I Am a Woman

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

2 years later

"He's dead."

Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ako o malulungkot sa ibinalitang iyon ni Sofia.

A part of me is happy that I can now be at peace knowing that he can no longer do anything about me. While the other is sad because someone close to my bloodline died. I somehow still have a vivid happy memory of him. Kahit saang angulo ay Lolo ko pa rin ito.

But I don't feel myself wanting to shed a single tear for his loss.

"Didn't you hear me? I said Lolo Sebastian is dead." Pag-uulit nito pero gamit na ang maldita niyang boses.

"I heard you. What do you want me to say? Good for him?" Hindi ko rin mapigilan na magsungit sa kanya. I have been dealing with her kamalditahan for almost a year now at kahit ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako nasasanay.

"What I mean is that you can now go back to the Philippines. Tito Neon is now taking over the position of Lolo Sebastian. He doesn't care about you as long as you're not using the name of Seriantel."

"You know I'm not using that surname for a year now." Sagot ko sa kanya habang tinitingnan siya mula sa repleksyon niya sa salamin na nasa harapan ko.

Nakita ko na tinaasan ako nito ng kilay at inirapan kahit wala naman akong ginagawa sa kanya. Seriously? What's wrong with her?

"Diba Ate Solana is offering you a managerial position in her fashion and cosmetics business? Don't you want to grab that?" Muling tanong niya.

"Pinag-iisipan ko pa."

"Tita Celina misses you. I suggest na you accept that para may reason ka umuwi. Isa pa, you're already done with your short-term course, diba?"

"Yeah." Balewalang sagot ko sa tanong niya.

Akala ko ay aalis na ito, pero pinakatitigan pa ako nito mula ulo hanggang paa. Hindi na ako nakatiis at tinigil ang pagsusuklay sa buhok ko at tinapunan siya ng masamang tingin.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Kunot-noo na tanong ko sa kanya.

I saw Sofia shrug her shoulders before answering.

"I can't still believe until now that you're actually a woman. Who would have thought that you have been hiding that alluring body in men's suits noon? Nagwagwapuhan pa naman ako sayo dati tapos ngayon mas maganda ka na sa akin?" Hindi makapaniwalang saad niya.

"Maganda talaga ako." I smirkingly said to her, at hindi na pinansin pa ang una niyang sinabi.

I smiled victoriously when I saw her hiss and barge out of my room.

Nang makaalis ito ay saka lang nag-sink in sa akin ang mga sinabi niya kanina.

Lolo Sebastian is now dead. That means it's safe now to go back to the Philippines.

Napabuntong hininga ako at tumayo para hawiin ang kurtina na tumatakip sa bintana ng kwarto ko. Bumungad sa mata ko ang liwanag mula sa labas.

While I was appreciating the breathtaking view outside, hindi ko namamalayan na nakatulala na pala ako habang inaalala ang mga nangyari nitong nakalipas na dalawang taon.

That day, when Lolo Sebastian was about to kill me with his gun, he suddenly had a heart attack. I thought I was going to die at that time. Mabuti na lang at sa ibang direksyon ang tinamaan ng bala ng baril niya.

He was then brought to the hospital. Galit na galit ang mga nakakatandang Seriantel dahil sa nangyari. They heard the news and discovered my secret. They blamed us—me and my parents.

Napag-alaman ko na nalaman ni Lolo Sebastian na tunay akong babae dahil kay Dr. Klorence—my personal doctor since I was a child.

He asked my grandfather for a large sum of money in exchange for that information. I guess my parents trusted the wrong person. But I considered that a blessing in disguise, dahil simula noon ay nagbago na ang takbo ng buhay ko.

I was pushed by my parents to leave the country bago pa man magising ang Lolo. I don't have a choice but to do what they tell me. Isa pa ay nakakatanggap na rin ako ng threats mula sa ilang miyembro ng Seriantel na sumunod sa posisyon ni Lolo Sebastian.

I decided to fly here in Malta and decided to restart my life.

Habang nasa ibang bansa ay nabalitaan ko na nagising si Lolo, but he became bedridden.

I seize that chance to free myself from the Seriantel.

I paid someone in the Philippines para ayusin ang mga papel at pangalan ko dahil alam ko na mahihirapan ako na ayusin ang mga ito abroad. I also make sure to transfer my accomplishments and properties to my real name. Fortunately, I have earned enough money to do that and to sustain my living expenses here in Malta.

It took me almost a year to claim my own identity. Sa wakas ay nagagamit ko na ang sarili kong pangalan. I'm no longer living in my brother's name.

Hindi ko na rin ginagamit ang surname na Seriantel. I was now living under my mother's family name. That's the condition of other Seriantel members. It didn't become a problem, dahil ayaw ko naman talaga maging Seriantel noong una pa lang.

After a year, I was shocked to find my malditang cousin, Sofia, on my doorstep here in Malta. Nalaman ko na tumakas pala ito sa arrange marriage na gusto ng mga magulang niya. Nakuha nito ang information at address ko mula sa parents ko.

I don't have a choice but to accept her in my home because, after all, she is my cousin who almost became a victim of Seriantel's cruel mindset. Pero hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin alam kung bakit ako ang napili nitong puntahan.

Also, as soon as I got my papers, I took several short-term courses related to beauty and fashion. I finally had the liberty to pursue my dreams.

I can do anything I want now.

Sa loob ng dalawang taon ay maraming nagbago. Almost everything about me changes. Not just my name but also my appearance.

Hindi ko na kailangan pa na magtago sa mga damit panlalaki. I don't also need to pretend and act like a man.

I can now wear women's clothes like I have always dreamed of.

I am now embracing femininity.

Naalala ko ang sinabi ni Sofia kanina. I scanned my appearance through my reflection in the glass window. Kahit ako ay hindi pa rin makapaniwala sa nakikita ko ngayon.

This was just a dream before.

My old appearance is nothing compared to what I am seeing now.

The last time I stared this long into my reflection was when I was still wearing a tuxedo and men's pants. But now, I am wearing a stylish dress that perfectly fits my body.

Ang dating men's leather shoes na suot ko ay napalitan ng 3-inch stiletto heels. I also had my nails painted in a color that complements my skin.

My feminine features are highlighted with light makeup, especially my lips, which is covered with a seductive shade. My eyebrows are shaved and shaped into a clean and defined outline.

I touched my hair while I was still staring at myself. I didn't cut it for the past two years. I let its long waves freely flow over my shoulders and back.

One word to describe myself right now is...beauty.

I once thought to myself that if this moment came, this would definitely be the happiest I would ever be.

Yet, I can't be truly happy, as I feel like something is still missing inside me.

But what's important for now is that I am free. No more pretentious acts. I can now be defined as what I truly am.

Finally, I can tell the world that I am a woman.