Leaving is Living (Reality Series #1)

Prologue "The great Veraña Delgado is nowhere to be found downstairs, huh?"  A familiar voice echoed in the four corners of my room. It was my mom. "Ma, I'm already tired. I'm so sleepy!" I lied, faking a yawn. My mother elegantly walked towards me. I silently cursed. Here it goes again! "Veraña, don't fake it. It's too early to sleep!" She yelled, with hands on her waist. She's probably stressed out with my actions earlier. Eh ano namang gagawin ko sa dinner party na 'yon? Puro business associates lang naman nila mom and dad! Imagine, I am just 18 years old and yet I was being pressured to handle the company sooner or later. "Mom..." I was about to complain when she threw me a deadly glare. "Enough, Vera! Or else, you won't have these stuffs of yours for a month!" She threatened and pointed out my DSLR cameras and video making stuffs in my study table. My eyes widened! No! That's the only thing that makes me happy. "Eto na nga po, bababa na." I got off from bed lazily. I fixed my hair and then straightened my crumpled skirt. Of course, I should look presentable. "Okay, be there in two!" Mom yelled before shutting out my bedroom's door. I sighed deeply as I put a matte lipstick on my lips. I made sure that it's a darker shade. Because, my mom will freak out if I put a lighter one. Nagmumukha daw kasi akong teenager! Eh, teen pa naman ako ah! "Go Vera! Galingan mo ulit ah! It's faking time!" Nag-make face pa ako sa harap ng salamin. I had a wacky pose and then posted in my IG before walking outside my room. I breathed in and out before approaching the crowd. I can heard loud murmurs as I stepped out on the last stair.. I saw how amazed they was to finally meet me. "Veraña, you look so stunning, huh?" A famous Celebrity reporter approached me. I nodded and then smiled a bit. "Really? Hind ko napansin 'yon ah!" I joked. Kaya naman sinundan niya rin iyon ng tawa. "You're funny pala!" He chuckled. I just gave him a glance then walked towards my parents who are talking with the other business tycoons in the country. "Mi amigos, this is my precious daughter" My dad gestured me to come closer so that he can introduce me to his affiliates in business world. "This is Veraña." My mom added, slightly pinching my waist so I could straighten my posture and widen my smile. "Your daughter is so gorgeous!" Palatak ng isang sopistikadang ginang, hinagod pa ako ng tingin. "Thank you ma'am." Kunwaring mahinhin na tugon ko. Kating-kati na akong umalis dito at mag-edit nalang ng vlogs ko sa loob ng kwarto. Iyon lang din naman ang libangan at gusto kong gawin. Hindi ang makipag-plastikan sa mga taong 'to. Mga plastik din naman kasi sila sa harap ng parents ko eh. Ang galing! Plastikan pa more. Basta talaga usapang-pera. "Hija, you're going to college right?" Isang ubanin at malaking tiyan na kaedad ng lolo ko ang kumuha ng atensiyon ko. Abala pa naman ako sa pasimpleng pagkakamot ng pwet ko dahil ang kati na nga! Piste! Istorbo. "Yes po!" Agad kong sagot. "Nice to hear that. So, what's your chosen course, hija?" A woman said, smiling at me. I smiled back. I've decided about that a long time ago. "Uhmm, I'm planning to take up Mass Comm. That's all." I answered briefly. I saw how their lips parted. My parents simply threw me a deadly glare. "O-oh! Why naman? You're not taking up business course?" Sabat nung isang babae na banat na ang mukha dahil sa retoke. Lihim akong natawa ng balingan siya. "I have no plans to take business course, Madam. But I can go to special classes related to that." I smirked. My dad cleared his throat. "Vera decided to take that course because it's related to our new company. Our advertising company, actually." Dad explained. Napatango na lang ako. I know they are against with my chosen course, but I have to pursue this. I really love doing media stuffs. Besides, it will help me in managing our own empire so that's a win-win situation, though. Actually, my parents are stockholders and board members of various company. Be it in broadcasting, chain of hotels and banks. Last year, nang magdecide silang magpundar ng sariling kumpanya. But, it was based in New York. So, my parents are always out of the country to manage everything about the company. Ilang taon pa lang naman kaya hindi pa ganoon kaunlad. And I'm sure malaking tulong yung magiging course ko. Yeah, that's the half-truth of my life. Aside from being an adventurous girl, I am also the future CEO of our company.  