Chapter 3

Ilang minuto pa ng pag-da-drive bumungad sa amin ang isang malaking gate. Mabilis iyong bumukas para papasukin kami—‘yong sasakyan syempre.

Secluded and so rich-like. Iyan ang nasa utak ko habang nakamasid lang sa paligid.

“This is where your home will be from now on.”

Can I really call it home? I pondered quietly while gently staring at the exquisite landscaping around us.

“Our families shared their lots; your house is on the right part while ours is on the left part. There is a park in the middle of it,” dagdag na paliwanag niya. Saktong pagkakasabi niya noon, namataan ko ang park na sinasabi niya. There’s a big fountain at the middle which is why it could be easily seen. There’s a gazebo too near a big tree which helps cover the blaring sunlight.

“This is so beautiful…” I muttered. That was supposed to be for my mind only, but I couldn’t help myself.

“Of course, it was your mother who designed that. Gusto niya raw kasing magkaroon ng lugar kung saan pwedeng maglaro ang mga bata. Since, we can’t go out the estate when we were kids to ensure our safety.”

“My mother?” I turned my body on him. He nodded while focusing on the road.

“Yes, your mother.”

“Are you close with her?” I asked. I slight pang in my chest bothered me.

“Before they died, yes. She was practically the one who took care of me when we were children.”

Kumunot ang noo ko sa mga salitang ginagamit niya. “Do we know each other before?” Kanina pa kasi we ang ginagamit niyang term.

“Kind of, but we aren’t really close to each other.”

“I see…” I nodded my head. I guess that could happen too kahit kilala niya ‘yong nanay. “Can you tell me more about her? What really happened?”

“As far as I can remember, the three of you were going on a family trip for your birthday, it was raining very hard which is not expected at all and you got into an accident. The one who rescued you out of the car before it even exploded brought you to the nearest place he could get. He also said that you are the only one who suffered the least damage before the car exploded with your parents still inside of it. Nahirapan ang lolo mong hanapin ka dahil hindi niya mahanap iyong tumulong sa ‘yo. That is why it took ages before we finally get to you.”

Wala pa rin akong maalala mula sa kwento niya. My head didn’t even flinch while listening to him. I guess wala na talagang pag-asa para maalala ko iyong mga panahon kung kailan kasama ko ang totoo kong pamilya. Maybe it’s fate.

“We’re finally here.” Inangat ko ang tingin ko sa bahay na nasa harap namin—mansion to be exact. Parang dina-downgrade ko iyon kapag bahay lang gagamitin kong salita.

My heart was thumping very hard as we walk our way inside. I don’t know what to expect, I don’t even know what to feel right now. Kumpol ng tao ang bumungad sa amin pagkabukas ng pinto. I felt chills running down in my spine. Their stares are terrifying. They didn’t even bother to hide their hostility towards me.

“Are you sure I am welcomed here?” bulong ko sa lalaking katabi ko. Nakadirekta ang mga ko sa harapan ko habang siya ay ganoon din.

“Don’t worry about them.”

“You are finally here, hijo. Kanina ka pa naming hinihintay,” bati noong isang matandang babae. Binaling ko ang tingin ko kay Killian na tumango lang nang matipid habang nasa yakap noong matanda.

“And this is?” baling niya sa akin. I awkwardly smiled at her. Ang bilis ng pagpapalit ng reaksyon niya sa aming dalawa ni Killian.

“This is Adrienne Montierro.” My own name sounds strange between his lips. That must be my true surname. I have been using Santiago before, kinailangan ko kasi ng apleyidong gagamitin dati para sa trabaho ko kaya pinagamit muna noong director ng orphanage iyong apelyido niya para sa akin dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ‘yong akin.

“Is this my sister’s daughter?” I stopped myself from frowning in front of her as she faked her tears. So, she is my aunt, I bet most of them here are. Apat na matanda ang bumungad sa amin kanina, dalawang babae at dalawang lalaki at saka tatlo na halos kaedaran lang namin ni Killian.

“Oh, poor girl, you have suffered. Don’t worry, you are in good hands now.” Ngumiti lang ako nang pilit habang hinahayaan siyang yakapin ako nang mahigpit. I know she’s frowning right now.

“Why don’t we introduce ourselves first. Surely she doesn’t know us.” Lumapit na iyong iba sa pwesto namin. They didn’t even bother inviting us to sit.

“I am Anissa. I am the eldest daughter. Just call me auntie, hija.” I nodded my head at her. She is a typical bitchy type of woman. Hindi maalis ang tingin ko sa suot niyang mga alahas, sobrang nakaka-distract sila.

“This is my husband, Emilio.” Tinuro niya iyong lalaki na biglang hinapit ang baywang niya. Her silly laughs echoed the whole place because of that action. I frowned and groaned internally. “And this is my eldest daughter, Reina with his younger brother, Kingsley.”

