Hera
"Touchdown!" Sigaw ni Shai with excitement as we just arrived here at NAIA.
Yes, right after na binalitaan ako ni Shai about sa sinabi ni dad wala akong choice kundi umuwi kaagad. Dad has the trump card kaya alam niya kung paano ako takutin, well I can't just risk my career malayo na ang narating ko with all my hard works at hindi ako papayag na basta basta nalang mawala because of my carelessness. May plano naman ako after ko malaman kung ano ang gustong pag-usapan namin ni daddy at uuwi na kaagad ako.
"Aren't you happy na nakabalik ka na?" Tanong ni Shai while we're walking.
"For what? Nasa Las Vegas ang happiness ko" sagot ko and rolled my eyes
"Really though!"
Hindi ko na pinansin si Shaira at tsaka nagpatuloy lang sa paglalakad, I can't help but wandered my eyes everywhere while others are looking at me like they are seeing an angel. Well, I can't blame them.
"Mommy! Mommy!" Bigla akong napalingon sa hindi kalayuan while seeing a little girl running towards her mommy, obviously kakarating lang galing sa ibang bansa. They're hugging so tightly, and that moment I just realized that I miss mommy's arms wrapping around me.
Agad kong iniwas ang tingin ko sa kanila, ugh what am I doing? Sinasaktan ang sarili while felt insecure with those mother and daughter thingy.
But then agad naman akong napatingin sa iba't-ibang tao with mix emotions like few of them crying, some with tears of joy and someone is begging for someone to stay and crying all over. Isn't this ironic, how pity they are nagmamakaawang hindi iiwan but end up being left.
"I felt pity on him..." Shai suddenly said at agad akong napatingin sa kanya na siyang pinagmasdan din ang tinignan ko
"Then help him. Simple" sarkastik na sagot ko at iniwan siya
Hindi katagalan while we're walking I saw a not so big cardboard with lettering HESTHEA RAELEIGH VILLONES!! With three scary men, I mean nakakatakot naman talaga silang tignan lalo na ang body portions nila kasi same sila ng katawan ni Dwayne Johnson and they are wearing suit and tie I guess mga tao ni daddy ito.
"Hera, look! It's our sundo na!" Shai and her annoying voice again. She's conyo.
"Will you please shut your mouth, alam ko at nabasa ko" giit ko at sinamaan siya ng tingin
"Ops sorry, you short tempered brat!" Pabulong na sabi niya yet narinig ko pa rin
"Whatever!"
The 3 Dwayne Johnson's men approach us and greeted us.
"Maligayang pag dating Ms. Heathea" pati boses nakakatakot but I don't care
"It's Hera" giit ko and rolled my eyes at tsaka naglakad palayo and leaving my things since they are responsible for bringing my stuff.
"Hoy Hera baka nakalimutan mo na magkasama tayo" Asik ni Shai at sinasabayan ang pagmamadali sa lakad ko.
"Then?"
"Bakit ka nang-iiwan" Umismid siya.
I just rolled my eyes playfully at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad and then agad kaming sinalubong ng ibang tao ni daddy and he's the driver, I think.
"What a Villones, imagine kadalakad mo may mga bodyguards ka to assist you" Ekseheradang ani Shai.
"I preferred without them" Puna ko at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.
Hindi na namin pinatagal pa ang pag stay sa airport since gusto ko ng mag-pahinga. Hindi naman masyadong mahaba ang byahe at hindi katagalan nasa harap na kami ng bahay.
I was totally in a shock since parang kahapon lang ako umalis dito kasi walang nagbago sa bahay and I felt sad at the same time kasi maraming alaala akong naiwan dito together with mom.
"What are you waiting for? Let's go inside at napasok na nila ang mga gamit natin" Pag-aaya ni Shai sa'kin
Sumunod ako kay Shai na pumasok sa loob ng bahay at agad kaming sinalubong ng mga helpers na naka navy blue uniform at binati nila kami, shempre Shai responded but I just smiled at them at nagpatuloy na sa paglalakad. Walang nagbago sa bahay as I remember ito pa yung mga interior design ni mommy looks like hindi talaga ginalaw ni daddy and of course the helpers are doing their jobs para mapanatiling malinis ang bahay. I suddenly stopped at the front of the big picture frame na nakasabit sa wall, it's our family picture back when I was at the age 10 and this is the last time na masigla pa si mommy and then bigla nalang siyang nanghina then God took her away from us. Sa tabi naman ng family picture namin ay another big picture frame and it was my photo in Las Vegas I didn't know dad managed to put my picture here sa bahay.
