Still

Chapter 3-Everybody Changed For the Better(?)

Nagising sa pagkakatulala si Rasselle sa salamin nang nakarinig siya ng sunod-sunod na mahihinang katok sa pintuan ng kanyang kwarto.

"Rasselle, anak. Si Mama ito. Baba ka at saluhan mo kami ni Papa sa almusal." narinig niyang wika ng mama niya.

"Opo ma. Sandali nalang po ito." wika niya habang sinisipat at inaayos ang sarili sa salamin. She didn't notice herself spacing out again. Madalas itong mangyari sa kanya noong pilit niyang binago ang sarili at hanggang ngayon, hindi na nawala. 

In a span of seven long years, many changes have occurred in Rasselle's life. She started changing for the better when the only friend she ever had left her alone. For good. She remembered him saying. She shook her head to clear her thoughts away. Naiiyak siya kapag naaalala niya. He was a sensitive subject. Maging ang mga magulang niya'y hindi napag-uusapan si Gianlorenzo.

Ay, oo! Mag-aalmusal pa pala kami nina Mama at Papa! She silently thought. Rasselle immediately snatched her handbag from the dresser and went down to have breakfast with her family. Bago siya makababa, nakasalubong niya si Manang Fe na paakyat sa ikalawang palapag ng kanilang bahay.

"Good morning, Manang Fe." ngiting bati niya sa isa sa mga katulong nila sa bahay.

Ngumiti pabalik ang matanda at bumati rin, "Good morning din, hija. Inaantay ka na nina Ma'am at Sir sa hapag-kainan." Tumango si Rasselle at bumaba na sa hagdan.

Malayo palang ay kitang-kita na niya ang mga magulang. Her Papa is reading today's newspaper and her Mama is seated beside him, blending his favorite cup of coffee as accustomed. His Papa looked at her Mama gratefully. Rasselle smiled at them. Wala pa nga silang ginagawa tulad ng paghalik o yakap. Simpleng titig palang ramdam na ang pagmamahal nila sa isa't isa. She feels jealous. Well, only a little bit.

"Anak!" She heard her father say. He mom beckoned her to come to them, which she did. She kissed her parents' hands and muttered her 'Good morning'. Hindi uso ang pagmamano sa magulang sa kanyang pamilya. Halik sa kamay ang pinaiiral sa pamamahay nila. They kissed her cheek in return before telling her to sit down. 

"I cooked your favorite pinakbet! I know it's not exactly what you eat for breakfast but still, I wanted to cook it for you anyway." her Mama said. She wanted to hug her Mama for her thoughtfulness.

"Maa.. You know I can't say no to your pinakbet. Your cooking is the best and you know that." Rasselle said while scooping up plenty of steamy rice and pinakbet. She wolfed her food down in a matter of minutes. Pagdating talaga sa luto ng mama niya, wala siyang masabi. Sa luto naman ng papa niya, well, mas mabuti pang kumain nalang ang ama. At natawa siya sa isip niya.

"Siya nga pala, anak. Would you like to ride with me to the company?" his Papa asked. Rasselle shook her head immediately.

"Papa talaga. Would you like me to blow my cover? An employee riding with the CEO? Come on. Everybody is going to wonder." she replied.

"Oh, bakit naman? Ikaw naman talaga ang mamamahala ng company sa hinaharap, ah? Sooner or later, they will have to bow down to your greatness." he remarked as he eyed her, his eyebrows going up and down. It was a little joke his father started when Rasselle unwittingly gave him the solution to the problem related to their business years ago. He started calling her 'Rasselle the Great' just to annoy the hell out of her. Hindi siya sanay na tinatawag siyang 'Great'. Naaalala niya kasi ang pagiging 'Queen Bitch' niya noon.

She didn't have the faintest idea why her identity is always tied to royalty even when she tried to change. From 'Queen Bitch' she became 'Rasselle the Great'. Luckily, her nickname only applied to her father.

"Hindi na po, Pa. I can handle myself." and she gave him a reassuring smile. From the look he's giving her, he's not very assured.

"I can let Lando drive you. Or, or you can drive your car. Sige na, 'nak. " he further convinced. But once she decides on something, it's settled.