I have to act according to their expectations. I have to be the best daughter. I have to be the other version of myself. "Vera, good job. You're so good in communicating with others, huh." My dad said, in our breakfast table. Few days passed after the dinner party, they bought me a brand new sports car. It's their gift for me kasi daw behave ako! Hmm, kung alam lang nila. Ilang stolen shots kaya yung nakuha ko sa mga bisita nila. Grabe! Sobrang pigil ko ng tawa 'non. May mga natutulog kasi habang nags-speech si dad. Mayroon pang pasimpleng nagbalot ng shanghai! At eto pa! Mayroon pang nag-uwi ng wine glass namin! "Vera...you're not listening!" Ang saway na iyon ni mommy ang nagpapitlag sa akin. Nakangiwi akong bumaling sa kanya. She's throwing me a deadly glare now. Maaa, wag kang ganyan. Sayang ang kilay mo, baka mawala sa linya! "Po?" Nagsusupil ako ng ngisi, palihim kong tinusok ang hotdog. Gutom pa ako eh. "I'm telling you that your new sports car has arrived. You should test it" aniya. Nagkibit-balikat ako. Kunwari ay hindi excited. "Thanks mom and dad." I gave them my sweetest smile. My dad glance at me. "And isa pa, anak. Don't sell your sports cars. Hindi porket ibinili kana namin ng bago ay ibebenta mo na ang luma." Ani dad, sinesermunan ako. I rolled my eyes. Heto na naman po tayo. "You're our only daughter. We can spoil you" dagdag ni mommy. Itinikom ko ang bibig. Ayaw ko ng pagtalunan pa. "And please, stop your car racing! Tinatakot mo kami eh." Sermon ulit ni mommy. Doon na ako umalma. "Mom, it's legal naman diba. And I'm safe!" assurance ko. Ilang beses ko bang ipapaliwanag sa kanila na hindi ako mapapahamak sa car racing na 'yan. My trainers are all professionals and safe naman. "Eh saan mo ba ginagamit 'yong nakukuha mong pera doon?" Dad asked "Donations." Agad kong tugon. Natahimik sila ng ilang sandali. "Okay, if you're happy with that. Basta, don't make yourself be in danger." Ani daddy at tumayo na. Hinagilap ang kanyang suitcase at coat. My mom threw me a glance before getting her Prada bag. "I will po"  sagot ko. I kissed their cheeks before they walk away from the dining table. "Take care, anak. We'll be coming home after two days." Dad said Mabilis akong tumago at sinundan sila ng tingin. Napabuntong-hininga nalang ako at bumalik sa kinauupuan. Nilaro-laro ko nalang ang pagkain. Wala na kasi akong gana pa. Sino bang gaganahang kumain mag-isa sa napakahabang mesa na 'to? "Ma'am, gusto niyo pong gatas?" Tanong ni Pinky, iyong isa sa mga kasambahay namin. Tinapunan ko siya ng tingin at ngumisi. "Ha?" "Ma'am---" "Hotdog!" At bumunghalit ako ng tawa. Kitang-kita ko kasi ang pagbabago ng ekspresiyon nya. "Hotdog po? Sige po, ipagluluto ko--" "Ano ba naman 'yan, ate Pinky! Hindi ka ba updated?" Naiiling na tanong ko. "Saan po ma'am?" Inosenteng tanong niya. Natawa na lang ako at sinenyasan siyang lumapit. "Nevermind po! Lika na nga! Saluhan niyo ako dali! Tawagin mo si Manay Idang, Tatay Gorio at si Yoleng!" Excited na sabi ko. Mabilis naman siyang tumalima at umalis sa hapag-kainan. "It's fiesta time! Arat! Alaws ang mga dragon!" Sigaw ko nang ilang sandali pa ay dumating na silang apat. "Ma'am naman. Akala ko kung ano!" Ani Manay Idang, ang Mayordoma namin. Napangiti ako dahil sa nakitang ekspresiyon sa kanilang mukha. Gulat na gulat na naman dahil sasabayan nila akong kumain ng almusal. Sinenyasan ko silang lumapit sa komedor at nagtaas na din ako ng paa sa upuan ko. "Kain po tayo! Madami naman yan at hindi ko kayang ubusin.", Saad ko at nagsimula ng magkamay ng pagkain. Mabilis kong sinunggaban ang tinapa at sinangag na kanin. "Naku, si ma'am talaga!" Natatawang sabi ni Yoleng. Sus! Kunwari pang nahihiya eh masiba din kumain 'yan. Parang ako lang. "Salamat po ma'am" ani Tatay Gorio, ang hardinero at driver namin. Napairap na lang ako. "Ano ba 'yan! Kakain lang, magdadramahan pa." Saad ko na sinundan din namin ng tawanan. Sa ilang taon nilang pagtatrabaho sa amin, para ko na rin silang pamilya. Subok ko na sila! Na sa akin ang loyalty! Wala sa parents ko. Wahahha. They are shaking! "Kain lang po. Huwag kayong mahiya!" Natatawang sabi ko. Sabay-sabay silang tumango at nagpatuloy sa pagsubo. "Iaawas ko na lang sa sweldo niyo sa loob ng tatlong buwan!" Dagdag ko. "M-a'am naman!" Sabay pa silang nagreact. Halos matumba ako sa kinauupuan nang may mabulunan sa kanila. "Joke lang!" I laughed then made a peace sign. Naiiling na lang sila sa akin. Hindi pa nasanay kabulastugan ko! "Eat lang ng eat, para bundat!" Paulit-ulit kong banggit. Binilisan ko ang pagbigkas. "Eat ng eat! Eat ng eat!" Sinamaan nila ako ng tingin. "Ma'am! Awat na!" Saway nila kahit natatawa naman. I just laughed at them. This time, I am being the real "Vera" without the pressures and expectations of others. Just myself. And I'm contented with that.