Unveiling The Mask Behind (High Class Issue Series #4)

Chapter 02

Chapter 02: Clueless

"Rianne, I told you to stop playing those toys, hindi ba? Panlalaki ang mga laruang 'yan." Awtomatikong natigilan ako sa pagtitipa nang marinig ang isang ina na pinagsabihan ang anak niyang babae.

My eyes shifted towards the table where they were sitting, and there I saw her daughter pouting while holding those race car toys and miniature soldiers that are painted in green.

The mother suddenly took her daughter's toys and kept it inside her Chanel bag.

"But no one said that it's bad to play those toys, Mommy," sagot ng batang babae habang pinaglalaruan ang mga kamay.

"Kahit na, babae ka kaya umasal ka na parang isang babae. Act demure and sweet, honey, it's a rule for girls."

I shook my head because of what she taught her daughter. I know I'm not in the right place to question her being a mother, but is it right to teach your daughter how to stereotype at such a young age?

"But Mommy--"

"No buts, Rianne. Your father is going to be here any minute so be a good girl. Don't be sulky, okay?" She brushed her fingers through her daughter's hair and smiled.

The daughter has no choice but to obey her mom, but I feel bad as I saw her taking a glance at her toys inside her mom's bag.

I don't understand why people think that women should be innocent, pure, and emotional, while men should act strong or cool. I mean, all of those gender roles are somehow a misconception.

Those double standards and stereotyping when it comes to genders are why people lose their freedom to express who they really are.

In this generation, women don't want to be considered as damsels in distress. Hindi naman siguro kabawasan sa isang lalaking kung kaya ng babae ang wala sila.

Both genders don't live for society's standards because they live for themselves.

Nag-iwas lang ako ng tingin nang biglang tumunog ang phone ko at nakita kong si Mark ang nag-text sa akin.

Mark: Malapit na ako, Serina.

I let out a sigh and looked at my wristwatch. It's already afternoon, and as expected, he's always late every time we will have a book signing.

Ang sabi niya alas-dose kami magkikita dito sa coffee shop pero lampas thirty minutes na. Paniguradong madadamay na naman ako sa mga salita ng mga organizers dahil sa pagiging late.

It's my fifth book signing event that will be held in SM North, and I'm still nervous every time my work is being published.

I know those readers have their standards and expectations for my story. As a writer, I understand that some people don't like my work, but in the end, it's still the craft that I built and wrote to express myself.