Masked Desire

Prologue

#MaskedDesirePrologue

Prologue

Name. Status. Wealth.

A few powerful words. The world seems to revolve around it. It is like a God that was made to be worshipped and followed. It is as if people was born to revolve around them. Na para bang kapag mayroon ka ng mga ito, makapangyarihan ka na.

Tumingin ako sa hindi pamilyar na daan na tinatahak namin. All the buildings looked pleasing to the eyes. Halatang ginastusan ng malaki, from the interior to the street design.

Rich people and their money.

I looked at the sky. Ang mga ulap ay tila sumasayaw habang sumasabay sa agos ng hangin. It looked peaceful. The motion of the clouds seemed to be calm. It was the opposite of what I was feeling.

I have always wondered how God come up with the decision of our life? Was it base on our past life? Was it base to the strength of the people how to handle situations? Or was it just plain luck?

The sisters said God will never make me experience something I couldn't overcome. Iba-iba man daw ang buhay ng tao, it is up to the person how to handle his or her life.

Simula ng ako ay nagkaisip, hindi ko maiwasan na magtaka. Nagtataka ako kung bakit puro madre, househelpers at mga batang nasa iba't-ibang edad ang kasama ko simula paglaki. Iba sa mga napapanood ko sa TV. Ang pamilya na nakikita ko sa TV ay palaging may nanay at may tatay.

And I failed to have both.

I never met my family. I never met a relative. Lumaki ako na naniniwala na ang lahat ng kailangan ko, kailangan ko rin paghirapan bago makuha. I wasn't born with a silver spoon. Nevertheless, I enjoy the challenge of living like this. I'm always happy whenever I achieve something and I always strive to do more if I fail. After all, there's always a next time.

I turned five and the sisters started to train me on how to be prim and proper. Naisip ko na lang na ako ang pinakamatanda sa lahat ng mga bata sa orphanage kaya ganoon sila sa akin. They taught me how to act like a lady. They taught me how to act with class. They taught me how to play some instruments. They taught me how to paint. They taught me almost everything at such a young age. Like my future will depend on my skills.

It feels strange because I enjoy every lesson from them. Hindi man alam kung ano nga ba ang dahilan ng mga ito, I took the opportunity to learn. I took the lessons properly.

Hindi lahat ng tao ay nabibiyayaan ng ganito kalaking oportunidad kaya habang pinapaulanan ako ng biyaya, hindi ko dapat palagpasin.

I was seven when the orphanage was sponsored by the Marques family. Biglang guminhawa ang buhay namin. Ang mga lumang appliances ay napalitan. Binago at pinaganda ang disenyo ng orphanage. Binilhan nila kami ng mga bagong damit. Hindi na rin kami nauubusan ng pagkain dahil palaging may stocks na pinapadala. At higit sa lahat, pinangako ng pamilya na iyon na magbibigay sila ng tulong sa pag-aaral namin.

I was surprised. Hindi ko lubusan maisip na may mga tao na may concern pa sa amin. May mga tao pa pala na napapansin ang aming pamumuhay.

"Lassie, halika na. Magsisimula na ang program. Nandiyan mismo ang mga sponsor kasama ang mga anak kaya nakakahiya kung paghihintayin natin sila." Sigaw na narinig ko mula sa labas ng pinto.