KABANATA 1
IZARIA'S POV"Kung balak mong kausapin ang padre de pamilya ng mga Bernaville ay tamang-tama at may magaganap na piging sa Casa Bernaville sa susunod na araw. Mabuti at nakatanggap kami ng imbestasyon," ani daddy.I can't help it but observe them for a moment. Ngayon pa lang ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na pagmasdan nang matagal ang aking mga magulang. Halatang may sakit si daddy at kagagaling lang sa ospital habang si mommy naman ay mukhang stressed na palagi. I can see the lines on my daddy's forehead, a sign that he is getting older. I know that they are not getting any younger since everyone ages. Pero inakala ko talaga dati na masaya silang namumuhay dito dahil nasa kanila ang bagay ba pinakamamahal nila, at iyon ay ang Asunscion Company.Namana ko kay mommy ang aking kulay kastanyong mga mata, mahaba at malalantik kong pilik-mata, ang hugis-arko kong mga labi hanggang sa nipis nito, at ang hugis ng aking mukha. Pero ang mapusyaw kong balat ay dulot talaga ng aking pagiging sakitin noon. I got the rest of my features to daddy including my height, my long and pointed nose, and my natural oriole wavy hair. No matter how people compliment me for having these beautiful blessings, I always appear to be weak and pale— more like a fragile glass that is needed to be taken care of. The reason why most of the people I got interacted with show nothing but gentleness."They acquired the 60 percent of the stocks. If that is the case then how many stocks do you have now?" tanong ni lolo."10 percent stocks are left for the other stockholders. We got the 30 percent. Hindi na kami pupwedeng magbitaw pa ng porsyento para lang mabayaran ang ibang impleyado na pinangakuan namin ng maagang pasahod. The chairman of Bernaville Group has the rights to transfer all of the stocks to their company. We couldn't afford to provoke him," paliwanag ni mommy.Kumunot ang noo ko. "Kailan niya ba nakuha ang 60 percent?""Mag-iisang buwan na ang nakakalipas," si daddy.Kung ganoon ay wala pa siyang planong ilipat ang stocks sa kompanya nila. He maybe the new chairman of Asunscion Company but it seems like he has no ill-intention after acquiring it. Baka nga madadaan sa usapan ang chairman ng Bernaville Group."We have to build good relationship with the Bernaville Family. What can you say, Zaria?" baling sa akin ni lolo.Tumango na lamang ako. I think that would be the most crucial step. Malaki ang nawala sa kompanya namin. Sixty percent is not a joke. Pupwede pang baguhin ng chairman ang lahat ng pamamalakad sa kompanya na iyon at gawin niya ang lahat ng kagustuhan niya. He can even break our company down without a sweat because he is the chairman!"Kung ganoon ay susubukan kong kausapin ang chairman nila. I will take back what is ours no matter what. Malaking bagay ito at sigurado akong mahihirapan akong lumapit sa kanila pero gagawin ko ang lahat upang maibalik sa atin ang Asunscion Company. You know how much our ancestors treasured it and they even protected it for the sake of their future descendants, for the sake of our legacy and pride."Our conversations went on and on until we decided to eat our dinner since it is already evening. Pagkatapos ay iginiya na ako ni mommy sa kwarto ko. We had short conversation but I acted as if I am sleepy so she can get out of my room immediately. I know that is rude but I have my reason. Pagkalabas niya ay agad kong ni-lock ang pinto at inilabas ang laptop ko. I assembled my personal computer too and then started to dig on the Bernaville Group and all of the chairman's family background.Hindi ko alam pero nabago ata ang gusto ko ngayon. Ayaw kong mamahala ng isang kompanya pero ngayon ay parang inaamin ko na sa sarili ko na ako naman talaga ang susunod na chairman ng Asunscion Company kaya tama lang na tumulong ako upang