Orphic Love

Chapter 19

Chapter 19
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"Ano, Yuri, sama ka na!"

Sitting on one of the concrete benches and tables near the pathway. From my cellphone, I lifted my head to look at some of my girl classmates. They were on their way to the gates, papalabas na yata. When they saw me, they went to me and suddenly invited me to come with them.

They were all smile as they waited for my answer. Kumurap-kurap ako. One of them stepped forward and filled me with a few more information, akala siguro'y iyon ang nagpapatagal ng pagsagot ko.

"We're visiting a new milktea shop not far from here. Tapos dadaan na rin kami sa showroom ng mga Navalez, narinig ko maraming magaganda sa mga bago nilang nilabas. Baka gusto mong sumama," she said in a friendly tone.

Nanatili akong nakatitig sa kaniya. She laughed awkwardly before glancing at her friends. Bumuntong hininga ako.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit biglang nagbago ang pagtungo nila sa akin. They suddenly became friendly and kind. They would always try to reach out to me, palaging pinapahiwatig ang kagustuhang makipagkaibigan.

If I was still the dumb Yuri that I was before, siguro'y tuwang-tuwa na ako at walang pagdadalawang isip na kakaibiganin sila. Because back then, all I ever wanted was to have friends. But that's not the case anymore.

What Rebecca, Erza, and Mary did was a big blow to me. It made me realize a lot of things. It made me accept some things, na noon hindi ko magawang tanggapin at paniwalaan.

Bata pa lang ako ay madalas na akong sinasama nina Lolo at Tita sa mga social events na dinadaluhan nila. I liked it at first, lalo na tuwing nakakakilala ako ng mga kasing edad ko na naroon din. It changed when I heard how arrogant they were whenever they talked to the other guests, that most of the times, it already feels like they were lowkey insulting them. Para bang sa pamamagitan no'n ay pinapamukha nila sa iba kung gaano kababa ang mga ito kumpara sa amin.

I remember how I cried as I begged my parents na huwag pumayag sa tuwing pinapaalam nina Tita na isasama ako. Hindi ko kayang panoorin ang ginagawa nila. Even if I don't know who they're talking to, nasasaktan ako para sa kanila. Nahihiya ako sa ginagawa ng pamilya ko. Sinubukan naman nila Mama no'ng una, they would lie, creating excuses just so I won't come with them.

Ngunit napalala lang noon ang lamat sa gitna ng mga magulang ko at ni Lolo. Kaya labag man sa loob, nagpasiya akong sumama nalang ulit kaysa marinig ang madalas nilang pagtatalo sa tuwing pinagtatakpan ako. I would just stick with Kuya Samuel the whole time, dahil sa kanilang lahat siya lang ang hindi gano'n. Or maybe cuz he's not even trying to socialize in the first place.

Now, I slowly understand why they were like that. Isa ang pamilya namin sa pinaka mayaman at makapangyarihan sa bansa. We're also starting to build our name in the other parts of Asia. Kapag nasa tuktok kana, marami ang gusto kang hilahin pababa, marami ang gustong makita kang bumagsak. So, we always have to keep our guard up for we don't know the real intentions of the people around us.

Doubting others is inevitable. Kahit na gaano sila kabait sa harapan mo, kahit na gaano katamis ang ngiti nila sa 'yo, you can't just let your guard down and trust them. Kaya ganoon na lamang kung umakto sina Tita, lalong-lalo na si Lolo sa harap ng ibang tao. It's like their way of telling them, "I know my worth, so you need to work harder to earn my trust.".

It sounds cruel, I know. But that's the only way we could protect ourselves. For if we show even a bit of softness to others, we'll never know who'll use it and take advantage of us.

I guess that's the price we have to pay in order for us to stay at the top.

I thought it only applies to them and when it comes to our family's businesses. How could I forget? I also have a part of all the hatred thrown to my family. There are also people who likes to see me suffer, just because I am a Falcutila.