What If

WHAT IF # ONE

          What if...

...you'll end up letting go your life for your REAL life?

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ZEPHYR ACHAEAN SALAZAR'S POV

          It's the 28th day of March and it's two weeks after the burial of my parents. I mean, adopted parents. Adopted parents pero tito at tita ko sila. Well, according to them, kapatid ng tito kong si Rhadamanthus Salazar ang tunay kong ama. I was the youngest child among my two siblings. Baby pa lang ako nang magkasakit ako ng cardiomyopathy. Enlargement of the heart. Si Daddy Rhad ang tumulong para mapagamot ako. Walang-wala noon ang totoo kong pamilya. Tutulungan sana sila ni Daddy Rhad pero ma-pride ang tunay kong ama. Pabalik na sila noon sa States. They were very fond of me so they asked my father if they can buy me from them. And my father said 'yes'.

          So, yeah. Sinama nila ako sa States. They fed me, dressed me, gave me everyhting I need, and treated me like really theirs. Minsan nga, hiniling ko, sana sila na lang ang tunay kong pamilya.

          Hindi sila nagkaanak dahil baog ang Mommy Labyrinth ko. Pero kahit kailan, hindi nagloko si Daddy Rhad. In my 16 years with them, walang isang araw na naramdaman kong hindi nila mahal ang isa't isa. Yes, they were strict. Probably because they were both retired professors. Everything was perfect. Until that day came...

          That day that I wish never came. That day when I killed him. The day that is also the reason why Daddy Rhad had a heart attack and died. After Daddy died, Mommy Laby committed suicide and they died together... because of me. Because of my stupidity.

           You know what's making me more guilty? Mommy Laby didn't even blame me. Not even once. At iniwan nila sa akin lahat ng ari-arian nila. They were multi-billionnaires because of their liquidated businesses. Hindi pa kabilang doon ang properties nila. Properties that I own starting today. Including this mansion where I live.

          Kasalukuyan akong nakaupo sa one-seater sofa ng aming sala. Kahit tatlo lang kami kasama ang mga katulong ang nakatira dito, homy parin ang pakiramdam ko lagi. Except this day...

          Combination of red, white and black ang color ng mansion. Pinaghalong ancient and modern. The black glass table was placed on the center of the room. Nakapatong doon ang scrapbook na ginawa ko para sa kanila. The big flatscreen television was set in front of me. Sa magkabilang pader na kulay puti, may red dividers na nilalaman ang pictures and portraits namin. May  paintings and other portraits namin ang nakasabit sa ilang parts ng dingding. Naka-display rin ang antiques na kinolekta ni Mommy noong nabubuhay pa siya.

          Sa one-seater sofa na nasa harap ko ay nakaupo si Butler Daedalus. I call him butler Dae.

          "Do I really need to do this?" mahinahon kong tanong sa kaniya.

          " Young Mistress, first of all, minor pa lang kayo. You can't inherit Master and Mistress' money until you reach your legal age. Wala na pong tumatayong legal guardian niyo that's why you need to go back to your real family. For now. Two years na lang naman po ang bubunuin niyo du'n," mahabang litanya niya.

          "Is there any other way?"

           Tiningnan muna niya ako ng seryoso bago sumagot. " You really don't want to be with them, do you? Don't forget, Young Mistress. They are your REAL family." Yeah, he's our butler but he's like a family to us so he's free to tell us his opinion. 

         "I know. And it irritates me. But I can't do anything about it, can I?"

          Nang hindi siya sumagot, "Okay. I'll pack my things now. Get the private plane ready," sabi ko sabay tayo at talikod.

          "Uh... Young Mistress, I just want to warn you. Once you go there, you have to live the way they live."

          Napalingon ako sa sinabi niya.

         "I know." Then I sighed.

          So, yeah. I'm ending up letting go of my life for my REAL life. You know how I feel? DISASTER.