Searching the Stars (Montereal Series #1)

[1]

"Asteria Margaret." my mother sternly called.

I rolled my eyes and dropped the book to see her. She had her arms crossed at me at parang papagalitan niya na ako, any second. I removed my glasses and placed it on my bedside table. She was already dressed. The only thing that she has to do is to put on her makeup.

"Didn't I tell you to dress up? We need to go the party!"

I groaned. "I said, I don't want to go."

"Asteria," she called. "You need to go."

I gave her a look and continued reading my book. Agad naman din niyang hinablot 'to sa akin. Sinamaan ko lang siya ng tingin. Everytime my mother gets mad, I don't really feel any fear. Kaya naman 'di niya rin ako madaling mapasunod sa kanya.

"Your ninang would be disappointed kung hindi ka magpapakita sa kanya. Come on, go and dress up. Your cousin is in the living room." she told me.

"I got better things to do—"

"Like what? Watch your Korean boys all day? Asteria Margaret, lumabas ka naman! There is a world out there! Life doesn't revolve in your room!" she said, pulling me up. Pinipilit niya akong tumayo para umalis doon. I prefer staying in my room all day, instead of going to a party. What would they need me for, anyway? Uupo lang naman ako dun.

Nung ayaw magpatalo ni Mommy, tumayo na ako. Mukhang hindi niya kase ako titigilan hangga't di ako papayag sa gusto niya. I saw my mother smile at what I did. Agad din naman siyang pumunta sa closet ko. Turns out, she had already picked a dress for me.

"Wear this," she ordered me. "Make yourself presentable." pahabol niyang sabi bago umalis ng kwarto ko.

I groaned again. I hate being forced to do something I didn't want. I was never a party type of person. Mas gugustuhin ko pang manatili sa kwarto ko at magbasa o manood sa Netflix. At least doon may matututunan ako.

I stared at the dress my mother gave me. She gave me a pastel blue off-shoulder dress that reaches above my knees. Binigyan niya rin ako ng silver stilettos. Pati na rin mga alahas niya.

"Tria!" Ate Frances cheerfully said as she entered my room. Kakapalit ko lang ng damit. Buti nalang din talaga at kaka-shower ko lang so I still looked fresh.

Pinasadahan niya ako ng tingin. I can also see that she's already dressed. Gaano ba ka-importante 'tong event na 'to and even our family has to be there? "Wow you look so pretty!" she told me and smiled.

Ate Frances is my cousin who is 4 years older than me. College na siya. She's my cousin sa mother's side. Isa siya sa mga closest ko. Despite our age difference, nakakarelate pa rin naman kami sa isa't isa.

"Bakit busangot na naman mukha mo? Ganda-ganda mo na nga eh..."

"Ayoko kase pumunta." sabi ko. "I'd rather stay here in my room than be there. Si Mommy kase! Pinilit ako. I don't even know why she wants me there!"

She laughed. "I don't think you'll say that once you arrive there."

Kumunot naman ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. Bakit naman? Ano ba meron dun at ganon nalang nila ako gusto pasamahin? I get that my ninang is there, pero pwede naman kami magkita some other time! Matagal na rin naman nung huli kaming nagkita! Baka nga di niya na ako namumukhaan.

"Why?" tanong ko. "Ano ba meron dun?"

She smirked. "You'll see."

I rolled my eyes at her at pinagpatuloy ang ginagawa ko. I sat in front of my vanity mirror and started doing my makeup. Sanay ako mag makeup on my own because I am a dancer. Sinanay kase kami na mag makeup everytime may performances kaya naman doon na rin ako nahasa na matutong mag-ayos.