“Riley, your father wants you to come with him on the ribbon cutting of the new branch in London. You should get ready,” Mrs. Swarovski informed her daughter.Napatitig siya sa dalaga na hanggang ngayon ay nakayuko at pinaglalaruan ang steak na nakahain sa harap nito. Hindi niya sigurado kung nakikinig ba ito o sinasadya lamang nito na hindi siya pansinin.“Riley Methuselah, your mother is talking to you,” malamig na saad ni Mr. Swarovski dahil sa hindi pagsagot ng dalaga.Nang marinig ang boses ng ama ay agad na nag-angat ng tingin si Meth. “Yes?” Wala sa sariling tanong niya nang makita ang seryosong ekspresyon ng ama.“Go with your father to London tomorrow. And always be alert, a distracted girl doesn’t deserve to be a daughter of this family,” Mrs. Swarovski said with a cold and disappointed expression.Napakagat ng labi si Meth dahil sa sinabi ng ina. She always says that she’s

“Meth, na-late ka yata ng pasok today?” bungad na sabi ni Scar nang umupo siya sa tabi nito. They used to go to the same classes together pero dahil na-late siya ng gising ay di na siya nakapasok sa first subject niya.She went to London yesterday and they landed back in the Philippines at 3:00 AM. Aside from the annoying fact that she had been tired from socializing with some of the directors, business partners and future investors her brother even had the audacity to threaten and argue with her as soon as she got home.“You did something again, didn’t you?” tanong naman ni Stanley na hindi man lang inalis ang paningin sa librong binabasa.Ngumiti lamang siya pero agad din namang napasimangot nang makitang wala sa kanya ang atensyon ng binata at hindi na ito sinagot dahil halata namang hindi ito panigurado. She didn’t want to waste time explaining on someone who wasn’t truly interested.U

Hindi makapaniwala si Scar sa narinig niyang sinabi ni Stanley bago ito lumabas ng studio. Of all people, bakit naman kay Aisha pa siya magkakagusto?Stanley was born with almost everything that any woman would ask for in a man. He was born in a wealthy family and he also had the talents to distinguish himself in the business world. Aside from that he also had a good build and a handsome face that girls would die for.That’s why she can’t understand why a man of his caliber would fall for a girl like that. Aisha is not outstanding in any way. Though she could pass up as a beauty if she tried to put more effort into the way she carries herself, she wouldn’t be deserving to stand beside Stanley. She is just a commoner who doesn’t even know how cruel the world of the elites could be. She is someone who doesn’t even belong in their world.“Is he serious?” Hindi rin makapaniwalang tanong ni Stephen. He let out an exasper

“What happened to you?” tanong ni Scar nang mukhang wala sa sariling pumasok si Stephen sa studio at umupo sa tabi niya. Tumaas ang kaliwang kilay niya nang mapansing hindi nito inilabas ang cellphone nito upang maglaro. “I’m grounded,” nakatulalang sagot nito na tila ba alam na nito kung ano ang tanong sa kanyang isip. Natawa si Scar si sinabi ni Stephen at tinapik ang balikat ng binata. “Don’t go around joking like that. We’re not kids anymore.” “Why would I joke about being grounded? I’d rather play with my gadgets than play a prank on you,” iritableng sabi nito. Nawala ang ngiti sa labi ni Scar nang makitang seryoso nga ang kaibigan. Isinandal nito ang ulo sa sandalan ng couch at ipinikit ang mga mata. Without his gadgets, he didn’t know what to do with all the spare time that he has. “Seriously?” natatawang tanong naman ni Meth na nakasandal sa pintuan ng kusina nila nang marinig niya ang huling sinabi ni Stephen. She could

“Still mad at me?” tanong ni Stanley nang makitang nagmumukmok mag-isa si Scar sa isang swing sa likod ng administration building. Sumakay ang binata sa swing na katabi ng inuupuan niya at inabutan siya nito ng ice cream. Nagtataka siyang pinagmasdan ang kamay nitong may hawak ng ice cream bago ito tuluyang kinuha. This scene is familiar to her. When they were younger, Stanley would give her ice cream every time she gets mad because she and Bella fought. It was always him who would ask forgiveness on her behalf. The only difference from the past is that he is asking forgiveness in behalf of Aisha instead of Bella. It would’ve been better if Bella comes back. She won’t feel this insulted if it was Bella because she knows that Bella deserved Stanley. Why does it even have to be that low-class girl? Why not… her? “I’m not used to the cold treatment, Scar,” dagdag pa nito nang hindi niya sinagot ang tanong nito. Itinuon niya na lang ang pagkain sa ice cream na bi