“It is with flowers as with moral qualities; the bright are sometimes poisonous; but, I believe, never the sweet.” ― Augustus Hare
Malamig na simoy ng hangin, mabining huni ng mga ibon sa langit at halinghing ng mapayapang kagubatan ang bumungad sakin pagkamulat ko ng aking mga mata. Bahagyang ngumiti ang aking mga labi at malamyang niyakap ang unan sa aking tabi habang nakatingin sa kurtinang hinahangin dahil sa nakabukas na malaking bintana.
Mula sa kinahihigaan ko makikita ang napakagandang tanawin, kung saan nakatayo roon ang magandang istraktura ng greenhouse na pagmamay-ari ko. Ang naging tila paraiso sakin sa loob ng mansyon na ito. It was a birthday gift of my deceased mother, Isabelle. She was the one who influenced me to love the green land, the plants, and especially the exquisite flowers, which I have adored since I was a child. Masasabi ko ngang kabisado ko na ang halos lahat ng iba't ibang klaseng bulaklak.
Ni hindi ko namalayan ang mga minutong lumipas ng aking pagkakatulala at pag-aalala sa nakaraan kung saan nabubuhay pa ang aking ina. Nahinto lamang ito ng bigla akong napapitlag sa malakas na katok sa aking pintuan. Nakangusong tamad na bumagon at pinagbuksan ang tao sa likod niyon. Nang makita ko kung sino iyon ay dahang-dahang sumilay muli ang malambing na ngiti sa aking mga labi. She's a cute little girl in the age of 8, wearing her favorite pink dress and holding the doll I gave her as a gift.
"Ate ganda, andyan na po sila missy!" sambit ni Helianna gamit ang natural nyang maliit na boses.
She's our adoptive sister, we actually found her on the streets. Tumakas ang bata sa bahay ampunan dahil gusto daw nitong hanapin ang kapatid na nawalay sa kanya pagkatapos syang kuhanin ng DSWD. Somehow, we sympathize with her. Minsan narin namin naranasan ang mabaliw sa paghahanap at mangulila sa taong hindi mo alam kung buhay pa ba o patay na. That fire ignites inside just to find the person you value so much. It makes you desperate and reckless. Our family relates to that, I, relates to that. That's the reason why my father wants to adopt her the moment we hear her story. To help Helianna find her sister.
Now, she's being pampered here and getting everything she deserves as a child. Even the children from Angelicum bahay ampunan, where she previously resided, come to our villa once a month. It is permitted because we sponsored the home shelter, and in Folk Villa, we have another little mansion where we usually invited our guests. It was created because my father is sensitive when it comes to the family privacy and also for safety purposes. We don’t want to repeat the history and our past mistakes.
The little mansion is near the woods at the back of our main mansion. It is a two-story structure with three bedrooms and one arcade parlor. There is also a rooftop.
While, we have four floors in the main mansion. My brothers and I sleep on the third floor. It has 6 bedrooms since my parents planned it beforehand. Unfortunately, we only have five siblings. So, Helianna occupied the sixth room in the 3rd floor. The master bedroom is located on the fourth floor, and it is specifically our parents' nest. The second floor includes the theater, library, arcade room, music room, and two bedrooms for our special guests. It's for the close-related family. It has 6 bedrooms as well. Mayroon din kaming rooftop sa main mansion, pero hindi nga lang sya madalas gamitin.
Nang matapos na ko maligo at makapag-ayos ay agad na akong bumaba papunta sa backyard kung saan mayroong mahabang lamesa at naroon ang mga batang masayang nagkwekwentuhan at nagtatakbuhan. Nakangiting lumapit ako kay daddy para halikan sya sa pisngi. Then dumiretso kay Sister Marlyn at Mother Superior Angela upang magbigay ng respeto.
"Maligalig nanaman ang mga bata, nako anak, excited matuto ang mga yan sa paggawa ng bouquet"
Napangiti naman ako ng matamis ng marinig ko iyon. Kasama ko si kuya Zayne, habang yung dalawa ay paniguaradong tulog pa. Hindi talaga sila mahilig makihalubilo pero maamo rin ang mga iyon sa mga bata. Sobra nga ang pagkaspoiled ni Helianna sa dalawang iyon lalo na kay bunso.
