Dagger Series #5: Unbowed

Chapter 3: Sober

I couldn't say that my stepmother took on the role of being a mother to me after that. I'm more of an outsider in the family.

I was too young to be left alone at that time, but I insisted. I was of course included in moving, pero pakiramdam ko noon ay makikigulo lang ako sa pamilya nila. I'm pretty sure that my stepmother would prefer that I don't go with them anyway, even if she doesn't say the word.

Bumabalik naman si Papa rito minsan at kapag bakasyon ay pinapahatid nila ako sa Manila. But as I grew older, it became easier to find a reason to keep my distance. Lalo pa at naging abala na rin ako sa archery.

I didn't stay here because I loved the house. I didn't care where I stayed. As long as I'm in a place where I don't feel every second that I'm not wanted, it's fine with me. Even if it means living by myself.

Isa pa ay talaga namang nasa Manila ang negosyo ng ama ko. My mother, Callista Estremera, inherited the ranch from her parents. Since she's an only child, she's the sole heiress of the land. Ang lupain naman ng mga Calderon ay kadugtong lang ng sa mga Estremera. There were once two mansions built here, separated only by the ownership of the two families. When my parents got married, they renovated the houses to create one giant mansion.

Nang mamayapa ang ina ko ay ang ama ko ang humawak sa mga pag-aari niya, pero nang umapak ako sa tamang gulang ay inilipat niya sa akin iyon.

The employees remained on his payroll though. Maybe his way of telling me that I'm still under his control.

"Iniwan ka nilang mag-isa sa ganoong edad?"

I was taken aback for a moment by the anger I could hear in Trace's voice. I've seen him smile before, and I've seen a glimpse of his sadness, but I haven't seen him angry. Maging ang kapatid niya ay napalingon sa kaniya na mukhang nabigla rin sa paraan ng pagtatanong niya.

"I wasn't really alone at that time. My father hired people to stay with me. When I became of legal age and my father allowed me to compete internationally, it wasn't necessary to have two dozen of employees around me. And like I've said, I have Miss Asencio."

Those people were aging. They deserve to retire with a good pension so that they could be with their family. Not stuck with me in a remote place like this. Si Miss Asencio lang talaga ang matagal ko ng nakasama dahil hindi naman na siya nakapag-asawa pa.

Napatingin ako sa langit nang maramdaman ko ang pagpatak ng ulan. "Let's go inside." Akmang papasok na ako nang makita ko ang bulaklak na nasa gilid ng pintuan. "Mauna na kayo sa loob. May aayusin lang akong sandali."

Hinayaan kong pumasok ang dalawa at yumuko ako para titigan ang halaman. Inayos ko iyon dahil parang patumba na iyon. I've decorated the front of the house with plants and they grew beautifully. Especially the roses. Isa lang naman ang may lakas loob na sirain ang mga rose ko.

Napadiretso ako ng tayo nang makarinig ako ng sigaw mula sa loob ng bahay. Kaagad na pumasok ako at sunod-sunod na napakurap ako nang makita ko si Trace at Domino na magkayakap habang napapaligiran ng mga alaga ko.

"They're going to eat us Kuya!" Domino shouted.

Maging si Trace ay napasigaw din nang dumikit sa tenga niya ang nguso ni Ruby. Emerald on the other hand is busy nibbling on one of his shoes.

Pumito ako at kaagad kong nakuha ang atensyon ni Ruby at Emerald. Even if I can't speak their language, I could swear that there's guilt in their eyes. "What are you two doing here?"

"Moo."

"Don't moo me Ruby. Alam kong ikaw ang kumain ng rose ko. I told you to stop eating them, didn't I?"