Del Rico Progeny #2: Crashing Into You

Chapter 1

Hallucinating

Kapag ba nasa iyo na ang lahat, hindi ka na dapat maghahangad pa ng kung ano? Kapag ba lahat ng nangyayari sa iyo ay tila pabor sa kagustuhan mo, sapat na ba iyon para manatili ka na lang sa sitwasyong iyon? Para sa akin, naghahangad akong matuto sa paraang hindi nababayaran ng pera. Sa paraang hindi obligado sa halip ay ang inadya ng pagkakataon.

I live with a complete family. A good and loving parents. I have cousins who love me despite not sharing the same blood. I have grandparents that see me as their angel. Ang kaisa-isang babae sa pamilya. Therefore, I have everything. We are wealthy. I have a lot of friends. I am smart. I travel whenever I want to and I can have anything that I want to have. There’s no exceptions.

I was adopted. A lucky child who hit jackpot because the parents who took me in are good ones. Hindi kami kinakapos sa kahit na ano at mahal na mahal ako. Wala akong kahati sa atensyon at pagmamahal nila kaya kahit na sinong naging kakilala ko, paulit-ulit ang sinasabi nila.

“You’re fortunate to have all of these, Hope. I wish you can give back the love, care and fortune your family gives you.”

I keep that in mind. Not everyone is as fortunate as I am. I could have been one of those children wandering the streets in search of food. Or I could have been one of those adopted by families who didn't treat them as their own. Worse, I could have been a child who succumbed to hunger because no one took me in. But instead, I've been granted life, a loving family, wealth, and friends, and, above all, I've been given the opportunity to live as Hillary Ophelia De Guia Del Rico. That name holds significant weight, it's widely recognized, and it signifies that I have substantial resources at my disposal.

One way I can repay the love my family has shown me is by studying diligently, achieving the goals they have set for me, and never becoming a source of disappointment to any of them.

Makulit ako noong bata pero habang tumatanim sa isip ko ang lahat ng naririnig, nagbago ako. I can't live as carefree as kids my age. I shouldn't just be thinking about buying toys or playing around. I should also focus on learning and accomplishing many goals so I can bring pride to my parents. I want them to never regret choosing to adopt me instead of someone else.

Hindi kailanman pinaramdam ninoman sa pamilya namin iyon. Bagkus, ako ang nagkusa. I will do everything to make them see I am worthy of their love. That they’re right of choosing to raise me.

Hindi na ako maghahangad ng higit pa sa kung ano ang mayroon ako.

That's what I kept reminding myself. However, recently, there's this idea that's been keeping me up at night, and I don't believe my parents would be thrilled about it. My mom hasn't said anything since I mentioned it, and my dad mentioned that he needs time to think about it. It's starting to worry me. What if... they end up being disappointed?

Nilukot ko ang panibagong sulat na natanggap ko. Paulit-ulit ang naroroon. Pangalan ng kung sino at lugar kung saan mahahanap. Ilang pag-uudyok na ng sulat na ‘to ang nilabanan ko pero wala akong magawa dahil alam kong hindi gusto nila Mommy ang gagawin ko.

I always threw papers like that at magpapanggap na walang natanggap. But I do receive it everyday and I don’t even know who is giving it to me secretly. Minsan nakikita kong nakasuksok sa payong, sa bag, sa librong hiniram ko o sa mga pinamili ko. I don’t want to alert my parents that might cause them to give me bodyguards. Hindi ako komportableng palaging may nakasunod kaya hangga’t mananahimik, nanahimik na lamang ako. Ang alam nila ay isang beses ko lamang nakita ang sulat na ganoon.

I will never bring that topic anymore. Sapat na ang pagiging tahimik ng mga magulang ko para ipaalam sa akin na hindi nila gustong hanapin ko pa ang tunay kong ama.