"Your driver hasn’t arrived yet?" Janice asked. We were in front of the gate and he had just arrived to pick us up. She was looking at me worriedly. I knew he didn’t want her to be the first to leave especially and something happened. She knows me too well I always have a hard time deceiving her. He knew very well what I was doing.
"You go first."
Her eyes narrowed. "Are you sure? I'll just wait for your driver to arrive."
"Edu texted that he’s still fixing the tire. You might get scolded if you take too long, so you should go first.”
"Fine. Just go home, okay?”
I nodded.
Actually, I intentionally texted Edu not to pick me up. I don’t want to go home because I’ll just remember what Mommy was doing. I am out of her filthy doings, but why am I also affected? I was disgusted and wanted to speak ill of him. If only not because of her, I wouldn't have to deal with these shits.
I looked at the hand with the bandage. I got it bad this time, huh?
I took a deep breath and ran my fingers through my shoulder-length hair. It was long a year ago. Many praised it because it is naturally straight and shiny. But it was one of the traits I inherited from my Mom. So instead of letting your long, I cut. I don’t want to be like him in any aspect.
"Audrey!"
I looked at the approaching. It was Byron, the boy Hanna referred to as his boyfriend earlier. I don’t know how I got caught up in their relationship. I don't date. And the more I don’t trip to snatch someone else’s boyfriend. I had no time there.
"I heard what happened. Are you okay?" he asked.
"I think you better ask your ex that. I'm fine. Maybe he doesn't."
"I'm really sorry about her. Uh, let's have coffee before we go home?"
"I don't drink coffee. I'll be the first," I said and turned away.
My idea of romantic love was tainted with different judgments at a young age. So in the multitude of tried to woo, neither one, I did not accommodate. The rumor spread that everyone had basted on me so once in a while someone dared. If anything, I want to make a trophy to brag about.
I want to prove to myself and to everyone that unlike my mother, I can live without a man. They have no place in my life. Never, ever will I imitate Mommy.
I walked along the side of the quiet road. A tricycle driver invited me to ride but I refused. I just walked until I reached Enzo's bistro. It was just close to the school so I just walked.
Ate is Enzo's best friend, and once became a lover. He was often in the mansion then so we talked often. He was then the brother figure to me. He is three years older than Ate, which makes him seven years older than me. Despite the age gap, we are close to each other.
"Audrey!" Enzo smiled.
"Here you are..." He pointed at the table.
"What happened there?" at the same time look down at my hand.
"You fought again, what?"
I blinked. "Will you please just give a drink?"
He came a little closer and patted my forehead. I shook and stared again.
"Didn't I tell you not to fight? I'll report you to your sister. You shouldn't be in trouble. Make sure."
"Oh please, I didn't start the mess. That bitch provoked me. Who's going to just sit down after being sprinkled with juice? You think I'll let that pass?"
He snorted and for a moment looked down at what I was wearing.
"That's why you're in PE now. Why did she pour juice on you?"
"Mommy is having an affair with her dad. And she's accusing me of stealing her boyfriend too. I couldn't help it so that’s what happened.”
"Do you have a sanction?"
"Nothing."
I don't know if I should be happy there even though I know I've done worse now. If Rustov covered me up, I don't think I need to thank him. I don’t want his help. I'm fine with a sanction instead of accepting his help.
"Hey, your life is stressful, Audrey. I'll get you some food. There you go first."
I heard applause. I turned around and realized why those in the bistro were clapping. On his knees, a man just proposed to his girlfriend. The woman was shocked and still in tears. I watched them intently as the man pushed the ring to the girl's finger. Many shouted, while I had a dark look at the two.
They had the nerve to show their love in public when I'm sure it won't last at all.
According to Dad, he and Mommy have a good story. Mom was a model daughter back then. He came from a family of businessmen, while Dad was a politician. Mom was strict and studious, she didn't entertain suitors. Dad was one of her avid lovers and eventually, they became. They were very happy, they said.
