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DISCLAIMER: This story will contain sensitive topics, sensitive language and possible smut. If you are easily triggered or under the age of 17/18, I suggest you take caution in reading this fanfic. I also marked this story mature, so read at your own risk. 

BRIGHT'S POV

I walked the busy streets of Manila, I needed to get to my last class, my dad will surely kill me again if I get dropped out of this subject again. I rushed to the assigned room and I saw my block mates were already almost occupying every seat available for this lecture hall. 

"You know what? You should really buy your self an alarm clock." Krist told me when I sat beside him. 

"I told you I have one..." I said

"He just had another errand to fix for today." Our friend film said. 

"Give him a break, you're being too mean to him" Love defended me. 

These are my friends here in college, I'm pretty much stuck with them since high school. Krist, Love and Film, we all took Architecture and they were pretty much having straight As but me? I'm pretty much failing even at being a human being. 

"How many drinks did you have last night? It's a school night Bright" Love asked me. 

"It's a drink night for me." I said and sipped on my iced coffee. 

"Bright, Love is just looking out for you, we're gonna finish this together remember? You already almost got left behind failing a subject." Krist told me.

I sighed. I keep failing on everything but at least in university I could just enroll them for summer or special classes. The professor came and dumped us with more plates than we already have. Ugh, it's another all nighter for me I guess. 

After the classes we all decided to separate and immediately go home since we're all drowning with school works and plates. 

"Namtan just please help me out." I said to my older sister. 

"Ugh, Bright, it's Ton's birthday in a couple of days, I have to help out with the company. You need to look after her. I'm sorry." Namtan said and went back to the work she was doing. 

I was trying to convince my sister to allow me to stay at her condominium at BGC. As much as I love being lazy and staying here at the mansion, I prefer to stay at her condo so I could party a lot more but then... Here is my reality, being the middle child and basically the next adult to Namtan, I have to look after our youngest sister Ton.

Namtan and I share a few rebelious traits, we often party and hook-up. Namtan's excuse for acting that way is that she just wants to be bold and live her life to the fullest. I on the other hand, I just want to forget all of it, all the bullshit that life throws at me everday. I wanted to be free from all the disappointments and shits. Ton has the easy life, she is after all, everybody's favorite, the straight A student, the smartest among us three, the one who always obeys orders even if she's already in high school. 

"I'm going out later." Ton said as she peeked at my door. 

"No, you're not. Where are you even going?" I asked. 

"Just at the mall with friends." She said. 

"Invite them over here, get everything you want delivered, the theatre is yours to enjoy." I said pulling out the stuff I need for my plate.

"I changed my mind, can I watch you instead?" She said and asked me.

I smiled and nodded. Ton is the only reason I keep going everyday. She's the only one that I have. She makes me feel like I am still worthy to be loved as human. 

"What if I take up film or theatre arts?" Ton asked me. 

"That sounds good, is that what you want?" I asked her. 

"I don't know what I want... Dad will surely be disappointed when I don't follow him anymore." She said and looked away. 

"Ton, you are not a child anymore, sooner or later you'd be at your legal age and you will have to make choices that you carry around with you until you're very old." I said. 

"I don't know, I still have time to think about all of those right?" She asked which made me smile. 

"You still have a lot of it." I said and smiled. 

She watched me make my plates for almost the whole day when it was around five in the afternoon, our sister Namtan walked in the room...

"Bright, you're needed. Parents' office... family meeting" I nodded and she waited for me to follow so I decided to put the pencil down. 

"Am I needed?" Ton asked browsing on her iPad. 

"Sorry Ton, it's one of those meetings, it'll be quick and we'll have dinner soon. Just go get ready for dinner okay?" Namtan told her which made me sigh. 

It's either we are talking about Ton's party or we're gonna be talking about business stuff and other stuff that concerns this family. I hate these kind of meetings because Dad always finds a way to make me do things I don't want to. 

We walked into our parents' office and they were already waiting for us. We sat on the vacant chairs of the round table that we often use for the family meetings. 

"You're both here, we could start now." Mom said. 

"First of all, Ton's party, how is that going?" Dad asked an I looked over Namtan. 

"It is going pretty well. Everything is already set and they would start bringing everything here and set up in the lawn." Namtan said. 

Lawn. Lol, lawn that is as big as a golf field? They purposely chose a house has big lawn area so that we can host parties privately and just enjoy in the comfort of our home. 

"Bright, I have been monitoring your accounts, we talked about this already... it has been a lot of partying that has been going on." Dad said, obviously disappointed.

"Sorry" I said. 

"I need you to run errands, meet with the company partner at Japan tomorrow" My dad said. 

"But I have plates due." I said. 

"Then manage your time wisely. Tickets are booked, you have roughly around 27 hours in Japan." He said handing me tickets. 

"Can I say no?" I asked. Namtan and Mom looked over to me warning me not to push dad to his limits. 

"Bright...." Dad trailed

"I have plates to do." I said. 

"I can withdraw you anytime from architecture." He said firmly. 

I sighed. He's been keeping that withdrawal thing as his leverage when he wants me to do his business for him. His business is not that clean sometimes, and I clearly know this Japan business is one of his dirty works. 

"What am I supposed to do?" I asked. 

