Thirty-Three

I'm still inside the restaurant. I ate three bowls of rice. It was not obvious that I was very hungry. I shook my head because of the amount I thought I had already missed eating. I also finished eating, and I went straight to the cashier to pay.

"Three bowls of rice and three servings of chicken adobo." I said to the woman,
I gave her 100 PHP all at once. The cashier picked it up.

"Keep the change." I said.

And I walked out of the eatery. And I even heard the cashier thank me. For a moment, I crossed to the other side of the road to enter the mall for a moment. I plan to take a walk inside to digest what I ate. I went straight to the perfume stand. And I came across two women who were looking for perfume, but they just stood there and didn't choose.

“Choose that for your boyfriend so we can leave, "said the little girl in a bored voice."
And I noticed the woman with her brown hair rolled her eyes and spoke.

"You know how bitter you are in life. Why are you leaving him if it's against your will?" The little girl fell silent and sighed.

"Can we, Marla, not talk about my life? You pulled me here to accompany you to choose a gift for your man. Then why don't we just stand here all night?" said the little girl.

"All right."

I was just on their side and quietly listening. Later, I heard the little girl talking to me.

"Excuse me, sir."

"Yes?" was my answer.
"Can I ask for your opinion on choosing a perfume for a man?" said the woman with brown hair.
I took a deep breath before speaking.

“It's okay, Miss, anything, as long as you're giving from the heart.” I said with a sweet smile.

And I noticed that they both swallowed.

"Goodbye, ladies, take your time." I said at once, leaving their side.

And I went to their stand of children's clothes. I was busy looking at some children's clothes when I heard a woman's voice talking to me. 

"I never thought I would see here in this place a great billionaire of the country," said the woman.

I never looked at her again because I already knew her. None other than Laila's mother, Mrs. Salvacion Medina. Even though she is old enough, the habit has not changed. They are very similar to Uncle Damein, so they are too fit to survive each other since they had the same attitude, were arrogant, and had too high self-esteem.

Of the many people I can see in this place, this is the one I don't want to see. Maybe they were looking for children’s clothing for Sahara.
"Won't you greet me, Marcus, as if you forgot we were family?" she says with sarcasm in its voice.

"I won't speak, Aunt Salve, because I have nothing to say." I said in a hard voice.
She laugh.

"Common, Marcus, don't stay away from us," she says.

I don’t want to be in the same place as this old woman. Even when we hadn’t had a dispute, I didn’t want to get into the habit of it.

“By the way,Marcus, Carlotta was planning to comeback here in the Philippines," she says.

I suddenly fell silent, but even when she came home, I didn't care.

"Didn't you even say anything?" it asked me.

"I have to go, Aunt Salve," I said as I exited the mall.

I know it’s annoying to be annoyed now because I don’t pay attention to her. I am now walking back to my office.
On the other hand, went to Winter's house before going home, but there was no one there, so she thought of going to her office. I got out of the taxi and approached the guard and asked.
"Good afternoon, is this Winter's building?"

"Yes, ma'am, just go straight inside." was the answer from the guard.

I went inside to look for what could be Winter's office. It's just a building, but I'm still having a hard time finding her. It's good that she is out of her office.

“Gianna, I'm happy to see you here. I didn't expect that you would pay a visit here in the office, " she said, in a happy voice.

"Yes, I was at your house but the gate was locked." was my answer.

"It's Tuesday, so I'm in the office. I'm chasing a lot of deadlines. Come on, let's go inside." She invited me and eased the door open.

When I entered, I looked around the office but saw I was amazed on Harley’s office. The surroundings are beautiful and airy, and there is no other paint applied but plain white. I saw a machine to sew the clothes she would make.

And I was amazed at the designs of the clothes worn on the mannequin. It is very beautiful and really made by a professional fashion designer. There is a classy and expensive type of clothing that she used.

What should I expect from Winter? She has everything in the world. Only now did I discover her talent during the time we were together in the same house.
 
 "What do you think, Gianna?" It asked me.

"Good, Harley." was my answer.

"Of course, I'm preparing everything so I won't be embarrassed by you." she says to me, smiling.

And my forehead frowned.

“I mean, I'm going to wear that? I asked him while pointing at the mannequin.

