His Beautiful Obsession

Kabanata 1

His Beautiful Obsession

Chapter 1

It was a fine day in Berlin. The sun was high and the clouds were calm. The chirping of the birds rhyme the every blew of the wind. It was peaceful and solemn. While the nine years old girl was happily eyeing the sight from the window of her room.

"Madame Arruba."

Arruba's smile widened. The voice was very familiar to her. She abruptly turned her head to the newly opened door. As usual, she saw the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. Her hair was tied in a bun while wearing her usual apron, while she was holding a tray of food.

"Guten morgen," Good morning the woman said as she approached Arruba.

Arruba frowned instantly. The truth was, she hated German because she loved how her mother spoke Tagalog. It was her mother's tongue and she was used to it. If not for her father, she wouldn't dare to speak the language.

"Speak to me Tagalog Mama," she said, after.

Her mother Evelyn chuckled. Umiling ito habang nakangiting pinagmamasdan ang anak. "Kumain ka na. Late ka na naman sa klase mo. Teacher Anne will get mad again at you."

Ngumiti si Evelyn. Iginaya rin nito ang anak sa bakanteng lamesa sa loob ng kwarto ng anak. May bakanteng upuan na rin doon para sa bisita at para sa gustong magpahinga. Katapat lamang ito sa malaking kama ng anak at sa malapad na T.V. set na naka-install sa fully furnished na dingding.

Kung titingnan ang buong kwarto ay halos kasinlaki ito ng buong pangkaraniwang bahay. Moderno ang gamit na dekorasyon na kulay mapusyaw na ginto. Mula sa exterior hangang sa interior ng loob nito. Maging ang mga mamahaling figurine ay ganoon din halos ang kulay. Ang tanging naiiba lamang doon ay ang portrait ng batang si Arruba na nakasakay sa kabayo. Kuha iyon ng inang si Evelyn nang magtungo ang mga ito sa Switzerland. Personal din nito iyong ipininta gamit ang oil pastel na matagal nang hilig nito.

"Eat my princess," wika ng ni Evelyn pagkatapos mailapag ang tray na dala.

Arruba nodded and looked at her mother with a smile pasted on her lips. Her eyes twinkled. Lalo na nang buksan ng ina ang dala nito. As usual, it was her favourite breakfast. Alam na alam ng kaniyang ina kung papaano siya pasayahin. It may be simple. But for her, it was the best.

"Thank you Mama," Arruba said while taking the fork. Nagsimula itong kuhanin ang hotdog sa harapan nito at kinain iyon.

"I am going to America again, princess. Mama will stay there for a few months. Can you be a good girl?" tanong ng ina habang pinagmamasdan ang anak.

Arruba was about to take another piece of hotdog but she stopped after hearing what her mother said. She instantly looked at her with a creased forehead.

"Why do you keep on going to America? Can I go with you Mama? I don't like it here!" she spatted.

Evelyn sighed seeing her daughter almost crying. Her expression became sad and she wanted to say the words that she needed to tell young Arruba, but she couldn't. Ayaw nitong makitang nasasaktan ang anak. She couldn't tell her why she was leaving to a far away place, away from her.

"I need to work, remember?" Evelyn was convincing her daughter while the latter had the same expression as her. The young Arruba was definitely sad. It was evident in her almond shaped eyes.

"Am I not important to you? Please, Mama! Don't leave me alone here," Arruba begged. She even moved from the chair she was sitting and kneeled in front of her mother.

The tears that Arruba was holding streamed down her cheek. Her eyes were blurry while looking at her mother. Ganunpaman, sa kaniyang nanlalabong paningin ay nabanaag pa rin nito ang kagandahan ng ina. She always wanted to be like her mom. She screamed sophistication and elegance while wearing simple clothing. But some people said, she looked exactly like her father.

"I will be back, okay. We will go to Philippines after," wika ng ina bago hinaplos ang kanyang mukha.

Hindi man payag si Arruba ay wala pa rin itong nagawa. Her mother flew to America alone. She knew, her life would definitely change. Alam na alam niya iyon dahil mula pa nang magkaisip siya ay iyon na ang kaniyang kinalakhan. She was afraid but she should bear it for having no choice.

Gayunpaman, ang huling habilin ng ina ay tumatak sa bata niyang isip. That someday, they would travel to the Philippines. Pinanghawakan iyon ng kaniyang batang puso at inasam na mangyayari sa nalalapit na panahon. But, fate wasn't really for her.

"I told you to go inside your room, Arruba! Dickköpfig!" hard-headed wika ng ama ni Arruba habang mabilis ang mga lakad nito sa palibot ng opisina.

"Papa, will Mama come home?" the young and innocent Arruba asked.

She was asking the same question so many times but she wasn't tired of it. She was hoping to get an answer. She was desperate. She missed her mother so much that she always wanted to call her but their butler wouldn't allow her.

Her father stopped pacing back and forth. He looked at her with a sharp stare then said, "She will never come home!"

That startled Arruba. She looked at her father confused. "W-Why?" she asked.

"Because, she's dead."

It was only three words but Arruba felt her heart was being teared up into pieces. She unbelievably looked at her father and shook her head. She embraced her doll tight as she felt her heart throb in pain.

"That's not true!" she shouted.

"Well, it is true Arruba! Go to your room!" her father answered while his eyes widened, as if telling her not to say any words again.

"I hate you!"

Arruba ran faster as she could. Bitbit ang doll na bigay ng ina ay mabibilis ang mga hakbang na nagtungo ang si Arruba sa likod nang bahay ng mga ito. Ni wala itong pakialam sa mga tawag ng kanilang katulong. Maging ang security ng mansion ay sinubukan ding pigilan ito ngunit wala ring nagawa sa huli. Nang masigurong tahimik na ang lahat ay saka pa lamang pasalampak na naupo ito sa malawak na bermudang damuhan.

Sa likod ng matatayog na puno ng pine tree, sa malayong bahagi ng kanilang mansion ay tumulo ang mga luhang kanina pa niya pinipigilan. She whipped and called her mother in the middle of the quiet place. Umaasang maririnig nito ang kaniyang mga tawag. Na makikita nito ang kaniyang paghihirap sa mga nakalipas na taon.

"Why are you crying?"

Arruba got startled and stopped. She abruptly wiped her tears and looked at the image in front of her. It was a boy and he was looking at her. Arruba's eyes instantly lingered to the boy's face. He has gray eyes. The most beautiful eyes that she had ever seen.

"Who are you? Leave me alone!" she spatted.

"Callen. I am Callen," the boy answered with a smug on his face. "Nice to meet you Madame."

@sheinAlthea