Chapter 4 - The rules were different
1034 Words
We didn’t discriminate in Sinag. We didn't ask for the people’s stature in life or if they had money to pay us for our good deeds. We didn’t ask for anything in return.
In fact, the first time she met Octavio, he was hunting and broke his leg. We accepted him into our tribe and I helped him without any conditions. Had he forgotten what we did for him?
“You are not in Sinag anymore. We didn’t spend billions on the mining, designing, and marketing of the bahaghari stones just so you can give it away to any poor chap who had a sob story. We will be poor in no time. It is only for those who deserve it.”
“So, you are only For those who have money? That’s not fair.”
“Welcome to the real world, Hiraya. Thanks to my business acumen, you were able to wear that beautiful dress. The world must know the real value of bahaghari gems. The people who can afford it are makers and shakers in the industry. Many people also depend on them, that's why they need to be healed first.”
I shook my head, still not accepting his argument. “H-How about the people who are poor and also need to get better? I'm sure there are people with incurable diseases as well. Y-You said you will help them that’s why you want to mine the bahaghari stones. You promised that to me and to the Sinag tribe, Papa, and I believed you because I thought you were sent by the goddess to help more people especially those who are dying. The waiter’s mother is hopeless and you stopped me from doing my mission in serving the goddess and her people.”
He held up his hands. “Fine. I will get the guy’s details and refer them to our foundation to help his mother’s hospital treatment.”
“But the bahaghari stone can help cure his mother right away….” Why the need for hospital treatment?
“The bahaghari stone is for those whose sickness cannot be healed.” Octavio shrugged his shoulders. “Cancer can be healed. We know experts in the medical field for that.” His face looked forlorn as he looked back to the glass door that had a view of the party. “While the people inside have a bright future and they have diseases that can’t be cured. Do you get my point?”
“W-Will you help them if they have an incurable disease but they are poor?”
“Why the question, Hiraya? Aren’t you going to thank me that we will help that wait staff?” he asked with a hint of irritation.
“T-Thank you, Papa.”
It was not the answer that I wanted to hear from him because he actually evaded the question, but it was good for now. I didn’t want to make my father-in-law feel bad. It was never in my nature to argue so I would just let it go this time.
He smiled then gently patted my head. “Good girl. Why don’t you go back to your room and take a rest? Let Calixto and Etherea take care of the guests.”
He left me in the seating room. My heart was in pain. It doesn’t sit right. For my father-in-law, I am just a nuisance who wants to give away million-peso worth of stone for charity. It was a disadvantage.
I stood up and walked out of the seating room. Instead of going back to the hotel suite and waiting for Calixto to return, I decided to walk to the hotel’s greenhouse that was beside the hotel. It was my favorite part of the hotel. There were a lot of plants and even some trees. A man-made waterfall was found in the center of it.
Good thing it was still open and no one was around. I already had enough of the noise in the party where only the rich ones were heard. I needed the silence and the greenery.
When I finally filled my lungs with fresh air, that was when I realized that I was being suffocated. Coming to the city, I changed a lot to fit in. I had to adapt to the technology, how people speak, dress, and how to treat other people.
Three years had passed and I was still not used to this world. The rules were different for the rich and the poor. Even the bahaghari stone that was supposed to benefit everyone was not serving its purpose as I expected.
They told me that mining the bahaghari gems would help my community and will help the world. Calixto told me that they were already building up schools and giving jobs to my tribesmen.
I miss them. I hope I can talk to someone from Sinag. I want to know how they were. Do the kids really go to school and learn? Were they treated well? Do the people of Sinag still remember me?
I wrapped my arms around myself. I really miss home. Being with those strangers who wanted to take advantage of me, being judged, having to suppress my kindness and choosing who to help according to how much money they can pay was just too much.
I love Calixto but this life was not what I wanted. Sometimes, I don't know who I am anymore. I am wondering if I still like myself.
“Hiraya!” a familiar voice of a man called out my name.
I looked around and saw a tall figure standing a few feet from me. “Bughaw! What are you doing here?”
HE was part of my tribe but he was considered an outcast. His mother was the haliya before me - Amihan. She was even expected to marry my father who was the strongest warrior. She met a young man from the town who was studying the medicinal plants in the area and asked to stay
They fell in love with each other. They left without the tribe’s approval. The tribe suffered a lot from that incident.
Our tribe without a haliya was cursed.
- Writer
