Episode 15
1310 Words
Aurora's POV
"Aurora?" dinig kong tawag sa akin.
Nagising ako at naalala agad ang mga sinabi ni Matteo sa akin.
Parang nag-iba ang mundo ko nang marinig ko ang mga sinabi niya. Parang nadurog ang puso ko.
Ang balita na nasa cruise ship na 'yon ang mga magulang ko, parang sinaksak ang kaluluwa ko.
Hindi pwede, hindi pwede. Dapat nagbabakasyon lang sila, hindi dapat nasangkot sa isang nakakatakot na trahedya.
Hindi ko na napigilan ang pag-iyak, at niyakap ko si Matteo na parang siya lang ang nag-iisang pag-asa ko.
"No, this can't be real," I choked between sobs. "My parents can't be gone."
Matteo held me tight, his embrace offering some comfort amidst the pain.
His words were like balm to my wounded heart, but the reality of the situation felt so harsh and relentless.
"Dad, Mom, please come back," I pleaded in a desperate tone as if my voice could reach them beyond life and death.
"Why them?" I asked, my voice breaking. "They were good people, loving parents. They didn't deserve this."
Matteo held me tighter, reassuring me I wasn't alone in my grief. His sorrow mingled with mine, and we clung to each other as if we were the only ones left in a world that had turned cold and heartless.
Amid my tears, I managed to look up at him, and my voice choked with emotion.
"How am I supposed to go on without them, Matteo?" I whispered, my heart aching with the pain of loss. "They were my everything."
His eyes held an understanding beyond words, and he gently wiped away my tears.
"I know, Aurora," he said softly. "I can't pretend to understand your pain, but I promise you won't have to face this alone. I'll be here for you every step of the way."
His words touched a tender place in my heart, and I clung to him as if he were my lifeline.
Through the tears, I managed a weak smile. "Thank you, Matteo," I said, my voice trembling. "I don't know what I would do without you."
"But how about your parents Matteo?" nag-aalalang tanong ko.
"Wala pang balita. Babyahe kami to help with the rescue," naluluhang sabi ni Matteo.
He pulled me closer, his embrace warm and comforting. "You don't have to worry about everything Aurora," he whispered. "I'll always be here, no matter what."
In that embrace, I found a glimmer of hope amidst the despair.
Sa mga sumunod na araw at buwan, tinupad ni Matteo ang pangako niya. Nasa tabi ko siya habang dumadaan kami sa masakit na proseso ng pagdadalamhati, nag-aayos ng libing at hinahanap ang paraan para magpatuloy.
Hindi pa namin sila nalilibing dahil hindi pa namin nakikita ang mga labi nila.
Ayoko magkaroon ng lamay hangga't hindi namin nakikita ang mga labi nila, pero iginiit ni Matteo.
Sabi niya kailangan na naming magpatuloy.
Pagkatapos ng lamay, tinawag ako ni Matteo sa library.
Wala ako sa mood makipag-usap sa kahit sino, pero sabi niya kailangan daw, kaya nagbihis ako bago pumunta doon.
I knocked before entering.
"Come in!" I heard Matteo say.
"Matteo, you said you wanted to talk?" I asked him before taking a seat.
"Yes, we need to discuss some things," he said thoughtfully.
"Now that we've closed the chapter of the tragedy, I want you to know that there will be some changes," he said.
"What do you mean, Matteo?" I asked.
"Firmly," Matteo said, "Starting today, I am the owner of your parents' company. But don't worry. Like my promise to them, I will send you to school and teach you how to live independently. However, you must earn every expense I cover through work."
"Ha? Ano bang sinasabi mo, Matteo? Kahit wala na si Papa, kaya kong mabuhay mag-isa. May bahay kami, pera, at kumpanya na ako ang nagmamana," nagtataka kong sabi.
