Chapter 1

"Adrianna, from now on this will be your house."

I looked around without saying anything. Their house is big but ours is bigger. The furnitures are classy, they have a grand staircase in the middle going to the second floor and there's a huge chandelier hanging. The maids on their uniform are on the side looking at us. 

This house is not new to me. I've been here before my parents both died in an accident. We're on the way to our rest house in Batangas when that happened. I am the only one who survived. They said I'm lucky. How can I be lucky if I'm left alone? I'm only eight. If I could only wish, I will wish to be with them. I don't want to be left here. I don't want to live with mom's sister, but I don't have a choice. She's the only relative I have.

If only I'm allowed to stay in our house with my nanny, I will choose to stay there. But the police and those people from the government came, they can't allow me to stay alone at a very young age. I need a guardian and that is my aunt.

Tita Azon is my mother's older sister. I don't like her to be honest because the day before the accident happened I heard her fighting with my mom. She's not that nice to me also, even her daughter, my cousin Ariella who is a year older than me. Both of them don't liked me except for Tito Art, Tita Azon's husband, he's the only one who is nice to me.

"Do you like it, nak?" Tito Art asked, he even squatted in front of me but I remained quiet 'coz even if I don't like it, I don't have a choice. Their house is big but I don't feel at home. This is not my home. 

"Why is she here Mom, Dad?" 

I shifted my gaze at my cousin who is now standing mid-stairs with one brow raised at me. She's wearing a pink jumpsuit, hair tied neatly in a ponytail and she look like those typical brat kids with unwelcoming aura. I'm not surprised at all. I looked at her coldly, this is what I am expecting from her. I new it, she wouldn't like me to be here.

I came from a rich family. I am the only child but I'm raised well by my mom and my dad. They don't want me to grow up ill mannered. At a very young age I know already what is right and what is wrong. My parents don't think twice of punishing me if I did something wrong that's why I grew up minding all my moves. I always put in my mind all the words from my mother. To always be kind because we don't know what other people have been through.

My mom is strict but she's lovable. She's more disciplinarian than my dad but I understand it. She's doing what she thinks will be good for me. Despite her busy schedule, she always find time to bond with me. Too bad that they are taken away from me too early.

"Ariella, baby, come here." Tito Art said and motioned her to go down." She walked down the stairs still looking at me. 

Since then, I was aware that Ariella doesn't like me. Hindi ko alam kung anong problema niya sa akin. Hindi naman ako madamot sa mga laruan ko kapag pumupunta sila sa bahay namin. All I can remember is, that every time she borrows my toys it's already broken when she return it back. Okay lang sana kung alam kong hindi niya sinasadyang sirain. Pero hindi e, she's ruining my toys in purpose. Parang yung galit niya sa akin, sa mga laruan ko niya binubunton. 

I can feel that she is jealous of me, but I don't understand why? Why would she be jealous if in the first place she is not my sister?

"Baby, from now on, Adrianna will be staying here with us." 

Yun palang ang sinabi ni Tito Art pero nakita ko na ang pagpo-protesta sa mga mata ni Ariella. Matalim niya akong tiningnan pero blangkong tingin lang ang pinukol ko sa kanya. I want to tell her that I don't like to stay here either, I just don't have a choice, but I chose to stay quiet. I don't want to give problem to Tito Art. 

When they  told me that they will bring me here, I agreed without saying anything. I understand because those ladies who worked in the government already explained to me.

"And from now on, treat Adrianna as your younger sister. We adopted her."

My forehead creased. They didn't tell me about the adoption. Nobody told me. They just told me that I will stay with them since Tita Azon is the only guardian I have.

"Are we cool Ariella? Do you understand what Dad is telling you?" Tito Art said in a calm voice.

Ariella didn't say anything, instead she walked towards me and in an instant she pushed me hard that made me loose my balance. Bumagsak ako sa sahig dahil hindi ko napaghandaan ang pagtulak niya sa akin. 

"I don't like you! You're not my sister!' she shouted. 

"Ariella!" Tito Arts voice boomed around the place pero ang m*****a kong pinsan ay mataray na nakatingin sa akin. Nakataas ang isang kilay niya at nakatikom ang bibig. Sisipain pa sana niya ako pero mabilis siyang nabuhat ni Tito Art palayo sa akin.

Mabilis akong tumayo kahit masakit ang pang-upo ko sa aking pagkabagsak. Mom told me, wag mangunang mang-away pero kapag sinaktan ako kailangan kong ipagtanggol ang aking sarili. I was about to push her pero mabilis na humarang si Tita Azon sa akin. 

