Monster's Pet (Phoenix #2)

Chapter 14

Chapter 14 - Evil Step Mom & Sisters

Matapos ang halos isang oras na pagmamaneho, narating ko sa wakas ang Velarde Manor. Perpekto ang lugar na ito para sa party ni Beverly, dahil mukha itong palasyo.

From its high stone walls, big windows, and oak doors, it's more than perfect. Call me a bitter bitch, but Beverly doesn't deserve this.

Pumikit ako at nilanghap ang preskong simoy ng hangin.

Ages ago, madalas kaming pumunta nila Mama at Papa dito para bisitahin si Lolo, na siyang nakatira at nagmamay-ari nitong mala-kastilyong lugar. Kahit may katandaan na siya, ni minsan hindi niya ako tinanggihan na makipag-laro sa kanya. Ang tagal kong hindi nakabisita, baka nagtatampo na sa'kin si Lolo.

Ah... I miss this place... I miss Lolo...

Nagmulat ako ng mata upang pagmasdan muli ang manor. It's still as breath taking as it ever been. Lalo pa itong gumanda dahil sa iba't ibang kulay ng roses sa paligid. Sa façade itinayo ang isang mini-stage. Beverly's already there, at the very center, seating gracefully on the throne-like chair like a real disney princess.

She's dressed as Elsa, and when you look around, makikita mo ang iba't ibang princes at princesses mula sa Disney. Mukhang pinagkagastusan at pinaghandaan ng mga bisita ang gabing ito. The round tables around the stage, where the visitors are seating, are of course elegantly decorated as well.

It's like I've been transported in the beautiful world of Disney, kahit pa birthday party lang naman ito.

My father and the evil step mom preparing all this, for a single night? It's not even her debut! Ain't Beverly special?

Seriously? Ano bang purpose ng mga ganitong parties? To flex? To show people you've aged? Like, wow, congrats, you're a year fucking older! So what?

Yes, I am that bitter bitch but I am not single bit envious. My birthday celebration last year was so much better than this damned party. It wasn't elegant, it wasn't dreamy, but hell, it was wonderful.

Alisson and Loise bought me five extra-large pizzas. Pinagpatong-patong nila 'yon at nilagyan ng seventeen birthday candles sa ibabaw. Saan namin 'yon kinain? Sa Jollibee, our go-to place. Para hindi kami paalisin, bumili kami ng fries, spaghetti at drinks. Kinantahan nila ko nang pagkalakas-lakas, kaya naki-kanta na rin pati mga katabi namin sa table, even the waiters and other crews, nakikanta na rin ng Happy Birthday. Matapos nila kong kantahan, dumating si Jollibee—'yong pagkalaki-laking mascot ni Jollibee at niyakap ako.

Para kaming mga bata noon. It was a simple celebration, but it was the happiest moment of my life. Tawa ng tawa si Luke habang pinapanood kami mula sa phone ni Loise. We could only facetime him, dahil hindi siya nakauwi. Subsob kasi sa studies niya sa England. Tsk, pa-good boy kasi masyado eh. Still, he can't miss my birthday! Mawala na lahat sa birthday ko, 'wag lang silang tatlo.

I look around again, to find myself a place to sit. Ang dam ing tao, kilala ba ni Beverly lahat 'to? Buong klase niya yata ang nandito eh.

Nakakita naman ako ng bakanteng table... malapit sa chocolate fountain. Fudge. Gusto kong maglaway. If I could just dive in that huge fountain! Ito lang ang mai-uwi kong ngayong gabi, kaya ko nang kalimutan lahat.

"Char!" Barbara emerges from who knows where. She's Rapunzel tonight. "You're here na pala! Kanina ka pa namin hinihintay! Halika na."

Hindi ako nakapagreklamo when she takes my arm. Ang hirap magpumiglas sa suot ko.

"Oh my gosh, Char! You're so beautiful!" she praises, dinala ako sa table malapit sa mini-stage, kung saan naroon si Papa at ang Evil Step Mom. They're both dressed as King and Queen.

Nakasunod ang mata ng tao sa'min—sa'kin at pasimple pang nagbubulungan. Well, the black ship is back, and she's no black ship tonight. She's the fierce and badass Cinderella na tinalbugan pa si Elsa na siyang may birthday, at siyang dapat na bida ngayong gabi.

