Her name is Iris Austin. The eldest daughter of B class businessman Efraim Austin. At the age of 13 she was considered as bully to everyone. She was arrogant and was considered trash. Her grades are below average, and her character is the worst.
At 16 she already proclaims herself as fiancée of an elite class heir, Rexel. She earned another title as a lovestruck idiot. Her possessiveness is out of this world. Her craziness worsens when she found out Rexel’s unrequited love with someone else
At 18 she decided to abandon school and work under Rexel’s grandmother in order to curry their favor. Iris’ family was against. They begged her to stay. Pero naging bingi sya sa lahat.
At 20 she was trained to become a ruthless businesswoman. She worked her ass out to impress them. Hindi naman sya nabigo, they are so impressed that they started using her even more. She did everything for the company. EVERYTHING. She experienced disgust, hatred, and insanity. She almost lost her mind working to make the company reach the top. And she did.
And was discarded when she's not needed anymore.
At 24 her father's company was framed and went bankrupt. She asked for help from Rexel’s grandmother but was ignored and insulted.
At 25 her dad died.
A month after, her mother committed suicide.
Three months later, her only sister was raped and gone insane.
At 26 to support their needs, she entered the entertainment industry in different country with different identity.
She became an actress/musician/singer that everyone admired. She learned how to please the masses with her beauty and talent. The arrogant Iris was all long gone. Her life surrounds her work and her sister.
However, as a successful star she never felt happiness. Her world is empty.
The only person who makes her continue living is her sister, Kimi. She is very beautiful but her blank stares are like a big hole eating her whole existence. Her lips have a small smile of insanity. Iris wanted to cry and wake her up. She wanted to beg for forgiveness. She wanted to call for her mom and dad. But no one else beside her now. She decided to abandon them before, now they are completely gone.
She’s lost.
She worked like a machine, plastering fake smiles. A never-ending masquerade.
At 28, she died. And woke up and realize that everything was just a very bad dream. Or it isn’t?
A genuine smile escaped her lips and said "this time. I'll make everything's right".
___________________
Iris POV
“i can't die, not like this” Those are the words she keeps saying while driving her car. Tears keep falling with bitter smile. The typhoon didn’t make it easier for her either.
The brakes are not working, and she cannot see the road because of heavy rainfall. Hopelessness filled her heart. No one can save her. She will die.
“i don’t want to die. Not yet please!”
No matter how hard she begged, alam nyang wala ng pag asa na makaligtas pa sya. Flashes of images keeps on appearing in her mind making her begged and cried harder.
“Sister! My sister still needs me! Her food, clothes, hospital bed, her medicines.”
She clenches her hands in the steering wheel and close her eyes. She knows that it is the end of everything. She will be free of burden. She will be free of guilt. She will be free of this cruel world. But she knows that, she wanted to continue living and fight. Marami pa syang dapat gawin at dapat ayusin.
She felt her car rammed into a huge Toyota truck and her car rolled over several times while the safety bag inflated by the broken glasses. Terrible pain hit her whole body before loosing consciousness.
.
.
.
I slowly opened her eyes, a familiar cream-colored ceiling greeted me. I looked at it blankly while trying to sort out everything in my head.
Last time i remembered, i was driving. A stinging pain assaulted my head with continuous flows of memories.
"AHH!" I exclaimed. She remembers the accident. She should’ve died but why is she in her room ten years ago! This villa was sold to pay off our debts.
I looked around and saw the small calendar in my bedside table. There are few reminders on it but was attracted my attention is the year – 2018!
I’m back!
My eyes started to water. A couple of tears escaped my eyes. I tried to wipe it but i can’t move my hands. Parang napakabigat nito.
Bumaba ang tingin ko sa mga kamay ko.
I gasped and started sobbing. My voice cracked
"M-Mom" i cried while trembling
She's holding my hands tight. Nakaupo sya sa upuan at naka tungo sa kama habang hawak ang kaliwang kamay ko. She must be uncomfortable with her position. Her back must be hurting right now. I looked at my mother’s beautiful face full of nostalgia. Her last memory of her was her sunken face, paled lips and dimmed eyes.
Her eyes started to tremble and was about to wake up.
I want to see those brown eyes again that resembles mine.
When was the last time i saw it?
Yeah. The night of my 25th birthday.
"Anak!" she woke up and held my face full of worried in her eyes. I saw love, happiness and relief in her eyes. She really has a pair of expressive eyes. It's beautiful. "Are you okay Anak? May masakit ba? Tell mom please. Don't cry"
She hugged me tightly at the same time, gently. Afraid that she might hurt me.
"Mom. Your eyes are very beautiful" I said while looking straight into her eyes. My heart felt like it is being squeezed.
Napakalas sya ng yakap sa akin at nagtatakang tiningnan ako. Maya maya ay napangiti ito.
"I know. Just like how beautiful your eyes are" she stated lovingly. Her eyes are warm. This did not change even if I continuedly hurt our family. Such a warm and kind mother doesn’t deserve a daughter like me. I really regret everything.
"I'm sorry for being like this. I’m sorry for everything. Mom, will you forgive me?" I asked with difficulty. My throat are sore and can’t breathe properly.
Gulat at pagtataka ang rumehistro sa mukha ni Mom. Hindi agad ito nakapagsalita. Maya maya ay ngumiti ito at hinawakan ang pisngi ko.
