Freedom from Seduction (COMPLETED)

Simula

Start of the Act

"What's eggsilog?"

I scanned the menu plastered on the wall. My whole face crumpled as I saw how cheap they are. Hindi man lang ba nila kayang magpagawa ng, say 5 copies on hand? I really don't like looking up because I am the one who should be looked up to. I am a Calliego, of course!

Tumawa ang katulong na kasama ko at umiling-iling habang nakatingin sa akin.

"Pati ang Mama mo ay ganiyan," she smiled.

Uhm, I don't care? My Mommy is above all these people, of course she won't be here! If I am just not hungry, I won't even be here at this place! Mas lalo pang sumama ang mukha ko nang makalanghap ng usok. Maingay ang paligid at ang ibang lalake ay nakatingin sa akin. Ang iba ay sumipol.

"Sexy mo miss ganda!"

Umirap ako roon sa lalaki at agad siyang tinukso ng mga kasama niya. It made him angry.

"Maarte!"

Hindi ko na siya pinansin at tinignan si Tita Cleopatra, ang katulong ko.

"Halika rito, Aphro. Mayaman rin naman ako pero may alam naman ako sa mga ganito."

"Wow, very good. Five stars," I sarcastically said.

Umirap siya sa akin at hinila ako pa-upo. My friends and maids call me Aphro. My family, Venice. Siyempre, kahit pamilya na ang turing namin kay Tita Cleopatra na kaibigan ng Mama ko na isa sa mga dancer rin sa MDC Entertainment, sinabi ko sakanyang Aphro ang itawag sa akin. She didn't know about the labels.

"Ang ganda rin ng buhok mo. Blonde. Maputi rin pero may pagka-yellow na ang kulay sa'yo. Mas maganda pa rin ang sa Nanay mo."

"Yeah, sure. Says the girl who likes everone else's hair but hers."

"Tapsilog nalang ang kainin mo. O gusto mo iyong buttered chicken nalang nila?"

"Oh yes, please! I would rather eat chicken that those silog silog. What are those ba?"

I don't think my designer bag, high heels and branded clothes fitted the ambiance of the place. It's just twelve noon but 'tambays' are already drinking beer. I don't even know what kind of brand they are drinking. Is it local? We've got many alcohol beverages at home in our bar counter but I've never seen drinks like the ones they are drinking.

Ang alam ko lang ay ang Bacardi 151, Jack Daniels, Tequila & Mezcal, Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff and Royal Stag. We also have Rum, Whiskey, Vodka and many more I couldn't even enumerate. Pero ang kanila ay hindi ko talaga alam. Ang Bacardi 151 ang paborito ng Tita ko, Shania Serene Calliego, kaya sinisiguro ni Mommy na may stock kami lagi.

Hindi naman mahilig si Mommy uminom o magbar pero dahil umiinom si Daddy, meron kami. Meron ring hindi alcoholic pero hindi rin naman napagtutuonan ng pansin. Si Mommy lang at si Helios ang umiinom noon. Kami ni Daddy ang umuubos ng mga may alcohol.

Kahit na seventeen palang ako, umiinom na ako. Bakit naman kasi hindi kung meron naman na sa bahay namin? Besides, I do it discreetly. I don't want Daddy to know. Kahit na seventeen ako at ang mga ka-edad ko, walang nakakapigil sa amin sa patagong pag-inom.

I, for one, really like alcoholic drinks. Kaya siguro isa rin ako sa nagsabi kay Mommy. I'm probably like my Tita. I like night outs and bars kahit na once a year lang ako pwedeng magpalipas ng gabi sa ibang bahay. I can oppose my parents but why would I if I really like being pampered? I'm happier in my house than bars. I have my own entertainment room where I can hide the actions my Daddy would probably disagree of!