(photo credits to the owner)

Chapter 01
I am Ava
[ Ava Maureen ]

"Ava... itsumo ī ko ni nari nasai, ne?" he instructed with softness in his voice. Ava, be a good girl, okay? I immediately nodded in response and smiled a bit.

I wiped my tears off that are now nonstop streaming down my cheeks. "Pa, watashi kara hanarenaide kudusai..." I pleaded. Pa, please don't leave me... On the age of 54, he's bedridden for 2 months, feeling weak and breathing for him seems difficult.

My father... my dear father is dying. He is suffering from a Heart Enlargement Disease. He has been longing for Mama, I know, and there's a possibility that this is the reason why he suffered this sickness. But no matter that reason encircled my mind, my instincts tells the otherwise.

That this is not just a simple disease. Noon, bago pa man malaman na mayroon siyang sakit na ganiyan, I noticed some symptoms coming from him, aside from the symptoms of Heart Enlargement. And I think someone poisoned him... or whatever.

"I-I need to, sweetie. My body w-wants t-to. D-Dont worry . . . because I'll make s-sure to follow your mother. I'm sure s-she'll be happy if I'll f-follow her. P-Please be good." He inhaled a large breath, again. "Y-You have to take care of our b-businesses in the Philippines, while your uncle w-will be the one who'll take care of the others here in Asia."

Seriously, 'Pa? You're still thinking the business in between of your life and death situation? Masyado ka namang masipag, e.

Hindi ako sumagot dahil abala ako sa pagsinghot at pag-iyak, kaya nagsalita ulit siya. "I l-love you, Ava. You are the greatest gift the God gave us. T-Take care of yo.. yourself. F-Find your real parents. Your m-mother and I loves y-you so m-mu..." Hindi na niya natapos ang kaniyang sinabi dahil tuluyan na siyang nalagutan ng sarili niyang hininga.

I cried the whole week for that. Everytime I saw things that will remind me of him, my tears will beg to flow, as if it is a nonstop pouring rain. The man who took care of me for 15 years was gone. But still, I'm so greatful that they became my parents and guardian in my whole life.

They're not my biological parents, actually. Sinabi nilang nakita lamang nila ako sa harap ng mansyon nila, sa mismong araw ng pagkamatay ng kanilang nag-iisang anak na lalaki. I was like a blessing to them and a savior to their life since they almost committed suicide after the life disappearance of their child. And the day they found me was the day they set my birthdate.

Natutulog lang daw ako nang mahimbing no'n at nakahiga sa semento. They have a thought that I was just a 2 year old infant that day. The cloth that was covering my little body was full of red dots, that they recognized it as blood. They were worried, of course!

May isang papel din daw at nakasulat ang mismong pangalan ko roon sa aking tapat. And to make my name more longer, they added 'Megami' in the middle. It means 'goddess' in Nihonggo, a language used in Japan. Totoo rin naman. I have a breathtakingly beauty of a goddess. I'm confident with my self, yes, but I'm not bragging. Magkaiba naman 'yon, 'di ba?

They treated and loved me like their own daughter. Ang anak nilang lalaki ay namatay dahil sa sakit na Brain Tumor. He was so young back then, and was just five years old. Mama never failed to tell me a good story about him like how joyful and friendly he is.

THE COLD breeze of air welcomed my face the time I stepped down in our private plane that my family owns. The wind was whistling, as if welcoming me in the place where they are. Napangiti ako. Na-miss ko ang lugar na 'to.

I'm still young and should be free. I always remind myself about that sentence, and always decline the presidential slot of our company. I want Uncle Jaz, Papa's brother, to be the one who'll lead the company. He's a real Shimizuo, while I'm not.

Nginitian ko ang lalaking nakatayo sa harapan ng isang limousine habang suot-suot niya ang kaniyang itim na salamin. "Uncle!" I called and waved at him. I was about to take my bags and luggages with me but the butlers got it first.

He smiled back and gave me a hug as I approached him. He's sweet, just like his brother, and I really missed him. Siguro ay sampung taon ko na siyang hindi nakita. He's 36, yet he don't have a wife. Siya nalang ang natitirang Shimizuo sa buong mundo—maliban sa 'kin—kaya sana makahanap na siya ng babaeng mapangangasawa niya para naman may tagapagmana na ng negosyo. Ayaw kong manahin ang negosyo na pinaghirapan ni Papa dahil may misyon akong gagawin para sa sarili ko; para sa pangako ko noon kay Papa.

We headed home after our short longing regards. The maids and butlers welcomed me with their warm smiles which I gave it back to them. "Okaerinasai, ojōsama!" they greeted in unison. Welcome home, young lady! I thanked them and immediately went to my own room.

I miss this house so much!

I immediately arranged all my stuffs, that I brought from Japan, in a pattern like I always does. Pagkatapos no'n ay inihanda ko na ang mga kinailangan ko para sa school bukas. Natulog agad ako pagkatapos ng lahat ng paghahanda.

Nagising ako dahil sa sinag ng araw na tumatama sa mukha ko. Tiningnan ko ang orasan sa kiliran at agad nanlaki ang aking mga mata. It's already 7:30 in the morning! Nasobrahan ba ako sa tulog? Shocks! Ngayon pa naman ako papasok sa paaralan na nilipatan ko pero sa tingin ko'y late na ako!

