Chapter 1

Her hair was that of a setting sun. It's composed of different shades of red, orange and yellow. It was long, with curls like the waves of the sea. But it suits her. With her milky white skin and a jaw that made her look like a proud goddess, I could never think of anyone else who could pull off such look.

Gamit ang isang sticky note, naglagay ako ng note sa tabi nito. Tumunog ang cellphone ko hudyat na may isang oras na lamang ako bago ang susunod kong klase. Malalim na lamang akong napabuntong hininga. One hour and I'm still stuck with the characters. Out of frustration, I started kicking my feet underwater. Muli akong napahinga ng malalim bago muling bumalik sa pagbabasa.

"Sabi ko na nga ba dito kita mahahanap eh!" napalingon ako sa nagsalita. I gave her a warm smile before going back to what I was reading.

Hinubad nya ang suot nyang sapatos at medyas saka umupo sa tabi ko. Gaya ko, binabad nya rin sa tubig ang mga paa.

"Bakit ba ang hilig mong mag-aral sa pool? In case hindi mo po alam, may library po tayo. Meron din tayong mga reading nooks na nagkalat sa iba-ibang parte ng campus, and then there is the classroom. Yet of all the places, napili mo talagang mag study sa pool." komento nya.

"I'm cramming so I need water." maikli kong sagot. She knew very well why I usually soak my feet in water. In an odd way, it calms me down and makes me think more clearly.

She looked over what I was reading.

"Hindi ka pa tapos sa assignment natin?" nagtataka nyang tanong. I can't blame her, I'm the kind of person who never write an assignment in school.

"Unfortunately, hindi pa." ani ko sa pagitan ng isang buntong hininga. "May party na naganap kagabi sa bahay. It was too loud so I can't really concentrate." annoyed kong paliwanag. It's the beginning of the busy week in school and yet my inconsiderate step-sister chose to do her party during the most crucial time of my life! A week before midterms!

"You're too serious Raia, loosen up a bit. May isang oras ka pa at halos patapos ka na. Don't worry too much. Ako nga hindi pa nagsisimula e." ani nya sabay hagalpak ng tawa. Napailing nalang ako. Kita mo to, kung makatingin sa'kin kanina, tapos 'di pa pala nakakapagsimula.

Minsan talaga nahihiling ko nalang na sana kayang kong maging kasing carefree nya. Na hindi matakot na hindi makapasa ng takdang aralin, o kaya naman ay magkaroon ng mababang marka. Sometimes I wonder what it feels like to live that way? But I knew that's something I could never do.

"I'm not like you Elli. Hindi ako mayaman kaya kailangan kong mag-aral ng mabuti kung gusto kong magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan." sagot ko habang sinusulat ko ang tema ng maikling kwento na binabasa ko.

"Ouch ha." ani nya though alam ko na hindi naman nya iyon dinibdib. "Kung makasabi ka ng mayaman, pano nalang kayo na may dalawang bahay, limang sasakyan at nagmamay-ari ng isang buong condominium building, anong tawag sa inyo ha?" sarcastic nyang turan.

"Kay dad 'yon." I said trying not to show the bitterness in my voice. Kung napansin man iyon ni Elli ay hindi na sya nagkomento pa. Mahigpit akong napahawak sa ballpen na nasa kamay ko.

I was actually an orphan, until thirteen years ago, a very rich couple who can't bear a child adopted me. From then on, I had a happy family. I was well-loved, well-provided, I had everything I could ever ask for. But then, 7 years later, my mom died because of Lupus, and everything was shattered. Dad was devastated, and no comfort could ever reach his shattered heart.

He basically change after that. He can't even bear to look at me, as if I was a painful memory of mom, of a dream he had always love but is now lost into nothingness. I then rarely see him. He comes home late from work, and went very early the next morning. Sometimes he comes home drunk or doesn't come for a week or two at all. I was still well-provided but I was no longer well-love. And I was broken and lonely.

Then 3 years later, he suddenly decided to remarry without prior notice or even telling me, that he had been dating a girl for a year already. I was oblivious until a week before the wedding. Basta paggising ko nalang isang umaga, may isang estrangherong babae at batang ka-edad ko na lamang sa kusina namin.

The older lady was cooking something and she was wearing mother's apron. Habang si dad at ang batang babaeng kasama nito naman, nakaupo sa counter habang masayang nagkukwentuhan. The three of them looked like a happy family, like the way me, dad and mom used to.

At first I was angry, that's supposed to be me and mom there, and yet, he suddenly replaced us like we were nothing. I remember walking out that time. I was badly hurt. Because for the first time in three years, I saw my adoptive dad smiling again. But the most painful part is seeing that I wasn't one of the reasons why.

I never attended the wedding nor talk with dad after it. And I thought he would reach out to me, and explain things, but he didn't.

I knew right then and there that I wasn't needed nor welcomed anymore. Na sa mga mata ni dad isa na lamang akong parte ng masamang alaala ng nakaraan. I wanted to run away so badly that time, but I knew I had nowhere to go to. So I decided to wait for a few more years, enduring their stares that kept wondering why I was still there, why was I not running away yet, like that's what they've all been waiting for, even dad.

I endured the emotional torture promising myself that it's just until I'm 18, and is legal to look for a job. Bago 'yon, kailangan ko munang magtiis at mag-aral ng mabuti so I can easily find a scholarship, and continue my studies even without the help from his money.

"Will you really leave after you turn 18?" tanong nya. Muli akong bumalik sa pagsusulat.

"Yeah." pabulong kong ani.

"Bakit hindi ka muna makipag-usap kay tito? Maybe you just misunderstood him. Baka ma-fix nyo pa ang relasyon nyo. Then maybe you don't have to leave." malungkot ko na lamang syang tiningnan.

"Six years is too long for a misunderstanding Elli. We are not a family, I am not his daughter, we don't need fixing." pinal kong wika saka isinara ang dala kong notebook. "Tapos na ako, tara na?"

_______________________

Ang katahimikan agad ang bumungad sa'kin nang pumasok ako sa bahay. Kadalasan pagka-uwi ay ang ingay agad ni Savannah at mga dinadala nyang kaibigan ang bumubungad sa'kin. O kaya naman ang tawanan nilang tatlo ng mama nya at ni dad sa kusina.

Yeah, matapos makilala ni dad ang mama ni Savannah, umuuwi na rin sya ulit ng maaga. I am actually happy, that he is happy. Because once, before all thise tragedy happened, he was a good dad to me after all. Tanggap ko rin naman na kahit kailan hindi ko na maaring mabalik ang kahapon. But still, I can't help having a grudge against him too, and I think I have all the rights to held one. I mean he'd been unfair to me.

"Dumating ka na pala Raia!" isang malawak na ngiti ang sumilay sa mga labi ko nang makita ko si nana Tina na lumabas mula sa kusina.

Nana was my breath of air in this suffocating house. She had been here since before I was adopted and she's the only one that I have left. If not for her, baka kung ano na ang nagawa ko sa sarili ko. Sa mga oras na malungkot ako, na umiiyak ako, sya lang ang palaging nandoon, and I was really thankful she was there.

"Tahimik ata ngayon ah?" ani ko. I tried not to sound too interested. But nana always see through me. I can see it by the way she hesitated.

"Maaga kasing umuwi si daddy mo kanina kaya napagdesisyunan nilang kumain sa labas."

I tried not to look hurt.

"Ah kaya pala." I choked. "Sige sa taas lang muna ako nana." paalam ko at nagtuloy-tuloy na sa hagdanan.

Ayokong makita nya na naaapektuhan parin ako. It's been six years, I should have been used to it by now. How I'm always left out in their little family bonding, and trips, and how they acted like I don't exist. But I guess one can never really get used to it. Maybe you just simply get better at hiding the pain from people.

"Raia!" napahinto ako sa pag-akyat nang tawagin ni Nana ang pangalan ko. "Bumaba ka ng ala sais at iluluto kita ng paborito mong adobong manok. Wag mo na akong paakyatin sa taas at sumasakit ang mga tuhod ko."

Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti sa narinig. Nana always know how to console me during my bad mood.

"That has too much cholesterol nana I'm on a diet." I joked.

"Anong diet?! Aba'y magda-diet ka pa eh isang hampas nalang ng hangin sayo ay lilipad na iyang katawan mo. A, basta bumaba ka dito ng ala sais ha at dadamihan ko ang sinaing na kanin."

"Opo!" I said in defeat and chuckled as I climb my way up. "Thank you nana!" I shouted when I reach the top.

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Another story lol.

This one's plot has been on my mind for sooo long, but I find it too cliche to write, but here I am writing it anyway.

Excuse me if there are grammar and typographical errors. This is only a revised draft but then, I got too excited so I want to post the first chapter already.

I'm kind of hoping for some honest opinions out there if you ever read it. And I'll be thanking you in advance.

¡Muchas Gracias! ¡Adios!