METROCEANNA TALES I: Unchained Melody

CHAPTER SEVEN: A MILLION-PESO LIFE

[WARNING: EXPLICIT SCENES AHEAD. NOT SUITABLE FOR HOMOPHOBES AND MINORS. READER'S DISCRETION IS STRONGLY ADVISED.]

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she's basking on the lounger when their butler called her attention.

"Senyorita, pinapatawag po kayo nina Senyor at Senyora." anito saka yumukod. "sabay na raw po kayong mag-siesta."

"susunod ako." ang maikling tugon nya. bumangon na sya at sinuot ang kanyang roba. lumulan sya sa lift papunta sa 3rd floor ng silid nya. she remove her bikini and opted a pink and purple sundress. she blow dry her hair and plait it again before she sprit a little of her Channel #5 eu de parfum. she check herself one more time bago lumabas ng kanyang silid.

nasa lanai ang mga magulang nya at pinagsisilbihan ng mga kasambahay.

"maupo ka, Astrid." tawag sa kanya ng ina. lumapit sya at bumeso dito. ganun din sa ama.

"is everything set for the gala tomorrow night?" her mother asked, looking at her with one eyebrow raised over the rim of an exquisite european tea cup. "I'm expecting only the best and for you to do better."

"Si, Mama. i got everything under control. my team and I gave our best for this. you'll see." pagmamalaki nya pa. kumuha sya ng isang roll ng croissant.

ibinaba ng ina ang tea cup and cleared her throat. napatingin syang muli dito at 'di nya maiwasang kabahan.

Valeriana Garcia is the epitome of beauty, wit, class, finesse and power. her cold, distant and stoic persona can make people feel so tiny and insufficient of themselves. she's like the reincarnation of Maleficent and Hera rolled into one. kahit sya na anak nito--hindi ligtas kapag ito ang nagalit. talagang sa kangkungan sya pupulotin kahit dugo at laman pa sya nito.

"we'll see then. mas paniniwalaan ko ang resulta keysa sa bibig lang ang pinapagana. alam mo na siguro ang kahihinatnan mo if it goes wrong." her mother said in a no nonsense tone. she swallowed an empty lump in her throat. damn this old woman for making her feel incompetent.

"that's enough, Valeriana. let our daughter prove herself. at least she's doing her best at hindi kahihiyan ang dala nya sa pamilyang ito." wika ng ama. she smiled upon hearing his words. she could always rely on her father's neutrality in this family.

her mother's eyebrow spiked up again.

"really? and what is that  suppose to mean, Aurelio?"

"oh you know what i mean, dear wife. that bastard of a son made a huge scandal that threw mud at our reputation and family name. at huwag kang magmaang-maangan na wala kang alam." her father said briskly with a clear edge in his voice. halatang nagpipigil lang itong maninghal sa galit. and she knew the reason why.

"it's Arvin's personal and family life, Aurelio. leave it at that. hindi tayo dapat nanghihimasok sa away mag-asawa." her mother replied nonchalantly. hindi sya makapaniwala sa narinig mula dito. para bang wala itong pakialam na nangaliwa ang kuya nya at iniwan ang anak nito at asawa.

"well, wala talaga akong pakialam at lalo nang wala akong balak mangialam sa buhay ng tarantadong yun. but he's carrying my family name and he's disgracing it! now---I don't want that carajo hijo de p*ta to set foot here in this household. wala akong anak na pabling at irresponsable." ang mariing wika ng ama. ang ina naman, wala lang reaksyon.

humigpit ang hawak nya sa kubyertos. how she hated that idiot for leaving his family. but she hated her own mother even more. ni hindi nito kinumusta ang hipag nya after what her brother did. well, hindi na sya nagtaka.