Quill (✔)

Chapter 16

A E L I A

"BILISAN mo na Aelia, I don't want us to be late at that so-called family gathering of my sister," dad said nang magkasalubong kami sa living room.

He's already wearing his designer clothes, polo to be exact, matched with an expensive watch. Ganoon din si mommy na kanina pa nakaupo't ready na umalis. She's wearing a simple long dress matched with pearl jewelries.

"Yes, dad," I answered and went back to my bedroom. Kailangan ko pa ng kaunting retouch kasi hindi ko nagustuhan ang ayos na pinagawa ni mommy sa akin from the makeup artists and hairdressers she hired kanina.

I'm wearing a simple satin dress na may mesh na naka-attach para hindi siya ganoon ka-revealing. Pare-pareho kaming naka-blue nina mommy at daddy kasi iyon ang color na naka-assign sa family namin para sa reunion na ito.

Ayoko nga sanang sumama kasi for sure, si Charlotte nanaman ang topic pero wala akong choice. My father will also scold me. Besides, marami rin naman akong maaaring ipagyabang sa kanila once they started asking me.

"Aelia, tara na!"

I heard my mother calling me kaya binilisan ko na ang pag-aayos at bumaba na. I went straight to our family car and to my surprise, hindi si dad ang magda-drive ngayon, it was our family driver.

Ayaw niya atang maging mukhang haggard at stress dahil sa biyahe pagdating sa venue. Gusto atang magpa-impress sa iba naming mga kamag-anak, as usual.

Matapos ang ilang oras na biyahe ay nakarating na kami sa location na naka-attach sa invitation. The venue is a well-known five-star restaurant and I guess, isang table lang kaming magkakapamilya, palagi naman. Pero sa table na iyon, para kaming nasa isang business meeting sa sobrang laki.

"If your grandmother asks something, just answer her with confidence, okay?" Dad reminded me before he jumped off the car. Tumango naman ako bilang tugon.

Pagpasok namin ng restaurant ay agad kaming hinatid ng receptionist sa VIP area na kung saan kaunti lang ang nagda-dine. Pagdating namin doon ay agad akong nagmano sa mga tito, tita, pati na rin kay grandma na kanina pa ako pinagmamasdan.

My sight immediately roamed around the place. Wala pa sila Charlotte.

I sat down next to my parents, nandoon din ang iba ko pang mga pinsan pero may kaniya-kaniya silang mga mundo. It feels like only the adults are enjoying in this mini gathering.

Though, I'm an adult na rin naman na.

What I mean is, ang mga oldies. Sila-sila lang din ang nagkakaintindihan, mostly about business, and even though they are laughing, the tension is still evident among them.

"So, how's my beautiful apo naman?" The topic got interrupted when my grandmother suddenly diverted her attention towards me. All eyes are now on me.

"Well, I'm doing fine naman po," I answered awkwardly. Napatingin ako bigla kay dad nang bigla siyang tumikhim.

Oh crap! Right, dapat hindi ako maging mahiyain sa harap nila.

"I see. So, how's your studies?" She asked once again. I smiled at her and then forced myself to confidently face everyone, just like what my parents want me to do.

"As usual lang po, grandma. I'm the top student of our University and consistent Dean's Lister in our batch. Actually, I also started interning in a company wherein the owner, or the C.E.O. almost begged me to join them," I said. Nakita kong napangiti si dad sa sinabi ko that comforted me.