Mistaken for Pleasure

UNO

UNO

At seven in the morning, I woke up and was getting ready for a gathering. Dad was going to town, and Tita Carina and I had to go. Dad is a senator, but he is a homegrown Ilonggo. So, if he is home, he attends different kinds of meetings around the town. It’s okay for him to do that because people here love him. What’s not okay is that I’m always with him even though I don’t want to attend adult gatherings. When I am with them, I always forget that I am only a twenty-two-year-old young woman and happily living freely despite the politics around me.

I turned around in front of the mirror and once more hovered over my appearance. I like this dress. Good thing it came on time before this gathering. I am now wearing a light blue mesh deep v neck with silk linen inside and flower bud design. Its length was just enough to reach up to the middle of my leg.

“Aurora, ikaw ba ang iinterviewhin at ganyan ang ayos mo?” napanguso ako ng sitahin ako ni Yaya Tessa pagpasok niya sa kwarto ko.

“Yaya, do you expect me to be pangit? Like, duh! Of course, I should be stunning. I’m Rara Marasigan kaya,” wagayway ko sa kanya ng kamay.

“I know who you are, and don’t use your kaartehan in front of me,” she scowled on me.

“Sorry. Is Dad ready?”

“Oo kanina ka pa nga inaantay. Nalusaw na ang make up ng madrasta mo.”

Sabay kaming natawa sa sinabi ni Yaya Tessa dahil siguradong nakasimangot na sila pagbaba ko. I just got my Gucci sling bag and kissed Yaya Tessa goodbye. At nasa taas palang ako ng hagdan ay kita ko na ang salubong na kilay ng stepmother ko. Si Daddy naman ay napapailing nalang sa akin tumayo at nauna nang naglakad palabas.

Paglabas ko ay nakasakay na silang dalawa sa kotse at ako nalang ang hinihintay. Kaya kapag kasama ko si Dad ay iniiwasan kong magsuot ng matataas na heels para makatakbo ako kapag his making galit na.

“What are you wearing Aurora? Pupunta ka ba ng binyag?” tanong ni Daddy dahilan para mag tawanan ang mga taong nasa loob ng sasakyan.

“Dad naman… It’s a dress, and it’s fashion, for heaven’s sake!” I frustratedly protested against him.

“I know it’s a dress, Princess. But we are just guests there. You don’t have to dress like that to impress other people,” he explains while still busy on his Ipad.

Nakasimangot na lang akong sumiksik sa gilid at kinuha ang phone ko. Hindi na ako nakipagtalo kay Daddy kasi hindi ako mananalo sa kanya. Abogado siya at isang hamak na spoiled brat lang ako sabi niya. Kaya shut up na ang beauty ko bago pa ako mamisahan ng Tatay ko.

When we arrived at the Mayor’s house, many reporters and supporters of Dad were already at the venue, and all of them looked panicked. I don’t know if it’s because of Dad or because they saw me. Nakakainis naman, these people are not making hintay on me to have pictures of them. I’m so not ready, pa kaya. Tsk!

When we got into the Mayor’s house, I just sat next to Dad while watching everyone amazed by his speech and planning for the City.

“Saan ka pupunta, Aurora?” pasimpleng tanong sa akin ni Tita Carina.

“I’m walking around. It’s so hot here, and I’m bored,” maarte ko sa kanyang and flip my hair.

The whole place is not air-conditioned, and there are so many people gawking at Dad, adding up to the hot weather. So when everybody is busy, I sneak out of the event and go out. And when I was making ikot the whole place a garden caught my eyes. Omg! Omg! There are so many flowers around it, and you’ll feel like you are in Mary’s secret garden.

“Hey, can you take a picture of me? I mean, can you kuhaan me a picture?” I called the gardener who is making ikot around the area.

“Miss, you are not allowed to sit in there,” he forbade me before I could sit down.

I pouted nalang and made lipat on some parts so that I can make pakuha a picture. I make tayo nalang on the middle of the path where there is a flower arch and make a pose. But I was making pawis na, but the man is not yet done taking pictures of me. Like duh!

“Are we not yet done?” I ask him impatiently.

“Ay kukuhaan na ba kita ng litrato? Akala ko kasi nagpapahangin ka lang eh!”

Oh, God! Oh, God!

Help me, Lord. Please, my patience right now.

I exhaled, closed my eyes and walked towards him. I get my phone from him and get off there. I even heard him laughing before I walked out of the garden.

Tsk! It was so nakakainis that I couldn't make pa picture na. This place is so beautiful pa naman. I have no choice but to make balik to where Dad is. I was still far from where Dad and Tita Carina are. And before I could go near him, a girl blocked my way. I step back and look at her from head to toe.

Do I know her?

I don’t remember meeting her before.

“You’re Aurora Marasigan, right?” she asked.

“No,” I instantly shake my head. Like, duh, is she blind? “I’m Rara Marasigan,” I smirked at her. I wanted to make tawa when I saw her face. Is she shocked? Oh, too bad. I missed that look on her. “Omg! Omg! Can you make ulit your reaction? I want to take a picture of it.”

“You’re crazy!” she scoffed.

“No, I’m not. You are epal. Like duh!” I rolled my eyes on the girl and passed her.

I went back to Dad, who was still busy with the people he talked to since I left. Tita Carina is busy on her phone. Lately, I don’t know what she’s up to because she goes so often and came back late. When I asked her, she just answered me that they had a new business with her friends.

