Tempest

Chapter One

     "I WILL not accept this engagement!"
I growled whilst jumping out of my seat and slamming both my palms onto the table. Gulat na gulat silang lahat—my mother, Alfred and his parents. I figured na siya ang may pakana neto lahat. Of course, she also never failed to hide her sneaky plan from me knowing full well that I will strongly object. And me being enraged right now is plausible. The entirety of this is against my will!
     "Claudia. Sit. Down. Don't you dare make a scene and embarrass me." My mother with her stern voice, slowly turned to face me; her eyes shooting invisible daggers as if to threaten me. I, in turn, glared right back. Did she really think I would cower and hide from that? Please, I'm old enough and no longer under her roof.
       I smirked at her tauntingly. 'Oh please mother, as if.'
       "No." I hissed back my tone as icy as ever. She was about to snap back when Mrs. Rosales interjected.
       "Why don't we calm down for a bit. Maybe take a break from this discussion." She lightly smiled trying to be reassuring as always.
        "Right! Magpahanda tayo ng maagang tanghalian! Let's all take a breather since medyo umiinit ang ating mga damdamin." Mr. Rosales sneaking a wry joke. He was clearly supporting his wife's suggestion being aware of the heated exchange between me and my mother. They we're also confused sa pangyayari but being the host of this meeting, they had to act fast to prevent anymore mother-daughter face off.
       "Constance, please. Kumalma ka." Mrs. Rosales  pleaded. She's desperately trying to dissuade my mother from this on going staredown we're having. This situation is so uncomfortable definitely but I'm standing my ground. If these people weren't present, my mother would've slapped me across the face in a blink. That's how my endowed mother is.
        My mother, the ever infamous, Constance Alvarez-Luna known to be the fiery and fierce business tycoon of this era; succeeding after my late father. Behind this facade, my mother of all the people I know is as slippery as a snake. Gagawin niya ang lahat to achieve anything that she deemed as a profitable investment. For example this 'engagement'.
        Matagal ng magkasosyo ang pamilya Luna at Rosales. In fact we have a long history with them. I grew up knowing them as a second family. Basically me, Alfred and his younger sister, Catherine, are childhood friends. After my father died due to cancer, my mother became the spiteful woman she is now. That was the beginning of our sour relationship.
        Figuratively, you could see lightning bolts clashing from this stare down. Both of us weren't backing down. So the apple doesn't fall from the tree they say. 'Claudia, your pride is on the line here. And she's trying to use you for her own advantage again!' I felt Alfred's gaze land on me and I didn't even bother looking at him. For sure he's going to try to dissuade me and give me a 'brotherly' lecture. That's such an 'Alfred thing to do'.
       "Claudia please—" Aflred softly called with his 'kuya tone'. "Well then enjoy sa lunch." I smiled forcibly and snatched my purse from the seat next to me. I hurriedly turned to leave when she grabbed me.
      "Where do you think you're going?" She snapped. 'God why is this woman so vexing!' I snatched my wrist back. I headed towards the door and slammed it. 'I need to get the hell outta this place!'
       I can't believe this is happening. This is just momentously insane and she's insane. I was storming off the Rosales household and on my way to my car when I heard Alfred calling out my name.
       "Claudia!" 'Damnit! Bwesit ka Aflred! Ba't mo pa ako hinabol ha!' Binilisan ko yung lakad ko. We're both racing to the car door and shit to my luck naunahan niya ako.
     "Alfred what the fuck is it now?!" I grumbled. I'm not in the perfect mood for his stupid speech. 'I swear I will crush his balls if he won't step aside'
    "Claudia... please. Alam kong ang gulo—"
    "For fucks sake Alfred. Hindi ko kailangan yang words of wisdom mo so umalis ka sa harap ko kung ayaw mong sipain kita!" I was yelling already. I know na its rude but nasasakal na ako. I don't want to stay here any longer. I glared at him for the longest second and he just gave me a defeated look. Less than a second later he stepped aside. Pumasok na ako sa sasakyan and drove off. I need to let this all out. I need to scream. I need to tell somebody.
      I pulled my phone and speed dialed the best people for me to vent to. Mga ilang ring bago niya sinagot.
     "Hey Clau? What's up?" She inquired.
     "Jess, I need a drink. Stat." It was 11:57 a.m.

End of chapter.