Prologue
2021 Words
PROLOGUE
LALAINE'S POV
Today was as hot as how it always been but it was worst during now that its past eleven. Lalaine didn’t mind her sweating and the weather being too hot while she was waiting outside the mansion built with huge walls and surrounded by CCTV camera’s no one could even dare to trespass in such well-guarded mansion.
Lalaine noticed there are many men who are guarding the mansion as if a very important person is living inside there that they had to be on guard like that.
She was waiting for her grandmother today since they would go home together now that it’s her day off from work. Lalaine’s class ended earlier than usual so she was waiting outside the mansion a lot earlier.
Wearing her knee length blue colored school uniform paired with a simple white shirt that was now in yellowish white from being used every day. On her shoulder hangs her worn out sling bag that has now small holes though it all look ragged she still uses it until this school year ends.
Her grandmother works from a rich and well-known family as a servant. The chances of her meeting the house owner is rare as they only come home occasionally. The mansion was left in care at the servants and men in charge to guard the house
"Lala your being stubborn." Robert went near to Edwin which was his partner today.
"Can you really not let me in? I almost look like a tomato from this heat, aren’t you worried about me?" I can no longer take the heat outside.
Lala can’t seem to find a shady place to wait for her Lola Pasing. All that she can see are huge houses around this village.
"Please Tiyo Robert? Tiyo Edwin?" I begged once more with my puppy eyes maybe they might reconsider.
Hesitation was written all over their faces.
"Fine then, but promise me that you won’t get caught?" I smiled widely when they started to open up the gates.
"Thank you so much!!" I smiled to them before i carefully ran going through the mansions backdoor where no one would see me.
I succeeded in going inside without anyone noticing my presence, all of them were busy doing all their respected task. I walked around the house minding to be careful in every move while searching for my grandmother.
Where could she be right now.
I was shocked when Betty and I crossed paths while I was sneaking inside the house, Betty was the caretaker of the house despite her being strict she had a good heart.
Betty looked around where we crossed paths and grabbed my arms while taking me somewhere no one can see us.
"Lala what are you doing in here? " Betty was still warry and kept looking around, she was scared that someone might see us in any moment.
"You know you are not allowed to go inside the mansion specially when the lady is here, we are the one who'll get scolded because of you."
"I just wanted to see my grandmother but, where is she?"
"Just a few moments ago she was just here? Where could she be right now." she said while still being on look out, she looked back at me seriously.
"Lala it would be better for the both of us if you leave right now. Right before the lady goes inside the kitchen, what's worst is to get fired for letting an outsider go in and out of the mansion.”
”B-But—”
“Please Lala, you have to go now. If we ever get caught Lala don’t know what to do with you anym—” Betty an Lala’s conversation was cut off when they heard a loud sound of something that seem to be shattered and was followed by a lady’s shout.
It was a sound of someone who got hurt which made Lala’s heart falter for a moment.
“Lola.”
She blurted out to herself when she realized who owns that voice. I immediately run to where that sound came from.
“Wait Lala! Lala!” Betty tried to stop me but I never looked back.
“STUPID!”
“USELESS!!!”
“GOOD FOR NOTHING!!”
This was all the words that you can hear the ladies shouting her voice echoes around the living room. The other employees around there was scared and hesitant to help because they might get involved from what happen.
“M-mam please s-stop I’m b-begging you p-lease.” Lola Pasing pleaded to the lady to stop from hitting her but the lady was so enraged.
Lola Pasing was continuously being hit by a cane that is made from wood, the lady was tall and jewelries was all over her body. Instead of defending herself the old lady just took all the hit from the lady.
“I’m really sorry Mam I-I really didn’t mean to break it.” she pleaded towards the lady.
“You good for nothing servant! You’re worthless!” the lady shouted once more; the lady still can’t get enough from hitting Lola Pasing she was about to hit her again with the wooden cane but this time it was more forceful.
I can no longer stand by to just watch this scene happening right in front of me where my grandmother is being hit simultaneously, I rushed toward them to stop what was going on right now.
“Lola.” I hugged her so tight the moment I went near, right at the moment where she was about to get hit, it landed on my back.
"I-I'm begging you to stop--pleasse." I begged for her mercy while my grandmother rest's in my arms making sure she will no longer get hit by the lady.
Donya Lucinda stopped the moment she realizes who interfered and wondering why i was here.
"Who are you?! How? How did you get in here?!!" She shouted at me, due to this the eyes of the lady was filled with rage by the realization of letting an intruder barge inside the mansion.
