The Scent of an Orris

Chapter 33

"Congratulations!" My cousin's voice rang out as I began to remove my costume, every inch of my body buzzing with the exhilaration of our successful performance

"Ang galing mo ate!" Fiona added, her eyes sparkling with admiration. She's standing next to my cousin, her face flushed with the excitement of the night.

The play that everyone has been working hard on is finally over, and it was a resounding success.

But the success of the play didn't just end there. It also caught the attention of the international guests. They were impressed by the quality of the production and the talent of the actors, and it became a topic of conversation among them.

Nagsalita rin yung President kanina. He had expressed his immense pride in his granddaughter, Miss Rayi, who had led the event.  His words had served as a definitive counter to the rumors that had been circulating, effectively silencing the whispers of doubt. The surprise on many faces was palpable as they processed the truth,

Hinanap din ng mata ko si Ariel kanina. I was eager to see her reaction, especially after her insinuations about Miss Rayi having a sugar daddy. But she was nowhere to be found and her absence doing nothing to dampen the triumphant mood of the evening.

"Sino yun ate?" Fiona's question cut through the chatter, her gaze fixated on a man standing next to Miss Rayi. He was holding a bouquet of flowers, their vibrant colors a stark contrast against his dark suit and he seemed engrossed in a conversation with the President.

"That's Kim Xander, landscape architect ng mommy niyo" my cousin casually replied. Her words hung in the air, causing both Fiona and me to turn to her in surprise.

"Bakit?!" The word erupted from me, louder than I had intended, my shock apparent in my voice. Hindi pa man nakakasagot si Charlotte ay dumating naman si kuya at mommy

So, he was the one behind the stunning greeneries in my mom's restaurant. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I had been showering praises on his work, completely unaware of his identity. The irony of the situation was not lost on me, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance at the unexpected twist.

"Congratulations, baby! I'm so proud of you" my mom exclaimed as she approached me, her eyes shining with pride and her warm embrace enveloped me

Syempre dahil busy si daddy ay wala siya ngayon dito. He had been working so hard lately that he was rarely home, and it was a stark reminder of how much things had changed. Twice nalang siya nakakauwi every month.

"Let's go?" Sabi ni Kuya pagkatapos niya akong ibeso "Let's celebrate" dagdag pa niya kaya naman sumulyap ako sa professor ko

She's surrounded by her family and Kim Xander, along with some of the international guests. They were all beaming with pride, and it was clear that the annual play had been a resounding success.

"Ate tara na" Fiona's voice broke through my thoughts, and I reluctantly pulled my gaze away from my professor.

Simula noong pumunta siya sa amin ay wala namang nagbago sa rehearsal namin. Parang student professor lang talaga

I know she's very professional, and it was her job to maintain a certain level of professionalism. However, I couldn't help but wonder if I had read too much into the kiss she had given me. Was it just a student-professor gesture? Friendly gesture, or did it mean something more?

Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang isipin kung tama bang umasa ako sa halik na ibinigay niya sa akin

The kiss she gave me may have a different meaning, but it doesn't always indicate a romantic gesture. It could be a friendly gesture or part of her professional behavior. Arg! Ang gulo