Episode 7
1267 Words
Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako at binalewala ang mga namumuong sadness sa dibdib ko.
Kahit naman rebelde ako na anak eh I know deep down that I will miss them.
Hindi ako sanay na wala sila. Even though I didn't spend much time at home, I knew they were nearby.
But now, they're so far away, out at sea.
"What if I need them urgently?" bulong ko sa sarili ko.
"Sweetie, stop sighing. You'll be fine there, don't worry," sabi ni Mom.
"Mom, it's not that easy, matagal pa kayo babalik," I said, frowning.
"Sweetie, you know your Dad, and I must go for a while. It's for your safety," Mom said, trying to reassure me.
"I know, Mom, but it's hard to accept. I'll be alone in that big Villa," I said, anxious.
"But you are not alone, Sweetie. Matteo will be there," Mom smiled.
"But he is not you, Dad, and Mom," I sighed, feeling a bit emotional.
"I understand, Sweetie. We'll miss you too, but we'll be back soon. And remember, it's not forever. This is just a temporary arrangement for your safety," Dad assured me.
"I know you're doing this for me, pero hindi ganoon kadali Dad," I said, fighting back tears.
"It's alright to feel that way, Sweetie. Mahirap ang setup mo ngayon pero makaka-adjust ka din. We believe in you," Mom said, reaching over to hold my hand.
"Thanks, Mom," I said, wiping away a tear.
"We'll call you every chance we get," Mom added, trying to lighten the mood.
I nodded, trying to smile. "Okay, I'll try to be strong and make the best of it."
"That's the spirit, Sweetie. Just remember, we love you, and we'll be back before you know it," Dad said, giving me a reassuring smile.
"I hope Matteo won't be too much of a headache." habang pinipigilan ko ang aking emosyon,,
My thoughts were interrupted when I saw the familiar Villa ahead.
"Wait, hold on! Are we going here?" I asked, feeling a mix of curiosity and nervousness.
"Yes, Sweetie. This is the grand Villa of Salvatore's son," Dad confirmed.
"It's stunning, isn't it? You'll have a fantastic stay here. I heard Matteo personally had your room prepared to your liking. He's so considerate, isn't he? He even replaced some furnishings for you," Mom shared with excitement.
"Yeah, that's nice. Yes," I replied with forced enthusiasm, trying to maintain a positive attitude despite my inner reservations.
As we entered the gate, Papa's friends were already waiting outside, including the man I'd met before, Matteo.
"Small world," I muttered, feeling annoyed.
"What's that, sweetie?" Mom asked.
"Nothing," I refused to answer.
As we exited the car, Alessandro and Aria greeted us with smiles.
"Welcome home, dear," Aria warmly welcomed me before hugging me.
"Thank you, Matteo, for agreeing to take care of our Princess," Dad said, smiling.
"My pleasure," Matteo replied with a forced smile.
"You all go inside, and then we'll leave," Alessandro said.
"Mom?" I protested subtly.
"Yes, sweetie, let's go inside," Mom said with a smile before guiding me in.
I had no choice but to follow, as Matteo had been looking at me intently since I stepped out of the car.
His gaze was so intense it felt like it could pierce through me, and it annoyed me even more.
"Okay, we're leaving. Take care of our Princess, Matteo," his Dad said with a smile.
"Yes, Dad," Matteo replied.
"Mom, Dad, I'll miss you," I said sadly.
"Just make sure you don't give your brother a hard time," Mom teased.
"Mom, he's not my brother," I protested.
"I know, but if you don't want him as a brother, be his best friend, hahaha," Matteo's Mom teased.
I scowled even more at his Mom's comment.
"Okay, now let us go. We might be late," Dad reminded everyone.
As they drove away, nakaramdam ako na para akong naiiyak.
"This is the beginning. One year. It will be long before I see my parents again," I said sadly while waving.
"So ikaw pala si Aurora," Matteo said in a deep voice, as we couldn't see our parents' car anymore.
As we entered the Grand Villa, tiningnan ko lang sya ng matalim. "Eh ano ngayon kung ako?!" galit na sabi ko dito.
"Behave young lady! Pasalamat ka at hindi kita sinumbong sa parents mo." supladong sabi nito.
"So, this is it. Your new home," Matteo said, gesturing around the lavish living room.
Hindi ako kumibo. Tiningnan ko lang ito. Wala naman akong pakialam dahil maganda din naman ang bahay namin.
"You know, I used to live here alone before. It's a big place, but you'll have your own space," he said, trying to reassure me.
"Yeah," maiksing sagot ko.
As the hours passed, I settled into the grand Villa. Matteo showed me around and introduced me to some of the staff.
But despite his efforts to make me feel comfortable, I couldn't shake the feeling of being an outsider in this place.
As we stepped onto the grand stairs, Matteo arrogantly showed me around the ostentatious and over-the-top rooms.
"So, this is going to be your room," Matteo said, pushing open the door to a luxurious bedroom.
"Wow, can you be any more extra?" I muttered under my breath, unable to hide my sarcasm.
"I'm glad you're impressed. I spent a fortune on the renovations to ensure it meets your high standards," Matteo said, his voice dripping with condescension.
"Great, now I'll be drowning in luxury I never asked for," I replied, unable to hold back my irritation.
"Well, you should be grateful. Not everyone gets to live in such luxury," Matteo said smugly.
"Grateful? Please, spare me the lecture," supladang sagot ko.
Matteo's self-satisfaction was infuriating, and I couldn't stand how he acted like he was doing me a favour.
"I'll make sure you know your place here," Matteo said, his tone cold and authoritative.
"Oh, don't worry, alam ko ang lugar ko," I said, my voice laced with bitterness.
The tour continued, and as Matteo rambled on about the Villa's illustrious history and his family's grand legacy, I couldn't help but roll my eyes.
It was all just a show of his inflated ego.
"Yeah, I'm so impressed by your illustrious family history," I said sarcastically, unable to hide my disdain.
"Watch your tone. It would be best if you showed some respect," Matteo snapped back.
"Respect? Respect is earned, not inherited," I shot back.
As we made our way to the rooftop, Matteo tried to impress me with the view of the city lights.
"Isn't it amazing?" Matteo said, trying to sound charming.
"Sure, it's just a bunch of twinkling lights. Big deal," I said dismissively.
Matteo's attempts at charm fell flat on me, and I couldn't help but see through his facade.
The tension between us grew as the evening wore on.
As the evening continued, Matteo couldn't resist showing off his expensive art collection, bragging about each piece as if they were his most outstanding achievements.
"And this painting here is an original Picasso, kaya huwag mong hawakan," Matteo said, smirking as if expecting me to be in awe.
"Ah, yes, another pricey decoration," I replied dryly, unimpressed by his display of wealth.
Matteo's eyes narrowed, clearly not used to someone challenging his sense of superiority.
"You know, not everything in life revolves around money and status," I said, deciding to speak my mind.
"Oh really? Ano naman ang alam mo? Hindi ba you are spoiled by your parents?" Matteo said smugly. " sarkastikong sagot ni Matteo na lalo kong ikinainis.
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