"Miss Hera..." Agad akong napalingon sa likuran ko when a voice of a woman suddenly spoke at ngayon ko lang namalayan na hindi ko na pala kasama si Shaira
I looked at her, she's kinda a personal assistant kasi halata naman sa aura niya, she's wearing a corporate attire and holding some papers, I think documents.
"Nais ka ng makita ng iyong daddy" dagdag niya. I looked at her and rose my eyebrows
"Where's daddy?" I pursed my lips.
"Nasa office room niya" she answered politely and she then left.
Agad akong nagtungo sa itaas to meet dad for the first time in 6 years. I hadn't seen him for a while kasi hindi na ako umuwi dito simula no'ng nag stay na ako sa Las Vegas and he's a very busy person naman dahil sa mga businesses namin at tsaka lalo na sa company namin na pinaghirapan niyang mapalaki nationwide. I was facing the door of his office room at agad ko itong binuksan at agad bumungad si daddy na nakaupo sa kanyang swivel chair while signing some papers sa kanyang table but then he suddenly look at me with a teary eyes at agad tumayo at nilapitan ako.
"My young lady" He instantly hugged me.
"Hi dad" I greeted.
"You have grown so fast, I almost called you Heidi, your mom" He said emotionally and I just gave him an awkward smile.
"Well dad, let's get to the point" I was straightforward with my words and I meant it.
"Aren't you happy na nakabalik ka na dito?" He's trying to change the subject.
I heaved a sigh "Why dad? Bakit mo ako pinabalik dito?" Giit ko at hindi inalis ang tingin sa kanya.
"Have a seat first at marami tayong pag-uusapan" he answered at tsaka tumalikod at bumalik sa swivel chair niya but hindi ako umupo sa isang chair. I stand still.
"Huwag na natin 'tong pahabain pa daddy" I said and pursed my lips.
"Fine. You can't go back to Las Vegas anymore" nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi ni daddy "I'm sorry but I claim your citizenship sa Las Vegas at hindi ka na pwedeng manirahan doon just like before-"
"What?! Are you out of your mind dad?! Seryuso ka ba sa mga pinagsasabi mo? For what? Why? We already talked about this 6 years ago and you promised na hahayana mo na ako sa buhay na gusto ko" I can't help and my hands are shaking and I'm used to it lalo na't magagalit ako. Somewhat tantrums.
"Lowered your voice young lady. Yes I know I promised you already about this, but honey time flies at marami ng nagbago. Look, I did this just for your own sake!" Giit ni daddy while I can't help myself and shaking insanely and I can feel my sweat running through my nape.
"No dad! Isipin mo naman ang study ko doon malaki na ang nagastos ko sa university kasi it's a fancy flight school na pinasukan ko doon and especially my career dad. I've worked so hard para maabot ang lahat ng ito. Dad I'm a renowned model and you can't just ruined it dahil lang sa mga lame excuses mo" Mariing explanation ko and dad look so fine.
"This is not a lame excuses Hesthea! I've been doing this para sa ika'bubuti mo. I will pay sa lahat ng nagastos mo sa university na napasukan mo and don't worry about your study and you will continue it here" he paused, hindi ako nakapagsalita sa mga sinabi ni daddy I can't even understand hindi siya nag sink-in lahat sa utak ko "The other day, I hired a certain man na alamin ang mga pangyayari sayo sa Las Vegas at noong nabalitaan kong three days kang hindi pumasok I secretly transferred your study here"
I sighed and looked at him in disbelief "Dad! Akala ko ba hahayaan mo na ang buhay ko and then what now? Nag hire ka pa ng sinong tao para lang alamin ang nangyayari sa'akin?! Gosh why are you doing all of this?" Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko kundi maluha nalang sa galit,
"I am just protecting you. I already arranged you for a marriage" I opened my eyes widely, and dropped my phone na kanina ko pa hinawakan.
"Daddy this is too much! Why?! I can't handle this anymore!!"
"You are the only heir of this family and sooner ikaw na ang susunod na magpapatakbo sa lahat ng pinaghirapan ng pamilya natin especially me and your mother as well. And to make it easier for you we can't lose our partnership together with the-" I cut off his words.
"You are doing this for the sake of your wealth! And using me won't change anything! I will go back to Las Vegas and no one--"
"You can't. I have the holds of the company where your career is, and if you won't follow me I will do anything para mapaalis ka sa career mo and you can't go back anymore and that is a lifetime. It's now or never Hesthea" natigilan ako sa mga sinabi ni daddy. This is worse than nightmare and gusto ko ng gumising. "I'm sorry honey, I know this is hard for you but I need to do this. I can't lose you." That's indeed lame. Parang napunta nalang sa wala ang lahat ng pinaghirapan ko para sa pangarap ko!
