THE ORIGINALS: BLOODLINE

⚜IX. Golden Year⚜

Ambrogio Vetrova Lorenzittee

I can't believe my sister fall for that kind of man. His body is dirty with black drawings. What's that mean?

Kasalukuyan akong narito sa aking silid, preparing for our father's golden year, it's been a month since that man always visiting here with flowers and gifts for my sister.

"Screw it", si Nathaniel ng siya ang makatanggap ng mga ito. He throw it outside the house.

I didn't stop him. I don't like that man too. We all do. Only our mother and father likes him, or maybe because they don't want to hurt Veronika's feelings. But screw it too. Majority always wins.

Lumabas na ako ng aking silid. Ng makarating sa gilid ng railings ay narinig ko kaagad ang ingay na nasa baba. Visitors are there. Humans and our kinds.

The jazz music fill my ears as the chatterings mix with it.

Tumabi si Nathaniel sa akin. His suit is not fix properly as he chucked and look down the stairs.

"Oh! It's time for games", aniya.

Our mother come to him and fix his suit. She hold Nathaniel's arms and drag him close to the stairs para bumaba na.

I envy the life of my younger brothers. They had all the things in life that I wanted.

I look at them. I suddenly feel jealous about him. How does it feel if someone loves you like how my mother loves my brother Nathaniel? How does it feel if someone cares for you like how father cares for Cecilion?

I grow up with lack of love but I tried to be kind even though I don't know what that is. What is kindness? What is love? How to care and love? I just know what's cruelty but I don't know any of those good things they are saying.

Walang nagturo sa akin kung paano iyon.

Ng makarating sa landing ng hagdanan ay nakatanaw ko kaagad si Cecilion, he's beside our father. They are on the lower steps, kasunod sila Nathaniel at ang aming ina, and last is me and Veronika.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen!", our father said loudly as the music lowered the volume. "These is my family. My beautiful wife, Jestiva Vetrova Lorenzitte", the people below clapped their hands.

"And my sons, Ambrogio, Cecilion and Nathaniel. And of course my one and only daughter, Veronika", pakilala nito sa amin.

At least father introduce me as his son. My heart felt light now.

As the party started, the hall started to get loud. I just get a golden cup with old red wine as I joined the crowed.

Cecilion is with the crowed kaya naglakad ako papalapit doon. Some girls flock to him, trying to catch his attention.

Oh! My handsome brother is dragging too much girl's attentions.

"Hello!", I inserted the conversation.

"Oh! This is my brother Ambrogio, everyone", Cecilion announce the his own crowd.

They greeted me. Now, half of his girls flocked to me. The heat from their bodies against my cold skin feels different. I'm not used to it pero hindi ko pinapahalata.

Sa bandang malayo ay nakita ko ang aming ama na maraming kausap, he's with our mother.

This party is the first party that I actually enjoy. Maybe because this party is special. It's our father's golden year.

"Have you seen Nathaniel?", I ask Cecilion when we are left alone.

"No, I haven't seen him since the party started", sagot nito sa akin. "By the way, can we talk about something for a minute?".

Mabilis lamang akong tumango.

"We can't let our sister marry that man. I feel really different kind of feeling around him, Ambrogio. Something is off", pabulong na sabi niya sa akin. "The spirit, the air. I don't know but it's", he eyed me. "....different".

Tumango akong muli. "I feel it too. So what should we do?", I said. "I'm sure I can help but I can't be the head of this plan. You know the situation", sabi ko.

I'm referring to me and my parents relationship.

He nodded. "I have a---", hindi natuloy na sabi ni Cecilion.

One of our house maids come to us. "Master Vladiskav is looking for both of you", nakayukong sabi nito.

Cecilion look at me at naunang naglakad. Sumunod naman ako dito.

Dumaan kami sa pagitan ng mga taong naroon. The crowd is now facing to the families in the inner side of the hall.

"Where are my sons!?", father shouted.

Nagtaas ng kamay si Cecilion ng makalapit na kami. There, I saw mother and father with Veronika on their side. Nathaniel is there too. And his suit is slightly disheveled. There is a blood stairs on his collar but luckily, no one notice because his suit is black.

"So, now. I have an announcement to make", tumawa ang aming ama. "My daughter Veronika decided to get married and I am happy to say that she did pick a very fine young man. Dimitri, come up here, son", sabi ng aming ama.

Dimitri come out from the crowd of people. There are some like him at his back when he smile. I saw some resemblance with their faces, it's probably his family.

"Dimitri Sabbattar, my future son-in-law. And with his family here at my place. I am very happy for my daughter's decision to finally settle down with her life. And as a parent, I'm proud of her", sabi ng aming ama.

The crowd cheer and clap their hands for that. Right, just me and Cecilion that's not happy with it. And include Nathaniel, too.

Dimitri's parents come towards us. Parehong nakangiti ang dalawang panauhin na naroon. The closer they made, the stronger the foreign feeling I feel. I look at Cecilion who eyed darkly at both person. I saw how his eyes fall to the two people's chest with the familiar medallion. I think I saw that kind of thing already.

"That's....", Cecilion said but he trailed off when the woman, Dimitri's mother look at him with different kind of stare.