I | Second Thoughts

Four days before she leaves...

Zaphyra Yuanne Andrejez, the only daughter in a well-known family in Spain and the Philippines. An 18-year-old lady who wants to pursue her dream to be a fashion designer.

One of the most stunning women known. From her morena skin, her charming dark-brown eyes, the long eyelashes, those pointed nose, rosy cheeks, and those plush lips with the detailed jaw and black long hair that goes until her hips.

Indeed a one of kind blessing of Aphrodite in the world. She looks like a living goddess and sure Pyros Ryl

Jimenez is the most fortunate guy to have that kind and soft-hearted lady with him for almost three years.

They've been together ever since. They were the longest couple in their school. But not all stays...

On the 15th floor of MH Towers, the first penthouse to be exact is Pyros' condo unit. Zaph is laying comfortably on his sofa while he is sitting on the floor carpet studying for his quizzes in BusinessAd.

"How's your day?" walang siglang tanong sa kanya ni Py.

"It's fine. How about you?" balik tanong niya rito at niyakap ito pero tinanggal nito ang kamay niya.

"Fine." tugon nito. Nahalata naman niya ang kawalang-gana ng binata kaya hinawakan niya ang magkabilang pisngi nito.

"Do you have a problem?" she asked and pouted.

Marahas na tinanggal ni Py ang kamay ni Zaph

sa mukha niya kaya nagulat si Zaph.

"I'm studying, can't you see?" inis na tanong nito sa kanya.

Four months after their third anniversary she noticed na nagiging mailap sa kanya si Py, they don't have their usual Saturdates anymore. Hindi na siya hatid sundo ni Pyros and he only does that when he's so busy at sasabihin naman niya kay Zaph yun.

But he tells it late without knowing na nagaantay sa kanya si Zaph. Zaph became late in her classes and she also comes home late kaya nag-tataka na ang nga kuya niya, even her.

"S-sorry." sabi niya at umayos ng upo. Sa sobrang tagal ay nakatulog na siya and she woke up noong marinig niya ang sigaw ni Pyros.

"Wake up Zaphyra! Umuwi ka na!" bulyaw sa kanya nito. Bigla siyang napatayo at natigilan sa pag-sigaw sa kanya ni Py.

Natigilan din si Pyros nang makita niya ang nanggigilid na luha ni Zaph. Mabilis na dinampot ni Zaph ang mga gamit niya at tinungo ang pinto ng condo ni Py.

"Sorry! L-let's talk tomorrow!" habol nito bago pa siya lumabas ng pintuan. He's just tired. Sabi niya ngunit hindi niya napigilan ang pag-bagsak ng mga luha niya.

While on the other hand...

"Argh! Nakakainis!" inis na inis na sabi ni Pyros ng maka-labas si Zaph. He called someone on his phone. "You can come over, she left already." sabi niya sa tinawagan.

ZAPHYRA is still down stairs at the lobby when she saw her bestfriend Xis, Alexis Laine Torallba, na tuloy tuloy na naglakad sa elevator. Is she always here? napatanog siya sa sarili, Sino kaya ang pinupuntahan niya? dagdag pa nito.

She just shrugged off and leave. She's still hurt, why is her Py like that to her?

Nang makauwi siya sinalubong siya ng apat na kuya niya. "Do you know what time is it?" pagsusungit sa kanya ng kuya Zac niya. He's the eldest and is already twenty-nine years old with a very beautiful fiancee.

"You're too strict." sabat naman ng isa niya pang kuya, he kissed her in the cheeks as a greeting. It's the her third brother, Zio They are really close and he's the most hands-on because he's twenty-five and single.

"Kuya Zac is right." tinaasan naman siya ng kuya niyang si Yoh, ang pangalawa sa mga kuya niya and is also strict. He's the playboy in the brothers, pero ayaw niya na may manloko kay Zaph.

"Let her enjoy!" sabi naman ni Yex na pinaka bata sa mga lalaki niyang kapatid which is also her twin brother that is older than her for 16 minutes.

She sighed and hugged them. "Group huuuug." she said at mabilis naman siyang niyakap ng mga kuya niya.

"Ma and Da flew to Australia earlier than us." sabi ni Phir nang bumitaw sila sa yakap.

Her brothers are Zaccary is Zac, twenty-four; Yohann is Yoh, twenty-two; Zephirio is Zio, twenty; and Yanex is Yex, eighteen. And she's very lucky to have them as her older bro's.

They went to the dining table and sat at their usual seats, and let the maids serve their foods. Though their maids are mother and daughter, and they are very close to Manang Selya and her daughter Mira serves as an ate to Zaph.

They are very loud while eating, asking about each other's day, love life updates, studies, etc.

"So, my dear sis. How are you and Pyros?" asked her Kuya Yoh, she looked at them and sighed.

"I just think that we have a problem," she said honestly, she's always open to her brothers and she doesn't lie to anyone. She keeps secrets but if asked she doesn't answer to avoid lying.

"What did he do?" then asked her Kuya Zac and she just shrugged.

"He shouted at me for the first time," sabi niya na nagpataas ng kilay ng mga kuya niya. This time she can't look at them in the eyes.

"He did what?!"
"Labas ako diyan, ayoko makikisali."
"Did you do something?" 
"That's why I want to stay single."

And her brothers priceless reactions made her smile. "Zaph, nasabi mo na ba sa kanya?" her twin asked. At napailing lang siya, natahimik naman ang mga kuya niya.

"Don't be sad about it, he'll understand." hinawakan ng kuya Zio niya ang kanyang kamay at nginitian siya, but she gave them the weakest smile in her life.

"Akyat na po ako, I'm tired." sabi niya nang naibaba ang kubyertos. At mabilis na tumayo at naglakad papalayo sa dining area.

Nang makaalis siya ay nag-tinginan lang ang mga kuya niya at sabay sabay na bumusangot.

Two days before she left...

"Zaph, why don't you tell Py that you're leaving?" tanong ni Xis

kay Zaph.

"Ayoko siyang masaktan," tugon naman niya.

"Pero hindi ba mas lalo siyang masasaktan kung hindi niya alam ang dahilan?" pamimilit pa ng kanyang kaibigan sa kanya.

"I don't know," naguguluhan si Zaph sa mga nangyayari. In just two days at aalis na siya at hindi pa rin niya nasasabi ito kay Py.

"Bakit ka ba nahihirapan na sabihin sa kanya?" muling tanong ni Xis sa kanya.

She just shrugged trying to avoid more questions.

"Don't you trust him?" muli pang tanong ni Xis sa kanya.

I do trust him. It's just I don't trust myself or the way I feel anymore. She said to herself.

"So you're just going to ignore my questions?"

"I am not ignoring your questions. Sadyang wala lang akong sagot." She said while rolling her eyes.

Nang dumating si Py ay tumabi ito sa kanya.

"Hon." hinalikan siya nito sa pisngi at ngumiti lang siya ng pilit.

"Hon." bati niya rin dito at niyakap ito. She was finding something. She doesn't know what's missing.

And she must know it before something worse happens. After a couple of minutes, she decided to go to the comfort room.

When she came back. She saw a suspicious discovery...