A woman was walking alone at the middle of the night when two men approaches.

"Miss gabing-gabi na gusto mo ba ihatid ka na namin?"

"A-ay huwag na ho —"

"Halika na, sumama ka na samin." the man hold the woman's arm trying to pull her but she resisted while her heart was palpitating in nervousness.

"Ku-kuya bitawan nyo ho ako!" she begged.

"Huwag ka ng pakipot!"

"TUULOOOOOONG!!!" the woman cried for help but the men just laughed.

The woman's eyes averted to someone who arrived in her venomous walk. The men paused and look behind them—thier eyes widen with frightness that was visible in their faces.

"A-ang babaeng ahas??"

Smiles ** "Hello boys.."

The woman had the time to hide herself behind a tree while the men tried to scaped but unfortunately Valentina's snakes caught them —mercilessly bit them to death.

"Okay ka lang?" Valentina asked the woman who was trembling.

"S-sa-salamat... Babaeng ahas."

"Just call me... VALENTINA.."

Valentina smiles then leaved the woman behind, safe and sound.

I just woked up from a very bad dream. Paglabas ko nakita ko si Alli na nakapag handa na ng breakfast.

"Tara Regina. Kain na." Aya nya.

TV REPORTER "

" ." naiiyak na sabi ng babae.

I was pinned in my spot.

What the hell is going on??!

" Regina okay ka lang?? "

" B-bakit lahat ng panaginip ko nagkaka totoo??! "I asked in my trembling voice. I saw how his facial expression changes into guilt and sadness and that silence from him made me tremble.

" Ali magsabi ka ng t-totoo... NOONG GABI NA YUN NASAAN AKO?! " I asked—he just looked down—hindi ko alam pero bumuhos nalang luha ko.

I'm afraid of the truth but I want the truth.

" Ali TELL ME THE TRUTHHHH!!! NASAAN AKO NUNG GABI NA YUN!? **I grab his collar and hit him but he didn't replied **—ALI BA'T HINDI KA MAGSALITA!?"

"SO-SORRY... Pero ikaw si Valentina."

I felt that I lost all my energy so I broke down into tears while lying on the floor.

He slowly steps towards me saka sya lumuhod sa harap ko.

" I-I'm sorry Regina.... Sorry kung hindi ko agad sinabi sayo. Alam ko kasi na masasaktan ka pag nalaman mo yung totoo. Re-regina ayaw kitang masaktan—"

"SO YOU LIED TO ME ALL THIS TIME!??!!"

"So-sorry—"

"SORRY!!??? YOU'RE A LIAR ALI!!" I grab my slippers and throw at him. " Ginawa mo akong tanga!!"

"LUMAYAS KA!" I shouted right infront of his face before standing.

"Regina huwag naman—"

"I DONT NEED YOU ANYMORE KAYA UMALIS KA NA Sa HARAP KO!!—LUMAYAS ka!" I pushed him towards the door.

"Regina pleaseeee!" he begged—I opened the door and pushed him outside.

*close the door

How can he do this to me?? All this time ako pala ang babaeng ahas? All this time ang babaeng ahas na kaaway ko ay ang sarili ko?!

I felt betrayed....

After what happened hindi ako Lumabas ng kwarto thinking about everything that might happen. Hindi ko matanggap...

*

"Kasi ma'am may aaminin po sana ako sainyo... Naalala ko parin po kasi yung babaeng ahas eh. Natatakot po kasi ako sa mga....mata nya. Eh—pero ma'am nung nakatingin na po ako sa mga mata nyo guminhawa na po yung pakiramdam ko. E-eh ang bait nyo po kasing tumingin eh. " —Narda

*smile" Ganito nalang, sa tuwing naaalala mo ang babaeng ahas. Just think of me. Isipin mo hindi ka nya magagalaw dahil andito ako —oh wait—*Pose*—pwedeng-pwede na akong superhero diba? " *giggles.

*

*

" Narda why are you walking alone? Wala ka bang masakyan? "

" Ah eh ma'am—I mean Regina. Kaya ko naman lakarin malapit lang din naman. "

" Kahit na. Narda this place isn't safe and what if makasalubong mo yung babaeng ahas? Cmon ihahatid na kita pauwi. "

*

*

"Ano ka ba! Hindi ikaw yung babaeng ahas noh. Tingnan mo ang ganda-ganda nga ng buhok mo eh, eh yung babaeng ahas halimaw yun! –ikaw sobrang complete opposite. Kulang na nga lang tubuan ka ng pakpak sa likod eh. Di ka lang mabait,humble pa... Maganda na, magaling pa na abogado, presidente pa ng foundation namin. Sosyal—mayaman. Dito ka nga sa lugar namin na walang kaarte-Arte eh... "

*

My tears falls...

Sobrang sakit malaman na ako yung tao na kinatatakutan ni Narda, na ako ang halimaw. Masasaktan sya kapag nalaman nya ang totoo..

Nag doorbell ako sa condo ni Regina pero wala paring lumalabas.

" Regina??" tawag ko.

Matapos ang ilang Segundo bumukas na ang pinto. Nakatayo sya habang sobrang dilim ng unit nya, namumugto din ang mata nya. Bigla na lamang nya akong yinakap ng mahigpit.

"Okay ka lang??"

Umatras sya. Sobrang lungkot ng mga mata nya.

"Ihahatid ko lang sana toh sayo." sabi ko.

"Pasok ka muna Brian." sabi nya saka binuksan ang ilaw—pag bukas ng ilaw doon ko nakita ang kalat sa loob ng unit nya.

"Regina ano bang nangyare dito??" Alalang tanong ko.

"Ali did something wrong... Isang napakalaking kasalanan." cold nyang sabi.

Tumango nalang ako saka huminga ng malalim.

"Ahm gusto mo ba samahan muna kita?"

"Pwede ba??"

"Oo naman!" sabi ko.

Regina woked up finding herself in her couch but then realizes Brian is still with her. He's preparing breakfast.

"OH Regina. Tara kain na!"

She stood up and walk towards the table.

"Ikaw nag luto?"

"Oo. Baka kasi hindi ka kumain kaya nagluto na ako." he said then pull one of the chairs. "Upo ka na."

She pursed a small smile.

"Sige ako na..." he insisted and prepared her own food in her plate. " Okay na ba pakiramdam mo?"

"Hm yes, I think so.." she smiled.

"Kumain ka ng marami para healthy ka." he said before sitting comfortably.

"Thankyou Brian, hindi mo alam kung gaano mo napagaan ang loob ko."

"Ano ka ba, wala yun. Basta, kapag may problema ka andito lang ako." he said then reached for her hand. Regina glance at it then smiled.

_____

"Okay ka lang ba dito?" Brian asked before leaving.

"I'm okay don't worry..."

"Sige Regina. May trabaho pa kasi ako eh." he said them smiled—he stepped back.

"Brian wait!" she called that stopped him —he turn around facing her again.

Regina step forward then kissed him that pinned Brian in his spot.

"R-Regina..."

"Brian I'm sorry for doing this but... I like you." *sighed* "Kaya gusto ko sanang itanong kung pwede kitang ligawan?"

*furrowed "L-ligawan??"

"I know it sounds weird but let me do this, wala namang masama diba?"

"P-pero Regina, ako yung lalake. Maganda ka naman, matalino, kahit sino naman magkaka gusto sayo... Parang hindi mo naman deserve na manligaw." he utterly said.

"Brian sa ayaw at gusto mo liligawan kita. It doesn't matter kung ako yung babae,..."