The world is being run by irresponsible spoiled brats – P.J. O'Rourke

ROZOVSKY HEIRS SERIES 11 | BEAUTIFUL TROUBLE

CHAPTER ONE | THE PRINCESS

MASHA

"It's like history is repeating again, Stas. I don't want to deal with another headache."

Napahinto ako sa pagpasok sa bahay nang marinig ko ang boses ni Mommy. Marahan akong sumilip at nakita kong naroon sila ni Daddy sa veranda at seryosong nag-uusap.

"Let her enjoy her life. Pinabayaan nga natin si Damien at Danny sa kung ano ang gusto nilang gawin. Why don't we give it to Masha?"

Napangiti ako. As always, my dad would always rescue me from my mom's nagging. Hindi ako umalis sa puwesto ko at nanatiling nakikinig lang sa kanila.

"Lalaki si Damien at si Danny. Walang mawawala kung ano man ang gawin nila." Napahinga ng malalim si Mommy at napaikot ako ng mata. That was what I didn't like with mom. She was always okay with what my brothers were doing. Pero kapag ako, laging maraming bawal. Parang hindi ko naman alam na nagpapula siya ng buhok noon. Tapos noong ako na ang gustong gumawa sobra ang pagbabawal nila.

"At least do something about her lifestyle. I have been seeing things in her social media account. Kung saan-saan pumupuntang parties ang anak mo. Wild parties. She's been drunk and with so many different people every night." Tonong disappointed pa rin si Mommy.

Napahinga ako ng malalim. I thought Mom was cool. Now I realized she has favorites among her kids and that was not me. Hindi katulad ni Daddy. Alam kong ako ang paborito. Lahat ng gusto ko ibinibigay.

"Do you want Masha to experience what happened to Saryna? Did you see what happened to her? Her heartbreak? Her parents' heartbreak?" Napahinga ng malalim si Mommy. "There are so many things happened to us. With Damien and now Danny. Kung may magagawa tayong paraan para sawayin si Masha sa ginagawa niya, bakit hindi natin gawin ngayon?"

Mom, you are such a kill joy. Ano ba ang ginagawa ko? I am enjoying my life just like anyone else at my age. Ano ang gusto mong gawin ko? Mag-mongha dito sa bahay? And what's wrong being like Ate Saryna? She was a legend in her time. What she did was cool and I wanted to be like her.

Gustong-gusto ko iyong sabihin pero pinigil ko ang bibig ko. Kahit madalas na magka-kontra kami ni Mommy, I still respect her and I knew Dad would immediately scold me once I said something that would hurt mom.

"Babe," muli ay napaikot ako ng mata. For sure nilalambing na ni Dad si Mom. "Just be cool about Masha. Your daughter is smart and I know she is responsible and knows what is right and what is wrong."

Hindi sumagot si Mommy pero halatang hindi kumbinsido sa mga sinasabi ni Dad.

"Babe," tonong nanunuyo pa ri si Daddy. "Come on. Smile. You know it breaks my heart if I don't see you smile." Napapangiti ako kahit hindi ko nakikita ang ginagawa nila. I am sure Dad was doing some tricks to make Mom smile. That was his way of making Mom smile and happy every day. My dad could be the total asshole to some people but when it comes to my Mom, he was totally whipped. Twenty-five plus years of being together and still the love he had for my mom never fades away. It kept on going stronger day by day that they were together.

"Just do something about Masha." Padaing na sagot ni Mommy.

"Yes. I am going to talk to Masha. And you know what, stay away from social media. It will just give you stress. Stop looking online."

"Puwede ko bang gawin 'yon? That's my way to watch the news. I want to see if there are news about our family. About our kids. Stas, you know what happened to Damien. I don't want that to happen again."

"It will not happen again, babe. I promise. It's all over. Damien and Peyton. May nanggugulo pa ba sa kanila? They are living happily together. Danny on the other hand..." saglit na napahinto si Dad at narinig kong napahinga ng malalim. "It will be over soon. Kung nakikipag-usap lang si Patek sa akin, maaayos ang lahat."

