Kazee's POV
"Pragmatic marriage?" I laughed sarcastically upon hearing what my mom said.
"Anak, I'm so sorry. This will help your father." She uttered softly.
I cocked my eyebrows. Of course it will propably help my father!
"Anak, please try to understand. Your father is a politici-"
"Fuck politics!" galit kong sambit. That's it? Dahil sa pesteng politiko na ganyan? I scoffed. This is how dirty politics can be. They can sacrifice anything just to stay on top of the hierarchy. My father is a great governor, who's aiming to step higher and run for the senate this next election.
"Kazee!" my mother screamed. Tila napigtas na ang pasensya.
"Don't I have a fucking say on this?! For fuck's sake! Ako ang ikakasal!" I blurted out. Trying to make her realize by pointing out a fact. Pragmatic marriage? Really? Isang napakalaking kalokohan!
"Damn! I am only 18 years old!" Lumandas ang luha ko, na agad kong pinunasan. Hoping so bad that they'll change their minds. I just can't believe this! Nasa unang taon palang ako sa kolehiyo!
"Kaya nga magpapakasal kayo pagkatapos mong mag-aral, Kazee." mahinahon at madiin na sambit ng sariling ina.
"Anak niyo pa ba ako?" Bulong ko.
"Kazee, of course!" Mom exclaimed.
"Then I don't feel like one! Dahil pakiramdam ko iniluwal mo ako para lang gamitin!"
"You are monsters!" I screamed.
Agad na tumagilid ng ulo ko nang maramdaman ang malutong na sampal ng sariling ina sa kanang pisnge. Umawang ang bibig ko dahil sa sobrang pagkagulat.
I bit my lip to prevent my tears from falling. When I raised my gaze, I saw how blurry her eyes are which is now filled with tears. Like me, it fell endlessly.
"This is also for you, to secure your future." She whispered.
My blood raised. I smirked without any humor. For me? Anong mabuting idudulot nito sa akin?
"Stop lying! Your power is more important than anythingelse! I can't believe you're my parents!" I exclaimed.
Natigilan ang aking ina sa katagang sinambit ko. I clenched my teeth when I realized how foul my words are.
"What did you say, Kalia Zeene Valverde?" Her voice was as cold as ice. Hindi ako nakaimik at nanatili ang matalim na tingin sa ina.
"Have you ever been a good daughter? Huh?"
"Not even once!" sigaw niya at dinuro ako. Walang sabi-sabi siyang umalis at iniwan ako sa sariling kwarto.
Doon ako tuluyang napaupo sa sahig at umiyak. I know I've been a real headache but really? Not even a fucking once? This is just so insane!
Aminado naman akong hindi ako naging mabuting anak. Pero hindi naman ata maayos na ako ang sisihin. They spoiled me too much! At bakit hindi ang ate ko ang ipakasal sa sinasabi nila? I'm the fucking youngest for fuck's sake!
Dana is turning 25 this year! And Jean is 23 years old! Bakit ako? I scoffed when I realized how they favor both of my sisters. Maybe they thought patapon ang buhay ko. Dahil si Jean, magaabogado. Si Dana, magdodoktor.
Ako? Don't even ask. Dahil bagsak ang mga grado ko. Sasakit lang ang ulo mo kapag nakita mo. I don't even know what I like! Yung pinagpili ko ng kurso, parang nagpili lang ako ng maisusuot. I took up Business, unang taon palang ayoko na. I even plan to shift next semester.
They are both Einstein. Me? Wala lang, basta nasalpakan lang ng utak. Nakalimutan atang gumana. O baka display lang.
Kaya bakit naman kasi nila ipapakasal ang mga iyon kung meron namang akong patapon ang buhay. Walang direksyon!
I remained for hours trying to think of a plan how to get away with this. I'm the blacksheep right? Then I'll prove that this blacksheep will be successful without your help!
Nang mahimasmasan ay agad kong kumatok sa study room. The maids said both of my parents are there.
I smiled awkwardly trying to be oblivious and not showing my real motive.
"Hey dad, mom." I greeted cooly. I sighed and tried to look sincere.
"I'm sorry mom. I was just frustrated. Pumapayag na po ako." I smiled.
Kita ko ang gulat ng ina at ang pagkalaglag ng panga ni Dad. Di kalaunan ay sumilay ang ngiting parang nanalo sa loto.
I notice the doubt in my mom's eyes but she chose to smile, looking at me so proudly as if that was the best decision I've had in my whole life.
Nang matapos sabihin iyon ay agad nilang niluwagan ang mga bantay ko. Napangiti ako nang gumagana ang planong nakaukit sa ulo ko.
Nagpagoodshot ako ng mga dalawang araw. At nang tuluyang nakuha muli ang tiwala nila ay agad akong kumilos.
