"Skye, where here.." mula sa likod ng kotse dinig nyang sabi ng Mommy nya kasabay ng marahang pagtapik nito sa kanyang tuhod.
Dahan dahan nyang iminulat ang mga mata at umayos ng pagkakaupo. Sinilip nya mula sa relong pangbisig kung anong oras na at napagalaman nyang pasado alas singko na pala. Kulang kulang tatlong oras din ang naging biyahe nila mula sa centro ng Turks City kung nasaan ang airport na nilapagan ng eroplanong sinakyan nila mula sa Verkurth City. Ang lugar na pinagmulan nila ng kanyang ina. Kung gano katagal ang biyahe nila ganoon din katagal sya natulog.
Mula sa tinted na salamin ng sasakyan ay iginala nya ang paningin sa labas. Unlike sa Verkurth na puro kabahayan at matatas na building ang makikita mo, dito sa Clyville halos kakahuyan ang matatanaw mo. Ang malawak na bakuran kung saan nakatayo ang bahay ni Matt ay napapalibutan ng nagtataasang mga puno maliban sa unahan kung saan nakaharap sa kalsada.
"I know its kinda isolated here and like there's nothing much to do but its really not that bad Skye.." alanganing pahayag ni Matt habang nakatingin sa kanya. Marahil ay nabasa nito ang pagkadismaya sa mukha niya.
Matt or Mattias Bellington is her mother new husband. Her mom is a widow from her dad for three years before he meet Matt a year ago who happened also to be her childhood friend before Mom's family moved to Verkurth.
She look at her stepfather then her mother who happened to be also looking at her. Nababasa nya sa mukha nito ang panghihikayat at pagsusumamo. She sigh before saying... "This fine. Its good to be surrounded by trees for a change."
Mukhang nakahinga ng maluwag ang dalawa dahil sa sagot niya and when she saw her mother bright smile, she know it was all worth it. She can endure and sacrifice just to see her mother happy. She deserves it after all.
"Let's get inside.." anyaya ni Matt bago sabay na lumabas ang sasakyan ang dalawa. Huminga muna sya ng malalim bago binuksan ang pinto ng sasakyan sa gilid nya at lumabas.
Agad nyang naramdaman ang lamig ng makalabas sya ng kotse. Hindi nya tuloy mapigilang yakapin ang tiyan. She thought what she read in the internet about Clyville is just an exaggeration. Beside it sunny in Turks City when they landed so she just shrugged it off when her mom told her to prepare a sweater. If she only knew she'll never dare to wear crop top in this place.
Technically it's still summer season but not in Clyville obviously. Its just past five noon but its almost dark already and its not even raining but the chill is unbearable. From what she read the place seldom have a sunny day. Most of the time if it isn't cloudy its raining. And during winter the cold is ten times than the usual. Another thing she hate since in Verkurth is like summer always.
Her mom and Matt walks towards the main door, she silently followed. Bahagyang huminto ang mga ito ng iabot ni Matt ang susi ng kotse sa lalaking sumalubong dito saka nagtuloy sa paglalakad. Binigyan naman sya ng pagtango ng may katandaan ng lalaki bago sya lampasan nito.
The two story mansion in front is huge. The architectural design of the house is from the 19th century antebellum. A combination of georgian, greek revival and neo-classical design. In the gigantic double door stood four ladies.
"Welcome back Daddy.." dinig nyang bati ng isa sa apat na babae ng makalapit ang dalawa. Sabay yakap at halik sa pisngi ni Matt.
Nabanggit na ng Mommy nya na may anak si Matt sa una nitong asawa. She said, according to Matt his wife left him a year after giving birth to their daughter Samantha. She haven't meet his daughter but her mother talk to her a couple of times through videocall. At base sa palitan nila ng salita marahil ito ang tinukoy nitong anak.
