It's You

One

Chapter 1
FRAME

"Alex dear?" I heard a knock on my room's door. That's probably my beautiful Mom. But it's only 7:00 in the morning.

"Breakfast is served and your Dad's waiting". She said while knocking.

"Yes Mom, I'm coming!" I replied. At bumangon na ko nung wala na 'kong narinig na katok.

All hail the gods because it's weekend!

Since the last semester is approaching, napakarami na ring projects and activities ang kailangan ipasa. Yes it's stressful but vacation is coming so my efforts will be compensated atleast. I'll be spending summer in Negros, at my Lola's and I haven't told my parents about it.

Well by the way, my name is Victoria Alexis Del Sierra and I am the only daughter of Alexis and Eleana Del Sierra. My name's too classic I know. Di ko alam kung bakit uso sa pamilya namin ang isunod ang pangalan ng apo sa grandparents nila. Well in my case, I love my name kasi sinunod iyon sa Lola ko which is Lola Victoria and Alexis is from Dad's name.

I am taking up Business Management at Montreal University here in Manila and currently I am in my third year already. Well, I can say that my university really is a prestigious one. Most of the students here kasi ay mga anak ng mga negosyante or let's say it's a school of heirs but there are scholars of course and my family is one of the investors of the university.

Pababa na ko ng hagdan nang salubungin ako ni Buster, my golden retriever dog. He barked at me which sounded like a happy child welcoming his mom.

"Hi Bustyyy babyy, good morning!" I hugged him and he licked my fresh from the hilamos face. Awww my baby's so sweet!

"Good morning Mom, good morning Dad." I kissed them both when I arrived at the dining table and sat beside my mom.

"Good morning my Alexis", Dad answered wearing his sweetest smile as he gazed me.

"Aalis ba kayo ng mga kaibigan mo ngayon anak?" Mom asked after drinking her water.

"Yup, I'll be malling with Chesca and Zack po," I answered while putting some bacon and pie on my plate.

"Okay, just go home before 8:00 pm because the Ignacios are coming for dinner," Mom said before cutting a piece of pie from her plate and sinubo iyon kay Dad. My parents are so sweet and I wish to have a relationship like them.

"Tito Anton has already arrived from Belgium?" I asked because Ali informed me that Tito will be out of the country until the end of the month.

"Yes, because your Tito is so good enough to immediately close the deal," Dad replied while chuckling.

"Or maybe he just missed Lysel that much," Mom said that made us all laugh.

The Ignacio family is our closest friend. Tito Anton's one of the Directors sa company ni Daddy at magkababata din sila. Pareho silang lumaki sa Negros, ang probinsya nila Daddy.

While Tita Lysel is my Mom's bestfriend. They have two children, Austin Louis which everyone calls him Ali and Estelle Louise or Eli. They're actually twins by the way. They're also both studying at MU and Ali is the president of the student council.

He invited me to run as his VP once pero wala talaga akong interes sa mga ganyan. While Eli, I don't know pero di ko siya masyadong ka-close, though we chat naman whenever we're given a chance. She's too serious kasi not like Ali who's a little bubbly at ganon din ako.

"Si Ali and Eli, are they coming din po ba?" I asked Mom as I put the bacon on my mouth.

"I don't think so. Wala namang nabanggit si Anton sa akin," si Dad ang sumagot.

"Pero sana sumama sila. I miss those two," Mom added.

Natahimik ako at napatingin sa pagkain ko while reminiscing a glimpse of my childhood memories.

My parents were fond of the twins because we grew up together and we're even inseparable back then. Ali would serve as our knight whenever some kids are making fun of me and Eli.

There were actually four of us. Seb, as far as I can remember was the new kid in the neighborhood and was the one who completed the group. Hindi talaga namin siya kalaro at first kasi they are always out of town. And since the twins are living in different village, madalas kami lang ni Seb ang nakakapaglaro kapag hindi sila umaalis.

Seb was a happy kid and an adorable one kaya naman masarap talaga siyang kasama. I dont't know why pero one day he said they're going to the other country at baka matagalan pa daw bago sila makabalik. But he promised us, me, that he will come back. Pero walang Seb na bumalik.

My phone chimed and that was when I came back to reality. I looked at it and saw Zack's message.

"By the way Mom, Dad. Zack will pick me up at 10 am po mamaya at aantayin nalang po kami ni Chesca sa mall," I told them soon as I finished my breakfast.

"Okay and have fun," Dad replied and then sip on his coffee. I nodded and smiled at him.

"I'll just bring this to the sink." I said pertaining to the utensils I used.

"Just don't forget about the dinner later!" sigaw ni Mom para marinig ko. Tumayo na kasi ako heading to the sink.

"Yes Mom noted!" sagot ko kay Mom while giving her a flying kiss that made her smile at napapailing nalang.

Nasanay na ko na ligpitin yung pinagkainan ko yun kasi ang turo ni lola when I was a kid. Sabi niya na dapat matuto akong magligpit ng mga gamit na kinalat ko at huwag i-asa lahat sa mga katulong.

Tinulungan ko na din maghugas si Yaya Melda nung natapos na sila Mom and Dad.

"Alex ako na dito. Trabaho ko 'to eh inaagawan mo pa ko ng gawain," natatawang saway sa akin ni Yaya Melda.

"Pero Ya okay lang naman po. Pangkalahatan naman po itong beauty ko. Kaya ko rin pong maging dishwasher," sagot ko naman na ikinatawa ng ginang.

"Osya, ikaw ang bahala," Yaya said at sinimulan ng punasan ang mga platong binanlawan ko na.

After my little household chore, umakyat na ko sa kwarto nung di ko nadatnan sa sala ang mga magulang ko.

Maybe, they're at the garden. I told myself.

When I entered my room, there I saw Buster lying on my bed playing with his favorite stuff toy, Patrick Star. When he saw me, bumaba kaagad siya ng kama at sinalubong ako.

"Wanna play with Mommy, Busty baby?" I rubbed his tummy and he really likes it. So, I decided to play with Buster nalang habang inaantay ko si Zack. Pero di ko din kinalimutan mag-alarm ng 9:00am para makapaghanda ako and it's only 8:15 in the morning.

Noong napagod na si Buster sa laro naming fetch, we both lied on my bed and later on nakatulog na din yung katabi ko.

The peacefulness of the room got me thinking about my life.

I have loving parents, friends, my baby Buster, there's Ali at may kaya naman kami. My parents are capable to give me anything that I would ask. Muka namang wala na 'kong mahihiling pa. Pero bakit parang may kulang?

I faced my side table and settled my eyes on the picture frame beside my lampshade. It was the four of us, the twins, me and Seb. It was captured during my 7th birthday and we were all dressed as prince and princesses. We were so happy that day, not until Seb bid goodbye the next day.

"And you never came back," I said while looking at his image on the picture.

Naputol lang ang pag-iisip ko when my alarm rang. Maybe Zack's on the way. I have to prepare na! Maiksi pa naman ang pansensya ng baklang yun.

♍
Author's note:
I hope you liked it!