Chapter 1

Erizzabeth's POV

"Tuloy ka, hija. Dito ka muna sa bahay ko magpalipas ng gabi." Inilibot ko ang paningin ko sa bahay niya. Hindi ito ordinaryong bahay na nakasanayan kong nakikita sa lugar namin.

Amazing and very spacious, It is no longer a house to be called but a mansion or a palace. I thought this old man was just an ordinance and just lived in the forest but he was also hiding something.

Sinalubong kami ng mga babaeng naka-uniporme. Mahigit isang dosena silang nakapila sa magkabilang gilid ng daan kasabay ng pagtitig nila sa amin.

"Maligayang pagbabalik, Mayor Zandro," mahinhin na bati nilang lahat. Malapad na ngiti at tango lang ang isinukli ni Lolo Zandro.

"Thank you, Ladies. I'd like you to meet our special guest!" They'd smile at me genuinely. "Magpakilala ka sa kanila," bulong niya.

"Hi, I'm Erizzabeth Vhanjian." They just stared at me as they never heard me talking.

"Hmm... cool name, Erizzabeth." Lolo Zandro smiled at me. "Canlee, please accompany her to the guest room. Bihisan mo siya ng desenteng damit para sa espesyal nating hapunan para ipagdiwang ang desperas ng pasko." Tumango ang babaeng naiiba sa kanila ng kasuotan at lumapit sa akin.

"Shall we?" I smiled at her and nodded before we left.

Canlee accompany me upstairs where the guest room was. I still felt ashame because I never yet know who they are but they never hesitant to gave me a warm welcome to entered in their mansion or I should say this is a palace.

"You came from the city, right?" she asked.

"Yup. The tire of our car was damaged earlier and then I suddenly got into the forest so I came here with Lolo Zandro." She nodded.

"I guess, living in the city was cool, right?" I averted my eyes on her.

"I don't think so... but maybe it's cool for you to live there." I smiled. "Anyway, how many years did you live here in the mansion?" She kept silent for a while.

"I am a surrogate mother. I have lived here for almost two decades because that is what Zandro wants for the sake of their child." I stunned.

"W-what do you mean?" I asked curiously as she took a deep breath.

"Just like you, I lived in the city before. Not until my life was miserable. The couple, Zandro and Videl looking for a surrogate mother because they are old enough to made a baby. So, they were the one who helped me to escape on my miserable life."

"Hindi ka ba nalulungkot na ibang ina ang nag-aalaga ng anak mo?" She kept silent again for a while.

"Of course, I was... but I'm now contented seeing my daughter have a better life with her new parents." Even she didn't told me that she's not okay, I could see on her eyes how she was lonely na hindi niya makapiling ang kanyang anak.

"What's her name?" I asked.

"Venice... her name is Venice Malix." I nodded.

"You have a great story in your life, Ms. Canlee." I smiled.

"Thank you." She smiled.

Habang patuloy kami sa paglalakad, naparaan kami sa nakabukas na pinto ng kwarto. Naunang lumakad si Ms. Canlee habang ako ay napahinto sandali dahil nagtataka ako kung anong mayroon sa silid na iyon. I heard someone's moaning so I wondered.

Nilawakan ko ang pagbukas ng kwarto at iyon ang aking ikinagugulat nang makita ang kalaswaang ginagawa ng lalakeng nakita ko sa gubat kanina.

"Ughh! Don't stop, Wayne..." ungol ng babaeng nakapatong sa ibabaw ng hita ni Wayne. Patuloy niya itong hinahalikan sa leeg.

My eyes widened when the woman started to took off his t-shirt. She kissed him hardly as if there is no tomorrow.

"Holy shit!" Wayne suddenly turned his gaze on me so he immediately push the woman away from him.

"What the hell, Wayne! Why did you push me?!" reklamo ng babae nang mahulog siya sa sahig.

"What are you fucking doing here?!" Wayne asked me as the woman looked at me.

"I'm sorry, Sir, nakalimutan kong sabihin sa iyo na bisita siya ng Mayor ngayong gabi," singit ni Ms. Canlee.

"I don't fucking care!" inis niyang sabi habang isinuot niya ang kanyang damit. "Dirdha, leave me alone, we're done."

"What?! Seriously, Wayne?!" the woman complained. Inihagis naman ni Wayne ang damit ng babae sa kanyang mukha.

"I'm serious, Dirdha. Go home now." Agad siyang humiga sa kama niya.

