Palmyra: Evan Vinter

*Anissa's POV* Tomorrow is the day. Tomorrow is the day where I will leave everything behind. Everything is settled, all I need is for me to get out of this house nang walang nakakapansin na maglalayas ako. "Going anywhere, Anissa?" My stepmother, Crizelda, asked me with her penciled eyebrow arching. I gave her a small smile. Though I don't like her, my mom never taught me to disrespect a person unless she is disrespecting me, my beliefs, my family and my loved ones. "I have a few things to settle before the new semester starts," I answered. She nodded then left. Crizelda Bonifacio is my stepmother. Unfortunately, my papa married her a few years later after my mom died. Her daughter is my father's illegitimate child. What a concept, eh? Clarissa, my half-sister, is a few months older than me. Meaning, her mom and my papa had an affair a few months before my parents got married. (They said my mom was pregnant when they got married.) Arnold Cordovia, my father, is a business tycoon. He loves me even though he has Crizelda and Clarissa too. It looks like he even favours me rather than the two. I have no problem with that. But Papa could be very strict. Maybe he doesn't know that I know that he has bodyguards secretly looking out for my every move. Gladly I have a plan already. "Annie, anak, kain ka na muna," Nana Carol called me. Nana Carol is very special to me. Bata pa lang ako ay siya na ang nagaalaga sa akin. When I miss my mom nagku-kwento siya ng mga bagay tungkol sakaniya. Nana Carol literally raised me. Alongside with my childhood friend, Freya. Freya is my childhood friend. When Papa forbade me to befriend other kids rather than his business partners' kids, Freya is the only one who accepted my friendship without looking at my family's social status. Isang palaboy dati si Freya sa kalsada malapit sa village na tinitirahan namin. When I told Papa about her, pinagbawalan niya akong lumapit sakaniya, but this is the first time that I had a real friend so I insisted. My father cannot say no to me kaya kinalaunan ay tinanggap niya si Freya sa bahay. She worked hard to earn my father's trust that she will not use and hurt me. Ever since nagta-trabaho na si Freya sa amin. Nang dumating si Crizelda at Clarissa sa bahay ay personal kong hiniling kay Papa na hindi nila maaaring utusan si Freya at Nana Carol. Lalong hindi nila pwedeng pagbuhatan ito ng kamay, kung hindi, ako ang makakalaban nila. Gladly, dad said yes. Sa ngayon ay naga-aral si Freya sa isang University pero hindi kung saan ako naga-aral. She's studying Nursing and she's on her OJT kaya malimit siyang umuwi at malimit kaming nakakapagusap dahil sa busy siya. "Salamat po." Ngumiti ako kay Nana Carol at umupo sa high stool. I don't eat at the dinning table unless I get to dine with Papa. Nana Carol served me a couple of pancakes, which is my favorite, with bacon on the side, orange juice, a bottle of maple syrup and a cup of condensed milk. Nana really knows what I love. "Come and join me for breakfast, Nana Carol." I said. Nana doesn't need to be told twice, because she knows that I want her and Freya to eat with me whenever I ask them to. While we were eating I looked at Nana and felt a pang on my chest. I'm going to leave this house, meaning I am also leaving her and Freya. Siguradong tatanungin sila ni Papa tungkol sakin. I cannot let them be in danger. "Bakit ka nakatingin ng ganyan sakin, anak?" Nakangiting tanong ni Nana sa akin. Nginitian ko siya at sinabing. "Nothing, Nana. I'm just wondering kung kailan uuwi si Freya." Tumango ito. "Malamang ay matatagalan pa ang batang iyon. Ang sabi niya ay marami pa siyang kailangang asikasuhin sa eskwelahan." I nodded. Then Nana talked again. "Annie, anak, may sasabihin sana ako sa iyo." Kinabahan ako but I kept a straight face. "Ano po iyon, Nana?" She smiled at me shyly. "Manganganak kasi ang anak ng pamangkin ko. Walang maga-alaga sa batang iyon kaya hihingi sana ako ng ilang buwan kung maari, uuwi muna ako sa probinsya." "Of course, Nana! Wala hong kaso sa akin iyon. You can stay there as long as you want. May maitutulong po ba ako? Cash? The baby's needs? Tell me and I'll help, Nana." Actually I felt relieved. Nana will be away with a valid reason and dad won't suspect her. Also, I am more than willing to help Nana Carol. She dedicated her life to me and our family. She didn't even have her own family because she is busy taking care of me. Every time na sinasabi kong I am okay if she wants to leave and take care of her nieces and nephews lagi niyang sinasabi na ayaw niyang umalis, paano na daw