mabawi ito. Kahit sino pang magaling na chairman iyan ay babawiin ko sa kanya ang kompanya ko!"What kind of family is this?" Napangiwi ako sa aking mga nababasa at nakikita.Their clan seem to be very distant from each other. Wala pang litrato na lumalabas tungkol sa kasalukuyang chairman ng Bernaville Group pati ang ibang myembro ng pamilya. It seems like the family of the current chairman is very private. Puro pa bida ay mga kamag-anak lang na mahilig sumagot sa mga tanong ng mga reporters. I tried to log in on my dark web account and faked my server. I contacted someone to help me find reliable information about them. Lolo doesn't know anything about me being a computer literate. I am home schooled but Samshin is not. I learned a lot from Samshin like codes and how to cipher and decipher them. Especially hacking.Samshin Fujimoto is my friend. He is a Japanese mixed martial artist. Matanda siya sa akin ng ilang taon pero nagkakasundo kami. Sa lahat ata ng mga nakilala ko ay sa kanya lang ako komportable. Hindi siya mahirap pakisamahan at madali siyang mahalin. But I have no special feelings for him. He is mere like an elder brother to me. Mabait siya at matulungin kaya kahit anong hingin ko sa kanya ay ibibigay niya sa akin. Ilang taon ba naman kaming magkasama at sabay na lumaki."Bernaville Group remained on top because of its competent and smart leaders in the past up to now. Every generation of the Bernaville Family has to meet a specific requirement to be the next chairman of this huge and successful company," basa ko sa unang ipinasang impormasyon ni Samshin.I received another notification and this time, he attached a picture. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang mabuksan ang ipinasa niya sa akin at matingnan ang picture. Medyo napaatras ako sa aking nakita. Isang lalaki ang nasa picture. Nakaw na kuha iyon pero klarong-klaro ang kanyang mukha. He looks kind of dangerous and very intimidating for real. Paano pa kaya kung sa personal ko siya makita. Given the fact that he has a dragon tattoo on his left arm up to his neck. Kita iyon dahil sa suot niyang white t-shirt. He has black hair. His eyes were furrowed and it complemented his black hooded eyes while his lips are tightly formed in a grim line that made him look unapproachable and intimidating."This is Grandeur Vermillion Bernaville or known as Master Grand, the current chairman of the Bernaville Group. He is not friendly and no one wants to mess up with this man. Grand has a twin brother who went missing seventeen years ago. That's all I got. He is a very private person," dagdag pa ni Samshin.Nanindig ang balahibo ko. Tinititigan ko pa lamang ang katawan niya ay parang kayang-kaya niya akong basagin nang pinong-pino. Tell me, how will lolo try to approach someone as intimidating as this Grand Bernaville?!KABANATA 2IZARIA’S POVPinagpuyatan ko talaga ang paghahanap ng iba pang impormasyon tungkol sa mga Bernaville. Pero bukod sa isa sila sa mga natatanging pamilya at makapangyarihan ang buong angkan nila ay wala ng iba. Ni hindi ko alam kung mahahanapan ba namin sila ng kahinaan. Nakakatakot ang chairman nila kahit na hindi naman siya matanda at mukhang wala pang asawa. Natatakot tuloy ako na patuluyin at suportahan si lolo sa kanyang binabalak na pakikipag-ugnayan sa kanila. But I won’t question anything as of now. Our company is worth fighting for.“Zari, would you like to come tonight? Dadalo kami sa party ng mga Bernaville tulad ng napagplanuhan,” sambit ni mommy.Nasa hapag kaming lahat para kumain ng almusal. Halata ang pagpupuyat ko dahil kanina pa ako tinititigan sa mga mata ni lolo. He is giving me that warning look. Alam ko na agad na nagagalit siya ngayon. Bawal kasi sa akin ang pagpupuyat dahil ipinagbawal sa akin ng doctor ko. Iniiwas ko na lamang ang tingin ko sa kanya.
KABANATA 3IZARIA’S POVAgad akong nag-iwas ng tingin kay Grand. Ipinanalangin ko na sana ay hindi talaga ako ang nakita niya kanina. Hindi na ako ulit tumingin pa sa gawi niya dahil natatakot ako na kapag lumingon ako roon ay magkatinginan kami at baka masindak lamang ako sa mga titig niyang nakakatakot. Nakinig na lamang ako sa usapan ng ibang katabi namin.“I proudly present to you, the new chairman of the Bernaville Group, Architect Grandeur Vermillion Bernaville.”Pangalan niya pa lang ay parang ayaw ko ng marinig ulit. I did everything to divert my attention because just by thinking about that man makes me tremble from fear. Hindi ako nakinig sa kung anong mga pinagsasabi nila basta ay nililibang ko ang sarili ko sa pagsusuri sa mga taong nakatayo sa kabilang gilid. Hanggang sa kalabitin ako ni lolo at pilit itinuturo sa akin ang isang taong nasa bandang likod ko. Hindi ako lumingon dahil doon nakatayo kanina si Grand.“Zari, that’s their new chairman. Kailangan ay maipakilala k
KABANATA 4IZARIA'S POVNanatili akong nakapikit kahit na naramdaman ko ang pagbuhat sa akin ng kung sino. Nalaman kong si daddy iyon nang marinig ang natatarantang boses ni mommy na sinasabihan itong dalhin ako agad sa kotse para madala sa hospital. Pero narinig ko ang kalmadong boses ni lolo na sinasabing sa kwarto na ako ituloy. Kung tutuusin siya pa ang unang magsasabi talaga na malayo iyon sa bituka para sa akin. Pero ineexpect ko pa naman siyang sasang-ayon siya kay mommy dahil itinatago niya naman sa kanila na tinuruan niya ako ng martial arts at na malakas naman talaga ang katawan ko. "Sa loob mo na siya dalhin, Erwin. May mga bisita pa tayo," sambit ni lolo kay daddy.I tried to peek at them. At nakita ko ang nakataas-kilay na si lolo habang mariing nakatitig sa akin. Mukhang binabantayan ako nang maigi. Mukhang alam na niya na nagpapanggap lamang ako. Agad kong naipikit ang aking mga mata. Oh my god! He'd always use that expression whenever he is disappointed or in a foul m
KABANATA 5GRANDEUR’S POVIt is satisfying to watch how the nature naturally shows its beauty to us. The soft whispers of the wind that makes the leaves dance, the melodious chirps of the birds that have been instilled from our mind, the relaxing sound of the flow of the water, the beautiful colors that gave life to the world itself, the gentle drops of the rain that washes away the worries of the day and serves as a lullaby to the weary. Everything is just amazing… at least for other people.But it wasn’t enough for me. No one has ever satisfied me yet. The perfection I want has never been met. Not even the beauty of the nature has made me completely amazed. Maybe my preference is beyond average. Or maybe people couldn’t just meet my expectations. It may be too much for them or I was just being too hard on myself. But now, someone has caught my attention. No… it was her natural reaction that has made me interested.Fear…Yes, it’s fear…I can smell her fear…From the moment our eyes
KABANATA 6IZARIA’S POVSurely time flies so fast. Hindi ko na namalayan ang matuling paglipas ng panahon. Kinaya kong manatili sa Pilipinas ng isa at kalahating buwan. Although, I had a rough time adjusting to the weather, to the new environment, and the majority is how I need to intermingle with other people. Most of the time I am inside our mansion. The housemaids would always try their best to communicate with me, but I would always turn my back on them and isolate myself on my room because I have no courage to socialize with them.Lolo took me to different places in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, for me to easily adjust and familiarize places. Nag-enjoy naman ako kahit na medyo nagka culture shock ako nang ma-expose sa iba’t ibang tao dito sa Pilipinas. Mommy and daddy always throw parties in our mansion so that everyone will know of my existence. Our relatives were always present and most of their business partners were also there. But I always wondered how people maintain social
KABANATA 7IZARIA’S POVSometimes we feel like we are devoid of love, spirit, energy, and luck. It’s as if we are living but not truly alive. Pero nangyayari lang din ito kapag may malalim tayong pinagdadaanan o di kaya kapag may nawalang isang pinakamahalagang tao o bagay sa ating buhay. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi mawawala ang sama ng loob ko kahit lumuha man ako ng dugo. Kaya kahit na nakatayo man ako sa harap ng puntod ni lolo ay walang luhang lumalabas sa aking mga mata. Mukhang naubos na ang luha ko bago pa lang matapos ang libing. Pakiramdam ko ay lumulutang ako, para akong kaluluwang naligaw sa mundong ito. Walang nararamdaman, walang patutunguhan, at pawang naliligaw lamang.“Zari, uulan nang malakas. Umalis na tayo,” paalala ulit sa akin ni mommy.Umiling ako. Parang nakapako ang aking mga paa sa aking kinatatayuan. Hindi ko maigalaw ang aking katawan. Pero ayaw ko rin namang umalis dito. Kasi alam ko na kapag umalis ako rito ay hindi ko na alam kung makakabangon pa ba ako bukas.