"Here's the file, negotiate with them, if they agree... you'd get a big share." he said

I took the folder and browsed through it, business partners lol, they are gonna sabotage another small company just to make profit of them. It might seem to be a small thing but if things doesn't go well with that small company, they are often left with nothing or if they resist to the terms my dad and his business partners laid out, they get murdered in cold blood. 

I never wanted anything to do with his business, he runs it uncompetitively, he sheds blood just to be on top, he trades illegal stuff sometimes and that is the reason why I took up architecture, mom runs the small architectural firm and that is one of the business that we have that is clean.

We finished the meeting quickly and Namtan has bigger problems than I do because she was set to deliver some illegal weapons to someone dad promised them to. How is she gonna do that? Well, not my problem. 

"What did you talk about?" Ton asked when I went back to my room and she's still there. 

"Business stuff." I said

"You're going somewhere?" She asked eyeing the tickets I was holding. 

"Yeah, Japan, for tomorrow." I said. 

"OMG! I wanna go with you." She said. 

"Next time Ton, for now, list up everything you want. I'll try to get them for you." I said which got her excited but before she could run to her room, Namtan was already by the door. 

"Dinner time, Japan goodies list can wait. Mom and Dad are already waiting." Namtan said. 

We went down for dinner and mom and dad were indeed already waiting. The helpers started serving the dinner. 

"Dad, can I come with my brother to Japan?" Ton asked Dad. 

"Do you really want to?" Dad asked. 

"Yes." She said. 

"But he won't use the private jet, he'll be travelling through a public airline." Dad told Ton. 

"That's fine" Ton said hopeful. 

"Okay then, pack your bags later. I'll arrange the tickets for you" Dad said. 

He could never say no to Ton can't he? Ugh. Now I have to deal with Ton and keep the business from her. 

Ton was so excited about the Japan trip, she even woke up really early and woke me up as well so that we wouldn't be late. She loves it when she's allowed to travel with us, specially with me and Namtan. 

"I'm going to miss this." Ton told me as we were seated on our plane seats. 

"What do you mean?" I asked. 

"Oh, Dad hasn't told you?" She asked. 

"About what?" I asked back. 

"I got in the private school in California, I am transferring there. He said the business is chaotic and I have to stay in the US for a while." She said which got me lost for words. 

WHAT THE FUCK?! They never even told me about this. Does Namtan know? I bet she doesn't, chaotic huh? What shit did my father got into again? I hate it. Now I wanna go back and confront him about this. 

I spent the whole flight watching Ton's favorite movie. I vowed to myself I'm spending as much time as I could with her while we are on this very short trip. I brought some plates I need to work on but I guess I'll just have to make them when I get back. 

"Yaaaaaaay we're at Japaaaaan" Ton said as she recorded herself. She has this youtube channel and her friends were mostly supportive about it. 

"Say hi, say hi!" She said and pointed the camera towards me. 

"Hi"  I said with a small smile. 

We got into the hotel Dad got for us and Ton immediately wanted to go around but I have to finish the business matters first before we could go around. 

"How long will that take? I wanted to come with you" Ton said. 

"You're coming but you're gonna be in a separate table okay?" I said. Dad will surely disapprove but I also disapprove with his decisions. 

"Okay." She said and smiled. 

We got into the restaurant and there was already a table reserved for me and the person I was meeting was already there. Ton has her own card to use anyway so I asked her to be seated where I can see her so I can still watch her. 

Everything was fixed and laid out, there were a few negotiations between me and dad's business partner because he was putting up his own terms as well. When everything was done, I said goodbye and all so that I could be with Ton who seemed to be enjoying ordering so much. 

"Ton, what are you planning? Are you going to order everything?" I asked her. 

"Nope, I ordered for you as well." She answered me which made me laugh. 

The trip to Japan was short but also fun, Ton made sure she got everything she wanted before its time for us to go back. I missed another lecture day of my classes and Dad said he has that already taken care of, I'm pretty sure he bribed the school again to excuse me. 

"You sure with spending your semestral break in the province? We could travel Bright." Krist told me. 

"Yeah, I wanted a rest from this city life, I also want a break from my own father." I told them. 

"Who is that guy you were going with? The one you told us about?" Love asked Krist. 

"Ah that one, he's a childhood friend, he's coming home for semestral break as well, he studies abroad." Krist said. 

"Just send us details where you'll be, we might just follow or meet you somewhere in case" Film said. 

WIN'S POV

It was finally semestral break! I have a trip planned with the family. Well, it was a trip with mom and my younger brother Chimon, there's only the three of us anyway. 

"Ma? You sure Dad is not coming?" Chimon asked while we were packing. 

"Chi, stop asking about him, he was generous enough to give this trip as his birthday gift to you." I said and rolled my eyes.

"I was just wondering... Anyway, can I borrow that" He said already taking a jacket from my closet. 

"That would be big on you." I said. 

"But it is nice, you promised to buy me one, you haven't" Chimon said. 

"I'm saving." I said. 

Chimon has always been spoiled with everything. He pretty much grew up getting everything he wants, and for me, I have to work very hard for all of them. It was exhausting but I couldn't complain, I just need to get away for a little while to be able to cope up with everything. 

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Thanks for reading! <3