CHAPTER 1

“Baby... wake up... breakfast is ready.” i can feel my body slightly shaking, someone’s trying to wake me up. I open my left eye to see what time is it,

“Mom, it’s only 6 in the morning... let me sleep.” nang akala ko ay titigilan niya na ako, muli akong nagbalot ng blanket ko. But knowing Mommy?

“Come on, Baby. We’re leaving at 9:00am so you better get yourself up and prepare na!” pangungulit niya pa sa’kin, I know hindi siya titigil hanggang hindi ako tumatayo. As much as I wanted to sleep, pilit akong tumayo para maligo at mag-ayos. I just wear my bathrobe since magpapalit din naman ako mamaya. Pagbaba ko sa dinning, naabutan ko si Mommy at Daddy na nag-uusap over something.

“Good morning, dad...mom.” bati ko sa kanila sabay upo. I don’t know why, but I still feel empty kahit na buo kami at sabi nila mayaman. Sa bahay namin, you can have how much money you want, kahit araw araw ka magshopping or gumastos para sa pagkain,wala silang pakealam. But everything in this house was ruled by dad, kaming dalawa ni mom, susunod lang sa mga sasabihin niya.

“Did you pack your things already? You will be staying there for 2-3 months, ang mga katulong ang makakasama mo dahil may trabaho kami ng mommy mo dito.” seryoso niyang sabi na parang nag-uutos lamang sa kung sino. In my 23 years of existence,  never niya pa akong nilambing. I’m an only child and I’m expecting to receive all the attention and love coming from them. But no, as an only child, dad wants me to be almost perfect, kesyo nasa mayamang pamilya daw at kailangan tanging magaganda lamang ang nakikita sa’min. I mean, why? Mas importante sa’kin ang happiness ng pamilya, kesa sa limpak limpak na pera na yan.

“Yes, dad.” parang isang sundalo na sumusunod sa mas mataas na rango. Mabilis ‘kong inubos ang pagkain ko, dahil parang hindi ko rin malunok ang kinakain ko.

“I’m full. I will prepare my things upstairs, mom... dad.” i said after drinking my warm water.

“Sure, baby.” mommy awkwardly smile and dad just nodded at me while looking at his phone.

Pagpasok ko sa kwarto, i sighed heavily. I just wish pag-uwi namin ng Bataan, magkaroon na ako ng peace of mind since mga maids lang ang magiging kasama ko. Mas mabuti pa yata ‘yon, tsk. I start packing my personal things, 2-3 months daw so I have 2 luggages for my clothes and another 1 for my bags, shoes, and make ups. I brushed my teeth and went inside my walk-in-closet, since we are going to the farm, I chose to wear off-shoulder floral dress paired with brown lace up sandals, I also brought my YSL black shades. I curled my brown hair a little bit and put a light make up on my face. I’m off to go. I came downstairs to call the guards to pick up my luggages in my room.

“Ready?” i heard mom walking towards me, ready na din. I nodded and smiled. I saw dad coming down looking at his wrist watch.

“Let’s go.” he looked at us and go straight outside. I sighed. Sabay na kaming naglakad ng mommy patungo sa labas, buti nalang ako lang mag-isa sa kotse with my driver, they have their own car and driver.

Sariwang hangin ang bumungad sa mukha ko pagbaba ko ng kotse. Finally, I saw trees. The last time we went here was when I was 8 years old, but then mula noon naging busy na sila so hindi na kami nagkaroon ng pagkakataon bumisita ulit dito. 3.5 hectares ang laki ng farm namin na tinatawag na “Don Lucio’s Farm”. Almost 4 hours ang byahe so 1pm na kami nakarating, the maids greeted us and pick up our luggages.

“Let’s have our lunch.” dad said as we go straight to the dinning. There’s a lot of foods on the table, prepared ha. We’re only three here, ang dami na nga ng foods, ang laki pa ng table. Tapos ang lungkot ng kakain, wow.

“Can I go to my room na? I’m done eating.” pagod ‘kong sabi. I want to sleep. Dad looked at me with a serious face.