Nakangiti kong itinuturo ang tamang pagputol ng tangkay bago namin simulan ang pag-arrange ng flowers. Sa gitna ng pagtingin ko sa ginagawa ni Missy, biglang may magtanong na bata.
"Ate ganda, ano pong tawag sa bulalak na to?" napalingon ako rito. Unti-unti nawala ang matamis na ngiti sa aking labi. Tila ba parang tambol na kumalabog ang aking puso.
"Don't touch that!" I shouted mindlessly at agad na lumapit rito para kuhanin ang bulaklak na aabutin nya sana. Nagkaroon ng katahimikan sa lamesa, kaya naman ngumiti ako sa mga bata at inilagay ang bulalak sa isang tray na walang laman.
"This is the Lily of Valley, a very poisonous flower the symbolizes the tears from religions. This represents sadness, pain, loss, and death. So, if you see this kind of flower, wag na wag nyong hahawakan bare hands, okay? this may not be fatal just like when it was ingested but it can cause dermatitis if touched. Pag sinabing dermatitis, eto yung skin irritation, kumbaga mangagati ka, magkakaroon ng rashes o dry skin. Kaya careful next time okay... Sharmaine?" I said at lumingon sa batang dadamputin sana ito.
"Opo ate ganda, sorry po" sambit nito at niyakap ang legs ko. Napatawa naman ako at hinubad ang itim na gloves na suot ko. Tsaka ginulo ang buhok ng bata. Sharmaine is already 7 years old, kaya naman alam kong naiintindihan nya ko.
"Everyone? Understood po ba?" I then asked them all. Lumingon ako sa mga ito at lihim na napangiti sa ibang nakanganga sakin. Ang mga maliliit na bata ay nakanguso lamang na nakatingin. “Don’t touch this okay?”
"Opo, ate ganda!" sabay-sabay na sambit ng mga to at nagpatuloy na sa paggawa.
"Alright, break time muna kids."
Lumapit ako kay kuya Zayne at padabog nq inabot rito ang tray. Wala nang ngiti sa aking mga labi habang nasa harapan ng dalawa.
"Who did you ordered to get the boxes of flowers inside my greenhouse? Yvonne and I already prepare it beforehand and yet, look what happened. I was studying the components of that flower. That's why I only have three pieces of it. So, I know she put that flower inside the box. Muntik nang mapahamak ang mga bata sa kapabayaan ng inutusan nyo!" mahinahon kong singhal habang nakacroos-arms. That flower, I put it on the table where I usually study so I'm so angry that it was here, kasama sa mga flowers na gagamitin namin ng mga bata.
"The new maid, ate" sambit nang kararating lang na si Ivory. He kissed me on the cheek and put his arms on my shoulder.
"Don't worry, I'll fire her; I don't tolerate mistakes, especially when they endanger others." sambit ni kuya Zayne kaya nabuga ako ng hangin. Satisfied sa naging sagot neto.
“Fair enough” nakacross-arms kong sambit,
Nawala ang atensyon nila daddy samin ng tawagin sila ni mother superior. Tinapik ako ni Ivory.
“Tara dito te, may ibubulong ako sayo” nakangiti ito ng maloko kaya naman napataas ang kilay ko. Tsk, yang mga ganyang ngiti. Hindi mapapagkatiwalaan. Inilapit ko ang tenga ko sa kanya habang nakasimangot ang aking mga labi.
"You will not believe this but I think our doctor Valentine is already a father. Pretend, I didn't tell you anything ate." bulong nito sakin habang nakatingin kay kuya Zayne at kay daddy na kausap si Mother Superior.
Napabilog ang mga labi ko at di makapaniwalang tumingin sa kanya. Seriously? Si kuya, daddy na!?
“Weh, are you sure?”
“Oo nga po te. Promise.” Sambit nito at tinaas pa ang kanang kamay, pagkatapos umaktong nilagyan ng cross ang dibdib nya.