KABANATA 8IZARIA’S POV“W-What?!” gulat si mommy pagkatapos kong sabihing pumapayag ako sa kasal. “Kakasabi ko lang na may ibang motibo ang mga Bernaville! Bakit ka papayag sa kasal?”“It’s the only way to take back the company, right? Ayaw kong tumunganga lang kung alam kong may paraan naman para mabawi iyon. It doesn’t matter if they have hidden motives. There’s only one way to know the truth. Let’s keep in mind that Asunscion Company is the pride of our clan.”Even though I hate being exposed to the business world, I’ll risk everything just so I can’t disappoint myself, lolo, and my parents. I can find ways to get away from Grand after I take back the company. “Are you saying that you’ll let yourself dance in the palms of the Bernavilles?” mommy said almost hysterically.“Not totally. I can always find my way out.”Umiling-iling si mommy para ipakitang hindi siya pabor sa kagustuhan ko. Pero determinado na ako ngayon. Buo na ang plano sa aking isipan. “Your daddy will not agre
SIMULAIZARIA'S POVOne thing that I always notice is that everything is represented by different colors. Red for blood or revenge, black for sorrow or emptiness, green for sickly-looking or pale, and white for purity and peace. Whereas pink for weak yet stunning color that will steal your attention. Just like those beautiful cherry blossom. Maybe they named me Izaria Mauve because I always look weak compared to others. My second name Mauve simply means pink or pale purple. And I always thought it is too girly. But the true meaning behind this color may shock everyone. The hard blows of the wind sent shivers down my spine and my lips were trembling. For almost four hours, I was told by my grandfather to stand straight here in the middle of our training area adjacent to the temple. Hindi ko siya kayang suwayin dahil kasama na ito sa sinasabi niyang training ko. Wearing a black kimono and my hair in a tight bun, I let myself endure the pain and breathed deeply. Yumuko ako dahil sumasak
KABANATA 8IZARIA’S POV“W-What?!” gulat si mommy pagkatapos kong sabihing pumapayag ako sa kasal. “Kakasabi ko lang na may ibang motibo ang mga Bernaville! Bakit ka papayag sa kasal?”“It’s the only way to take back the company, right? Ayaw kong tumunganga lang kung alam kong may paraan naman para mabawi iyon. It doesn’t matter if they have hidden motives. There’s only one way to know the truth. Let’s keep in mind that Asunscion Company is the pride of our clan.”Even though I hate being exposed to the business world, I’ll risk everything just so I can’t disappoint myself, lolo, and my parents. I can find ways to get away from Grand after I take back the company. “Are you saying that you’ll let yourself dance in the palms of the Bernavilles?” mommy said almost hysterically.“Not totally. I can always find my way out.”Umiling-iling si mommy para ipakitang hindi siya pabor sa kagustuhan ko. Pero determinado na ako ngayon. Buo na ang plano sa aking isipan. “Your daddy will not agre
KABANATA 7IZARIA’S POVSometimes we feel like we are devoid of love, spirit, energy, and luck. It’s as if we are living but not truly alive. Pero nangyayari lang din ito kapag may malalim tayong pinagdadaanan o di kaya kapag may nawalang isang pinakamahalagang tao o bagay sa ating buhay. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi mawawala ang sama ng loob ko kahit lumuha man ako ng dugo. Kaya kahit na nakatayo man ako sa harap ng puntod ni lolo ay walang luhang lumalabas sa aking mga mata. Mukhang naubos na ang luha ko bago pa lang matapos ang libing. Pakiramdam ko ay lumulutang ako, para akong kaluluwang naligaw sa mundong ito. Walang nararamdaman, walang patutunguhan, at pawang naliligaw lamang.“Zari, uulan nang malakas. Umalis na tayo,” paalala ulit sa akin ni mommy.Umiling ako. Parang nakapako ang aking mga paa sa aking kinatatayuan. Hindi ko maigalaw ang aking katawan. Pero ayaw ko rin namang umalis dito. Kasi alam ko na kapag umalis ako rito ay hindi ko na alam kung makakabangon pa ba ako bukas.