"Mom will always forgive you. We will always forgive you"
I am forgiven.
Matagal ko ng gustong humingi ng tawad sa kanila. The nightmare took 10 years of my life. I will never commit the same mistakes again.
"I missed you Mom" i said sincerely
I was lost. They are the one who are missing me. I just failed to notice it. I've never been a good daughter. I've never been a good sister. I've never been a good friend.
"Eherm!"
Sabay kaming napatingin ni Mom sa pinto ng kwarto ko.
My dad is standing awkwardly with a conflicted face. He looked crying and smiling at the same time. I bit my tongue to stop myself from, crying again.
"Baby, thank God you're awake! "
I almost rolled my eyes. Seriously? 28 years old na ako, mukha ba akong baby?
He hugged me awkwardly. Natawa nalang ako at niyakap sya na ikinagulat nito.
I felt guilty.
"Good morning, Dad" i smiled and kissed his cheeks. I chuckled when i saw his reactions. Its priceless.
"m-may ipapabili ka ba?" nabubulol na tanong nito.
"Huh? " nalilitong tanong ko.
"Efraim!" pinandilatan ni mom si dad na mas lalo kong ikinalito.
"What? Come on baby, anong gusto mong ipabili? new car, condo, dresses or~ Oh no, not again" hindi na nito naituloy ang sasabihin nito at biglang sumeryoso ang mukha.
I suddenly realized what he’s talking about. I pestered my dad before to get engage to Rex. My intelligence before seems to be negative and didn’t understand the world.
"No Dad. I'm not going to ask you to force him to marry me" I said full of helplessness.
Dumaan ang mahabang katahimikan at sabay silang nagkatinginan sa isat isa. Pareho hindi makapaniwala ang mga mukha nila.
"A-Are you still sick?” nag aalalang tanong ni Dad
I rolled my eyes and said “I’m not sick”
“But you had a fever for several nights. Naiuwi ka dito sa bahay na basing basa ng ulan!”
I suddenly remember what happened that night.
I waited foolishly under rain. I wanted to laugh because of my stupidity.
"Anak you were sick. Tatlong araw kang tulog at inaapoy ng lagnat. You were crying in your sleep the whole time. I was so scared that I almost sent you to the hospital. Alam kong ayaw na ayaw mo sa hospital, pero kung inabot ka pa ng isa pang araw, kahit magalit ka pa sa amin gagawin ko"
3 days??!
"I-im fine now. Believe me"
My parents looked at each other full of disbelief in their eyes.
"It's so hard to believe that you will give up your love for him. I watched you grow feelings for him. It is deep. It so deep, that it is also frightening " he looks hurt while saying those. The protectiveness is also evident on his eyes.
I sighed and smiled at them.
“Dad. Rex will always have a place in my heart, and it will not disappear. When I was 9 years old, there was a trafficker who tried to take me. The person who saved me was Rexel. If it wasn’t for him, I will not be in front of you. Kaya kahit ilang beses nya akong ipagtulakan, my child heart promised to make him my husband”
My parents gasped and looked at me with shock.
“W-Why are you giving up now?” Dad asked.
I gave him a halfhearted smile and said "Pagod na kasi ako dad"
I am so tired being evil. I am so tired hurting them. Of hurting you.
Pain registered in his eyes and said "I'm so sorry Baby. Wala akong magawa. It’s my fault. If I worked hard, our status in our country will be comparable to their family"
"No dad. I am sorry" i cupped his face and looked at him tenderly. "I made you guys worried. I got sick because i was stupid. I waited in the rain that night. I waited for the guy that will never love me the same way I do. I waited foolishly that I forgot that I already have a man waiting for me to go home. I forgot that i already have a man who loves me unconditionally. " I smiled and wipe the tears on his eyes. "Dad. I already have you. I don’t need anyone else. And if i will marry someone. I will choose someone like you"
"I-I dont know what to say"
"You're so Gay dad. Just hug me"
And he did. He hugged me while crying like a child. I pat the back of his head. Mom always used to do this when we were crying. Iyakin kasi kaming magkapatid noon.
I saw mom watching us lovingly. Tears are flowing like river, but she didn’t do anything to wipe it. She's still beautiful anyways.
"Mom. Can i have a hug too?" she gladly did. The three of us hugged each other. They are crying.
Thank God.
I was able to hug them again.
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I walked around my room and found myself in front of a sliding door. I smiled as i open it. My room is really beautiful. I have a mini terrace where you can see orchids in different colors. In the middle is a rounded glass table and chairs. And if you go further and look below, you can see the man-made fountain and pond where hundreds of goldfish are swimming playfully. They are so cute and blinding. I love them.
I excitedly grab the cute bottle of fish foods and sprinkled it below. I giggled when i saw them formed a group of orange. Then i ran to the other side and sprinkled again. They swam to the other side. I don't know how many times i repeated the process. Natigil lang ako ng maubos na ang laman ng bote.
Napatingin ako sa taas at napansing sumikat na ng tuluyan ang araw. Maaga pa kaya masarap sa pakiramdam ang mumunting init na nagmumula dito. Tumalikod na ako para bumalik sa kwarto at napahinto ng umihip ang hindi kalakasang hangin. I closed my eyes to feel the air. It so refreshing. It so good to be alive.