“Don’t mess with my head, Ash. I am an overthinker. Do you want me to die because of it?” I shouted and removed his grip from my arm. “I can’t believe I am hearing all of this.”

“Are you just gonna let it slide? Come on. I drove all the way here to tell you that!” He sighed and sat on a bench. “You still want to stay with that jerk?”

“You don’t understand because you haven’t fallen in love with someone!” I shouted and went back to the restaurant. I nervously fixed my hair and sat on our table.

“Love, as soon as we reach home, let’s start packing. We will be leaving on Thursday.” he smiled and drank an iced tea. I nodded and looked at Tina who was currently chatting with Ana. I pretended to be dumb and naive, but it seemed that fate wanted me to know about it.

—

“With everyone I could be with, why with Sasha?” When I was walking down the stairs, I heard Ana complaining about me. I stopped for a moment and sighed. “I’ll just sit with you, papa!”

“Your mama doesn’t like her too, so where is she going to sit? I know you all hate her, but you might be forgetting that she bought this house for us. Without her, we might be starving! Besides, she let you study in a prestigious school.” I heard Manny reply to his daughter. “You don’t use your brain.”

“Well, it is the only thing she got. The wealth. Without that, she would be nothing.” Ana’s words cut right through my heart, making me flinch. “I hope Hans impregnates Tina so they could—”

Ana wasn’t able to finish her words when suddenly, I heard the sound of a slap. I tried to peek and I saw Ash in front of Ana.

“Why did you slap me?” Ana shouted.

“Oh, I am sorry. I thought you were sleeptalking, ‘cause you are talking nonsense,” he uttered and started walking away. At that moment, I told myself that I wouldn’t join them in their seats. I’ll just trick them that I will be taking a different transportation since I don’t want to pretend like everything is alright.

—

“Oh really? Will you be alright?” Tina asked and touched my shoulder. “Are you sure about that?”

“Yeah, I feel a bit sick so you better go first. I’ll just follow, don’t worry.” I told them and smiled. They all nodded and waved goodbye as they slowly entered the airplane. They had no idea that we were just on the same flight, but I just chose a different seat. I think it is better this way. I’ll hold on even more until I can’t anymore. I can’t give up on him that easily.

—

I entered the airplane and sat on the third row at the back. In this way, they won’t see me. However, my eyes widened when I saw a familiar guy sitting on the side of my seat.

“Why are you here?” he asked. I furrowed my brows and sighed.

“I should be the one asking you that. You are supposed to be with your family, right?” I asked back and sat beside him. “Are you following me?”

“Why would I follow you? I just want to be away from my family throughout the flight,” he replied and inserted some earphones inside his ears. “Didn’t know you feel the same way.”

“No, not really.” I lied and wore a face mask.

“It is okay, I would understand if you start hating on our family,” he added and stared out the window. “If only I could pick a family, I wouldn’t pick them at all.”

“But still, it is your family.”

“Yeah, but I spent my whole life with them. You didn’t,” he whispered and closed his eyes. His words felt heavy, making me sigh. Maybe they were also tough on him, the reason why he moved out when he graduated college, according to Hans.

Hours passed, and it was already nighttime. We ate some dinner, and almost all of the passengers were already sleeping. I stood up to go to a comfort room, but I became baffled due to a weird noise. It seems that the lady was trying her best not to make a noise, but she seemed having too much fun with someone.

I rolled my eyes, and when I was about to leave, I heard a guy’s voice.

“You like this? Do you like this, little slut?” I felt as if I was about to puke when I heard Hans’ voice, running out of breath.

“No..it can’t be…” I uttered inside my brain. “It is impossible…..perhaps I am just hallucinating..”

I know he can’t do this to me…am I going crazy?

“I think…I think I am going…I am going to c—”

I held onto a bar and closed my eyes. I think my knees trembled, and anytime, I might pass out of shock.

Out of the blue, I can see someone in my peripheral vision, heading towards where I am standing at. I immediately wipe my tears, and peek at the person standing next to me.

“What are you doing there?” I immediately pushed Ash away from the comfort room.

“Come on? What are you doing?!” he whispered as I kept on pushing him towards our seat. “Why do you keep on pushing me away?”

“Someone’s doing something in there. Let’s respect their privacy!” I whispered and pushed him towards our seat. I don’t want him to see the couple in there. It would definitely cause chaos, and I don’t want to make one.

“But why do you seem so affected?” I paused for a moment and sighed. I placed my palm on my face and started rubbing it. I am trying to pull myself together, but I can’t help but break down.

“Hey, are you alright?” he asked and tapped my shoulder. “Did you see some ghost or something? Why are you crying?” He removed my palms from my face and raised my chin.

“Hey, what’s the matter?” he asked. “You are free to tell me, I am a part of your family.”

I shook my head and slowly rested my forehead on his shoulder.

“I trusted him…” I whispered. “I gave him everything. I tried my best…but it wasn’t enough..”

“That motherfucker..” I saw him clenching his fist, the reason why I immediately touched it. “What did he do this time?”

“I heard…I heard his voice inside the comfort room…” I sobbed. “Making out with..making out with someone..or I don’t know, it could be worse..” He moved me away and stood up. He was about to head towards the comfort room, but luckily, I was able to drag him back to our seat.

“Why are you guys making so much noise? Everyone’s sleeping.” we were taken aback when someone scolded us. We looked at each other and laughed a little. He gave me a handkerchief and glanced at the window.

“So what’s your plan?” he asked.

“Well, are you going to help me in case?”

“Do you want me to?” without any second thought, I nodded.

