"Natanya wake up! You have to wake up now! Or else, your father will go up here and definitely scold you again! You don't want that right? Not this early." The voice of her Nanny woke her up.
"Magandang umaga nanay Sita!" Bati niya sa yaya niyang isang Pilipina.
"Magandang umaga din sayo anak."
"I had a beautiful dream nanay. I dreamt about mamma. We were at the beach, lying on the sand while she was singing to me." Masayang kwento niya sa may edad ng babae.
"Really? I'm glad that you are happy. But you really need to move fast. Your father is already waiting for you downstairs."
"Ayoko po nanay."
"Shhhhh! Wag ka maingay! Baka marinig tayo ng papà mo. Magagalit yun pag narinig kang nagtatagalog."
Natawa naman siya sa narinig. Ayaw na ayaw ng kanyang ama na nagsasalita siya ng tagalog dahil hindi naman siya isang Pilipina. Isa siyang purong Italiana kaya't hindi bagay raw na magtagalog ang isang tulad niya. Bukod sa Ingles ay marunog din siya ng spanish, french, latin at kaunting greek.
"rilassati nanay." (just relax nanay)
"Fine. Get off the bed now! Hurry up!"
"Okay nanay". Sabi niya at bumangon na siya sa kama at dumirecho na siya ng banyo para maligo.
This is her everyday routine since her mother died because of depression. She was just five when it happened. She did not know what really caused her mother's depression. But according to his father, her mother suffers from a psychological problem for years. And with the pressure from so many things, her mind couldn't handle it. She just gave up.
During that time, when her mother is gone. Her father wanted to pass her the title of Contessa. Being the only daughter, she has no choice but to accept it. She will only be entitled to be one, when she reached the age fifteen. And in order to do that, she needs to prepare herself and must be willing to surrender her life to serve their people. And then when she reached the age of twenty five, she shall marry a respectable guy that comes from the most influential and powerful family.
This is her family's way of living. Arranged marriage is a common practice to them. And their lives are controlled from the time that they were born until the day they die. They can never say no. They can never, ever, run away from this.
I am Lady Natanya Letizia Bellucci Vivaldi. And tonight, as I turn fifteen, I will become Contessa of Livorno of the house of Vivaldi.
Sabi ni Naya sa isip kasabay ang malalim na buntong-hininga. Tonight, her title will be declared and that her freedom will be no longer be hers.
Pinaghandaan talaga ng kanyang ama ang okasyon mamayang hating gabi. Pagpatak ng alas dose, sa araw ng kanyang kaarawan ay ang parehong araw na iaalay niya ang kanyang kalayaan para maging isang Contessa.
Wala siyang ibang gagawin kundi ang mag-aral ng mag-aral. At pagdating niya sa edad na beinte ay saka siya hahayaang humawak ng mga business ng kanilang pamilya. Trabaho niya ang palaguin ito para sa buong bayan ng Turin.
Mamaya din niya makikilala ang napiling pamilya ng kanyang ama para ipakasal siya sa tagapagmana ng mga ito pagdating niya sa tamang edad. Iyon daw ang magbubuklod sa dalawang bayan para mas maging makapangyarihan at makilala sa buong bansa.
"Sei pronto per stasera?" (Are you ready for tonight?) tanong ng kanyang ama sa kanya.
"si, papà"
BINABASA MO ANG
Love Beneath The Lies
General Fiction"Life is like a box of chocolates, you don't know what you're gonna get." From the movie - Forrest Gump It is true that in life, we really don't know what's gonna happen or what it will offer. We just need to live our lives eve...
