Ripped Through the Velvet Sky (Papiliones Series #1)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

Perfume

My brow creased in frustration as I did another spray of perfume on my wrist. Kanina pa ako rito sa men’s section at hanggang ngayon hindi pa ako nakakaalis. Nakakahiya dahil nakaalis na lang ang ibang nandito kanina pero ako hanggang ngayon namimili pa rin. Salit-salitan lang at paulit-ulit ang pag-spray at amoy ko sa dalawang perfume na pinagpipilian ko.

The problem is I couldn’t choose which one to buy. Both smells really nice but have different kind of scent. I sighed in exasperation and picked up the two perfumes. Pinakatitigan ko ang dalawang pabango.

“Which one should I buy then?” pagkausap ko sa sarili.

“This one’s better,” boses ng isang lalaki.

Halos ikaatras ko naman nang sumunod doon may kamay na tumuro sa isa sa mga hawak kong pabango. Gulat man ay tumango ako sang-ayon sa opinyon nito dahil iyon din ang tingin ko.

Binalik ko na sa lagayan ang pabangong hindi ko napili. Magpapasalamat sana ako sa lalaki ngunit nang lingunin ko ay nakalayo na ito at likod na lang nito ang naabutan ko.

Ipinagkibit balikat ko na lang iyon at dumiretso na sa cashier para bayaran ang pabango. Thanks to him, nakaalis na rin ako roon. Mabuti na ring galing sa opinyon ng lalaki ang napili kong pabango. Mapang-asar pa naman at may kaartehan ang reregaluhan ko.

“Nakauwi na ba si Mommy, Ate Che?” tanong ko sa babaeng driver namin.

Yes, our driver’s a she. Even iyong mga katiwala namin sa bahay ay mga babae, magmula sa gardener, kasambahay pati guards. Wala pang lalaking nakakatapak sa bahay namin bukod kay Lyle na anak ni Tita Syl at nag-iisang kaibigan ko rin.

For some reason, everything is the way it is ever since mamulat ako. I never had the chance to ask Mommy about it as well. No matter how curious I am there’s just something that’s kind of stopping me from asking.

Nakita ko ang pagtingin nito sa akin sa may rearview mirror bago bumalik sa daan ang tingin. “Nasa trabaho pa, Miss mamaya pa po ang uwi.”

Busy na naman siguro at maraming gawain ngayon sa kompanya. Mommy runs Victoria Valeiras Design, an interior designing company her grandmother founded. She was an interior designer herself, so I think it runs in the family. It’s quite well known so they always have projects and works. But I heard they’re working on a big project kaya halos laging nasa company nila si Mommy.

Bumuntonghininga ako at tumanaw na lang sa bintana. I watched the sky with fascination as it changes color due to the approaching nightfall. Napakaganda noon. The clouds run free on the beautiful sky that it was so satisfying to watch. I wish am as free as the clouds, too where I could be wherever I wanted to.

I wonder though how it felt like to be free like clouds. Freedom that isn’t limited.

I may sound ungrateful for complaining about my life despite living a very comfortable one. But I just couldn’t help it when I still feel incomplete and not contented. Being an only child, my mother showered me with everything from material things, a luxurious life and love. But there’s one thing I don’t possess and that is—freedom like other kids have.

I always wonder if kids my age have the kind of freedom then why can’t I? I really can’t understand Mommy’s overprotectiveness. I mean I know that she only loves me that’s why, but I really do think it’s over that it was suffocating sometimes.

Hindi ko gusto ang mga naiisip ko at ang pakiramdam na nasasakal sa ina dahil mahal ko ito ngunit hindi ko lang maiwasan minsan tuwing nakakaramdam ng kakaibang lungkot at inggit sa iba. Kahit anong tanggi ko, hindi ko maiwasang mainggit sa mga ibang kaedad ko na nakakapagliwaliw at nagagawa ang gusto. They are somehow free to do things and go to places they like without worrying if they are allowed to go or not.

Pinilig ko ang ulo para alisin ang mga iyon sa isipan ko. I shouldn’t be comparing my life to them, but I just couldn’t help it. Ever since, I was little I never got the kind of freedom and I was always limited. Lagi ay bahay at escuelahan lang ako.

