Sage needs money badly to give her mother a better life. She gets a job where she has to pretend to be a man to join the rich Lefevre family. She thinks it will be easy, but then she meets the youngest Lefevre, Kinsley Amelia.
The beautiful woman m...
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NAKATULALA AKO sa harap ng salamin habang pinagmamasdan ang mukha ko matamlay. I ran my fingers through my hair, which had grown longer and now brushed against my shoulders. With a sigh, I gathered it up into a half bun, trying to make myself look a little more presentable.
Kulang sa tulog at walang masyadong kain tapos sasabak mamaya sa final exam. Ewan. Bahala na.
Kinuha ko na ang bag ko at sinabit ito sa kabila balikat saka huling tinignan ang sarili. Para na akong panda. Isang matamlay na panda. Pano, apat o limang oras lang ata ako nakakatulog dahil gabi gabi binabangungot ako ng nakaraan namin.
Simula ng mangyari yung gabing 'yon wala na paramdam talaga sakin si Kinsley. Pati nga kay Kenny hindi siya nag uupdate. Kenny once visit her in their house at naabutan lang ni Kenny si Kinsley na nasa loob palagi ng kwarto o di kaya mag isa sa garden nila. Their parents didn't want to disturb her peace kaya hinahayaan lang nila si Kia ganun. And I understand it. She's in pain, still. Like me. We're still inside the cage trying how to get out from it.
"Nak...kumain ka muna bago pumasok, niluto kita paborito mo'ng tapsilog at may tuyo pa-halika na muna dito!" aya sakin ni Mama matapos akong makitang dumaan sa kusina.
Napansin ko may hinanda na siyang pagkain sa lamesa. Marami yun. Sapat para saming apat nina Kenny. Nanatili lang ako nakatayo habang nakatingin sa lamesa. It's supposed to be five plates in there. Pero ngayon apat na lang. Mas lalong nakakawalang gana e. Dahil sa tuwing uupo ako jan sa hapag naalala ko pano ako asikasuhin ni Kinsley. Pano niya ako lagyan ng pagkain sa plato ko at pano niya ako sermunan pag kaunti lang ang kinakain ko.
I sighed as I smiled bitterly. Lumabas sa kabilang pasilyo si Kenny na inaayos ang necktie niya kasunod niya ang mag ina niya. Caroline was smiling while carrying baby Vinny. Kenny stopped in front of her, looking frustrated, and asked for help with his tie. Caroline put Vinny down, and the toddler walked over to me with a big smile.
Ngumiti ako at yumuko para kargahin ang bata. Hinalikan ni Vinny ang pisngi ko na ikinatawa ko. I turned my gaze to Kenny and Caroline. Caroline was focused on fixing Kenny's tie, her hands moving with familiar moves. The way they looked at each other brought back memories-memories of Kinsley and me, how we used to be.
"Oh, Sage? nakatayo ka lang jan? let's eat!" aya sakin ni Kenny matapos maayosan ni Caroline at tumungo lamesa.
"Huwag kang aalis ng hindi na naman kakain! babatukan kita! ilang araw ka na walang kain ng maayos! tignan mo namamayat ka na!" sermon sa'kin ni Caroline habang papalapit.
I handed Vinny to her and smile shortly.
"Busog pa ako,"
"Busog mo mukha mo! halika na-"
"I'm fine, Carol. Like...really I am. Sige na. Kumain na kayo. May exam pa kami-I don't want to be late."
Bago pa man sila magsalita at tumalikod na ako at nakapamulsa lumabas ng bahay. Bawat hakbang na ginagawa ko ay bumibigat sa dibdib ko. Everytime I left this house it hurts. Realizing that when I go back there's no Kinsley anymore waiting for me.