The girl is as just about her age. She's very pretty with her upturned nose that perfectly fits her almond shape eyes and bow shape lips. Her shoulder length hair is naturally blond na marahil namana nya sa ina dahil itim ang kulay ng buhok ni Matt. She's taller than her by an inch or so, she have a body of a model that showing in her fitted sweater and skinny jeans. She's nothing like Matt except the dimples and the eyes.
"How are you sweetheart?" Balik na tanong ni Matt habang ginagantihan ng yakap ang dalaga.
"Im good Daddy, Mandy accompanied me while your away." sagot nito motioning the other girl beside her.
"Hi Uncle Matt, welcome back." the girl beside her said. This other girl is also pretty but the morena type like Matts skin color. Mas mapapagkamalang anak ito ni Matt dahil malaki ang resemblance ng dalaga sa huli.
"Thank you Mandy. By the way..." Matt look at her ang urge her to get closer. "Meet Camilla and her daughter Skye." Pakilala sa kanila ni Matt. "Hon, Skye, this is my daughter Samantha and her cousin Mandy."
"Hi Tita! It was nice to finally meet you in person." bulalas ni Sam sabay yakap at halik sa pisngi ng kanyang ina.
"Same here Samantha. Thank you for accepting me and my daughter to your house." natutuwang gumanti din ng yakap ang kanyang ina.
"Its nothing Tita. Anything that can make my father happy, I'll gladly accept it." she answered sweetly before letting go of her mother and turned to her. "Hi, Skye welcome to Clyville."
She gave her a smile but there something off about it. Hindi rin nakaligtas sa kanya ang pagtaas ng isang kilay nito habang sinusuri sya mula ulo hanggang paa. Ganoon din ang simpleng tingginan ng magpinsan.
Hindi na ito nakita ng kanyang ina at ni Matt dahil halos nakatalikod na si Sam sa mga ito. Siya ang nakaharap sa dalawa at nakikita ang reaction nya kaya kahit napipilitan binigyan nya ito ng alanganing ngiti at nag sabi ng "Thank you."
"By the way, this two here is Molly and Lisa." pakilala ni Matt sa dalawa pang babae na kasama nila sa my pinto. "Molly is the head maid and Lisa is Sam's personal maid. You'll also have your own maidservant Skye kaya lang naisip ko mas mabuti siguro kung ang mommy mo ang pipili para mas panatag sya sa magiging kasama mo lagi."
"Thanks Matt I appreciate it but I don't really need one." she answered him directly.
Mula ng mawala ang kanyang ama ay pinangako nya sa sarili na sisikapin huwag ganoong maging pabigat sa kanyang ina. Kahit papano sa mga nakalipas na taon ay nagagawa naman niya. At kahit pa kasama ang maginhawang pamumuhay nilang mag-ina sa pangako ni Matt sa kanyang Mommy bago magpakasal ang dalawa hindi naman ibig sabihin noon ay sasamantalahin nya na kung ano ang mga pinagkaloob nito kahit saklaw naman ito ng kakayahan niya. At nasisiguro nyang ganoon din ang pananaw ng ina.
"No need for that Hon..." segunda ng kanyang ina. "Skye has long been an independent girl. She preferred to do things on her own now. And she's very kin towards her privacy." Malumanay na paliwanag ng kanyang ina.
"But..." Matt is about to protest but her Mom gave him a tap on the chest and a reassuring look. "Ok fine fine, but if theres anything you need don't hesitate to call Molly. She will arrange everything for you."
"Noted." I agreed just so he can let go of the topic.
"We better get inside Dad." pagiiba ni Sam ng usapan. "Nasa loob na si Uncle Dough at Max, they're already rampaging AGAIN your wine collection. Aunt Suzy is on their way."
"Oh those two, hindi na nagbago." he said while chuckling then motioning everyone to enter the house.
Nauna ng pumasok ang Mommy nya at si Matt, sumunod naman dito si Molly pakatapos sya bigyan ng isang tipid na ngiti. Sam mumble some word when she pass through her and Mandy, its almost a whisper but she catch it nevertheless.
"Nice outfit there, City girl." before the two quietly laugh to each other. She choose to ignored and followed her mother inside.