(Alexis)
“YOU better not waste this chance again, Alexis. If only your mother didn’t beg me for this, I wouldn’t have allowed you to go back to university again. You are such a disgrace in the family! Fortunately, you are not carrying my surname or else-“
“Or else what?” I fired back.
The corners of my mouth lifted as I threw a glance at dad. I pushed my plate away. I’d lost my appetite. I was about to start my breakfast when my parents arrived in the dining area. I wasn’t even aware that they were back.
If only I knew, I would have left home early than be stuck in this situation all over again.
My parents come and go, especially dad, who was being overly careful when visiting the house which he bought for me and mom. We were his biggest, darkest, and dirtiest secret. We were the stain in his pristine white record.
Senator Alexander Guevarra happened to be one of the most respectable politicians in the country. Mom was his secret while I was the outcome of their forbidden affair.
And since I was a bastard, I was not allowed to use the Guevarra surname out of their fear that people might connect him with me. That was how nasty my parents were. They created this mess, especially the senator, and yet, he didn’t want his name to be associated with me.
I was Alexander’s third and youngest son. At least, that was what I know except of course, if he had another mistress out there.
Whenever Alexander was away, mom’s second house was the casino. I grew up practically without my parents. The only one who was close to me here was Renata, the head maid.
“Don’t worry, senator. I wouldn’t even dream of carrying your name,” I added and rose from my seat. “Come to think of it. We’re the same. I also don’t want to be associated with someone like you.” I clicked my tongue. “Who would have thought we’d have a similarity? Finally, there’s now a sign that you really are my father.”
Alexander’s face had turned red from anger. “Get out of here, you good for nothing asshole!”
Unlike his other children, I was never used to calling him ‘dad’. What the hell for? He had never been a father to me in the first place.
I would rather bite my own tongue than call him ‘dad.’
I shrugged. I was not afraid of him although I must admit, there was a part of me that stung after hearing the words he just uttered.
“Now we’re even, senator. We should talk like this often, you know, so we could get to know each other better. Through this, I can finally share something about my dad once people ask again. My dad and I… Well, we are both assholes.”
I was about to leave the dining area when dad caught me and grabbed me by the shoulder. When I turned to him, he slammed his fist into my face.
Mom screamed from shock.
I was also used to this, to the senator’s beatings. Somehow, our tempers just flare up whenever we see each other. I brushed the blood off my lower lip and smiled bitterly.
“I really wish that your punch was stronger, Senator, stronger than the pain you’ve been giving me ever since.”
I freed myself from dad’s grip and left the dining area. I stepped out of the house and slid in my car. I sped away and went to the university where mom enrolled me.
I didn’t take studying seriously. I had been kicked out a few times. The senator was right. I was really embarrassed. But those things don’t affect me or my rebellious heart anymore.
I held my lower lip. It looked like I would be having my first day in school with a nasty cut on my lip.
Anger boiled inside me. “Damn you, senator.”

(Diana)
“HE caught everyone’s attention the very moment he entered the campus. You should have seen him. His body is to die for Diana. He’s a snack! And his face, goodness, my friend. He’s a god.”
My eyes glowed with amusement upon listening to my best friend’s animated way of telling me about her latest crush. We’d been friends since high school and even now when we were in our fourth year in college. Both of us took Business Management.
I would have wanted to take up Floral Design since that was what I had always wanted to do. But then, dad asked me to take a business course first hoping that I’d change my mind as time passed by. And maybe then I’d want to lead Ferrel Summit Holdings, Incorporated.
It was one of the biggest conglomerates in the country whose business interests included transportation, banking, food manufacturing, hotels, power generation, real estate, and telecommunications.
Ferrel Summit Holdings, Incorporated were created by dad and his brothers. I was an only child and dad was still wishing that I’d join him in the business world soon.
However, I had no plans of doing that. I already did him a favor. My decision to become a florist was final.
Once I graduate, I’ll study Floral Design. I could finish it within a year. And then I’d build my own flower shop. I would leave our business to my uncles and cousins since that was where their passion was.
My drifting mind wandered back to the present when Laurice suddenly snapped her finger in front of me. From the moment she arrived in the classroom until now that the class was over, she still wouldn’t stop blabbing about the new transferee in Saint Gabriel Academy. That same guy was also our classmates’ subject of conversation yesterday.
“When it really comes to good-looking men, your senses are on a heightened alert,” I told Laurice while shaking my head.
Laurice pouted. “Didn’t you hear what I just said? Alexis Serrano is not just gorgeous, my friend. He’s different from those narcissistic sons of bitches that we usually see around here. He’s hot.”