“Nice to meet you.” The two of them scoffed at me. Hindi ko na lang pinansin ‘yon. I don’t really expect them to be friendly towards me.

“Sorry about that. They aren’t used to strangers.”

Kung iba siguro baka umiyak na sila sa harap ng mga ‘to. She was basically telling me that I am a stranger to them even though we share the same blood. I didn’t react at what she said. Dumako ang tingin ko roon sa isa pang pamilya na katabi nila. Compared to the four of them, they are milder, but they clearly don’t acknowledge my existence here too. How pitiful my life can really be?

“This is my wife, Freya and I am your Uncle Helios. I am the youngest out of the three of us and this is my only child, Achiel.” Well, that makes me mother the middle child. Tumango lang ako at ganoon din ang ginawa nila.

“Since we are currently busy right now. Killian can lead you to your room. Is that okay with you, hijo?” ani Tita Anissa. Dumako ang tingin ko kay Killian na kanina pa tahimik sa tabi ko. Hindi ko alam kung anong tumatakbo sa isip niya ngayon habang tahimik na nagmamasid sa amin.

“No worries.” Binalingan niyo ako ng tingin. “Let’s go.”

Tahimik lang akong sumunod sa kaniya habang nagmamasid sa paligid. The whole place really screams money. Ibang-iba ‘yon kinalakihan kong orphanage.

“You must have realized why your grandfather wants you to take over the company by now,” biglang wika niya.

“But I don’t know anything about running a company,” I replied to him, stating the obvious. Anong alam ko roon?

“That’s why our marriage is also part of the will.”

Oo nga naman. Hindi ko agad naisip ‘yon. But still hindi pa rin ako kumbinsido para umoo.

“I know what you are thinking. Either you will let your grandfather’s company be ruined by them or you’ll let me handle it as your husband. Either way, it’s not like I would let you choose not to.”

I frowned at his back since he is currently in front of me. Dahil doon nauntog ako sa likod niya ng bigla siyang tumigil. I knitted my eyebrows while caressing my forehead where it crushed on his back. Damn, that hurts. Sobrang tigas naman ng likod niya.

He turned to me wondering what happened to me but decided not to ask anything. Instead, he opened the door for me. “This will be your new room. Makikita mo rin dito ang ibang gamit ng lolo mo. I advise you to read his journal before you make your decision.”

Pumasok na ako sa loob habang siya ay nakabantay sa may pintuan. “Hindi ka papasok sa loob?”

“It’s inappropriate,” he answered. I scoffed at him. He has already brought me here out of my consent and now what? It’s inappropriate for him to come into my room? Hindi ko talaga siya maintidihan.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Please don’t,” ani ko.

Ngumiti siya nang matipid sa akin. “No can do.”

Sinara na niya ang pintuan pagkatapos noon. I blew out some air after hearing the door closing. Inikot ko rin ang tingin ko sa buong lugar. I relaxed after realizing I was finally alone. Umupo ako sa tabihan ng kama habang binabalikan sa utak ko ang mga pangyayari naganap ngayong araw. Sa loob ng isang araw, parang ilang araw na agad ang nagdaan sa dami ng nangyari sa buhay ko. Simula sa breakup namin ni Axel, sa pagkikita namin ni Killian at sa mga sinabi niya sa akin, at itong paglipat ko sa lugar na wala akong kalam-alam. Ni hindi man lang ako nakapag-paalam sa director ng orphanage naming at kinuha iyong mga gamit ko. Kasalanan ‘to ni Killian, hindi niya man lang ako hinayaan.

KINABUKASAN maaga akong nagising. Kahit na magdamag kong binasa iyong journal na sinasabi sa akin ni Killian. Iyon rin ang pinakamasarap na tulog na naranasan ko sa buong dalawampu’t tatlong taon akong nabubuhay. The bed was so fluffy and comfortable at the same time.

Unconsciously, I fished out of my phone that was staying on the bedside table and checked for any message. Kahit ayaw ko hindi ko pa rin mapigilang madismaya dahil wala man lang ni isang tawag o text mula kay Axel. He didn’t even bother to explain or say sorry, that jerk. How did I even put up with him for five years? Putting aside everything, inayos ko na ang sarili ko para bumaba. I plan on going to the orphanage to say goodbye for the last time and bring some of my things here.

Pagbaba ko tanging mga maids na lang ang nadatnan ko. They served me breakfast while I eat silently. Hindi sila umalis sa tabi ko, naghihintay ng utos ko pero hindi ‘yon nangyari. I could eat by myself naman.

“Please tell them that I will be going to the orphanage to get my things.” Hindi ko sigurado kung kailangan ko pa bang i-report sa kanila iyon, pero nag-iwan na rin ako ng bilin sa kanila para kapag hinanap ako ay alam nila kung saan ako hahanapin. Walang Killian na dumating noong umaga kaya napag-desisyunan ko na lang na umalis mag-isa.