Crossroads [SC SERIES #1]

Kabanata 23: A Relative

[Nhelandrie's POV]

I took the bus after our little chitchat at habang pauwi ako ay hindi mawala-wala ang mga titig ko sa litratong hawak ko.

I think I saw this somewhere. The lotus flower made my head crack for thinking so seriously. Saan ko na ba ito nakita?

Nagtaka ako nung makitang madilim ang bahay pagkatapos kong makababa ng bus.

Yeah, right. Umalis pala siya para sa Family Gathering. Kinuha ko sa bulsa ang duplicate key na binigay niya sa 'kin bago ako umalis kanina.

It's so quiet... and boring. Before I became her slave, ganito ba ang nararamdaman niya araw-araw? Well, she won't be bored sa ilang stack ng papeles na kailangan niya gawin.

I remove my shirt bago ako nagtungo sa training room para magpapawis.

I was in the middle of lifting weights when the door slowly opened that it made me stopped from working out. I turned around and my forehead creased when an unknown woman stepped inside the room.

She has a long comburent red hair. She has a heart-shaped face and her curvy adobe lips made her stood up, plus that she's a 6-footer.

She started walking to me just like a sophisticated model that can be compared to Gigi Hadid.

Nung malapit na siya sa kinatatayuan ko ay nakuha ng atensyon ko ang kanyang mga mata; monolid-shaped lavendelblau eyes.

"Well, well. So you are the guy that the President spoke of. The guy who got the Vice President's attention." Parang nagka-goosebumps ako inangat niya ang mukha ko para mas lalo kong titigan ang kanyang mga mata.

"Who the hell are you?" Pasinghal na tanong ko bago iniwas ang mukha mula sa kanyang pagkakahawak.

"Let's just say, a relative?"

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[Klare's POV]

This is the same exact feeling. Dead, I feel dead whenever i'm around with my family. I don't know the reason why I was invited here in the first place. They clearly treat me like some sort of no one.

Everyone toased after hearing a short speech from my Grandmother habang ako ay mag-isang nakaupo lang sa gilid habang iniinom ang rice juice ko.

No one needs my presence. Ramdam ko ang mga nandidiring titig na nagmumula sa mga relative ko, especially from Tita Elle.

"Why don't you join your cousins?" I heard Dad's voice spoke from my behind pero mahina lang akong umiling.

"We heard from the President that you're being weird lately. Tell me, it's because of a boy?" Dad pulled a seat and sat in front of me. Nakasuot ito ng mapanuksong ngiti that made me looked away, not showing any expression.

"There's no boy," masungit kong sagot.

"Well, if there is, I want to meet him. Sorry, I made you come here. Your Grandma would be upset if she won't see you here. Besides, may pinagsamahan naman kayo ni Tita Elle mo diba? Try to understand her more, she just upset but she doesn't hate you."

Hindi na lang ako umimik. He doesn't have any idea kung ano ang mga pinaggagawa nina Tita Elle at Ate Steph behind his back.

"Where's Ate Steph? I haven't seen here kanina pa." Sabi ko. It's unusual. Kapag may mga parties or gathering, si Ate Steph palagi yung may perfect attendance. She loves flexing her outfit of the day and of course to tell tiring stories about her success.

"May pinuntahan, nagpaalam siya kanina sa 'kin."

That so funny to believe. Ano naman kaya ang pinuntahan niya para ipagpalit ang araw na ito kung saan niya maipaglantaran ang yabang niya.

"I didn't expect you to be here. As far as I can remember, you're not part of the family." Tita Elle took off her black sunglasses and she looked at me with hatred and disgust.

"May dugong Mallino pa rin ako, Tita." Walang kaemo-emosyong sagot ko.

"Wow, ano naman ang inambag mo sa pamilyang 'to para magyabang ka na isa kang Mallino?"

"I believe it has to do with the K.P.A. I didn't become Granny's favorite grandchild kung wala akong ambag. Same with Dad, it's obvious that I have more knowledge and skills to be the next Chairman of the Alkoro Enterprise. That's why everyone else in the family hates me, kahit anak ako sa labas, I have a strong potential to run the company alone."

"You brat!" Kitang-kita ang pagkapikon sa buong mukha nito at bago pa man niya itaas ang kanyang kamay para sampalin ako ay binulungan ko siya, "show them what you are, Mrs. Villegas." Lumingon ito at nakitang nakatingin ang ibang relative sa 'min. She gritted her teeth and grasp some air on her palm.

"Ever since you left the Mansion Centre, your head has become bigger yet full of air." Pabulong nitong insulto. Of course, she doesn't want Dad to hear her saying things to me kung ayaw niyang masipa paalis sa Mansion. It'll be more worse kung si Granny ang makarinig sa kanya.

"You're obviously talking about Ate Steph. Your daughter who only knows how to show-off. Your daughter that doesn't even know how to solve a single algebra problem. Now I know kung bakit madaming problema ang kinaharap ng KPA nung siya ang naging Vice President." Bago ko pa marinig ang maktol niyang nakakarinding pakinggan ay tumalikod na ako. It's five in the evening, Mr. Aguilar must be home.

Thank goodness, I got to leave the Mansion Centre. It's better to live alone than to face every single day some gold-diggers. Why did Dad married her in the first place? She's not that rich and she clearly doesn't know how to manage the company. In short pabigat lang siya.

Kaya naisipan ni Dad na mangbabae noon... and I was born in result sa pangbabae niya.

Hinatid ako ng isa sa mga katiwalang driver ni Dad at nung huminto ang sasakyan sa harapan ng bahay ko ay nagmamadali akong lumabas ng kotse nung may isang pamilyar na sasakyan.

Kulay green na Jeep van. The only person that I know that uses van even in different occasions.

Padabog kong binuksan ang pinto at napaestatwa nung makita si Nhelandrie na nakagapos sa couch habang si Ate Steph ay nakaupo sa kandungan niya.

"I'm glad you're now here, sis."

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