"Sir, gusto ko ring ipaalam na may espesyal kayong hapunan ngayong gabi kaya ihanda niyo ang sarili ninyo." Tumingin si Wayne sa direksyon namin.

"Okay." Maamo ang kanyang mukha ngunit pagod na tumitig sa akin.

"Let's go, Erizz." I looked at to Ms. Canlee and nodded before I accompany her walking down the hallway.

She took me to a room where I will stay for tonight. The room is very spacious and can still fit even if two dozen people sleep here.

"Prepare yourself, Erizz. Here is what you will wear later at dinner." She handed me the clothes she was holding. A red backless dress. So cute and it suits me to wear this Christmas.

"Ms. Canlee?" I called her when she was about to leave.

"Hmm?"

"Merry Christmas." She gradually smiled.

"Merry Christmas too, Erizz." She caressed my cheeks before she left.

Umupo ako sa kama kasabay nang paghinga ko ng malalim. It feels so good that they treat me as a family even though I am just a guest. Even their traditions are not ordinary, I felt what the family really loves.

Humarap ako sa malaking salamin habang sinusukat ko ang damit kung nababagay ba sa akin. Gusto ko ng mag-ayos sa sarili ko dahil nasasabik na rin ako na makita ang buong miyembro ng pamilya nila.

"How long will you end up there in front of your face in the mirror?" Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita si Wayne sa repleksyon ng salamin sa likuran ko kaya agad ko siyang hinarap.

"W-what are you doing here." He smirked as he leaning against the wall.

"Why are you asking me? I am one of the highest rank here on the island and we are the richest family of all the rich people living here on the island. And you... who are you?" He asked seriously.

Hindi ako makagalaw habang deretso siyang tinitigan. Sinundan ko lang siya ng tingin nang kinuha niya ang sling bag ko at hinalungkat ang loob nito.

"What's this?" He held my passport.

"I-it's my passport." Taas kilay niyang binuksan ang loob.

"What is the fucking use of it?" He continued stared of it.

"That is used when you board a plane and go to another place or another country," I said.

"You have a history in California, Australia, New York, France, Malta-- why you have so much history going somewhere?" He stared at me.

"I love traveling around the world." He sighed.

"How was so important for you to go somewhere else even if there's nothing change anything you see? It is still part of the continent of the world, nothing has change!" Umiling ako.

"You can't force me if I love nature." I smiled.

"Fuck that nature." He slowly walked towards me. "Who are you?" he asked again as he stared at me direct into my eyes.

"I-I'm Erizzabeth Vhanjian." He chuckled.

"I'm not asking what's your name... who are you?" I could already smell his fragrant breath because his face was so close to mine.

"What do you want to know? About where I came from? Who were my family, my favorites, time schedule--" He bent down and looked at the dress I was holding.

"Is that what you want to wear, huh?" He grabbed it from me. "Don't dare to wear this fucking dress later." Inihagis niya ito sa kama.

"Then, what should I wear for tonight? I'm just a guest so I don't have a right to complained what Ms. Canlee gave me." Hindi niya ako sinagot at patuloy lang siya sa paghalungkat ng damit sa closet.

"Wear this." He showed me the plain green dress.

"S-seriously? Ipapasuot mo iyan sa akin? Magmumukha akong Christmas tree niyan." Ngumisi siya.

"You have no choice, kaysa naman magmumukha kang prostitute kapag isusuot mo ang kulay pulang halos makikita na ang kaluluwa mo." Hinagis niya sa akin ang damit. "I need to see that you are wearing that later."

"Fine," I said softly.

"At isa pa..." He was about to go out. "Don't call me Wayne in public. You're just a guest in this mansion, you should call me Sir." I nodded again and again.

"O-okay... S-sir." I stammered as he locked the door.

Ibinaling ko ang tingin ko sa damit na pinili ni Wayne. Napaka-simple ng ibinigay niya at walang kabuhay-buhay, pero wala naman akong magagawa dahil bisita nga lang ako rito.

Agad akong nag-ayos nang makitang ilang minuto nalang ang natitira at magsisimula na ang hapunan. As I looked at the dress, I could not help but embarrass myself because it did not really suit to me. So I just went through the adjustment of my face to live a little. Nang matapos na ako, may kumatok sa labas ng pinto, bigla itong bumukas at iniluwal si Ms. Canlee.

"It's time to go to the dining room, Erizz. Naroon na ang lahat." I nodded as I stood up.

Sabay kami ni Ms. Canlee na pumunta sa ibaba kung saan naghihintay ang lahat. Ngayon ko na rin makikita ang kanilang buong pamilya. Nanlalamig ang buong katawan ko dahil sa kaba.

