Sabrina's Point of View

My name is Chantara Sabrina, had no permanent surname. And I am already eighteen years old. Tiningnan ko siya nang masinsinan. Habang siya naman ay isang matamis na ngiti lamang ang itinugon sa akin.  

"Hindi niyo na dapat ako inampon. Maraming kamalasang iyong makuha kung itutuloy niyo ang plano. Kaya hangga't maaga pa, p'wede pa kayong umatras," pagbabanta ko sa kaniya.

Sister Isabel's eyes quickly grew wider. Ano'ng mali sa sinabi ko? Totoo naman 'yon lahat. Sinabi ko lang naman ang totoo sa maging kapalaran niya kung sakaling itutuloy niya ang pag-ampon sa akin.

I am just being practical. Isa pa, pagod na pagod na akong masaktan. Subalit, sa kabila ng pagod na 'yon. I am still hoping and praying that I could reach my dream for peace, and the genuine love that I always hoped for.

"Sabrina, that is inappropriate to approach your new parent," panenermon naman sa akin ni Sister Isabel.

"Bakit? Lahat ng sinabi ko totoo naman iyon, ah? Sister Isabel, we both knew that I bring bad luck to whoever around me. And those who adopted me end up dead," madiin kong sabi sa kanya.

"Sabrina," pagbabanta niya sa akin, implying na dapat na akong tumigil. Her dead serious eyes locked onto mine. My eyes quickly fell upon the floor, and I heard her heaved a sigh. She then cleared her throat. "I am sorry for that Miss Miller," pahabol niyang paumanhin.

Ginulong ko na lamang ang aking mata at pinili na manahimik. Bahala kayo diyan. Basta ay binalaan ko na kayo. Matapos ang usapang 'yon ay pumasok na silang dalawa sa loob ng opisina upang mag-usap.

Marahil ay pag-uusapan nila ang patungkol sa mga papeles ng pag-aampon sa akin. Nakaupo ako rito sa couch, habang naghihintay.

Ilang sandali ang nagdaan, lumabas na sila pareho sa opisina. Miss Miller looked at me intensely. Kanina ko pa napapansin ang pamamaraan ng kaniyang pagtitig sa akin. Her dark eyes sends chills down my spine.

I let out a deep sigh when I noticed she was holding a white folder. That only means one thing, I am now adopted with a new parent . . . again.

Hinatid kaming dalawa ni Sister Isabel papalabas ng gate. Pagkalabas namin ay tumambad sa akin ang nakaparada niyang itim na kotse. Tahimik akong naglakad papunta sa likuran at pumasok. Of course, ayoko siyang katabi. I even saw her how she smiled at me sweetly as she finally entered at driver's seat.

"What are you feeling, Sabrina?" rinig kong tanong niya sa akin.

Pero hindi ko ulit siya pinansin dahil sa inis.

Napamulat ako sa aking pagkakapikit nang bigla kong marinig ang malakas na kidlat at kulog. Pati ba naman ang panahon nakikisabay sa nararamdaman ko?! I glance at Miss Miller, nahuli ko pa siyang nakatingin sa rearview mirror ng kotse, habang nakangiti. My eyes grew thrice wider when I saw her eyes kept on changing from two different colors.

Wait―what?

Am I hallucinating?

The sky continued to roar like some kind of monster. Lightning was dancing, fascinating to look at yet dangerous. The thunder were drumming beyond the clouds. The rain starts to pour down the land. And the car's engine came back to life. Miss Miller starts to drive.

"You made that." Nabaling ang aking atensyon nang bigla siyang magsalita.

Nakatitig lamang ako nang diretso sa mata niya mula sa rearview mirror. Hindi ko alam kung totoo 'yong nakita ko sa kaniya kanina, pero this time sobrang normal naman. At ano'ng sinasabi niya? Ano'ng ako ang may gawa? As what I know, I am just sitting here doing nothing. May sayad ata siya sa utak dahil kung ano-ano na sinasabi niya.

I am aware how weird she is. Pero hindi ko na lamang siya binigyan ng pansin saka may inis na pinikit ulit ang aking mga mata. The thunder made a loud bang across the sky as I irritably closed my eyes.

Despite of everything that happened, there's still a fire of hope inside me. Hoping na sana hindi na ulit 'yon mangyayari katulad sa mga nauna kong mga magulang. Nakakapagod na kasi.

"Sabrina, I want to know so much more about you. Do you remember?"

More about me? Sino ba ako? Ni hindi ko nga alam kung sino ang totoo kong mga magulang. Pero sa halip na sagutin siya ay nanatili akong tahimik. I already rejected her three times yet there she is, still smiling. Ignoring my behavior.

"Sabrina?" tawag niya ulit sa pangalan ko.

Pinikit ko pa lalo ang mata ko dahil sa inis, dahilan para mapamulat ako sa gulat nang biglang dumoble ang lakas ng kulog at kidlat. Samahan pa ng malakas na hangin.

"Sabrina, itigil mo ang kulog at kidlat. Kinikilabutan ako," nahihintakutang pakiusap niya. "Your lightning is as violent as Zeus'."

Thunder and lightning roared beyond the clouds once again. I looked at her in disbelief. What the hell is she saying? My lightning is as violent as Zeus? Sino si Zeus? And as if namang mahahawakan ko ang kidlat at kulog. O kaya kong manipulahin 'yon. Ano ako isang imortal?