But what happened? Eventually, Mommy also looked for others even when Daddy was still there. She cheated on her husband and on her family. Romantic love isn't real. It’s only pure sentiment, which eventually also disappears with time. So what's the use of exerting time on something that will eventually fade? You will just waste time.
"Congrats to you!"
Congrats, my ass. I doubt if they would even make it to ten years.
I ran my finger across the table while waiting. The noise of the couple left subsided. I just looked up when I saw Enzo approaching with a tray. He stopped midway, though. She looked back. I also looked over there and saw the familiar group.
"Rustov!”
Now he is not with those rich boys I know. Maybe he was just with that whenever there was a practice game or what. But his buddies are really these people... poor guys like him. I recognize the faces. The smart ones in their batch. They were also part of the student government back in their senior high days.
We only go to one school. At Vida Riqueza College, the only school for high school and college in the center. So even if they don’t batch, I can still see them because the senior high building is just near the college. Ate Diana was on his batch years ago.
"It's good you got to visit!" and Enzo.
Rustov and I looked at each other for a moment. The intensity of his eyes made me look away. I looked back at Enzo. He was then putting the food and drinks on my table.
“Negroni is mine, not pineapple juice,” I told Enzo.
"That's too strong for you, Drey."
"What? It's just a cocktail!"
"Did you know you're not allowed to order liquors here? You're still a minor."
"Oh, cut the crap. I'll be eighteen by the end of the year. I'm only sixteen, I've been drinking worse than that. Don't baby me, Enzo. I'm not a child anymore."
She sighed. He glanced at the back and pointed the table next to mine. Later, Rustov's group approached. I face those with him, but I don't really know about their names. A man almost dropped his glasses when I looked. I craned my neck a bit and looked at Enzo lazily.
"What now, Enzo? Bring me my Negroni. Or what about I try another one? Do you have Death in the Afternoon here? Aunt Roberta?"
Enzo rubbed his forehead.
"Didn't you think you weren't too brave, Audrey? You just drank that pineapple juice!"
"Okay," I said and stood up. "I'll just go to somewhere else, after all you can't give me what I want."
"Audrey!"
I turned. "What?"
I don't care if I'm being looked at here. Everyone here knows who I am, anyway. I don't adjust for other people's sake. If anyone has to adjust it is them.
Enzo's nose was almost smoky.
"Fine, sit down! I will get you Negroni.”
What’s the fuss when he’d just give in at the end? I smirked and sat back. I waved at a waiter and got the pineapple juice that was on the table. I hate pineapple drinks. Other than that Mommy’s favorite flavor I just really don’t like to taste.
I was sixteen when I started drinking. I really chose that strong drink because I want to forget whenever Mommy brings a man to the mansion or when the son of the one she is hanging out with fights me. I was furious and at the same time, pitied myself. If then, Diana was still there to comfort me, now she is gone. I'm all alone at that big house.
"Here," Enzo once landed on the cocktail.
"After that, you go home."
I caught Rustov's dark gaze on the cocktail. They were just at the other table and we were sitting opposite each other so I could see him. His friends were talking about something, but his attention was on me, on my drink particularly. My stomach grew cold in the darkness as he looked there. It seems to be shrinking.
My eyes went down on his left hand. It has a bandage on it as well. When did he go to the clinic? I stayed there for about thirty minutes, but I never saw him return. Or maybe he treated it himself? Or maybe someone else did it for him?
I washed my thoughts away through sipping on my Negroni. I close my eyes as the chisel goes down my throat.
When I opened my eyes, Rustov's dark eyes met mine. He was no longer looking at the drink, but at me personally.
I swallowed hard and was about to look away when I noticed something. I looked past Rustov, I could see him outside. The wall was made of transparent glass, I clearly saw the man beside a black car who just kissed the girl with him!
My hand trembled in anger as the cocktail was thrown away. The breaking of glass echoed throughout the bistro. But I ignored that and immediately stood up. I made my way out and ran towards my sister's husband.
