Inis akong napabangon mula sa pagkakahiga ng makaramdam ng gutom. Umaga na at paniguradong pasikat na ang araw. Tutal ay wala naman akong ginagawa at hindi na rin ako makatulog, napagdesisyunan ko na lamang na magluto ng agahan.
I miss my usual breakfast. Sa bahay na ito ay sikat ang kanin. Fried rice sa umaga, rice sa tanghali at gabi. Understandable kasi may estudyante pero hindi kasi ganoon ang nakasanayan ko.
It's either pancake, oatmeal and sandwiches or just coffee. I don't eat too much rice as it gives me too much calories. Hindi pa naman ako nakakapag-exercise nitong mga nakaraang araw. I don't know if there is a gym here. I will ask later…or not. Tss. Mas mabuti sana kung nakakapag-jogging ako sa labas kaso hindi nga ako nakakalabas at naisip ko rin na baka hindi ko rin kayanin ang lamig. Now, I'm very sure na merong gym or exercise equipment sa bahay na ito. Sa laki ba namang ng katawan ng lalaking iyon.
Matapos mag-ayos ay dumiretso na ako sa kusina. Naabutan ko ang mga katulong na naghahanda ng almusal. Naroon rin si Manang Tess.
I found out their names when I asked Mrs. Tess. It was again a series of banter.
"Asawa at anak mo hindi mo alam ang pangalan? Hindi mo ako maloloko Veronica." she replied skeptically.
Umikot ang mga mata ko. "Magtatanong ba ako kung alam ko? Sinasabi ko naman na hindi ako si Veronica, may naniwala ba? Now, tell me the name of your boss, or I’ll start calling you and everyone else in this home cartoon character names,” nakataas ang kilay na banta ko.
In the end, nalaman ko ang mga pangalan nila. She was Manang Tess, the mayordoma in the house. Iyong dalawang mas batang katulong na babae ay si Gigi at Hana. And for the finale, the owner of this house was none other than Zackarios Bullet Hyacintt. 
I know him. Kilala ang pangalang iyan sa business world. His reputation precedes him like a white horse galloping through the wild. Mailap but can lead his kingdom powerfully. Can stand alone. Walang sinoman ang nakakalapit ng basta-basta. My father, sadly, are far more loser than him. My father was just in his wings! Our business is nothing compared to him! 
Kung ikukumpara sa bahay, ang sa amin ay mansyon, sa kanila ay kastilyo. 
I must have been out of my mind to test the patience of such a powerful corporate monster. Malay ko ba na ganoon kalakas ang kapangyarihan niya?
At syempre wala naman akong pake dahil gaya nga ng sabi ko at pilit kong ipinipilit sa kanila, hindi ako si Veronica at wala akong kasalanang ginawa sa kanila. 
While the son was called Zanarious Ash Hyacintt. The very sweet, innocent ang lovable kid. At syempre, ang lahat ng ito ay para sa bata.
I don't understand why Zackarios was still trying to save his shattered marriage. Bakit hindi na lang siya makipag-hiwalay at humanap ng iba Is he so in love with his wife that he would rather reunite with her than get a divorce While I understand his desire to give his son a complete family, relying on a perfect family to exist seems unrealistic. Kahit na sila lang mag-ama ay pamilya pa rin. Hindi namin kailangan na magpanggap na masaya sa harap ng bata because all of it will all thrown to the child.
Baka pa maisip ng bata na ang pamilya niya ay hindi naman talaga totoo at maaaring gawin kahit na hindi mag-invest ng feelings and emotions.
Buy anyway, I must acknowledge that any advice I gave was solely for my own benefit, as I was not in their shoes.
Although I live like I am not myself too, masasabi ko na ang buhay na meron ako ay totoo. Not perfect but true.
When I was young, my mother passed away from cancer, and my father became completely devoted to her memory. He made decisions for me, shutting all my doors and molding me into the daughter everyone wanted. He ruled my life, and I yearned to be free, like a wave trapped by a bridge.
And I did get my freedom, only to be caught by another wall of bridge. The wild waves are starting to retaliate by pushing and breaking it.
In life, we often yearn for what we lack, long to see what remains hidden, and wish to experience what we have yet to feel. But what our hearts desire may either heal or destroy us. This is the circle of life. 
It’s understandable why some people feel envious of what they don’t have. Even if we have everything we need, we can still feel a sense of lack, absence, and loss. There’s always something missing.
I felt truly free when I stood up to my father, and it was a wise decision. It gave me a new perspective, realizing that there are others who are in far worse circumstances than I am. It also made me realize that we’re all the same. No matter the situation, it comes down to the decisions we make, the actions we take, and the outcome we desire.
However, I’m still angry about being confined here. It’s frustrating, especially when it seems like everyone in this house despises me, even though I’m not doing anything wrong.
Well, except for Rious.
Rious, the gentle and innocent boy who longs to see his mother. I don’t know what Veronica did, but it seems like she has forgotten about her son.
I have made a promise to myself that I will not be like her in this lifetime.
