Chapter 2; Shadows Of Longing

Two days had passed since Desire arrived at her Lolo's mansion, and the initial excitement had faded into a heavy blanket of loneliness. The grandeur of the house, once a source of wonder, now felt like a gilded cage. Each room echoed with silence, and the laughter of the city outside seemed a world away.

Desire sat on her bed, clutching her teddy bear, staring out the window at the garden. The vibrant flowers that had once captivated her now seemed to mock her with their beauty. She missed her father terribly—the way he would tell her stories at bedtime, the warmth of his hugs, and the simple comfort of their small home. The memories flooded her mind, and a wave of longing washed over her, tightening her chest.

“Why did we have to leave?” she whispered to herself, tears brimming in her eyes. “I just want to go home.”

Just then, the door creaked open, and her nanny, Aling Ysang, stepped inside. Her warm smile was like a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds. “Desire, my dear, I thought I’d find you here,” she said gently, walking over to sit beside her on the bed. “What’s troubling you?”

Desire leaned into Aling Ysang, seeking comfort in her familiar presence. “I miss my dad, Aling Ysang. I miss our home. Everything here feels so… different.”

Aling Ysang wrapped her arms around her, holding her close. “It’s okay to feel that way, anak. Change is hard, especially when you’re so far from what you know. But you’re not alone. You have your grandpa, and you have me.”

Desire nodded, grateful for Aling Ysang's kindness, but the ache in her heart remained. Just as when she was beginning to feel a sense of peace, a loud knock echoed from the door, followed by Chase’s voice, dripping with mockery. “Hey, Desire! Are you hiding in there? Or are you just too scared to come out?”

Desire’s stomach twisted at the sound of his taunts. “Go away, Chase!” she called back, trying to sound braver than she felt.

“Why don’t you come out and play? I promise I won’t bite,” he said, his tone laced with sarcasm. “Unless you’re afraid I’ll steal your teddy bear.”

Aling Ysang’s expression hardened, and she stood up, moving towards the door. “Chase, that’s enough! Leave Desire alone,” she said firmly, but Desire could hear the smirk in Chase’s voice as he replied.

“Why? I’m just trying to make her feel welcome. Isn’t that what family does?”

Desire felt a surge of anger mixed with fear. She didn’t want to be a target for Chase’s cruelty, but she also didn’t want to show him how much he affected her. “I’m fine, Aling Ysang. Really,” she said, trying to sound convincing.

“Fine? You call this fine?” Chase pushed the door open slightly, peering in with a smug grin. “You look like you’ve just lost your best friend. Oh wait, you did! Your dad isn’t here to save you anymore.”

Desire’s heart raced, and she felt tears prick at her eyes again. “Stop it, Chase!” she shouted, her voice trembling. “You don’t know anything about me!”

“Maybe I don’t, but I know you’re just a little girl who thinks she can take what’s mine,” he shot back, stepping into the room. “You think daddy will just hand over the family business to you? You’re nothing but a distraction.”

“Chase, that’s enough!” Aling Ysang interjected, stepping between them. “You need to leave Desire alone. This is her home now, too.”

Chase rolled his eyes, but he could see that Aling Ysang meant business. “Whatever. Just remember, Desire, you’re not welcome here. I’ll make sure everyone knows it.” With that, he turned on his heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Desire felt a wave of relief wash over her, but it was quickly replaced by a sense of dread. She had hoped that maybe, just maybe, she could find a way to fit in, but Chase’s words echoed in her mind, a constant reminder of her outsider status.

Aling Ysang returned to her side, her expression softening. “Don’t let him get to you, Desire. He’s just trying to make himself feel better by putting you down. You’re stronger than you think.”

Desire wiped her tears, trying to muster a smile. “I just want to be happy here, Aling Ysang. I don’t want to fight with anyone.”

“I understand, anak. Just remember you're not alone, you have me and your Lolo." Desire nodded comforted with Aling Ysang's words.

*****

Desire had finally found her moment of peace. The sun was setting, casting a warm golden hue over the garden, and she had settled into her favorite spot beneath the oak tree, allowing the gentle breeze to soothe her frayed nerves. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths, trying to push away the chaos of the day. But just as when she began to relax, a sudden commotion shattered her tranquility.

“Hey, Desire! Look what I found!” Chase’s voice rang out, filled with a mischievous excitement that sent a chill down her spine. She opened her eyes just in time to see him approaching, a sinister grin plastered across his face.

Before she could react, he lunged forward, and in a split second, she felt something cold and slimy hit her face. A scream tore from her throat as she recoiled, her heart racing. “What the—Chase!” she shrieked, her voice laced with panic.

Desire’s eyes widened in horror as she realized what had just happened. A dead cockroach lay on her lap, its legs twitching grotesquely. The sight was enough to send her spiraling into a wave of fear. She felt the world around her start to spin, her breath quickening as she fought against the rising tide of nausea.

“Desire, it’s just a bug! Chill out!” Chase laughed, but his laughter only fueled her terror. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes, blurring her vision as she fought to keep herself from fainting.

“Get it off! Get it off!” she screamed, her voice rising in pitch as she swatted at the cockroach, her hands trembling. The panic surged through her, and she felt as if she were drowning in a sea of fear.

Just then, the front door swung open, and her grandpa stepped out, holding his briefcase. He had just returned from a long day at the office, but the moment he heard Desire’s terrified screams, his expression shifted from fatigue to alarm.

“Desire! What’s wrong?” he shouted, rushing towards her.

“Chase! He—he threw a cockroach at me!” she cried, her voice breaking as the tears streamed down her cheeks. She felt utterly humiliated, her fear morphing into a mix of anger and embarrassment.

Her grandpa’s eyes narrowed as he turned to Chase, who was still chuckling, clearly not understanding the gravity of his actions. “Chase! That’s not funny! You scared her half to death!” he scolded, his voice booming with authority.

Chase’s laughter faded, replaced by a look of confusion. “I was just joking! I didn’t think she’d freak out like that!”

“Joking? You think throwing a dead bug at someone is a joke?” her grandpa snapped, stepping closer to Chase, his disappointment palpable. “You need to learn to respect other people’s feelings. This isn’t a game!”

Desire watched as Chase’s bravado crumbled under her grandpa’s stern gaze. He shifted uncomfortably, his earlier amusement replaced with hate. “I’m sorry, Desire,” he mumbled, but Desire knows that it was just for show. He truly didn't mean to apologize.

Desire wiped her tears away, still trembling from the shock. “You scared me, Chase. I thought I was going to faint,” she admitted, her voice shaky.

Her grandpa knelt beside her, concern etched on his face. “Are you okay, sweetheart?” he asked gently, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“I… I think so,” she replied, her heart still racing but slowly beginning to calm. “I just didn’t expect it.”

“Let’s get you inside and away from this… this thing,” he said, gesturing to the cockroach with a grimace. He carefully picked it up with a tissue and tossed it into the nearby trash can, as if it were a venomous snake.

Chase stood there trying to hide his anger. He's determined to make Desire's life a living hell. He will not let her have her way into their lives and become the heiress of the family.