Freely Falling (preview)

Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4
SOPHIA

13 YEARS AGO...

At 7 years old, I was a very predictable kid. I accept everything that is offered. I soak up any answers to any of my queries.

I was happy.

I think I was. In between going back and forth my parents' house, I was able to stay in my mama's place of work, too. I had the chance to meet different people and realize the differences between our lives at an early age.

"'Nak, are you sure this is the house?" Papa asked hesitantly after we arrived in front of the biggest house I've ever been to.

I nodded excitedly. "Yes, Papa! They moved here from that other place recently. It's so big, 'no?"

I went up the three steps to go near the gate before jumping multiple times to reach the doorbell. It was so high; I think I needed a ladder. I huffed from exhaustion; my sweat was trickling all over my back deeming my shirt soaked. Add the fact that we have walked a long distance from where we first got off the jeepney.

I think mama gave him the new address through a telephone call before it was time for me to go back and he wasn't sure if this was it. It was bigger than the owner's other house, that I am sure.
I grew up with them most of the time.

Mama takes me with her at times because no one's going to watch after me if she's working here. It almost seems that I have three houses because of our arrangement.

It was a strange one if anybody apart from us knew, but it was what I thought was normal.
I never questioned any of them.

It was later that I realized my parents never did marry and I was considered an accident to the both of them. They stepped up, though, and tried to tolerate one another for my sake. Twice a month, I stay with my father for three days.

"'Pa! I can't reach it," I went down the steps and pulled on the end of his shirt to get his attention. His attention was raptly on the house.

He just looked at me and immediately rang the doorbell. He went back to admiring the house's exterior. The house or mansion, rather, was standing with three levels and stretches into a whole corner block. It was an outrageously huge one, twice the size of their former house. All has moved into this including the helpers and, of course, me.

"We'll have a big house like this someday, right, Papa?" he hummed his agreement before the small gate opens revealing mama on the other side. I smiled at her and looked at Papa. I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion because Papa's demeanor changed.

Any emotions he had displayed minutes before was gone and his eyes were dull and stoic.
"Oh. Finally you're here. Come on now. Lola Lenny's looking for you," she motioned me to go inside and asked for my bags from my father.

I bid goodbye to him and hugged him. "See you the soonest, 'nak."

I never did mind their interactions, but now I see and realize how clinical this is for them.
There are neither small greetings nor smiles exchanged.

I tried asking, but lola Lenny's by the door in a second and was already hugging me.

"Pia-tot, how are you?" I smiled at her brightly and hugged her for a very brief moment before composing myself. she was, after all, my mother's employer still.

"I'm fine, lola. You?"

She patted my cheeks and chuckled, "I'm good, I'm good. Your Kuya Dex is here. Come now and say hi dear." She, then, gracefully sauntered back inside leaving me by the waiting area. I looked at mama who was busy preparing food and decided to settle.