Yumukod siya at hinawakan niya ang magkabilang balikat ko at pinaharap ako sa kanya. Ariella's eyes resembles her, I can see the anger on it. Pero bakit sa akin siya magagalit? Anak niya ang unang nanakit sa akin. Hinawakan niya ang ilalim ng baba ko dahilan para magpantay ang tingin naming dalawa. 

I looked at her straight in the eyes. I was already panting. My breathing is heavy, for the first time in my life, ngayon lang ito nangyari sa akin. My mom will punish me at times, but not like this. She's strict but I can still feel the gentleness in her.

"Don't you dare, touch my Ariella, Adrianna." she said in a cold strict voice. She's looking straight to my eyes. Her jaw is clenching.

"Corazon!" saway ni Tito Art sa kanya. 

She cleared her throat and quickly changes her facial reaction, from being strict and cold to soft and welcoming. Biglang naging maamo ang mukha niya binitwawan niya ang pagkakahawak niya sa baba ko saka hinaplos niya pa ang buhok ko bago hinalikan ang tuktok ng aking ulo. But even if she did that I don't feel any warmth from her touch.

I may be young but I know which one in genuine and true. Which touch is sincere and pure. But with Tita Azon, I don't think so.

"I'm sorry baby, I don't mean to say that." She kissed the top of my head again. "Ayoko lang na mag-away kayo ng ate mo. Ariella is your sister now, you are our daughter. I don't want both of you fighting. Is that clear? Can you forgive, mommy? Can you forgive what ate Ariella did to you?"

Diritso akong tumingin sa mga mata niya. Ito ba ang taong pinagkatiwalaan nila sa akin?

"Please darling, mommy didn't mean to say that. I'm sorry..."

I nodded without saying anything. As if naman may magbabago kung kokontra ako. She kissed the top of my head again before she turned her gaze at her daughter who's throwing daggers at me. 

"Ariella, apologize to Adrianna."

"Mom!" I heard the protest in her voice but tita crouched down and caressed Ariella's face softly. 

"Is that how you should welcome your sister, baby? We already talked about this right? Adrianna, don't have anybody else than us. We're the only family left to her. Now, apologize to her and say you're sorry for what you did."

Kahit hindi na, ayos lang. Alam ko naman kasing hindi rin naman bukal sa kalooban ni Ariella. Pero nanatili akong tahimik. I was just silently observing them. Umiling si Ariella at kunot noong tumingin sa akin. Kung hindi pa pinandilatan ng mata ni Tita si Ariella hindi pa ito lalapit.

She took a step towards me and then lowered her head. She's just pretending to be sorry I know pero sasakyan ko lang kung anong gusto nila. 

"I'm sorry Averleigh, I don't mean to hurt you. I promised not to do that again." she said sounding sincere but I know better. 

I just look at her blankly. I don't want to show her any emotions. How can I accept her apology if after saying her apologies, I saw her rolled her eyes at me?

Nilakasan ko ang paninidigan sa sarili. I show her no emotions. My eyes were cold as ice. I have to be strong for myself, dahil ngayon palang alam ko na na hindi magiging madali ang lahat para sa akin. Hindi na maibabalik kung anong meron ako dati. Simula sa araw na ito magbabago na ang lahat.

"Adrianna, nak?" 

"It's okay, Ara." tipid kong sagot sa kanya pero imbes na magpasalamat inirapan niya lang ako. M*****a talaga.

"Okay, babies, from now on I don't want to see you fighting. Ariella, since you are older than Adrianna, treat her as your younger sister. Be kind to your sister baby." she nodded, halatang napipilitan lang. 

Bumaling si Tito Art sa akin, hinaplos niya ang buhok ko saka malambing na tumingin sa akin. 

"Adrianna, from now on I want you to treat Ariella as your older sister. You call her ate, is that alright with you?" Matagal bago ao sumagot pero kalaunan tumango din ako. 

"Opo Tito." I said.

Tito Art smiled warmly at me, ginulo niya pa ang buhok ko. 

"From now on, you call me Daddy, and your tita Azon, you can call her mommy. You are our daughter now. We are family now, Adrianna." mahinahong sabi ni Tito Art sa akin. 

Pumantay din si Tita Azon, marahan niyang hinaplos ang buhok ko bago sinakop ang mukha ko gamit ang kanyang mga palad. 

