Letters Behind Closed Door: Epistolary (COMPLETED)

Chapter 1

VIVIANNE'S POINT OF VIEW

I hate this place. Sino ang nakaisip na tumira sa ganitong lugar kung saan ang isang napakalaking mansion ay nakatayo mismo sa gitna ng gubat. Yes, gubat! Mga matataas na puno. Dumaan pa kami sa open field where a long rocky road is. Now I wanna eat ice cream. 

Wala akong nakitang mga bahay pagpasok dito. Sa labas meron pang ilan pero pagdating sa field ay wala na. 

"Fix your face, Viv. You're only going to stay here for a vacation. Just for 2 months, honey."

I smiled, fake lang syempre kasi yan lang ang kaya kong ibigay. "Yeah, dad. 2 month's a lot. I'm gonna miss my friends. And look at this place, may internet connection ba dito?"

"Kaya nga dinala kita dito so you can enjoy nature," aniya sabay bigay sakin ng backpack ko galing sa trunk ng sasakyan namin. 

This place looks like in the films, horror movies where a serial killer is on the loose. Hindi maganda ang pakiramdam ko sa lugar na ito. I hate it.

"You're here!" A woman approached us. Nakasuot siya ng long white dress na sa haba nito ay halos ng dumikit sa lupa. She looks like she's in her 50's because of her all white hair and wrinkled skin yet despite that I can't deny that she's beautiful. 

Nilapitan niya si Dad at niyakap bago bumitaw at tinignan ako na may nakakahawang ngiti. "H-Hi," nahihiyang bati ko sa kanya at ngumiti rin. 

"Ohh hello darling. It's been so long since your last visit here. Now look at you! Grown up already," she happily said before giving me a really, really tight hug. Nagtataka kong tinignan si Dad pero nagkibit balikat lang siya. "Go ahead. Let me show you inside."

Pagkabitaw niya sa pagkakayakap sakin ay nakahinga ako ng maluwag. She tapped my shoulder before leaving, yes, she left us here and I am dumbfounded. 

"Should we follow?" I asked dad.

"Of course," he smiled but I know it's fake.

Sinundan namin siya sa loob ng mansion. Literal na bumuka ang bibig ko nang makita ang napakalaking space sa loob. May chandelier sa pinaka gitna at may dalawang malaking hagdan sa magkabilang dulo, ang linis din ng lugar, ang kintab sa paningin. Kung sino rin ang tatayo sa second floor ay paniguradong kitang-kita niya ang mga lalabas at papasok sa entrance dahil sa mala terrace na pagkakagawa dito. Pero hindi iyan ang umagaw ng atensyon ko, it's the huge painting of a family on the wall.

"Welcome!" Tumayo siya sa pinaka gitna na saktong katapat ng chandelier na nasa kisame, itinaas niya pa ang dalawa niyang kamay sa ere. "Welcome, welcome home," she slowly approached me, walking like a model then poke my nose using her pointing finger. After that ay hinarap niya si Dad na katabi ko lang.

I almost jumped in shock because of her scream. "TESSA!" 

A woman wearing a maid outfit came running down the hall towards us. "Yes, madame?"

"There you are. Do you mind kindly help Viv go to her room," her voice is as calm as the sea. 

"Of course," she looked at me. "Let me help you with that." She took my bag without my consent. "Follow me, please." Even though she's smiling, I don't like it. 

I felt a little excited when I saw her take a step on the stairs. Which means sa second floor ang magiging kwarto ko? Sinusundan ko lang siya, magpapahuli talaga ako para pagmasdan ko pa ang paligid. 

She turned around to look at me with her smile. "Just call me Tessa," she said then proceeded to walk again.

I ignored her not until we got to the second floor. "I'm Vivianne. You can call me Viv," I said, introducing myself. 

"Good to meet you, Viv." She opened a fancy looking door but what's inside is more fancier. "This will be your room." 

I entered the room with excitement and jumped on the bed. This bed is good for three people. There's a small chandelier, neon lights on top of my bed, a fancy looking study table, a huge mirror on the wall, and a window. I hate it. I miss my room.

"If you need anything just call me."

"Thanks." I waited for her to leave my room so I don't have to pretend that I like this place. 

I like the bed, it's soft. Nothing else.

Few more seconds and I decided to leave this room. As I left my room the huge chandelier approached me. I was looking at it when I realised that there's still a third floor.

"Vivianne, iha! Meet us at the dining table," the woman screamed.

Hindi ko pa rin siya kilala pero ginawa ko ang sinabi niya. Inabot lang ako ng ilang minuto bago makarating sa dining hall dahil pinagmamasdan ko pa ang paligid. Ngayon ko lang napansin na napakarami pa lang salamin dito. As in, in every corner, everywhere.

"Sit down, iha." She pointed at one of the chairs, it's already ready for my butt to sit in there. "So, we are complete now. I just wanna say that I am going to take good care of Viv."

"I know you will," dad answered.

I'm just listening to their conversations, busy thinking about this whole place and about the painting when dad mentioned my name. "Viv, don't you have anything to say?" 

I looked at dad then at her. "Ahmm- I still don't know your name."

Both of them laughed as if I said something funny. What is wrong with them? Tawang-tawa?

"Ohh I forgot, you were too little the last time you visited here," she said trying to get her voice back. "I am your Aunt Ravina. Don't worry, I understand."

"So, we're settled now? I should go before it becomes dark outside."

"Wait, dad you're leaving?" I asked confusedly. "But my birthday will be in two weeks."

He looked at me with his comforting smile. "I'm going back to your birthday, honey. Don't worry." 

Dad kissed me on my forehead so I just smiled. He nodded at Aunt Ravina then left. He really left me here.

"Don't worry, Viv darling. He will come back!" Aunt Viv tried to cheer me up so I just faked a smile.

"Can I go to my room now?" I asked

Her smile fades. "Go on."

I was about to leave the dining hall when she called my name. "Vivianne. Take this, I know this place will be boring for a teenager like you but believe me, writing helps you be occupied."

"Thanks." I accepted the notebook. This looks really old and made out of brown leather. 

"And another thing." Auntie Ravina's face became deadly serious. "Avoid going to the third floor, we don't want him to be disturbed, okay?"

"Okay," I answered. She gave me a smile and a nod. 

"Yeah, it will make me occupied for a while," I whispered.