Rage

I was more naïve, so I sacrificed my body art and acted so that we could survive.

I tried my luck on modeling but most of the photographers are perverts so I stopped.

But somehow I was able to save money by modeling in local magazines back then, but it was also spent because I was paid for Dad’s therapy.

We did this therapy when I worked together. We want to restore Dad’s self -confidence. Since then it hasn’t come out.

My salary here at the coffee shop is divided by daily expenses.

“Liz, come here.” Miranda calls me.

I met him when I was new at the coffee shop owned by Mrs. Hernandez.

Miranda has been working here at the coffee shop for seven years.

It is two years older than me. I used to think that he was cursed, but he was kind, he agreed with everyone here in the coffee shop. Even though he teased me the first time I went to school, we became friends.

Close friends even.

I immediately remembered my old friends. I don’t use social media much, so I have no news of what happened to them. I am sure they will be successful. Then I would rather work and study than social media.

While I’m on break, I continue my habit of reading.

Archie is a carefree guy, he doesn’t care about other people’s feelings, he doesn’t obey the rules because he knows his parents would do anything to keep him out of trouble that’s why he didn’t let it pass when a new girl, Caz from the province made him look like a fool, assuming that she stalks her when in fact she doesn’t. He loathes Caz for being stupid and clumsy all the time and in every circumstance she’s there to ruin everything for him but he couldn’t get rid of her in fact he’s more drawn into her because she has a resemblance to the girl she met at a bar. How similar they are when it comes to appearance is how different they are in dress and manners, Caz is shy and clumsy while the woman he met at the bar is seductive and confident. Even though he loathes her, Archie saves her from drowning and even wins a piñata contest just to give her all the candies. He can’t stop himself from staring at her innocent and deep eyes, even though he’s unsure of what he’s feeling he will do anything to see her sweet smile. Archie’s special attention to the nerdy girl has been noticed by the whole university.

Inez, Archie’s ex-girlfriend can’t accept the fact that the hottest and richest guy is showering attention on someone who’s stupid and nerdy. She didn’t waste time and bullied her. Inez made a scene and his brother Joshua helped Caz instead of her own sister. Archie couldn’t help but squint his eyes, jealousy crept inside him. After that incident, Caz tried everything to avoid him and Archie noticed it and he couldn’t take it so he confronted her but the only thing he got was rejection. He was furious at getting rejected by a nerd and to get rid of what he’s feeling inside he partied with his friends and when he’s so dope up he tried to unwind outside of the bar. All the alcohol was washed away when he saw Caz walk out of the bar, in a red strap and tight dress, very unlike her nerdy façade, it’s like she’s the girl he saw at the bar that night. He tried to follow her but she was gone in an instant. The next day, Archie is hungover and he’s unsure about what he saw, he didn’t act impulsively and confront her because he knows that she would deny it, he needs evidence to prove that what he saw was real.

There’s a lot of questions in his mind but he’s gonna deal with it one at a time. He’s going to solve the mystery around Caz, a wild girl hiding in a nerdy girl façade. Ever since that day when he saw Caz on that bar, her actions and behavior changed. It’s like she’s trying to be the new hot girl, replacing Inez. Just like what Archie thought, one day Caz walked in the campus with a strong and feminine aura around her. Looking very different from her nerdy style. Everyone was shocked, Including Wilder even though he had a clue this would happen. He tried to talk to her but she’s so into the attention everyone is giving to her. Ava tried to bully her once again but to no avail she only shamed herself in front of the people who once adored her for her beauty. But now there’s someone better than her who doesn’t like her anymore. Caz became the queen bee, just like any other nerds to queens story, she became evil. Long gone, the stupid, clumsy nerd that she once was. Archie found out that she’s the hot girl in the bar. Since her queen bee transformation, she became the outstanding girl in the university, beauty and brains but her attitude became different, she became more sassy and into fights. She tried to flirt with Archie and he could resist her but he knows deep inside that it’s different and it felt weird for him because she will switch back to the nerd she was in a second and get back to what she is making Archie confused.

