Home of Hopes (Caledonia Series #1)

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Picture

Sometimes, when you dream of being like one of them, You feel insecure about it. Insecurity will attack you even when you try your best to avoid it. It will come eventually.

Agaran kong niligpit sa bag ko ang isang larawan kasama sina Charlotte. I remained silent when I remembered all of our happy moments together. I dream of being like her, the center of my crush's attention. And she dreams about me... being raised by a well-known family. But for me, I feel like I'm not whole. I feel like there's a piece I need to find out.

Lumabas ako sa walk-in closet na dala ang isang coat ko. I closed my eyes and hugged it. I took the picture frame, our family picture frame, from the nightstand.

I'm not a rebel because I received full attention from my family. Lola and Lolo raised me so well. Mommy and Daddy too. But sometimes they are out of town, and I am not complaining because of that. I remember when I was little, they were hiding something. Slowly, I don't know the history of our family. May sinasabi naman sina Mommy sa akin noon, pero ang bata ko pa para tumatatak pa 'yon sa aking isipan.

I managed to hold the picture frame gradually, feeling like they were here. I miss them so much. They always promised me that they would be here every weekend when I was a kid. But when I got to junior high, things got a lot busier.

Huminga ako nang malalim at nilagay sa dating pwesto ito. Kinuha ko ang coat at sinuot ito muli. Pinihit ko ang pintuan hanggang sa makita ko si Nilda na parang kumukuha ng impormasyon mula sa akin. Kumunot naman ang noo ko sa ginagawa niya. Umayos naman siya nang tindig at halatang gulat pa rin.

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo riyan, Nilda?" taas kilay kong usisa.

Umiling lang siya. "Ahm... Miss, pinapatawag ka po pala sa baba... kasi..."

"Wala namang pasok at hindi naman sila nagpapatawag ng ganito kaaga."

"Tatakas ka na naman Miss at naka-suot ka na naman ng dress."

"Sa hacienda lang naman, Nilda."

Tiningnan ko ang aking suot: white sleeveless dress, white wedge ankle boots and black coat.

"Sabagay, 'yan naman palagi mong sinusuot. Baba ka po muna raw, Miss."

Bumuntong-hininga lang ako at tumango sa kanya. Dahan-dahan naman akong bumaba at nakita ko si Lola sa tanggapan.

"Lola, pinapa-tawag ni'yo raw ako?"

Tumango siya at may tiningnan sa likod ko. Sinuri niya naman ang kabuuan ko.

"Lilibot ka sa hacienda, Iha? Buti naman at naabutan kita. Wala pang-agahan ah."