"My name means love and happiness but only sadness and pain were all I had."
Who am I? My name is Lilika Walton McLaren, or Ikah as they call me. I'm the only heir of Mr. Antonio Johnson McLaren and Ms. Sylvia Mars Walton.
At first, I thought my parents named me after Mama's favorite flower, but I guess I'm wrong about that. I found out that they only chose that name because of a certain couple. That time, they were my Papa's new company investors, and then soon became my godparents. The couple said that lilies mean love and happiness and will probably suit me best. But you know what? Those were the unattainable things I tirelessly chase since birth.
Our family belongs to a wealthy clan. The Walton and McLaren families are known as the best of the world's largest conglomerates. And because of that, we need to uphold a certain social status. We need to buy all the latest editions of clothes or gadgets to be always on trend. And they always say that when I'm at the right age, I'll be married to a son of another elite family, so I should always act like a proper lady.
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It's a Sunday morning, or should I say it's already noon time. I should be happy today because it's my birthday! But it's quite the opposite. Tinatamad akong bumangon from my bed. This is like my daily morning routine whenever I go to school. I'm not excited about celebrating my birthday like I used to before kasi natanggap ko na ang reality na my parents don't even remember the day I was born.
I yawned and stretched my arms lazily. I wanted to go back to sleep but I heard Manang softly knocking on my bedroom's door. I think pang 10th yaya ko na siya this month and siya pa lang yung na hire dito sa house na girl helper in her mid 30s. Naka 8 days na siya dito and lucky her, nasa United Kingdom ang parents ko simula last week. Papa always fire my nannies kasi kapag nandito siya sa house and nakita niyang ka-close ko na yung mga house helpers namin. I'm not even allowed to know or call them by their names dahil hindi ko daw dapat kinakaibigan yung mga hindi naman namin ka-level. Gusto ko lang din naman sana magkaroon ng kausap sa bahay lalo na kung palagi naman silang nasa work at naiiwan lang ako mag-isa dito sa bahay. Kaya minsan kapag nandito parents ko, mas gusto ko pang magkulong na lang sa room ko.
"Señorita, are you awake na po ba?", I heard Manang ask while knocking.
"I'm still sleepy pa! Mamaya na ako babangon. I still want to take a lo-o-ong na-a-ap!", I drawled.
"Naku! Señorita, 1 PM na po and it's your birthday today! Nakalimutan nyo na ba? Bangon na po kayo! May nailuto kaming special na handa doon sa kusina."
"Sige lang, mauna na kayo kumain doon. Tinatamad pa talaga ako bumangon."
"Sige po. Pero, Señorita, may pina-deliver din kaming cake! Yung favorite niyo daw pong Chocolate Symphony iyon! Sayang naman kung hindi niyo titikman!"
"Manang, hindi ba nila naikwento sa iyo na simula first birthday ko wala namang naganap na celebration dito sa house! Kahit nga nung nalaman na nilang nasa tummy ako ni Mama, hindi sila natuwa! They don't even care 'cause they just want an heir! End of my story! And that's why I hate celebrating my birthdays. Remember that.", sabi ko kay Manang habang pababa kami ng hagdanan.
"We know naman po, Señorita. Kaso may family tradition po kasi sa lugar namin na kapag ganitong occasion, 7th birthday mo na po di ba, need natin mag handa. Ito na po kasi ang first step niyo sa adulthood, isa ito sa pinaka crucial stage ng buhay natin. Mas maintindihan niyo na po kung ano ang consequences ng mga tama o maling actions na gagawin. And ito na rin kasi ang aking treat sa mga ibang kasama natin. Halos one week na po kasi ako dito sa inyo at saka po di ba bukas ay start na din ng pagiging 3rd grade student ninyo? Kaya marami tayong ise-celebrate!"
"Oh! Oo nga pala start na tomorrow! I hate school days talaga---aargh! But I hate celebrating my birthdays more than studying! Hindi ko nga na-feel yung vacation ko from school! Puro libro pa rin kasi yung pinabasa sa akin nila Mama tapos start na naman uli ng regular classes?!", I stomped my feet as we reached the last footing of our grand and luxurious staircase.
"Ay, classes! Hala, Señorita! Mayroon ka nga rin po pala na naka schedule na ballet lessons with Miss Tanaka mamayang 3 PM. Baka nakalimutan nyo din po iyon? And bakit po pala hindi pa rin pinalitan ni Mr. McLaren yung masungit mo na instructor na yun? She always gives you palo and kurot kapag nagkakamali, sabi iyon ng mga iba nyong kasambahay sa akin."
"Right, I forgot about that! Akala ko sa next week pa yung witch na yun! Almost 3 days lang pala talaga ang vacation ko! Bakit ba kasi mayroon pang ganitong lessons sa house! Sa school na lang sana lahat para may nap time ako! Hmmn... Papa and Mama ignored me when I told them last time about my instructors. They also said that if it's the only way I could learn properly, then I should just endure the punishments. I won't learn daw kaagad if I don't know the feeling of pain. Don't say something to my parents about that, ha? You shouldn't treat me like your own kid kapag nakabalik na sila from the UK. They will fire you just like my previous nannies. Gusto ng parents ko na hindi ko kayo kausapin ng ganito ka-close. Hindi rin ba ito sinabi ni Manong or ng mga Kuya and mga Ate? Ang daming bawal na rules sa house na ito."
"Nasabi naman po nila sa akin lahat and don't worry po, Señorita! May hidden talent po ako sa pag acting. Hindi na po ako KFC sa iyo pagdating nila Mr. and Mrs. McLaren."
"What's KFC? Yung fast food restaurant ba? Or is it a new acronym that I never heard of?"
"No, Señorita. Hindi yun ang tinutukoy ko. KFC... Ang ibig sabihin, Kunwari Feeling Close! Naku, let's go na po sa dining room! Ang dami na po nating chika dito! Gutom na din siguro yung mga animals sa tummies ng mga kasamahan natin!"
I giggled slightly, "Okay, Manang! I'll add that KFC to my personal dictionary! And thank you for preparing this kind of celebration. You made my day special for me."
"Walang anuman po, Señorita. Pansin ko kasi na lagi ka lang po mag-isa sa room mo kapag tapos na yung lessons mo. Kaya ngayong birthday mo, sana mapasaya ka namin kahit papaano."
This will be my first birthday celebration! I will never forget this moment! My best day ever! Or so I thought...
YOU ARE READING
Book 1: LILIKA
Teen FictionI was born in a world full of ambition and greed. My parents chose my name that means love and happiness but since birth, they didn't give me their affection. They only taught me pain and perfection. In a sudden absence of constraint, I met other...