"Give him some time. Hindi mo masisisi. He almost lost his daughter. Kung sa'yo mangyari iyon, ganoon din ang mararamdaman mo. Baka sobra pa. Baka binaligtad mo na ang mundo." Ngayon ay natatawa na si Mommy.

Doon na ako lumabas sa pinagtataguan at exaggerated ang ngiti ko sa kanila. Hindi ko ipinahalata na narinig ko ang lahat ng pinag-uusapan nila tungkol sa akin.

"Mom! Dad! I missed you both." Yumakap pa ako kay Mommy at humalik sa pisngi at ganoon din ang ginawa ko kay Dad. Inilapag ko sa mesa ang dala kong sandwiches at coffee na binili ko sa Starbucks. "I brought coffee and sandwiches."

"Thank you, munchkin." Si Daddy ang todo ngiti na tiningnan ang dala ko at agad na kumuha. "You really know my favorite." Ipinakita pa sa akin ang binili kong ham and egg sandwich at sinimulang kainin iyon. Si Mommy naman ay nanatiling nakatingin lang sa akin. Inaaral ang bawat galaw ko. Nakatitig sa mukha ko.

"What's with that look, Mom?" Kunwa ay natatawang sabi ko at dinampot ko ang isang sandwich na dala ko at binuksan iyon.

"Did you have a good sleep?" Nanatiling nakatitig sa mukha ko si Mommy.

Napalunok ako. Obvious ba na wala pa akong tulog? I was at a party last night 'til five AM. Dumeretso nga ako sa coffee shop para bumili ng dala ko dito at dito ko na rin planong matulog. Ayaw kong doon ako sa condo ko mag-stay. Some of my friends crashed my place. Wala akong privacy.

"Of course," pagsisinungaling ko at itinuon ang pansin sa hawak kong sandwich at exaggerated na kumagat doon. "Where's Daci?"

"Your brother has a job. He's a cop. How about you? How's your job?" Si Mommy pa rin ang nagtatanong noon.

Napipikon na ako sa Mommy ko. Napaka-sarcastic ng mga tanong niya sa akin. For sure alam naman niya kung ano ang nangyayari sa trabaho ko.

"As if you don't know what's going on with me. Stalker kaya kita," mahina kong sagot pero alam kong narinig ni Daddy.

"Masha," nananaway ang tono ni Dad at hindi maganda ang tingin sa akin.

Napahinga ako ng malalim. "Bakit kasi ganyan ang tanong sa akin? Mom is treating me like I am thirteen years old. Maybe you forgot Mom, that I am already twenty-one. Turning twenty-two in a few months. I have my own job, my own money to spend. My life to live."

"Your mom is concern for your welfare. Don't get that wrong." Seryoso na ang tono ni Dad.

"I know but it's suffocating." Padaing kong sagot.

"Suffocating?" Si Mommy na ang nagsabi noon. "You think it's suffocating? It's because you know what you're doing is wrong. Partying every night? Hanging out with strangers? And what are you saying that I am stalking you? I am your mother, so I think it's my right to know what is going on with you." Bahagya nang tumaas ang boses ni Mommy. "Kahit umedad ka ng singkuwenta, habang buhay ako, I will still be your mother."

Tumingin sa gawi ko si Daddy at umiiling. Alam ko ang ibig niyang sabihin. Huwag na akong sumagot pa kay Mommy. Kitang-kita ko kay Mom ang disappointment at para huwag na lang humaba pa ang diskusyon namin, tumayo na si Mom at nagpaalam kay Dad na magpapahinga muna sa kuwarto. Alam kong dahilan lang iyon para hindi na lumala ang pagtatalo namin.

Naiwan kami ni Dad at sige lang siya kain ng sandwich na dala ko. Ako naman ay nawalan na ng gana at nag-uumpisang nang makaramdam ng antok.

"How's your work?" Ngayon ay nagre-refill na ng kape niya si Dad.