After I finished all the set-ups, I bid goodbyes to the workers and got my car from the garage. Mabuti nalang at kinuhanan na ako ng student's license ni Uncle.

Bumaba agad ako sa kotse at eleganteng lumakad sa harapan ng lahat. Well, Mama taught me on how to do this because she's a model before.

"Fck bro, 'di ba siya 'yong sa magazine na binili mo kahapon?!"
"Oo nga . . . she's here to study, right? What a coincidence."
"Malamang, alangan namang magru-runway fashion show rito! Duh."
"Omg! It's her!"

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad, hindi pinapansin ang mga napapantasya sa 'kin, hanggang sa makarating ako sa classroom na first class ko. The professor open the door as I knock it three times. Her jaw dropped after she saw me, maybe shock that I have chosen their university for me to study. What's new, anyway? Inayos niya muna ang glasses niya bago tumikhim. Pinapasok niya ako at iginaya sa harap ng mga kaklase ko na ngayon ay nag 'jaw-dropping-scence' na rin.

Minsan nakakainis na sila, e. Hindi na sila masanay-sanay. Hindi ba sila maganda sa paningin ng sarili nila't palaging naninibago kapag nakakita ng dyosa? Hays!

I introduced my name at them but I know it's just useless since I think everyone here in this school already knows me. Besides, I'm an international model at this very young age. "Hello, my gorgeous classmates, I'm Ava Megami Maureen Shimizuo, 17 years young. Don't you ever call me 'Ava' and just Maureen. A transfer student from Chisei Japan." I bowed my head a little, a sign of respect, and then proceed to the empty chair from the right side.

My sitmate swallowed, as to her hands were shaking rapidly and eyes were big, as if she's seeing a ghost in front of her so I decided to ask her. "Dō shita no?" I'm asking her 'what's your problem' using the language I usually used to the strangers.

Instead of answering, she shrieked and shouted like a mad woman. "Oh, my goddesses! She just talked to me! Dream come true, omg!" She's really out of her mind. Lumabas siya at doon na nagsisigaw-sigaw.

What the fudge?

Dumaan muna ako sa main building ng Shimizuo Empire bago umuwi dahil nandoon naman si Uncle. The employees immediately greeted me when I stepped in. I greeted them back and went straight to the elevator. Pumasok kaagad ako sa office ni Uncle nang walang katok-katok.

"Hi, Uncle!" I greeted him with a big smile plastered on my lips. "I don't want to study na. I just want to stay at home, huhu!"

"Maureen! What are you doing here?" gulat na gulat niyang tanong.

"Uhm, anata o tazuneru?"

"Wala tayo sa Japan, Maureen. Nandito tayo sa Pilipinas kaya magsalita ka ng Filipino," nangangaral ang boses niya nang sabihin niya 'yon.

"Gomen'nasai! I-I mean, sorry. What I mean earlier is, I'm here to visit you! I'll be heading home na lang ngayon since mukhang busy ka naman."

"Tuwid na Filipino, hija..."

"Arienai! Ojisan, ima kara hajimasu! Sayōnara!" I immediately went to the elevator and head straight to the house. No way! I'll get going now, Uncle! Bye!

Pambahay lang ang ipinalit ko, dahil wala naman akong schedule ngayon, at pumunta sa likod ng bahay. There's a large tree located at the beloved garden of Mama. I usually refresh my mind here when I wanted to escape the world from its cruelty. This also serves as my favorite tambayan.

And from here, I started reminiscing the moments I shared with my known parents. I badly misses them so much. Being their adopted child was a blessing you'll thank all of your life. They both have soft hearts and at the same time, brainy. At first, I didn't really doubt if I was really their daughter because we were all smart persons. They both have good-looking faces but they said I'm way more than that. That I am a goddess-looking lady. Well... hambog na naman si Ava.

When I'm still 7, they already told me the truth. Everything, so that I will not loath them in the future for hiding the truth. Ayos lang naman sa akin dahil para sa 'kin, I'm their daughter, the one and only. By now, I promise to myself to find my real parents like I have promised to Papa.

I stood up and went back inside when I felt a growl from my stomach. "Nanny, can you get me something to eat?" I gently commanded. She nodded in response and prepare the food they know I want.

It's been 7 years since we left Philippines and flew to Japan. My room was still the same but some were renovated. It's now much bigger than before and the things there are really for a teenage girl.

Now I have mentioned about teenager, next week will gonna be my birthday na pala. The day they found me in front of their house. I will be going to celebrate my debut soon, but I'm not excited as before because he didn't make it. Hence, susubukan kong maging masaya dahil kung nandito lang sila ay paniguradong sasabihan nila ako na h'wag na silang isipan pa at sila ay masaya na.

That's them being selfless and selfish at the same time...

"Young lady, nandito na po ang pagkain." Nanny handed me the food. I smiled and thanked her. I started eating while checking my emails.

Nabuo na ang plano sa isipan ko. I'll start my mission next week, on the day of my day.

@eggarru