Wala sa mga kaanak niya ang nando'n at tanging mga kasambahay lang ng pamilyang Rhoades ang nando'n para magsilbi at tulungang pakainin ang mga hindi niya kilalang bisita.
Her birthday party lasted for almost two hours, but her special day turned out to be the saddest and tiring day. Faking a smile, greeting people she doesn't know and, holding back her tears for another tragic day happened.
She received gifts that cost an arm, but those things are not what she wanted. She wants her family. She's longing for their attention. She wants the love that disappeared after her Mom gave birth to her sister.
Naiiyak siyang tumakbo sa kaniyang kama nang makapasok sa kaniyang kuwarto at ibinagsak ang sarili dito. She cries until her heart's content but she's still feeling nothing but pain.
All of the things she has felt so nothing if it's not her parents with her to enjoy everything she has.
Atreus barks that caught her attention.
Nakatingin ang aso sa kaniyang pinto na nakasirado. Atreus kept barking until she heard a knock from her door.
"Can I come in?" said a manly voice.
She thought that someone must be one of their guard or cook, so she opened her door, but Phoebe got shocked when balloons and party poppers welcomed her.
"A-ano..." She's surprised.
Her party is over. It was already 11 in the evening, and all of her visitors are gone. Who could be the person behind these giant balloons and party poppers?
"A-are you happy now?"
Napakurap si Phoebe sa sinabi ng isang lalake natatakpan pala sa likod ng malalaking balloons nito. He is wearing a mask that is covering half of his face but his eyes. She felt somehow familiar with the man's eyes.
"Si-sino po kayo?"
He blows a loud breath. "f**k! Ahm..." He clears his throat that made her raise her brow to him. "You can just call me, T."
"T? Should I call you Kuya T?" Pagkaklaro niya rito pero umiling ang lalake at kapagkuwan ay bumuntong-hininga. "Just call me, T."
"Oh, okay po, T," Phoebe answered awkwardly. "Why are you wearing a mask?"
"I needed to, Phoebe."
"Why? Are you one of my Dad's guard?"
Phoebe always saw her Dad with men wearing black suits and glasses, making them look cool, but the man in front of her. He seems the coolest wearing fedora with a mask and black suit.
"Yes. I am, though I'm new here."
Napatango-tango si Phoebe sa sagot nito. "Ano pong ginagawa niyo dito?"
Sumilip si Phoebe sa magkabilang corridor. No maids must mean all of them are now in their quarters.
"Your Dad has three men while your Mom has always two on her side handling her shits so..." He shrugged his shoulder. "I decided to take care of you."
Napataas ng kilay si Phoebe. He decided? Well, that's weird.
"Hindi po kaya magalit sila Dad na nandito ka? Hindi mo naman po ako kailangan bantayan eh."
T's head furrowed. "And why is that?"
"Kasi lagi rin naman po akong nandito sa mansion." Phoebe looked away. "Kahit nga po birthday ko ngayon, nandito lang naman po ako sa mansion, eh," she stated, with a look of displeasure on her cute innocent face.
"Well..." Napatingin si Phoebe sa kaniya. "Do you want me to bring you somewhere else?"
"Gabi na po, eh. Saka tapos na rin po ang birthday ko."
"For me, its not. So..." Inilapit ni T ang kanan niyang kamay kay Phoebe habang hawak pa rin ang mga balloon sa kabilang kamay niya. "Come."
Napatingin si Phoebe sa wall clock na nasa kaniyang kuwarto. It says 45 minutes before the mansion's light will go off. She doesn't know if she's allowed but come to think of it. Her Dad and Mom will not be going to even visit her, so maybe...
Hinawakan ni Phoebe ang kanang kamay ni T habang marahan na sinarado niya ang
pinto ng kaniyang kuwarto.
T's hand on hers is so big, but it gave her the feeling of trusting the strange man she's with. Wala rin naman mali dahil guwardiya ito ng Daddy niya na mas pinili siyang bantayan. She's somehow happy that this guard chose her.
"Saan po tayo?" tanong niya habang binabagtas ang daan palabas ng mansion.
"Don't worry. Malapit lang iyon dito."
Tumango-tango si Phoebe bilang sagot. It's a good thing that he is bringing her somewhere near to the mansion. Ayaw niya rin naman talaga mapalayo dahil pagod na rin siya.
A few minutes passed before T stopped and walked to the center of a grass field. Madalim na ang paligid ngunit ang liwanag na galing sa buwan ay sapat para makita niya si T na lumingon sa kaniya.
"A-ano pong ginagawa natin dito?"
Phoebe saw a glint of happiness and contentment on T's eyes as he tilted his head, looking to the moon. "I've been visiting this place for almost 2 years, Phoebe, and this place has the most beautiful view when darkness comes."
"Ano pong ibig mong sabihin, T?"
What does he mean? Kanina lang ay sinabi nitong bago lang itong tauhan ng Daddy niya.
"Come here, Phoebe. You will know what I am talking about." Anito at iminuwestra siyang tumayo sa tabi nito.
Dahan-dahan siyang naglakad sa may kataasang talahib at tumayo sa mismong kanan ni T. Phoebe felt secure after T put his hand on her left shoulder before facing the vast field.
Phoebe kept her self behave as T is peacefully staring at the vast green field enveloped with night's darkness.
Until suddenly, one small yellowish bright light appeared. Flying with no direction.
"This is my favorite part while being here, Phoebe."
Nanatiling tahimik si Phoebe habang nakatitig sa mga fireflies na unti-unting naglalabasan. Phoebe thought that a few fireflies will only appear, but the green field was given enough light to lit up the place as time goes by.
Phoebe stared on the fireflies flying everywhere as the place took her breath away because of its outstanding beauty. Because of the fireflies, the area showed the greenfield and the colorful flowers that were hidden because of darkness.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Nakangiting tumatango siya kay T habang ito naman ay tahimik din na pinapanood ang mga kulisap na nagliliparan.
"Maraming salamat po, T. Dinala niyo po ako dito."
"You don't need to. I just want to make you happy." Then he chuckled. "You've been through so much of your parents' coldness but you're still the sweet girl I've met."
"P-po?"