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Prologue
Padabog akong naupo sa dulo ng kama at busangot na tiningnan si Mommy. Her right eyebrow was raised, arms crossed elegantly above her chest. The gold bangles she was wearing made a clinking sound.
"Mommy naman! Of all the places na puwede mo akong pagbakasyunin, doon pa talaga sa bukid?" I grimaced. "Is there even WiFi there? Or a signal? Kung wala po, anong gagawin ko roon? Magbibilang ng damo?"
Naningkit ang mga mata niya, senyales na nagsisimula na siyang mairita sa mga sinasabi ko.
"That's the reason why your Dad and I want you to have a vacation there! We want you to experience life in the province! Hindi sa gadgets at shopping umiikot ang mundo mo, Izza Beatrice! Matuto kang mamuhay nang simple sa kabila ng katotohanang mayaman ka! You're being a spoiled brat!"
How am I being a spoiled brat? I only go to the mall four times a week and spend fifty thousand every time I go out. Ginagamit ko naman ang lahat ng pinamimili ko. Isa pa, it's Dad who told me that I can use my credit card whenever I want. Itong si Mommy lang talaga ang laging galit.
"I can't believe you, Mommy. You will let me stay there for two months! Sino naman po ang makakasama ko roon? Mga baka at kambing?"
I badly want to cry in frustration. Bigla na lang sila nagdedesisyon nang ganoon nang hindi man lang ako kinokonsulta.
Kung sa bagay. Bakit pa nila ako kokonsultahin kung alam naman nilang hindi ako papayag? I'm already eighteen but they still don't give me the freedom to decide for myself.
"Izza, you will be living in a mansion in Argao and not just in a random house. The Monasterio is a rich clan here in Cebu, if you don't know it yet. Even on the farm, I'm pretty sure you will still be able to have a good life within those two months."
So what if the Monasterio is a rich family? Mayaman din naman kami. At isa pa, wala akong kilala sa pamilya nila kahit pa na sino. Ang alam ko lang ay business partner ni Dad ang isa sa kanila.
"The people in that mansion will surely take care of you. Bibisita rin kami roon ng Daddy mo," sabi ni Mommy at saka lumapit sa akin. Hinaplos niya ang ulo sa marahang paraan. "Duke Monasterio is a nice man, Izza. I'm sure you two will get close with each other."
At sino naman iyong Duke Monasterio na 'yon? I haven't heard that certain name. Tagapagmana ba siya roon? If he lives there, I'm sure he's mapangit and matanda na.
"What? Ang layo ng Argao, Izza. How can we see each other then?"
Bumuntonghininga ako sa tanong ni Byron. He's my boyfriend — a senior student in bachelor of aviation. Last week lang naging kami. Sinagot ko na kasi ang kulit niya mangligaw. Isa pa, he asked me if I could be his girlfriend because he likes me so much.
Kaya sige. Pagbigyan na kahit na I don't really like him that much. Gwapo naman, smart, mayaman, maganda ang katawan at matangkad. Just the perfect qualification to become a pilot. Kaya lang ay hindi ko siya ganoon kagusto.
I don't know. He's not that appealing in my eyes.
"Siguro magkita na lang tayo somewhere? May kotse ka naman. Hindi puwede roon sa mismong house na tutuluyan ko kasi baka magsumbong kina Mommy. You know naman na I can't have a boyfriend pa while I'm studying."
I heard him sigh over the line. Iginala ko ang mga mata sa kabuuan ng walk in closet at tiningnan ang kung may nakalimutan pa ako. Ang sabi ni Mommy, bukas na bukas ng umaga ay ihahatid na ako roon.
