"It's me. How are you ?" I ask the person in the phone. I just woke up.
'we're fine. How are you heiress?' then he laughed. He used to make fun.
"Stop it! Update me about the work always." Kahit kailan nang-iinis lang ito.
'Hahahah you miss us that much ha."
"Psh. Looking forward to that." This man is pain but a helpful one.
"No problem, Heiress!" I tsked.
He loved to make fun with me. Tsked what an asshole.
Tok! Tok! Tok!
"Good Morning Mistress! Mag breakfast na daw po kayo sabi ni Senyora Diana!" the maid call me to have breakfast? Isn't it exciting to eat with MY family? What a big word. But anyway its fine.
"OK, coming!" I feel excited to be with in breakfast. It was just 7 in the morning. It's barely cold so I just washed my face before going down.
Habang pababa ako walang imik ang lahat habang hinihintay ako. I saw father and Simoun reading a newspaper. When I arrived. I ask them.
"May patay ba? Antahimik niyo ah! Don't worry wala pa namang namamatay." Oops did I say wrong? They look at me. Like they want to kick me out of the house. Oops wrong move Terah. Just relax, you're getting hot. Its not a time yet.
"Have a seat sweetheart."
My brother Harry offered the chair for me. He is the 2nd brother. He is a businessman also and he helped the company.
"Masyado ba akong espesyal para andito sa gitna ang upuan?" I wonder. Maybe because I am the Mistress they will give me special treatment?.
Turo ko sa upuan sa harap ko.
"Ayoko ng atensyon, I hoped you understand. I am not used to gain attention from . .others" I uttered sarcastically and look at my half sister na sa tabi nang kanyang ina nakaupo. Kaharap ang mga kuya ko, Ako naman nakaupo dito sa gitna facing my father.
"Yan ang upuan ng Mistress. The tradition of the family. The Matriarchal Hierarchy. The real Mistress is you my sister." Kuya Arvy said the younger brother before me. He's a doctor. He is not into business.
I smiled of what he said. Really? So lucky of me kung ganun.
"Bakit? Ayaw niyo bang paupuin dito ang kapatid nating babae. I know gusto niya rito." Peke kung pagtataka. I pointed Annabelle. He look at me blankly. I know she had something in her mind. Do you want to slit my neck, Annabelle? Are you mad? Am I lying ? I doubt.
"Let's start eating." My father said while looking at me. Nawala ang maganda kung mood ngayong umaga. After long years. I heard his cold and husky dangerous voice and honestly I miss his rage all the time. When I got here last 2 years he is in the hospital. I am sad seeing him like that because he is still my father but now I am happy to see him healthy like this. I can show him that he is wrong for choosing his mistress than my mom. I want him to regret his decision to kick out the real Lady of the house. I'll make sure of that.
"Bakit Papa? Ayaw mo bang paupuin dito ang paborito mong anak?" I blurted out. Gusto ko lang siyang inisin. Oops Again my mouth can't stop. Do I have to stitch it up to stop from talking?
"You know that I have no favorite." He answer me coldly. Kung di ko siya kilala malamang nanginig na ako sa tigas at lamig ng boses niya. When I was young I am always hearing that voice. I'm used to it.
"Oww really? Tsked! Not satisfied with your answer Papa. Just give me a reliable answer." Geez. I can't stop.
"Stop it Laterah! Respect your father." the stepmom stop our conversation. Napataas ang kilay ko. I stared at her blankly. Ayaw ko sa lahat ay SIYA. I hate her to the death. Tumaas ang gilid ng labi ko sa sinabe niya.
"Hmmmm. What a word 'respect' coming from the mistress ." Tinuturo ko pa siya nang aking kami "Mistress!" I mockingly said to her. Habang kumukuha nang bread. I do have respect to people but when it comes to them her and Annabelle, I lost it.
"LATERAH! Respect tita Dianne." Hindi na nakakagulat na masigawan ako, wala raw kasi akong galang. My kuya shouted at me. It's fine. I know they became close na parang totoong pamilya. I am the outsider here anyway. Its been six years since I'd flee away because of that accident. I lost my memories and its hard for me to come back in that state.
"Psh. Pinagtutulungan niyo na ba akong lahat? Tsked! Tsked! Kawawa naman ako nito, wala man Lang kakampi sa bahay nato." Iiling-iling kung sabi.
Hindi pa kami nagsisimulang kumain pero nag-aaway na kami. Kasi mula ngayon hindi matatahimik ang bahay nato. Dahil lahat ng bagay dito at labas nito ay guguluhin ko at isasayaos dahil wala na sa tamang posisyon.
"Ibabalik ko ang lahat sa dapat nitong kalagyan!" I bite my bread after saying that. Bigla silang natahimik lahat na ikinangiti ko sa aking isipan at napatigil sila sa pagsubo nang pagkain .Gusto ko pa sanang magpasaring kaya lang. . . .
"Anak! Kumain kana. Ngayon ang unang pasok mo sa kompanya niyo." Biglang sumabat si nanay Sally ang mayordoma ng bahay, siya ang nag alaga sakin kasama ng mama ko. Matagal na siya rito at pinagsisilbihan ang pamilya. Medyo matanda na si Nanay Sally. Hindi ko maipapakita sa kanya na namimis ko siya dahil nandito ang mga kaaway ko, ayaw kung makitaan nila nang kahinaan kaya tumahimik nalang muna ako at nagpatuloy sa pagkain.
Tiningnan ko siya and my face softened, when it comes to her my heart longs for a mom. Tinutulungan niya nuon ang mama to take care of me, I remeber that. I miss her a lot but I don't want to show any weakness. I have to ruled this house. I have to be strong enough to stand among those people who wanted to ruined me and this family and now I am here to protect what's mine. I am the Mistress, the only Mistress of Rouge family.
I want to get back what was taken away from me. Get back at people who wanted me to disappeared from this world.
I am LATERAH MARIE ROUGE the real heiress of the Rouge Empire and
". . . I'm BACK."
