Prologue

"Baby, ibaba mo na ang mga gamit mo. Parating na raw ang Daddy mo," utos ni Mommy na kasalukuyan ding nagbababa ng gamit niya.

Ngayon na kasi kami lilipat sa bahay nila Daddy, my step-father. Nung isang araw ay kinasal na sila kaya pumayag na si Mommy na lumipat kami ro'n. I already met my step-brothers too and they are nice. I know them naman na since they are my schoolmates since I started studying and they are really famous.

Siguro if we went to school together ay susugurin ako ng mga fans club nila.

"Mommy! Can I bring my book shelf there!?" pasigaw kong tanong kay Mommy because I am upstairs and she's busy organizing her luggages downstairs.

"No, baby, may book shelf na raw ang room mo ro'n. Bumaba ka na rito, ayan na ata ang Daddy mo."

I just shrugged with her answer and followed her. I carried my luggage and went downstairs. Tatlong beses akong nagpabalik-balik sa pagbaba ng mga gamit ko.

Sinipa ko na nga lang pababa ang isang backpack ko na puro damit lang naman ang laman dahil napapagod na ako at may dala pa akong isang luggage.

"Hello po," bati ko kay Daddy na kapapasok lang sa aming pinto.

"Are you ready?" he asked, smiling.

"Opo, pero mas excited po ata si Mommy."

"Oo nga, kahapon pa 'yan nagpapasundo e." Parehas kaming natawa ni Daddy at tinignan si Mommy na nakatingin din sa amin. "By the way, hindi ko kasama ang mga kapatid mo, may lakad ata sila nila Topher. You know that guy, 'di ba?" makahulugang tanong ni Daddy at kumindat pa.

That Topher was invited on my Mom's Wedding and I never thought that he's that mean. Siya na nga ang nakabangga tapos siya pa ang galit.

"Opo, he's my schoolmate po and he is the grandson of the Maximus' owner," I answered and smiled awkwardly.

"I know what happened between you and him nung wedding namin ng Mommy mo. He's a good guy, try to know him more. Lalo na't you will see him more kasi friends niya ang brothers mo," wika ni Daddy at tinapik ang balikat ko.

"Amberson, 16 years old pa lang si Elise," seryosong tawag ni Mommy kay Daddy.

"Love, I know, I'm not playing cupid for them. Hindi ko pakikielamanan ang lovelife ng mga anak natin," natatawang tugon ni Daddy saka inakbayan ako. "At itong baby natin, hindi pa 'to pwede mag-boyfriend. Atleast wait until you're 18, anak."

"I don't have plans naman po of having a boyfriend pa and Topher is definitely not my type," sagot ko at ngumiti.

Natapos na ang usapan namin at isa-isa na naming inilagay sa Van na dala ni Daddy ang mga maleta namin.

Sandali kaming namahinga sa loob ng bahay habang kumakain ng sandwich na gawa ni Mommy. Bago umalis ay muli kong pinuntahan ang kwarto ko nang makalimutan ang mga libro ko. Mabilis kong inilagay sa isa pang maleta ang mga libro mula sa book shelf at maingat iyong ibinaba.

Paglabas ng bahay ay agad akong dumiretso sa Van at sila Mommy naman ay nilock na ang bahay.

"Ready na kayo?" Daddy asked before staring the car engine.

"Yes po," sagot ko at nag-thumbs up pa.

Two cities lang ang pagitan ng bahay namin saka nila Daddy. Ang pinagkaiba lang siguro ay sa exclusive subdivision sila nakatira and we are not.

Nang makarating sa bahay nila Daddy or should I say mansion nila ay agad kaming sinalubong ng maids at kinuha na nila ang mga luggage namin.

"Welcome to our new home," bati ni Daddy sa amin at iginiya kami papasok.

Dumiretso si Mommy sa kitchen dahil magdidinner na and she promised to cook for us.

Both exterior and interior design of the house is modern. There are expensive antique vases sa mga corners. Walang tv ang living room pero maganda pa ring tignan. Kuya Amiel, my step-brother, told me na may theater room sila. I will really rewatch Harry Potter Series there if I have time.