“Of course, even if we're no longer together at home, I still can't forget the conversation we had,” it says to me. "And of course, Aurora, I'll pay you for your service because there's nothing free right now," she says. Even if a man is not free to love, the only difference is that it's not money that is the equivalent, but his love as well. " She said, smiling. I shook my head.
"You've got Pia's flirtation," I said.
"I can't take it anymore, Gianna, so I need to flirt before it's too late." She said to me, smiling.
"Whatever, Harley." was my answer.
But I still lack designs. I'll just let you know when I'm done, "she says.
And I nodded in response.
I heard a knock on the door. The door opened and Dion entered with a sweet smile.
"Hi Babe," he said to Winter, once kissing her cheek. I frowned and rolled my eyes at the sight of them. It looks like the two of them are in a relationship. I smirked at Winter's attitude that she still didn't like Dion, but it turned out that she also liked the man. It’s really hard for us women to think about the simple things we’ve made complicated.

"It's nice to see you again, Gianna," said Dion, smiling.

I nodded in response.
"Winter and I are going out later, and you should come with us." They invites me.
"No, I don't want to disturb you two." was my answer.
“It's really okay with us, Gianna, that you're coming. Pia is there too," said Winter.
What am I going to do there? They have partners, and I don't have any. I nodded in response because I had nothing to do at home.

“All right, I'll go home first, Winter. I'll just call you later. " I said.

She nodded. And I walked out of Winter's building.
I took a taxi home. The taxi stopped and I got out. I paid the driver and drove it away from where I was standing. The guard opened the gate for me to enter. It smiled at me and I nodded in response. It was afternoon when I'm thinking of going home. because I had nothing to do in the office.

I got in the car and drove it away from the building. I got out of the car and closed the door. And I went straight into the house. The door didn't lock, so I knew Lance was inside again. He knows where I put the house key. I went inside and found Lance sitting on the couch.
"You know, you look like a thief." I told him.
“Damn you, Marcus, if that's the case, I’m a handsome thief." was his answer.

“Where are you staying? Why do you always show up here at home whenever you want? " I asked him as I sat close to him.

“At parents in-law's house. I only came here first because I was deaf to your aunt's voice.

"She's annoyed with you because you met earlier at the mall and you didn't talk to her, "said Lance.

"We don't have anything to talk about, Lance," was my answer.
"And she told me that Natasha was coming back to the Philippines,"

"If she wants to come back, Lance, I don't care." was my answer.

"All right, excuse me, I'll rest first," he said goodbye to me.
"Okay." was my answer.

I leaned back on the couch. Then my phone rang. I answered because it was Harley who called.

"Harley, why?" I asked.

"What are you going to do later, Dad?" She asked me.

"Nothing, I'm just here at home the whole night."

"Great, let's go to the city," she says.

"Sure." was my answer.

"Okay, Dad, bye." she said once the phone cut the line.

I don't know if it's a celebration because Winter invited me outside, but Dion told me that he started courting Harley. I was happy that my little princess was no longer a child. Maybe so soon she'll build her own family together with the man she loves, and I'm hoping that the two of them stick together until the end of their lifetime. 


I hope their life didn’t be the same as my life. As also their our life since we had a broken family. They’re mother life us in her own will. So I don’t know what well happen if they found out that they’re mother planning to come back here in the Philippines.

I know it’s in chaos because the grudges must be stuck in their mind. I don’t know what is her plan of coming back here. Maybe I need to prepared.


I was walking into the kitchen to drink some water. Then I saw one of the kitchen staff here in the mansion.

"Hi, ma’am, what do you want?" she asked me.

"I drink water." My response.

"Do you want me to prepare snacks for you?" she asked again.

"Yes, please," I said to her.

"Just bring it to my room. Thank you! " I said to her, and walked out of the kitchen.

My aunt didn’t call me. Maybe she was too preoccupied with her vacation. Then I got a text message from her saying that I should take care of myself and that she's fine.
 
Then I put my phone on the bed and went to find something to wear later. Then I realized that it was February 14th today. So it’s Valentine’s Day. I frown. If I knew what month it was today, I wouldn’t have said yes to Dion and Harley’s invitation.
 
I took the purple lace dress that was above the knee. I put it on the bed. And I found my flat sandals that I haven’t used even once. Before, I didn’t care about this day since I couldn’t even remember to celebrate it. But for now, I don’t think so. But Valentine’s Day was being celebrated without a man. If that’s the case, I'll celebrate alone. 
 I was busy scanning my phone, I noticed Lance was standing in front of me.

"What is it, Lance?" I asked him.

“What are you doing here? Since it's Valentine's Day today, go out and find a date.” He said. My brow furrows. Then Lance laughed hard.

"I understand since you’re too old enough to remember this day today. It’s February 14, Hearts Day. " He said, grinning.

“Shut up, Aldo. I don’t care about this month.” My response.