Arrangements

2

I am an only daughter. Actually, I was the only child until we adopted my two siblings: Kuya Miko and our late bunso, Eddie. Eddie has already passed away. Mama and Eddie died in a car accident when I was ten. It's now only papa, Kuya Miko, and me. Leo used to be part of the family until our break-up.

I and Kuya Miko are not in real good terms too, since the day I left for Dave, my ex-husband. Like Leo and Claire's, my relationship with Dave was against all odds. Our companies were rivals. I understood them but I loved Dave very much.

I realize now that I should've listened to them. Now that I'm back and they welcomed me with warmth, I promised to be obedient. I entrust papa all the decisions for myself, including the arranged marriage for me and Leo, even if this is for the merging of our companies. I may not fully understand papa about this one, but I know he has deeper reason aside from business stuffs. I am her only daughter after all.

My talk with Leo last night has changed a bit of my mind. I am thinking of considering Leo's opinion about this.

I approach papa for a talk. He is in the dining room in the second floor of our house, having his lunch. Kuya Miko is here too, near the balcony, talking over his phone about work. There's nothing new to that. He used to gladly greet me when he sees me, but he still feels bad about my leave. He hasn't forgiven me yet.

"Pa..." I call as I walk towards the seat next to him.

"Hm?" Papa responds as he enjoys his meal.

"About the wedding... Can't we reconsider it?"

He paused from eating and looked at me.

"You know, do the merging without the wedding?" I suggest.

"Why?" He asks, his forehead wrinkling.

"Leo doesn't want it," I immediately admit.

"How about you?" He continues his meal.

"I don't know..." I want to say no, but I look at kuya Miko and remember my promise. "... Pa, I trust you."

"Hmp," papa smirks, like he's already decided. "Leo, that kid. Don't worry, honey. I'll talk to him and see if there'll be a need for reconsideration."

I smile to that good news.

I stand up from my seat to reach a kiss to papa's cheeks. Then I look back at Kuya Miko whom I caught looking at me.

I take a glass of water and reach it out to him.

"Kuya, take a break," I say and he takes the glass of water. But he still doesn't talk to me. He's still mad. I always wish for the end of that. I miss having long talks with him.

I go back to my room... my boring and plain white room. It's a few rooms away from the dining room. Our house has most of the rooms built in the second floor, dedicating the whole first floor for the living room intently for visitors. Beside our house is the swimming pool. Our wide backyard is enjoyed by the housemaids.

I sit on the floor to look for my white box under my bed. But my box isn't there. I must've misplaced it somewhere.

I open my cabinet, throw out my stuffs for that box. I even check my bathroom. But no box!

As I look for my missing box, I feel strange. I feel like I'm not familiar to my own room.

I return to the dining room to ask papa and Kuya Miko for a little help.

"Pa, I lost my box. The white one. It was under my bed! Have you seen it?"

Papa immediately stands up, pokes Kuya Miko and gives him a strange signal.

"I'll call you later," Kuya Miko ends his phone call. He looks worried but I'm already feeling frustrated!

"Pa! Have you seen it? Kuya Miko, have you seen it?" Inside that box are my journals. Everyday, I write on it. I don't miss a single entry. That box contains almost everything in my life. I cannot lose that box.

I am feeling hysterical and agitated. Where's that box?! I need that box!

Kuya Miko rushes to the other room, I don't know which room, while papa assists me to the family room.

Kuya Miko comes back to us while talking over his phone again. "Yes, Doc. It's happening again," he says.

Papa hugs and holds me to sit on the couch in the family room. He pushes all the pillows in the couch that he can reach to give me space, while Kuya Miko goes to another room again. Why is he roaming around the rooms? Is he looking for my box?

"Honey, did something stress you again?" He asks.

"I need my white box!" I exclaimed.

Kuya Miko returns and walks to us. He sits beside me and extends his arm to my back. He forces me to relax on his arms, and then the next thing I feel is a painful sting of a needle in my left arm.

"Kuya, what was that injection for?!" I yelled. That was really painful!

"Honey, calm down. Papa is here. We are just here." Papa says. My nose crinkled. I feel mad like I am about to lose my mind.

Papa keeps on repeating what he is saying until I slowly lose my consciousness.

"Arwyn..." I utter as I feel my tears flowing to my ears.

Seconds after, I am already tightly asleep.