Toni opened the back door and peeked inside. Medyo nakahinga sya ng maluwag noong wala syang nakitang tao sa loob ng dirty kitchen. Madilim na sa paligid at tanging ang lampost na nagmumula sa labas ng bahay ang pinaggagalingan ng sinag ng liwanag na pumapasok sa loob.
She widened the door and it made a creepy sound. Nakagat ng dalaga ang ibabang labi nya dahil sa takot na baka magising ang mga taong natutulog hindi kalayuan sa kusina. At siguradong giyera na naman ang mangyayari kapag nakita sya ng mga ito.
Dahan-dahang isinara ni Toni ang pinto. Sinanay nya muna ang mata sa dilim bago muling gumalaw. Pero hindi pa sya nakakahakbang nang may tumakip bigla sa bibig nya mula sa likod. She's a taekwondo black belter. Kaya ginawa nya ang lahat para manlaban habang impit na sumisigaw. That made her feel nervous. May nakapasok bang intruder sa bahay nila?
"Sshhhh..." She heard that person whispered in her ear. Saka unti-unting lumuwag ang pagkakatakip sa bibig nya.
She gasped for air. Saka nakarating ang pamilyar na amoy sa ilong nya. She knew that smell. She slowly turned around at nakahinga ng maluwag nang makita kung sino iyon.
"Ate! You almost killed me!" Pabulong na sabi ni Toni.
"Almost. And I am sorry. Now, hurry. We need to go upstairs before somebody might find out that you just got home." Hinila na ni Janell ang kapatid paakyat sa kwarto.
Agad na naupo si Janell sa gilid ng kama ni Toni. Samantalang, dumiretso naman sa walk in closet ang dalaga at agad na hinubad ang lahat ng saplot saka isinuot ang baby pink na bathrobe. Itinali nya pataas ang buhok saka bumalik sa loob ng kwarto at hinarap ang kapatid.
"What took you so long? I thought you're just going to stroll around?" Nag-aalala pa rin si Janell para sa nakababatang kapatid.
"Sorry, Jan. I got hook up. I came to see the magnificent view of the sunset in Baywalk." Balewala syang naupo sa couch na nasa gilid ng kama nya paharap sa inuupuan ng kapatid.
"Baywalk? Seriously? That's 3-hour drive from here! How did you manage to get there?" Natawa na lang si Toni sa reaksyon ng kapatid.
"Of course I took a cab. And how come I didnt even know that that place exists." Napailing na lang si Janell.
"Please do take care if you do that again. Mom and Dad came home earlier than expected. Good thing they didnt bother to check you here. Or else you're a dead meat!"
Ngumiti na lang ang dalaga sa sinabi ng kapatid. Ni hindi man lang sya kinakitaan ng pagkabahala.
"You worry too much, Jan. Believe me, I'm safe. They wouldnt find out." Pero sa halip na huminga ng maluwag, mas lalong nabahala si Janell.
"Just make sure that you will never get caught. I heard mom and dad talking a while ago that they will send you to Austria once you hit their limit. That's why I want you to be careful. I cant afford it if you'll live far away from me." Dahil sa narinig ay bahagyang nawala anh ngiti ni Toni. But after a few seconds, she managed to smile again.
"I promise. They wont. And if ever they caught me, I'll be hiding from them so they cant send me to God-knows-where." Toni said cooly.
Antoinette Montereal-known as 'Toni'-was the youngest daughter of Mr. Wilford and Denny Montereal, the owner of the leading airlines in the country. People best describes her as a princess. Apparently, yes. The only difference is, she doesnt have a crown or a tiara. She lives in a huge house that almost looks like a palace. She has every material things that everyone would dream of.
Gorgeous, angelic face, deep brown hair, 5'7 in height, kind-hearted, adventurous, bubbly and always ready to try new things.
In 26 years of existence, she never had her freedom. As in, zero percent. Hindi sya nakakalabas ng bahay ng walang nakabuntot na bodyguard, which always makes her feel sick. She hates being followed. But as if may magagawa sya. Utos iyon ng parents nya. And according to them, it's for her safety, to protect her. Pero hindi iyon ang pakiramdam nya. Sa tingin nya, ang purpose noon ay para mabantayan ang mga ginagawa nya. And she finds it lame.
