Stacey can't believe that her sister will say something about that photo shoot. Buti pala Nick knows all about it. What if kung hindi? She will definitely die of shame.
Nasapo ng mama nila ang noo. She just shook her head but as usual didn't do anything .Ni wala nga itong nasabi.
Heather slowly tore her eyes from Stacey and looked at Nick. He has a grim expression.
She jutted out her chin before saying, "She doesn't have any inhibitions of showing her body to men .Is that the kind of woman you want?"
Biglang nagdilim ang paningin ni Stacey .Tinignan niya ang coffee set on the table. Dinampot niya ang porcelain creamer then she threw the milk inside it on Heather's face.
"STACEY!" their mother exclaimed.
"You bitch!!" sigaw ng kapatid as she wipes her face with her hand.
"Pasalamat ka hindi ang kape ang kinuha ko! Kung hindi nalapnos sana kahit konti ang makapal na mukha mo! How dare you na sabihin mo yan? Hindi ba ikaw ang dahilan kaya kahit ayaw ko, napilitan akong gawin yun?" she accused. Her voice is shaking.
"Honey.." Nick called as he took her hand to hold it firmly.Parang sinasabi nito na, I'm here for you.
"Look how bitchy you can be! At least Nick can see your dark side!" Heather furiously said. Kinuha nito ang napkin na ibinigay ng ina to wipe her face.
"Stacey! Bakit kailangang gawin mo yan sa kapatid mo?!" galit na sabi ng mama niya.
When she felt Nick pulled her closer to him, lalo siyang nagkalakas ng loob na ipagtanggol ang sarili niya .Tutal alam naman nito ang tungkol sa photo shoot so wala na siyang dapat ikahiya. Mas maganda nga na malaman nito ngayon kung bakit siya napilitang mag-pose sa Not Eye Candy magazine.
"Ma..you know what I have been through dahil sa kagagawan ni Heather di ba? I was expecting na nung malaman mo na men's magazine yun, gagawa ka ng paraan to help me back out. Pero si Heather pa rin ang inisip mo. Naiintindihan ko na ayaw mo siyang makulong but ang hindi ko matanggap is kaya mo pala talaga akong isakripisyo para lang makalusot na naman siya sa ginawa niya. To think na reputasyon ko na ang at stake that time. And after lahat ng nangyari, you almost didn't take my side nung hindi man lang siya magpasalamat sa ginawa ko." she poured her heart out.
Her mother looks teary-eyed but didn't say anything.
"So ngayon lumalabas ang totoo na if you had your choice, gugustuhin mong makulong talaga ako?!" galit na sumbat ni Heather.
Nailing si Stacey." Mula pagkabata I have been the sacrificial lamb. Pag may ginawa kang kalokohan ako palagi ang napapagalitan. Kahit pinahamak mo na ako, dapat ako pa ang umintindi sayo. I have accepted everything dahil malaki ang utang na loob ko sa daddy mo. He took care of our mother and me. But the worst thing you did is itong nangyari nitong huli. I am sure na pinlano mo ang lahat for me to be in such a compromising situation. You are the evil one! I hope sooner or later ma-realize mo kung ano lahat ang mga ginawa mo sa akin. I tried very hard to be a good sister to you. Kung hindi mo talaga ako matanggap na kapatid, I give up! I am sick and tired of everything anyway!" naiiyak na sabi niya.
Nick wrapped his arms around her and he just let her cry on his chest. He has a pensive expression as he looked first at her mother then Heather. He didn't know na ganito ang sitwasyon ni Stacey. Lalo itong naging determinado to take care of her.
"Oh puh-leeze! Not another drama from you! "Heather rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me Nick that you believe all her lies? You still want her knowing that a lot of men drool over her almost naked picture?" nang-uuyam na tanong nito.
Stacey felt Nick's body tensed but nanatiling nakasubsob ang mukha niya sa dibdib nito. Yakap siya nito as if trying to protect her from her own family.
"No other men can see her body but me dahil binili ko lahat ng issue ng magazine na yun."he said chillingly.
Inilayo ni Stacey ng bahagya ang katawan from him to look at his face then to her mother and sister.
She saw shock registered on both of their faces.
When she returned her eyes on Nick, yumuko ito to directly gaze at her.
"Tama lang pala talaga ang ginawa ko .It saddens me and at the same time angers me knowing that she did that to save an ungrateful person." malamig na sabi nito bago inalis ang tingin kay Stacey para tignan si Mrs.Williams. "I am sorry to say this mam, but after learning the truth, I believe that Heather never considered Stacey as a sister even for a minute."
Heather snorted.
"Stacey.." mahinang tawag ng mama niya.
"Wow ! Bilib na talaga ako sayo chubi (bitch)! Na-brainwash mo na talaga si Nick! Happy now? May knight and shining armor ka na! Hooray for you! All your plans actually worked!" she said sarcastically.
"She didn't brainwash me .She doesn't need to do that. Your sister has a lot of good qualities. Malamang kahit kalahati man lang ng mga yun, you'll never have in this lifetime." Nick said in an arctic tone.
Heather gasped.
"Nick!" gulat na nasambit ni Mrs.Williams.
"Nick.."Stacey murmured habang nakatingin sa binata.
"I apologize again mam .I am not a rude person. But I think Heather needs a serious spanking. She has done enough to her own sister .I hope hindi kayo magalit sa sasabihin ko .If hindi niyo kayang ipagtanggol si Stacey sa bunso niyo ,then it's about time na umalis na siya dito. I will take care of her." he said seriously.
Hindi pa din makapaniwala si Stacey that Nick suggested that. He insisted that he will wait for her while she packs her stuff .Hindi daw nito gustong iwanan siya even a single minute with Heather. Their mother can't even do anything to defend her or to keep her safe from her sister sabi pa nito.