KABANATA 6IZARIA’S POVSurely time flies so fast. Hindi ko na namalayan ang matuling paglipas ng panahon. Kinaya kong manatili sa Pilipinas ng isa at kalahating buwan. Although, I had a rough time adjusting to the weather, to the new environment, and the majority is how I need to intermingle with other people. Most of the time I am inside our mansion. The housemaids would always try their best to communicate with me, but I would always turn my back on them and isolate myself on my room because I have no courage to socialize with them.Lolo took me to different places in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, for me to easily adjust and familiarize places. Nag-enjoy naman ako kahit na medyo nagka culture shock ako nang ma-expose sa iba’t ibang tao dito sa Pilipinas. Mommy and daddy always throw parties in our mansion so that everyone will know of my existence. Our relatives were always present and most of their business partners were also there. But I always wondered how people maintain social
KABANATA 5GRANDEUR’S POVIt is satisfying to watch how the nature naturally shows its beauty to us. The soft whispers of the wind that makes the leaves dance, the melodious chirps of the birds that have been instilled from our mind, the relaxing sound of the flow of the water, the beautiful colors that gave life to the world itself, the gentle drops of the rain that washes away the worries of the day and serves as a lullaby to the weary. Everything is just amazing… at least for other people.But it wasn’t enough for me. No one has ever satisfied me yet. The perfection I want has never been met. Not even the beauty of the nature has made me completely amazed. Maybe my preference is beyond average. Or maybe people couldn’t just meet my expectations. It may be too much for them or I was just being too hard on myself. But now, someone has caught my attention. No… it was her natural reaction that has made me interested.Fear…Yes, it’s fear…I can smell her fear…From the moment our eyes
KABANATA 4IZARIA'S POVNanatili akong nakapikit kahit na naramdaman ko ang pagbuhat sa akin ng kung sino. Nalaman kong si daddy iyon nang marinig ang natatarantang boses ni mommy na sinasabihan itong dalhin ako agad sa kotse para madala sa hospital. Pero narinig ko ang kalmadong boses ni lolo na sinasabing sa kwarto na ako ituloy. Kung tutuusin siya pa ang unang magsasabi talaga na malayo iyon sa bituka para sa akin. Pero ineexpect ko pa naman siyang sasang-ayon siya kay mommy dahil itinatago niya naman sa kanila na tinuruan niya ako ng martial arts at na malakas naman talaga ang katawan ko. "Sa loob mo na siya dalhin, Erwin. May mga bisita pa tayo," sambit ni lolo kay daddy.I tried to peek at them. At nakita ko ang nakataas-kilay na si lolo habang mariing nakatitig sa akin. Mukhang binabantayan ako nang maigi. Mukhang alam na niya na nagpapanggap lamang ako. Agad kong naipikit ang aking mga mata. Oh my god! He'd always use that expression whenever he is disappointed or in a foul m
KABANATA 3IZARIA’S POVAgad akong nag-iwas ng tingin kay Grand. Ipinanalangin ko na sana ay hindi talaga ako ang nakita niya kanina. Hindi na ako ulit tumingin pa sa gawi niya dahil natatakot ako na kapag lumingon ako roon ay magkatinginan kami at baka masindak lamang ako sa mga titig niyang nakakatakot. Nakinig na lamang ako sa usapan ng ibang katabi namin.“I proudly present to you, the new chairman of the Bernaville Group, Architect Grandeur Vermillion Bernaville.”Pangalan niya pa lang ay parang ayaw ko ng marinig ulit. I did everything to divert my attention because just by thinking about that man makes me tremble from fear. Hindi ako nakinig sa kung anong mga pinagsasabi nila basta ay nililibang ko ang sarili ko sa pagsusuri sa mga taong nakatayo sa kabilang gilid. Hanggang sa kalabitin ako ni lolo at pilit itinuturo sa akin ang isang taong nasa bandang likod ko. Hindi ako lumingon dahil doon nakatayo kanina si Grand.“Zari, that’s their new chairman. Kailangan ay maipakilala k
