Queen Of Fake Smiles

Simula

Mabilis akong nakapaghilamos at nagbihis ng dress para sa dinner ngayong gabi. As usual, I'm late. Not that I'm important in that dinner, I think it's just for formality that I'm there.

"Madison, tama na ang pag-aayos. Pababa na ng kanilang sasakyan ang mga bisita!" Narinig ko ang malakas na katok ni Manang Lucing sa aking pinto.

"Ready in 2!" Sigaw ko habang sinusuot ang aking sapatos. Si manang Lucing ay nananatiling kumakatok sa aking pintuan.

Sinilip ko muna ang sarili sa salamin before I opened the door. Manang Lucing looked at me from head to toe behind her eyeglass. My choice of clothes is against her will. Ang masyadong backless na damit daw ay hindi babagay sa edad ko. I'll be sixteen in a few months, just wait.

"Kung bakit ka kasi late umuwi galing eskwela..." Sermon nito.

"Uh.. Project." I avoided her question and went straight towards the stairs. May sinasabi pa sana si Manang Lucing ngunit hindi ko na iyon pinakinggan pa dahil hahaba lamang ang aming usapan.

"Ah, Madison..." Grandma greeted me at the end of the stairwell. "This is my youngest grandchild, doesn't she look like me when I was her age?" Mama laughed and pointed at one of her old photographs in our lobby.

"She does look like you, Senyora." A woman said politely. Napabaling ako sa pamilyang bisita namin para sa gabing ito.

I know why they're here. Tinignan ko ang lalaking anak ng mag-asawa. He stood there tall with his arms crossed. His hair is slightly messy, and my I felt my heart raced for a few seconds when I saw his aloof eyes bore into mine.

"Shall we?" My dad interrupted and led everyone into the dining room.

I know for sure ate Eleanor is marrying this handsome man in front of me. Our family is not really into arranged marriages, but this one is a promise... made by my grandmother and that man's grandfather. Not only would it benefit the family business, but it will also... I'm not sure.

Madalas rin na ipahiwatig ng aking ama na si ate Eleanor ang ipapakasal sa lalaking iyon. They even had get home early from school so she'd have more time to fix herself. I don't know about my parents, but I know ate Eleanor has a secret boyfriend.

"Yaya Cecile!" Hindi ko napigilan ang aking excitement nang nakita ang aking yaya kasama ang iilang kasambahay na nakatayo sa gilid, waiting to serve our food.

I hugged her and she hugged me back quickly. She gestured at my parents and the visitors, who didn't pay attention to my sudden outburst, except for my grandmama, and that boy. Mama smiled at me, kaya agad akong umayos.

I sat next to my ate Eleanor while they all talked about business that I never understood. Mabuti nalang at marami akong ate, that's why it's not up to me to take care of our family business.

Siniko nang palihim si ate Eleanor. "Ikakasal ka na ba?"

Hindi ko alam kung bakit tila nabilaukan ito sa sinabi ko, dahilan kung bakit napalingon silang lahat. Pinandilatan ni dad si ate.

PAALALA: Ang storyang ito ay kathang-isip lamang. Ang mga nakaranas ng parehong sitwasyon ay nagkataon lamang po. Maraming salamat sa pagbabasa.