“It would be nice, I think,” I answered. “But..I think I could handle this..”

He squinted his eyes. Perhaps he has no idea what I am talking about, but either way, I will do it.

—

When we finally arrived at the airport, I could already feel the fresh air greeting us. I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself amidst the chaos. However, someone pushed my shoulder, making me open my eyes. When I turned around, I saw Tina holding an enormous bag.

“Oh, I didn’t see you there. I didn’t think you would be Sasha. You look like an old maid.” I was taken aback when Tina uttered these words. After what happened earlier, perhaps she thought she had the upper hand.

“Hey, you are already here!” We both looked at the group of people walking towards us. “We’ve been waiting for you!”

“Well, I had to–”

“Ouch!” Tina complained and immediately dropped the bag she was holding. “This is so heavy! Can someone help me?”

“Hey, Sasha, can you bring her bag instead?” asked Ana. “Also, did my brother give you a ticket?” I furrowed my brows and looked at my husband, who is currently looking guilty.

“Ticket for what?” I laughed. “I mean, he didn’t tell me anything. What do you guys mean?”

“We will be going to another place since Tina wants to go to the countryside instead,” Ana explained and placed her arm around Tina. “Therefore, we will be going to the countryside.”

What does she have that makes these people go crazy? They worship her as if she has the cure for a fucking disease.

“Also, we will be meeting her family there! Who knows? Maybe the tables might turn and one day you wake up, you guys are already divorced!” Cecille really loves to make weird and uncomfortable jokes.

“Also, can you just, bring all of our luggage? It’s not that many. Besides, you will be taking a train, right?” Tina asked.

“What the fuck do you mean?” Ash laughed and crossed his arms. “She’s not your maid. Besides, you guys have hands!”

I smiled widely at Hans’ family and fixed my hair.

“Okay! No problem.” I can see how Ash’s eyebrows went up, making me laugh a little.

“Oh, please don’t forget to leave your wallet to Ana. I’ll be using it for the payment.” Hans added.

I grinned and nodded.

“Seriously, what is running inside your mind?” Ash asked while I moved a lot of luggage in the airport. People started looking at us, wondering why we were carrying that amount of luggage. “Is this part of your plan?”

“Exactly,” I answered as I looked around. “Don’t worry about it, I will make sure that they will all go crazy.”

—

“Good morning! So, where’s the garbage?” I removed my glasses when I saw a group of guys near the hotel I am currently at. I smiled and pointed at the group of luggage on the side. They all looked confused, making them scratch their heads.

“Miss, are you sure you are going to let us collect this? They all look okay to me.” asked one of the garbage collectors. “What’s inside?”

“Oh, don’t worry. They are just some old stuff...You can have what’s inside if you want.” I replied and took some bills from my wallet. “Here. Thank you.”

When I glanced at Ash, he couldn’t help but smile.

“You are something else,” he whispered. “That’s really cruel.”

“I know, but they deserve it.” I smiled and entered the hotel. I know I did something wrong, but I can’t help it. I could do worse, but still, they became my family even once.

—

“Should we wait for Sasha first?” asked Hans’ father.

“No need. She will definitely arrive any minute. We should better look for a condo for a while.” answered Hans and took out Sasha’s wallet. “How about staying on that one?”

“Hans, that’s an expensive one. We can’t afford that!” Tina replied. “Do you have an enormous amount of money?”

“Well, we don’t, but Sasha does,” Hans answered and showed Sasha’s wallet.

“She won’t get mad, don’t worry.”

“Ugh, she is so dumb., but I like it,” Ana uttered and looked at her fingernails. “Can we go to the parlor? I need to freshen up.”

“Let’s go there and use Sasha’s cards!” Cecille suggested. “This is so fun!”

—-

“Why did you give your wallet to them?” asked Ash while scrolling to his phone. He is currently looking for the best destination in the place. I saw his phone when I passed by.

“Do you really think I will leave my wallet with them?” I asked and rolled my eyes. “After everything? I just…I.can’t believe they could do this.”

“So you didn’t give them your wallet?” Ash clarified. I nodded. “That’s a relief. I thought you gave them your wallet.”

“Anytime soon, they will call and tell me how–look, they are already calling!” I laughed and pressed the green button.

“Sasha, where the hell are you?”

“Why are you shouting?” I asked and rolled my eyes.

“We’ve been waiting for hours and hours, and yet you didn’t come! Besides, your wallet is empty! How are we supposed to pay for the condo?!” Even if my eyes were slowly being filled with tears, I tried my best not to crack my voice. I smiled and glanced at Ash.

“Why are you asking me? You guys are the ones who planned that?”

“I am not fooling around, Sasha. I’ll send you the address and you should be here before midnight. Or else…”

“Or else what?” I immediately responded. “Next time you fuck someone, make sure that no one will fucking hear you.”

“Huh? Wha—what do you mean?” he laughed. “I mean..how did–how did you know we–we fuck–”

As soon as I slowly heard those words, I ended the call. No matter how many times I convince myself, I still can’t believe he can do that.

“He literally said it himself..” I sobbed while shaking my head. “It literally came from him!”

“So, what’s your next plan once they come back?” Ash asked and crossed his arms. “Are you going to swallow your pride and come back to him as if you didn’t catch him cheating?”

“My next plan? This is going to be my next plan.” I uttered as I typed on my cellphone. After hitting the send button, I showed Ash my text message.

[To: Atty. Ji

Hello, Attorney, Are you free this evening? I would like to discuss something with you. I am planning to get a divorce. Please let me know in case you aren’t free this evening. Thank you!]