Romancing the Devil

CHAPTER 1

"Dad, you can't do that to my sister!" sigaw ni Ate Kiana sa mga magulang namin.

Nakayuko lamang ako at nakikinig lang sa kanila sa desisyon nila para sa buhay ko.

I lived my entire life like this. Controlled and manipulated by my adoptive parents. We're blood related because Mom is my biological father's sister. I was just adopted by them when my parents died due to plane crashed when I was just five years old. And because Kiana was missing that time, they want me to be their own child. To fill the emptiness they're feeling.

They legally adopted me months after my parents burial. Dahil na rin sa kanila ako ipinagkatiwala ng mga magulang ko. I somehow, learned about to love them as my real parents. At the first ten years, they're good at me. Maayos ang lahat ng pagtrato nila sa akin. Kahit minsan ay napapagalitan ako, lalo na kapag mainit ang ulo nila at napapalo ako, naging ayos 'yon sa akin dahil alam kong parte 'yon ng pagdisiplina sa akin.

Hanggang sa makita na nga nila si Ate Kiana noong mag-sixteen years old ako. I was happy for them when they found their missing child. I was grateful because finally, I have a playmate, I have a sister to be with every time.

But then, that's the beginning of my loneliness and emptiness. They became cold to me. They became mistreating me at all times they could possibly have. They became harsh to me to the point I feel humiliated by them every time they turn me down.

Pero tinanggap ko 'yon dahil kailangan ko sila sa buhay ko. Magulang ko sila. Kahit hindi ako sa kanila nagmula, kamag-anak pa rin ako ni Mommy. Alam kong . . . may pagmamahal pa rin sila sa akin kahit na dumating na ang tunay nilang anak.

"You should at least ask her permission before you do what you want to do in her life!" Ate Kiana continued, but our parents are hardheaded.

They stayed firm and manipulative.

"What do you want us to do, honey?" Dad's soothing voice filled my ears.

I closed my eyes tightly, waiting for my sister to speak.

"Let her live her life free, Dad. Let her choose a man who will love her—" Dad's heartily laugh interrupt Ate Kiana's speaking.

"You want me to what?" he asked with so much mockingly.

"Let her choose a man on her own!"

"Ate," hinawakan ko ang kaniyang kamay na nasa ilalim ng lamesa.

"That's not gonna happen, Kiana. That's the list thing she could do in this family!"

Gusto kong umiyak. Gustong-gusto kong magsalita pero hindi ko kaya. I know, Dad. I know that that's the list thing I can do in this family but how could you marry me to a person I do not know? It's just for your own whims. For your own satisfaction.

"And it's convenient for the possible merging of two companies, hija." Mommy interrupted.

"At si Hailey ang solusyon do'n?" Ate Kiana scoffed in disbelief. "You're so unreasonable, Mom, Dad. How could you trade your own daughter just for your company to bloom?"

Dad's expression darkened as he look at Ate Kiana. I tugged Kiana's hand to stop her from talking.

"Baka nakakalimutan mong . . ." he trailed off, then his gaze dart to me. "Hindi mo tunay na kapatid 'yan." he's not pointing at me, but his gaze didn't left mine.

"Kadugo pa rin natin siya, Dad, baka nakakalimutan mo rin." pakikipagtalo pa rin ni Ate Kiana.

Alam ko kung bakit ako ang gusto nilang ipakasal sa iba. Dahil ayaw nilang si Ate Kiana ang mawalay sa kanila at magdusa sa kung ano mang haharapin kapag ikinasal na. Alam kong may plano si Daddy. Just looking at the glint of his eyes, I know him too well. Mas nakasama ko sila nang mas matagal kaya kilala ko silang dalawa. Mature ako mag-isip kahit na homeschooled ako hanggang senior highschool. Kahit dumating na si Ate Kiana ay hindi pa rin nila ako hinayaang mag-aral sa totoong eskwelahan.