What comes first

Prologue

It's your smile, your face, your lips that I miss. .
Those sweet little eyes that stare at me. .
and make me say, I'm with you all the way. .
Cause it's y. .
"Mam Sarie!" napabalikwas ako ng narining ko ang pangalan ko. I turned around and I knew it was Nana. "Ikaw talaga Nana, hindi ko tuloy natapos ang kanta" I told her with my small voice. "Sorry Mam Sarie. . eh kasi si Senyora ho tinatawag kayo sa taas" she calmly said. "Really? bakit daw?"  I curiously asked her. "Hindi ko po alam Mam, basta ang sabi lang niya ang papuntahin ka raw sa kwarto nya"
"Oh! Okay! pero hindi ko natatapos tong niluluto kong Sinigang eh" I said with a sad face. "Nako po, sige na mam Sarie baka importante, ako nalang po ang bahala diyan sa Sinigang" I eyed her. " Are sure? Nana? Pero sabagay, it's almost done naman. If matapos, can you put some sa mga bowls na nilagay ko sa table. It's for Lala's lunch. " I was checking the meat if it's already cooked. "Opo Mam, ako na po bahala dito" She said obediently. "Thanks Nana, and by the way, diba I told you na drop the Ma'am? I find it too formal and besides we're probably on the same age. You can call me Sarie, Nana" I gently patted her back.

"Nako Mam, hindi po talaga ako masanay, kasi naman po. Nakakahiya. Baka sabihin po nila feeling close po ako" she shyly said.
I smiled "Ikaw talaga, bakit ka pa mahihiya sa akin. Hindi kana iba sa akin, alam mo naman dba na hindi talaga ako ngpapatawag ng Mam. I treat everyone else here as family and friends"

It's true, I don't want to be treated as a princess. I knew Lala wanted me to be treated as one, pero I just don't feel it's right. I always put it in my mind that I should stay humble and to never misuse or abuse the authority Lala has given me and treat everyone else with respect.

I was 8 years old when my Mother died of cancer. I thought I'll be an orphan that time but I am really blessed that I was adopted by Lala, Senyora Rosario Torres Alcantara. My mother became the cook in this household when my grandmother died. There's a small house adjacent to the mansion which they built for my mother and grandmother. Matagal na naninilbihan ang pamilya namin dito at naging mabuting kaagapay sa pang araw ang aking ina kay senyora after when her husband died kaya naman hindi na iba ang turing nila sa akin.  When my mother got sick at binigyan ng taning ang buhay nya, Senyora assured her that she will take care of me, sila na ang bubuhay sa akin. I don't know of any other family I have even my father. My mother just told me that he left us, that's all. We really never talked much about him.

After my mother was buried, at a young age I was already expecting my impending misfortune but I'm lucky enough that Senyora immediately took me out of it. "Simula ngayon dito kana titira, tatawagin mo akong lola" I can clearly remember that's what she told me as we stepped inside their mansion. "Call this your home and I will call you Mary Rosarie Cruz Alcantara" I was taken aback by the name she had given me. "Alcantara po?" I looked her pointing my self with confusion. "Yes Sarie, from now on, you are the grand daughter of Don  Alfonso Mendez Alcantara and Doña Maria Rosario Torres Alcantara" My tears started falling, I can't believe it! Ang akala ko ay magiging mag isa nalang ako sa buhay, Tama nga ang sabi ng Nanay noon na huwag akong mag-alala kasi mabait si Senyora. "Talaga po Senyora? Hindi po ako nababagay dito" Senyora shook her head convincing me "everyone's welcome here Sarie. Isa kang mabait na bata at sigurado akong nababagay ka dito" Sa sinabi ni Senyora ako ay napahagulgol. " Salamat po Senyora, magiging mabait po ako sa inyo, tutulongan ko po sina Nay Crising  sa gawaing bahay, pagsisilbihan ko ho kayo Senyora" I cried even more as senyora started wiping my tears "No no no, Sarie, ikaw ay magiging apo ko, ikaw ang matagal ko ng hinihintay, you will be my grand daughter, you will be an Alcantara"  Yes, Matagal ng gusto ni Senyora ng babaeng apo kasi lahat ng apo niya ang puro lalaki, hindi din siya ngka anak ng babae. She was surrounded with boys that why She always wanted to have a girl in the family.

"Lala, Nandito na po ako" I opened the door and it revealed me her luxurious room with a king size canopy bed, with turret curtains drapes flowing freely as the wind enters. "Hello Apo" I saw her sitting in her french styled ivory colored vintage vanity table, combing her hair" I stood closer to her facing her through the mirror. "Borrow lala, let me comb you" She smiled, her wrinkles were showing. "Ofcourse apo, Where were you? I missed you" I smiled. Even at the age of 74, Lala's Spanish Mestiza features are still evident. Ageless beauty, she was said to be the "Susan Roces" of our her time.
She was courted by hacienderos, businessmans, and politicians before but she had only laid her eyes to Don Alfonso, who was also the richest Haciendero and businessman sa all of Negros. They owned Central Azucarera de San Gabriel, the largest producer of raw sugar in the whole province of Negros. Their Eldest Son, Miguel Antonio Torres Alcantara is the current CEO. Meanwhile, lala's family owns the well known,  Arozz de Torres, the largest rice plantation of the whole negros, now spearheaded by their Second Son, Luis Gabriel Torres-Alcantara. With both big Companies, they formed the biggest Poultry Farm producing poultry products in Whole Negros Oriental to Occidental and Even Cebu. The Torres y Alcantara Poultry Farm which is now headed by their youngest son, Mikael Anghelo Torres  Alcantara.