Against The Odds

Prologue

The life I grew up with was very different from other people. Unlike other kids who can play outside, dance with the rain, and so on, I can only play inside our house. Mommy never let me play with the kids outside except for my brothers for some reason. I can only sit in front of our window and watch them, smiling from afar as I heard them talking about funny little things. I have two brothers, Gray and Trent. Gray is the oldest, Trent is the second, and me as the youngest child. I don't really call them 'Kuya' like I should as the youngest but since we grew up in United States, we kind of adapt a little bit of their culture.

They are cold and don't want to play with me because I'm a girl, which makes me sad. Because they are the only kids that I can play with.

"Just play with your Dolls, Adi."

"Adi, these are cars and you will never understand."

That's what they always told me. I went back to my room pouting. I thought of playing with mom sometimes but she's busy all the time. I can only see her every dinner and we rarely talk because it's either she's tired or have some paperworks to finish. Same with my dad. I think it's the family business that keeps them really really busy.

I went to the terrace of my room. There is a table, and on it is a large dollhouse. From here, I can see the children playing outside. They are laughing so loudly that it made me look. I smiled and waved. Napatingin naman sila sa akin. Some smiled and waved back. My heart raced in happiness.

They noticed me! Maybe I can play with them?

"Wow, ang laki ng dollhouse niya."

"Gusto mo bang sumali?" The little boy asked. Nanlaki naman ang mata ko.

"P-pwede?" Halos lahat sila ay tumango.

"Tara! Tuturuan ka namin!"

Happily, I went out of my room with a bunny stuffed toy in my hands.

"Adrina, saan ka? Bawal lumabas ha?" Nakasalubong ko si Ate Layla. May dala siyang malaking basket na puno ng damit at mukhang maglalaba sa likod.

She won't notice me going out for sure! Sa likod siya ng bahay at mukhang marami siyang labahin!

"I'm...i'm not ate. Diyan lang ako sa garden."

"O sige na ang dami ko pang labahin jusko." I smiled and wait until she banished from my sight.

Wala ang ibang kasambahay ngayon kundi si ate Layla kaya malaya akong nakalabas. Because of that, I met Shiela, Pauline, Intoy, Christine, and Renz. Tinuruan nila ako ng nilalaro nilang piko. It's fun and I can't help but to smile all the time!

"Ngayon ka lang ba nakalaro nito?" Tanong ni Christine. We are now done playing at nagpapahinga.

"Oo e." Kumamot ako sa ulo.

"Ang cute naman ng stuffed toy mo, pwedeng patingin?" Sabi naman ni Pauline.

"Sure! Marami akong ganiyan sa kwarto. Daddy always gave me one pagkauwi niya because we own a store." Kwento ko pa. Kita naman ang paghanga nila kaya lalo akong nangingiti.

"Ang yaman niyo talaga Adrina! Sana ganiyan din kami." Shiela said.

"I can...give you some if you want." Nahihiyang sabi ko pa.

"Talaga?! Yung kagaya sana sa'yo!" Tumango ako at natawa. I don't really mind sharing my toys since I have a lot.

"Ano ba kayo, inuuto niyo ata si Adrina e." Natawa ako kay Intoy at sinabing ayos lang.

It's been twenty minutes since I went here, baka matapos na si Ate Layla. I need to go inside na.

"I'll go na, maybe we can play again tomorrow?" Nalungkot ang mga mukha nila.