"By tomorrow, pupuntahan mo na ang university kung saan kita nilipat then you can have your condo unit and I will assign you a personal bodyguard. We'll end our talk here and you can leave already."
"Thank you dad... Thank you for ruining everything in my life!" Agad kong binuksan ang pinto at padabog itong sinara.
Nakasalubong ko si Shaira sa may hagdanan at mukhang paakyat pa siya and then stopped when she saw me.
"Where's tito? So anong pinag-usapan niyo?" Tanong niya, I just looked at her at nagpatuloy sa pagbaba.
Just when daddy's personal assistant that approached me earlier gave me the address kung saan ang condo unit ko. Nagpahatid na muna ako sa driver since wala pa akong nabiling car dito and since Shaira is coming with me at kinukulit ako kung anong pinag-usapan namin ni daddy so I told her everything na pwede niyang malaman since pakialamera naman siya sa buhay ko.
"Seriously? Arranged marriage? With whom daw?" Gulat na asik ni Shai.
"I don't know yet. I can't just marry in my young agae! I want to enjoy my youth! At kung makasal man ako gusto ko sa taong gusto ko hindi yung pinipilian ako" saad ko
"OMG! Baka thirty plus na yung guy? Or baka mafia? No!" Shai motioned like she's an actress.
"Shut up! At hindi ako papayag kung yan man lang!"
"So what are you going to do na??" She asked again and this time she's in her usual self.
"I don't know, sa ngayon I can't just do careless things at baka sa isang iglap mawala lahat ng pinaghirapan ko." I said at napatingin nalang sa bintana.
"Hindi talaga pwede. And wait, so what university are you now? Since tito already transferred you" tanong niya and I glanced at her.
I sighed. "I don't know yet but I wish hindi sa pinasokan mong university" I pursed my lips at agad siyang napasama ng tingin sa'akin.
"You're so mean!"
Hindi katagalan ay nasa condo unit na ako, hindi na sumama si Shaira sa'akin since pinahatid ko na din siya and she need to explained herself at bakit niya ako pinuntahan sa Las Vegas without her parent's permission
When I reached my unit, I was quite amazed since it's so huge and luxurious well they said na ito lang yung nag-iisang high class na unit among all of them dito sa building na ito.
After a long stressful day na kakarating ko lang dito sa Philippines, I spend my remaining time sa master's bedroom dito sa new room ko after taking a long bath. I just can't imagine things to happened na parang kahapon lang I am living my life peacefully. I wish mom is here.
Kinabukasan, I woke up early since nasanay na ako kasi sa ganitong oras nagsimula na ang class ko kasi after class diretso na sa photoshoot so I set a schedule
Preparing everything from the clothes I wear, well this is just a usual outfits na sinusuot ko sa Las Vegas every class.. Wearing my black buxton mini dress and my denim crop top jacket and paired with my gucci sneakers that I bought from Paris france. My outfits will depend on my mood, so today I want to feel comfortable. When everything is ready I grabbed my chanel school bag then tuluyan ng lumabas and I expect some sundo.
I was about to step outside, pero kakabukas ko lang sa pinto when I suddenly bump into something hard, agad akong napatingin sa nabangga ko then my eyes opened widely and I looked up. It was a man wearing a plain black shirt and a cargo pants. He's body is different from three men na sumundo sa'akin sa airport malaki naman ang katawan niya pero hindi kasinglaki nung tatlong lalaki na mala Dwayne Johnson.
"Good morning Ms. Hesthea." Bati niya sa'akin and his voice is way better than those.
"It's Hera, and who are you?"
"I am Lloyd, your personal bodyguard pinadala ako ni Mr. Villones dito para samahan ka sa pagpunta mo sa Del Vega University" he answered firmly.
"So susundan mo ako kung saan ako pupunta?" I clarify things.
"Kung gugustuhin mo po. Basta ikaw masusunod at yan ang bilin ni Mr. Villones but I won't take my eyes off of you" saad niya at nag wink pa sa'akin then back to his usual poker face.
"Fine, well just--" he suddenly cut off my words at may nilapit sa mukha ko. It was key of a car
"mid-size 2020 Lincoln MKX, color white at nasa baba na naka parada" he added at agad kong kinuha ang susi.
"Thank you for your service kuya Llyod and I will go now" saad ko at agad siyang tinalikuran at bumaba na.
Agad kong nilapitan ang naka park na mid-size lincoln and then press the open button na nasa key then step inside replaced my both hands on the steering wheel and ready to take the road but before I started sinet ko muna ang GPS to guide me papunta sa Del Vega University.
That when I drive halfway nasa likuran ko na ang sasakyan ni kuya Lloyd, it is color black and I can see his face clearly at the side mirror and he even wave his hand.
