Chantria
Notwithstanding my series of sighs, the undeniable fear failed to subside. Any moment from now, we would eventually reach the hotel where Dad was staying but I wanted to slope off.
Chanel was casually applying makeup on her face while we were inside the car. On the other hand, Carleigh was taking a quick nap at the back. I was the only one jittering among us out of perturbation. I honestly didn't know why I was anxious.
Our father called us early in the morning at the hotel he was currently staying at. He didn't mention why. However, if my suspicion was right, it was all about the passing of his company to me. It was expected for me to inherit the company. Nevertheless, I still felt the worry creeping down my spine as I thought of it.
It wasn’t just any business. It was our family’s business and one of the Big Three. The company which Dad and my grandfathers managed to build and prolong its top rank for how many decades. It was one of the biggest companies not only in the country but the whole world.
I turned eighteen this year. I couldn’t imagine myself going to meetings with people twice my age. They might devour me when we meet.
But our father was growing old. He started building a family so late, hence, he looked old even if I was still eighteen. I couldn't let the company go bankrupt as soon as I inherited the business.
Whatever plan he has in his mind, the only thing I could do is to follow. However, I wished he could share it with me so I could do something for him.
When the car parked in front of our hotel, my nervousness doubled. I felt like my heart was going to burst because of its rapid beating. I needed Carleigh’s calm heart and mind at a time like this.
“Can you please stop fidgeting?” Chanel pointed out. “You’ve been doing that since we left home. We’re just meeting Dad. What’s there to be nervous about?”
“You know quite well why I’m like this. What if we’re meeting the board members right now? I’m not even prepared!”
It seemed like Leigh heard our conversation making her make a U-turn and averted her neck to talk to us.
“Calm down, Chantria. If your suspicion is right that Dad is going to introduce us to the members, he should have told us beforehand. He probably won't bring us before them to embarrass us, right?"
I was able to calm down somehow because of her remark. But not totally. There was still a spasm of nervousness in my chest. I guess I always get anxious especially when talking about my father and the company.
When we got to Dad's office, I immediately heaved a sigh of relief because there was no one else there except for his secretary, Joaquin. As usual, there was still a pile of documents on his desk that he needed to work on.
"Good morning, Dad!" Chanel greeted enthusiastically. She approached him first before kissing him on the cheek.
Carleigh and I followed silently and kissed him on the cheek before sitting on the sofa in the middle of the room. Dad stood from his chair before he positioned himself next to my siblings.
"How are my angels? Did you enjoy the party last night?”
Chanel answered, “Of course! We had a blast, right, girls?”
Dad looked at me while waiting for our answer.
Since I knew that Leigh had no intention to answer his question, I nodded and smiled. "We did. Numerous visitors came so we had fun.”
Chanel snorted at my answer. "Of course, you did. You even dared to post that video last night.”
I giggled. She still couldn't move on.
"Anyway—" We looked at Dad when he spoke. “I called you here for your birthday present.”
I was startled when Chanel suddenly screamed next to me and jumped because of Dad's announcement. I couldn't help but smile widely as well. Well, Dad was so generous whenever he was giving us gifts. He was spoiling us this way.
"What is it?" Chanel beamed. “Gucci bag? Or maybe a new car? House and lot?”
Dad chuckled. "You already have plenty of those, dear. Don't you remember the last time I gave you something? You just donated it to the charity. That's why I'm going to give you something else."
Joaquin handed him something. I assumed that those were travel tickets like the ones he gave me as a gift. The question was, where was he taking us now?
"For your birthday this year, I want you to enjoy a vacation in the Maldives for three days." He showed me the tickets he was holding with a small smile on his lips.
Even I couldn't stop my wide smile after what he had said. We didn't go out of the country very often even though we had lots of money. As I've said, our parents did not raise us to always depend on money. We struggled with everything.
Not birthday presents, though. It was an exemption. We could get anything every birthday.
"I'm going now, Dad," Chanel announced. "I still need to go shopping for my bikini and some sunscreen." She faced Leigh. "Aren't you coming, are you?"
I looked when Carleigh stood up. "I'm going home. I need sleep.”
When Chanel stared at me I knew I had no other choice but to accompany her. After all, I also had to buy something to wear in the Maldives so I just followed her.
I haven't been there ever since, but I've heard a lot of good things about it. I've also been seeing a lot of great feedback on social media about that place. No matter where we go, it was okay. As long as I could get out of here in Canada, I would surely be happy.
But what I didn't expect was the surprise that awaited me on my way to the Maldives.