While she is drunk at a party and so is Archie, they both get wasted and sleep together. That’s the moment Archie knew that Caz is the one and he is not doubting her anymore. Fertine became a party girl and for no reason she would fight any girl and Archie just shrugged it off. It only got worse when a new guy from a rich family in the province transferred to the university who seems to know Caz. Suddenly, Caz doesn’t know what she’s done, like she’s a completely different person. Archie shrugged it off and thought that she’s just teasing him. Joshua on the other hand tried to make sense of what Caz is going through saying she has a condition but before Joshua could even finish it they heard a scream coming from.

They found Adam forcing himself on Caz but he got away with it saying she asked for it while she is clueless on what’s going on. Archie’s patience grew thin for Caz and his love for her started to crumble up. She’s no longer the innocent girl he knew, even if he likes the ways she tried to fit in the society she became different, way more different like she’s a new person taking over Caz then it hits him, maybe Joshua is right, maybe Caz has a condition. The doctor confirmed that it is possible and that night he couldn’t sleep. The next day he saw Inez bullying Caz but the cold and confident girl she once was is gone so he protects him from the wrath of Inez. Turns out that Caz knew it all along that she’s having an alter, but she tries to ignore it and avoid triggering her but when Wilder came she’s awakened and decided to take over. Everything went downhill when a video scandal of Caz ‘alter, Cazandra, the bold, seductive and confident girl spread over the internet.

Caz mother found out about this and she’s so disappointed in her without knowing her daughter is going through a mental health problem. Everyone loathed her for trying to be innocent when she is a slut. They judged her and cut her with their sharp words that ruin not just her heart but her mind. She’s starting to think that she’s really crazy, pushing Archie away so he won’t get dragged into her craziness. Wilder tried to reason with her but she made her decision and that is to leave him so he could find a better girl without a disorder like hers, so he could leave normally.

Five years later, Archie became a psychologist. He didn’t continue on his business course and didn’t handle his family’s business instead he decided to help those who are suffering with mental health. One day he bumped into a little girl, who reminds her of Caz because of its innocent eyes. After five years he saw Caz with Joshua, assuming that they’re together he was saddened. Nothing more can ruin his day when he finds out that Jennie, the little girl in the hospital, is Caz’s daughter. But even if he’s with Joshua now, that won’t stop Wilder from pursuing her and getting answers on how she is now. So he decided to switch places with his therapist. Now that Caz is out of his hands he agrees to an arranged marriage with Ines, Joshua’s sister just to be close with Caz.

But that won’t be enough so he finds Caz’s mother to reunite with her, soon he learns that her mom doesn’t know about her daughter’s disorder, he didn’t mean to say it to her but he did. He planned a setup for Caz and her mom to meet. But everything didn’t go the way he wanted it to be. Instead of a smiling and grateful Caz, she became furious with him for telling her mother about her condition because she doesn’t want her mother to blame herself for what happened to her. Her trauma started when her Mom left her in their neighbor’s house who she considered as a friend but it turns out that the husband of her friend molested Caz at a young age, the reason why her alter existed. To protect her from this kind of people, her alter is the one taking her position not Caz. After her revelation about her past, Archie loves her even more for surviving everything she’s been through and for overcoming all the blockage and challenges in her life. And he can’t forgive himself for treating her badly before without knowing her at all, just judging her on her physical looks.

When everything was going well, Caz woke up the next day in a different place, far from what she remembers, that’s when she knew Cazandra was back. While Wilder on the other hand saw Joshua and Betty together thinking that he is cheating with Caz, Betty almost said that they’re just siblings. Nothing is going on between Joshua and Caz because Caz is a neglected child by his father. Caz’s mother had an affair with a wealthy man, but she’s just a maid and he is already married so she cut their affair but it was too late because she’s already pregnant with Caz at that moment. Her mother doesn’t even know she met her biological father.

Archie tried to tell Caz that Joshua is cheating on her but she just shrugged it off. In a family dinner where everyone is invited, Wilder confesses to Caz that he still loves her after all this year’s, unfortunately Inez heard this, she was excruciatingly mad, she said everything that can ruin Caz, her mouth slipping that they’re just step sisters. Archie was too stunned to speak when he heard it. Now he knows the truth, Joshua is not the father of Jennie, the little girl he met at the hospital. It was his. He was overjoyed that he proposed to Caz and called off his engagement with Inez. Caz happily accepts and they get married but in the end after he kisses Caz, she flinches and smirks. Guess the nymphomaniac is still within her, on good terms with the nerdy Caz that he loves.

