I feel like it would be so awkward if I start calling them Mom and Dad. I'm still not used to them, though. Kagabi lang kami nagkalapit ng sariling ina. Paniwala naman ako na biological parents ko nga sila dahil sa mga rasong inihain na sa akin. I'm already 20. Still young but already old to spot the truth of this drama that has been running for almost 3 years. I watch my mom who's busy talking to me but I can't hear her clearly because I'm not paying attention. We're now here in their office, the higher ups office. Simpleng kwarto lang ito na may malaking curved table. Sa lamesa, may limang computers at swivel chairs. Sa harap naman ng mga ito ay may malaking nakapatay na screen. I'm sitting on one of the chairs. Calter is occupying the other seat, one block away from me while Mom is standing in front of us, talking. Saka lang nahinto ang ina nang may kumatok sa pinto. Napunta roon ang atensyon namin. Bumukas ito at pumasok ang isang lalaki. He stopped at the frame and bowed his h
It's been a week since I came here and started living with them. They've showed me around the Vantablack Headquarters and introduced me to everyone. Natawagan ko na rin sina Tita Serya at Tito Totie para ipaalam ang kalagayan ko rito. "Tinatanong nina Tita Serya kung kailan ako uuwi roon. Gusto ko sanang bukas na," pagpapaalam ko habang sabay kaming nag-uumagahan. "Uuwi roon? Isn't this your home now? Dito ka na uuwi," Dad corrected me. I got stunned for a sec. Yeah. I forgot. It is. Dito na siya tumutuloy pagkatapos ng una naming pagkikita. We spent most of our time together, as a whole family-- talking while sipping tea, talking about our lives, roaming around the bunker and teaching me this and that. It's been a week but everytime I go to bed, I wonder how fast my life turned out. Para bang pumikit lang ako saglit, nandito na ako sa puder nila. I still have questions unanswered but maybe there has time for that. I'm enjoying the moment I have right now. With them. I do hav
I putted down my tablet and watched Arissa instead, banging her head to the beat of the music. She's going crazy over that new released song. I just laughed when she began humping on her seat as the chorus entered."So I put my hands up! They're playing my song, and the butterflies fly away! Noddin' my head like yeah! Movin' my hips like, yeah!" She sings out of her lungs. She even held my hand and rose it for me to sing along with her.I giggled and sang the chorus along with her. "Yeahhh! It's a party in the USA!"Maingay na itong kotse dahil sa malakas na tugtog, samahan pa ng malakas naming mga boses. We were cheerfully swaying our upper bodies here at the backseat while hands together, letting the music eat our systems up.Mom sitting beside dad turned to face us. Tumawa siya, "Oh sweethearts, you really are breaking my eardrums!" She shook her head with a smile on her face."Don't complain, honey. They inherited it from you," Dad teased."Honey! I'm not that loud!" Mom playfully
We are heading towards the main gate of Herism Academy. The driveway was too long before you can actually get inside the campus. No one can be seen walking around because I'm sure everyone has their own car.Matataas ang mga pader na bumabakod sa buong eskwelahan. Siguradong kung sino man ang magngangahas na akyatin iyon, hindi magtatagumpay. This school is really secured because we went through car inspection at the entrance of the driveway with five security guards monitoring the area."I.D. lang po, ma'am," sabi ng guard na nasa gilid ng manual boom gate.Alice fully pressed down the window and we showed our I.D. After that, the guard nodded and motioned his hand to let us proceed inside.Nang makapasok sa gate, tumambad sa amin ang malawak na man-made river. We are crossing the bridge and I can't help but mesmerize by the body of water. Hindi ko masukat sa tingin ang lawak at haba nito dahil mukhang nakapaikot ito sa paligid ng school. If that was only for aesthetic purposes, I can
"You already turned 18, Alora. You should pack you things now. You're going back to the Philippines by tomorrow," Uncle Greg said. I puffed when I heard him but still continue running while he's driving the car and I am following his speed. Tomorrow is the execution of what we have planned. Lahat ng hirap ko para sa paghahanda ay masusuklian na. Hindi ako makapaghintay na mahanap ang pamilyang Spencer na suspek sa pagkamatay ng pamilya ko. They will pay for what they have done to us!"Run faster, Alora! You're getting behind!" Uncle shouted as he ran the car faster at the speed of almost 30 kph.I ran faster as what he ordered me to do. I'm bathing with my own sweat right now. "Remember all the things I've taught you. Start with Robert Spencer! Next is his wife and last will be his son! Put that in mind, Alora! Don't disappoint me!" I gritted my teeth and forced myself to run faster. The road became blurry and later did I realize that I'm about to cry. Yes, Uncle. I'll keep that i
Hindi ko inalis ang tingin kay Calter. Kung siya nga talaga ang Spencer na nasa plano, magandang isipin na abot kamay ko na lang siya. Kahit anong oras, pwede ko siyang patayin. Pwede akong sumugod sa kaniya at paulanan siya ng mga suntok. Is that what I really want? No. Hindi ako papayag na sa simpleng pagpatay lang matatapos ang lahat ng ito. I want him including his family to beg for their death. Nakakainip lang maghintay kung kailan darating ang araw na mamamatay sila sa mga kamay ko. Napatayo siya ng tuwid nang mapansin niya ang paninitig ko. Bahagyang kumunot ang kaniyang noo. Para bang pinag-aaralan niya ako sa simpleng pagtingin lang. "What did you say?" Napabaling ako sa direksyon ni Jinx nang sinugod siya ng lalaking may piercing sa labi. Parang nasa bokabularyo nito na kung sinong maghamon, malilintikan. Humarang si Megan. "What's wrong? We both study and pay right amount of tuition fee here. We also have t
Nang makaalis siya, paulit-ulit pa rin sa utak ko ang huli niyang sinabi. Hindi ko maintindihan iyon. Ang lalaking iyon, he's kinda wierd. Walang duda na isa nga siyang Spencer dahil sa ugali niya. Madali lang para sa kaniya ang manakit. Gumaganti ba siya dahil sa ginawa ko sa kaniya kahapon? Deserve naman niya 'yon, ah! Now, I'm on the way to the Class Building. Tahimik lang akong naglalakad hanggang sa makakita ako ng tatlong lalaki mula sa malayo, mukhang may hinahanap. Oras na ng klase ngayon pero nasa labas pa sila. I shrugged. Cutting din siguro. Nang makita ako ng isa sa kanila, bigla itong nagulat at tinuro ako sa dalawa niyang kasamahan. Mabilis naman silang lumingon sa akin. "Stop right there!" sigaw ng isa at dinuro pa ako. My lips parted as I slowdown. Many people are getting weird today. I paused when they start running towards my direction. Kumunot ang noo ko dahil doon. Agresibo sila
"Alora, look! You are the top topic on the website," Alice announced while tapping on her laptop. We are in the cafeteria, sitting at the table in the corner. This is the right spot to avoid the scrutiny of those student who still couldn't move on from what happened to me yesterday. But maybe I should start caring less about the things I have no control about, even though I am noticing some, especially those at the nearby tables gossiping about me. "Patingin!" Jinx stood up from her seat next to me and move behind Alice. "Uy, Alora! Famous ka na oh!" Her voice gets all gushy, pointing the screen to me even though I only see the apple logo of the laptop. Nasa harapan ko nakaupo si Alice. Nang akmang ihaharap niya na sa akin ang screen, pinulot ko na ang tinidor at pinaikot-ikot iyon sa pasta. "In-expect ko na 'yan. I d