"Rexana, I don't want you to sell pears near the resort at sunset. You can go there as long as there's still light but not sunset. You got me and your father worried last time," Rita reminded Rexana.
"Mang, I am not a kid anymore, I can handle myself. I mean to go there during sunset because it is when more people go out to capture the beauty of the sunset. It is when I can sell more pearls," Rexana pouted but deep inside her was where she kept the real reason for going there during sunset and it was because of Daerin.
However, she also just couldn't ignore her parents. She loved them more than anyone else so she couldn't just ignore their words to push for her happiness. Even though she already got some realization for herself.
She loved Daerin. Nevertheless, her parents were right. The way she looked and generally the way she was at the moment won't fit Daerin's standard. Once again she looked in the mirror and talked to herself.
'If only I had enough money to buy me a dress, shoes and everything to make me as beautiful as the girl in the city where Daerin is from or the girl in his mansion. For sure Daerin wouldn't hesitate to marry me.'
Rexana was aware that even though Daerin did to her what he did, there was something in his action that showed her insufficiency. She may not know what Daerin has been wanting for a girl, but still, she couldn't hide the fact that she's not perfect and too far to fit for him.
"If only my parents were rich enough to be able to send me to school and buy me things to make me look presentable. I guess Daerin would truly fall in love with me," Rexana muttered to herself while looking at the mirror.
She didn't realize her father was just behind her and heard every word that came out of her mouth.
"I am sorry if you feel that way Rexana, I'm sorry, if I failed as a father to you, just because I don't have enough richness that I failed to provide you with the life's comfort that you are wanting." Andre's voice was shaky and sounded like he was about to crack a tear.
Rexana felt suddenly sorry and guilty when she heard him. She abruptly turn around and covered her mouth in surprise.
"Oh god, Pang, I am sorry, I didn't mean those words I say. I didn't mean to hurt you. I-I know it's not your fault. Pang, forgive me please." Rexana was about to embrace his father and let him feel how sorry she was when he stopped her with his open palm instead.
"Sit down Rexana we need to talk, I need to tell you something." He walked towards the table and sat on the chair. Rexana also sat across from him with her apologetic yet confused face.
"Can you already feel that we are not your real parents?" He said in a very serious tone and every time he sounded like Rexana didn't like it. That could only mean some heavy conversation.
"No father, I always felt like I am your child. You love me so much more than real parents love their kids and I also understand that what you had done was your best to raise me. However, I always knew that I am your real daughter if only I hadn't heard what people were saying about the difference in my appearance from you. In fact, from everyone in this place."
"You are right and I am happy to hear that from you. Sometimes, I am also wondering what if you are with someone else. Your life is probably better than what you have now." His sound was as gloomy as he looked.
"Dad, I'm sorry, I am your child and I wouldn't want to be somewhere else if I can't be with my parents too."
"But Rexana, your intuition is right. We are not your real parents."
Rexana gasped, dumbfounded, she didn't know if she would believe it or not. But it changed everything about herself and how she should look at everything.
"Pang, you are just playing around, right? What you said ain't true, right?" Rexana reached his father's hand as if begging for him to tell the truth.
"This is the truth, Ana. I am not fooling around. We are not your real parents. We found your mom the night she brought you to this world but then she died."
"My real mom died? But how about my father?" Rexana didn't want to believe it but she could already feel the truthfulness of what Andre said.
"We don't know about your father."
Rexana looked outside the window dreamily. In her mind was all the hope after knowing the truth. However, behind all that, she felt overwhelmed by reality.
Who is she?
It seemed like her life had just begun and she didn't know who she was. Knowing that one of her parents could still be alive. She wondered how he looked and who he was. Was he rich or poor? Was he someone who held status in the community or the person who caused problems in the community? Does he even know she had a child somewhere and that Rexana still exists?
Rexana's life seemed to be a blank page that she still needed to fill someday.