Natigil ako sa pagtitingin sa paligid nang may tatlong lalaking bumaba sa hagdan. It's my step-brothers and Topher.

"I thought you are going somewhere else?" Daddy asked to them.

"We just got home, mag-overnight daw si Topher dito. We'll use the theater room later. Oh, hi Elise!" kaswal na sagot at bati ni Kuya Amiel.

I waved my hand to him and smiled.

Kuya Amstel is still talking to Topher. He always shows no interest in me. Kapag magkakasama kami, hindi niya ako pinapansin. I really felt how much he dislike me, hindi ko naman siya masisisi. I mean, for the past 2 years kasi na palagi kaming inaasikaso ni Daddy, medyo nawalan ng oras si Daddy sa kanila.

"Really? Take Elise with you," Daddy suggested to Kuya Amiel making Kuya Amstel look at us.

Binalingan naman ako ni Kuya Amiel at tinanong. "Do you want to join us?"

"Are we going to watch Harry Potter?" I asked, trying to hide the excitement on my voice.

"You've been recommending it to me the whole summer. But we already have decided what to watch. Maybe next time, but I promise to watch it with you. Do you still want to join?"

"Uhm..."

"Don't force her if she doesn't want to," pag-singit ni Kuya Amstel na hindi man lang ako tinitignan.

"I will join!" masiglang sagot ko.

Nginitian ako ni Kuya Amiel at napansin ko rin ang pagngiti sa akin ni Topher. Kahit naiinis pa rin ako sa kaniya ay nginitian ko pa rin siya pabalik.

"Amstel, come with me," seryosong tawag ni Daddy kay Kuya Amstel.

Naunang lumabas si Daddy ng mansion at tahimik namang sumunod si Kuya Amstel.

"Elise,let's go. I'll show you your room," rinig kong aya ni Kuya Amiel sa akin kay lumapit ako sa kanila.

"Hi, brat," bati ni Topher ng makalapit ako sa kanila.

"Hello, Mr. Hotheaded," bati ko sa kaniya pabalik na may kasamang pang-aasar.

"Okay, that's enough for the greetings. Let's go, Elise. You can come if you want to, Topher," Kuya Amiel commanded and held my elbow, guiding me upstairs.

We went to my room and I am surprise to see how big it is. And I'm glad because it's color gray and white.

There is a california king size bed, a vanity table, study table, and a mini ref with microwave at the top of it. I have my own bathroom and a walk-in-closet, I guess?

I no longer need to go to the theater room na nga because I have here a 60 inches TV, may balot pa nga pero naka-assemble na at nakadikit na sa pader.

"Wow," I mumbled in a amusement on my new room.

"We have the same room color but my room is bigger pero connected naman ang walk-in-closet naman ni Ams. Do you want me to tour you around the house?" alok ni Kuya Amiel na hindi ko naman tinanggihan.

Lumabas na kami ng kwarto ko at naglakad patungo sa tapat ng pinto ng kasunod kong kwarto. May name na nakasulat sa pinto na 'Amiel'. Obviously it is Kuya Amiel's room.

Binuksan ni Kuya ang pinto at tumambad sa amin ang napakalinis at mabango niyang kwarto. Sumilip lang ako at 'di na nag-abalang pumasok. Sunod naming pinuntahan ang kwarto ni Kuya Ams na medyo magulo ngunit kapareho lang din ng kulay ng kwarto namin ni Kuya Amiel.

Ipinakita rin sa akin ni Kuya ang theater room, gaming room at ang room nina Mommy at Daddy.

Nang natapos ang tour sa napakalaking bahay nila kahit hindi naman na kailangan dahil medyo kabisado ko naman na rin 'tong bahay dahil madalas naman kami rito for the past 2 years, ay nagtungo kami sa kitchen upang kumuha ng makakain na dadalhin sa theater room.

