Kapitel 2: Chapter 1 - Ashiya
ASHIYA
"TWO million pesos? Papa, you did not disappear for a month to tell me you lost two million pesos overnight?"
I felt like my head would explode when I found out that Papa lost that amount on the casino. Sofronio Yuzon was calmly sipping his coffee, unbothered by the fact that he brought another problem to our family. He was sitting on a maroon high back sofa inside our library.
Papa seemed like an aristocrat who lost only twenty pesos at a fair or card game at the plaza. Or lost only fifty pesos at a betting game or owed a hundred pesos in a retail store.
"Are you raising your voice on me, Ayisha?" he asked and raised an eyebrow, reminding me of my place. I was just his daughter. I may be a princess, but he was the king.
He was Sofronio Yuzon, a sugar plantation scion from Negros. The sugar bowls that the Yuzons owned covered almost three towns in the said island until my grandfather died, and Papa sold his inheritance to settle in Manila. Papa invested at hotels and bars his friends put up.
We lived like royalty for a while. My sister Ashlyn and I enjoyed spending vacation abroad and studied in exclusive schools. My parents were always invited to the parties of the movers and shakers of the country. They smooched with politicians, celebrities, and businessmen. My sister and I attended workshops, acting lessons, and music lessons.
But I did not think our lives as princesses would last. Papa mismanaged the hotel and bar, and then there's also the economic recession. It worsened when Mama was diagnosed with bone cancer, and our money went to her treatment. Papa got addicted to gambling when Mama died because it was his way of coping up with the tragedy in our family. Whatever was left of our properties, Papa had either solved it or list to gambling.
And here I am, slaving just to pay off my father's debts. Just when I thought we only had five million left of debt from twenty-five million, it went up to seven million in an instant. Years of working for nothing.
He was the penniless king, and I am a princess on a borrowed kingdom. We had nothing. And Papa was like the villain in a fairytale. Instead of helping the princess, he made the problem worse.
"Don't worry. It's not a problem to Mauro," Papa said casually and sipped his coffee. "This is not the usual civet coffee that I love. Did you change the brand?"
I could hear the sound of my teeth gritting. Papa lost two million pesos in gambling, but he was more bothered that his brand of coffee was changed. I wanted to pull my hair and run out of our house hysterically. I was almost close to breaking down.
My body tensed, and I feel my tears welling up because of anger. "Papa, we're already in debt to Sir Mauro. It's embarrassing that you borrowed money from him again."
"Don't feel embarrassed toward Mauro. He is practically family."
My mouth felt sour when Papa mentioned him. Mauro Quizon is my boss and my father's friend. He is a widower for ten years now. At thirty-eight years old, he owns several businesses, including a string of casino hotels and resorts in the Philippines – Astra Resorts and Casino. He was kind to our family. Though we already paid our house to our debts, he did not force us out.
I also found out that he paid for my sister and I's tuition fees, so I underwent summer training in his company and was hired as his executive assistant when I graduated. That was my way of paying back our millions of debts to him.
Mauro also lent Papa money to invest in a dropshipping business where I sometimes help. But since Papa lost in gambling again, the restless and sleepless years I spent with Astra went to waste.
"We should not abuse Mauro, Papa," I protested.
"That is not abuse. Mauro won't mind. He is practically family."
"Papa, it doesn't matter if it was Mauro or whoever it was that lent you money. Our deal was you stop borrowing money or gambling. You promised, Papa."
My breath hitched with a sob. My chest felt like exploding because of being distraught. I wanted to cry my heart out because Papa did not care about my hardships.
Papa sighed. "I-I couldn't help it. I need to unwind, or I'll go depressed."
I shut my eyes tight and caught my head. My head would explode because of madness and frustration at any time. How could my father feel no remorse at all? "Papa, we do not own acres of sugar farms anymore. This house is not even under our possession anymore. I'm so tired of paying your debts and fixing your mess. And I already told you that you need to see a psychologist for your gambling addiction."
"My gambling is not the problem here, Ashiya. You just like making things complicated. You're the only one here who wanted to work and make yourself suffer."
"And what should I do, Papa? The bills won't pay for themselves. The maintenance of this mansion is no joke, and I have to pay for our part. Ashlyn is still in school. College isn't exactly cheap." And my sister's taste is not cheap. Ashlyn is still living the life of an heiress.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein