Chapter 33: The Throne
"I know that you're not just going to be a shadow princess... you will not forever stay behind Lily. Yes, you have a very strong sister, but you are strong too. You will be remembered, Harper, not because you have powerful brothers and sister..." Mother gently combed my hair as she lovingly stared at me in the reflection of the mirror.
That night, in the darkness of my room, lit with few candles, my eyes turned crimson red with my mother.
"You will earn it, my dearest daughter."
"You will serve your queen because I earned it," I said with confidence with my head held high.
Hindi ko akalain na darating ang panahon na lalabas sa sarili kong mga labi ang mga salitang binitiwan sa akin ni ina noong bata pa lang ako. Noong una'y hindi ko iyon maintindihan ngunit ngayon na nasa sitwasyon na akong tila matagal nang nalalaman ni ina, halos sumabog ng dibdib ko sa lakas ng tibok ng puso ko.
Pilit kong pinigilan ang sarili kong maluha nang saglit kong maalala si ina at ang paniniwala niya sa akin kahit nasa batang edad pa lang ako. "I miss you, Mother."
"You will earn it. You will grasp it, and you will not hide it just like what I did."
Muli ko nang sinalubong ang mga mata ng mga kababaihan sa paligid ko. Dahil takot ang higit na namamayani sa kanila dahil sa nasaksihan nilang kapangyarihan ko, ang tanging nagawa lang nila'y sumang-ayon sa akin. Hesitant and confused, still the eight women gave me names and descriptions, and I was not even surprised when I learned that most of them were abusive customers who caused their pain and endless fear.
Nag-angat ako ng kilay nang malaman na wala man lang nagsabi ng pangalan ng may-ari ng bahay ng aliw na ito. Well, the old owner gave them a job. Kung tutuusin ay wala rin naman itong kapangyarihan sa sandaling may nais na gawin sa kanila ang mga panauhin. Isa nang patunay ang transaksyon ni Kreios kanina. Just like what he did, he demanded a certain amount and no matter how the owner tried to negotiate, Kreios had his way. At nasisigurado ko na hindi lang si Kreios ang maharlika na ganoon dito. He just portrayed the daily experience of most of the owners in Entertainment District. Sa huli, ang mga babaeng ito lang ang naiipit.
"Alright. Now I will let you go and continue with your usual job. I will not force you to work with me until I fulfill our agreement."
Tumango na sila sa akin at hinarap ko na si Mira. Bahagya akong ngumiti sa kanya at itinuro ko ang ibinagsak niyang mga kasuotan at kagamitan kanina. With her expert touch, it took her only a few minutes to fully dressed me as one of the muses of the house.
Nang marinig ko na may paparating na yabag patungo sa silid namin ay tinanggal ko na ang kapangyarihan ko sa silid. Hindi ko na kinausap pa ang mga kababaihan at sumunod na lang ako sa bawat utos ng head mistress.
When we were already in the serving area, even with the customers around us, noises from each table from the clanking of the utensils, the pouring of the liquors, the clicking sounds of the bottles, the guitar and singing, the laughter and shouting as if everyone had their own bubble, I could still sense most of their eyes— the curious gaze of those women that I had encountered— anxious about the words I gave them.
Bumuntonghininga na lang ako. Maaaring ang mga matang madalas sumulyap sa akin ay dahil hindi sila makapaghintay na ipaghiganti ko sila o kaya'y gusto nilang subukan ang bantang kapangyarihan ko sa kanila.
I just hoped that they wouldn't take my words lightly because the moment that one of them tried to betray me with their mouth—they'd end up shouting endlessly until they lost air, choked, and died.
