Hello There, Stranger

Part 6

Francis loudly intakes some air as he drives through the gazebo of his stepmother's house. When Samuel was still alive, he made sure to provide for his wife Lani pretty much a life of luxury, the mansion and property were so massive that several helpers were hired just to maintain the neatness of the house. Francis then entered the garden upfront and saw those blooming roses and other flowers on the side. It was pristine, just how Lani Gutierrez wanted it to be. She has always hated clutter or anything that's out of order, she has been like that for as long as he can remember. He roamed his eyes on the entrance door and the heaviness of his heart weighed in. Growing up in this household as a child has been hellish for him, Lani made sure that the young Francis knows that he was not a welcome guest and that even for merely existing was an abomination, the contempt and hatred from his step-mother has been cast to him even in the early years of his life and now that he finally was out of her grip these instances that he needed to be in the same space with her never sits well on his mind. Family and friends were gathered to remember the third death anniversary of Samuel and the will requires them to do it every year. Even in death his father never fails to torture both his stepmother and him. He pushed the door open and stepped into the spacious living room where he saw familiar faces of his father's side of the family and acquaintances.

"Francis! It's been a while" his cousin Rowena called out for him as she flamboyantly walked towards him across the living room and kissed him on the cheek. She's a few years older than him, she's married and has two kids, and they are this cute little boy named Jeremy and the eldest daughter named Susie. She's one of the people who showed genuine care for him even though anak siya sa labas, that's why he has always been comfortable with Rowena, like an older sister.

"You look like shit every single time we do this each year" she commented softly.

"Do I?" He smiled unaffected by his cousin's blunt insult.

"Well regardless of how you feel I just really wanted this time off from my kids, these parasites just suck the life out of me, to be honest." She narrated and gulped some champagne.

"Isn't it a little too early for champagne? It's still 3 PM." He commented.

"I'll squeeze these opportunities too habang may nagbabantay sa mga bata. I am drinking every drop of this glass." She winked and Francis laughed.

"Nagkita na ba kayo ni Tita Lani?" Anito at madiing napailing si Francis, he was not looking forward to that encounter at all though it's inevitable.

Rowena was about to add more to the conversation when both eyes landed on the front door, curious about why that person was there in an exclusive family gathering.

"Why is Tito Samuel's lawyer with us right now? Do you think he was invited?" She verbalized.

Nagkibit balikat si Francis wondering the same thing too. You don't usually see this scene in the annual gathering, Tommy Villanueva has been his father's trusted lawyer ever since he can remember. He has always been his father's confidant especially for all his legal and sensitive dealings lalong-lalo na sa lahat ng mga ari-arian nito. Napansin ni Francis na papalit si Tommy sa kanyang kinaroroonan, Rowena was equally curious of what could be the tea about.

"Francis... how are you?" Tommy asked while shaking his hand firmly. Magkasing edad lang sila ng kanyang ama kaya malaki din ang respeto ni Francis dito, he was part of the family after all. 

"Okay naman po Tito" he replied.

"Mabuti naman, I may need to talk to you about something, I'll give you the details later so please see me before you go." He reminded him.

Tumango si Francis unsure of what it was about but stopped himself from prying further. He would have learned all that later for now he tried to act and look passive especially since the mistress of the house had finally immersed himself.