Veronica
"Madam Russell, naman! Ikaw na kasi ang gumising diyan! Look at her, she looks so peaceful. I don't want to be the one to ruin her beauty sleep," a high-pitched, playful voice echoed through the room.
"Bakit ako? Ikaw naman ang inutusan ni Madam Lincoln, 'di ba? You wanted to be the favorite step-sister, right? Now, do your job," a more stoic, deeper voice replied.
"Ayoko nga kasi! Ikaw na lang, please? What if she’s like Sazch? What if she kicks me in the face because I interrupted her sleep? Alam mo naman ang mga 'yan, they value their sleep more than their lives!"
"Seriously, Zera? Mukha bang kabayo 'yan para manipa? She's a high-society lady, for God's sake."
"Hindi naman... honestly, she's so beautiful. Like, breathtakingly beautiful. I’m straight, okay? Let’s make that clear. But looking at her? Wow. She looks like a sleeping angel. Sana forever na siyang ganyan, para wala nang gulo..."
"Gago ka talaga, Zera. Just wake her up before Madam Lincoln comes back and shoots us both."
I felt a slight heaviness in my eyelids as their voices drifted into my consciousness. Dahan-dahan kong iminulat ang aking mga mata, and the first thing I saw was an unfamiliar ceiling. My vision was a bit blurry at first, but as it cleared, I realized I was in a room that screamed elegance and mystery.
Kumunot ang noo ko. Where am I? The last thing I remember was the scorching heat of the sun, the gravel beneath my knees, and the cold, piercing gaze of Eunice.
Eunice—
Realization hit me like a truck. Agad akong napabalikwas ng higa, ignoring the sudden dizziness that clouded my head. I need to find her.
"H-Hoy—Miss Veronica, dahan-dahan lang naman! Baka bigla kang mahulog... though you kind of deserve it—aray ko, gago ka!"
Mabilis akong napalingon sa gilid ng kama. There they were, the two women I heard earlier. One was Russell, looking as tough as ever, and the other was a girl who looked like she just stepped out of a fashion magazine, rubbing her arm where Russell had just pinched her.
I cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure despite my disheveled state. "I... I'm awake."
The girl, Zera, flashed me a bright, almost blinding smile. "Buti naman at nagising ka pa! Akala namin kailangan na namin ng Prince Charming para mag-wake up call sa'yo."
"A-Ah... Miss Veronica," Russell interjected, coughing slightly to hide her smirk. "Tara na po sa baba. Kakain na raw po. The Boss, I mean, Madam Lincoln is waiting. And I’m sure you’re starving after that dramatic fainting spell."
I gave them a small, hesitant smile. As they waited for me to get up, I took a moment to observe the room. It was undeniably beautiful. The walls were painted in different shades of sophisticated gray, accentuated by minimalist charcoal furniture. It was clean, organized, and felt incredibly... powerful. But more than the aesthetics, it was the scent that dominated the air.
It was her scent, expensive perfume, a scent that was uniquely Eunice. This must be her room. The thought made my heart skip a beat.
"Where's my Eunice?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly with hope and fear.
The two exchanged a look before Zera let out a small, mischievous giggle. "Nasa baba na po siya, actually. Siya nga ang nag-utos sa amin na gumising sa'yo. She was acting all cold and indifferent, but we know better."
"Why did she have to ask someone else? Why couldn't she just... wake me up herself?" I asked softly, the sadness creeping back into my chest.
Does she really hate me that much now? Is she so repulsed by my presence that she can’t even bear to see me wake up?