ChantriaI was enjoying myself while taking my breather on our way to the Maldives. It was quiet inside the plane and I could only hear the swishing of the wind. The plane was already flying above the clouds and it was too late for me to realize how many hours we had been inside. I was about to sleep but my rest was interrupted when a commotion took place where I was."Can you please calm your butt, Aiyara?" I exclaimed, calling Chanel by her second name, which by the way, she hated the most.She glared at me. "My butt is always calm, Yvonne," she retorted. I didn't hate my second name, so I didn't take it as an insult."You've been fidgeting on your seat ever since we took flight. I know you're excited but can you calm down for a moment? Get lost in the Maldives.”She snorted. "I'm not fidgeting. I'm simply taking selfies. What's wrong with that?""Then, can you please take a selfie quietly? How can you be so fidgety just capturing your Espasol face?”"What?" she exclaimed. "My face
ChantriaIt took me a few seconds to realize what was happening. Carleigh was already beating up the guy who called me a gold digger. People were watching them but no one moved to stop them.That was my cue to stop my twin sister before she could kill this man. She needed to learn how to control her anger, especially when it comes to me and Chanel. I've noticed it for a long time that she tend to become violent when it comes to us but I just didn't pay attention to it before. She tends to be reckless when it comes to us.Whenever someone bullies me, she always comes to the rescue. Before, she was not violent. Recently I have noticed that she is being irritable and being physical. And I know, this wasn't good."Leigh, stop it! You might kill that." I held her fist before it could land on the guy's face again. The one guy looked handsome. Blood was clearly visible on his cheeks and lips. But it was his fault anyway for calling me that no matter what are his reason.I took Carleigh aw
ChantriaOn our second day, the three of us splashed around together in the water. At first, Carleigh refused to descend to the water, but she should be with us. We went here to enjoy, not to sulk. That was the reason why when we dragged her, escaping wouldn't have been possible. At the latter, she joined us swimming under the scorching heat of the sun."What?" Chanel exclaimed. "Carleigh beat someone last night! What happened?" She was drying her hair while sitting under an umbrella after we paddled."Yup! The guy might be dead by now. He must be thankful since I was able to stop her." I still shrugged as if nothing had happened. I was very annoyed yesterday, however, the man's words didn't affect me at all now. I know myself more than anyone— that I am not a gold digger."Wait! Why? Did he hit you or something? Tell me everything.”I sat between Chanel and Carleigh before telling her the story. "That guy marched in my direction, fuming mad, and accused me of something I didn't eve
Chantria I opened my eyes when I felt someone tap my cheek. I opened my eyes slowly until I could see Carleigh's worried face. When I looked around, I realized that it was not a dream. I was already outside the overturned car while Carleigh was trying to pull Chanel out who was still unconscious. That's when I felt pain all over my body. I don't even know what part hurts because I feel like I have a wound all over my body. I tried to stand up, but my body just screamed because of the pain so I lay down on the grass again. I adjusted my vision because it was out of focus. It's fading and it's like I'm going to lose consciousness again in just a few seconds. Honestly, I just want to close my eyes and sleep because my body is so heavy. But I know that I shouldn't. Something's wrong. I can feel it. Just the way Carleigh looked at me earlier, I knew something was wrong. "Wake up, Chantria," said Carleigh. I could tell the tiredness and pain in the tone of her speech, but she didn't car
Chantria“Run!” Carleigh shouted before pulling something from the side and raining gunfire.I just stopped before covering my ears. I carried Chanel even though she was very heavy.They turned out to be right. It’s really different when it comes to adrenaline. You can even carry a large refrigerator. I didn’t know that with my small build, I would be able to lift Chanel who is also about a few inches taller than me.I could hear the reverberating of the gun around me. I don’t know where the shooter is coming from. All I know is that I have to get out of there with Chanel. I also wanted to drag Carleigh out of there, but I know that I can’t. I know how hard my twin’s skull is.I didn’t realize that Carleigh was right next to me helping me lift Chanel. I was so nervous that I could only see the road.“I need you to get out of here, Chan,” he said. “Take Chanel with you. At the end of the road, Joaquin is waiting with the guards. They should probably be marching their way here. I will d
ChantriaI slowly opened my eyes. When my eyes adjusted, I looked around. Everything's white and quiet. All I could hear was the loud beeping of an engine.How many times have I seen this scenario in a movie? How many times have I told myself that this scenario is getting boring because it just keeps repeating itself? I can not remember. And here I am, like a star in a movie. A movie that I pray is just a big dream.I looked at who was in the bed next to me. There I saw that Chanel was still unconscious. It's just the two of us in a room. I tried to look on the other side of my bed, just in case Carleigh was there.My tears flowed quickly. I don't want to assume, but my tears won't stop from falling. I struggled to get up from lying down and removed the things that were attached to me. I immediately covered the wound from the IV before trying to stand up.I looked at Chanel's condition before I walked towards the door. But before I could even get close to it, it opened by itself. The
Chantria“Chantria…”I heard dad's soft and tired voice from behind me. But even so, I still didn't take my eyes off Chanel.Why isn't she waking up? Did something happen to her that I don't know about? Did she gain something deep because of what happened and dad just doesn't tell?"You need to eat or drink something. You'll drain yourself.”Instead of confronting and answering him, I said, "Why isn't Chanel waking up, Dad? She needs to wake up. I will only eat when I see her eating too. I won't be able to swallow the food, thinking that Chanel hasn't eaten anything yet. I won't forgive myself if anything happens to her too because of me."I heard him sigh before placing the tray containing the food on the side table of my bed. I can't even look at what's inside. He pulled out another chair and placed it next to me.Before speaking, he made me face him so I couldn't do anything but take my eyes off Chanel. "You need to stop this, Chantria. Do not punish yourself for what happened. It'
ChantriaBecause of Chanel's rage and crying, I voluntarily left the room. I asked dad to place me in a different room. And even though he hesitated, he didn't do anything to persuade me.He said we should calm down Chanel's anger first. But I know, this time, that her anger won't stop anytime soon. The only thing that can stop her anger towards me is if Carleigh comes back. And I wish she would.I don't know what to do without her. I don't know if I can live without her. I love her. I miss her. And I can't imagine a world without Carleigh in it.While lying in my hospital bed, I couldn't help but overthink. What if I'm the one who died and not Carleigh? Maybe everything would be okay for them, especially for Chanel. She really should inherit the company. She also has a dream that she can do any time after inheriting dad's company. Even though she is old, she can still do that.What about me? I don't even know what to do with my own life. Even if I don't inherit dad's company, it's no