2 Chapter 1

I STARED at my phone as I wiped the tears flowing in my eyes. T'was the last episode of Fushigi Yugi, an anime movie series, and I can say that everything was a masterpiece. What an amazing artists. I put my phone back on my purse habang sini-sink-in ko pa rin ang amazing love nina Tamahome at Miaka para sa isa't-isa. The love story of Tamahome and Miaka will always be legendary. Actually kahit ilang beses ko nang napanood napapaiyak pa rin ako. Saka ko lang narealize na nasa party nga pala ako.

"Faith?", I looked at my mom as she stood beside me. "What are you doing? Diba dapat nakikipag-usap ka sa mga tao dito?", sabi niya. I rolled my eyes. For what? Eh lahat naman ng nandito ay kilala ako at ang pamilya ko. I just hate this kind of thing. Ever since. An annual gathering made by elite families across the country, for their money's sake.

"Pag nakita ka ng daddy mo, papagalitan ka non", sabi niya. I looked at her. Scolding me yet still smiling while looking around.

"Mrs. Layanza!", sabi ng isang babaeng papalapit samin. Hinila ako ni mama patayo as we welcome the woman. I looked at her. Mrs. Jenneth Perez of Micro Corporation. She surely hits the bull's eye when she stole Mr. John Perez from his first family. She's enjoying every moment of her life being called Mrs. Perez. A family name she doesn't deserve.

"Mrs. Perez, how are you?", sabay beso ni mama sa kanya.

"I'm good! Is this Faith?", she smiled at me. I forced a smile.

"Hello po", I greeted her.

"Naku, 'wag mo na akong i-po. Hindi naman ako ganon katanda", sabi niya.

Hmmmm. Really? I heard she goes to a dermatologist two times a week to maintain her skin from getting dry because of her old age.

"Wow. You've grown so much. You're very beautiful. Saan'g clinic ka pumupunta?", tanong niya sa 'kin.

"I don't go to any dermatologist Ma'am", sabi ko. She looked at me with her mouth slightly open. Hindi po ako gawa tita. I smirked at her. My mom glared at me. May sinabi ba akong mali?

Napatingin kami sa stage nang biglang mag salita ang host. I leaned closer to my mom telling her I want some fresh air outside the hall.

"No, stay here. I guess it's your papa's turn to speak for an announcement", sabi niya.

"Si Papa", not a question but rather an understatement. Anong sasabihin niya?

Pumunta na si Papa sa harap. I looked at him. Still masculine as ever. Wrinkles are starting to form on his face. Hair starting to turn white. I noticed someone stand beside me. It's my brother. Inakbayan niya ako.

"Good evening everyone. I am grateful to have spent this night with you. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate my one and only son, Ashell Hope Layanza who just got promoted as the new General of the Philippine Air Force...", napatingin ako kay kuya. He smiled at me. People clapped their hands for him. "Congratulations son. General Ashell Hope Layanza everyone. As a gift, we booked you a flight to Alaska. The place you've always dreamt of visiting", he said smiling and feeling so proud to my brother. He never smiled at me like that though.

Napunta sa 'min ang spotlight. I stept away from him 'cause the spotlight belongs to him. Everybody is clapping their hands for Kuya.

"Sure?", panigurado niya.

"Seriously? Wala bang mas magandang reaction bukod dyan?", sabi ni mama. "You will be going to Alaska; we're serious, right after your turn over program. I already called your tita to guide and help you find a good hotel to stay", she added.

"I can't believe this! This is... amazing! And crazy! Thank you! So much!", he hugged her. Gosh, words cannot explain how happy he is. Siguro sa lahat ng party na pinuntahan na 'min ito 'yong the best party. Lumapit sa 'min si papa.

"Thank you po", kuya said to him.

"You're always welcome anak", sabi niya. I hope 'di lang for publicity itong pinapakita nila ngayon.

"That's your reward for bringing our name with pride and dignity", sabi ni papa. Ang lalim non ah. "Salamat at sinunod mo ang utos ko na bawal girlfriend dapat trabaho muna at pamilya muna", sabi niya.

Bringing our name with pride and dignity.