ako kapag umalis siya. So I owe Nana Carol everything. And I am willing to give her everything she wants and needs for her to be happy. "Ano ka ba naman, Annie. Ayos lang ako. Ang dami kong naiipon sa sweldo na binibigay ng ama mo at ikaw na rin." I held her hand and smiled at her. "You deserve more, Nana. You gave up everything for me and this family. Handa akong ibigay ang mga kailangan mo, Nana." Nana Carol cupped my face. "Napakabait mong bata. Just like your mother." I hugged her. ~~ I went to the University that afternoon, and Nana Carol left as soon as I got home. We bid our goodbyes and see you soon. I guess she talked to Freya that she'll be leaving for a few months and she agreed to go to her province once she is free from her school works. Dinner was awkward. It always been ever since Crizelda and Clarissa came into our lives. Papa cleared his throat as soon as he is done with his dessert. "Annie, Clarissa," he called us. "I have a convention in California for a week and a half, Crizelda is coming with me. I would like to ask if you two wants to come as well?" I immediately shook my head sideways. Papa knows I hate to go somewhere with them. I don't know why, I just don't want to. "I'm fine here," I said as I ate the last bite of my dessert. Clarissa shrugged. "Wala naman po akong gagawin doon, Papa. Might as well stay here." It still gives me chills when she calls Papa, Papa. Papa nodded. "We'll be leaving tonight. I'm sure you too will be in your best behavior?" She nodded, I shrugged. I'm leaving tomorrow, and no one can stop me. ~~ It was almost midnight when Papa and Crizelda left. I also went to bed when Papa bid his goodbye. I'll see you soon, Papa. ~~ I woke up early. I feel excited yet scared. This is it. I have to be careful today. Isang maling move ay siguradong mahuhuli ako. Papa's bodyguards are still on my tail. I went to the mall to buy a few stuffs I need before I go later. I went to the cemetery. I want to see mom because I know matatagalan pa bago ako makabalik dito. I smiled bitterly as I touched mom's tomb. Here lies a loving wife and a wonderful mother. Alissa Hawthorne-Cordovia March 23, 1974 - August 10, 2007 "Hi, Mom," I sat in front of her tomb. "I miss you." Lahat ng plano ko sinasabi ko sakaniya. Every time na pupunta ako dito kinukwento ko ang lahat. I actually started keeping the things I need here in mom's mausoleum. Her mausoleum is so big it can be a house. Papa surely loves mom dahil maski nasa kabilang buhag na ito ay gusto pa rin niyang komportable ang labi niya. "This is it, mom. Ito na yun. I'm gonna be free soon." Inside mom's mausoleum, there are rooms upstairs. Nagpagawa si Papa 'nun dahil tuwing November dito kami nags-stay pari na rin kapag birthday and death anniversary ni Mommy. Until Crizelda and Clarissa came. Ako na lang halos ang nagpupunta dito. I don't mind, I want to talk to mom alone. After kong ayusin ang room na gagamitin ko ay umuwi na ako sa bahay para kunin pa ang ibang natitirang gamit ko. "Ate Remy," I called her. "Pwede po bang pa-ayos ako ng meryenda at dinner? I'm staying at mom's mausoleum." I asked one of our kasambahay. And she gladly obliged. I said thanks and went inside my room to grab my other things. Ever since bata ako Nana Carol gives me a certain shampoo and soap na made exclusively for me. I don't know saan niya ito nakukuha pero she's given me a lot of those products. It was a good product so hindi ako umaangal na gamitin ito. I packed a lot of those in my over night bag and other essentials that I need. Money is not a problem, I have saved a lot for it. As I said, matagal ko ng plano ito. Everything is set. Ako na lang ang kulang. I took a last look inside my room and smiled bitterly. "See you when I see you." Habang pababa ako ng hagdan saktong kalalabas ni Clarissa sa kitchen. Tumaas ang kilay niya nang makita ang hawak kong overnight bag. Tinaasan ko rin siya ng kilay. Then Ate Remy came with a huge paper bag. She smiled at me and said, "Nag-pack na rin ho ako ng dessert at iba pang pagkain diyan, Miss Annie." Nginitian ko rin si Ate Remy. Napaka-bait nito sakin simula ng dumating siya rito sa bahay. Tinignan ko ang loob ng paper bag at nakita ang nakahiwalay na plastic ng meryenda at dinner na pinahanda ko, pati na rin ang sari-saring chocolate, chips, at drinks. "Maraming salamat, Ate Remy. Bye." Paalam ko rito. "Ingat kayo, Miss Annie." Sabi nito pabalik saakin. I gave a last smile. Dinaanan ko lang si Clarissa at hindi siya nagsalita. Good. I gave one last look at the house where I grew up. See you when I see you. Hopefully not soon.