I waited so patiently for all of them to sleep. I pinched my cheeks so I won't doze off. It's already 1 am and I'm sure I can escape. Wearing a white blouse covered with leather black jacket, paired with black pants and black sneakers. I opened my window and saw our men walked around. Agad na libre ang balak kong pagtakas.
Kumuha lang ako ng backpack at naglagay ng kaunting damit. Alahas ang karamihang naroon at balak kong ipag bili.
Agad akong nakatakas at patalon na bumaba sa aming gate. I am so used to this because I always escape when our friends have night outs.
Napangisi ako nang makita ang pamilyar na kotse sa di kalayuan. Of course I asked my friend Louisa. Magpapahatid ako sa pinakamalapit na bus terminal papuntang maynila.
Bago iyon ay nagwithdraw muna ako ng pera sa atm. I reached the limit of it and just settled for what I got. This will be enough though. Well more than enough if I can learn how to save up. Kaya nga kinuha ko din ang mga alahas kong milyon ang halaga. I will only sell it if I have no choice though.
"Gov Valverde will be furious once he realized that you left home." Louisa uttered as she manuever the steering wheel.
I bit my lip when I realized what she just said. "What are your plans?" She asked.
I shrugged and covered my face with both of my palms. "I don't know! I'll go to Manila! Get a job, perhaps? Uuwi lang ako kapag iuurong nila ang kasal." I answered.
"You're unbelievable. Trust me, Kazee in no time. Mahahanap ka ng pamilya mo." she warned me.
I smirked more. "That's impossible." I whispered.
Agad na kumunot ang noo niya. "I purposely dropped a scratch paper below my table. Naglagay ako ng madaming lugar roon. They won't suspect that I'll go to Manila. They know how much I hate that place."
Naiiling nalang siya. I know that my parents are filthy rich. Pero mahirap hanapin ang ayaw magpahanap.
From Ilocos Norte to Manila, I traveled via land. Agad akong nagpalit ng sim card at nagdeactivate ng lahat ng accounts.
I called Dhelia with the new simcard I bought somewhere in the terminal.
"Who's this?" A high pitch voice answered on the other line.
"Kazee speaking. I need your help. I'm going to Manila right now."
"What help?"
"I left home."
I chuckled when she mumbled curses. "The fuck Kazee?!"
De la Vega's are our family friend. It happened that Dhelia and I built friendship also because we often see each other in social gatherings. It's a good thing we kept in touch.
"Tulungan mo akong makahanap ng matutuluyan."
"The heck? Your father is a governer for pete's sake! In case you forgot!" She hissed.
I chuckled. As if I don't know that. Kaya nga nandito ako sa sitwasyon na ito dahil sa posisyon ng ama.
"Dhelia, chill! Hindi hahayaan ng ama ko na ipangalandakang nawawala ako!"
"Still! Gosh! My father will kill me for this!"
"Dhelia, alam kong hindi mo ako ilalaglag." Seryoso kong sambit.
I heard her sigh. "They will find me secretly. Malaki ang epekto sa posisyon ng ama ko kapag nalaman ng ibang tao. If he can't even control her own daughter, paano pa ang bayan? It will affect his efficiency as a leader." I explained.
"Damn it! Tell me when you arrived. Susunduin kita. I'll think what I can do. You seriously can't stay in our mansion."
"Thank you, Dhelia."
I wore a mask so no one would notice me. Iniwasan ko din ang mga cctv. Dahil na rin sa pagod ay nakatulog ako sa byahe.
Agad akong napangiwi nang sumalubong sa akin ang init ng Maynila. This is the reason why I hate here. No fresh air. Too crowded. A lot of snatchers.
Napangisi ako nang makita ang isang dalagang nakasandal sa magarang sasakyan. She's so out of place! Napaiiling na lang ako.
"Hey!" I shouted.
Dhelia's face lit up and run towards so she could hug me.
Agad kaming sumakay sa sasakyan niya. She's a year older than me though.
"So where will I stay? I can't stay in a hotel." I uttered cooly and removed my jacket.
Napairap siya. "You'll stay at kuya Nathan's house. Damn you, I begged him so hard. Buti at pumayag."
I raised my eyebrow. "Who the hell is Nathan?"
"Pinsan namin ni kuya Roemer."
"At anong kapalit?" Agad kong pinagkrus ang braso ko sa katawan. She laughed so hard.
"Chill! Hindi yun papatol sa iyo."
"Eh bakit pumayag?"
She bit her lip and looked at me apologetically. I am starting to feel bad.
"You'll be his maid." She whispered.
Nalaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi ng kaibigan. "A what?!" I screamed.
"If you wan't to stay here without being caught! This is the only way I know! Kung ayaw mo, umuwi ka na lang!" She exclaimed.
Ihinilig ko ang sarili at hinilot ang sentido. "Fuck this life. I don't even know how to cook." I whispered.
Dhelia chuckled at my words. I guess I have no choice then.