"Fine." Iyon lang ang nasagot ko. But the truth, not fine. Dalawang memo na ang na-receive ko dahil sa madalas akong absent at late. Malaki lang talaga ang investment ni Dad sa construction company na pinapasukan ko kaya hindi pa ako natatanggal doon. But I knew the news around. People didn't like me there. Like in show business, I was the nepo baby. I was just working there because of my family's connection.

"Butch called me." Binitiwan ni Dad ang hawak na sandwich tapos ay dinampot ang table napkin at pinahiran ang bibig. I knew who he was referring too. Butch was the owner of the company I was working with. Bahagya akong napangiwi. I am sure my father already knew what was going on in my job.

"Dad, you see... this is my first job. I am not used to work in an environment like that. I am not used to wake up so early every day." Lumabi na ako. "Why do I need to work to other people?"

"Munchkin, maybe you forgot that you're the one who begged me to work in that company." Tonong nagpapaalala si Daddy.

Totoo naman 'yon. Ako nga ang nagsabi sa kanya na ipasok niya ako sa construction company ng kaibigan niya dahil may nakilala akong cute sa bar na doon nagta-trabaho. Pero nawalan na rin ako ng gana nang makilala ko ng lubos ang lalaki. Mayabang. Mukhang pera. Gusto pa akong gawing sugar mommy nang malaman na mayaman ang pamilya ko. Ewww kaya. Kahit marami akong pera, ayaw ko naman maging sugar mommy. I wanted to be the sugar baby.

"But I am bored already." Padaling na sagot ko. "How about I work with you? Sa Fire Palace. You can give me a job and I can be a manager for a starting position."

Natawa si Daddy. Tingin ko ay hindi makapaniwala sa sinasabi ko.

"Manager, huh? And how do you plan to manage our hotel?" Umangat pa ang kilay niya sa akin.

Nag-isip ako. "I am going to ask Senior Manager's help." Lumapit pa ako kay Dad at humilig sa balikat niya. I knew I was his favorite and he couldn't say no to me. "Come on, Dad." Nilambingan ko pa ang boses. "I am a fast learner."

Pero nagulat ako nang marahan akong inilayo ni Daddy sa kanya. Hinawakan ang mukha ko tapos ay napangiti at pinisil ang ilong ko.

"No." Pagkasabi niya noon ay tumayo na siya.

Gulat ako sa sagot ni Dad sa akin. He was saying no to me?

"Dad?" Napatayo na din ako at hinabol siya habang naglakad palayo sa akin. "What do you mean no?"

Nagkibit siya ng balikat. "No. N O. No."

Napalunok ako. My father was saying no to me? He never said no to me. Ever. Whatever I asked him to do, he would do it without hesitation. Without second thoughts. What was going on?

"Dad, you are saying no to me?" I put up my sad puppy eyes while looking at my father. The look that I knew he would easily get sorry for saying no. But he just looked at me and laugh.

"Yes, munchkin. I am saying no to you this time. You asked me you wanted to work there and I gave it to you. Panindigan mo iyon."

"But people don't like me there." Nag-uumpisa na akong mag-tantrums. "People are judging me there."

Natawa si Daddy. "Judging you? Isn't that your job? To judge people?"

"Dad!" Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

Ang lakas ng halakhak ni Daddy tapos ay huminto na sa paglakad at humarap sa akin. Para akong batang nakalabi pa rin at hinawakan niya ang mukha ko tapos ay bahagyang hinaplos ang pisngi.

"My baby is so grown up," titig na titig siya sa mukha ko. "You are just like your mother."

Umasim ang mukha ko. "Pero hindi ako kasing sungit ni Mommy."

"And I am loving her more for being masungit. That's how she got me." Nakangiting sagot niya tapos ay napahinga ng malalim. "I love you and I wanted to give everything to you. But you are growing up and you need to be exposed to the real world. And it's not just about parties, night outs, hanging out with your friends. You need to learn to become an adult."

Napaikot ako ng mata. "You wanted me to become an adult. Sure, you are letting me do those things but at what cost? Having a bodyguard who always follows me? Nakakainis si Henry. Sunod siya nang sunod sa akin." Humalukipkip pa ako.

