The Unrecognized Beauty

Chapter 1: First Day

ATHENA'S POV

"Wake up, Athena, you're going to be late for school!" said mom

"Oh God! 10 more minutes, please," I responded to her.

I slowly open my eyes and look for mom. And there she was, sitting on the edge of my bed, before the footboard. 

"Sweetie, it's your first day. You don't want to be late, do you?" mom said while sauntering towards the door.

"Yeah, right! I'm up." I muttered then started pulling myself up, out of the bed

Mom continued, "Don't you dare try to sleep again, Athena, because I'm waiting for you." She added, before she closed the door.

I sprinted to the bathroom, then took a bath, quickly. I don't want to keep my mother waiting. And also the food.

Fifteen minutes later, I got out of the bathroom. I looked at the alarm clock located on top of my table and saw that it was already 6:20 am and my class will start at 8'oclock in the morning. 

I sleep late last night, like around four in the morning, because I watched a movie on Netflix, that I saw while scrolling on my f*******: wall. I can't seem to stop watching it even though it's pretty late and that I have a class, early today.

Good thing, I had already prepared everything that I think I would need, last night, so it won't take me so much time today.

As I descend, heading to the ground floor, I saw Teresita, ingress inside the house, she seems like she came from the garden area.

"Good morning, Teresita" I greeted her, feeling energized.

"Good Morning, Athena! Your uniform looks good on you. Good luck on your first day!" she responded with the same energy. 

Our household's head servant is Teresita. She's been a part of our family for more than two decades. That's why she's one of my mother's most dependable confidantes. My mom regularly asks Teresita to look after me when she has a business meeting, and I think of her as my second mother because she treats me like her own daughter. She's sweet and lovely.

"Thank you, Teresita!" While talking to Teresita, I saw Josie. Also, one of our servants enters the house from the garden where Teresita also came earlier.

"Good Morning, Josie!" I greeted her also like how I greeted Teresita.

"Good Morning, Ma'am Athena!" She greeted me.

It looks like they were busy in the garden because Teresita also came from there. 

"Are you doing something in the garden,  Teresita?" I asked out of curiosity. 

"Ah, yes! Your mom asked us to fix it to look more presentable," she answered.

We just moved in last month. We left our previous house three months after my dad decided to be with his affair. 

Yes, our family is broken. My father had an affair. And he chose to be with her rather than to fix his relationship with my mom. I despise him for it. My mother is the most loving, caring, and sweet person I've ever met. She is not deserving of what my father has done to him. She deserved the best, yet she got the absolute opposite.

"I'll go ahead, Teresita and Josie. Mommy is waiting for me. We'll have breakfast together." I bid goodbye with a smile on my face

"Go ahead, Athena. Don't let your mom wait for you. I'll go to the kitchen to get drinks." we walk in the same direction. I'm heading to the dining room while she goes to the kitchen.

I saw that the food was already on the table and mom was not there. Maybe she's in the kitchen.

"Oh! Glad you're already here. Let's eat." I think I'm right; she came from the kitchen. She's holding a plate of sliced apples, and she put it on the table.

"Sorry, mom. Did I make you wait?" I said while she put fried rice and hotdog on my plate.

"It's okay, sweetie," she responded with a smile plastered on her face.

"Thank you, Mommy!" I thanked her as she finished putting food on my plate. 

"You're welcome, sweetie." She started putting food on her plate after finishing mine. After that, we ate.

"Are you excited about your new school?" she asked while looking and smiling at me. She's waiting for me to answer.

"Of course, mom! I want to surround myself with new people and make a lot of friends."  I hope this time I get to belong. I'm afraid of socializing. But I don't want to mention that to her. She has a lot to think about. She's tired most of the time, but she always makes sure that she has time to check on me. She always asks me if I am okay, and I always answer her with a 'yes.' When I am not. 

I'm still trying to figure out what happened to our family. It's excruciatingly painful. It was difficult to witness my parents fighting and shouting at each other. It was ideal. Their connection is perfect for me. That is until that day comes. It was July 13th when Dad arrived home so drunk. My mother immediately asked why he had returned home in such a manner, but my father disregarded her. My father proceeded to their room, oblivious to the rest of the home. It's not something I'm used to. That day, however, was not like any other. It's as if he was a different person. He always greets us with a smile. He always gives me a peck on the cheek and asks questions about my day. 

My mother followed her to their room since she was curious why my father was acting so strangely. We heard them arguing after a minute. Their voices were loud. My mom emerged from their room ten minutes later, and the next thing I saw was her hugging Teresita. When Teresita asked about what had happened, I overheard her explain that my father had an affair and that the girl was pregnant. That night, Mom stayed in my room.

"You can do it, baby!" Mom cheered me up, and that stopped me from remembering more of what happened.

"Thanks, Mommy!" I thanked her and we continue eating. 

We finished our meal after a while. Julie was called by Mom to clean the table for us. She's the one who handles the kitchen. Mom enjoys cooking as well, but she simply does not have the time. That is why we have four helpers. Each one has a certain duty. Mom doesn't want anyone to feel too exhausted during the day, so she divides the work equally among the four of them.