Klyde was surprised when I stopped in front of him. Driven by anger, I punched his face so hard his nose bled after. His woman screamed at what I did.
"What the fuck?!"
"The fuck, huh? It's also your courage to cheat on my sister! What? Your libido can't be sated by one woman? There must really be many others? And you! Don't you know that this man is married? You are his mistress!”
"Stop it, Audrey!" Klyde shouted, his nose bleeding.
"Don't you dare tell me to stop! You have no right! My sister gave up her dreams just to be with you! And yet you're here, kissing a woman with rainbow colored face!"
I swallowed the flaming bile in my throat. With trembling hand I angrily slapped the woman.
"That's what you get, you crude woman! The thing is even worse with you! Are you that thirsty you settled for a married man?"
"Stop it, Audrey!" Klyde shouted loudly and violently grabbed my arm.
"You don't know what's going on with us your brother so don't interfere!"
"Let go of me!" I spat angrily.
"You’re throwing a fit when you don’t even know what’s happening between us!”
"I have the rights! You're fooling my brother!"
He tightened his grip on my arm so I struggled. His bloodshot eyes told me he's not taking this lightly.
“Let me go, you jerk!
Though before he could let me go, a sudden force pushed him away. Another hand took hold of my arm. The hand went down to my wrist like a warm steel. He pulled me back on his back, maybe to protect me in case Klyde became violent.
"It's your courage, Klyde," Enzo said angrily who was already outside.
"You hid Diana and then you showed up here?" He threatened Klyde.
Your woman cried out. I was about to approach him to drag him but Rustov stopped me. His hand on my wrist tightened like he knew what I was thinking.
"Let me go," I demanded."You fought before. Are you going to fight now? Is that your hobby, huh?""None of your business!"With his hard grip I did nothing when he pulled me away from there. We stopped in front of the parked cars and he just let me go. I could no longer see Klyde from there."You shouldn't be very impulsive," he said sternly."I don't need your opinion about my actions. I'll do what I want!""And where will your stubbornness pick you up? He was on the verge of hitting you!""I hope you just let it go, then. You think I'm too weak and I couldn't take it? Then you're wrong! I can handle myself!""Really, huh?" he challenged, there was a diminution in the way he looked at me."Why are you interfering? It's not because you're my friend's cousin that you can scold me! You're not my brother, Rustov!"He closed his eyes tightly and wept bitterly. He sighed deeply after a short while and looked at me dar
"Did someone fight with you recently? Who will I kick out of your school?"When it comes to Mommy about the troubles I get involved with at school she always says that. Even though she is busy with many others, she still knows what is going on in my life somehow. I will always get what I want if I'd only tell her. But unlike before, I don't ask for anything. And I don't tell her to manipulate anything for my sake.I just don’t answer and let go of the anger. Even if I told him to kick that out, what else could he do?That girl is her lover's daughter. I doubt if he can do that. Besides, that wasn't the first incident. I'm used to it.Mommy asked more about it. But with my vague response, he eventually stopped as well."Ate, did you see my pink handkerchief with my name embroidered on the upper part?" I asked Ate Delia."Is that your favorite? I've already washed all your handkerchiefs. I was surprised when I didn't see it, eh."
