Kaisha was up all night, unable to shake off the thoughts that had plagued her. Para ito sa kanyang kinabukasan, hindi ba? Walang mas mahalaga pa sa pangarap at ginhawa. She wondered, was there another way to reach her dreams without going through with this? A certain someone briefly crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed the thought.
Pagkagising kinaumagahan, she felt an odd sensation in her stomach—parang may kumikiliti sa loob, as if a thousand feathers were swirling in a hollow space. The morning sunlight filtered into her room, but it felt weaker than usual, like clouds were holding it back.
She sat up in bed, momentarily dazed. Kabado siya, kahit unang mga minuto pa lang ng paggising. This was a new feeling—never before had she felt this kind of nervousness. Even on days when
