SMILE

Chapter I

Chapter I
The Order

...

Chapter I: Part I
Elizabeth Etérea

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Elizabeth Etérea

Tell, me, how can you hide your bare-socked feet without being noticed?

You can't? Okay.

"Let's talk inside," Father said patting my shoulder before heading inside followed by the two men- no, scratch that, it's one man and one boy.

"Handa na ba ang hapunan?" Tanong niya nang makapasok kami sa loob Ng bahay.

Agad lumabas si Manang Terry mula sa lagusan Ng kusina habang bitbit Ang nakaangat na sandok.

"Welkam home ser!" Halos pasigaw nito sabay talon. "Malapit na pong matapos Ang niluluto ko ser, slight wait lang."

Tumango si Ama saka naglakad patungo sa isang kahoy na pinto, binuksan Niya ito at lumitaw sa aming paningin Ang hagdan patungo sa second floor.

"Capitan, may pag-uusapan Tayo." Tipid na wika ni Ama at agad namang sumaludo si Captain.

"Sir, yes sir." Matigas na wika Ng Kapitan at sinundan Ng lakad si Ama patungo sa itaas ngunit Bago tuluyang maglaho sa aming paningin ay Hindi ko nagustuhan Ang sinabi nito.

"Eli, kausapin mo muna si Enzo." Wika ni Kuya Cielo.

"But-" Hindi ko na natapos Ang aking sasabihin dahil nagmadali itong umakyat.

Kuya Cielo!

My brows furrowed when I turned back to see our guest's situation, he was already sitting on our antique victorian camel-back couch, his Moreno skin marvels and contrast the white cushions of the red oak couch.

I love his skin, not just his skin but Morenos complexion in general, I love Moreno and Morena---one reason is that I'm one of them.

There he goes, his stares, it's as if he's observing every act you do, every detail of your moves, every sentence you say---how do I know?

Oh, we met, once, 4 years ago.

He withdraws his eyes from me, he gazes around the house from top to bottom to corners.

I sat on the smaller couch, next to the round table with a book on it.

Ba't ba kase s'ya nandito.

"Si Heneral na ang magpapaliwanag sa'yo kung ba't ako nandito."

It's as if he can read minds, he answered my question---partly.

Though that wasn't a question, it's a rant.

Fair enough

Don't judge me but, I don't like visitors except for my father's colleagues, for;

1: I do not know how to act around them,

should I give them water? coffee? milk? I don't know, how would I know, I'm homeschooled and friendless---almost, I still have 1. And...

2: There's nothing to talk about

Instead of talking to the guy, I grabbed the children's book story beside me which is oh, The beauty and the Beast.

After a few minutes of silence, Manang Terry our cook called us for dinner, she's a middle-aged woman with grayish hair, a bit chubby, but really active.

We sat around the oval dinner table, maayos ngayon Ang preparation ng plates, there's guests eh, but I consider Kuya Cielo or Kapitan Cielo Leo as a kind of brother figure after 5 years of seeing him with Papa. Though father doesn't often return home.

So I guess we only have 1 guest.

Sa isang taon madalas ay 5-10 beses lang kung umuwi si Ama dahil sa mga misyon at duties Niya, madalas ay Hindi ko alam kung saan siya pumupunta, it's top secret---that's what he always says.

Kuya Cielo is a 27 Years old soldier---a captain to be precise, I don't get it though. He's smart, funny, and brawny, but SINGLE.

Manang Terry ate with us, in this house the one who cooks gets to eat the food warm.

I think the most valuable thing my father thought me is that Karma is Real. The Golden rule is don't do unto others what you don't want others to do unto you.

Victoria, my late mother, is an intelligent, and kind woman---they say, that she loves talking to people and telling them stories.

I didn't get to meet her, but sure, she held me, I remember some details of her from when I was like 6 or 7 but not much.

Too few details, but, still, a little is enough.

I sat beside my father, In front of me is Kuya Cielo, next to him is Lorenzo, and next to me is Manang Terry.

We started with a prayer led by the religious Manang Terry and started eating.

The dinner was peaceful until my father broke the silence.

"Lorenzo will be living here from now on."

Gulat akong napatingin sa kaniya.

"And tomorrow, you'll be going to school with him."

How is that even possible? It's September, classes started 3 months ago! My father is insane!

"But how is that possible?" I asked, confused. Everyone on the table is now looking at me, it's as if I'm the only one who doesn't know what's going on.

"You will go, Zein will bring your uniforms tomorrow at dawn, sleep early."
He Sternly stated.

"But I don't want to-"

"That's an order."