Here's to Love

00

If I don't see you later, forget we're your brothers. We're serious this time, Ashanti Reese.

Napailing ako ng mabasa ang message galing sa kuya ko. I bet they're really serious this time and I'm not gonna raise hell by ditching them tonight.

I decided not to respond on their messages to surprise them later. For sure, iniexpect nila na hindi talaga ako pupunta. Ilang taon na ba akong hindi nagpapakita tuwing birthday nila? Four? Five years? I can't really remember the last time I went home.

I just don't think I will ever be ready to face them. The scar from the past was just too deep for me to move on. What happened years ago somehow left my mind due to my endless working but now that I will be seeing them again later, it feels like everything just happened yesterday.

I sighed and just decided to focus on doing my make up. There will be media later and I should look astounding for the photos. It would be a surprise for everybody to see me there. Ilang taon akong nasa L.A. at paikot ikot sa ibang bansa for my shows and shoots.

I wouldn't become one of the highest paid supermodel if not for all those years of hard work. Sure, my surname might have been one of the factors of my success but I still believe that it was because of my skills. Hindi naman ako tatagal sa industriyang ito kung hindi naman ako magaling.

After fixing myself, I took photos on my room for my instagram account. Hindi naman maiisip ng mga kuya ko na nandito na ako sa Pilipinas kasi kahit naman sa ibang bansa ako ay halos araw-araw rin akong may post na ganito.

After posting it ay nagready na ako para umalis. Tamang tama lang ang dating ko nito mamaya. Good thing my new place here in Manila is exclusive kaya hindi ako magwoworry na may magkalat na nandito ako.

Before driving away I decided to call my another surprise for my kuya.

Traffic in Manila did not surprise me at all. Although, I am sure na nag-uumpisa na ang party. More minutes passed at dumating na din ako. There were a few reporters outside the building and I braced myself.

When I got out, the valet immediately came to my rescue. I saw my Kuya Ashton's personal secretary. He was wide-eyed while looking at me. Aligaga siyang lumapit sa akin habang tinawag ang mga body guards para protektahan ako sa papalapit na press.

I smiled at him ng makalapit siya na tila gulat na gulat parin.

"Miss Ashanti! Hindi po kayo nagsabi na darating kayo at sana naipasundo kita." Kinakabahan niyang saad. Natatawang napailing ako. He's very efficient and I'm glad na loyal siya sa kuya ko.

"It's okay, Tristan. I wanted to surprise them kaya please don't tell them na nandito ako." I said which he answered with quick nods.

He lead me towards the hall and I just smiled on the press who were squeezing themselves on the guards to take pictures of me and maybe to get an interview.

When we reached the huge doors towards the event hall where my brothers birthday takes place ay agad akong inatake ng kaba. Bigla akong napaisip kung mabuti ba na late na akong dumating o ano man.

I straightened my deep V-neck pearl accented champagne colored gown. I also fixed my soft curled golden brown hair that almost reached my bottom.

I held unto my clutch bag tightly when Tristan opened the door for me.

"Good luck and enjoy the party, Ma'am." Tristan said and I couldn't even reply to him when I finally entered the huge hall. Everyone was elegantly dressed while listening on the speaker in front.

My head turned on the stage and I couldn't help but feel my chest constrict while staring at the people who were happily smiling. They looked like the typical happy family.