"That's his job. Henry is for your protection."

"Kahit na. Kaya alam ni Mommy ang lahat ng nangyayari sa akin dahil sa Henry na 'yon." Reklamo ko pa.

"Another part of his job." Walang anuman na sagot niya.

Napasigaw ako sa inis pero mukhang hindi naman apektado si Daddy. Muli niyang hinawakan ang mukha ko at hinalikan ako sa noon.

"Go have some sleep. Ang lalim na ng eyebags mo. And..." umamoy-amoy siya hangin tapos ay inamoy ako. "You smell cigarette and alcohol."

Napahiya ako sa sinabing iyon ni Dad. Naamoy pa niya iyon? Nag-spray na ako ng napakaraming pabango para matakpan ang amoy na iyon.

Lumakad na siya palayo sa akin. "Don't worry about your memo. I am going to talk to Butch about it." Pahabol pa ni Dad habang papalayo sa akin.

Napabuga na lang ako ng hangin at napaikot ng mata. Ang bibigat ng mga hakbang ko habang papunta sa kuwarto ko. Nadaaan ko ang kuwarto ni Asher at Arley at napangiti ako ng mapakla. I missed those kids. Dalawin ko nga sila sa weekend.

Nang makapasok ako sa kuwarto at ng makita ang kama ay para na akong mina-magnet doon. Automatic na nakaramdam ako ng antok kaya pabagsak kong inihiga ang katawan ko. Ipinikit ko ang mga mata. Pagkagising na lang ako maliligo at mag-skincare. I really need this sleep.

I was adjusting myself on my bed when my phone rang. I took it and smiled when I saw my friend Gelli calling me.

"What's up, bitch?" Bati ko sa kanya. "Success ba ang plan?"

"Of course." Mayabang na sabi niya. "He is snoring here in my bed." Nawala sa line si Gelli at mayamaya lang ay naghihilik na kung sino ang naririnig ko. "Ang lakas niya maghilik." Napahagikgik pa siya.

"Ewww!" Ang lakas ng tawa ko. Natawa din siya pero agad na huminto.

"But in fairness, he is good in bed."

Ang ganda ng ngiti ko. "That is nice. You know what to do. Send me the photos, time stamp and every detail that he is with you while on duty. I am going to give those proofs to my Mom that he is an incompetent one."

Hindi agad sumagot si Gelli tapos ay bahagyang napatikhim. "Are you sure you're going to do that? He might lose his job."

"Duh, that's the idea 'di ba? That's what we talked about. We will ruin him so I will lose my bodyguard. Hindi ko naman kasi kailangan 'yan." Umayos pa ako ng higa at ipinikit ang mata ko.

"Sayang naman kasi. Cute naman siya. Hot pa and he is so good in bed. Biggie pa siya."

Napadilit ako sa sinabing iyon ni Gelli. "He is?" Nakaangat ang kilay na tanong.

"Yeah. Eight inches. It's pink and veiny. Circumcised too."

Napakagat-labi ako dahil nakuha noon ang interes ko. "Sure?"

"Of course. I'll never get wrong with dick sizes. His dick is eight." Nagmamalaki ang tono ni Gelli.

"And how did you know? Sinukat mo ba?" Alam kong alam na naman ni Gelli iyon dahil sa dami ng experience ng kaibigan ko.

"Basta nga. Alam ko 'yon." Natatawa na siya. "O, ano? G na sa plan? Sure ka nang sisirain ang career ng lalaking ito?"

"Double sure. Matutulog muna ako. Bukas ko na gagawin ang plan natin." Muli ay pumikit na ako dahil talagang hinihila na ako ng antok.

Marami pang sinasabi sa akin si Gelli pero oo na lang ako nang oo at mayamaya lang ay tuluyan na akong bumigay sa antok ko.

I know whatever shits I do, my father would forgive me. Whatever I wanted, my father would give it to me. Umaarte lang si Daddy ngayon dahil alam kong gusto lang niyang pagbigyan si Mommy.

I am my father's princess and nothing can stop that.

And that made me smile while succumbing to my deep sleep. 

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