I was packing my clothes. It's already six in the evening. I can't stay in this house anymore. Naging mapag pasensya ako mula pa noon. At ngayon, ayoko na. Tama na.
"Anak, huwag kang magpadalos-dalos. Isipin mo naman ang ama mo. Kaya mo ba siyang iwan sa poder ng madrasta mo?" my nanay yaya asked. She's been my yaya since I was a baby.
"Nay, kung papipiliin si dad between me and my step-mom and my step-sister, dad will choose them. Napatunayan na natin iyon diba?" I said as I get my clothes in my closet and stuffed them inside my luggage.
"Pero anak, sa'yo itong bahay. Sa'yo rin mapupunta ang lahat ng negosyo at lahat ng ari-arian niyo." pilit pa rin nito sa kanya para manatili siya sa mansion.
"Nay, conjugal property iyon nila dad at mom. At buhay pa si dad so lahat ng sinasabi mo ay kanya."
"Pero ikaw ang nag-iisang anak nila."
"Kahit na nay. I love dad pero I don't think he still needs me. Andyan na yung bago niyang asawa at may instant anak pa siya. Tapos nandito ka rin. Alam kong hindi mo siya pababayaan." I hugged my nanay yaya so tight before I zipped my luggage.
"Hindi ka na ba mapipigilan, 'nak?" pagsusumamo nito. Sabay hawak sa kamay ko.
"Alam mong hindi na, 'nay." I sighed. I was in tears when I put on my backpack, my duffel bag and my two luggage. I composed myself before going out of my room.
When I was descending on the stairs, I saw my dad at the bottom of it. Nakasunod si nanay yaya sakin. My step-mom, step-sister and her husband which is my ex was sitting comfortably on the sofa talking happily with each other.
"Ayaw mo na talagang magpapigil?" asked my dad when I'm on the first step of the stairs.
The three people on the sofa looked at us. My step-mom, Sandra, stood up and went beside my dad.
"With all due respect dad, I need my peace of mind. I've had enough of this drama already." Pinanindigan ko na yung desisyon ko.
"Or you're just bitter sis because I'm happy already and you're not." sabat ng step-sister ko. Shocking. She had the guts to say that in front of dad.
Ever since ng teenager kami, mabait lang siya pag nandiyan si dad. Pag wala, she's showing her bitch side to me and even to our househelps.
"Oh please! Don't call me sis because as far as I've remembered, I'm just an only child." I rolled my eyes at her.
"Maria Liliana! Watch your words!" sigaw ni dad sa akin.
Wow! That's a first. I looked at dad. Shocked was registered on my face. He was shocked too that he shouted at me but he composed himself after. Then I smirked.
I glanced at my step-mom. She was smirking at one moment then changed her expression into poker-faced.
I looked at my step-sister who was about to cry. Oh an overrated drama queen! Her husband was comforting her. I looked away.
"Says the one who stole someone's boyfriend." I chuckled and started walking away from them.
My dad was still calling me but I heard Sandra stopped him. The hell I care! I've been to hell too many times already.
When dad remarried, I felt neglected. When dad was away for some business meetings abroad, Sandra and Sandrina, my step-sister was always bad-mouthing me and my deceased mom. They can't hurt me because our housemaids, our driver, our security guard and even our gardener always protect me. They just can't complain to dad because dad won't believe them and my step-mom threatened to fire them if they will do it again.
When I went out of the front door, our gardener Mang Ambo get my duffel bag. Our two security guards get my luggage and stow them in my car's trunk. Our driver, Tatay Ben, gave me the keys and opened my car's door.
"Mag-ingat ka, anak. Andyan ba yung direksyon na ibinigay ko sa'yo?" pasikretong tanong nito.
"Yes po, tatay. Salamat po." mahinang sagot ko. Sikretong malupit namin ito para hindi ako masundan. Kami lang na dalawa ang nakakaalam kung saan ako pupunta.
"Mag-ingat po kayo, senyorita." sabay-sabay na bigkas ng apat na housemaid namin. Nginitian ko sila.
"Mag-ingat din kayo rito. Magkikita pa naman tayo. Not soon enough but we will see each other when the time comes." sabi ko sa mga ito.
"Lili!"
I looked back at Nanay yaya. She walked towards me and embraced me tightly. I hugged her back too. I really wanna cry but I don't want to let them see me crying. Ayoko maging mahina sa harap nila.
"Take care, Nanay. I will miss you." I whispered softly. Afraid my voice might break.
"Ikaw rin, anak. Huwag mong papabayaan ang sarili mo kahit saan ka magtungo."
I nodded and went inside my car. As soon as I closed my car's door, a tear escaped my eye.
I slowly maneuvered my car towards the gate while crying. I honked twice when the gate opened as a sign of goodbye and I sped away.
I promised myself that this is going to be the last time that I'll be crying over them.
The reason why I'm not going to stay in our house is that, Sandrina and her husband was premanently staying in our house after a month of their honeymoon. Kaloka! Wala ba silang pambili ng bahay? Bakit doon sila titira sa bahay namin?
Like what the hell! How thick-faced can they get. And I don't think I can live with them so might as well get out of that shit hole. Sino ba naman ang may gusto na tumira sa iisang bahay kasama ang mga ahas?
I drove in circles. Minamatyagan kung may nakasunod sakin. At nang alam kong wala, dumiretso ako sa ibinigay sakin ni Tatay Ben na direksyon.
I know it's far. Mas gusto ko iyon. I drove for 15 hours. Lahat nang landmarks ay nadaanan ko na. At nang makita ko ang arko, napangiti ako. This is the beginning of my new life. I hope there will be better days ahead of me.
Hacienda Hernandez
