Ashes in the Dusk [CBS#4]

Chapter 12

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Nakaalis na si Daddy pero tulala pa rin ako rito sa lamesa. I really didn't care if I'd get my uniform or not, but then, I was already tired of the SHS Head nagging me everyday to stop wearing civilian clothes. Daig ko pa raw ang mga staffs ng school dahil araw-araw ang wash day ko.

Well, maybe I could get my uniform without Rahma noticing me, right? Tapos aalis ako kaagad! Uutusan ko si Frediriko na bilisan ang takbo ng sasakyan. Maybe I could hide somewhere in this farm? Ayokong umuwi ng mansyon at siguradong susugurin lang ako ni Rajah rito. Wala rin namang magpipigil sa kanya kapag pumasok sya rito.

Not that I feared him terribly. I was still irritated and I wanted him to suffer the aftermath of his actions. As I said, I wouldn't just let his ill treatment for me pass so easily. Para naman matanto niyang hindi ako basta-basta lang, 'no!

Hindi ko namalayan ang oras at napansin ko na lang na malapit na ang lunchtime kaya naman, minabuti kong maligo na. Napasimangot kaagad ako nang nakita ang laman ng mga damit sa walk-in closet. These were new but entirely out-of-fashion! Vintage-designed clothes weren't my thing and I guess my father really chose these deliberately.

Sinadya kong iwan sa Maynila ang mga paborito kong damit dahil inaasahan kong bakasyon lang talaga ang ipupunta ko rito. Situations turned the other way around, though, so here, I got no choice but to wear these cheap get-ups.

Grimacing, I picked out a green, square-neck dress with a short, puffed-sleeves sewed to a box, pleated skirt. My glowing, white skin got enhanced by the flannel fabric's hue. I left my curly, red hair loose and put on a black jump boots.

After spoiling my stomach with rice balls, black pepper steak, and blueberry cake, I brushed my teeth and fixed myself one last time. I was good to go so I called in Frediriko to drop me by at the farm office.

In the midst of the ride, my phone buzzed in. I fumbled for it, thinking that it could be a message from my father or from that evil wolf. Kumunot ang noo ko nang makitang unregistered number iyon. Sure, this wasn't from Rajah.

Hindi naman bago saking maka-receive ng mensahe mula sa mga unknown numbers. When I gave out my digits to Anza, anonymous numbers had already bombarded me with several messages. Hindi ko dapat bubuksan, ngunit may nag-udyok saking gawin iyon.

Unregistered number:
Bitch, watch how we'd drag you down. We'd do everything to get rid of you. Even if it meant killing you.

I had frequently received these kinds of messages from that same, unknown number. Sa una, kinabahan pa ako nang bahagya nang matanggap ko ang ganitong mensahe. Sinabi kasing ihuhulog daw ako sa hagdan kapag magkataong makita nila akong mag-isa lang. It may sound crazy but I truly waited for them to hurt me. I intentionally walked along the stairs alone, but no one dared to push me down, anyway. Kaya naisip kong pananakot lang ang mga 'to. They thought that I was a one hell of a cow, cringing easily at some silly threats and they were all stupid for believing that.

Ibinalik ko ang cellphone sa aking bag.

"Frediriko, may alam ka bang puweding pampalipas oras dito sa sakahan maliban sa mga outbuildings dito? I had enough spending most of my time at the pool and under the shady trees near the green fields. Mamamatay na ako sa kabagutan. Ang boring dito!" reklamo ko kay Frediriko na diretso ang tingin sa daan, gayunman ay nakikinig sa mga hinaing ko.

"Mayroon naman pong magagandang palipasan ng oras dito, Miss Syntia. Hindi nyo pa po ba lahat nalilibot ang buong sakahan?"

"Nope," tipid kong sagot.

"Bakit hindi po kayo mangabayo, Miss? Hindi naman po kasi kami nababagot dahil marami ang trabaho namin dito. Sina Señor at si Rahma, madalas mangabayo kapag walang masyadong ginagawa."