"Lala are you okay?" Lola Pasing carefully caressed by cheeks, she was tearful while checking on me if did I get wounded from the hit I took from the lady.
I just stood still and remained silent.
I saw how my grand-mothers skin starts to turns red as she took a lot of hit from the lady’s wrath
Just why?
Why does she have to be like this?
Why did it come to inflicting pain towards my grandmother?
"Do you know who is this child, Pasing? You dare let an outsider inside my son's home?!" Her voice echoed in the living room as she shouts to everyone in there.
"All of you are useless!!" She pointed her finger at everyone, their eyes were full of different thought---the fear from the lady, and the idea of needing to against her.
"You really are a good for nothing Pasing!" She was about to hit Lola Pasing once more but I hurriedly interfered
"Guards!!! Guarrdss!!"
"We really are so sorry just please stop hitting my grandmother." I cried pleading to the lady but there was no room for the lady to hear their plead.
"Do you know how important this vase she broke to me? Of course, you don't then Obviously I have the right to hit your good for nothing grandmother." she pointed out the shattered vase on the floor.
"I really am so sorry Mam, it was never my intention to break it-- i promise to make sure to pay for--,"
"The guts!! You? Where did you get the guts to tell me you--Will pay for it? Ohh god! Pasing! This is worth 56,000 dollars, even if you work your ass off till you live life until the counted days, you can never pay the value of this antique vase!" She was furious.
"Well if you can't pay for it-- guess I had no choice but to send you off to jail!" She said to threatened us.
" D-dont do it pleasee, don't send us to jail I'm begging you please." Lola Pasing clasp both of her palm crying as she begged the lady not to send her of to jail.
I cried so hard from the scene of her begging to be spared.
"I'm truly sorry, please s-spare me some of your mercy, f-forgive me." she was crying in front of the lady but the lady stood firm-- few moments later some of the lady’s men came inside.
"Take that old lady away, send her to jail!" She firmly ordered her men--- they started to walk near towards Lola Pasing and grabbed her hand to take her out of the mansion.
"No, N-no please Don’t take her away.” I begged them not too, I forcefully tried to move their hand away from her but they're just pushing me away.
"Please have mercy on us, d-don’t send my grandmother to jail I beg of you!" I cried begging to them.
"f**k off young lady! We are just following orders in here!" One of her men shouted at me.
Instead of showing us pity the lady was smirking as if she was enjoying this scene where Lola Pasing was begging to her numerous times.
The scene of the two of us crying and begging for her mercy.
My knees were trembling but I stood there in front of the Lady,
I had no other choice than this to prevent here from sending lola Pasing to jail.
"Lady Lucinda I-I’m begging you not to send my grandmother to jail."
this might be hard, tears were falling down on my cheeks, I don’t care if how pitiful I look right in front of her, what's more important is to prevent what could happen to my grand mother.
"T-take me instead, on behalf of my grand-mother PUNISH ME INSTEAD! I beg of you.”
"No, No Lalaine you don't have to do this."
I gazed towards the direction of my grandmother for the last time before I kneeled in front of the lady.
"Don’t take her away please I beg of you, we d-don't have enough m-money to pay for what was broke, B-but I am willing to work for you instead." Once more I pleaded to the lady and I burst out in tears
Right now my mind is in mess, I know for myself that I can’t find a money that big just to pay her.
"Indeed, you're still young." she smirked from what I said, I was terrified from what may result from this decision I made, but I have to, I have to be prepared.
"How old are you?"
"S-seventeen."
A sly smile was drawn off her face.
"You’re still young, I’m sure if you work until you grow old it'll be worth the price to pay for your grandmothers mistake."
"No, no not my grand-daughter, I insist to take the blame, not just Lala please!" She gives a sharp gaze towards Pasing that made her shut up.
"I am not talking to you Pasing, it's between me and your grand-daughter!" she stated and looked back at me again.
"Do you agree with this Lala? Or you want to see your grand-mother behind the bars instead? Make your choice Lala right now.”
I closed my eyes and just accepted my fate as cry for it.
"I will work for you just make sure you won't send her to jail a-and cause any more violence." my voice cracked as I replied to her.
"Good then." She gave a signal to her men and them they let go of Lola Pasing.
"You will start working from tomorrow, let's meet again I'll wait for you. Or else you'll meet with your beloved grandmother in prison!" A threat she left before walking out from there.
I looked back at my grandmother who stood there crying quietly until the conversation between the lady and i ended.
I’m so sorry, I really had no other options to choose just to save you from her.
- Writer
