The Baby

"Are you sure about your plans?" One of our housekeepers, Yaya Lydia, worriedly asked since she had also become my mother. After all, my parents were often away, managing their business. I sighed as I continued to put the clothes I gathered from my walk-in closet into my carry-on bag. "Maybe it is enough for me to be submissive. I cant follow my parents this time," I said confidently. I could see the smile on her lips. "At last, you figured out how to make your own choices." Yaya and I exited my chamber, which had resembled a cage for the previous twenty-five years of my existence, once we completed arranging my belongings.  I slowly and quietly opened my door, checking if my mom's bodyguards are on shift. But gladly, they were not outside my room. Maybe they are on a break eating or chatting with other housekeepers. Ha. It is the higher-ups' fault for not leaving even one man on sight.  "Let's go to the maid's room. There is a way out of this house," she whispered. We walked carefully in that direction. It is a long walk from my room because the path leads to it is through the house's basement. As far as I recall, they built an escape door in that region so that Mom's servants would not have to enter or leave the house through the main entrance. We made sure we did not encounter any of the other house staff by being careful. It's preferable not to be discovered and to believe that this was our mission as spies. We made our way to the maid's chamber without much difficulty. Thankfully, there were no guards stationed along the paths of this cell-like palatial mansion when we decided to take action. "Where are you going now?" As we walked through the door, she questioned, her troubled expression on her face. I couldn't help but be pleased with the concern she showed me. She is the one I recognize as my genuine mother because I feel the love and care of a true mother when I am with her. "To be honest, I still don't have a consistent plan in mind. All I want to do now is leave this place," I said with a smile so that the worry on its face would disappear a little. She sighed and wondered, "Do you have friends you can spend the night with?" I feel a sharp pain in my chest as I recall my parents' manipulations about having friends. "No, my parents would not have approved of me having any friends at all." My parents were too protective of me since I was a little. They have this unique mindset that I was born to be a bridge or a way for their business to expand. To put it another way, I was compelled to marry their potential business partner's son ― not treated as a daughter, but a freaking bridge. Yaya was quiet for a moment. Later she turned to me with a smile as if to say that she had a good idea.  "Why don't you just come to my house and stay for a while? There will be no one to report you, and you will be able to walk around freely," she stated. “You will be damned when Mom finds out,” I said sadly. That is a good idea. But I can not be self-centered. I can't stand enjoying advantages while Yaya is in misery. "I won't be harmed since I know you won't do anything that will harm me, will you?" she asks thoughtfully.  For a moment, I pondered. She has a point. If I do not go out running anywhere, no one can see me. Mom won't know where I am. Yaya will not be harmed if I stay put and be careful and quiet as a soft wind. "All right. But I will only stay for a while because I do not want to hurt you. I will also look for a place to live as soon as possible," I smiled at her. She is really special to me. I can not bear to hurt her. The idea of being forced to marry Charles would not occur to me. It is overwhelming. I am an obedient daughter who has never opposed my parents in my life, but I want to have freedom for a moment. Marriage is a lifetime. It is not a game of cards you can play stupidly. I know that no matter how much I disagree with my parents, I will never win the argument about marrying someone I have never met. That is the reason why I escaped. They always hold the decision in my life even though I own it. Yes, they are my parents, and they have the right to intervene in my choices, but it appears that I have been instilled with that belief throughout my life, which I intend to stop.  What, I can't even decide who I'm going to spend the rest of my life with? Oh, no, that is far too much. With that, I am not sure I can keep up with them any longer. When I was younger, my Yaya Lydia told me that being married was like a storybook. If you love each other, the story will always have a good ending once it begins. That has been my perspective on marriage for the entirety of my existence in this brutal world. I could not stand the fact that my own parents are controlling even my own love storybook. It triggers me to finally stand on my own. I couldn't help but feel excited as we arrived at Yaya's house. First, I rode in a public transport known as a Jeepney, which my parents forbade me from using. Second, her home is lovely, and they own a small restaurant beneath it. Third, starting today, I shall make my own decisions. It is so empowering, it makes me feel very motivated. "Are you up for another life challenge?" With a smile on her face, she questioned. "Yes, I'm ready," I said cheerfully.