Chapter 01
"Mi amor," my mom called me while we were having our breakfast. "I deposited twenty thousand in your card," she announced.
I nodded my head and smiled. "Thanks, mom." I answered sabay angat ng ulo. "Si dad? Kumusta na kaya?" hindi mapigilang tanong ko.
Her facial expression changed in an instant. "Stop talking about him," annoyed na sagot niya saka pinagpatuloy ang pagkain. "Just remember that when you're about to enter in college ay you'll going to study abroad, okay?" pagi-iba niya ng usapan. Ah-ha! Gotchu.
Bigla akong ginanahan sa sinabi niya. Yes! I can't wait na mag-college na ako! Good heavens! I want to study in Spain and live for good. "Yes, mommy. For sure! I just can't wait to study in Spain!" my face reddened as well from the idea of me marrying someone who lives in Spain or in... Europe? It doesn't matter! European people are attractive! Given the fact that I am half Spanish, huh? "How about... dad? Does he know?"
Umasim ang 'itsura niya. "How many times do I have to tell you, anak? Hindi kailangan ng father mong malaman ito," she said. "And bakit pa niya malalaman?"
"He is still my father, mom." Matapang na sagot ko sabay inom ng tubig. I just had my caesars salad. Dang, it was delicious! "And I miss him..."
She looked at me angrily. "It is too early for you to ruin my day, Selene. I don't want you to mention your stupid father anymore." After that, tumayo at umalis na siya.
I sighed. Wala nga talagang perfect. My classmates thought that galing ako sa perpektong pamilya, well in fact... hindi. My mom and dad separated two years ago, my mom is a lawyer while my dad was an engineer. But then, one year ago ay nakulong ito dahil na-set up sa droga. Negative naman ay kanyang drug test pero ayaw maniwala ni mommy. Iniwan na ito ni mommy ng tuluyan dahil ayaw niya raw na masira ang pangalan niya.
"I'm a lawyer, Selene! And I won't tolerate ang mga sumisira sa lipunan! I'm done with your dad! So be you!"
Ayan ang tumatak sa isipan ko, even though kumalat siya sa school namin na ang father ko raw ay isang drug addict and pusher ay hindi ko ito pinaniwalaan. 'Cause I know the truth. It was all a set up.
"Ate Tina, umalis na ba si mommy?" hawak-hawak ang bag ko nang tinanong ko ang kasambahay namin. "Wala na ba siya?"
Tumango lang si ate Tina. She is three years older than me. Well, I am just sixteen! So, yeah? "Opo, madam."
"Selene na lang nga po. Bakit may 'madam' pa? It makes me uncomfortable. Be comfy here, okay?" I said. She nodded.
Lumabas ako ng pintuan at nakitang nakahanda na ang sasakyan ko papuntang school. Pero bago 'yon, I wanna visit someone.
"Kuya Tan!" tinawag ko ang nagkakapeng driver namin.
Ngumiti ito at nag-bow. Shit. Bakit ba ganito sila? Sinabihan na naman ba ng mommy ko? I already told them to be casual na lang around. At ayaw kong tinatawag na 'madam' or 'ma'am', ha! "Good morning, ma'am! Tara na po? Pasensya na kailangan ko ng pampagising kaya nagkape muna."
"Sus! It's fine po! And Selene na lang, please? Si kuya naman, palagi ko na lang kayong sinasabihan na Selene na lang, eh." Binaba ko ang mata ko sa sapatos niya. Medyo may kalumaan na ito, dapat ng palitan. "Kuya?"
