Red String of Fate

Chapter 5: Accidental Rendezvous

Nicholai was already eating breakfast with the day's newspaper in hand when Alexander arrived at the dining table. 

 "Aga mo yata, Nick?" He asked his older brother as he took the seat across him. 

 "Ipapakilala ni Atty. Carbonel ang anak nya ngayon." Nickolai informed his brother. "Kaya magbihis ka agad."

"Ilang taon na nga ba sya?" Alexander asked his brother as he piled bacon, eggs and grilled chicken fillet on his plate. "Is she my age?"

"21."

"Ahh, mas bata pala." Alexander replied nodding his head and Nickolai put the paper that he was reading down.

"Hands off her, Alex kung ayaw mong pugutan ka ng ulo ni Atty. Carbonel."

"May sinabi ba ako?" Alexander asked his brother. "Tinanong ko lang kung ilang taon sya."

"Kilala kita. Yang mga tanong tanong mong yan alam ko may ibig sabihin."

"I just asked how old she is. Of course I'm curious. Ikaw ba hindi curious? Kulang na lang ipa-canonize ni Atty. Carbonel yung anak nyang yun. He's all praises with her." Alexander said and Nickolai smiled. He couldn't help but agree with his brother.

"Are you ready?" Atty. Carbonel asked his daughter who stood beside him. He opted to use a cane for the occasion, and Edgardo and Alexa hovered around him like a vulture, afraid he'd fall. 

 "Opo, Dad." Alexa replied, she had woken up at five in the morning and proceeded to take a bath, too nervous and too agitated to go back to sleep. 

 "They'll love you. Don't worry." Atty. Carbonel tried to reassure his daughter as Lee Ann ran down the steps towards them. "Lee Ann, dahan-dahan anak, baka madapa ka dyan."

"Daddy naman eh!" Lee Ann uttered before she gave her father a quick peck on the cheek. "Ate, I dressed up specially for you." She announced proudly as she twirled around in a blue-gray business suit. "Bagay ba, Ate?" She asked grinning as their father went inside the car.

"Bagay na bagay sayo." Alexa said returning her sister's smile. 

 "Mukha kang tanga." Someone said and they both looked behind them to find Lia and her mother who opted to sleep at a nearby hotel. Lee Ann immediately bowed her head as Alexa's temper rose.

"Says the girl who's wearing the color of gangrene." She said and Lia glared at her.

"For your information, this is the latest fashion in Paris!"

"Paris? Galing pang Paris yan? That smells of Divisoria or is it your perfume?" Alexa said before she grabbed Lee Ann's hand. " Halika na, Lee Ann."

"Lianna!" Lia called. "I can't wait to see you fail!" She spat.

"In your dreams." Alexa replied and Lia grabbed her wrist.

"Ano bang pinagmamalaki mo ha? Na abogada ka? Na mas matalino ka sa akin? Na mas may karapatan ka sa Daddy? Anak din ako ni Daddy!"

"Too bad." Alexa said before she pulled her wrist free from Lia's grasp.

"Ang yabang mo, porke't may pinag-aralan ka."

"Lia, seriously you're giving me headache. Hindi ako nagyayabang at ikaw wala ka ring karapatang magmayabang."

"Ate, tara na." Lee Ann mumbled quietly and Lia glared at her.

"Tumahimik ka! Sino ang nagbigay sayo ng karapatang sumabat?!"

"Sorry po, Ate." Lee Ann said and Alexa put an arm around the teenager's waist.