Of all the things

Chapter One

I will always be the one to love you first

Haley Yvian Rian Consunji - Demitri

They found out and the confrontation was too intense.

Of course, as expected, my father was so disappointed in me. He couldn't even look at me in the eyes. He tried to slap Tita Hera, my mom's cousin, but mom got in the way and instead, the slap landed on her face. I whimpered with that thought. Nasaktan ni Daddy ang Mama ko dahil sa akin.

Galit na galit sa akin si Tita Hera, even Uncle Hades couldn't even look at me. When we got home, my siblings noticed that something was wrong and because of the high emotions, my father blurted out what happened and now, even Hunter and Heath can't look at me.

They all hate me.

They all want nothing to do with me and so I left the house.

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta. I kept driving around while crying. It's been two hours since the confrontation, Perseus was calling me nonstop, but I don't want to talk to him. I don't even want to see him. Kasalanan ko rin naman. I should've ended this before. Ang daming chances na maaaring kong tapusin ang kalokohan namin ni Percy, pero hindi ko ginawa. Mas inisip kong masasaktan siya, mas inisip kong masisira siya, pero hindi ko naisip na masasaktan nang ganito ang mga magulang ko.

I was so proud of being Helios Demitri's daughter. I want him to see that he can show me off. Alam kong napakaraming pinagdaanan ng Daddy ko, and I want him to see that in the end of it all, I would be his reward, but this happened. This is too much.

I found myself sitting outside a convenience store. Tears were still falling in my eyes as I drown my loneliness in a bottle of water that I bought inside. Hindi ko alam kung makakauwi pa ba 'ko. Kung kaya ko pang harapin ang mga magulang at mga kapatid ko. I was supposed to be the good one in that bunch but damn it! Talagang nasa huli ang pagsisisi.

"Haley..." I wiped my tears when I heard that familiar voice. I looked up and saw my voice of reason—si Theo Calimbao.

He was wearing a formal attire—suit and tie. He looked mesmerizing. He looked as if he just got out of a magazine photo shoot. But while I was staring at him, all I could think about is how much I needed his protective arms around me. I need comfort and for years, he's been providing that for me.

"What are you doing here? I got your text and I was worried. What happened?" Hindi na ako nag-isip pa. Tumayo ako at yumakap kay Theo. Wala akong pakialam kung pinagtitinginan kami ng mga tao sa loob ng convenience store, o kung biglang tumaas iyong kilay noong guard ng 7/11.

Theo was caught off-guard, but he hugged me back immediately. I buried my face in his chest and cried like a little kid that lost her favorite toy. I felt his hand caressing my back, trying to give me the comfort that I am looking for. I sobbed loudly.

"Where's your car?" He asked softly. I looked at him, Theo wiped my tears. "Come on, I'll drive. Where's your car?"

"There." I pointed at our left side. Kinuha agad ni Theo ang kamay ko, agad ko rin namang ibinigay sa kanya ang susi ng kotse. He opened the car door for me and then he jogged around to open the other door so he could get in. Inside the car, I was still in tears. Nanginginig nga ako. Tuwing pumipikit ako ay nakikita ko ang mga pangyayari kanina, iyong kung paano nasampal ni Daddy si Mama, kung paano sinampal ni Tita Hera si Daddy, kung paanong walang nagawa si Perseus nang hatakin ako ni Daddy palayo sa kanila. I was crying so hard. I know that what my father did was for the best, pero masakit pa rin. Alam kong dapat nang tapusin ang lahat sa amin ni Percy, pero masakit pa rin. Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko. Nasasaktan ako talaga. Kasalanan ko naman ang lahat ng ito.