Chapter 1: Ancestral House

JULIAN

"Stop being rude, Julian! You've been so disrespectful to everyone! How can you represent your country if your own teammates see you as an enemy and hold a grudge against you? Even the media dislikes you now because of your attitude, and they're only asking for a simple interview! Now the public doesn't want you on the national team because of your harsh behavior!" litanya ni Mommy.

"Hon, enough. Don't stress yourself too much. Ako na ang bahalang kumausap sa anak natin." Dad talked to Mom.

Tiningnan pa ako ni mommy at nagbuntong-hininga na lang siya bago sumunod sa sinabi sa kaniya ni daddy. Pagkatapos ay iniwan na niya kami ni dad.

"Are you still gonna play soccer?" Dad asked me.

Halos masama ko naman siyang tiningnan. "Of course I would. I deserve to be on that damned national team! No one is better than me in this country to represent it in the World Cup!"

Tumangutango naman sa akin si daddy. "Yes, son. I know, I know. But you already got canceled?"

Mas lalo pang sumama ang mga mata ko na nakatingin kay daddy. Nagbuntong-hininga lang naman siya sa pinapakita ko. Sanay na siya sa akin.

"How could they allow the ignorant masses to cancel a prodigy like me? The people of this damned country won't support me just because of my attitude? Instead, they choose to spend their time and energy cheering for those other players who are obvious losers? What is wrong with this country? We'll never win the World Cup!" I frustratedly said.

"All right, all right. Calm down now, son. Hindi ko na alam kung kanino ka nagmana sa ugali mo minsan, at masyado pang mainitin ang ulo mo kagaya ngayon. You exactly look both like me and your mom, though. Pero hindi namin alam kung kanino ka talaga nagmana..."

I glared at dad, but he only chuckled at my reaction. "Listen here, son," Inakbyaan pa niya ako. "You're actually still young, Julian. Kung hindi pa man ngayon, I'm sure the next time. Just be a little kinder to people you meet, okay?"

Dad sighed as he continue to talk to me. "If you join the national team now, you will be the youngest player..."

So what? I'm nineteen now, and I've been waiting for this day to finally participate in the World Cup. If the tournament had been last year, I would have already participated.

I know that the World Cup is a significant event in the world of sports. Kaya nga mas dapat ako na nandoon. I also want to win for my country.

Umiling ako kay daddy. His concern is just probably for the older players on the national team who are said to be intimidated by me. But is it my fault? I didn't do anything.

I don't exactly understand the people of this country. Do they really want to win the World Cup title? I'm starting to doubt it. I think they care more about personal issues. Tsk.

"So what? Players who are eighteen years old can already participate." I said.

Tumango lang muli si daddy sa akin.

"Aren't you going back to Germany?"

I shook my head. "Everyone's preparing for the soccer tournament."

I'm a player for a prestigious German soccer club. I started playing professional soccer when I was 16 in Germany.

I just want to play on the national team for the World Cup tournament. Verdammte Scheiẞe (Damn it)!

Wala naman silang ibang rason para hindi ako kunin sa team kundi dahil sa mga pinakita kong ugali na hindi nagustuhan ng iba. Tapos puro pambabash pa ang mga tao sa akin sa social media. But seriously? Whatever.

I'm not here to please anyone. I only want to play football. Kailangan ko bang maging mabait? Is it required? It's stupid. It doesn't make sense when our focus should be on the upcoming tournament.

At imbes na ang galing ko sa paglalaro ng soccer ang punahin ng mga tao, parang mas importante pa sa kanila ang magandang asal ko. Tsk. I can't help but roll my eyes at these thoughts.

What a hassle. I'm a prodigy in soccer, but instead, people call me a spoiled brat. And then there are people I don't even know getting involved. They're probably part of the public supporting my mom and other relatives who are into politics. But what do they care? They can support my family without thinking about me. It's my mom who's running, not me. All I want to do is play soccer. Tsk.

I'm an only child, and since I was young, I only had to think about playing soccer. That's why it's the only thing on my mind. My family supports me, and I was indeed spoiled, especially by my grandparents. I'm the only grandson, while all my cousins are female.

I also never experienced being truly scolded by my parents. My mom sometimes talks to me about my attitude, but my dad always defends me and mostly just talks to me. I was never punished as a child. I was given everything I needed and wanted, which is why people say my behavior is like this.

But is that my fault?

I know not everyone has been as privilege as me. But do I really have to concern myself with that? I'm just living my life. I'm not even minding other people's business. Oh, come on.

Daddy patted my back. "Now, now, your mom and I talked, and she wants you to temporarily stay and take a vacation. You know... just rest for a while at our huge ancestral house in the province. What do you think?" Daddy smiled at me.

"Since you also don't want to go back to Germany yet?"

Umiling naman agad ako sa sinabi niya. "No. I'd rather just play games on my computer—"

"You can bring your computer with you!" Dad said, sounding like it's a better idea.

Umiling pa rin ako. "Tsk. I can't, and I won't."

"Come on, Julian. Alam mo naman na malapit na ang election? And your mom is already struggling, you know..." he said.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Daddy. My Dad was also on the soccer team in the past, but he didn't pursue it further after he married my mom, who is the daughter of a close family friend. Now he just works in an office and sometimes acts as my manager, too. Napailing ako.

"Son, just take a leave for now. Ibigay mo na muna sa Mommy mo ang panahon na 'to hanggang sa manalo rin siya ulit sa election." Daddy said.

Then I ended up just sighing. My family has been in politics since before I was born—starting with my grandparents and then down to my uncle and aunt, as well as my mom. She likes helping people especially those in need. She likes helping others.

