheer luck of it all, and yet, at the same time, I couldn't shake the feeling of bitter resentment that gnawed at the edges of my consciousness.

But then again, what did it matter? I scoffed inwardly at my own momentary lapse into self-pity. Who cared if Rinoa's family was almost perfect and complete? I certainly didn't. After all, I was perfectly content with my own imperfect, fragmented existence. In fact, I was about to become even more complete, whether I liked it or not, with the impending arrival of a father and an irritating sibling. I rolled my eyes at the thought, pushing aside any lingering feelings of inadequacy or longing. After all, who needed a perfect family when you could have a perfectly irritating sibling instead?

The bell rang, signaling the end of the lunch period, and students began to make their way back to their respective classrooms. As I waited for the professor to arrive, a thought that had crossed my mind earlier suddenly resurfaced. What if I had a complete family? What if I were in Rinoa's shoes? Would I be like her?

It was a question that lingered in the recesses of my mind, demanding attention despite my efforts to push it aside. What would it be like to have a family where love, support, and laughter were the norm rather than the exception? Would I be as bubbly, as carefree, as Rinoa appeared to be?

I couldn't help but wonder if my upbringing had shaped me in ways I hadn't fully realized. Growing up in a household where silence often reigned and communication was sparse, I had learned to fend for myself and rely on my own resources. But what if I had grown up surrounded by warmth and affection, with parents who doted on me and siblings to share my joys and sorrows?

The possibilities seemed endless, and yet, strangely elusive. Would I be a different person if my circumstances had been different? Would I embrace life with the same enthusiasm, the same zest for adventure, that Rinoa seemed to possess? Or would I remain the same, unchanged by the trappings of a more conventional family life?

It was a question that would likely never be answered, a hypothetical scenario that existed only in the realm of conjecture. And yet, as I sat there contemplating the unknown, I couldn't shake the feeling of curiosity that tugged at the edges of my consciousness.

What if indeed?