"Tutulong ako sa paggawa ng breakfast," simpleng announce ko sa kanila.
Gulat nila akong nilingon lalo nila Gigi at Hana.
"Sige. Pagsilbihan mo ang mag-ama mo," sabi ni Manange Tess na ikinaikot lang ng mata ko.
Para sa akin lang talaga dapat ang breakfast na lulutuin ko pero sige, dadamihan ko na para sa aming lahat. Nakakahiya naman at nakikitira lang ako rito. 
I treated myself as a guest, despite them all insisting that I am Veronica. I do not see myself that way.
"I will make pancakes. Do you have ready to mix pancake box?" tanong ko at dumiretso sa mga cupboard para maghanap.
Siguro naman meron kasi may bata sa bahay. Of course, it’s not just for kids – even adults enjoy this kind of breakfast food.
Nakakita naman ako ng isang box at agad ko iyong kinuha at kumuha ng malaking bowl.
Kumuha ako ng iba pang ingredients at pinag-mix na lahat. Balak sanang tumulong ni Gigi sa ginagawa ko na hindi ko na pinayagan dahil may iba na silang pinagkakaabalahan. Isa pa, madali lang naman magluto ng pancake.
Cooking was a skill that my father expected me to master to become his ideal daughter. Pumasok pa nga ako sa isang culinary school noong college to get units as my extra subjects.
It's fine though dahil nang magdesisyon akong maging independent, ang pagluluto ng sariling pagkain ang isa sa hindi ko pinroblema.
Binuksan ko na ang kalan at hinintay na uminit ang kawali. Habang ginagawa iyon ay lumingon ako sa mga kasama ko ng pasulyap-sulyap sa akin at sa ginagawa ko. Tumaas ang kilay ko.
"Gusto mo ba ma'am na ako na ang magluto? Para po hindi masunog," maingat na wika ni Hana.
Umiling ako at ngumiti. "Oh no, I can manage. I won't overcook the pancake. Paki-kuha na lang ako ng plato, thank you."
Sumunod naman si Hana sa utos ko at hindi na ako kinausap pa. Mukhang tapos na sila sa pagluluto dahil imbes na umalis ay tumambay sila sa likod ko at parang pinapanood ako sa pagluluto. Oh well, that's new.
Over the past few days, they have avoided me and seemed irritated by my presence. Parang inis pa nga sila sa akin. I understand their behavior, but is it fair to show anger towards someone who has done nothing to provoke it?
Whether we are friends or foes, strangers or acquaintances, it’s important to treat each other with civility and respect. Unless pino-provoke tayo, then show them no mercy. Pero kung kagaya ko na wala namang ginagawang masama sa kanila, at least treat me like a person too. We don't need to be friendly and vocal. Just be formal and civil.
Kaya ngayon ay weird ang kanilang inaakto dahil mukhang nahimasmasan na sila na wala akong planong gawin sa kanila.
Naluto ko ng maayos ang first batch. I'm on my second batch ng tuluyang lumapit si Manang Tess sa akin.
"Kailan ka pa natutong magluto? Noong nakaraang buwan lang ah sabi mo hindi ka na tatapak sa kusina?"
Napangisi ako sa narinig. Mukhang alam ko na kung paano ko sila mapapaniwala na hindi ako si Veronica.
Tumikhim ako saka malumanay na sumagot. "Noong college ay pumasok ako sa culinary school. Gusto kasi ni dad na matuto akong magluto. Dapat daw lahat ng babae ay marunong magluto dahil sila ang ilaw ng tahanan. Ang sabi ni dad, kapag marunong akong magluto, maipagluluto ko ang aking pamilya. Ikaw ba Manang, anong paborito mong pagkain at maipagluto kita? Anong paboritong pagkain ni Rious?" inosenteng tanong ko. Tama, magluluto ako ng lunch para kay Rious. 
Zanarious was still in grade school, but he only went for half the day. Mayroon siyang sariling Yaya na kasama niya sa school hanggang sa pag-uwi.
Hindi ko sila pinansin kahit na hindi ako sinagot ni Manang. Hah! Take that information. Mag-isip kayo ng mag-isip hanggang sa ma-realize niyo na hindi ako si Veronica.
Dala ang dalawang plato ng pancake ay dumiretso ako sa dining area at ibinaba sa mesa ang niluto. Napangiti ako ng maabutan roon si Rious na agad na bumaba sa upuan para mahalikan ako sa pisngi.
"Good morning mommy!"
"Good morning too baby! how's your sleep?" I sweetly ask.
"Good mommy! Will you tuck me to sleep and read me story again tonight?" his eyes was twinkling while looking at me. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi maisip ang kanyang ama na gaya niya ay kumikinang ang mata. Not just because he's happy but because he look gentle whenever he stare at his son. Medyo good naman siya roon dahil kahit na may witch siyang asawa, mahal na mahal naman niya ang anak.
“Absolutely, my little prince. I can’t wait to read you a story tonight,” I replied, beaming at Rious. He was the only one in the house who brought me genuine happiness and I treasured our time together.
... 
𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚙 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎😘 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞!