Gifts of Pandora

| 1 | Pandora

| 1 | Pandora

My mother once told me, that I'm different from others because I'm gifted. No one's on par with me. I lived my life being sheltered because my mom won't allow me to play with other kids.

"You're better than that. You should learn the etiquette of being a lady," she said when I told her that I want to play with my cousin.

Fits did not go over well in our house. There was a lot of discipline and obedience and you had to be very ladylike. Ladies didn't curse and I still don't curse in front of my parents.

One day, we had a family reunion. It was my first and last. I'm wearing a pink button bownswing dress and pink pumps. My hair is tied into a neat bun. Tuwing may makakasalubong kami na kamag anak ni Mommy ay ngingitian ko lang sila ng tipid at tatango ng mababaw.

"Napakagandang bata nito ni Pan, bakit hindi mo inilalabas?" tanong ng Tita ko kay Mommy. Napatingin din ako sa kaniya dahil iyon ang matagal ko nang gustong itanong. Why am I always locked up in our house instead of going out like other children?

"She's too precious for me. I don't want her to be exposed in the cruelty outside her comfort zone," Mommy answered and gently brushed my hair.

"Pero dapat habang bata pa ay sinasanay mo nang makisalamuha sa ibang tao. Baka manibago kapag binigla mo..."

"I'll cross the bridge when I get there. You don't have to worry, my daughter is art enough to know everything," nakangiting sagot ni Mommy. My Tita gave me a sympathetic look which I didn't understand what for.

Marami pa akong narinig na komento tungkol sa pagsama ko sa family reunion namin. Mostly are negative feedbacks for my mom, but there are still positive. They kept on saying that Mommy robbed my childhood. That she's depriving me of my rights as a child. Hindi ko sila maintindihan. Mommy told me that she's doing what she thinks is right and best for me. I believe her.

"Why are you dressed like that?" tanong ng isang babae na kasing edad ko lang kung titignan. She's wearing a pink balloon style dress. It has glitters and ruffles.

"This is how I dress up everytime," I answered using my monotone voice. I remember my teacher saying that I should always carry myself perfectly. And to be able to do that, I should speak with class.

"That's for old! My Granma used to dress like that! I saw it in pictures!" She exclaimed. I was shocked because Mommy said that I shouldn't shout. It wasn't appropriate for me.

"But-" before I could even finish my sentence, she already left me. She ran to her mother and I saw how she pointed me.

Hindi ko na lang sila pinansin dahil mukhang magkakaiba kami ng paraan kung paano lumaki. We're of same age but my vibes aren't match with theirs. Some of them are too energetic and hyper, some are average, but still hyper enough that no one was being left behind. They are running and playing around while I'm here, standing beside my mom.

"Are you alright? Do you want to go to your room already?" Mommy asked when she took a glimpse of my face. Umiling naman agad ako dahil gusto ko pa ang mga nakikita ko.

This is my first time seeing people this much. Although, they are all my relatives, this is really the first time I saw pack of people. Maybe I did when I was still a baby, I can't remember. All I knew is that I grew up being isolated here.

When we were seated at the long table, which I have seen for the first time, they are unusually quiet. Everyone is focused on their foods, except the kids. They won't really tone down their energies.

"Tita, bakit po ganiyan ang suot ni Pan?" tanong ng pinsan ko na mas matanda ng ilang taon sa akin.

"She's fond of vintage things, hija. I raised her in an old fashion way," Mommy answered.

"This is my first time seeing her in person, Tita. I only hear her name once in a blue moon, too. I thought she's just a hallucination," my other cousin commented.

"Kids, your cousin, Pandora, is a very special girl. I want you to understand that if she mingle with people outside, she'll be tainted. This is my way of raising my daughter, you'll understand me soon when you became parents." Mommy explained, which I know, the younger ones won't understand. It was too deep for them.

"So, Pan is illiterate?" asked by my another cousin. I don't really know their names. All I know is that they are my parents' relatives. My relatives.

"No, of course not. Infact, she's smarter than children her age," Mommy said with a hint of proud in her voice.

"She acts so... maturely. Did you raise her that way too, Victoria?" one of my Auntie asked. From what I heard, she's Ofelia, my father's sister.

"Yes. She was trained how to act properly. She have an etiquette class. I want her to learn how to be a decent and respectable lady at young age..."

"She's actually.. Intimidating, Victoria. I guess Pan is doing great despite of being.. Locked up..." Tito Arturo commented. He's also Dad's brother.

I saw how Mommy glared at my Tito.

"She's not locked up, Arturo." Sambit ni Daddy na kararating lang at sinamahan kami sa hapag. He sat right next to me.

"Isolated, then?" Tita Vildea butt in, Mommy's sister.

"She's just being protected. We don't need your opinions, we don't care about those. We're the parents of Pandora, we're the one who's responsible for her..." May diin na sabi ni Daddy. I can feel the tension slowly building up.

I know that our relatives are not in favor for my parents' decision. But I respect and love my parents enough to obey every words they say. I appreciate their concerns about me. But I don't care about that. I know my parents have their reasons.

I'm smart enough to know what I lack at. That I was robbed of my childhood. That in this age, I was supposed to be playing dolls and other games with my cousins and friends. That I'm supposed to go to school and learn together with my classmates. That there are bigger places out there, a wide community, and many people can be found outside. I'm aware that I'm isolated, locked up, and being hidden to the world.

As if my existence is a major offense, so no one should know. But I also thought that maybe the world outside is also more dangerous that I imagined. Many evil people lurking around and all. That's why they don't want me to be exposed. But who am I kidding?

I'm Pandora. I was named like that because my Daddy said I was gifted with so many things. That there was a girl who was also named like that who was almost perfect... like me. And that's the reason why they kept me isolated. But I know that no one is perfect. We all have our flaws, wether it's small or big. I hope one day they'll realize that I'm not perfect like what they're expecting me to be.