Damn it! I finished the book without even blinking!

Miranda approach me at the counter. “Oh why?”

“You need money don’t you?”

“Yes, why?”

He looked at me and then smiled. “I have a racket for you.”

“Mom, I still have work tonight so I’ll be home late. After my work at the coffee shop I’ll be right there,” I said.

It was busy arranging to order him perfumes, shorts, shoes, and what else.

She’s working hard for our family. Even Mom wasn’t used to working because she was very promoted in life back then because of my grandparents. Sadly they’re gone already, since I was a kid. Mom’s an only daughter like Dad.

After that accident, everything changed for all of us. We’re still living in the same house. But there was almost no use in the house because everything had been sold before.

We prioritize Dad and Bliss medications over appliances.

“Work? At night? What work is that?” he asked, frowning.

I pressed my lips together.

I may not be allowed to tell the truth.

“Modeling Mom. There’s a photoshoot because it’s a pity so I’ll go,” I said.

Her forehead wrinkles.

“I thought you already stopped modeling? And why is it at night?”

“Mom’s electricity bill is coming soon. We need cash. Don’t worry, I’m with Miranda.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I’m still not convinced, Celiza. Especially with you so Miranda you’re still the same ---”

“Mommy?”

Mom rushed to Bliss. “Hey baby, why are you awake? Are you in pain?”

He even rubbed his eyes, obviously just waking up. She looked up at me.

“Why Bliss? Where’s the pain?”

“No Ate.”

“Are you sure?”

“I want to go with you.” His lips protruded.

“You’re not allowed at my job, Bliss.” I chuckled.

“Another one you have class.”

“I wish I could skip class to go with you.”

“Bliss, what are you saying? You can’t skip class. We’re already crawling your studies at a good school after ---”

“Mom.”

She sighed.

“Maybe she’s just tired of her environment Mom. She’s doing great in school, remember? Bliss’s grade is higher than mine was.” I chuckled.

Bliss is brilliant. She excelled in class. Mom always went up on stage to hang a medal with her.

I didn’t regret sacrificing everything for her. She is succeeding in life. Even when he was young he was fine. I’m sure Bliss will have a good future hi Di like me. I won’t let her do the same mistakes that I did back when I was young.

“What do you want for your birthday Bliss?” aniya is Mom.

“I want you all here on my birthday.”

Mom and I met eye to eye. We were too busy with work so sometimes we couldn’t bond anymore.

“That’s all?”

“Cake too, the pink one.”

I laughed.

She has a sweet tooth and she loves pink so much.

She’s so me.

“I’ll take care of it,” I said.

“Do you still want the bag that we saw in the Bliss shop?”

He nodded at Mom’s question.

My eyes remained on her.

My heart warms everytime I stare at her. I can’t believe he grew up a happy child, far far away from the powerless Bliss that night I watched.

“Mom I gotta go.”

“Wait! I haven’t let you in yet.”

“It’s just work Mom.”

“Are you sure about that?” Question it again.

I nodded. “Of course Mom! Miranda told me so sure to saka safe!”

I watched Dad spin the wheelchair toward us.

“If it weren’t for my accident, you wouldn’t have to work anymore Celiza. I should be the one working hard. I should be the one who keeps you alive, but here I am, just sitting! It doesn’t matter!”

I knelt in front of it. “Don’t say that Dad, you have done too much for this family. You have done everything to follow my luxuries. I will support this family now. All of you are my strength. So always take medicine and follow your therapist. ”I couldn’t help but tears welled up in my eyes as I said that.

Dad just cried and I kissed him.

The art gallery is fascinating with all the paintings hanging on the wall. But for tonight this is not just gonna be an art gallery.

This is the car show’s venue. This is Miranda’s racket to me. The luxurious cars are fascinating.

Different car models are also available. Any color you can think of is here.

I rolled my eyes all around. Lots of people waiting outside. We were on the back stage, where two separate large and red curtains covered us and the car.

This car is the most highlight of the car show. It is said that there are only five of them in the Philippines.

I pulled back the curtain a little in the middle.

The lights are dancing. People were talking to each other and looking at the cars. Checking out what is good to display in their garage.