“Bring her to her room together with her food.” dad said to one of our maids. Hindi sya naniwala na tapos na ‘ko kumain, I know he’s aware na mabigat ang atmosphere dito. Mommy just smiled at me. Tumayo na ko at dere-deretsong umakyat sa kwarto, so tiring. After I changed my clothes, I just lay down on my bed and fell asleep.

I woke up at 4:00pm and I decided to arrange my things in my walk-in-closet. It took me an hour to finish it so I decided to go downstairs and walk around outside.

“Hi ma’am.” bati sa’kin ng mga katulong at mga driver na madadaanan ko, I just smiled as a response. Sa katagalan na hindi pagbisita, medyo nakalimutan ko na ang ibang parte ng bahay at farm. Paglabas ko ng back door, my eyes twinkled when I saw lots of flowers. I really love colorful flowers, it refreshes my mind whenever I see a bunch of this. Isa isa ‘kong hinawakan ito at inamoy, kahit dito na lang ako maghapon, okay lang. There is a round wooden table and 4 wooden chairs at the center of the garden, sa gilid naman, merong swing which adds excitement to me. Hindi ko pa man nakikita ang buong farm, alam ‘kong ito ang magiging paborito ko. Inikot ko lamang ang buong bahay hanggang sa mapansin ko na medyo dumidilim na.

“Good evening, Ma’am. Pinapatawag na po kayo ni Don Lucio, nakahanda na ho ang hapunan.” sabi sa’kin ng isa sa mga katulong. Agad naman akong ngumiti.

“Ahh, yeah. Sunod na po ako.” magalang ‘kong tugon. Umikot ako papunta sa main door at doon pumasok papunta sa dinning. Nandoon na si Mom at Dad na mukhang kagigising lang. I sighed. Here we go again.

“Hi, baby. I heard nag-ikot ikot ka daw, did you like your new atmosphere?” mom seems so excited, hindi mawala ang ngiti niya. Nagsimula na kaming kumain.

“I just roamed around the house mom, I also found the garden so relaxing.” I smiled a little bit while slicing my steak. I don’t mind eating fatty and oily foods, hindi ako mabilis tumaba dahil ganito na talaga ang body type ko, hindi uso sa’kin ang diet.

“Oh, yeah, ipinaayos nga pala namin iyon ng daddy mo kasi alam naming matutuwa ka pag nakita mo ang mga flowers. I’m so glad that you like it.” lalong kumislap ang mata ng mommy. If I know, kaya nila to ginagawa dahil maiiwan ako mag-isa dito. Bumigat na naman ang dibdib ko. Tumango lamang ako sa kanila at ngumiti ng bahagya. Si daddy naman ay wala paring kibo at nakikinig lamang sa usapan namin ni mom. I’m still lucky to have my mom, kasi kahit alam ‘kong nahihirapan siya para sa’min, pinipilit niya pa rin maging magaan ang lahat between dad and me, at least she’s trying to find ways to make me happy. Without her, I don’t think kaya ‘kong humarap kay dad. Patuloy lamang kami sa kwentuhan, paminsan minsan ay nagtatanong si mom kay dad at sinasagot lamang niya ito. I felt pity for mommy. Nang matapos ang dinner, umakyat na ako sa kwarto at nag-halfbath. I removed my make ups using my skin care products, this is one of my favorite routines everyday. Halos kagigising ko lang, hindi pa yata ako makakatulog. I took my phone and browse on the internet. After couple of hours, nakatulog na rin ako.

Nagising ako sa tunog ng alarm ko, it’s 6:00 in the morning, medyo madilim pa at mukhang masarap ang hangin. Nag-decide akong magjogging habang iniikot na rin ang farm namin. I just wear a simple black leggings and black sports bra, I also brought a bottled water and towel. Habang tumatakbo, nakaramdam ako na parang may tao sa likod ko, bigla akong napalingon at laking gulat ko nang may bumulaga sa akin na isang matangkad na lalaki, agad akong napahinto. I’m glad hindi pa ko nakakalayo sa bahay. I can see our guards from here.

