More Than Life (A SHARCCI FAN FICTION)

Chapter 1

Cassandra

I live my life in the dark. I was born halfly blind. I can see a glimpse of light. I mean, I am not totally blind. I am visually impaired.

My life is very simple. No specialties since I can't see. I see things differently. Very differently.

My mom died when she give birth to me. My Dad raised me alone and according to him, I am a blessing. I doubt tho, if I were a blessing, where's mom?

When I was 3 years old, Daddy enrolled me in a special nursery school for blinds. Sabi ng mga guro sa eskwelahan, matalino daw ako at kung nagkataon na pinanganak akong normal, baka daw mas magaling pa ako sa normal na tao. I don't know if that's true since I never met people aside from the teachers at school, mga kasama namin sa bahay at ang mga kaklase ko na pare-parehong bulag din kagaya ko.

My cousins? I don't know them personally. I just know them by names but never personally. Probably because they don't really like me that much. I'm not like them. I ain't normal like them and so that's why.

"Kacey baby?"

I heard my dad's voice behind me. I was facing the window cause it's still morning. Though I can't see the sun, at least I want to feel him.

I looked back and smiled at him. Ni hindi ko alam kung sa tamang direksyon ako nakangiti. I saw how his blue silhouette neared me.

I felt his hand on my shoulder.

"I talked to your Professor Canlas and she agreed to apply you to their University's online school for blinds. I've already hired an apprentice for you ---"

"Pero Dad, diba napag-usapan na natin to?"

I've always wanted to go to a normal school. Though, I'm blind, I can actually cope with schools. I know I can do it. There's a university here in our place that offers that kind of services. Anyone can attend to. They accept students with disabilities and they mold them into something normal. I wanted to go there not because I wanted to be normal. I know my place. I just want to go to a normal school and experience those normal things.

"Anak, you can not go to that university. I know they can take care of you there but not everyone can be trusted. I don't want to entrust you to just anyone for the normality."

"Can you just give me this one, Dad?"

I don't know why it saddens me that I can't even go to a normal school cause I was forbidden.

He sighed before I felt his hands on my face.

"You know that I'm only doing this for your own good right, Kacey?"

Tumango ako kahit na ang bigat bigat ng pakiramdam ko.

Dad kissed my forehead before leaving me and so I can prepare my things. Today is Wednesday and every Wednesday is check up day.

After my weekly check up, Luna who is my apprentice in everything took me to mall. I need to prepare for Dad's 65th birthday. Ayoko na sanang pumunta but then, Dad insisted. Sabi niya, hindi pwede na wala Ang unica ija niya sa birthday niya. Kaya kahit napilitan lamang ang pumayag na ako. Pero during the party, Luna should always be there for me.

Luna is of the same as mine. Mas matanda lang siya ng isang taon sa akin. She has been working with us for 7 years. Maliliit palang kami ay magkasama na kami. Her mother used to work with us as one of Dad's mayordorma. Nang dahil sa katandaan ay tumigil na siyang magtrabaho sa amin at nagtayo nalang ng kunting grocery. In return, Luna will be working as my apprentice. When I say, apprentice, she was like a shadow. My shadow. Kung nasan ako, dapat nandon din siya. Pakiramdam ko ay para na kaming magkapatid.

"Luna, will I be really okay? What if, Dad's friends won't like me?" I asked all of a sudden.

Luna was busy fixing my gown. She stopped fixing my gown until I felt her hand on my face.

"Don't think about them. Kasama mo ako, walang mang-aaway sayo."

Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya. I was always wondering kung minsan ba ay nagsawa si Luna sa pag-sama at pag-aalaga sa akin. But then, she would always say, para na daw kaming magkapatid and so I stopped asking her.

"See, ang ganda ganda mo, Kacey!" She exclaimed.

I don't know what to say. Hindi dahil hindi maintindihan ang sinabi niya, nagtataka lang ako kung ano ba talaga ang maganda sa mga taong nakakakita. Dad, Luna and even the maids at home say the same time thing. Maganda daw ako.

"Talaga?" I just said and smiled.

"You are very beautiful, Kacey. Kung sana nakikita mo lang kung gaano ka kaganda." Malungkot niyang ani.

I reached for her hand and squeezed it. I tried smiling at her.

"Maganda ka din." I uttered.

"Hindi mo naman ako nakikita." She said differently.

"I know. Diba sabi mo, maganda kapag nagugustuhan mo ang physical na anyo ng isang tao? I may can't see you but I know you're maganda."

After choosing our dresses, we went home. Ang sabi ni Luna, sa bahay na kami magpapalit ang magpapa-make up. I just go with the flow.

"Wow! Is that really you, Kacey?" I heard Dad's voice behind me.

I snorted.

"Dad!"

"What? Sobrang ganda naman ng anak ko! I remember your mom way back then, she's really beautiful as you."

I pouted my lips.

"Are you ready, Kacey? I will introduce you to everyone as my one and only daughter tonight. Don't be scared honey. Everything will be alright."

"I ain't scared of them, Dad. It's not like I'll be able to see their reaction anyway?" I laughed. Dad just kissed my forehead.

I hope tonight will be a normal night for me.

----

Hi, here's the first update for this story. 😍 It's quite short since this is just an introduction for our female lead. I am planning to make this story written based on "Sahia's point of view" since there are things I might can't explain for "Kacey's point of view".

I have to study what blind people felt around people and their experiences. So might as well, write it based on my own view of blinds. My grandma is blind and so I know and I saw blinds around people.

I haven't proofread this, so beware for typos.