"Yes darling, your Daddy Art is right, I am now your Mommy Azon and Ariella is your Ate Ara. You are part of our family now. Whatever we have is yours at ganun din ikaw, anong meron ka ay amin din. That's how family should work. 

At yun ng ang nangyari. Lahat ng iniwan ng mga magulang ko, lahat ng pinaghirapan nila, ang kompanya, ang bahay, ang mga ari-arian ay naging kanila. But I kept quiet. Wala akong magagawa dahil bata lang ako. 

Tita Azon, took over all my mom's business. She took everything, lahat-lahat.  Ayos lang sana kung maayos din ang pakikitungo niya sa akin, pero hindi. Nagiging mabait lang siya kapag nandyan si Tito Art.

Parehas silang dalawa ng anak niya. Sila ang masasabing kong labis na nakinabang sa kayamanang iniwan sa akin ng mga magulang ko. But how can I protest? I am not in the right age to even complain. 

Kung hindi lang dahil kay Tito Art matagal na akong lumayas dito sa pamamahay ng mga Martinez. Si Tito Art lang ang tanging kinawiwilihan ko dito dahil sa kanya ko lang naramdaman na tinuring akong kapamilya.

Years passed, we're already teenagers. I'm seventeen and Ariella is eighteen.  She stays the same. She still saw me as her enemy, kahati niya sa kung anong meron siya . She only treat me right when Tito Art is around, pero kapag wala lumalabas ang totoong kulay ni Ariella. 

"Adrianna, nak, I have a gift for you."

Pagkapasok ko palang ng bahay malawak na ang ngiti ni Daddy Art sa akin. Hanggang  ngayon hindi pa rin ako sanay na tawagin silang mom at dad. Pero kapag kaharap ko sila mommy at daddy ang tawag ko ayon na rin sa kagustuhan nila. 

"D-daddy, you're back! Welcome home po." 

Kagagaling lang nina Daddy Art sa Spain para asikasuhin ang business na iniwan ni Dad doon. At gaya ng nakasanayan niya, palagi itong may dalang pasalubong sa akin. Daddy Art is the sweetest, he's really like a real dad to me.

Kung may pangalawang daddy man akong pipiliin, that would be Daddy Art. Pangalawa lang dahil walang makakapalit sa nag-iisang daddy ng buhay ko, my biological dad, Daddy Andrew.

"Come here, nak, look at this one." excited niyang sabi, inangat niya ang paper bag na dala niya para ipakita sa akin. Nakadipa pa ang isang kamay, naghihintay ng yakap ko.

Malawak ang ngiting binigay ko sa kanya saka nagmamadaling lumapit. And when I am about to hug him natigil ako ng biglang nagsalita si Ariella na nakatayo pala sa may hagdanan.

"Give it to me Daddy, I don't like the one you bought for me." magkasulubong ang kilay nito at mabigat ang mga hakbang pababa ng hagdanan. Jealousy was written all over her face. 

Hindi ko pinansin ang pag-aalburuto ni Ariella. I'm used to it, sa halip mahigpit akong yumakap kay Daddy Art. I miss him so much. Ilang linggo din siyang nawala dito sa bahay. 

"I miss you Dad." I whispered. Wala din akong pakialam kung kukunin ni Ariella ang pasalubong ni Daddy Art, sanay na ako sa pagiging selosa niya at pinagbibigyan ko lang dahil ayokong maipit si Daddy Art sa amin. 

"I like this one better, Dad. Why are choosing this style for her, it doesn't look good on her." M*****a nitong sabi habang binibistahan ang mga damit na pasalubong ni Daddy Art sa akin.

"Baby, you already have yours, that's for your sister." mahinahong sabi ni Daddy sa kanya pero walang pakialam si Ariella, as usaul. The brat always get what she wants. 

"No, Dad, mas bagay to sa akin."maarte niyang sabi. Kapag ganyan na ang tono ni Ariella hindi ko na ito pinapansin, baka ang ending magtatalo lang kami ulit.

"It's okay Dad, I still have the clothes you brought for me last time." I said. He gave me an apologetic smile. "I'm fine. Magpapahinga po muna ako sa taas. Welcome home po, I miss you..."

Yumakap pa ako kay Dad ng isang beses bago ako umakyat sa silid ko. Hindi ko rin binalingan ng tingin si Ariella. I will not give her the satisfaction to see me annoyed at her. Kaya lalo siyang naiinis sa akin dahil palagi kong pinapakita sa kanyang hindi ako apektado sa pagmamaldita niya sa akin.