Shadow

~kring kring kring ~

"Hmmm" Callixta pulled her bed cover over her body more and was immediately thrown back into a deep sleep ignoring the sound of her alarm clock. Later she heard a knock from outside her room.

"Ma'am, wake up or else you'll be late for your first day classes", said their nanny.

Yes, Callixta was born into a luxurious family but she lacked attention and love of her parents.

"All right Manang. I'll just fix myself and take a bath before going downstairs" she replied while yawning.

Callixta Pov

I took a quick shower and got ready for my first day of classes as a college student.

"Geez, there's nothing exciting about being in college except for the handsome varsity players", I smiled in front of the mirror and get off for breakfast.

"Manang, where are mommy and daddy?" I asked even though I already know the answer.

 

Manang is a filipino word meaning older sister. It is commonly used to call older nanny in the Philippines.

"They left early for work, Calli", manang replied with a streak of sadness in her words. She's been here since I was young, watching me grown more than my own parents.

"It's okay manang. I think I need to go now ", I smiled at her as I grabbed a sandwich and walked out of the house.

By the way, I am Callixta Belle, 18, and a Business Administration student here at the University of our province. I had an older sister, Ate Allizah, but last year, she lost her life while going to pick me up at a bar. That's why I'm the one blamed for her death. Though I can't also forgive myself for what happened.

"What a good day to start", I sarcastically mentioned in the air and got in my car and drove to school. After 15 minutes I arrived and parked the car. I went straight to the gym for the orientation to be held.

A few hours passed and I was on my way home. I saw from the garage that mommy and daddy's car was already here. I smiled as I headed into the house and saw them sitting on the couch.

Mommy Medly is the daughter of a wealthy business tycoon. Daddy Arc just reconciled and marry each other to expand our family business.

"Mom, Dad" I smile, calling their attention.

Without emotion Dad turned to me and frowned.

"Don't disturb us, Callixta Ystraella Belle! Go to your fucking room and don't show your disgusting face" he said that  almost made me shed my tears in front of them.

"D-dad, s-sorry. B-but dad I didn't do anything. D-dad, mom, I'm sorry if I was the reason of sister—"

"Shut your mouth, Callixta!" Mommy groaned and walked closer to me.

"M-mom, I'm really sorry I didn't mean to—"

"I said shut up Callixta!" Mommy cut again and suddenly my left cheek went numb. She slappedme. She who is my mother, she who gave birth to me, she who is supposed to love me but it seems that she have turned her heart into stone for me. 

"That's enough! Go to your fucking room Callixta and never talk about your sister again! Do you understand ?!" Dad shouted making me jump from the shock.

"Y-yes dad" I nodded in response and climbed into my bedroom.

I changed my clothes and went to my bedroom window to breath fresh air. I can't help releasing a sob at what happened earlier. Yes, I am brave around everyone but when it comes to my family I am weak and a broken mess.I looked outside seeing the darkness enveloping the whole environment. I saw a tree in the garden and my eyes fixed in it's shadow made my the moonlight.  When sister Alliyah was still alive, I lived in her shadow. My memories are still clear as crystal.

"Imitate your sister"

But I am different. I'm not like my sister.

"You must be like 'this'  and 'that' Callixta…"

But I'm not happy. I felt caged.

"Do this and you'll be like your sister…"

But I'm not comfortable and I can't be like her. 

"Your sister is a true genius! She graduated with the highest honor."

 I'm also an achiever, it may not be equal to my sister's high grades but it's still high especially when I worked hard to reach it.

 

"Congratulations Allizah. You are a gold medalist,  my dearest."

I also received a medal in a competition but they did not attend. How about me, mommy? Do you love me too?

"Callixta! Simple instructions and you can't follow it properly ?! Simple instructions! Why don't you imitate your sister ?! Why didn't you inherit a bit from your Daddy ?! It's so simple Callixta! You're such a stupid child! I can't understand anymore your foolishness!"

Mom,dad, the answer is also very simple ... because I am NOT my sister. I am me. I have my own desires that make me happy. I hope you can see that in the future and realize that I am different from my sister. That as you place high expectations on us, we gradually forget ourselves. We are no longer ourselves because you molded us to become strangers of our own bodies and own lives. 

The events of my past repeatedly replayed in my mind.  It still hurts over and over again. Indeed, words hurt more than physical wounds. The wound in our physical body heals over hours, days, weeks or months. It will leave a scar but the pain is gone. Meanwhile, pain from hurtful words penetrates the heart, seals the mind. Even a year has passed it continues to destroy us. Living as a nightmare of yesterday. Hunting us in our darkest days.I  sighed and went to bed to pray and rest.