Nagpaalam din ako saglit na maliligo at magpapalit ng damit sa aking kwarto, mabuti na lang pala ay dinala ko rito ang backpack ko. Wala pa rin kasi ang mga maleta ko. Binilisan ko lang dahil ayoko namang paghintayin sila ng matagal. I settled with wearing a white shirt and a sweatpants since this is the only clothes I have in my backpack.

Pagkarating ko sa theater room na medyo naligaw pa ko ay nandoon na rin si Kuya Amstel na abala sa pakikipagbiruan kay Topher.

Tumabi ako kay Kuya Amiel dahil siya lang naman ang kasundo ko sa kanila at pinlay na ni Kuya Ams ang projector.

Tahimik lang akong nanonood at paminsan-minsang tumitingin sa phone ko dahil baka magtext o tumawag si Mommy sa akin.

Napatingin ako kay Kuya Amiel nang bigla itong tumayo.

"May kukuhanin lang ako sa room ko. Ams, si Elise," paalam at bilin niya.

Tinanguan lang siya ni Kuya Ams at muling tumingin sa pinapanood namin.

Natigilan ako nang biglang tumabi sa akin si Kuya Ams at kumuha sa hawak kong chips.

"Hey, I'm sorry for what I did earlier," aniya at bumalik na sa pwesto niya kanina.

"Elise!" Napalingon naman ako kay Topher nang tawagin niya ako.

"Po?" awkward kong sagot.

Unang beses kasi niya akong tinawag sa pangalan ko. Kanina ay puro 'Brat' ang itinatawag niya sa akin.

"You're studying at Maximus too, right?"

"Yeah, since nursery, why?" I answered and asked.

"Nothing, I just remembered that I saw you during the assembly for the next Student Council officers last school year, Ms. Vice President, right?"

"Yup, Mr. Treasurer," sagot ko ulit.

I am chosen as the Vice President of our Student Council. Unlike sa other schools, our school admin will choose the Student Council officers. Fortunately I am one of the chosen ones. My position was supposed to be Topher's pero inayawan niya. Kuya Amiel is our President and Kuya Amstel is our Public Information officer.

"Good luck, Amiel will be a lot busy this school year and you'll probably get the work he'll left behind. Just tell us if you need help," aniya at ngumiti.

"Thank you," pasasalamat ko at nginitian din siya.

"Too fast, Topher, too fast."

Pareho kaming napalingon sa kapapasok lang na si Kuya Amiel at mariing nakatingin kay Topher.

Eh? They are weird.

"Come on, I'm not doing anything," nakangising sabi ni Topher kay Kuya.

Hindi na siya sinagot ni Kuya Amiel at tumabi na sa akin.

Nagpatuloy kami sa panonood at minsang nagpicture. Nung una ay nahihiya pa akong sumama sa picture dahil puro lalaki sila at baka kung anong isipin ng makakakita ng mga picture na 'yon. People nowadays are so quick to judge pa naman.

After watching the movie we went to the dining area so we can eat dinner na. I finished my food early kaya nagpaalam ako na mauuna at pupunta na sa kwarto ko.

When I reached my room, my luggages are already there that's why I decided na ayusin na ang mga gamit ko.

I put all my clothes sa walk-in-closet na wala pang kalahati ang nalagyan ko. This closet is just big or I don't really have that much clothes. The next thing I did is arranging my books in the book shelves.

I also organized my study table. I don't have make-ups kaya halos wala rin akong nailagay sa vanity table ko.

I took off my favorite fragrance oil from my luggage and put 10 drops of it in my humidifier. I also turned on the aircon, hindi ko pala nabuksan kaya pala mainit though the windows are open but my room is big kaya hindi sapat ang hangin na pumapasok.

It's already 9PM when I finished. I went out of my room to get water. I still can't believe that I'm going to live here na. This house is triple size of our old house. This is like a modern castle!

Nang makabalik ako sa kwarto ko ay nagsimula na kong pilitin ang sarili ko na makatulog. I will go to mall tomorrow to buy school stuffs because the school year will start in few days.

I really hope that students of Maximus will spare my life after knowing my relationship with the Guevarras, especially with the twins.