That's why I became closer to my dad while growing up. He was the one who was usually around, while my mom was busy with her work and campaigns as I was growing up.

Fine.

Ayaw ko na ring pahirapan si Daddy sa pagkukumbinsi sa akin, at si Mommy na rin.

"I'll go," I said, which made my dad smile.

Although in the end, I still felt like I was being forced to go to our ancestral house in the province...

It's really huge and old, but it's still well cleaned and maintained.

Sinalubong ako ng caretaker, at mukhang nag-hire din sila ng dagdag na kasambahay dahil nandito ako ngayon. Pagdating ko, agad akong umakyat at nagpahinga sa kwarto dahil medyo pagod din ako sa biyahe.

But when I woke up in the afternoon, I even tried doing some exercise and went jogging. Still, I felt bored. The view of the greenery outside didn't help ease my boredom. I'm probably not really into nature, but I appreciate it. Iyon lang.

May mga kabayo din dito, pero wala pa iyong nangangalaga sa kanila, kaya hindi ako pinayagan ni Manang na subukan dahil walang tauhan ngayon. Baka mapaano raw ako. Mahigpit din ang bilin ni Mommy sa kaniya.

Although my mom may have been absent for most of my life growing up, she always makes sure that I'm well taken care of by the people she trusts to look after her only son. I had two to three nannies when I was younger, and hindi rin pwedeng wala akong bodyguards. Well, hindi naman ako mahirap na bantayan dahil school, bahay, at soccer lang din ang madalas kong activities, pati na rin mga family events.

At na-bored din ako sa paglalaro ng games sa phone ko. Naka-watch na rin ako ng ilang YouTube videos, pero bored pa rin talaga ako. Nagdala ako ng soccer ball dito. Dapat pala ay magsabi ako kay Mommy na pagawan niya ako ng soccer field, since malaki rin naman ang lupa ng pamilya niya, lalo na sa probinsya na 'to. Dito kasi talaga nakatira dati ang mga ninuno namin.

"Meryenda po, Sir... Julian," sabi sa akin ng mas bata at mukhang mahiyain na kasambahay. She's probably the same age as me or maybe just a bit older; I don't know.

"What's this?" I asked, looking at a kind of a familiar food, but I doubted if I had eaten it before.

"Turon po ito, Sir Julian." Ngumiti sa akin ang kasambahay. "Ako po ang nagluto," sabi pa niya.

Kumunot naman bahagya ang noo ko. "A what? I don't think I've eaten that. Get me something else. Hindi ba nagpasabi si Mommy kay Manang kung ano lang ang mga kinakain ko?"

The young maid looked taken aback at my attitude... again. I sighed. Well, I'm already good-looking, alright? Hindi pwede na sobrang bait din ako... Tsk. Whatever. "I'll be in the library," sabi ko na lang at tumayo na mula sa inuupuan ko roon sa malaking terrace ng mansion.

I'm not really into reading. I didn't do badly in school, but my grades were just okay. Syempre, busy naman ako sa soccer. And my parents don't pressure me about my academics either. Basta ang importante kay Mommy at Daddy ay pumasa pa rin ako sa mga subjects ko sa school.

I'm currently enrolled at the university as a second-year college student. My education is a mix of in-person visits to campus and online distance learning programs. Fortunately, my university schedule is flexible, allowing me to travel abroad for my training and matches.

When I was younger, I frequently traveled back and forth between the Philippines and various countries abroad. I started playing soccer at the age of three through recreational programs. By four or five, I had joined a soccer league with organized clubs overseas. I received training and got scouted at a very young age, with Daddy accompanying me during our trips abroad.

When I was six, I returned to the Philippines and began elementary school. However, from the age of eight to eleven, I went back abroad to enroll in a youth academy.

Once I started high school, I had to come back to my country because Mommy missed me. She couldn't handle being away from me for too long, especially since she was busy and couldn't easily visit me in another country. So, I spent part of my high school years back here.

When I turned fifteen, I left again for Germany, I continued my training at a youth soccer academy. By the time I was sixteen, I joined a German soccer club and became a professional player.

Sandali akong natigilan nang makita kung gaano kalaki ang library sa mansion na 'to. Sinalubong ako ng mga matataas na shelves at malalaking koleksyon ng iba't ibang libro pagpasok ko. Galing pa sa mga ninuno namin ang ilang mga libro dito, ayon sa sinabi ni Mommy. Kasi dati, mga scholars and philosophers din ang ilan sa mga ninuno namin. Well, all right.

Kumuha ako ng ilang libro na akala ko'y makakapag-interest sa akin. May isa akong napansin na isang matabang libro. I thought it was an encyclopedia because of its thickness. Kinuha ko ito mula sa shelf na nasa dulo ng library, at medyo madilim na rin sa bahaging 'to, kaya halos nakatago na ang ilang libro dito. Basta umikot-ikot lang ako rito sa malaking library dahil bored ako. Then, I unexpectedly discovered something...

I opened the thick and heavy book in front of me. There and then, I discovered some really old records written by my ancestors. It was handwritten like a journal, except that it's as thick as an encyclopedia instead.

There were some drawings too. Sobrang luma na ng ibang writings doon at hindi rin nakasulat sa English ang iba. But I think they were trying to preserve the details even back then, which is why the next pages were clearer and more understandable.

Seeing it felt weird at first. I really find its contents impossible. For a second, I thought I was reading a fiction book. But out of boredom, I got very interested in it to the extent that I want to learn more about it.