Hindi katagalan I have reached Del Vega university already then immediately parked my car at the school parking lot. It was pretty huge so I'm totally amaze. Agad akong pumasok inside the campus without minding kuya Llyod kung nasaan na siya.
Inside this campus is filled with wealthy students na halata namang malalaking apelyido ang dinadala nila same as mine. Before proceeding to nowhere I texted Shai if may alam siya sa Del Vega University na ito and what university is she belong.
"Isn't that face new here?"
"I haven't seen that face here before...."
"Is she lost? Looks like she's not belong here"
I suddenly stopped when I heard some girls talking behind my back.
"....but her face is so angelic, she's so pretty!"
"Thank you for your complements ladies, pero I'm an approachable person naman so no need to talk behind me beside kung may problema kayo sa'akin being here, go ahead confront me" Saad ko sa kanila and giving my sweetest smile.
"So, bago ka dito?" A certain girl asked so I faced her.
"Isn't it obvious? Kailangan ko pa bang ipaalam sayo na I just transferred here?" I smiled but obviously I was irritated.
"So you're new but you acted bossy already. Wrong choice" she rose her eyesbrows and she even smirked.
"No I'm not acted bossy, because I am and if you have problem with that then wala na akong magagawa diyan. Mind your own business sweetie bye nice meeting you all" mataray na sabi ko but with my sweet smile naman then patuloy sa paglalakad.
I didn't expect that na this school is full of bitch.
Hindi pa rin ako nakatanggap ng reply from Shai kaya kung saan saan na ako napadpad while dealing with everyone's eyes na whenever I passed at them they can't help but glued their eyes on me, well I can't blame them.
While wandering everywhere para naman makabisado ko ang campus and now I end up sa soccer field and it's pretty huge and there are some students who played soccer na obviously mga players and some girls who's trying their very best na mapansin but end up nagmumukhang timang kasi hindi naman pinansin. I suddenly stopped when my phone suddenly ring and it was a call from Shai.
"Where are you?" Bungad ko sa tawag niya.
"Same university sis!" She's loud and chaotic even in phone call.
"Really? Nasaan ka!"
"Gymnasium! I'm with my cheermates. Cheerleaders." Right, she's a cheerleader.
"Fine. I'll meet you there-"
Hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko kay Shaira when a sudden counterattack hit me, as in a ball hit me sa shoulder part and that cause me na mabitawan ang phone ko. Napatingin ako sa bola na tumama sa'akin and it was a soccer ball at agad akong lumingon sa mga players which is napatingin sa'akin.
"Whoa! Jackpot bro!" The guy from the players yelled.
"Kunin mo kaagad number! Pero mag sorry ka muna" dagdag naman nung isang players.
Napatitig ako sa isang lalaki na looks like siya yung pinagsasabihan nung' dalawang guy na teammates niya lang, napatingin din ako sa phone ko at balik tingin sa kanya biglang uminit ang ulo at hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko kundi lapitan sila.
"Ayan na, grasya na yung lumapit! Grab the opportunity!" The guy keep on yelling like an idiot.
"Yoosh! Sugoi desu ne" a guy with a Japanese speaking yelled too.
Nung nakalapit na ako sa kanila, agad ko silang sinamaan ng tingin and I crossed my arms in the front of them.
"Hi Miss--"
"Who the hell hit me with the ball?" Giit ko at sinamaan sila ng tingin. They're tall enough to block me but I couldn't care less.
"Relax miss, it was an accident" sagot nung guy na kanina lang nag Japanese speaking.
"Who the hell hit me with the ball?" I repeated when I hate repeating kasi mas kumukulo ang init ng ulo ko.
"It was him" lahat sila ay nakaturo sa lalaking katabi ni Japanese speaking guy.
The guy was tall enough na I think hanggang dibdib niya lang ako, he is just smirking then napatingin sa'akin. Agad akong lumapit sa kanya at tinignan siya kahit hindi ko masyadong tanaw mukha niya dahil sa taas niya.
"Look, don't believe--" hindi ko na siya pinatapos sa sasabihin niya at lumapit pa ako sa kanya tiptoeing then sununtok siya.
Yes I'm so feminine but when my blood boiled even to a smallest reason manununtok talaga ako and I don't care what other may think.
Nagulat ang lahat sa ginawa ko sa kanya kasi sa lakas ng suntok ko he suddenly fell at naupo sa grass field.
"Hey Kyj, you okay?" Tanong ng teammates niya.
"The next time na gusto ni'yong mang trip, choose wisely and don't choose me or you'll regret it!" Madiing sabi ko sabay talikod at hinayaan silang hindi makapaniwala sa ginawa ko.
They tricked the wrong girl...