A Pure Heart: Missing Piece

Kabanata 02

I didn't take pride in being born into a wealthy and elite family background. In fact, it was quite the opposite. The privilege of being a Ford, synonymous with power and affluence, was something I wasn't particularly thrilled about. While my family busied themselves with expanding their business empire to every corner of the world, it often seemed like they had overlooked the fact that they had a daughter right here in the mansion. Hindi nila ako magawang kumustahin, at iyon ang labis kong kinalulungkot.

I am now wearing a pure black T-shirt which is a bit long and then leggings, and then I partnered it with my vans shoes. Pagkatapos kong mag-ayos ay lumabas na ako sa kwarto at bumaba. Medyo nakakapagtaka dahil hindi nag-iingay si Precious ngayong umaga na madalas niyang gawin. Is she already up?

"Good morning, Yshi," bati ni Manang Dolor sa akin.

"What's good in the morning?" pabiro kong pagtataray na sambit sa kanya.

"Is that the way you greet Manang Dolor?" anang baritonong boses ng lalaki ang narinig kong nagtanong sa akin. Agad akong napatingin sa nagsalita.

My eyes widened a bit, surprised to see the balik-bayan here in this mansion. Ngunit hindi ko pinahalata na nagulat ako sa kanila, pero para akong maluluha ngayon na makita sila. They just got home...

"Buti naisipan niyo pang umuwi. Balak ko na nga pong ibenta itong mansyon niyo," saad ko sa kanila at umismid.

"Is that the way you should greet us, honey?" mom spoke too.

"Is that the way you should greet me too now that you just came back?" I fired back. Ni hindi ako nakatanggap ng pangungumusta kundi paninita lang.

"Yshi!" My mom raised her voice.

"Nagbibiro lang naman siya sa akin, Stephanie at Ethan. Huwag niyong seryosohin, ganito talaga kami," saad ni Manang Dolor sa kanila na agad pinabulaanan ng tatay ko.

He told Manang Dolor not to tolerate my rudeness. Napailing naman ako dahil ito talaga ang ibubungad nila sa akin sa umaga? They just got home. Hindi ba nila ako kukumustahin? I glanced at Kuya Ralph who walked towards me, giving me a warning look.

"You behave," he said in a small voice as he gently held my arm.

"Put your hands out of me then. I'll get going now," I said without any emotion.

He did. Tinignan ko pa sila pagkatapos ay dali-dali na akong lumabas ng bahay at sumakay sa kotse ko. Where is Precious? Damn her. Nakagayak na ba iyon? Bahala nga siya, iiwanan ko na muna siya. And when I got to the university, there I found out that she knew my parents and my brother were coming home so she didn't sleep in the house. See? Mas may alam pa siya kaysa sa akin.

"Ayaw ko iyong professor na iyon," komento ni Kishimae habang nag-aayos ng gamit.

Our class just wrapped up, and now it's time for a break. During the session, our professor discussed Mathematics in the Modern World. I can't say I hate Math, as I do understand it, but I'd much rather engage in writing and crafting long essays than grappling with numbers and subjecting myself to the stress of mathematical equations.

"Kasi hindi ka nakasagot nang maayos? Hindi naman iyon valid, Kishimae," saad ni Wenwen sa kanya.

"We better let's go to the cafeteria than discussing that shit," I told them.

Tumayo na ako at lumabas na agad naman nilang sinundan habang nagkwekwentuhan pa rin ng patungkol doon.

"Ayon na si Precious," sabi ni Kishimae nang makarating kami ng cafeteria.

Agad na naman akong napasinghal nang makita na nasa gitnang lamesa siya nakaupo at may kasamang babae. Kaklase nito siguro. Patakbong lumapit si Kishimae sa kanila at magiliw na binati ang dalawa.