Wild Encounter

Chapter 1 - Zuri Padilla

“I’m sorry for your loss, Zuri. Condolence…”

Growing up, I’ve pictured my life with nothing but pure happiness. I never even imagined myself grieving for losing someone dear to me. I mean, my parents have opened my eyes that humans die; may it be old-aged, sickness, and accident. Sa lahat ng dahilan, iyong panghuli ang hindi ko matanggap na rason.

I was only fourteen. How can people expect me to handle the loss? I didn’t even know what to feel. Should I cry? Tatanggapin ko na lang ba na sa ganoong paraan namatay ang magulang ko? I’ve lost them both at the same time and honestly, until now, I still wish that maybe, if I die with them, I wouldn’t experience such hardships.

Hindi ko na kaya… I’m exhausted with all these things going around in my life. Can I just live in peace? I’m so sick… Nawala na sa akin ang lahat. And now, I’m close to losing myself, too.

“Ubos na ang pera ng magulang mo, Zuri. I don’t have anything to do with you anymore.”

When my parents died, they left all the assets under my name. Both my parents were an only child and I had no one to go. I was so lost and lonely I felt like giving up. My grandparents were gone, too. Looking for someone to adopt me didn’t cross my mind as I was busy mourning, crying myself to sleep to ease the pain.

Hindi ko matanggap. I was so young and they didn’t fight enough for me. They left me, alone and lonely. There were times that I questioned Him, their love for me as to why I experienced such things.

Am I not worth fighting for? Bakit ganoon na lang kadali na iwanan ako? I don’t need money… I wanted my parents! Iyon lang naman ang gusto ko, e. To have my parents back. I’d give up everything I have now just to be with them again.

I don’t even know why I’m still alive right now. Is it my promises that kept me going? Is it my dreams that push me to live despite how screwed my life is? Or maybe, it was the need to get out of this shitty hole that encourages me to continue living.

I’m nearly eighteen. Four years since they died, my life has completely changed. The transition from living a lavish life to now an adopted daughter was insane. It wasn’t the life that I wanted to have. At such young age, I knew I wanted to travel and live like a princess but now, everything is far from what I’ve imagined before.

Sometimes I blamed my parents for not teaching me how life works. They showered me with love and support. Hindi ko naranasan ang hirap noon pero nang mawala sila, sunod-sunod na paghihirap ang naranasan ko sa kamay ng kumupkop sa akin.

“I’ll give you a month to find a place. Hindi na kita kayang tustusan, Zuri…” My auntie who claimed to love me said.

I lowered my head down, staring blankly at my fingers. Nakaupo ako sa pang-isahang sofa sa sala ng bahay, kaharap si Tita na pagod na raw akong suportahan. I wanted to mock her for having the audacity to even uttered the term.

Tustusan? Hindi ko maalala. They used my money to live. The pennies my parents’ left for me, they all used it. Ni hindi ko nahawakan ‘yon tapos ngayon may kapal ng mukha pa siyang sabihin na sinuportahan niya ako. I wanted to ask where she got the courage to indirectly said to me that she supported me for the past four years when all she did was to treat me like a slave.

Tumango ako at banayad na tinaas ang tingin sa kaniya.

“I don’t need to wait for a month, Tita. Puwede na naman akong umalis ngayon.”

“At saan ka pupunta?” mataray ang kaniyang boses.

“Sa kaibigan ko…” sagot ko. “I’ll just pack my things. Hindi ko na kukunin ang mga hiniram ni Tatiana. Pati ‘yong mga gamit kong sinira niyo, hindi ko na sisingilin.”

Nagbago ang timpla ng kaniyang mukha na hindi ko pinansin. Diretso akong tumayo at nagtungo sa maliit na kuwarto na nasa ilalim ng hagdan. I stayed there for years and managed to design it minimalist like I always wanted.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. Patihaya akong humiga sa kama at tulalang tiningala ang kisame. Naisip kong umalis pero hindi ko naman alam kung saan ako pupulutin.

It has always been my dream to leave the house. I saved enough money for doing art commissions without their knowledge, so I could execute my plan without a sweat. Bukod sa ipon ko, may mga kaibigan naman ako na handa akong tulungan pero ayoko naman na maging pabigat sa kanila. Also, I’ve always wanted to live on the island, and staying with a friend who lives in the city is a no.

I craved a healthy environment. A small population and fresh air are what I always wanted to live in for the rest of my life. There’s just something magical living in a place that filled with positivities rather than big cities that were filled with nothing but toxicities. I’ve had enough toxins in four years just staying with the family who promised to take care of me.

Sa huli, pinili ko munang matulog para magpalipas ng oras.

I just woke up with the sound of my phone ringing. Tiningnan ko ang oras at naking alas-dose na pala ng madaling araw. Without glancing, I answered the phone.

“Happy Birthday, Zuri! Nasa labas kami ng bahay niyo! Let’s go and have fun.”

“Oh, god…” I uttered in disbelief. “Your definition of fun would get me pregnant, Ria. I’d like to decline the offer.”

“C’mon, Zuri…” my friend insisted over the phone. “You’re now eighteen. Puwede naman tayong uminom lang. No guys, okay?”

Yawning, I sighed. “Alright…”