CHAPTER ONE

"Is that what you're going to wear?!" My forehead furrowed as I stared at myself in the mirror. I was wearing a simple white fitted top and baggy jeans, and of course my favorite white sneakers.

"Why? Is there something wrong with my outfit Klarrise?" I asked her. She's my cousin, the daughter of Uncle Arjo, and we're the same age too.

"Ugh, you have no fashion sense, Samantha, as always." she said, rolling her eyes. "Suit yourself." Then, I heard a bang as she slammed the door shut.

Even when I wear clothes that I'm comfortable in, she still complains about them, like she did earlier, feels like she's the one who's wearing them!

I took a deep breath as I stared at my beloved Grandma Facita's picture from her burial. She smiled happily, as if she was telling me that I would be fine.

Grandma I'm missing you already.

I quickly wiped away the tears when I felt them on my cheeks, reminding myself, 'Enough, Samantha. You can't always be like this.'

I calmed my emotions and put some light makeup on my face, so I won't look like a dead vegetable.

Meanwhile I heard something knocking at my door, I didn't bother to ask who it was, cause I knew it was him.

"Samantha? Are you ready? We need to go now," I heard Uncle Arjo's voice outside my door. Hayys this is it.

I calmed myself for a moment and looked at my face in the mirror if I looked good now, I still can't hide the sadness in my eyes, Of course the eyes were the most honest overall.

I took a deep breath before pulling my baggage toward the door. I opened it and saw the sad expression on Uncle Arjo's face.

"I'm so sorry, Samantha, but you really need to go there." I smiled, having already accepted my fate of being sent to Manila to live with my beloved grandma facita's friend, even though I didn't want to go, and they did not tell me about the reason why I should go there, I don't want to be a burden to them.

"Yeah, it doesn't matter, Uncle. Let's go." I walked past him, heading down to the living room, where my other cousin was crying as they stared at me.

Ack! Am I dying? I'm just going to Manila.

"Come on guys, cheer up! we will still see each other. Don't be dramatic," I said bluntly, even though I really didn't want to leave too, and I really tried hard to stop my tears from falling again in my eyes, ackk stop it samantha, the make up will be wasted.

We hugged and said our goodbyes to each other, and Uncle Arjo accompanied me to the airport until my flight.

"If you have any problems there, just call, okay?" I nodded.

"G-Go on, Samantha," I could sense in Uncle's voice that he didn't want me to leave, but here I am, leaving the place where I grew up. I slowly pulled my luggage, walking up the steps to board my plane.

I couldn't help wondering what was going on, if why do I need to leave the province where I grew up. Or maybe it was family stuff going on, and they just wanted me out of the way.

As I walked heading on the plane, I was wondering about what life would be like when I got there, and what unique things it had that my province didn't and I really needed to go.

--

My flight was good, and it took an hour, and after I arrived in Manila, I received a call from an unknown number. I answered it, thinking it might be my grandma's best friend.

"Hello," I said as I answered the call.

"Hello, Is this samantha samuel?May I know where you are now?It's me, Anghelita Chuena your grandma's friend" As I expected, it was really her.

"Hello ma'am, yes it's me and I'm in front of the airport entrance, ma'am.....And I'm wearing a white top and jeans, holding my black luggage," I answered politely.

"Oh yeah, yeah, I see you... wait for me there, okay?" She giggled like sounds blushing then she ended the call. Since she told me to wait, I sat on the nearest bench to where I was standing.

So this is the City.

I'm wondering if she is kind of like my grandmother? Is she going to treat me well? I hope she'll be good to me. Cause I can't stay there longer if she's not, I'm not used to forcing myself in the circle of if they don't want me too.

--

It took about 5 to 10 minutes when I saw a beautiful older lady walking toward me with two bodyguards following her. Wow, a scene taker. She was smiling as she looked at me, she's so beautiful!

"Hello, Ma'am," I said, standing up, bowing my head slightly as I greeted her.

"Hi, Miss Samantha," she said, smiling genuinely. She hugged me before kissing my cheeks. "You're even prettier in person than in the picture and I expected," she said, looking amazed by my appearance. How? She looks even more beautiful than me.

"T-thank you," I said, feeling shy from her stare.

"You're very beautiful, my dear Samantha girl. Welcome home," she said, welcoming me as if I were her daughter from the States. She hugged me once again and kissed my checks, Oh come on, she makes me remember my beloved grandma again.

"T-thank you again, Ma'am."

"Don't call me Ma'am anymore, call me Grandma A or Grandma will do," she said and giggled, she intertwined her hand into my wrist. "I'm your new other grandma now, so let's go home. I know you're tired." She really sounds and acts just like my grandma's facita. Such a sweet and clingy.

Ugh, I miss her so much.

--

We arrived at her house, and my mouth literally formed an 'O' as I stared in amazement at what was in front of me.

A four—story mansion, the biggest mansion I'd ever seen—it was like a palace! I couldn't imagine how much more extravagant it must look inside.

Wow!

"Welcome to your house," Grandma A whispered softly in my ear, but I couldn't quite understand what she really said.

"What did you say, grandma?" I asked, confused, because I didn't hear everything. I just heard her say "your"... what?

She smiled teasingly and stepped out of the car, and another guard opened the door for me.

"Thank you," I said to him. He bowed his head and stepped aside.

"Let's go inside, so we can eat, and you can rest," she said, starting to walk. I walked beside her, and as we reached the main door, it opened automatically, which amazed me even more.

Wow, am I dreaming? I was standing in a place that was only in my imagination. This is one of my dreams and I wanted to live like this in my entire life with my grandma, but it won't happen anymore.

Cause she's staying in the most beautiful and peaceful mansion now.

As we stepped inside the house, my eyes lit up like stars because of the massive chandeliers sparkling above us, the floor that shone so brightly you could see your face and pores, and the antiques placed along the vast hallway.

Everything I see in every corner makes me more amazed by it, such a beautiful house, I hope I won't get lost here when I walk around.

"Come on, let's eat first, and you can have your house tour tomorrow, so you don't get lost," she said jokingly.

Eh? did she read my mind?.

"Hahah you're so cute sammy girls, your reaction was so very cute, come on!" I slowly scratched my head and followed her.

As we walked toward the dining room, I couldn't help but be impressed by the different arts hanging on the wall. It all looked so expensive. Wow, what should I expect? Even when I first met her at the airport, she smelled like a person who couldn't be defeated.

As the door to the dining room opened, my mouth watered because of the food that was prepared on the long table with the golden chairs around it. Gosh, it looked like a fiesta, there were a lot of foods.

--

And after that dinner, here I am now, sitting in the restroom because my tummy suddenly started to ache, and I can't even leave the room. If I did, I would literally get lost in this massive mansion. I'll just have to endure this ache until tomorrow.

I wonder if there's anyone else who lives with grandma A.Since I saw no one here except to their butlers and guards.If she's alone, then she must have a boring life in this kind of big house.

Ugh, Curiousity!

I'll better ask her tomorrow. Maybe my grandma wanted me to come here because Grandma A has been living here alone all along, is it valid? although I'm not related to grandma A?