Episode 8

"Chacaaa," Leona shouted as she banged on the door to Chaca's room.

"What on earth," Chaca grumbled in annoyance when she opened the door only to find Leona disturbing her.

Without saying a word, Leona barged into Chaca's room and started ransacking her wardrobe.

"What are you doing?" Chaca voiced her irritation when she saw Leona turning her closet inside out.

"I'm looking for the red dress," Leona declared, continuing her search.

"And why are you looking here? I never take your stuff," Chaca retorted.

"Ah, here it is," Leona exclaimed upon finding the dress she had been looking for.

"Don't, please," Chaca protested as the dress was a gift from someone special.

"What's with you, so stingy to your own sister," Leona snapped, "I need this dress."

"Yes, but not that one, please not that one," Chaca pleaded.

"There's nothing else I want; this is the one," Leona insisted, leading to a tug-of-war over the dress that Lana overheard.

"What in the world is going on here; you're making so much noise," Lana scolded, arriving to find Chaca and Leona pulling at the garment.

"Mom, Chaca took my dress and won't give it back," Leona complained sweetly.

"No, Mom, this is Chaca's dress, it's Leona who wants to borrow it," Chaca clarified.

"Leona," said Lana.

"She's lying; that's my dress," Leona persisted.

"You're the liar; it's my dress that you bought me last year, can't you remember," Chaca countered, believing it was the most beautiful dress since it was a gift from Lana. Everything gifted by Lana felt special to Chaca, and she didn't want anyone, especially Leona whose track record with borrowed items was far from pristine, to ruin it.

Lana remained silent, obviously moved by Chaca's affection for the dress but her pride overshadowed her emotions.

"Give it to your sister," Lana commanded coolly.

"But Mom," Chaca protested sadly.

"Enough, didn't you hear Mom? Since she bought it, she decides who gets the dress," Leona said with a triumphant smile.

Resignedly nodding, Chaca suppressed a bitter smile. "Fine, you've got what you wanted, now please leave," Chaca directed.

"Let's go, dear," Lana said, leading Leona away. After they had left, Chaca slammed her bedroom door.

"Arrghhh," Chaca cried out as she hurled her belongings around.

Swiftly wiping away tears, she changed clothes, grabbed her sling bag, slipped on her favorite sneakers, and snatched her motorcycle keys.

"Where are you off to, dear?" Faris inquired as he noticed Chaca dressed neatly.

"I'm heading to Jenar's house, Dad," Chaca replied, kissing Faris's hand, "I'll be leaving now."

"Be careful, don't speed," Faris's kind words deeply touched Chaca's heart, making her wonder why her mother could never be as tender as Faris.

Chaca rode off swiftly on her motorcycle, only to be startled when a car abruptly stopped in front of her.

Screech!

She braked sharply, nearly hitting the car ahead.

Chaca caught her breath in silence as the car's owner emerged from the vehicle and approached.

"Why are you speeding?" the man, the car's owner, demanded. "What if something happened to you, huh?" he reprimanded.

"Uncle," Chaca murmured softly.

"Get off," Dimas ordered sternly; yes, it was Dimas who had specifically stopped Chaca.

Chaca dismounted but did not remove her helmet. "Don't you care about your safety, or at least consider others? What if you caused an accident, and both you and the other party were seriously injured?" he continued to scold, yet Chaca remained silent.

Dimas removed Chaca's helmet, his gaze fixed upon her eyes, which were swollen and wet with tears.

"Give me the helmet, Uncle," Chaca requested softly.

"Was I too harsh with you?" Dimas inquired, "To make you weep like this?"

Instead of answering, Chaca suddenly threw herself into Dimas's embrace, drenching the broad chest of the handsome widower with her tears. Dimas was taken aback, but gradually, he reciprocated the hug and began to comfortingly stroke the back of her head.

As Chaca continued to sob, Dimas just listened to her grievances until he realized they were on the roadside. He then led Chaca into his car and decided to leave her motorbike there, planning to have someone pick it up later.

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