The Runaway Princess

Chapter 2

Ako nga pala si Amanda, Amanda Laurice Allada Montenegro, 17 years old na today. I’m in first year college, taking up B.S. Business Administration. Actually, I wanted to take up A.B.  Music but sadly, I was forced to take B.S.B.A. Yoon kasi ang gusto ni Dad eh. It was perfect since our family owns a business AT hindi basta-bastang business lang. My Dad is Robert Fajardo Montenegro, ang president ng MONTENEGRO GROUP OF COMPANIES. Our company has branches all over the world. But the main branch is located in New York. My Mom is Laurice Allada Montenegro, sa kanya nakuha yung second name ko. She’s actually managing a different business company but she’s not the president of that company. Her brother is the president. Well, he’s the oldest naman kasi at isa pa, siya ang pinaka competent sa kanilang magkakapatid. Actually, fixed marriage sila Mom and Dad, pero they ended up being madly in love with each other. Hindi lang yon, they are super lovey dovey pa. I love them both and of course my Mom loves my dearly too.. Pero si Dad, ewan ko lang…

                “I’m home..” finally, nasa bahay na din ako.

                My driver opened the car door for me and my personal maid took my belongings. 

                “Ma’am, nandito po si Sir.”

                Ha? Nandito si Dad? But why? Di ba nasa New York siya? Don’t tell me..

                The other maids opened the door for me..

                “Nasan siya? Nasan si Dad?”I asked.

                “ Nasa study room po ma’am.”

                I ran upstairs and rushed inside that room.

                Nakatalikod si Dad. Nakaharap siya sa bookshelves at nagbabasa ng libro.

                I smiled and said “Dad! How are you? I missed you! Magcecelebrate ba tayo today? Nandito din ba si Mom?”

                Whaaaaah! Umuwi si dad! First time to na umuwi siya ng birthday ko! Sa wakas makakasama ko din siya.. HEhE! Kadalasan kasi si Mom lang ang umuuwi eh. Tapos, the next day babalik din siya sa New York para sa trabaho niya. Pero si Dad, as in never, ever, ever, ever ko pa siyang umuwi for my birthday. Umuuwi lang siya for work. Minsan nga pakiramdam ko hindi niya ako anak eh. Alam niyo yon, di ko kasi naramdam yung alaga ng isang ama. Kahit kalian, di ko pa narinig yung words na “I love you” sa kanya, kahit nung nandoon pa ako sa New York. Kaya nga ako nandiyo sa Pilipinas ngayon eh. Mas nalulungkot kasi ako na makitang malapit lang sila pero di ko sila nakaksama. Atleast kapag nandito ako, ako lang mag-isa, walang problema at mas maiintindihan ko sila kung di sila makakpunta kasi it’ll take too much of their precious time. Pero I can understand naman... :)

                Buti nalang makakapag celebrate ako kahit papaano.. Gusto ko na kasi talaga kalimutan yung nangyari kanina eh. Yung dapat na celebration namin ni Harold…

                Maybe I should just let him go… maybe I shouldn’t… I don’t know what to do anymore… but if he really loves me, if he really cares for me… I know he’ll be back...

                “Anong celebration? What’s there to celebrate? Sabihin mo nga Amanda, may dapat bang i-celebrate?”

                H-ha? Ano daw?

                “ D-dad? It’s my bir-”

                “Amanda, don’t you know that you’re ruining my reputation?!” Sumisigaw na siya..

                “I don’t understand dad? Anong ibing niyog sabihin?”

                “Don’t fool me! Akala mo ba hindi makakrating sa akin na bumababa ang grades mo? Alam ko na na hindi na ikaw ang nangunguna sa school niyo. Hindi lang yon, natalo ka ng anak ng taong karibal ng kumpanya natin! For Christ’s sake Amanda! Ipinapahiya mo ako! I never raised you to be second best!  Ano na lang ang sasabihin ng stock holders at board members ng kumpanya? Na ang ANAK ko ay isang talunan? Na ang future president ng kumpaniya ay second lang? SERIOUSLY Amanda! I’m warning you! Stop giving me humiliation. Stop putting our family in disgrace! Wag mong hintayin na ikahiya kong tawaging anak kita!”

                I can’t believe this... Bakit kailangang ngayong BIRTHDAY ko mangyari ang mga to? Kanina lang inwanan ako ng nag-iisang taong nag-aalaga at nag-mamahal sakin ng totoo... Wala bang nakaka alala sa akin? Wala bang nakakaisip na dapat masaya ako sa araw na to? I am supposed to be happy, am I not? Everyone deserves to be happy. Pero bakit ako? Bakit ganito? Wala ba akong karapatang maging masaya.. kahit ngayon lang…..

                “Amanda!” I was snapped out of my thoughts and returned to reality…

                “From now on.. You’re grounded. You cannot meet Harold, and your friends inside and outside this house! You will go straight to our house right after your classes... And one more thing, YOU CANNOT TOUCH YOUR INSTRUMENTS! Not until you have taken back what you lost!”

                I can’t touch my instruments? No… take everything away but not that… yun lang ang nakakapag-alis ng lungkot ko… I can’t make it… I won’t be able to survive this sadness without those… I won’t be able to take it… Not without Harold and not without my music…