"Ibinenta ko ang bahay ninyo para mabayaran ang utang ng family mo sa pamilya ko. Tungkol naman sa kumpanya, bago umalis ang mga magulang natin, ibinigay na niya sa akin lahat ng shares niya. Wala siyang iniwan sa iyo sa bangko. Inilipat niya lahat sa akin para mabayaran ang utang niya sa pamilya ko noong nagsisimula pa lang siya," paliwanag niya.
"That's not true! Why didn't I know about all this, Matteo? I knew letting you take over the company was a bad idea because you might claim it! And I was right," I said, tears welling up.
"How could you do this, Matteo? We haven't even found our parents' bodies!" I said weakly.
"All this time, you've just been pretending, huh?!" I said in disbelief.
He put all the documents back in the drawer before speaking again.
"In this world, Aurora, you have to be cunning to survive," he said, getting up and opening the door for me to leave.
"By the way, you'll be moving to the maid's quarters. That's where you'll be living from now on. Transfer all your things today," he said seriously before closing the door.
As I walked from Matteo's office, I felt emotions swirling. Anger, betrayal, and heartache collided, leaving me feeling lost and vulnerable.
"How could he do this to me, especially during such a difficult time?" tears streamed down my face as I approached the maid's quarters after packing everything.
It was a small, humble space compared to the luxurious mansion I once called home. I felt like a stranger in his house.
Hindi ako makapaniwala na ibinenta ng magulang ko ang lahat para mabayaran ang utang, at wala siyang iniwan sa akin. Parang gumuho ang mundo ko, at ako na lang mag-isa ang nag-aayos ng lahat.
Ginawa ko ang makakaya ko para masanay sa bagong realidad na ito sa mga sumunod na araw at linggo.
Matteo fulfilled his promise; he sent me to school and provided for my basic needs, but something more than that, I had to earn through hard work.
"Ano ka ba, Aurora! Ang gulo mo! Linisin mo ng maayos ang sahig at tigilan mo ang pag-aaksaya ng tubig!" sigaw ng isa sa mga katulong sa akin.
"Ano ba ang problema mo? Hindi ako katulad mo, ipinanganak para maging katulong! Ang yabang mo! Nakalimutan mo na ba na dati ikaw ang nagsisilbi sa akin?" sigaw ko, nagpuputok na ang galit ko sa loob.
"Hahahah, dati 'yon! Pero ngayon, pantay-pantay na tayo dito. Kung ayaw mong ireport kita kay Matteo, sa master natin, eh tiyakin mong gagawin mo ng maayos ang trabaho mo!" sigaw niya, sinipa ang timba ng tubig na kakatapos ko lang gamitin.
I kept crying because of everything that had happened until Mrs Jane caught me in tears.
"Ano ba, Aurora? Mag-iiyak ka na lang ba diyan? Hindi magbabago ang sitwasyon mo kung puro reklamo ka lang. Gawin mo ng maayos ang trabaho mo para hindi ka mapagalitan!" inis na sabi ni Mrs. Jane.
Napatingin ako sa kanya nang may galit.
As I wiped away my tears, Mrs Jane's words echoed.
Siya ang head maid sa mansyon ni Matteo, at kilala siya sa pagiging strikto at demanding.
Mahirap magtrabaho sa ilalim ng panunuod niya, lalo na sa sitwasyon ko.
Simula nang ibunyag ni Matteo ang ginawa ng father ko, naging mahirap ang buhay ko sa mansyon.
Kailangan kong mag-ingat para hindi magkasalungat ang pagdadalamhati ko at ang mga responsibilidad ko bilang isang katulong.
Kahit ginagawa ko ang lahat para magtrabaho ng maayos, hindi ko maalis ang pakiramdam na may mga katulong pa ring tumitingin sa akin ng masama.
Nakikita nila ako bilang isang dating heiress na naging katulong, at masakit 'yon.
As days passed, I continued to adapt to my new role, but the pain of my loss and the sense of being betrayed lingered.
Once a place of privilege, the mansion now felt like a constant reminder of my shattered life.
One evening, as I was cleaning the dining hall, Matteo approached me.
- Writer
