Chapter XXXIII: Like Before

“Welcome home to your new house, Miss Savannah,” Kuya Jerome’s voice sends shivers to my spine. There’s something in it that gives me goosebumps rather than warmth. Lumabas ako sa sasakyan at nagmasid. Just like our previous house there is a huge front yawn. The only different thing is that the walls are higher. It feels more like a prison than a home. Lumakad ako papunta sa main entrance. Pagpasok ko ay agad akong sinalubong ng mga kasambahay. Drastic changes huh?

“Nakahanda na po ako iyong kwarto, Miss,” wika ng hindi ko kilalang babae. Tinitigan ko lang s’ya. She’s definitely a new face inside our house. Bumaling ako sa babaeng kakalabas lang ng kusina at nagpupunas pa ng kamay habang naglalakad papalapit samin. Ngumiti ito sakin at tila ba inaanalisa kung anong maling ginawa ng babaeng kaharap ko. I knew Isla back when I was in highschool. Isla is the same age as me. S’ya ang tumutulong noon kay mom tuwing may handaan sa bahay. Like dinner with relatives.

“Sav, naayos ko na ang