ZANDER
Alas tres ng madaling araw. Daisy is still asleep. I'm carrying my stuffs in a backpack. I'm also planning to use the front gate, to tell everyone that I'm leaving here.
"Saan ka pupunta?"
Tumalikod ako at nakita ko si Aunt Lucia na kakarating lang din. Wearing her usual fancy clothes and face but this time, raising her eyebrows.
"Aalis ako dito. You want to get rid of me right? You don't need to worry, pleasure's mine." I answered in a bored voice.
"Hmphf! As if you can survive, you don't even have money. Pero sige, lumayas ka. But if you take a single step out of this mansion, don't ever show yourself here again." May pagbabantang sabi niya. Look who's talking. This riches is Amethyst's in the first place.
One day, I'll take it back from you all. You don't deserve a single penny.
"What's with the commotion? Mama?"
I looked up in the stairs and saw Chanel in her nightdress. Magulo ang buhok niya, halatang kakagising niya lang.
"Chanel. Gustong lumayas ni Amethyst." Sabi ni Lucia, causing Chanel to make a confused face.
"Is she serious?! Amethyst sweetie, are you fooling yourself? Saan ka titira? You don't even have a single penny." Natatawang sabi ni Chanel.
"I'll find a way. I'd rather live in the streets than to continue staying in this hellish place." Malamig na sabi ko.
"Go on then. Don't come at us crying, sweetie. You're pretty dumb, hindi ko nga alam kung naintindihan mo yung sinabi ko kanina." Chanel said.
"The outside world is worst than this place, sweetie. Goodluck then! Let her be, mama. Go rest na din okay, you're tired from your trip yeah? I'm going back to sleep." I heard Chanel yawning before going back to her room.
"Tsk." Inirapan lang ako ni Lucia. I rolled my eyes once I passed by her. Dumaan ako sa front gate then I walked away.
I smiled in success. Mas lalo pa akong ngumiti pagkatapos kung ma-remember ang sinabi ni Daisy kahapon.
"Psst. Daisy." Tawag ko sa kanya.
"Yeah? Ya nee sam ti? (Yeah? You need something?)" Sagot niya habang ngumuguya ng tatlong fishballs.
"Nandito paba ako sa lugar na pinanggalingan ko? Or is this another parallel world?"
We're hanging out in a quiet park while eating fishballs. Tumigil si Daisy sa pag subo ng fishball at tumingin sa akin.
"Still the same world. Why so?"
Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya.
"Really?! This is the same place?! I always forget to ask you where this city is. I'm always in my room you know, playing games and such. I didn't know this place is still the same world! Daisy, my family? What about my family? Are they alive? Are they here? Do they still remember me?" Tanong ko. I sound desperately excited. Hoping that I would get a good answer.
Ngumisi si Daisy. "Why not check them out yourself, Zander Lin?"
I miss my family so much. Si mommy, I'm pretty sure she's mourning about my death. How will she react if she saw Amethyst? My little sister, how is she? Is she still doing art? Si Daddy? Is his health okay?
"Good morning, dearest guest!" Daisy greeted me with full energy.
Ngumiti lang ako sa pusa. "Good morning, Daisy."
"Good mood ka yata ngayon." She commented.
"Yep! Of course! Finally escaped from that place!"
"Why not check them out yourself, Zander Lin?"
Naglakad ako patungong bus station. Medyo nataranta ako kasi hindi ako marunong bumili ng ticket kasi first time ko tong gawin. I headed towards the place where I used to go.
My apartment.
School will start in Monday. Today's Friday. Sana nga totoo ang sinabi ni Daisy. My apartment would be a great help.
"Daisy, let's go." Mahinang bulong ko habang umaakyat papasok sa bus. Dahil maaga pa, medyo wala pang pasaherong naka-sakay.