"Huwag kang kabahan. Mababait naman sila." Ms. Canlee tried to cheer me up.

Mas lalong kumakabog ang puso ko nang makarating kami. Naroon na nga silang lahat maliban kay Wayne.

"Oh, you look good to your dress, huh?" I smiled for what Lolo Zandro said. "Who chose that for you to wear?" he added.

"Of course, me. I have good taste!" We all turned our gaze to Wayne who got arrived. He was also wearing a green long sleeve with two buttons open which made it appeal to him.

"Wow, you two are in a suit tonight. Para kayong magkapatid." Nakangising sambit ni Lolo at bigla nalang naging seryoso ang mukha ni Wayne.

"I already have a sister. I don't need to add her anymore." He glared at me before he sat next to Lolo Zandro.

"Sit down, hija," sabi ng isang matanda na katabi ni Lolo. At sa tingin ko ay siya si Videl Malix base sa nabanggit na pangalan ni Ms. Canlee kanina.

Umupo ako sa bakanteng upuan katabi ng isang babae. Sa itsura niya ay kasing edad ko lang siya. Seryoso siyang nakatingin sa pagkain niya pero habang tinitingnan ko siya ay pakiramdam ko siya si Venice. Wala rin naman kasing ibang babaeng kasing edad ko rito kaya natitiyak ako na siya talaga si Venice.

"Before Christmas time comes, I want to thank you that we can still have a family together. Even if others are not here, I know their Christmas are also happy. So I am thankful that the Lord has given us more together!" panimula ni Lolo. "I'm very grateful to have Violee even she's not here anymore. And to my second wife, Videl, thank you so much for taking care of me." Lola Videl smiled as she hugged Lolo.

Napaka-saya nilang tingnan na kahit matanda na ay hindi pa rin nawawala ang pagmamahalan ng dalawa.

"To my loving daughter, Venice. You know much I love you. I was so lucky to see your beautiful face even though my eyesight was blurred." he said to Venice.

"Awh! Thank you, Papa, I love you too!" Venice answered.

"To my grandson!" He turned his gaze to Wayne. "Thank you for protecting my family. I am so lucky to have a grandson as brave as you." Lolo Zandro tapped him on his shoulder. Wayne held his hand before he hugged him.

I see in Wayne that he is loving person despite the domineering he shows to other people including me.

"To the maids, guards, especially to Canlee and... Erizzabeth. Thank you for joining us tonight." I smiled and nodded. "Merry Christmas everyone. Cheers for our special night!" Inangat niya ang baso.

"Cheers!" Each of our glasses collided with its glassy sound before drinking the flesh wine.

Naging masaya naman ang aming hapunan. Tama nga si Ms. Canlee na mababait sila at madaling pakisamahan.

So sad to say that my Christmas night will only be happy when other people are with me. But my own family, I never felt happy when I was with them celebrating our last Christmas because they prioritize doing illegal activities.

"What are you thinking?" Wayne suddenly approached me as I sat here on the playground while looking at the colorful fireworks in the sky. Tapos na rin kasi ang hapunan kaya nagmukmok nalang ako rito.

"Nothing," I answered as I drank the one glass of wine again.

"Is that stressed by what are you wearing?" I chuckled.

"No. Iniisip ko lang kung gaano kasaya ang pasko ninyo kumpara sa amin." He sighed.

"Then, what's the difference?" I took a deep breath.

"Maniniwala ka ba kapag sasabihin ko sa'yo na buong buhay ko, ngayon lang ako nakaramdam ng saya sa pasko?" I looked at her.

"Paano ko malalaman eh, ngayon lang tayo nagkita." Napanguso nalang ako. Tama nga naman siya. Bakit ko pa ba sasabihin sa kanya kung ngayon lang kami nag-usap.

"J-just... forget what I've said." I bent down.

"Forget your problem and just have fun." I looked at him.

"How?" I heard him swallowed.

He stared at me for a while and I was shocked when he suddenly kissed me hardly! He held me tightly while I forced him to push. Fortunately, he let go when I pushed him.

"W-why did you do that?" I wondered.

"Sorry. I thought you would like what I do too." He averted his eyes on me.

Hinahabol ko ang kaba ng puso ko dahil sa ginawa niya. Nabigla talaga ako pero hindi rin ako nakapag-pigil kaya hinila ko siya at hinalikang muli. He was also surprised by what I did but eventually he also kissed me as we heard the relentless fireworks explosion.