Not A Fairytale✔

Prologue

Prologue

“Papa, where are we?”

Ngumiti si Papa sa akin at iginaya ako sa isang sofa, “you wait here, okay? May kakausapin lang akong kaibigan.” Wika niya, tinuturo ang isang hagdan na nalalatagan ng pulang carpet.

I nodded innocently at him, naupo ako sa sofa habang tinatanaw si Papa na ngayo’y naglalakad na palayo sa akin. Sa kanyang pangalawang hakbang sa magandang hagdan ay may sumalubong sa kanyang isang binata, nakipaghype five pa ito kay Papa.

“Hi Tito Matthew, going to see Dad?” Tanong nito kay Papa habang nakangiti.

So handsome. For once, my childish mind thought about that towards an inevitable older guy. Kasin’ tangkad niya si Papa, knowing Papa is too tall, and here a younger boy is as tall as him, wowed me.

“Yes,” Sagot naman ni Papa rito.

Itinuro ng gwapong lalaki ang itaas ng hagdan, “he’s in the library,” wika nito.

“Thanks Jackson.” Papa said and glanced at me, leaving Jackson - the handsome guy follow his gaze. “I brought my daughter, be nice.” May pagbabanta sa boses ni Papa ngunit hindi ganoon kasama sa pandinig. I guess he is trying to be nice after all.

Tumango ito kay Papa, tinapik ni Papa ang balikat nito bago tuluyang umakyat sa itaas. Leaving Jackson behind, starring at me while walking towards me.

“I guess you’re Neterini?” Tanong nito at naupo sa katapat ko na sofa.

Ngumiti ako sa kanya, “yes, hi!” Masigla kong sinabi sa kanya.

Nangiti siya sa akin at nagtaas ng kilay habang nakatitig, “how old are you?” He asked.

Hindi ako nakasagot agad dahil may kasambahay na naglapag ng meryenda sa ibabaw ng lamesang gawa sa salamin, sa pagitan naming dalawa. Nang matapos ilapag ng kasambahay ito ay nagpasalamat si Jackson dito, but his eyes are still intently looking at me.

“I’m 14.” Nahihiya kong sinabi.

Naglaho ang ngiti niya at nakita kong paano nagtaas at nagpababa ang kanyang Adam’s apple. “You look 18.” He commented.

“Paano mo naman po nasabi? I am not tall either,” I said awkwardly.

Umiling siya at muling ngumiti sa akin. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin, I feel like it is very awkward. I take back saying he’s handsome, pakiramdam ko’y iyon ang dahilan kung bakit ako naiilang. It must be ormal to him, ako lang ang nag-iisip ng ganito.

I roamed my eyes around the living room to make myself busy. “Your house is far more elegant than ours, our house is very old-fashioned.” I commented all of a sudden.

“Oh? So first time mo rito?” He asked, “wanna go on a tour with me? If you won’t mind, of course.” He smiled again.

I guess his habit is to smile like that.

Agad akong tumango sa kanya, “oo naman!” Maligaya kong sagot.

The house’s atmosphere is a bit boring, but as I stare at some housemaids busy cleaning and roaming around - searching for something to work changes the thoughts. I couldn’t help but to compare it to our house, which is literally boring. We aren’t rich just like my Grandparents, the house isn’t actually ours, maybe the old-fashion description is because my Grandmother is from the 19th century.

“And this is my room.” He said when we are done roaming around the house. “So sad, hindi natin pwedeng puntahan ang library dahil doon nag-uusap sila Dad at ang Papa mo.” Aniya sa akin at iginaya ako sa loob ng kuwarto.