I was awakened by the noises downstairs.  It was only six in the morning.  All of a sudden I felt an intense curiosity as to what was causing mommy and daddy’s argument to be heated like that. They only fight once in a while and usually because of our family business.

I got out of bed and slowly opened my bedroom door.

"Why do you want to let that Callixta live here! You know she's the cause of Allizah's death, don't you ?! A-ar-rc Allizah, our child is gone because of your sister's shameless child ! We have already got Callixta's inheritance, please Arc honey kill her. I can no longer be with her under the same roof as she is the reason why our only child died! P-please Arc, kill her already, as we planned years ago" after a few seconds I heard her pleading sobs envelopes with hatred and sadness quited down.

I stopped going downstairs when I heard that from them. I wipe my tears that I unknowingly flows freely in my face. I was stunned. Clouds forming in my mind. 

This is the answer to my long period of time questioning their treatment towards me but I didn't expected the outcome to be  this painful. The pain hurts knowing that I am not their real child and the worst is they tricked me. They used me to get my inherited money and whatever it is. They lied to me! 

"Shhh Meldy, I'm going to work on getting rid of Callixta as fast as I could. Don't worry about it. I have planned all of this before. Callixta's life is now in the brink of death", he gently caressed momm – ohh she's not my real mother – to calm her down.

When I heard enough informations I decided to slowly returned to my room with heavy heart.

"Why ?! Why ?!" I buried my face in my pillow to cry soundlessly. 

I want to confront them! I want to slap and hurt them but I can't. I will only harm myself if I rush my moves so I need a solid plan. I will pull them down in the hell with me. 

I couldn't stop my tears from flowing down on my face. And I didn't bother wiping it. 

"Arghhhh! I- I can't ! I-I can just cry here and wait for them to kill me" I whispered softly.

"I need a plan, a strong one, to take my inherited money and a plan to find my real family if they're still alive", I felt the sadness reigning my whole system when the word family crossed my mind.  I had no idea who they were and if ever they know about me and my existence.After calming down I wiped away my tears and did my morning ritual to go to school.

I looked in front of my mirror and I could hardly recognize myself because the bottom of my eye was noticeably swollen from crying and tiredness.

"You need to do this Callixta! You can do it! You can't die! You still need to regain the inheritance and you still need to find your real family!", I convinced myself.

I arrived at school safely and smoothly without stumbling to mom or dad in the house.  While walking down the hallway, I saw Jasper my ex -boyfriend whom I caught having sex in his condo with my bestfriend, well she's my exbestfriend now. 

My fist clenched when I saw next to him is none other than ...

*/Drumrollssssssss

My snake ex bestfriend! Please welcome the queen cobra, Zephaniah Ykasa. 

Am I too kind and artistic introducing them? Well they deserve it!

"A snake clinging herself into a cheater" I whispered in the air while rolling my eyes. I tried walking in different path. Note: TRIED because the snake snatch my arm. I frowned and violently pulled my arm from her grip.

"Well, well, well, look who we have here." the snake named Zephaniah calls for attention.

I shrugged in her lame short speech.

 

" Cat got your tongue, Calli? HAHAHA see? I got your boyfriend oh no let me rephrase it to this 'I am now with your ex boyfriend and we are already dating' ! He told me your so lame, and unsatisfying! " she squealed and batting her eyes. I cringed with the sight. I didn't know that snakes can do that filthy gesture. 

"What do you want, snake? Incontented with the fool beside you that's why you're seeking for entertainment? Why don't you look in the mirror and try conversing with yourself. Maybe you can entertain yourself than stealing other's boyfriend", I counterreacted with sarcasm.

" And cat didn't got my tongue, I'm just surprised that snakes can talk without using parseltongue. Oh my gosh", I put my hands in my mouth acting surprised. 

~ clap clap ~

Zephaniah clapped her hands while walking surrounding me like I'm her prey. She's pissed.

"Acting so brave Callixta? HAHAHA", se laughed devilishly as she walked closer to me. I can see her eyeballs sending daggers in me. 

"You are still weak Calli, just like before", she added and then walked away. 

" Yow are eshtill weak—nye Nye" I mocked while smirking. 

I got a bad day and  the snake crawls outside her hole to entertain me. What a pleasure to watch her act like a bitch.