“Bring back the farmers' land! Give it back! Return what you took!” This noise is what woke me up early in the morning. I abruptly got up from my sleep due to the annoying noise and diligently caressed my lumbar which made an impact with the floor upon my fall.
“Geez! Why is it too noisy?!” I complained.
My bedroom door then opened and one of our housemaids camed in to help me stand up. Honestly, despite the wide gap between our social status, she is one of those people whom I treat as a friend aside from Aira. She and I both had a fight over some petty stuff. One would be the fact that she declined to study with me far from our home town. However, as we have spoken afterwards, we have been able to make amends with each other.
Of course! Who would not feel overwhelmed with what she did? She is not that kind of person who is fond of social media accounts, but still she made a facebook account just for the both of us to be able to talk. She has asked multiple times for forgiveness, so who am I not to forgive?
“Get downstairs already so you could have your breakfast.”
She is about to fix my bed, but I immediately came to her side and snatched the comforter that she was holding so I could fix my own bed. she looked at me or a few seconds before a smile forms on her lips.
“Oh, why are you smiling?”
“Nothing important, I am just glad that you are here.”
For some unknown reason, something urge me to engulf her in a warm embrace.
“By the way, what is the noise outside all about?” I asked Letty while she was tying the curtain that runs on the entire room. I walked closer to the window to get a glimpse of those people outside. Each of them have their own placards and the printed face of my father as they raise it in the air and shout.
“They are farmers who are protesting to get back their farming land. get used to it.” She left my room first before I ran after her until we reached the kitchen. She is helping Aunt Evy - her mother who was also working for a long time for us, in preparing meals.
Her appearance was no longer the same as how i used to remember her - her face is wrinkled as well as her forehead. I kept on observing her as she placed the menu on our table. Her hands are also becoming skinnier than before. When she realized that I was looking at her, she looked and gave me a smile.
“How are you, senorita? It is great to know that you are already awake. Your parent’s have been waiting already in their bedroom. However, you can wait for them here, they will arrive soon.” she said with a gentle voice.
I embraced her which then caused her to be surprised. In truth, I am closer to her than my real mother. Same goes for Uncle Ben who is currently my driver. They are both husband and wife whom I envy eversince. I know that Aunty Evy is very happy today that her husband went home.
I can still remember those various times when Uncle Ben asked for my permission for him to go home, but I did not let him. I just can’t find someone else to work for me if he leaves. I can’t find anyone else whom I can trust among our workers, aside from him.
“Oh… Why are you suddenly hugging me?” she laughingly said while she was still in my embrace. I felt her hands wrap around me, as she caressed my back.
“I just missed you so much, Auntie. And stop calling me Senorita; you and Letty are already like a family to me.” I said but they both shook their heads. The reason behind their rejections must be because my parents do not like it when our workers are not calling me senorita. But for me, we are all equal beings with the same path in life, same ending.
Even though I am closer with Aunt Evy than my own mother, I am still thankful because despite the fact that I am an orphan, they have still cherished me like their own daughter. It was just a shame that I was not able to know my biological mother who died giving birth to me. I learned about that fact when I was in Senior highschool; when I ran away from our house. I came here, while my parents are in the province. The only one who was by my side back then was Uncle Ben, who remained with me even without a wage. I was so brave or reckless back then that I ran away even though I knew that my savings would not be enough for me to live. Back then, I didn't even have my credit cards that could help me pay my needs.
It's embarrassing to say that I lived with them for almost a month so I became close to the girl I used to hate, Letty. Letty who did nothing but annoy the hell out of me every morning to wake up and go to school. Because I became friends with Letty at that time, I went with her when she wasn't busy to go for a walk. But people thought differently of me once we were in the park, where the kids were playing street games.
I heard some parents come after their child talking about me.
"Why is Letty with that pretentious girl? She acts like she is an actual child of the mayor", said a woman dressed in flowers and curlers in her hair. Some women who are in their mid 40’s even approached her as well.
Papa was still a mayor, but people looked up to him as well as how they looked up at my Mama. But they all think differently of me. I didn't like my situation, but they seemed to make my life look miserable. Many envy me, even the kids who know me and bullies me sometimes. I look like a gold digger to them. But I was young then, so I didn't even complain.
"Who are you referring to?" one of them asked. The woman in curlers slowly pointed at me. I then pretended to be just looking at another kid who had just arrived at the playground.
"Ah, Letty? Maybe Donya Leonora kicked her out because she realized that an orphan like her does not belong with her family", they even slapped their fan while laughing.
When that happened Letty and I did not return to the park, because I immediately returned to the city the next day to clarify everything with my parents. They made me understand that they considered me as their real child - they gave everything they could for me. They are planning to tell me the truth but they are often preceded by nervousness.