Hiraya
Inang Dayang scanned me from head to foot while standing in the middle of my hut. Her gaze was intimidating for an eleven-year old girl but I stayed put and kept on smiling.
She looked at my maidens who were standing at the door, waiting for her verdict. “Why does the haliya look so ordinary? You only braided her hair and her clothes are just not befitting of a haliya. Where did you get that dress? Change it.”
I looked down at myself. I was wearing the simple dress that I requested. Because I had no ordinary dress, Kala had to find some of her old dress that was reserved for her younger sister. Good thing her sister is not my age yet.
“Ina, I’m going to the forest. The usual clothes I wear don't fit me. I need something comfortable,” I explained to my mother, held the sides of
