I felt someone touching my hair.
I opened my eyes and saw Mamu sitting on my bed.
"Mamu!" I said, rubbing my eyes. Wondering why mamu is here, she don't usually go in my room.
My eyes hurt so much, I squinted looking at mamu.
Mamu is smiling at me, a smile that means something is wrong.
What is wrong?
The weather seems good, and... And.. and then I remembered.
I remembered what happened last night. How could I forget it?
"Mamu, I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean to walk off like that."
"Its okay honey, are you alright now?"
"I don't know. Its still not sinking in. It seems surreal. Is it true what mom told me? About taking the place after and after?"
"Yes. That's true."
"But why didn't you tell me? This thing is not a joke, its a big responsibilty."
"It was you're mom's request. She promised that she'll send you here every now and then but we have to be discreet about our status as she don't want you to know just yet. She wants you to have a chance to live a normal life, even for a while. You're mom has always loved to be free. To have her own choice, but she can't have it here. That's why when she met your dad and went to New York for a trip. She never stopped dreaming of living somewhere elsewhere.
When you're mom and dad planned to get married, your mom told us that she wants to live in New york. But, that totally is out of context because she is in line for the throne and she is our only child, so she have no choice but to stay.
But, as your mother is. She eloped to New York and didn't contact us for a while. We thought this would be the end of our reign, your Papai was so depressed."
"She really did that? She's a total pain in the ass." I can't believe mom eloped!
"Haha. She totally is. So after a few months, she went back here explaining to us that she really want to try to live outside of Pelipia. She wants to find her true self, her passion. She said that if she would one day be ruling Clemens, she might as well find herself first. She said she has to explore and learn new things because it would help her in ruling clemens one day.
Anyway, despite your mom being a pain in the ass, as you said."
I laughed the way mamu said what mom is.
"She didn't marry your father until we finally said yes."
I know my mom could be impulsive. She'd do what she wants whatever what happens, as long as she doesn't break any rules.
That is one of mom's traits that I truly admire. Wether or not someone is looking, rules will be rules and we should follow it. There even is a picture of that saying in our kitchen back home, to remind me and dad.
Dad didn't grew up surrounded by rules. His parents never had any, he is as free as a bird, until it gets caught by a net. Which in real life is mom.
I picture them quarreling over a bag of potato chips. Mom doesn't want us to eat junk foods. There are only times when we can eat it, every thursday while watching a game.
The snacks we can eat for the other days are nuts, especially walnuts which I actually love., her oatmeal cookie which is pretty good, and then apples, carrots, celery and okay let's not talk about it. Its starting to sound bad.
"Your papai and I were both hesistant at first with your mom's request because its absurd. But we could see the shine in her eyes. Its like she finally got what she is meant for. There is excitement, nothing that we've ever seen while she's here in Pelipia. So we allowed her. As long as she follows the protocol."
"And what exactly is the protocol?" I said.
"Your dad should take your papai's place in case he retires."
"Dad?? Dad doesn't know anything about Pelipia."
"He does honey. Before a noble Pelipian marry an outsider, he/she has to study what it is to know about Pelipia."
"Dad did that?"
"Yes, he did. He stayed here for a year before getting married and a year after getting married. After you were born, they left for New York. "
"You're dad loves your mom so much that he gave up his profession and stayed here to learn the Pelipian culture. That time we are sure that Clemens will be in good hands in case your father takes over. Eventhough he doesn't have a Pelipian blood, he has a Pelipian heart."
Dad always wants to go to other places to make his research. He always wants to discover new things. Staying here in Pelipia is something I didn't know he did, he can't even stay at home for the whole day. He always wants to go out, to explore.
Pelipia may be small and plain but its not hard to love. People here are very warm, Its like they don't have any problem at all.
Its fine for me if its just living here. But taking care of a whole town? I don't know. I don't even know if I can handle a class!
"Dont worry honey, whatever your future will be,I know you can do it. But now, we have to prepare for your first tea party!"
"Oh! Mamu, come on! Its just 9:30."
"We have a lot of things to do honey. Get up,Get up."
"Fine" I said with a groan.
Mamu can be pretty annoying sometimes. She and mom are opposites. Mom doesn't care about her looks at all, though she's really pretty and don't need to dress up anymore, like I do. Mom will stand out in a room full of beauty queens even just wearing a beggar's clothes.
Mamu, on the other hand, though also pretty, cannot be seen outside wearing her PJs. She's all made up from the time I see her in the morning until I kiss her goodnight.
I wonder how mom dresses up when she was a kid and when she goes here. She never pack clothes going here. Just a small bag with her necessities and then off she hops to the plane.
We've never been here together, because someone has to watch the shop.
Well, I guess mamu finds my case needing more attention that's why we are going to start as early as now for a 3p.m. tea party.
This sucks.