“How did you know aber?”
“Well. Someone I know working as an inter in the obgyene clinic.”
“Ow, disclosing patient’s confidential record huh. That’s not right.” sambit ko habang iniiling-iling ang aking ulo. Sa gilid ng aking mata ay nakita ko ang mga batang maganang kumakain ng pinacatering ng food para sa kanila. Pagdating sa kusina, kami-kami lang magkakapatid ang kumikilos. Madalas si kuya Zayne since sya ang may pinakamasarap na luto sa amin. We only have maid for housekeeping and for gardening, I decided na ako nalang kaysa magbayad pa ng tao para doon. Then we have many guards around the mansion, that's why it became the most safest place for me.
“Yes. I mean--- no ate, I just saw her encoding Persephone medical file.”
“Where?” I raise my brow and look at him. Napakamot naman to ng noo at di makasagot. Ginulo ko ang buhok nito habang may malaking ngiti. Tumakbo ako papalapit kila kuya. Excited na pumunta ako sa pwesto nila Mother Superior at iniwan si Ivory roon. Anon nga ulit yung sinabi nya nung una? Hmm nevermind. I smirk. Kailangan kong kompirmahin si kuya dahil napakagandang balita ito kung ganun.
"Oy ate!" tawag nito sakin pero binalewala ko lang sya. Masayang hinila ko si Kuya Zayne na nasa isang tabi na nakikinig sa dalawang matanda na nag-uusap. Gulat na napatingin ito sakin.
“Why princess?”
"Sabi ni Ivory, magiging tatay ka na daw kuya?" malakas na agaran tanong ko dito kaya napatigil sa pag-uusap si Mother Superior at daddy.
“Oopps” Napatakip ako ng bibig at napangiti sa reaksyon ni kuya. Tila ito pa ang nagulat sa aming dalawa. Oh my gosh, what if hindi nya pala alam?
"Huh?" nalilitong tumingin ito sakin ito. Lumaki ang mga mata ko nang mapagtanto na hindi nya nga alam.
"Mga bata, may baby na si Kuya Valentine nyo!" masayang isinigaw ni Mother Superior na nagpatawa sakin at kay daddy. Naghiyawan at nagkaroon ng tuksuhan sa paligid. Napatawa ako lalo, ng makitang dahan-dahang tumingin si kuya Zayne kay Ivory na mabilis nang naglalakad paalis.
"Ivory!" sigaw nito kay bunso. Ngayon, ang kilalang seryoso at striktong si Doctor Valentine ay tumatakbong parang bata para lang habulin si Ivory. Nako, paniguradong luluhod nanaman si bunso sa asin mamaya kung hindi totoo ang balitang sinabi nya. Habang may malawak na ngiti sa mga labi, bumalik ako sa mga bata upang turuan na silang mag-arrange ng flowers.
“Insurgence and all forms of evil in a society doesn't describes her as a failure, but vividly shows a lack of love for one another.”― Michael Bassey JohnsonPagkatapos magdismissed ang huling klase ay agad kong inayos ang mga gamit ko. Sinagot ko ang tawag ni Ivory habang naglalakad papalabas ng classroom. (Hello ate, papahintay ka po ba? Punta lang muna ako sa hideout saglit)May tumapik sakin, napalingon ako at nakangiting kumaway sa mga classmate ko. Itinuro ko ang phone na nasa tenga ko, na tinanguan naman nila. Nagpatuloy na ko sa paglalakad habang kausap si Ivory.“Hindi na bunso. Pupunta pa naman ako sa office ni prof Gonzales. Magtext nalang ako pag magpapasundo na ako later.” (“Sure ka ba ate? Atsaka wala akong tiwala sa Gonzales nayan, magtext kana agad sakin after mo dyan okay?”) napangiti ako sa boses nitong nag-aalala. Ang pinakamamahal naming makulit na bunso. Bad boy man sya sa paningin ng iba pero para sakin, sya ang pinakamalambing. Syempre, mas malambing nga lang
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