"Are you crazy?" I asked her.

She laugh out loud.

"No, I'm not." Natatawa pa rin niyang sagot. "I know mahirap paniwalaan. May maraming bagay ka pang dapat malaman sa pagkatao mo, Sabrina. You are special," she paused, "yet dangerous."

Napamulat ako at napatingin sa kaniya ng seryoso. Sa huli niyang sinabi tila ba'y matagal na niya akong kilala. 'Yong feeling na parang sinasabi niya sa akin na ang dami niyang alam sa pagkatao ko.

"Who are you?" tanong ko.

Instead of answering, she started to tell me a story. "When my husband replaced Oceanus, he allowed the Nereids to continue duties, put us in his court, and upheld our honor when we were insulted. We are grateful, yes, and most of my sisters would have been pleased to become his wife. Well, unlike me, I avoided him due to my unwillingness to get married. However, he tried everything to win my heart despite me refusing to marry him out of fear," she paused and looked at me in the rearview mirror.

"Eventually, I fled and hid myself near Atlas in the ocean stream at the far ends of the world. But, my husband later sent the God of Dolphins, Delphin, to help him retrieve me. When Delphin's persuasive presentation of all the benefits and advantages I could enjoy if I consented to marrying him, finally I agreed," she continued, and slightly laughed.

While I still look at her in disbelief. What the hell is she talking about? God of Dolphins? Is she insane?

"I used to be shy and avoid courtships from male gods because of the intense fear I had conceived from hearing stories of how gods treat their wives, believing that being married would rob my freedom. Yet, here I am perfectly content. I knew my husband wouldn't be as faithful as I expected, but doesn't care about that due to not being prone to jealousy and is content as long as he doesn't try to turn me into his puppet and treats my children well. That is enough," she said while smiling.

She's uttering those words casually as if she's telling me a true story. Not out of this world story.

"And now, did you recognize me?" she suddenly asked.

"No."

She smiled sweetly as if she's not disappointed with my answer. "Very well. I am Katarina Sabrina Miller for now. I shall formally introduce myself once you recognize me."

"Tsk."

Pumikit uli ako dahil sa inis. Kumulog at kumidlat ulit nang pagkalakas-lakas. Napakawalang sense kausap. Letse!

☽ ♆ ☾

"Sabrina, we're here."

That voice. Iminulat ako ang aking mga mata at padabog na lumabas sa kaniyang kotse. I groan in annoyance, and looked at her in the eye.

"I'm still wondering why you still adopting me?" sarkastikong tanong ko sa kaniya.

"Because this is the absolute order from my husband, child. But, aside from that. The reason why is because I wanted to meet you personally," diretsahan niyang sagot

"Sabi ko sa 'yo na lahat ng naging magulang ko ay namamatay. Hindi ka ba nakakaintindi?" Sigaw ko sa kaniya dahilan para mapangiti siya.

Seriously?

"At hindi mo rin ako kilala. Ang pangalan ko lang ang alam mo, ni hindi ka nga sigurado kung iyan ba ang tunay kong pangalan. At kung namamatay man ang naging mga magulang mo wala akong pakialam dahil you deserve for another world. A world where you belong," sabi niya.

At nginitian ako nang may ipinapahiwatig.

A world where I belong? Gusto kong matawa sa mga sinasabi niya, pero tila ba'y pinipigilan ng aking isip ang aking bibig na tumawa ako dahil sa pagiging seryoso niya. What a crazy woman! Hello? This is my world and this is the world where I belong! May iba pa bang mundo? Ano? Gusto niya akong manirahan sa Mars?

"Anyway, welcome to your temporary house," she paused for a while and stared at me.

Temporary? Ano ba'ng sinasabi niya?

"Temporary? Why?" Nakakunot noong tanong ko.

She quickly tapped my shoulder and smiled at me, as if she's implying something I couldn't understand.

"Gaya nga ng sinabi ko, hindi mo pa ako kilala at hindi mo rin kilala kung sino at ano ka. Either you like it or not, you need me to figure out who you are," she said and opened the gate.

Sino at ano ako?

"Who are you really?" I calmly asked.

"That's the task you need to figure out," nanghahamong sabi niya.

Pumasok kami sa loob at maganda naman. Pero ang nakakapagtaka, bakit mag-isa lang siya? Sa ganito kalaking bahay? Hindi ko alam kung ano ang tinutukoy niya, pero tila ba'y kilalang-kilala niya ako.

I can't also deny the fact that she's indisputably mysterious the first moment I met her. It seemed like she's the person who has a lot of secrets under her sleeves.

"Two days from now, you will be studying at Imitheos Academy," bigla naman siyang nagsalita.

Dahilan para napairap ako sa inis. Pero ang inis na 'yon ay napalitan ng pagtataka.

Imitheos Academy. Meron bang gano'ng paaralan dito sa Pilipinas? Ngayon ko lang siya narinig. Pero kaagad ko rin namang nakuha ang ibig niyang sabihin maliban sa pangalan na pinapasukan kong paaralan.

"It means . . ."

"Yes, you will," she quickly replied and wink at me. "Come with me, I'll show you to your room." She stopped walking and held both sides of my arms. Looking at me, as if she's expecting great things from me. Then she smiled. "You need to rest my goddess," she said and I accidentally saw her eyes turn to ocean blue.

Goddess?