The insides of the house was clean, that was the first thing I noticed. The furnitures are made of wood, mostly. There are a few picture frames hanging on the wall. There are also Rustov awards since elementary. He is really excellent when it comes to academics.I don’t even know how he manages to balance acads and sports. He was into basketball during high school. I keep track of her games because Janice is always watching and she always takes me with her.He was good so eventually in senior high, he became team captain. While in college, rugby football was played. We can only watch once because of the class. And based on what I have seen, he's really good at it.I realized how much we differed from the state. I am not active in any sports. I am not in the honor roll, either. And thinking of it now, I realized the only thing I had with him was wealth. The amount I lack. If I don't have my parents' money, I have nothing, no one would bother respect me. Whi
"Is Thiago busy too?" I asked Rustov as our staff unloaded the leathers.He nodded. "Every summer and there are only occasions when they come home."Well, I've heard of that. His two siblings are both studying in Manila so he only came home once. I've known those two since I was a kid. As often as seen at social gatherings. When they were in high school, they left Manila for maybe a bigger university."Let's go to the office first. I prepared a snack," I said and glanced at the workers."Okay," he replied low.“Ate Dulce,” I called. "You're here first."She nodded. I was ahead of the walk. Some of our female workers drifted their eyes at my back. I knew immediately what they were looking at. I was about to tell them to focus on their works, but I restrained myself. I might just look worse.Entering the office, I gestured to him the chair. There is food ready on the small table in the middle."I thought your Mommy wa
I don’t remember when I invited a guy out. But I really want to try that kind of event again. And I only have one person in mind that I'm comfortable with except for Janice and Enzo. Just Rustov. He's not my type of company but passable.I don't know when I started feeling comfortable around him. Maybe in our little interactions. Although I know he has his own judgments of me, he doesn't treat me badly so it's okay.Rustov:What? Go out? Are you drunk, Audrey?I stopped looking for something to wear.Me:There seems to be a party in town tonight. I want to come and I want you to accompany me.His reply took a while. I had already chosen what to wear when he texted again.Rustov:I can't be with you. I'll be with my friends.I stopped and sat down on the ottoman, disappointed. I can already choose what to wear and after all, he won't let me? He knew I had no one else to be with! And what? He will be with his
I can’t count how many times I’ve been depreciated after the oral recitation in accounting. Just the first day back of class there was a surprise recitation right away. I wasn't expecting it! I hate that old hag. Must review first before recit! I didn’t read any notes during the whole break so I couldn’t answer. I got a zero."That's okay, Drey," Janice consoled me."If I could tell Mommy to get rid of it?""Nevermind."I sighed and walked out of the room. To my annoyance, I almost shouted at the group of men who had gathered in the corridor and almost pushed on the road. They're from the other section, maybe.I would have passed by when someone had the courage to call me. Janice kissed me. I closed my eyes firmly before turning around."What?" I asked, glaring.Kabadong laughed one. "Uh, our friend would have given it to me ..."I turned to the man he was carrying. The boy looks very boyish. Tall, lean
He did not ask anything about what had happened. But with his dark look, I know. He wanted to know what happened. But he won't force me to say anything. He wanted me to speak for myself. Because he respects my silence. He respects my privacy."In Mom's room you sleep," Rustov said.I combed my hair with my fingers. He showed me his mother's room. Not as big as mine but tidy and organized enough for a one night stay. He arranged the sheets and pillows while I just stood there on the side.I wonder if her Mama is here and will let me sleep in their house? I mean, they're not responsible for me and I'm not related to them in any way. But maybe that will be allowed as well. Tita Gracia is a good person. I'm sure she will also do what her son is doing. After all, Rustov and I can be called friends, can't we? So it's okay?"Is it okay for Tita to have someone else sleep in her room?"He turned to me. "I'll tell her tomorrow. She will understand."
Instead of looking at the paper, I looked up at Rustov's face and stopped there. He was solving the problem seriously while I can't even understand what are those digits he's putting on my paper for. We were at their house because he promised to help me with some homework. Though, I don't think I'm doing anything here but stare at him."Did you get it, Audrey?"I sighed. Lazily, I looked back at the yellow paper. That's a pure number. The sight that never failed to make my eyes sore.“You journal the entries wrong so the trial balance is also wrong,” he said."I'm confused about the entries.""You should work on that," he said softly and handed the paper to me.He stood up and turned towards the kitchen. Back then two glasses of juice and two banana cues were laid out. Tita Gracia was in the municipality because of work so we were the only two left at home."Why pineapple juice? Say I don't want that!" my complaint.