Total Drama GC

'Thank You' Speech

In the quaint little town of Verdejas, where the sun set in a riot of crimson and gold, Carlos Burromuerto stood at the altar, a radiant smile plastered on his face as his heart raced in pure joy.

The picturesque garden was adorned with twinkling fairy lights and vibrant flower arrangements. The Sterecra family sat on Nelson's side, their eyes all bright with excitement. Every single member of the Sterecra Ten were practically radiating with joy.

He was moments away from marrying Nelson Sterecra, the man who had seen through his idiosyncrasies, embraced his quirks, and loved him fiercely. Friends and family filled the chairs, a wave of hopeful anticipation washing through the gathering.

But the blissful glow of the occasion dimmed slightly as he looked out onto the crowd. His parents were conspicuously absent.

It wasn't a shocking twist. For the Burromuerto family, it was clear that favouritism flowed through their DNA like the very blood that ran in their veins.

For weeks, Carlos had been excited about his wedding, imagining a day when everyone would come together to celebrate love, support, and family. But one glaring absence lingered over the occasion: his parents, Rita and Miguel Burromuerto.

Carlos, their oldest child, and Alejandro, their youngest, had always been compared to the middle brother, José, whose bright, flashy demeanour often stole the spotlight—even if it meant pushing the other two into the shadows.

Earlier in the year, José had gotten engaged to a swift, surface-level young woman named Tiffany. Known more for her vastly extravagant outfits and less for her intellect, Tiffany was everything that their parents desired for their middle child—the epitome of social aspiration in their eyes.

So when Carlos announced his wedding to Nelson, his parents quickly dismissed the importance of his day out of fear it would eclipse José's impending nuptials.

"Let's show balanced love and support," they reasoned, though the strained edges of their logic barely held together.

As the ceremony began, a bittersweet tension gripped Carlos. He wasn't naive; he understood the dynamics at play.

Still, he had resolved to make the day unforgettable not only for himself and Nelson but for everyone who had supported them wholeheartedly, especially his little brother, Alejandro, who sat in the front row, eyes sparkling with excitement.

As the officiant began reciting the vows, Carlos felt a surge of emotion. With each word, he remembered the years of longing for acceptance, the countless attempts at gaining his parents' favour, and the clang of silence when they pointedly ignored his achievements.

Things weren't any better with Alejandro; Carlos knew how disappointed their parents were when he lost the million, and he saw firsthand how José proceeded to taunt him when he came back from the show.

It was vehemently clear; both of them were not their parents' favourite, not anywhere close. Anything short of perfection deemed them imperfect and therefore not worth their time. But while Carlos flourished under this freedom, Alejandro did not.

It had taken months, almost a year before Carlos finally convinced his little brother to give up trying to gain the approval of their parents because they were never going to see, and José would never let him thrive.

As the time came for the wedding reception, he felt an urgent need to speak.

"Thank you all for coming here today to celebrate this absolutely wonderful event," Carlos began his speech, struggling to keep his tone light. "I want to express my gratitude to my supportive friends and loved ones—except, of course, for my parents," he quipped.