Adler's Legacy #1: Subtle Romance

Chapter Seven

CHAPTER SEVEN

VALENCIA was taken aback when she finally entered the restaurant inside Ayana's resort. Mr. Adler's family had rented the entire location for their gathering. Her heart was pounding against her chest, and she could hear it throbbing loudly. She was not accustomed to being present at this type of gathering or occasion. Valencia assumed it was a simple family gathering, but she was taken aback when she observed the luxury cars parked outside the property. They belonged to Mr. Adler's family.

Valencia clenched her grip on Shien's arm even tighter. She raised her eyes to him and flashed a nervous smile.

"D—Do you think I'll be able to pull this off?" she inquired of him.

Shien gazed at her with a glint of enjoyment in his eyes. "I'm not going to lie, this is the first time I've watched how terrified you are, Miss Valencia. "

She chewed the inside of her bottom lip. "This is not a part of my job description. This is not even one of the abilities I listed on my résumé as a strength." She spoke to him with shaky hands as she looked him in the eyes.

Kung sa ibang pagkakataon lamang ay kaya niyang makipagtaasan ng kilay sa iba pero iba ngayon. Makakaharap niya ang pamilya ng kanyang boss. Kahit alam naman nilang dalawa na trabaho lamang itong ginagawa niya ay hindi pa rin magawang iwasan ni Valencia ang hindi kabahan. This is her firs time to meet these kinds of people.

"Shall we go inside?" tanong ni Shien sa kanya.

Nagdadalawang isip man ay tumango na lamang si Valencia bilang pagtugon sa binata. They were welcomed by members of Mr. Adler's family. They couldn't believe their eyes when they saw her boss with a woman. She never met several of his relatives.

"Shien!" a woman with blazing red hair called Mr. Adler. May dala itong kopita sa kamay nito. Tumakbo ito papalapit sa gawi nila at walang sabing yinakap si Shien.

Nabigla si Valencia at kaagad na napabitaw kay Shien. It seemed that they have know each other for a very long time.

"Ruche!" natatawang tugon ni Shien sa babae. Shien escaped from the woman's embrace. Nagkatinginan ang dalawa at bakas ang kasiyahan sa mga mata nito. "I thought you're in Surigao. When did you finally arrived here?" Shien asked.

"Oh! I arrived at the same moment abuela called my phone and invited me to this event. She's still a little too extravagant," sagot naman ng babaeng nagngangalang Ruche. Bumaling ang mga mata nito sa kanya at tiningnan siya mula ulo hanggang paa. Valencia just readied her smile.

Bumalik ang tingin nito kay Shien. "So, siya na ba 'yon?" tanong ni Ruche na may nakakalokong ngiti na nakaguhit sa labi nito.

"Ruche, stop!" saad ni Shien. "You are talking too much," dagdag pa nito.

Mabilis na bumaling ulit ang tingin ni Ruche sa kanya at nginitian siya nito. She wasn't expecting that but she still managed to smile at her.

"Hello there, how impolite of me not to introduce myself to you. I'm Ruche Carina Adler Raman, and I'm Shien's cousin and close friend."

Ruche greeted her and introduced herself. She even extended her hand to her, which she gratefully took.

"H—Hi, my name is—"

"Her name is Valencia Vega, and she is my girlfriend."

Shien cut her off in the middle of her sentence. She was unable to continue her introduction. A startling alteration occurred in Ruche's facial expression. She was taken aback, and by the end of the conversation, she was grinning from ear to ear.

"Yes, I—I am his girlfriend," Valencia repeated herself.

"Oh! God! Finally!"

Itinungga muna ni Ruche ang laman ng kopita nito at nang maubos ay bigla nalang siya nitong yinakap na ikinabigla naman niya. Hindi nakagalaw si Valencia at wala siyang nagawa kung hindi yakapin 'din ito pabalik.