“Why are you doing this to me, Dad?” puno ng hinanakit na tanong ni Tala sa kanyang ama na noon ay kausap niya sa kanyang cellphone. Kasasabi lang nito sa kanya na kailangan niyang maghanda para sa meeting niya with her potential husband next week. Nasabihan na siya nito noon pang isang linggo tungkol sa plano nitong ipakasal siya sa anak ng mga kakilala nito. But still, hearing her father tell that to her again was only fueling the anger she had been trying to unfeel for the past days. “And why do you keep doing what you are doing, Tala? ‘Di ba nag-usap na tayo bago kita iniwan d’yan sa Paris? You promised that I will never hear another news of you going way overboard again. But here we are all over again, after you got drunk, you almost got arrested for DUI.” His father scoffed. “Not only that, you assaulted a police officer and called him fckin names! What were you thinking? Are you even thinking or have tried thinking straight?” Hindi siya umimik kahit na gusto niya sanang ipa

“Un scotch avec des glaçons, s'il vous plait (One scotch on the rocks, please),” Knoxx said to the bartender as he settled himself on one of the stools surrounding the bar area of the club he was in.The bartender gave him a little nod and proceeded to get his drink. Two giggling girls passed by him, catching his attention, making his head turn towards their direction. One was clearly checking him out, and the other had her eyes elsewhere.The side of his mouth curved up as he studied the girl who still had her eyes on him. The girl has a nice face and curves in the right places. But she oddly moves a little but too childish for him, teen-ish.He doesn’t date girls anymore. Girls tend to be clingier and demanding—a thing he will never sign up for.He likes experienced women. He ain’t the wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am kind of guy though. He just likes to go to bed with women who understand what it meant to have fun— no other strings attached.But he hasn’t had any fun for a long time now.

Kabado si Tala habang pinapanood ang pagtipa ng babae na tumatao sa ticket counter ng Star Airlines. She had been waiting in there for a few minutes now, hoping that a seat would open up for her. And the she must admit, the waiting is killing her.Hindi mawala-wala ang tensiyon sa dibdib niya na baka nariyan lang sa tabi-tabi si Knoxx o kung sino man sa mga tauhan nito at bigla na lang siyang dalhin pabalik sa hotel ng lalaki. She doesn’t want to make a scene right now. And she’s more than sure, should what she feared of happens, she’d make the biggest scene she could ever come up to in her lifetime.She huffed, gently massaging her temples. Masakit pa rin ang ulo niya at naguguluhan siya. Idagdag pa ang mapangmatang babae sa kabilang lane na kanina pa panay-panay ang tingin sa kanya!She would’ve ignored the woman who has been taking some mocking glances at her for some time now, kaya lang, bumulong ang babae sa kasama nito. Well, it’s not actually a whisper, she clearly heard that

"Why can't you just chose one path and stay on it, Tala? When you told me you wanted to take a masters on that 'craft' of yours, pumayag ako kahit na labag sa loob ko. But here you are now, just three months into it and you've ran away again! Ano ba talagang gusto mong mangyari sa buhay mo? Or was this about that date with Quinton? I've said it before and I'll say it again, makikipag-date ka kat Quinton sa ayaw o sa gusto mo!" Tala rolled her eyes secrety as she averted her gaze from her father. Magkaharap sila ngayon sa library at nag-uusap. Ilang minuto pa lang mula nang dumating ito sa Germany kasama ang ibang mga kaanak niya in time for the wedding of Gael and Charlie tomorrow. And her father did not waste any time to confront her with her recent stunt. He didn't even say hi nor checked on how she was.Gusto niyang magtampo kaya lang, wala namang bago doon. Laging gigil ang Daddy niya pagdating sa kanya. Para dito wala na siyang ginawang tama. Para dito si--"Mayumi will never d

“Elle, thank god you answered!” bulalas ni Tala nang sagutin ng kaibigan ang tawag niya.She barely slept last night monitoring the news. And she can’t help but be anxious for her friend. Wala itong ibang pamilyang kasama sa Paris. And based on the news last night, pinag-iinitan ang lahat ng may koneksyon sa uncle nito, politikal man or personal.“T-Tala,” Elle replied in a frail voice. Her friend sounded exhausted.“A-are you well? Please tell me you are. What happened to your uncle is all over the news. I’m worried about you,” dire-diretsong sabi niya.Elle realesed a slow breath. “I am fine, Tala. I just arrived here in Canada. My Daddy arranged a special flight for me to come here. It was a good thing we were given a heads-up to what would happen. That Pierre is a traditore "W-what does Pierre had to do with t-this?" alanganin niyang tanong."He testified in favor of Unce Gio's political rivals. It expedited the process of impeachment. That lying sonafabitch! He used my uncle t