1 Prologue

"Housekeeping!"

I knock three times sa hotel door ng room 143. After 2 minutes of waiting, the door finally opened. In front of me is a middle-age man wearing a neat suit, shirt and tie looking like a butler. Makikita mo talaga na sobrang yaman ang nakaoccupy sa room na ito base palang sa hitsura ng butler na ito.

"Miss, you can go clean the bathroom first."

"Yes, Sir."

Tumalikod agad ang butler and head towards the hotel room's balcony. I followed and carried the cleaning supplies.

Sa hindi kalayuan, nakita kong nag bow down ang butler sa lalaking nakatalikod sa kanya, most probably he is the butler's master. The guy is wearing a luxurious tuxedo, he is tall and well-built kahit nakatalikod ito ay mararamdaman mong gwapo ang lahi nito base on just how strong the nobility aura he exuded. Against the backdrop of city lights, the guy's silhouette was like a monarch overlooking his kingdom.

May katawagan ito sa cellphone while his butler waited on the sideline. Napailing na lang ako at pumasok na sa loob ng bathroom para simulan ang trabaho. I couldn't be more familiar with that kind of scene because, once upon a time, I was also a princess held in the palm of my parents but 3 years ago, everything changes; my father suddenly disappeared, mom fell ill, brother gone missing and our businesses got bankrupt kaya naman napilitan akong saluhin lahat ng problema at itaguyod ang pagpapaaral sa sarili at pagpapagamot sa mom ko ng mag-isa.

I once had a personal maidservant too around the same age sa butler kanina kaya naman hindi ko mapigilang mag reminisce sa lifestyle ko noon buti nalang pinalaki kami ni Kuya sa probinsya at tinuruan ng mga gawaing-bahay or else ano nalang kaya ang mangyayari sa akin at sa mom ko if I had not learned those life skills especially sa sitwasyon namin ngayon. I really missed those days in the countryside with my family. Despite our parents being able to afford a luxurious lifestyle in the capital city pinili pa rin nilang manirahan sa probinsya at occassionally lang kami umaattend ng social gatherings but we still enjoy the prestige of an upper-class family.

I couldn't understand why, we live simply and humbly but why all of a sudden, dad disappeared? May kaaway ba si Dad? Anong meron sa Amazon International School? Why would my parents hinder us to study there? Why would my mom suddenly, contracted a rare disease? Bakit bigla ring nawala si Kuya pagkatapos mag-enroll sa AIS? Sa loob ng tatlong taon ang dami-dami kong tanong unfortunately no one could answer me. I'm only 15 at that time pero pagkatapos ng lahat ng nangyari, I felt like I matured overnight.

Wala akong choice but to accept everything and move forward. I sold all the liabilities and some assets we have and pay off our company debts. The rest of the money left ay ipinuhunan ko para sa maintenance sa gamot ni mom at sa natitirang property namin which is the hacienda in province kung saan ako lumaki. It took me 3 years to settle everything, buti nalang may mga loyal staff pa rin na willing magstay para pangalagaan si mom at ang hacienda after I announces my plan to fly to the capital to seek more medical advice about my mom's condition and continue my study there too pero hindi ko sinabi na iimbestigahan ko rin ang nangyari sa dad at sa kuya niya dahil paniguradong hindi ako papayagan ng mga ito lalo na dahil sa nangyari din kay kuya. Our loyal staffs are like part of our family kasi kaya ayaw kong mag-alala pa ang mga ito lalo na't desidido na talaga ako sa desisyon ko no matter the cost I will pay, I need to find out my dad and brother's whereabouts dahil iyon rin ang dahilan kung bakit hindi nag-iimprove ang health condition ni mommy.

My thoughts were interrupted with the sound outside.

"Is everything prepared?" A deep and cold male voice with a fluent American accent can be heard.

"Yes, young master. Shall I send you in AIS, or do you want to visit the family manor first?"

A person from AIS? I couldn't help leaning more to the bathroom door; too bad the voice got further away. What a prominent person that young master is!

It should be known na AIS is like a state of its own which means they have all the institutions or establishments of a community. Isa na doon ay ang mga condo units for students at hindi ka pwedeng basta-bastang makakalabas ng school ground dahil sa tight security protocol. To be able to go out and in within this period of time sa AIS, that young master must have a really high standing there! For all I know, may dalawang weeks pa bago magtatapos ang school year na ito so it should be na after 2 weeks pa allowed ang mga students sa AIS to go out and visit their homes. Iyon din ang panahon na AIS will be open for new enrollees, which means, I only had 2 weeks to find a way para makapasok. The problem is, AIS doesn't accept students like regular schools or universities. Kailangan dapat may malakas ka na koneksyon sa mga prominenteng tao sa bansa lalo na pag hindi up to standard ng AIS ang standing ng pamilya mo. Typically, with my Dad's position in that school, kailangan niya lang magpakita ng ebidensya na tunay siyang anak nito and I will undoubtedly pass the enrollment process but I couldn't do that as I was afraid that I would attract the prying eyes of the person or people responsible to my family's current state.

"Where is he?!!"

Napabalik ako sa huwesyo ng marinig ang boses at kalabog sa labas ng bathroom.

"Lady Tre-"

"How useless! It was supposed to be our perfect chance to unveil his identity, but you trash mess it up at the last minute. Ano pang silbi ko sayo!"

Pagkatapos ng litanya nito ay agad bumukas ang bathroom door kung saan nasaan ako. I came face to face with a lady with a model-like beauty. She disdainfully eyes me up and down, so I observe her as well. My eyes glinted when I noticed what she was wearing. It's AIS elite uniform!

If I play this right, this might be my chance!