Under the Starlight

1

The two girls who just left kept me wondering. They were so nice to me especially the other one. She's really talkative and friendly. 

"How do you find them, Liv?" Mommy asked after they left. "Friend sila ng Kuya Seb mo," she added.

"They're nice, Mom. I like them," I answered honestly. 

I don't have friends kasi I was home schooled since I started. I had brain tumor which was a hindrance for me to study normally. I would often have seizures which can only be controlled when my parents were around.  I didn't have a surgery until I was in Grade 4. 

I grew up in Spain kasi my father was from Spain. Kuya Leon is my half-brother, he has a different father but my dad always treats him like his own blood and flesh. 

"Aayusin lang namin lahat ng documents para ma-transfer na kayo dito, mga anak. Two or three weeks from now ay pwede na kayong pumasok sa Velasquez High," sabi ni Mommy sa amin over dinner.

We decided to live in the Philippines dahil sa nandito ang business ni Daddy which is wine industry. We are rich and I know that for a fact, Mom is from an old-rich family too. 

"I thought you were going to study in Manila?" I asked my Kuya Leon. 

He shook his head. "No. Dito na lang din para matignan ka," he said.

I made a face, "I'm fine, guys. I'm a big girl already. You don't have to worry over me. I'm fully recovered and function alone. You don't have to worry, okay?" I told them.

They just looked at me as if they were really listening to me. I know them. They would still guard me kahit old na ako. 

That was the beginning of my life. Mom decided to hire a tutor for me so I can speak Filipino. I can understand Filipino and can speak some of it but not entirely. Mica was the one who helped me to speak Filipino.

She would always go to our place every weekend to teach me and I'm so glad to her. Because of her, I can speak fluent Filipino already. We became close and I treated her as my sister and best friend too.

"Liv, can I talk to you?" Mommy asked one night after weeks of living in the Philippines.

I looked at her and nodded, "Sure. What is it mom?" I replied.

She walked towards me and held my hand. "How are you feeling? Okay ka na ba dito sa Pilipinas? May mga kaibigan ka na ba?" sunod-sunod na question niya sa akin.

I nodded and smiled at her. "Yeah. I have Chari and Mica as my friends. They're so nice and fun to be with. Why did you ask, Mom?" 

Mommy caressed my hair gently, "Wala lang. Akala ko kasi mahihirapan ka dahil nandito tayo sa Pilipinas. Alam naman namin ng Daddy mo kung gaano mo kamahal ang Spain. I'm sorry at kailangan natin lumipat. Alam mo naman na hindi tayo pwedeng malayo sa Dad mo," Mommy explained to me.

"Everything's fine, Mom. You don't have to worry. You explained that already to me. Kuya and I, will always support and go wherever with the two of you," nakangiting sabi ko sa kanya. 

Mommy's restless, I can see that. She wants to say something to me na hindi niya masabi kaagad. I squeezed her hand, "Pray tell, mom. What's bothering you?" I asked her.

She breathed out a deep sighed. "Natatandaan mo ba ‘yong sinabi ko sa iyo noon na isa ring dahilan kung bakit natin kailangan lumipat sa Pilipinas?" she asked me.

My smile faded when she said that. I can still remember everything about that. I remember how I cried and said that I won't do that. It's just a tradition so why should I do it? It shouldn't be me after all. 

"Nandito na rin sa Pilipinas ang lalaking iyon, Liv. Inaantay lang namin ang oras kung kailan kayo dapat magkita," Mom said to me.

I pulled my hand from her, "It should be Althea, not me. Why don't you ask her again and convince her to become that man's wife? I have dreams, Mommy. I don't like be cage at all," I told her. 

"I'm sorry, Liv, but Althea runaway with her boyfriend. Hindi na nga siya nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral niya kaya hindi na rin namin siya mahanap pa. I'm sorry at ikaw ang kinakailangan na magsakripisyo para lang sa kanya," Mom said.

Tradition will never fit me. I love my life but I hate this part. I hate that fact, that I have to be married with a stranger. 

Years passed by and I'm fully adjusted on the way of living in the Philippines. I had friends especially Mica and Chari. They were the kindest person that I have ever met. They don't judge me unlike our other classmates.

"Wala tayong magagawa kung inggitera ‘yan," Chari spoke loudly after I won the title for Ms. Intrams when I was on 2nd year.

I have to stop her from arguing with other candidates. I can't blame though. My mom put everything for this pageant. She wants me to become the winner. 

"Let them, Chari. We can't stop them from thinking differently," I told her.

She rolled her eyes to them before leaving with us. I even asked for Kuya Seb's help to calm her so she would stop being mad. 

On our third year in high school, I can speak Filipino to my classmates. That was one of my greatest achievements in life. 

"May sundo ka pala?" Mica asked when she saw our car parked outside the school.

I shrugged off my shoulder. I didn't know. "I'll go na. Do you have sundo ba? Do you want to sabay with us?" I asked her. 

Nauna na kasi si Kuya Seb at Chari na umuwi. I was left with Mica kaya naiwan kaming dalawa. Mica shook her head, "Ako na lang," she said.

I nodded before saying goodbye to her tsaka ako sumakay sa car namin. Si Mommy and Daddy ang nandoon and wala si Kuya Leon. "Where's Kuya?" I asked.

"May pupuntahan daw ang Kuya mo, anak. Matanda naman na siya kaya alam na niya ang ginagawa niya," Mommy said to me.

"Alright. So where are we going? Why did you fetch me?" I unpacked my things from my bag. I have to answer some of my assignments pa.

"Where going to Manila, Liv. Remember yung sinabi namin ng Daddy mo sa iyo? About your fiancée? Makikita mo na siya ngayon," Mom announced and my world suddenly stop.