I walked back to Dad and was surprised to see the familiar man he was talking to now. This man I ordered to take my picture a while ago.

What is he doing here?

Is he following me?

But before I could get to Dad, some reporters stopped me. I’ve been bombarded with questions about my private life. It's a good thing Dad helped me and prevented them from asking questions.

“Ayos ka lang?” Yaya Tessa ask me.

I lay down in bed because I felt like my energy was exhausted the few hours I stayed outside. “I’m good, Ya. Just a bit tired.”

“Sinabi ko na sa ‘yong mag tagalog ka. Hindi ka pwedeng laging nagsasalita ng English lalo na kung hindi naman nagsasalita ng ganoong lenggwahe ang kausap mo,” she started again.

I groaned and covered my ears from her discourse, but she snatched the pillow on me and ranted more about my lifestyle. “Ya, I’m doing my best to make salita in Tagalog. It just happens na nakalimutan ko,” I reasoned out.

“Naku tigilan mo ako diyan sa mga rason mo. Sa isang sentence na sinasabi mo isa lang ang tagalog. Anong tawag sa ‘yo ng mga tao? Maarte ka daw though maarte ka naman talaga,” kibit balikat niyang bulong.

“Ya, I’m not maarte. I’m doing my best to make salita in Tagalog. So, wag nila akong i-judge.”

Hindi ko alam na sa pagod ko ay nakatulog na pala ako. Nang magising ako ay hapon na hindi man lang ako ginising ni Yaya Tessa to eat lunch. I take a bath, and I changed into a t-shirt and shorts before I went downstairs. I didn’t see anyone around, so I decided to go out and eat my lunch at the mall.

“Saan ang punta mo?”

I almost jumped in shock when Yaya Tessa appeared in front of me. “Omg! Omg! Yaya Tessa, are you trying to kill me?” I scowled at her while holding my chest.

“Saan ka nga pupunta?” ulit niya habang papalapit sa akin bitbit ang syansi.

“Sa mall po.”

She just nod kaya I make talikod and lakad na to the front gate. I also encountered some of Dad’s bodyguards but they didn’t stop me so I made lakad na lang palabas ng mansion and waved to a taxi nearby. When I arrive at the mall I just walk around a bit and look for something to eat when someone grabs my arms. 

“Omg! Omg! Help--” 

“Hoy, napakaarte mo. Ako lang ito.” When I turn around, I saw Rin grinning at me, “did I scare you?” 

“I hate you! Like duh! You are scaring me," I scowled, but she just laughs at me. 

"Why are you here? Oh, right. Your mother sent you." 

She just shrugged and dragged me somewhere. It’s a place she knew daw at marami daw kumakain dito kasi masarap ‘yung food. I don't know what she was doing here but I know that her mother is behind this to keep an eye on me. Like duh! I'm so old na kaya! Tsk! 

Siya na ang order ng food naming dalawa. It’s a good thing wala masyadong tao dito. Because most of the time we eat here it’s so crowded that I always avoid eating here. I can’t keep talking to Rin because she’s going to make sumbong to Yaya Tessa if I don’t salita in Tagalog. Like duh! She’s going to make bawas on my allowance if I keep talking English. 

Inikot ko ang tingin ko sa paligid when it started to make ingay. And Rin poke me and pointed me at a couple that’s making away on the gilid. “Hayaan mo sila. The guard will make paalis them if they don’t stop,” I said, waving my hand at her and busied myself with my food. 

Pero hindi yata nakikisama sa akin ang destiny. Because a plate flew on my side, good thing, someone pulled me. If not, I was now in the hospital suffering from that plate. “Ayos ka lang, Rara? Umalis nalang tayo dito. Delikado,” Rin said while checking me. 

Pero hindi pa kami nakakakilos ni Rin ay biglang nagkagulo na ang buong paligid sa kanilang dalawa. Omg! Omg! Will I die today? They should be protecting me. I’m an important person. Like duh! I’m the daughter of Senator kaya! 

“Omg! Omg! Rin, are we going to die na ba?” I shouted hysterically. 

“Wag ka ngang OA diyan. Halika na bago lumala ang lahat.” 

Ngunit isang lalaki ang lumapit sa amin na mukhang manager ng buong Casa. At humihingi ito ng paumanhin about what’s happening. “You are supposed to be protecting me. Do you know who I am? I am Rara Marasigan--” 

“So what? You don’t own this place so don’t demand something we are not capable of. Besides, if we protect you, how about the people around here? They should be our priority. Hindi ang isang spoiled brat lang na gaya mo.” 

I feel like my world stops for a moment. He is the man Dad talks to when we are at the Mayor's house. What is he even doing here? For the first time, someone mistreated me like this, and he is the first one. I felt a pain in my chest at how little people thought of me. 

“How dare you? You don’t even know me to--” 

“I know you enough to say that. Now leave this place before some reporter arrives and fusses over these things,” he said before leaving. 

The hard-headed and spoiled brat daughter of Senator Antonio Marasigan is now making tantrums in front of many people. 

Naiinis akong nag martsa palabas ng Casa El Pecado. Sisiguraduhin ko kung sino man ang may-ari ng lugar na ito ay pagsisisihan niya ang ginawa niya at ang lalaki ‘yon. 

“I hate him, I really hate him,” I whispered before stomping out of the place.