Black Heiress

B L A C K   H E I R E S S

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I was staring at the white ceiling when I woke up. Where am i? What am I doing here?

I sat up and touched my head as I forced myself to remember but there’s nothing. My mind is blank. W-What happened? Why don’t I remember anything?

“Sister, gising na ho ang bata.” I turned my head to where the voice came from. There were two ladies coming towards my direction. One of them looked younger than the other one, who is obviously a nun. Who are they?

“Hello, I’m Sister Leah. I am the one who is managing this orphanage.” Orphanage? What am I doing in an orphanage? Where are my parents? Why am I not with them? “—What’s your name?” she asked but I didn’t answer. I don’t know. Who am I, anyway?

I looked down, staring at the bed sheet.

I-I don’t know my name.

“Ilana…” I said still staring down, reading the word embedded on the sheet.

“Ilana? Sister, kapangalan niya ho ang orphanage.” I heard one of them say. I don’t understand what she’s saying but the ‘orphanage’ and ‘sister’

Did they figure out that I don’t remember anything?

“Ilana.” I heard the nun say the word. Or is she calling me?

Either way, I didn’t respond. I don’t know what to do.

“Ilana?” I heard the nun say the name and this time, I looked at her, seeing her smiling at me. I calmed down a little. The way she looks at me, I think she already knew my situation. I sighed in relief. So, I don’t have to explain, right? Because I don’t know what should I explain. I can’t even remember my name.

She sat beside me and caresses my hair that made me comfortable with her. She’s still smiling so all my worries were gone.

“Don’t worry. We’ll find your parents, okay? For the mean time, you’re staying here.” She said and I nodded.

After that, I was introduced to other children under the care of this orphanage in the morning. All of them are sitting encircling the long rectangular-shaped table as all their eyes were on me. I can see how they look at me—something like I am an alien?

Well, I can’t blame them. I am indeed different from them.

“Uy, dito! Ganda!” My attention was caught by the girl waving at me while I was looking for any vacancy so that I can now eat my breakfast. She has a smile on her lips and her eyes are sparkling upon seeing me. Her skin has similar colour like the others, brown. And I can say that she’s beautiful.

I point myself asking for confirmation and she nodded so I went to her direction holding my plate and a glass of water. I sat beside her as I roam my eyes to the children around me. Some of them are still staring at me, and some proceed on eating.

“Wow… ang puti mo! Forinjer ka?” the one across the table said. I bit my lower lip. I don’t understand what he was saying. I think he was asking me? “Hala, baka hindi ako naintindihan. Uy, Helena. Translate mo naman. Magaling ka naman mag-ingles, eh.”