Stephanie Chloe Eastwood, how girly name, doesn’t it? Well, yan lang naman ang pangalan ko but you can call me ‘Klo’ for short. Ang irony ba? A girlish name but a boyish pen name? Hmm…
Don’t get me wrong kung medyo conyo ako magsalita. I can’t help it. I was born in New York but currently living here in Philippines, specifically in Laguna, for 4 years now. My Dad is British while my mom is half Jamaican and Filipino. My Lola was based here in Laguna ever since he got married to Lolo.
When I was young Lolo died. Lola still went through her life but as time and years gone by, Lola felt emptiness in her so she became dreadful, restless and unfortunately joined Lolo up in heaven.
But before Lola died, she always called me through overseas phone and her last phone call was she’s asking me to go to her in Philippines and she will going to tell me something very, very important.
When I arrived, she was with her lawyer. After we had dinner, Lola told me that before she will gone she’ll let her house titled under my name and right when I turned 20 her lawyer will came back to me and tell everything I must have to know. Everything.
When I turned 20, I am at school that day when Lola’s lawyer went to see me. We then talked. Nalaman-laman ko na lang ang yaman ko na. My Lola’s inherits for me was ‘a bit large’. I have, I think millions? No, billions worth of her properties. And it was all under my name. How gracious, right? Ewan ko ba kay Lola, masyado ata akong paborito.
Noong nasa NY pa kasi ako nakatira, she always asks me to visit her every vacation. Ako naman si Opo, Sige po. Hindi ko din kasi matanggihan, e sa maganda din naman kasi dito sa Pinas. Kaya noong nawala si Lola, 1 week ata akong nagluluksa simula noong nailibing siya. Ako ata ang pinaka-apektado sa buong pamilya. Dahil sa taun-taon din kaming nagsasama, we used to have bonding moments in amazing places in Laguna. Naalala ko tuloy na every time na babalik akong NY, I have sun burns all over my face and body. At least I don’t need to tan. Haha! How I missed those days.
Anyway, I am now 22 at dito na rin nakatira. I am currently studying as a 4th year college student with a degree course of BS Information Technology. Hindi ko akalain na mahirap pala ‘tong tinatahak kong course. Nakakapanlabo din ng mata. Haha! Sorry na, hindi naman kasi maiiwasan ang pagvi-video games lalo pa’t puro computer ang hawak mo. But kidding aside, I am taking up this course for me to understand more and deeper about the computers and the technologies. To hack, to simulate, to code, anything inside its depth. Because, it is my job that is part of Lola’s inheritances exclusively only for me.
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Alas kwatro pa lang ng umaga, nasa gym na agad ako ng bahay. Ito rin ang isang parte ng buhay ko na isa din sa ipinamang payo ni Lola, ang mag-ensayo (Ehem! Medyo malalim). Martial arts and its likes, I must have to learn them all for me to live. Naalala ko, one time, when I was 8 years old and was on a vacation, Lola took me to a professional trainer of martial arts. Imagine, I was only at my 3rd grade that time and to think that I am still a little girl when I took those intense and massive training. And I think it is madness! Muntik- muntikan na nga akong mapa-uwi ng NY ng hindi nagpapa-alam kay Lola. But before I could, she begged me to stay but, of course, I refused to. So to keep me stay she bribed me that she will buy me anything I want after I could be able to win with any place in the upcoming tournament. The higher the place the bigger I could get.
E, that time uso na si Apple Powerbook at Ipod. Hindi kasi ako pinapayagang bumili nila Mama ‘cause I’m too young to have them. So with perseverance and a little inspiration, I continued to train as possible as 24/7 with lack of sleep and feel like effing restless that time to the extent that I thought I’m gonna die. But with Lola’s words of encouragement and this drug or somewhat supplement she let me intake, I survived and won 1st place. Then every year on my vacation, I always train and win 1st place in every tournament I joined like a habit.
