Note: Under Revisions
Prologue
Hera Cassandra Maxwell
"You've got to be kidding me."
Lukot ang mukha na sambit ni Cassandra habang pinagmamasdan niya ang maliit na kwarto. Ibinaba nito ang suot na sunglasses at iritado na tinitigan ang kasambahay.
"You call this a room?" Puno ng disgusto na baling niya sa kasambahay. Agad naman na yumuko ang ulo nito sa kaniyang mga titig.
"Ito na po ang pinakamaayos na kwarto dito sa amin Ma'am." Maliit na boses na sagot ng kasambahay.
Napabuntong hininga na lamang siya at napasapo ng ulo. She wished from anyone from above to grant her patience.
The room was as a small as storage room. Mas malaki pa nga ata ang storage room ng university niya kesa dito sa binibigay sa kaniya. Tanging kama, isang maliit na bedside table at cabinet lamang ang laman nito. Sa isang dako ang bintana naman at sa kabila ang palikuran.
It was plain and cheap. But most of all it looked like a prison cell. Ni hindi niya nga gusto tumingin sa ibaba ng kama dahil baka kung ano pa ang makita niya.
"Hindi ba pwede ilagay niyo nalang ako sa mansyon? Do I really have to stay in this goddamn worker's house?" Pataas ng pataas ang tono ng boses niya habang sinasambit ang mga ito. She was a rich a heiress and she doesn't deserve to be treated poorly.
"Yes Cassandra you will stay in this goddamn worker's house until you learn to check on your attitude." Sambit ng tao sa likod niya. Hindi na niya kailangan pa titigan ang tao sapagkat kilalang kilala niya ang boses nito.
It was none other than her mom, the great Lilian Maxwell. Everybody feared Lilian Maxwell. Her mother was strict and ruthless in handling their company business. Pati pagpapalaki sa kaniya ay wala din pagkakaiba sa pagtrato niya sa sariling mga empleyado. Kaya naman hindi na siya nabigla pa ng mapakarampas ng takbo ang house maid.
She sighed and boredly turned her form towards her mother. Nakasuot pang opisina ito kung kaya't alam niya na kagagaling lamang nito sa kompanya.
All work and no love. She bitterly thought in her head.
"What do you want, Mother?" she pointedly asked her mother. Crossing her arms on her chest, she jutted her hip to the side and tilted her head to the side in boredom.
"Check your tone Cassandra. I raised you better than that." Matigas at malamig na tugon ng kaniyang ina.
She scoffed at her words and darkly retorted "How did you raised me mother? With an cold-hearted nanny who hates crying children, and a brooding butler?"
A flash of regret passed her mother's features. But it was gone before she can confirm it. Matigas at walang emosyon lamang ito na tumitig sa kaniya.
Clasping her hands infront of her, her mother gestured the room "This place shall be your home for 2 months. You'll work and earn for your keep. I'll give you money to last for 2 weeks. But the rest, you're on your own"
Halos lumawa ang mata niya. "I'll be working? I'm an heiress for goodness sake!"
Her mother continued, "Until you learn your lesson then you can ask Don Hermosa to move you inside their mansion. For now, I want you to work and reflect on your reckless action. You did not only dragged yourself into this mess but also our company."
Nangitil ang panga niya sa sermon ng kaniyang ina.
She knows that her mother is only doing this to hide her from the media back in Manila. But at the same time, she knows na nahihiya ito sa mga pinagagawan niya. Hindi naman niya gusto na malaman ng lahat na may relasyon siya sa kaniyang professor.
Yes, she had an affair with her professor. And it went viral when a photo of them together was caught. Hindi niya alam kung sino ang nagkalat nito sapagkat nawawala ang phone ng kaniyang ex-professor na naglalaman ng lahat ng kanilang pinagsamahan.
To hide her and the company's name out of shame. Napagpasiyahan ng kaniyang ina na itapon siya sa Bicol kung saan namamalagi siya sa business partner nito, ang pamilya ng Hermosa.
The downside nga lang ay magtatrabaho siya para sa mga ito kapalit ng pagpapatuloy sa kaniya. It was her mother's idea.
And the other downside to it ay ex niya ang anak nito na si Jake Hermosa, who is a giant ASSHOLE. Kung ano ikinabait ng magulang nito, ito naman ang ikinapangit ng ugali. Dagdag mo pa ang sakit sa ulo at maldita nito na nakababatang kapatid ay tunay na minalas nga ang Hermosa. Hays, nakakaawa sina Mr. and Mrs. Hermosa.
But what she really wants to know ay kung sino ang nagpost ng mga photos nila. She's pissed to whoever posted it. Pero hindi niya maikaiila na natatakot siya. Her professor's phone contains a lot of sexual materials. Their sexual scandal. Kaya hindi niya alam kung ano nalang ang magiging reaction ng kaniyang pamilya at ng mga tao kung kumalat pa ito.
She wants this nightmare to end. But how?
"Hindi namin ginusto na kumalat ang mga litrato na iyon." Pagdedepensa niya. "And you can't blame me for liking the man. Ikaw na mismo nagsabi noon na mabait at galanteng tao si Mark."
"Yes but you chose the wrong man. Hindi ka man lang nahiya sa sarili mo na propesor ang magiging karelasyon mo, specially an engaged one?!"
Oh right. I missed telling you guys that tiny bit of information.
"That is an arranged marriage which he does not like."pagdedepensa niya. Galing din kasi ang kaniyang propesor sa mayamang angkan. And like her family, they believe in maintaining the family power.
"If I remind you, you are engaged as well." her mother pointed out. She rolled her eyes at her. Kaya naningkit ang mata nito "Magpasalamat ka nalang dahil tinanggap ka pa din ng pamilya Bernardini kahit sa malakimg iskandalo na ginawa mo!"
The Bernardinis and Maxwells have been business partners for years. To unit the company, their first born son, Lorenzo Bernardini will marry her after they graduated from college.
She was secretly hoping the Bernardinis will cancel the engagement, but they were stubborn as a mule. She can't imagine being married to a man she considers as a friend and a brother.
Can't she marry for love? Does she always have to be a piece of the company? She was sick and tired of being one of the chess players. She is a human being who has to make her own decisions and choices.
Anger coursed through her veins, and she snapped to her mother. "Well, I don't give a shit if they take me or not! I don't want that stupid engagement!"
Isang malaking sampal ang dumapo sa kaniyang pisngi. Napasapo siya sa nag-iinit niya na pisngi at gulat na tinitigan ang ina.
"I have enough of your attitude Hera Cassandra Maxwell. If you don't fix yourself after 2 months, I will disown you!"
"You can't do that." Naiiling niya na sambit.
"Watch me." Her mother pointedly told her. "Fix yourself or welcome the life of a peasant."
Lumabas ito ng kwarto at padabog na sinarhan ang pintuan. Habang siya ay napasalumbaba sa kama.
Gosh she hates her mother. She needs a drink.
Edited 04.07.2020