Her mother protested at first but eventually na-realize siguro nito na mas makakabuti ngang humiwalay na muna sa kanila si Stacey.
Heather threw a fit after hearing what Nick said pero wala naman itong magagawa. Sinabihan ito ni Nick na kapag may binalak pa itong gawin para saktan si Stacey either physically or emotionally, he will deal with her. Heather probably knows that Nick is serious but she's too proud to admit that he scares her.
But before turning to go she said to Stacey, "Well, come to think of it..my life will be better now that you are finally leaving my house!" then padabog itong umalis.
"Amy bakit ka umiiyak?" tanong ni Stacey nang marinig na sumisinghot ang kasambahay.
Tinutulungan siya nitong mag-empake. Sabi naman ni Nick yun lang mga palagi niyang ginagamit ang dalhin niya cause he said that he will take care of everything.
"Mixed feelings ako ate ganda..." singhot nito habang yakap ang isa sa mga pantalon ni Stacey.
"Sad ako kasi aalis ka na. Ikaw lang naman ang mabait sa akin dito. Pero masaya ako kasi sa wakas dumating na ang prince charming mo. At least makakawala ka na sa pang-aapi ni Heather sayo." Hikbi nito.
She sighed then said ,"Halika nga dito Amy."
Lumapit ito tapos niyakap ito ni Stacey.
"Salamat ha? Minsan kahit mahadera ka napapasaya mo ako." she smiled.
"Oo naman ate ganda. Pero kung sakaling kailangan mo ng alalay, ako na lang ang kunin mo ha? Kasi napansin ko dumami na ang wrinkles ko dahil sa kapatid mo."nakasimangot na sabi nito.
Natawa si Stacey. "Ano ka ba Amy? Ang bata mo pa para magka-wrinkles .Basta kahit ganyan sila, huwag mo silang papabayaan ha? May milagro naman. Malay natin magbabago din si Heather." she said sounding hopeful.
"Mangyayari lang yun ate pag nakahanap siya ng katapat niya. Yung lalaki na bad boy image pero guwapo, tapos ma-iinlab si Heather. Kahit naman kasi masama ang ugali ng kapatid mo ate, tanggapin naman natin na ang ganda ganda din niya .Maganda yung tipong may tattoo tapos pag may ginawang kalokohan ang kapatid mo paparusahan niya tapos magmamakaawa si Heather ...tapos..." patuloy pa sa pagsasalita si Amy pero hindi na narinig ni Stacey dahil ewan niya biglang pumasok sa isip niya si Blake with Heather....
Paglabas niya ng sala, nakita niya na andun na din si Billy. Kausap ni Nick ang mama niya but when he saw her, he stood up. Tumayo din si Billy.
Lumapit si Nick to get her overnight bag. He motioned for Billy to help Amy with the other bags.
"Ito na ba lahat?" he gently asked her.
She nodded. Tumingin siya sa mama niya na tumayo na din. Siya na ang lumapit dito para yumakap at magpaalam. Nang yakapin siya ng nito, her mother cried. Pero hindi umiyak si Stacey. She loves her mom and hindi naman siya nagtatanim ng galit dito. Nailabas na niya lahat kanina. She actually felt relieved na kahit papaano mas gagaan na lahat for them. It's best na humiwalay na siya.
"Anak.." her mother began.
"Ma ,it's okay. This is for the best. Basta okay lang ako .Ingatan niyo ang sarili niyo ha?" she said.
She gave the car keys to her mom.
"Ma, pakisabi na lang kay uncle John na thanks for everything .Ibabalik ko na po ang binigay niyang sasakyan." sabi niya.
Umiling ang mama niya. "Anak sayo ito. You keep it." her mother is trying to put the keys back in her hand but umiling din siya.
"Hindi na po Ma. Ayaw ko ng may masabi pa si Heather. Ibenta niyo na lang." mahinang sabi niya.
Malungkot na lang na tinignan siya ng mama niya.
"Ano ang gagamitin mo?" tanong nito.
"Don't worry mam. Ako na po ang bahala .I will take care of your daughter. Hindi ko siya papabayaan." biglang sabi ni Nick.
Nauna na si Billy sa kotse dahil ito ang nagsakay ng mga gamit niya. Kasunod nito si Amy. Hindi binitawan ni Nick ang kamay niya mula kaninang mag-paalam sila sa mama niya.
They are walking sowly habang magka-hawak kamay. Nang makalabas sila ng gate and since medyo malayo sila Billy at Amy, Stacey decided to talk to him.
"Nick...salamat." she said.
He stopped walking then turned to look at her. Hinawakan nito ang isa pa niyang kamay. "Don't thank me honey. I only did what I have to. From now on, ako na ang mag-aalaga sayo."
She chewed her bottom lip. Paano niya sasabihin dito na she needs to talk to Derick on Friday? Na wala pa din namang nagbabago sa plano niya?
"Nick don't say that. Hindi mo ako nobya. At wala kang obligasyon sa akin." she said and he frowned.
"I called Eve and pumayag siya na dun muna ako sa kanya. So pakihatid niyo na lang ako sa condo niya." she requested.
"You are not going to stay with your friend." Nick said firmly.
"Nick, I can take care of myself. Hindi mo kailangang panindigan ang sinabi mo sa mama ko that you'll take care of me. Kaya ko ang sarili ko."
"Wala akong kailangang panindigan dahil lahat ng sinabi ko totoo at gusto kong gawin .Hindi ka titira kay Eve." matigas na sabi nito.
"Saan naman ako titira?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong niya.
"Sa condo ko." he said.