Olivia Faye Eleazar will find herself in a world of deceit and lies. As she goes deeper, she slowly loses her identity and the truth about her life. Her confusion made her an easy target of manipulation, making the people around her use her against...
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OLIVIA FAYE ELEAZAR
I watched the stars, trying to trace the constellations drawn in the night sky. People named them, and attached to them were myths filled with victory or failure. Isang tingin lang nila, alam na nila kung ano ang pangalan ng constellation. Hindi tulad ko. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi alam ng mga tao sa paligid ko if they should call me Olivia or Leirin.
"Lei? Can I talk to you for a moment?" I looked back at my father, who called my name.
Sa kanilang lahat, siya lang ang sigurado sa kung sino ako para sa kaniya. Para sa kaniya ay ako si Leirin Andrea Patterson, anak niya. Siguro ay oras na rin para maging sigurado ako sa kung sino ako at sa kung anong gusto ko.
"Hi, Dad," nahihiyang bati ko dito.
"Hi, sweetheart," nakangiting tugon naman nito bago niya ginaya ang aking pwesto. We were now both leaning on the balcony and looking up at the sky.
"Ano po pala 'yong sasabihin ninyo?" agad na tanong ko.
"I know that you are still adjusting to your new life, and this may come off as a huge request given that you have only been here for a few days," pormal na sabi nito. "I would like to introduce you to our family business and train you," he declared before he looked at me. Marahan naman akong tumango habang hinihintay ang susunod niyang sasabihin.
"Your brother is brilliant, but it would be nice to have someone helping him out," pagpapatuloy nito. "The decision is still yours, and you do not need to pressure yourself too."
Isang mapait na ngiti ang gumuhit sa aking labi dahil sa mga bagay na aking napagtanto. It feels like I don't have a choice, but if you will closely look at it, they are giving me the chance to say no. Ang nakakalungkot lang, kapag humindi ako ay hindi ko naman alam ang gusto kong patunguhan. I didn't know what I wanted in life.
Kapag um-oo ako, kahit papaano ay may gagabay sa akin at madedefine kung ano ang goal ko.
"I have nothing better to do. My life has no direction as of this moment, so I will happily accept this offer para naman po may magawa akong matino sa buhay ko," sagot ko.
Perhaps it was time for me to define myself.
"Thank you," nakangiting sagot ng aking ama. "I will introduce you to one of Joseph Alverde's sons so he could help you understand our business."
My father's words sparked excitement within. I might meet Trevor again. Kahit na medyo may kasamaan ang ugali niya ay ayos lang, he still comforted me. Kahit na hindi naman kami related sa isa't-isa ay hindi niya ako pinabayaan, pero posibleng ginawa niya lang iyon dahil sa utos ni Kuya Lance o kaya ay para makaganti kay Hale.
Hindi naman na mahalaga iyon. Ang mahalaga ay dapat na akong magsimula sa pagkilala sa aking sarili, sa pag-identify ng mga gusto ko, at sa pagpapalagong muli ng aking pagkatao.
