1 The change

I finally returned home from the states after ten years. though life wasn't easy but tough.

I stepped out from a black tinted cab which has a yellow bold bolt on the top written "TAXI" it was the airport's cab that brought me home directly.

once I came out from the cab I felt the breeze of home again, I stood for a while as I breathe in and out with a large smile on my face, the cab drove past me.

After a long time, ten years, of course, there is quite a huge change at home.

The red roses which were planted between the roads of the house changed to bougainvillea.

"Hmm," I sighed"I guessed it was changed because It was my mom's plantation.

Mom loved roses so much, she would sometimes say "you see these roses"? they represent humility, unconscious beauty, and perfection.

And I see u my daughter as the beauty I have and my perfection her word flatters me.

There are new faces of maids and servants who bowed as I pass.

Maya one of the old servants recognized me and smiled at me, "welcome back home ma'am" she picked up my bag from the doorstep and took them In.

I kept staring at the changes at home like a stranger, but though I feel like am a stranger now in my house.

Even when I don't want to feel like one, I just maintain my stares.

The Fernando building was just like a castle, At the entrance to the house, one will notice the plate boldly made "Fernando's mansion ".

The house was made with glass from down to the top which makes it glitters like it was made out of diamonds.

Well, I wasn't the architect but it was so obvious that only the rich and flamboyant upper class people could afford this.

The paint colors were changed to some whitish glittering colors which made the house glows, bright and exquisitely designed.

The chandeliers made the whole house looked like stars reflects in the sky, but one thing that never changed was the incense which was always lighted every morning, and the cool tune of music which was always played by my step younger brother Dante.

I could remember he was been taught how to play the piano when was 15 years he uses to play it Every morning so early before he goes out of the house.

He sighted me from his piano sit and stood up with a smile on his face " hey sis Como Estas" he spoke in Spanish "Bien gracias" "I have missed u so much" he said.

He has always been my best brother because he supports me always, I could remember when Mariana his mum pushed me to the wall, yelling " you are such a snitch I am just leaving you in my house because of that sick grandfather of yours who will soon die," pulling my hair, I screamed in pain. Dante came out of his room angrily and pulled me out of his mom's sight and yelled " mom how could you be this wicked to treat your daughter like this" as anger strikes on his face.

"This thing is not my daughter and can never be" but wait she thought loud out

" did my son called me his mother wicked because of this witch" "oh" she couldn't stand it but she can't hurt her son either so she left unbelievably.

He held me to his shoulder, while his hands touched my hair" am sorry about my mom's attitude towards you " he spoke in a pathetic tone. whole tears drop down my eyes.

He was fifteen and I was seventeen I was two years older than Dante he cared for me a lot.

"Welcome back home sis" he hugged me " I have missed u so much Dante u have grown a man" he giggled in a shy way.

while we walked towards the sitting room he offered me a glass, "juice or champagne?; he asked "champagne" I replied he turned the drink into the glass while he sat down "cheers to your arrival" I smiled, "well it been long and there is a lot of changes" yea he responded. A guard came in and whispered to his ear it seems like he was up to going somewhere, he raises his hands toward his ear as a sign of him understanding what the guard meant. "dearest sis am sorry I can't spend a long time with you now when I get back we will have a long chat and am going to show u around there are lots of changes u would like to see more", yea sure I can't wait. "see ya" I waved

I sat down dropping my legs across the stool which I brought front from beside the sofa I took out my headset while listening to my favorite songs.

I felt someone tapped me I stood up "hey dad long time" what are u doing here? he asked "I came back to see u, ain't u happy to see ur only daughter?" well how did u get here? I smiled because he thought it was so impossible for me, Mr. Rodrigo Fernando my father the managing director of Ferdinando's homes and properties limited and supervisor of Fernando's motors who married my mom as a legal wife and was not satisfied with her but brought in a concubine who took away moms legal right.

He stared at me as I smiled at him and gave him a pretending hug I whispered to his ears "am back to take what is rightfully mine" he pushed me away and stepped back and held his suit right " I know u are here to cause trouble so you better go back to where u are coming from". I looked into his eyeballs I saw fear in him it. I smiled and sat down on the sofa. my dad know I hated him since I was young because he has never given me a reason to love him during my school (PTA) parents and teachers association he was never around and most times moms was too busy with their work they will end up sending maid Elizabeth to go with me which made me felt so bad. After all, all my classmate's parents were there for their kids. And sometimes Grandpa does surprise me and come for the school meeting. Dad never gave me the time I could remember when I mistakenly spilled water on his desk, "father am sorry" I quickly said, he yelled at me and hold my neck and pinned me to the wall, and asked me, who is your father? who is your father? because I can never be a father to such a useless child like you. I cried uncontrollably that day because I couldn't imagine my father treating me this badly. while my friends talk of how their ad spends time with them, take them out to see movies, waterfallszooso and so many places, and make sure they are always happy. mine was different my dad always act as if am a burden to him I felt like it was because I was a girl.

I picked up my jacket from the sofa and was about to leave, here comes the drama doll my father's mistress Mrs. Mariana Rodrigo Fernando dumped into me, she asked "what are doing in my house"? she smiled "good day Mariana am back at my house to stay".

Mariana got provoked and went into the sitting room "Rodrigo.. Rodrigo what is that witch's daughter doing in my house I thought we agreed e is never coming back here".

" woman shut up and let me think" while he sat down on the sofa with His hands under his jaw.

she stood close to him, giving him a furious look. you have to get that thing out of our house she is trouble she is going to cause a huge problem to us. he stamped his foot severely on the ground and stood up, darling...., darling.., you ain't saying anything if you don't do something am going to help u act like a man, she followed him at his back as he works toward his room.

I stood close to the window, in my room which was painted pink and purple which were my favorite colorssbrary was so dusty n almost roughly eaten by termites I called for a maid beside my door to dust and keep the place clean, she answered humbly. I guess she has found out that am the bosses daughter because she bowed politely, "please help me get that bag" it was purple I love that bag so much because it was mum who bought it for me on my sixteenth birthday I always keep it safe and made sure nothing happened to it.

she pulled it closer " ah ma'am am sorry, please forgive me she plead to please " with her head bowed down on the floor, I turn to look and u saw that the bag was broken I held it and helped her draw it up.