"You look beautiful, anak." says my father.

The Evil Step Mom nods, smiling warmly at me. "You look so much like your Mom."

Nginitian din ako ni Barbara, "Indeed."

"Where's Derek?" I ask in a straight face. Hindi ko kailangang marinig sa kanila 'yon. How dare they?

"Inside and already asleep," sagot ni B1, nakangiti pa rin. "Pagod na pagod sa pakikipaglaro sa Lolo, kaya hayun ang Lolo, nakatulog na rin."

Lolo and Derek...

"What's his costume?" I want to see them and leave this party, pero sayang naman ang ganda ko kung kaunti lang ang makakakita sa'kin. Nag-effort ang mga fairy god best friends ko para dito

"Peter Pan."

Derek in a Peter Pan costume!

"I'll wake him up later, don't worry." says B1 again, napansin yata ang panggigigil kong makita si Derek.

My eyes as though they have a mind of their own, wander... stupidly hoping to see a certain monster. Hindi naman sa hinahanap ko siya—forget it. Hinahanap ko nga siya. So what? I'm still not that over him and I hate it.

I just want to see him.

And I want him to see how beautiful I am tonight... baka sakali... baka sakali lang naman...

I shake my head at myself. I'm so hopeless.

There's still no sign of him. Ang tanga lang dahil hinahanap ko siya, eh ako 'tong ayaw siyang isama. It's hard to completely get over him, okay?

Kahit naman hindi ko siya isama gaya ng inuungot sa'kin nila B1 at B2, I know he'll be here. Papa and his family like the monster so much. He's really close with Derek too. They would surely invite him.

"Ate Char!" Beverly calls, hirap na hirap bumaba ng mini-stage dahil sa gown. "You're here! And you look so beautiful! I'm so happy! Kompleto tayong pamilya! I'm the happiest birthday girl ever na!" hinawakan niya ng mahigpit ang mga kamay ko, a single tear escapes her eye. "The only gift I want for my birthday... is for us to be whole... akala ko hindi mo na naman kami sisiputin eh. I'm so happy you're here, Ate Char."

"We better take a picture! Minsan lang tayo makompleto, sana tuloy-tuloy na!" says Barbara, tumawag pa ng photographer.

"I am not your family." I declare firmly.

"You are our family." says Beverly, smiling amiably. "Kahit hindi kita biological sister, to my heart you are. You're my cool and badass sister. Kahit pa ayaw mong umuwi, kahit pa ilang beses mo kaming itaboy."

Gusto kong matawa, and I do. Sarcastically. "Bullshit."

"Bullshit?" Barbara blurts, she grits her teeth and closes her eyes for a moment para magpigil ng inis but she obviously fails. "Charlotte, we've been waiting for you for years. We just wanted you home. Why do you hate us so much?" Nagbabadya na rin ang luha sa mata niya. "Hanggang kailan mo ba kami itatakwil at tatakbuhan?"

"Whoa, you guys seriously don't why?" I scoff, I don't need this drama right now. Not when people are watching. "Need I remind you? Inagaw n'yo ang Papa ko, pinatay n'yo ang Mama ko. Nalimutan n'yo na?"

"Hindi namin kailanman inagaw ang Papa mo, Charlotte. Nakikihati lang kami. We just wanted you to accept us as your family." The Evil Step Mom pleads, "Is that too much to ask?"

"You are never going to be my family, ever. Kaya kayo na lang ang mag-picture." Tiningnan ko si Papa na kanina pa walang kibo at mataman lang na nakatingin sa'kin. "Sa inyong sa inyo na si Papa, I don't give a fuck anymore. I'm leaving."

Tumalikod ako sa kanila at naglakad palayo, sapo ang skirt ng gown para makapaglakad ako ng maayos. The glass shoes are making it hard to walk gracefully, but I keep my chin up.

"Leaving? You're running away..." Habol pa ni Barbara pero hindi ako lumingon. "I've always thought you're strong and brave Char, but you proved me wrong."

Nagpatuloy lang ako sa paglalakad... palayo sa kanila.