Nagkanya-kanyang punta na sa mga grupo nila ang mga kaklase ko matapos lumabas ng panghuling subject teacher namin sa araw na ito. Pinuno ng ingay at daldalan ang room. Ang iba’y nagrereklamo o hindi kaya ay malalakas na humikab at nag-unat na akala mo kagigising lang.

Napangiti ako saka agad na tumayo matapos iligpit ang mga gamit at hinanap ng mga mata ang kaibigan na papunta na rin pala sa pwesto ko.

“Thank God, natapos rin,” ani Czeilish sabay eksaheradang bumuntonghininga. “Wala man lang yata akong tamang sagot sa quiz, kainis!” mungkahi nito sa asar na boses saka ngumuso.

Mahinang humalakhak naman si Rael na mabilis pinukol ng masamang tingin ng isa.

“Hindi ka kasi nakikinig. I saw you earlier and you’re yawning the whole time!” puna nito.

“Nakakaantok kaya ‘no! Isa pa, I’m not really fond of history! Bakit pa kasi kailangang balikan ang nakaraan, e tapos na nga?” Czeilish countered that made me and Rael laugh.

Naiiling ako habang natatawa pa rin dahil sa huli sinabi ng kaibigan. Hindi ko alam kung alam ba nito na parang may iba pang ibig sabihin ang huling tinuran. Sinukbit ko na ang bag ko sa akin at handa nang umalis klaya natigil ang dalawa saka bumaling sa akin.

“Hey, tara sa cafe tayo?” si Czeilish sabay angkla sa braso ko.

“Oo nga! Game ako, parang nagcacrave rin ako ngayon,” Rael seconded her then they turned to me.

“I’ll call, Mommy magpapaalam lang ako.”

Tumango naman ang dalawa sa akin at hinayaan ako. I took my phone out and dial Mommy’s number saka lumayo sa dalawang kaibigan. Mabilis naman nitong sinagot ang tawag habang nag-iisip pa lang ako ng sasabihin. Wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang mahinang tumikhim saka dinala sa tenga ang phone.

“Hello, Aeri napatawag ka?”

“Yes, Mommy...uh... magpapaalam lang sana ako, pupunta kaming cafe....” I bit my lower lip when she stayed silent for a while.

“Sino-sino kayo?”

I swallowed before answering.

“Ako at sina Rael., the three of us,” malinaw kong turan.

“Okay, you can go. But always stay with your friends only. Also, update me at least until you get home safely,” bilin nito na sunod-sunod kong tinanguan habang malawak na ang ngisi kahit na hindi naman nito nakikita.

“I will, Mommy. Thank you!” I delightfully answered; I tried to suppress it a bit pero sad’yang nag-uumapaw ang saya ko.

“Okay, take care. Tell Rael and Czeilish to take care as well,” tumango ako at nagpaalam na sa ina.

Napa-yes na lang ako sa hangin at masayang hinarap ang mga kaibigan. Napangiti rin ng malapad ang dalawa sa akin, alam na agad kung anong nangyari sa pagpapaalam ko.

“Let’s go!”

With that the three of us left the room happily.

Last time I remember thinking how it would felt like having friends other than Lyle. Friends that I’d call my own and I didn’t expect that I’d really have friends as soon as I reached high school. It’s almost like an impossible thing way back but now I have been friends with these girls for three years now. I still can’t believe it though, it’s like a wish coming true.

It was in grade seven, Czeilish being the social butterfly was actually the one who created the bond between us three. Ito ang unang kumausap sa akin noon, ganoon din kay Rael. We all have different personalities but then Czeilish made the friendship of us three possible. Now, I’m more than grateful for these two, my life has been way livelier and more different than ever before.

Both of them are pretty popular, Czeilish being part of the school’s dance troupe and the daughter of this university’s director. She got this lithe aura that would make you feel comfortable even though you just happen to meet her. On the other hand, Rael was known for being the pretty scholar, well she’s indeed both beauty and brain.

Automatiko ang paglingon ko sa classroom ng STEM nang madaanan namin iyon. Natigilan ako nang mapansin ang sabay na paglingon namin ni Rael doon, making me grin. I know for sure that we’re looking for the same person on that room. Matagal ko nang napapansin ang kakaibang kilos ng kaibigan tuwing nasa paligid si Lyle but I haven’t ask her about it yet.

Mabilis kong inalis ang tingin sa room bago pa ibalik ni Rael ang tingin sa harap.