Masarap sa tenga lalo na't galing sa kanya. I've worked so hard to hear it from him. To make them proud of me. But I guess my hard work is still not enough. Nag salita ulit ang host congratulating us. Tapos bumalik na ulit sa kanya-kanyang business ang mga taong nandito.

"Now, this is worth celebrating for! I will prepare the dinner mamaya sa bahay", sabi ni mama. Well, this will be the first time she's cooking for us.

I STUCKED the earphones, just listening to music the whole time. Siniko ako ni kuya kaya tinanggal ko ang earphones. I looked at him.

"Faith?", tanong ni mama.

"What? I didn't heard it", sabi ko. I saw papa looked at me in the rearview mirror.

"Spacing out again?", sabi niya. Umiwas ako na tingin.

"I'm sorry", sabi ko then looked at the other side.

"You're graduating as Summa Cum Laude, congratulations", sabi ni mama. Pati ako nagulat din. The school might send them the message.

"Congratulations", I heard papa say, coldly.

"Thanks", I said. Siniko ako ni kuya kaya napatingin ako sa kanya. He clapped his hands and I smiled at him.

We had dinner together and they talked about my brother, their plans, throwing a party for him, asking him about going to other places to achieve more. While me, just eating my dinner silently listening to them, rooting to get out of this house 'cause I'm feeling like I'm totally invisible in this family.

I started my engine and wait for the guard to open the gate. I was about to drive pero napatingin ako sa left side ko. My brother is standing there. I open the window.

"You sure, you don't want to stay here?", he asked me. "Minsan lang 'to", he added. I needed to go. I can't take the atmosphere here. Umiling ako and smiled apologetically at him.

"I need to finish my book kuya", sagot ko sa kanya. Actually, I don't have anything to do tonight. I just needed to go. He smiled.

"Be careful", sabi niya. Tumango ako.

"I will see you soon bro. Take care sa byahe mo bukas." I'm gonna miss him. Ang tanging kakampi ko sa bahay na 'to. He will be going back to Cebu tomorrow. Pumunta lang siya dito for the party. Nag drive na ako paalis ng bahay. After driving for like, 10 minutes? I stopped and parcked my car sa gilid ng kalsada. I looked at my phone. Napatigil ako sa lock screen wallpaper ko sa phone. It's my family.

You can tell that my life is perfect, we're happy. Well, I hope. My family means so much to me. Behind those smiles shown in the picture is a family with a complicated history. Madalas kaming mag-away ni Papa. Strict siya at ayaw ko namang pinaghihigpitan ako masyado. Madalas hindi nagkakasundo mga prinsipyo namin sa buhay kaya ganon. Pero mahal ko siya at hindi ko alam kung nararamdaman niya 'yon.

I'm Faith Alessa G. Layanza, 20 years old. A graduating Mass Communication Student. Hindi kami mayaman like those people sa party na they own huge companies, they have over 5.4 million dollars net worth. We don't own any companies but I can say that my family? Magaling lang talagang humawak ng pera. We were invited to every party thrown by elites because my family is quite famous to them.

My mother is the best surgeon in the country, Dr. Anna G. Layanza, and halos lahat ng mga mayayamang tao dito siya ang doctor. Some of them owe their lives to her. While si papa ay isa ring General sa Philippine Army, General Robert J. Layanza. Maraming mga mayayamang tao ang gustong makipagkaibigan sa kanya for the favor na magkaroon ng special security. I have an older brother, Ashell Hope G. Layanza. He's in Cebu. At kanina pa nga in-announce na isa na rin siyang General. Everybody loves him, he's a good man.

Lahat ng trabaho nila, pinagmumukha silang fighter. Anong mali sa kagustuhan kong magsulat? Gusto kong maging isang Journalist, gusto kong magsulat. Ito ang gusto kong gawin. Despite the recognition na nakukuha ko dahil sa pagsusulat. I never heard my father congratulated me. I will be graduating with Latin Honors and I will have my 4th book to be published. Still parang kulang pa rin. Hanggang ngayon, I'm a failure to my father's eyes.

avataravatar
Next chapter