Palmyra: Evan Vinter [Completed]

Chapter 1: Goodbyes.

*Anissa's POV*

Tomorrow is the day. Tomorrow is the day where I will leave everything behind. Everything is settled, all I need is for me to get out of this house nang walang nakakapansin na maglalayas ako.

"Going anywhere, Anissa?" My stepmother, Crizelda, asked me with her penciled eyebrow arching.

I gave her a small smile. Though I don't like her, my mom never thought me to disrespect a person unless she is disrespecting me, my beliefs, my family and my love ones.

"I have a few things to settle before the new semester starts." I answered.

She nodded then left.

Crizelda Bonifacio is my stepmother. Unfortunately, my papa married her a few years later after my mom died. To my demise, her daughter is my father's illegitimate child. What a concept, eh?

Clarissa, my half-sister, is a few months older than me. Meaning, her mom and my papa had an affair a few months before my parents got married. (They said my mom was pregnant when they got married.)

Arnold Cordovia, my father, is a business tycoon. He loves me even though he has Crizelda and Clarissa too. It looks like he even favours me rather than the two. I have no problem with that. But Papa could be very strict. Maybe he doesn't know that I know that he has bodyguards secretly looking out for my every move. Gladly I have a plan already.

"Annie, anak, kain ka na muna." Nana Carol called me.

Nana Carol is very special to me. Bata pa lang ako ay siya na ang nagaalaga sa akin. When I miss my mom nagku-kwento siya ng mga bagay tungkol sakaniya. Nana Carol literally raised me. Alongside with my childhood friend, Freya.

Freya is my childhood friend. When Papa forbade me to befriend other kids rather than his business partners' kids, Freya is the only one who accepted my friendship without looking at my family's social status. Isang palaboy dati si Freya sa kalsada malapit sa village na tinitirahan namin.

When I told Papa about her, pinagbawalan niya akong lumapit sakaniya, but this is the first time that I had a real friend so I insisted. My father cannot say no to me kaya kinalaunan ay tinanggap niya si Freya sa bahay. She worked hard to earn my father's trust that she will not use and hurt me. Ever since nagta-trabaho na si Freya sa amin.

Nang dumating si Crizelda at Clarissa sa bahay ay personal kong hiniling kay Papa na hindi nila maaaring utusan si Freya at Nana Carol. Lalong hindi nila pwedeng pagbuhatan ito ng kamay, kung hindi, ako ang makakalaban nila. Gladly, dad said yes.

Sa ngayon ay naga-aral si Freya sa isang University pero hindi kung saan ako naga-aral. She's studying Nursing and she's on her OJT kaya malimit siyang umuwi at malimit kaming nakakapagusap dahil sa busy siya.

"Salamat po." Ngumiti ako kay Nana Carol at umupo sa high stool.

I don't eat at the dinning table unless I get to dine with Papa.

Nana Carol served me a couple of pancakes, which is my favorite, with bacon on the side, orange juice, a bottle of maple syrup and a cup of condensed milk. Nana really knows what I love.

"Come and join me for breakfast, Nana Carol." I said. Nana doesn't need to be told twice, because she knows that I want her and Freya to eat with me whenever I ask them to.

While we were eating I looked at Nana and felt a pang on my chest. I'm going to leave this house, meaning I am also leaving her and Freya. Siguradong tatanungin sila ni Papa tungkol sakin. I cannot let them be in danger.

"Bakit ka nakatingin ng ganyan sakin, anak?" Nakangiting tanong ni Nana sa akin.

Nginitian ko siya at sinabing. "Nothing, Nana. I'm just wondering kung kailan uuwi si Freya."