Love in War

Chapter 1

"Brie, are you done?"

Napalingon ako sa pintuan at nakita si Mommy na nag-aabang sa akin. Muli kong tinignan ang bawat sulok ng aking kwarto, reminiscing the memories I had with my father in this room. This room... this bed... those curtains....I must not forget everything.

"Hi, Princess! what happened? Your mom

told me you didn't eat lunch. Did your crush, Rico, reject you again?" I rolled out of my blanket because of what he said.

"Dad, Rico is not my crush and he's a gay", I pouted when he fakely gasped and put his palm in his mouth.

" Oh, He's gay?" I nodded immediately . " But, I saw you kiss him–

"Daaaaaaad" I hid my face again under the blanket because of frustration. His making up stories again to make me speak up. Hmp! Until now, he's insisting that I have a crush on Rico, he mistakenly thought I kissed him on my 11th birthday, even though I was just whispering something at that time. Well, I actually have a crush but it's not Rico and I won't tell it to Dad . He's great at teasing pa naman.

" Ha!Ha!Ha! Alright, you didn't kiss Rico. Then...tell me, how can i make my princess happy?

I automatically get up and kiss Dad on his cheeks.

"Ikaw na talaga ang pinaka gwapong Daddy sa buong mundo. Can you convince mom to let me sleep over with Rhianne in their house? Pleaseeeeee! " . I kissed him all over his face. "Muah! Muah! Muah! I love you, Dad!

His laughter burst even more and kissed me on my forehead." Ang galing talagang mambola, anak nga kita. I love you more, my princess!

Muntik ng tumulo ang luha ko pero minabuti kung magpigil dahil pagod na akong umiyak. I don't want to leave this place because this house reminds me of a happy family I once had. Subalit, kailangan kong umalis ngayon for my mom and for our future. I will never forget this place and someday I will come back here .

" Ma'am Tasha, pinapababa na po kayong dalawa, ni Sir Emanuel." kuhang-pansin ni Yaya Millet.

"Come on, Brie, we have to go now! Your Daddy Emanuel's here already to pick us up."

Gusto ko pa sanang e tama ang sinabi ni Mommy ngunit tumalikod na siya at naunang bumaba. Bago sumunod kay Mommy, mahigpit kong nayakap ang Photo Album na gift ni Daddy before he passed away. Pagkarating sa sala ay nakita ko si Tito Emanuel na kausap si mom, eventually they saw me.

" Brielle, my daughter... you look beautiful like your mother. I'm sure you're excited to see your new house and meet your brother, Ruiji".

No , I'm not

Nangangapa pa rin ako hanggang ngayon parang kailan lang nagluluksa pa kami sa wake ni Dad. Now... there he is my new Dad. Hindi naman masungit si Tito may pagkastrikto lang, pero hindi parin ako comfortable na tawagin siyang Dad o Papa kahit kasal na sila ni mom. Siguro ganoon talaga, no one can ever replace my Daddy in my heart.

Tipid akong ngumiti at nagmano kay Tito. Kung ikukumpara ko si Dad kay Tito , masasabi kong magakaibang-kaiba sila sa personality, behavior, at physical features. Mr. Emanuel Da Silva is handsome, always stoic, serious, and mysterious. However, mas handsome pa rin si Dad kasi anak niya ko, my dad is a charming one, always smiling, and caring in words and gestures. Kaya nagtaka ako kung bakit si Tito Emanuel ang napiling pakasalan ni mom , I mean maintindihan ko pa siguro kong nagpakasal si Mommy kay Tito Rain ko na best friend ni Dad, kasi parang si Daddy lang din ang ugali at mapagbiro rin. But, i guess it's not for me to understand and intervene , as long as , Mommy's happy with him and para sa akin okay na rin. I have seen how my mom cried and almost experienced depression when Dad died due to a heart attack. I have felt how she wanted to die along with my father when we were left with nothing because we had to pay the remaining loans and she had to work two jobs to let me continue studying in school. I have heard her cry in pain while calling daddy's name when she's alone . Fortunately, she met Tito and he helped her to move on. Mom moved on.

But, how about me ?

"Brielle? Hey, sweetie are you okay " , tanong ni Mom.

Napabaling ako sa kanya, I saw that she was already out of the car with Tito Emanuel by her side. Napalinga-linga ako sa paligid at nalamang nakarating napala kami sa bagong titirhan. I slowly went out of the car, sa malayo ay kitang-kita ko ang malawak at engrandeng hardin ng sunflowers at ibang bulaklak. My jaw went hanging when I saw the Luxury Black and white house as we walked closer. I can't almost believe everything, I thought sa Internet lang ako makakakita ng ganitong modern house. Our house was big and modern, but Tito's house was huge, mansion na ata to eh. Suddenly, I felt scared when I thought about living here and meeting my stepbrother. Ganito sila kayaman, what if di niya ako matanggap bilang stepsister? baka galit siya kasi si Mommy ang pumalit sa mommy niya. Pero, di ko rin naman inaasahan na matanggap niya agad.... ako nga hindi alam kung saan magsisimula ulit dahil sa new life experiences nato. New family members, new house, new school....

"Nimfa, where's Ruiji ? Is he still at school ? " , tanong ni Tito sa mukhang head servant pagdating namin sa drawing room.

"Nakauwi na po, Sir, nagbibihis pa po sigu– ay nandito na pala si Señorito"

Napatingin kami lahat sa hagdan at nakita kong bumaba ang mestisong lalaki na maraming hikaw ang mukha. He has a bad boy aura with his brownish hair, slightly chinky eyes and thick eyebrows. He looks 2 to 3 years older than me, and he is totally the fair skinned version of his father.

"Ruiji, I want you to meet your sister, Talia Brielle".