There are times na umaalis sila as a family. Pero bukod sa bodyguard, she have to deal into something more-press people. She understands that it's their job to follow their family and earn gossips or news or whatever they call it. Pero sa loob ng maraming taon, hindi sya nasanay sa presensya ng mga ito.
They usually go out-of-town. But it makes her sick also because of the stuff that they were talking about. Kung hindi business ang pinag-uusapan, silang dalawa naman ng ate nya ang topic. At dun na naman papasok ang comparison between her and Janell. Her parents always compare them like as if they dont exist.
But somehow she admits that Janell is better than her. Kahit naman yata hindi nya aminin, everybody will prove it to her. And no matter how hard she tried, mas magaling pa rin ang ate nya. But she doesnt care. Toni loves her sister above everything else. They were like bestfriends. At ito lang ang bukod tanging naniniwala sa kanya that she can do better.
Unlike her, Janell has her freedom. She can go wherever she wanted to without any bodyguards. She doesnt have to work hard just to please their parents cause she can make anybody love and like her effortlessly. Toni actually envy her sister before. Pero as the time goes by, nasanay na rin sya hanggang sya deadma na para sa kanya ang mga bagay na naririnig nya from the people about her and Janell.
But after all those things, mahal nya pa rin ang ate nya at mas tumibay pa ang relationship nila as bestfriends-slash-sisters-partners-in-crime.
Tumayo na si Janell mula sa kama at inayos ang sarili.
"I have to rest na. May breakfast meeting ako bukas with the board. If you have plans of going out, just let me know so I can cover you." Ngumiti ito sa kanya pero hindi pa rin maitago ang pag-aalala. Janell gave her a warm hug as they said their 'goodnights'.
Marahas na napabuga ng hangin si Toni nang tuluyang lumapat ang pinto ng kwarto nya. Napasabunot na lang sya sa sarili saka naglakad papunta sa banyo. She needs a shower.
Hindi lang ilang beses nagwarning ang parents nya tungkol sa pagtakas nya sa bahay. They even threatened her that they'll quit giving her an allowance or she'll be grounded for 2 months or they'll confiscate her gadgets. Yes, they did. Pero epic failed. Una, hindi sya natakot na hindi mabigyan ng allowance ng magulang dahil nandyan naman si Janell na kayang-kayang ibigay ang luho nya. Pangalawa, hindi rin sya natakot na maging grounded. Because she's been grounded all her life. At iyon ang dahilan kaya madalas syang tumakas. Pangatlo, gadgets are not her bestfriend. Kaya ok lang sa kanya na wala ang mga iyon.
All those years, warnings and threats, hindi sya natakot na totohanin ng magulang ang parusa sa kanya. Ngayon lang. Hindi dahil takot syang pumunta sa ibang bansa at mabuhay doon ng mag-isa. Kundi dahil natatakot syang iwan at mag-alala ang ate nya. She loves her ate so much that she cant afford to leave without her.
Matapos timplahin ang tubig sa bathtub, hinubad na ni Toni ang bathrobe at lumubog sa tubig. She laid there peacefully with her eyes closed.
Ever since she was high school, ugali na nya ang takasan ang mga bodyguards at tao sa bahay. Madalas inililigaw nya ang mga ito habang nasa mall sila o nasa park. Wala naman siyang ibang pinupuntahan. Sa paligid lang sya nag-iikot. Gusto nya lang mamasyal na walang nagbabantay sa kanya. At pagkatapos mamasyal, saka lang sya uuwi sa bahay nila kung saan siguradong nagkakagulo na ang mga tao sa kakahanap sa kanya. Sa tulong ng malaking puno sa likod ng malaki at mataas na gate ng kanilang bahay, umaakyat sya doon para makapasok nang hindi napapansin ng mga nasa loob. Tactics, yes.
Ayaw naman ipagkatiwala ng magulang sa kanya ang negosyo. Ayaw din ng mga ito na magtrabaho sya sa ibang kompanya. Which always gives her a question. Hindi nya maintindihan ang mga ito. Balak yata talaga syang bulukin sa loob ng bahay forever.
She graduated with Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Noon pa man kasi ay hilig na nya ang makialam sa business issues. Minsan nga, hindi nya pa mapigilang magreact kapag nanunuod sya ng balita na may kinalaman sa negosyo. Pero mukhang hindi nya pa magagamit ang mga nalalaman nya sa ngayon.