“Hi,” nakakalokong ngiti niya, bigla akong kinabahan. He’s wearing a sky blue polo shirt and black pants, which confuses me, hindi siya nagjojog so he has no reasons to walk behind me. Mukha siyang businessman na tiga Manila. My brows automatically arched.

“I guess you are the daughter of Don Lucio?” lumapit siya ng kaunti at umatras naman ako. Looking at him, I’m not sure but hindi maganda ang pakiramdam ko sa kaniya. I just nodded.

“You have a resemblance to your mother, anyway, I’m Allan Yambao, may-ari ako ng kompanya na sinusupplyan ng mga prutas niyo dito sa farm.” iniabot niya ang kamay niya sa’kin, asking for shake hands. Tinitigan ko lamang iyon at nagsalita.

“I’m not interested.” I turned around and started to run slowly, but nararamdaman ko pa rin na sumusunod siya. Nagsisimula na akong mairita.

“This is the first time I saw you here, ngayon ka lang ba napunta dito?” he keeps on asking me random questions, but I’m not answering. Bahala ka jan, I don’t even know you.

“Kelan pa kayo dumating?” dagdag pa niya, one more question,

“Can you tour me around?” oh shit. Mabilis akong lumingon sa kaniya.

“Can you stop?” salubong ang kilay ‘kong sabi sa kaniya. He’s so annoying.

“Bumalik ka na sa pinanggalingan mo, wag mo kong guluhin.” sabay irap ko sa kaniya, mas napapagod pa ‘ko sa kakulitan niya kesa sa pagjojogging ko. Saan ba kasi galing ‘to at bigla biglang sumusulpot?

“Feisty... I like that.” nakakaasar niyang ngisi. Dahil alam ‘kong hindi siya titigil, naglakad na lamang ako pabalik sa bahay, tsk.

“Oh, you’re done with your jogging? Samahan na kita pauwi.” agad naman siyang sumunod sa’kin, nagsisimula nang uminit ang ulo ko.

“Ano ba?! Alam mo umagang umaga, mukha mo nakikita ko! Can you stop pestering me?!” irita ‘kong sabi at mabilis na naglakad pauwi, at last hindi na rin siya sumunod. Umuwi akong nakasimangot sa bahay. When I enter the house, sakto naman pababa sina mom at dad.

“Good morning, baby. Nakatulog ka ba nang maayos?” mom caressed my hair and smiled at me habang si dad dumeretso lamang sa dinning.

“Yes, mom. I’m gonna take a bath first po so we can start our breakfast.” I said.

“Sure, baby.” after that, I went to my room and take a shower. I just wear a white spaghetti sando and a gray dolphin shorts, bumaba na rin ako sa dinning. Dad is sipping his coffee and mom is preparing for breakfast.

“Let’s eat.” masiglang sabi ni mom, umupo na ako sa tapat ni mom at kumuha ng pagkain.

“When are you guys planning to come back to Manila?” tanong ko kay mom habang kumakain, she glanced at me and shifted her glaze to dad.

“We’re going home this afternoon, baby.” malungkot niyang sabi sa’kin, I can feel her sadness through her eyes. Honestly, I don’t know what to feel. Magiging malungkot ba ako kung mag-isa na lang ako dito o magiging masaya dahil I can finally have peace of mind? I really felt empty. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako hahanap ng kaligayahan ko.

“Kelan kayo babalik?” i asked while drinking my black coffee, I don’t want to look at him.

“I’m not sure, baby. Pag hindi na masyadong busy at tambak ang trabaho, I promise to visit you here.” I slightly nodded. Bakit niyo ba ako dinala dito? Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin malinaw sa’kin kung bakit ako nandito, kung bakit kailangan ‘kong magtagal dito. Dad just told me na I will be staying here for 2-3 months but they don’t even tell me why. After I finished my breakfast, nagpaalam na lamang ako at umakyat sa kwarto ko.