KABANATA 2IZARIA’S POVPinagpuyatan ko talaga ang paghahanap ng iba pang impormasyon tungkol sa mga Bernaville. Pero bukod sa isa sila sa mga natatanging pamilya at makapangyarihan ang buong angkan nila ay wala ng iba. Ni hindi ko alam kung mahahanapan ba namin sila ng kahinaan. Nakakatakot ang chairman nila kahit na hindi naman siya matanda at mukhang wala pang asawa. Natatakot tuloy ako na patuluyin at suportahan si lolo sa kanyang binabalak na pakikipag-ugnayan sa kanila. But I won’t question anything as of now. Our company is worth fighting for.“Zari, would you like to come tonight? Dadalo kami sa party ng mga Bernaville tulad ng napagplanuhan,” sambit ni mommy.Nasa hapag kaming lahat para kumain ng almusal. Halata ang pagpupuyat ko dahil kanina pa ako tinititigan sa mga mata ni lolo. He is giving me that warning look. Alam ko na agad na nagagalit siya ngayon. Bawal kasi sa akin ang pagpupuyat dahil ipinagbawal sa akin ng doctor ko. Iniiwas ko na lamang ang tingin ko sa kanya.
KABANATA 1IZARIA'S POV"Kung balak mong kausapin ang padre de pamilya ng mga Bernaville ay tamang-tama at may magaganap na piging sa Casa Bernaville sa susunod na araw. Mabuti at nakatanggap kami ng imbestasyon," ani daddy. I can't help it but observe them for a moment. Ngayon pa lang ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na pagmasdan nang matagal ang aking mga magulang. Halatang may sakit si daddy at kagagaling lang sa ospital habang si mommy naman ay mukhang stressed na palagi. I can see the lines on my daddy's forehead, a sign that he is getting older. I know that they are not getting any younger since everyone ages. Pero inakala ko talaga dati na masaya silang namumuhay dito dahil nasa kanila ang bagay ba pinakamamahal nila, at iyon ay ang Asunscion Company. Namana ko kay mommy ang aking kulay kastanyong mga mata, mahaba at malalantik kong pilik-mata, ang hugis-arko kong mga labi hanggang sa nipis nito, at ang hugis ng aking mukha. Pero ang mapusyaw kong balat ay dulot talaga ng aking p
SIMULAIZARIA'S POVOne thing that I always notice is that everything is represented by different colors. Red for blood or revenge, black for sorrow or emptiness, green for sickly-looking or pale, and white for purity and peace. Whereas pink for weak yet stunning color that will steal your attention. Just like those beautiful cherry blossom. Maybe they named me Izaria Mauve because I always look weak compared to others. My second name Mauve simply means pink or pale purple. And I always thought it is too girly. But the true meaning behind this color may shock everyone. The hard blows of the wind sent shivers down my spine and my lips were trembling. For almost four hours, I was told by my grandfather to stand straight here in the middle of our training area adjacent to the temple. Hindi ko siya kayang suwayin dahil kasama na ito sa sinasabi niyang training ko. Wearing a black kimono and my hair in a tight bun, I let myself endure the pain and breathed deeply. Yumuko ako dahil sumasak