TRINITY: The Secret of the Old

Chapter One

Trinity 

I fix the stuff on top of my bed. I feel bad now because of what I found out earlier. Where else will my father send me? I moved school for the third time, but I don't know why and for what reason. I didn’t even have any trouble making my dad angry, and he transferred me to school right away. Why am I not used to him yet?

I put my things in the big suitcase, and I didn't notice mama entering my room.

"Daughter...." Mom said in a sorry voice. I turned to her, her face looking sad. Maybe, mama and papa are fighting again. Maybe, mama talked to papa not to deport me to the Philippines. I felt sorry for mama because I never felt that papa loved her. Never in my life have I seen them sweet to each other; never even my half-brother Shenjie noticed it when he's here. Even my brother Jerwin and Ate Eunice too.

"Mama, why are you here?" I asked and smiled broadly at her. Only mama understands me, and whenever my day is terrible because of papa, she is always there and makes my ruined day happy.

"It's okay, Sweetie," Mama uttered lightly to me and sat down next to my side.

I turned to her and nodded. Only Ate Eunice can be with mama here at home except for papa. Ate Eunice's dad helped her run her company here in Italy. My father's usual business is malls and hotels, and resorts except for his big company and a few businesses in the Philippines. Some of the companies in the Philippines were run by my brother Jerwin, and his assistant was my half-brother Shenjie, who was the son of papa's mistress before. Still, his birth mother died due to a car accident that immediately killed his mother.

At first, I couldn't accept Shenjie, and it was as painful as he was the son of a woman who made my mom cry every time my mom was alone in her room, and she thought I didn't notice it. I was upset with mama when she accepted Shenjie without hesitation. Ten years later, I also learned to accept him.

Shenjie has been kind since she was a child, even though I used to fight with him and even say bad things, though he never scolded me or said terrible things back to me. Even though he knew I didn't like him, his treatment of me didn't change until we gradually became close to each other. Shenjie was fifteen years old when papa sent her to the Philippines to study and help my brother Jerwin, and now, I'm being asked to follow. I'm not against what papa wanted, but what about mama? If I leave, she will be sad and have no one to be with. I don't want to be separated from mama, and I'm used always being at her side.

"Roger has been waiting downstairs for a while,” Mama reminded me as she helped me put my suitcase.

"Thank you, Ma.” I smiled broadly, hiding the tears in my eyes that wanted to fall. "Are you sure you're okay here?" I looked at her earnestly.

"You have no one to talk to and help you in the garden." I tried not to cry or be emotional. Why is it? I want to be dramatic at this moment.

Mom hugged me. "I'm fine, Trinity. I'll be fine, Sweetie. All right, let's go down. Maybe your father will be mad at you when he finds out you're still here."

I kissed mama on the cheek and embraced her before I boarded the car leading me to where my flight was. A few minutes passed, and we reached the airport. Roger followed me holding my suitcase, and he was my main bodyguard. He has been for a long time since I was ten years old. Wherever I was, he was there overprotective. I don't know Roger very well, Roger Monte, and even if I plan to ask him about it, I expect no answer. I want to see if he had a family on his own; as I know, he's 43 years old now, still has those athletics body, and he's taller than my dad five inches looking him more intimidating. All my papa's bodyguards dressed the same, a black suit over a light blue long sleeve. Always have an earpiece on their left ears and wear those dark sunglasses.

I knew Roger was talking to someone in his earpiece because his mouth was constantly moving, and he was very alert around us. Then I picked up the phone in my sling bag and found out someone was calling. I walked a short distance to Roger so he wouldn't hear what we were talking about, and I think he was focused on the person he spoke with.

"Hello, April," I said. "Yepp, I'm going to the Philippines as of now. ... As usual, I'm with my bodyguard. Of course, surely no one knows that I'll be there. My friend here? You know I don't have any friends here because of Roger. Sure, they've been scared ever since I was in grade ten. No one has planned to make friends with me even if I have a boyfriend thingy I can't do it. I think my life is even worse than a loner. Yes—"

I was shocked when Roger took my phone and looked at me wickedly. Is calling also forbidden ?! What did I do? Is it wrong to call a friend now? I can’t believe what he did. He turns off the phone and puts it in his pocket, on his face displaying no expression. I wanted to shout at him and kick him in annoyance, but I just held back.

I hate you, Papa!

What did you order from your bodyguard?

I was so annoyed that I made my way to the departure area quickly and disliked this life; all my movements were monitored. I was boarded in a private plane, and however, I wanted to avoid getting angry, making me mad at my father’s staff. What do I want to eat they don't give just because papa told them it was forbidden to me? Who says it's not permitted to eat ice cream and chocolate? Of course, that damn doctor of his!

The whole trip was total hell.

I got out of the sedan and walked into the large two-story house, and it's my brother Jerwin's house. Roger followed me with my belongings. Trees and plants surrounded the peach-colored house. The brick pathway to the house's entrance door was red, and I noticed some maids watering the garden while eyes glanced at me.

I adjusted my sunglasses and went inside the house, and was greeted by a few maids in the living room. They were seemingly waiting for my arrival. I just smiled at them and passed them.

"Little Sis!" The loud voice of my brother Jerwin as he approached me out of the library room, arms wide open ready for an embrace, and his wide grin displayed on his face.

"I'm not little anymore, Kuya,” I pointed out. He gave me a warm, tight hug and squeezed my cheek afterward. What do you think of me? My face was not as chubby as when I was young.

"It's painful, brother; stop squeezing my cheek." I frowned.

Jerwin Zac Mendez, my older brother who is intelligent, friendly, athletic, and above all, an asset for him is his handsome face. My brother inherited papa's dark brown eyes and mama's white skin. Her hair color is darker than Ate and me, but Shenjie's hair color is black. He is tall and has a lovely body that can be on the go as a male model in the magazine, and I am only shoulder-tall with him. We were five years apart in age. He was the second child. The firstborn one, I don't know where he is now. I was twelve years old when I saw my brother Faivon carrying a big bag and go through the back of the house, after that he never came back. Am I the only one who remembers and misses brother Faivon?

"Because you're cute, little sis." He was pleased with what he was doing. I rolled my eyeballs.

"Say I'm not little anymore. I'm big now, brother. Stop it!" I'm annoyed. Haler? I'm not 12 years old anymore, and I'm 18.

"Even though you're my little sis. Nothing will change,” he mumbled and smiled. "So? I'll take you on a tour of your room?"

"Don't worry, brother, and I can manage. Roger is here." I turned to look at Roger, standing a few steps away from us.

"Hey, Roger!" my older brother greeted him.

"Hello, sir Jerwin,” He replied in a monotone.

"All right, We'll talk later, little sis. I still have important things to do. Shenjie will come home later when he finds out you're coming today." Then he said his goodbye and kissed me on the forehead before leaving.

"Bye, Brother." I waved my hand, a broad smile on my lips.

*******

I opened my laptop and went to the browser. I picked up the phone and plugged the USB charger wire into the laptop connecting it to my phone. I looked for the file that I would send to April, taking me minutes before I found it.

Why didn’t I think it was in the Zeze folder I put? Forgettable me. I shook my head and sighed.

My bodyguard was outside my room. Papa was guarding me close again. Then I sent the file through my email, waiting for a reply of my friend. Did she received it? I check again the email and it was sent successfully.

"What ya doing, Trinity," I gasped of sudden voice coming from Shenjie approaching my habit. Doesn't he have a manner to knock on my door? He entered the room with his long stride, smiling.