A Game with Kismet | Suarez II

The Game

"Conrad."

She just spoke my name and I already knew what she was gonna say next.

"Where the hell are you?"

"I am at the spa, Mom." I straightly lied. Of all the excuses I can say, really, Rad? Spa?

"Spa?" She laughed hysterically. "I am hearing a club song. Do you want me to sing it for you?"

She knows where I am but she still asked. I held my nape and thought of something to say.

"It's my birthday. I am celebrating on my own. Let me have this night. I just finished a semester."

"Right." She hissed. "You finished a failed semester."

"I had no failing grades. What are you saying?"

"You were a top student, Rad. Nawala ka sa ranking last year dahil sa kapabayaan mo! All your cousins are working their ass off to graduate as Valedictorians. Si Franco, hindi na nagbakasyon makapagreview lang for his entrance exam."

"Si Franco 'yon," I said.

"The rest of your cousins are preparing for the next semester, samantalang ikaw ay nakikipag-inuman? Delay ka na, Rad. Huwag mo na dagdagan ang kahihiyan natin sa pamilya."

As if it's my fault that I got in a coma for three years. Saan naman niya nakuha ang impormasyong naghahanda ang mga mokong? Nag-iinuman din sila, hindi lang nahuhuli.

I didn't grow up close to the rest of our family, but I keep in touch with some of my cousins. My parents are ashamed of what happened to me. Naaksidente ako noong bata kaya nahinto sa pag-aaral. In short, I am delayed.

"Tularan mo si Franco. Walang sinasayang na oras sa mga hindi importanteng bagay. Paanong mapupunta sa 'yo ang Royale? He has the potential to lead that owning the Dolce Casa won't be a problem for him. You're not even as competent as him to take care of a company, Conrad. Act like a Suarez!"

Sumamdal na lamang ako sa pader habang nakikinig sa kaniya. I am used to comparison my whole life so her words don't hurt me anymore.

Si Franco ang bukambibig ng buong pamilya. He is basically a golden child. Aside from the fact that he is the firstborn, that rat is a head and table turner, competent and smart.

I never felt envious of him neither felt the need to be better. Hindi uso sa amin ang magtanim ng galit, selos, o sama ng loob sa isa't-isa. But our parents think that we are in a huge competition.

"Kapag hindi mo inalagaan ang performance mo, ang profile mo, may masasabi ang mga Tiyo at Tiya mo sa 'yo. The worst can happen. Baka sa halip na ikaw ang mamahala ng Royale ay ibigay nila 'yon sa iba."

"Why are you so worried about it? We are co-owners of all the companies of the Suarez. Bumagsak man ako o hindi makapagtapos, I have a fallback," ani ko.

I was near to getting drunk earlier but when I got home, I felt sober. Hindi ko na naubos ang alak ko dahil na-bad trip ako kay Mom. Pag-uwi ko sa mansiyon, dalawa na sila Dad na handang maglitanya sa harapan ko.

"Don't you understand how important titles are, Rad? The more beautiful your name with the abbreviations you've earned, the more they will agree you are powerful and capable of anything." Dad stands in front of me as he lectures me at midnight.

"I won't enroll this year." I dropped my last straw.

"What?!" Mom freaked out. "Naririnig mo ba ang mga sinasabi mo, Rad?"

Dad wanted to say the same thing but Mom said it first so he just bared his teeth.

"I don't see a single reason to continue."