Seraphic of the Dawn ✓

02 | Bloom, Beautiful

Hindi ako makapagsalita sa gulat mula sa aking narinig. Even I refused to believe that my parents want me to study at Lockéhart Academy where people would do everything just to aim the top!

At ako, ang siyang hindi makontrol nang maayos ang kapangyarihan, ay pag-aaralin sa paaralang iyon?

That's equivalent of sacrifice— I'm a lamb that they're willing to give away because I am worthless enough to stay here. . . or maybe that's how I understand my situation here.

“It is for your big sister, Calisto.”

Both Calisto and I looked from where the voice came from, to see my mother with her elegant cowl neck bluish-white gown that reached the floor, with some intricate gold patterns at the side to manifest the regality she is, while walking towards our place with both grace and authority that could be felt in this whole place from her presence in this room.

Mabilis na kumawala si Calisto mula sa pagkakayakap sa akin at patakbong lumapit sa aming ina upang yumakap nang mapigilan ko ito gamit ang paghawak sa kanyang collar. Nanlaki ang mata ng aking ina sa gulat dahil sa aking ginawa, lalo na't nagpupumilit si Calisto na lumapit rito upang yumakap.

Natawa ako at binuhat muli si Calisto. Nakakatakot lang at baka masakal ang aking kapatid sa aking ginagawa. Sinimulan ko itong bihisan habang ito'y nakatingin sa akin, nakanguso, at hindi nagustuhan ang aking ginawa ngunit tinawanan ko lamang sya.

Umupo ako habang nasa harap nito kahit ang paa'y sumasakit sa suot na sandals upang makapantay ang nakababata kong kapatid.

“You can't hug mother looking like that,” I said as I started wiping his face with a wet tissue I've found on his side table. “You'll destroy her outfit, they have formal dinner, remember?” Pagpapaalala ko sa kanya ngunit ang kapatid kong maarte, inirapan lamang ako at humalukipkip habang nakanguso, masama ang loob sa aking ginawa.

Attitude 'tong batang 'to, ah!

“Mom! I don't wanna be away with Kaia!” Bigla nitong sigaw na ikinatawa ko at pailing na bumaling sa aming ina, na doon ko lamang napansing nakalapit na ito at ang mamahalin nitong pabango ay pumaibabaw sa aking pang amoy.

An elegant mixture of vanilla and musk, with the smell of gold, is now lingering towards this room.

“Do you want her to keep being a laughing stock by those people?”

Natigilan ako sa aking narinig na nagmumula sa aking likod, unti-unting nabura ang ngiti sa aking labi, kung saan hinaplos nito ang buhok ng nakababatang kapatid upang pakalmahin iyon habang ang isa nitong kamay ay nagpahinga sa aking balikat, para bang pinapakalma rin ako.

Naglakad ito papunta sa aming harapan na ikinatayo ko, kung saan binuhat ko rin si Calisto upang maiupo sa kanyang kama upang hindi na kami mahirapan. Sumunod ang aking ina at umupo sa kabilang gawi kung saan ako umupo.

She quickly engulfed our little Calisto in her motherly hug, “Lockéhart Academy will help her grow, my Calisto. Would you cut her wings and let her be caged in this big castle of yours? Your sister needs to grow.” She pinched his nose that my attitude baby brother just scoffed. “Just like how you need to grow so you can protect your sister too.”

I am lost for words hearing the last words she said.

Because all those times, I've always been the one being protected. Now, I wanted to return the favor and be the one to protect these important people in front of me.

I know that I wasn't the only one who is facing those judgments that society throws on me, but also them, which most of them are catching those insulted so those words wouldn't reach me.