It was a long quiet time between me and the stranger who was holding my waist. The students nearby even followed us with peculiar gazes. I looked down. I tried again to free my waist but he firmly hold me.
“Mister…” I whispered. There was no response from him. I heaved a sigh. “Mister, can you umm… free me? It’s quite inappropriate,” I whispered my last sentence.
He nodded and he stopped in his tracks. I also stopped and tried again to free myself from his grip and he did not make it hard for me. He let go of me when we reached the Administrative building.
There was no students in this building because it was all for the faculty and University admin. Well, except for the Supreme Student Government which was the highest student body. The office of SSG presiddent was at the second floor of Administrative building.
“Miss Azora Sirai Briones.”
I stood erect when the stranger called my full name. I immediately looked at him and I was dumbfounded when our gazes met.
“W-Why?”
“Do you know what you did for the last few weeks?”
My forehead creased at what he said. Then I looked around. No one was roaming in the hallway. The faculty must be busy at that time.
I shook my head. “What did I do?” I asked then looked down.
I was not the one who feel timid in front of a guy, but the man had this domineering aura that I could not do anything but to stay low.
“Clasiso is in hunt for your statement but the University is restraining the clan. I will invite you for a dinner tonight —”
He stopped talking when his phone rang. He scorned then took out his phone from his pocket and answered the call. After awhile, he looked at me. “Excuse me,” he said and walked away without looking back at me.
I stood there confused. After his little show in the canteen, he leaved me here? I blinked then I thought of what he said. It was all about the Clasiso. Huh, they paid that guy to invite me for a dinner? I sneered. In their dream!
I turned my back and walked back to the next class.
In the afternoon, I was fetched by Dad’s driver. As usual, he did not say anything which I found strange. I missed Japen. If he was the one who’s driving me to mansion, he would actually tried to talk to me.
After few hours, we arrived at the mansion. I was greeted by Simmy who was standing in the main entrance. But I did not like to listen to her whims so I ignored her and walked passed through her.
But then she jogged to keep up with my pace. “Ang sabi ng ama mo, ipaghanda kita ng maiinom,” she said.
“Huh?” I stopped in my tracks and looked at Simmy. There was no sign of a smile on her lips. “Are you on your period?” I asked.
Naningkit ang mga mata niya. “Nasa’n na ang respito mo, Azora?”
I shook my head. No. That day was not her period day. I walked again towards the stair.
“Halika muna sa kusina, Azora!” Simmy yelled. “Pinaghanda kita ng maiinom!”
“I don’t like to!”
“Azora Sirai Briones!”
I stopped in my tracks again. I heaved a sigh and turned around. Bumaba ako ng hagdan at kunot-noong tumayo sa harap ni Simmy.
Calling my whole name was the least thing that I like. In the past, whenever Dad was angry at me, he always call my whole name. It might also the reason why I always became submissive whenever someone called me by my whole name.
“What?” I asked, annoyed.
Simmy just smiled at me then she held my wrist. I snorted but I did not pull my wrist from her. She then led me to the kitchen where I saw some of our maids baking and making some cookies.
I looked up at the wall clock. It was pass five in the afternoon.
“What’s the manner?” I asked.
“Ngayon ang friensary namin ng mommy mo,” sabi ni Simmy. She smiled at me and ushered me to sit in front of the long table. “Sabi ng Dad mo, ipaghanda raw kita ng maiinom. Juice, pero naisip kong mas maganda kung may kapares ang juice.”
My forehead creased. “So this is a celebration?”
“Hmm…” Tumango si Simmy saka ngumiti nang pagkalapad-lapad. “Hindi mo ba gusto?” tanong niya.
I squinted my eyes and forced myself to stand up. “No,” I said in a low voice and without saying anything, I hurriedly walked away from the kitchen.
I even heard the little snort of Simmy. But then, I did not think that we should celebrate that day. It was not special. It was not special at all!
“Azora!” I heard the voice of Simmy calling me from behind.
I ignored her and climbed at the stair without looking back at her. I did not want to celebrate any occasion related to my Mom. I did not want to remember anything about her, because all I could remember was her bloody face.
In that cold night… I stopped walking in the hallway and shut my eyes. I shook my head in the attempt of erasing the bloody face of my Mom in my head.
“You don’t treat your aunt Simmy in that way.”
I froze when I heard Dad’s voice. My insides curled. What? Why did I hear his voice?
I turned around and that’s when I saw Dad’s figure. I looked up and I saw his face. He was staring spitefully at me. I immediately stepped back and looked down. “D-Dad…”
“It was just a small celebration, Azora.”
“But Dad…”
“Go back and I don’t want to see your face here unless you celebrate with her.”
I scorned in protest but I bit my lips and looked away. He was like that. When it comes to Simmy, he was always considerate and he always pushed me to do what Simmy wanted. And I hate it. I really hate it!
“N-No,” I whispered.
I jumped back with I heard Dad’s heavy breathing, like he was supressing himself from hitting me with his bare hands.
“Just do what I said, Azora.”
“No.” I gulped hard but I did not dare to look up at him. “No, Dad. There was nothing to celebrate about. It was between Mom and Simmy so why bother pushing me to celebrate with her? No. I won’t do it!”
“Azora!” he growled.
I whimpered in fear and panick.