1 Chapter 01

Pagkalipas ng ilang buwan, nakalabas ako sa ospital. Idinala ako ng nagulang ko sa isla nila at doon ako nagsimula sa bago kong buhay. For three years, Wala akong naging kaibigan. Si Mommy lang.

At the age of seven, i didn't experienced going to school, play with my friends, and even family day because my Daddy is always busy and never will be kasi Nag ho-home schooling ako since then.

"Honey, let's wash up now." Mommy smiled when she entered my room. She squeezed my cheeks and kiss my forehead. "May bisita si Mommy. She's a good friend of mine and she is with his son. Do you want to play with him?" She asked.

Napangiti ako. I nodded excitedly. "Yes, mommy."

Ngumiti siya at niyakap ako. "If that's so, Maligo na tayo." at tinulungan akong bumaba sa kama para pumasok sa banyo.

After that, she dressed me and brushed my hair. Bumaba kami at nakita ko ang isang babae kasama ang isang batang lalaki.

"Oh my.. siya na ba si Shantiell?" Tanong nito nung nakalapit kami.

"Yes." Tumawa si Mommy. "Anak, this is Tita Daisy."

"Hello!" Masaya kong bati. Kinurot niya naman ang pisngi ko. Nag-usap sila ni Mommy at tumitig naman ako sa batang lalaki nasa harap ko. He's also staring at me too. Hindi ako nag dalawang isip at lumapit para yakapin ito.

"Oh my god! Shantiell!"

Kinurot ko ang pisngi nito. "Cute." sabay hagikhik. Nakita ko kung paano siya nagulat, kukurutin ko sana ulit ang pisngi niya pero hinila ako ni Mommy.

"No, anak. That's rude. Your tita is watching." Bulong sa akin ni Mommy. Tumawa ang babaeng nasa harap namin.

"It's okay, Claudia. Ano ka ba! Bata naman." Tumawa ito. "They look cute though."

As time goes by, my childhood days was not that bad at all. I am more thankful to my parents even though i don't remember any of my past. Ibinubuhos nila ang buong atensyon nila sa akin kahit wala na akong maalala.

At the age of sixteen, ako at si Cleo tita Daisy's son. We've been really close. She treat me like i'm his own younger sister and i treat him too as my older brother, since he's more older than me.

"Anak? Cleo is here."

Nag-angat ako nang tingin at ngumiti kay Mommy. "Okay po, i'm done with my studies na." At sinarado ang Macbook ko. I'm just reviewing my notes.

"Hey.." Cleo called.

Ngumiti ako at lumapit. "Oh? Why are you here?" Sinarado ko ang pinto. Komportable naman si Mommy kay Cleo dahil matagal naman kaming magkaibigan at malakinang tiwala niya dito.

"Bawal ba?"

I laughed "Hindi naman."

"So, what are you doing?" While looking at those stuffs sa study table ko. Naupo ako sa kama ko at nag brush sa buhok.

"Wala naman. Just reviewing."

Tumango naman siya. "I have something to tell you."

I stopped. "What? Pinapakaba mo naman ako." Tawa ko. Nagpatuloy ulit ako sa pagsusuklay.

Ngumiti siya nang kaunti. "Next month, pasukan na ulit."

"Oh eh ano naman?" i asked.

"Uuwi na ako sa Camelia."

Natigilan ako. "What? Are you staying there for the entire school year? Kelan ka babalik?"

"Yeah, i'm staying there for the entire school year at hindi ko alam kung..babalik pa ba ako. Iyon ang sabi ni Mommy dahil kailangan ko daw mag focus sa studies pero nandito ka naman so.. yeah babalik naman ako."

Napatitig ako sa kanya. I felt guilty of what i've said.

He's taking law course, his mommy is right. He needs to focus, of course. He needs to focus on his dreams and i have to support him. He's my kuya after all.

"Wag na, it's okay." I said and put my brush beside me.

His brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, tita's right. Focus on your dream, okay? I'll support you. Pwede naman tayo makapag-communicate. We can facetime everytime. You don't need to come here, 7-8 hours pa naman byahe papunta dito sa isla."

Napatitig siya sa akin. Ilang segundo din kaming ganoon hanggang sa tumango na siya. "Okay, okay." Lumapit ito at niyakap ako.

"I'll miss you." Sabi niya.

"I will, too."

After one week, nasa labas kami lahat ng mansion dahil ihahatid ng yate namin si Cleo. Nag-uusap si Mommy at Tita Daisy sa bandang dulo ng yate habang kami ni Cleo ay nasa harap ng dagat.

"I should visit you there. When i have a time." Sabi ko at ngumiti.

Ngumisi siya. "Oo kasi papayagan ka naman." Sarkasmo niyang sabi.

Umirap ako. "Duh, of course! Papayagan ako."

"Ehey.." Iling niya. "Gagamitin mo na naman ang pagiging only daughter para mapapayag parents mo. Tsktsk."

Proud naman akong ngumisi. Ginulo niya ang buhok ko at magsasalita sana nung tawagin na siya ni Tita Daisy.

"I have to go now." Sabi niya. Tumango ako at niyakap siya. I looked secretly at my Mother who's staring at us with wide smile. Oh god. Mai-issue na naman kami nito. Bumitaw na ako.

"Take care, always.. Cleo."

The first month without him is fine, hindi nga lang ako sanay na wala siya dito. Nakakapag-usap naman kami parati pero may oras din na hindi na siya sumasagot dahil busy siya. Ayaw ko din naman maka-istorbo kaya hindi na ako nangungulit.

Kakauwi ko lang galing sa hotel. Ako ang nagma-manage doon, pinagsabay ko sila sa pag-aaral ko. Hindi naman ako nahihirapan dahil 1-7 PM ang oras ko sa hotel at umaga naman ang klase ko.

"No problem, Monette. Of course! You can count on me always. Yes, i'll contact my husband immediately. See you next week."

Napatingin ako sa mommy ko na masayang nagtitipa sa telepono niya. I hugged her which made her surprise.

"Anak!" Maligayang bati niya. I smiled and hugged her again.

"Aww. How's your day?" She asked and caress my hair.

"I'm hungry." I pouted. Natawa naman siya at inalalayan ako papunta sa dining table. Nakahanda na ang pagkain doon at parang hinihintay niya na lang ako.

Nilagyan niya ako ng kanin at ulam bago siya naupo. We prayed before we start eating. While she's busy slicing my steak, i asked her.

"Mommy, sino iyong kausap mo? You seemed very happy."

Napatingin siya sa akin at ngumiti. "She's Monette Montereal. You know Montereal real estate? Sa kanila iyon."

Nanlaki ang mata ko. "For real?! Wow. I didn't know you're close with the Montereal's, Mom."

Natawa naman siya at ibinigay sa akin ang plato ko. "Yes. When we were in highschool, Monnete and i really hated each other. We were so young back then, you know, childish act. But now, we are more than friends. Ang Montereal ang dahilan kaya ganito kalaki ang kompanya natin. They helped us." She smiled.

"And now, their company is failing down so they need our help. And i'm not hesitating to help them." She added. I smiled. My mother is so kind. I wonder why they hated each other back then. I wish i could ask but maybe next time. Mas curious ako sa itatanong ko.

"May anak din ba siya?"

Tumango siya. "Yes. A daughter and a son. Naku! Napaka-ganda at gwapo nung dalawa. You should meet them soon." Mommy said.

Tumango ako at ngumiti. "I hope soon. What is their name?"

"Hmm.. as far as i remember. Her daughter's name is Athena Frexia? Yes. Athena Frexia Montereal." Tango tangong sabi ni Mommy.

"And the other one?" Tanong ko habang ngumunguya.

"Pierce Cedrick Montereal."