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"Sino ba 'yang sinisilip mo?" puna ni Ayeselle nang humahaba na ang leeg ko habang nakaupo sa lounger ng pool at may gustong tingnan sa hardin sa umagang iyon.
"Parang noong papunta pa lang tayo dito, umiiyak ka. Tapos biglang ang sigla sigla mo. What's with you?" taka niyang sabi.
Oo naman. That's actually true. Her sudden mention of my frustration just echoed in my mind how I hated the idea of being in Lola's place.
"Mom! Please convince dad na ayoko roon! I am a city girl!" Alalang alala ko kung gaano ako ka miserable noong araw na 'yon.
My mother, who was in front of the mirror, putting lipstick on her red lips, wasn't paying too much attention to me early in Sunday morning.
"I heard the rancho is like a golf course... It's wide. You should invest in showing more interest in the land of your grandmother, Abrielle. Para naman malaki ang mamanahin mo," she said nonchalantly.
I leered at her. "Mom! Naririnig mo ba ako?"
She smiled and stood, took a perfume, and sprayed it all over her. Noong binigyan niya ako ng kaonting atensyon, agad na hinawakan niya ang aking baba.
"Make sure you'll be your lola's favorite grandchild. Show her you are the best."
My jaw dropped.
That was my main problem. Para kay mommy, minor case lang ang pagpapatapon nila dad sa amin sa probinsyang iyon. They said they wanted to teach us a lesson, but for me, they were just trying to shut our mouths from exposing how dirty our fathers are.
Naiiyak ako sa frustration, lalo na't ang bumubuhay lang naman sa akin araw araw ay ang wifi at ang internet. I am not like Ayeselle, my stepsister, who's fond of books. I am more of a sociable type. I like to hang out with my friends, roam around the city, drink some coffee in expensive cafes, sneak out for a house party, and do everything else that Manila could offer a city girl like me!
Kaya ngayong nasa van na at nakikita kong wala nang masyadong buildings, puro kakahuyan at malamig na klima, pumatak na ang luha ko habang tinitingnan ang bintana.
"Oa," natatawang puna ni Ashtraia nang makita ang pagdadrama ko sa bukas na bintana.
I glared at her. She chuckled and brushed her hair backwards. Ayeselle looked at me worriedly and hugged me sideways, putting her head against my shoulder.
"Let's give Lola a headache para ipatapon tayo pabalik sa Manila. Don't waste your tears, you know," kibit balikat ni Ash.
Among us four, she was the chillest one, while her other stepsister, Arkaine, was the most serious and mysterious one. Siya ang nasa front seat, kanina pa tahimik.
Malayong malayo kami ni Ayeselle sa kanilang dalawa. It was like they're built with storms and thunders, while we were born during the sunrise while the breeze was swaying the flowers in the garden. Halos magkaparehas ang features namin ni Ayeselle: angelic and soft. Unlike the two that could almost intimidate someone else with their siren eyes.
"Eh paano kung hindi tayo pabalikin sa Manila?" si Ayeselle.
She shrugged. "Grandparents are softhearted toward their grandchildren. Hindi niya tayo matitiis."
I bet not. Her pictures in the big frames in the mansion already scream intimidation; I don't need to see her in person up close to know how scared she was in real life.
Iba ang naririnig ko kay Lola. She was strict, and she almost disowned her sons for repeating their father's mistakes. Ang alam ko, walang mga mana ang tinanggap sa kanya, and the land remained its name to herself, while half of it was named after her daughter, Tita Vana.
