CAGED HEART

"Oh you're here! Gosh, beautiful as ever!" Tita Alona exclaimed when she saw me together with my mother and father, as well as my older brother. 

"It's nice to see you, tita." I greeted back. It's her son's birthday that's why we are here to celebrate with them. There are many people in this event and I can feel their stare to me and the people I am with. She smiled at me and kiss both my cheek which I obligue to do too.

After the greetings, tita Alona escorted us to the table prepare for us. Pagdating namin doon may ilang mga nakaupo na at ang bakanteng upuan ay sakto lamang para sa aming apat. Kuya Ryan pulled my chair and help me settled in my seat—which I can do by myself though. I smiled at him as sign of grateful and then he settled himself on the seat beside me.

Nilibot ko ang paningin ko sa mga kasamahan namin sa lamesa, ang iba ay pamilyar na sa akin ngunit may ilang bago sa paningin ko. My parents talk to them formally and with all power and authority. They sometimes ask me or my brother here and we just answer what being told or nod at them. 

I noticed a stare from a guy beside a man whom my father is talking to. He was staring at me for a minutes now and I act like I don't notice it, I'm used to it by the way. Then my brother simply nudge me that's why I glance at him, he was holding his wine in his right hand and silently pointing his pinky finger to the guy I'm talking about. 

"What?" I asked. He raised his eyebrows at me and I know that meaning. Kung ang parents namin ay halos ipagtulakan ako sa mga mayayamang binata ay kabaligtaran naman ito ng aking kuya. He always watch my interaction with boys, he knows me very well, even though I'm not his true sister. He knows how I act when that kind of situation happens, Kuya Ryan always have my back eveytime there's a guy try to get into me, though he can't also say anything about it when it comes to our parents, but he still catch me when time comes. 

"I'll watch you." He warned. I just rolled my eyes at him and I heard his subtle laugh. I'm so lucky to have him as my brother in this lifetime. 

The appetizer are served before the party start, this kind of gathering doesn't excite me at all, I'll prepare staying at home at this hour and having my sketch pad with me at my room. But I need to do this as I'm the daughter of Rolando Guevarra and Flair Jacinth- Guevarra. And one of the reason I don't want this kind of gathering, my father will introduce me in random guy's which he wants me to get along. And my brother as well, but he can manage his and they respect his decisions in that things. 

The party started and I'm starting to get bored. Ang mga kasama ko sa upuan ay nag uusap tungkol sa kanilang mga negosyo at minsan ay nakikisama din doon si kuya Ry. I don't have any interest in their business to be honest, I'm more interested in drawings and designs, but I can't decide on my own, I need to follow what's their decision for me. Nawala ang ginang na nasa tabi ko kanina at napaltan ito ng lalaki na kanina pa ay nakatingin sa akin. I saw a simple glance of my brother to us before he continue his conversation with them. They are very amazed how intelligent my brother is when it comes to business and my parents, especially our Father,is very proud of that. 

"Hi, beautiful." Said the man who is now leaning on the table and facing me. I got a bit uncomfortable in that stunt but I need to compose myself, I was trained to do this. 

"Hey, there." I greeted back. Kinuha ko ang wine glass na nasa aking harapan at tinikman ito. Sa edad kong labing walo ay natural na sa akin ang uminom ng mga ganoong inumin. 

"You look so stunning tonight, don't you know that?" The guy talk again, oh his words, I'm very much so familiar in that statement coming from a guy like him. But, yeah. I need to go with the flow. I maintain my stance and smiled a bit and glance at him. 

"Yeah? Thanks, then." I replied. I saw him from my peripheral vision when he slightly pull his chair a little bit near to me. Then he offered his hands at me.

"I bet you know me, you're Asher, right?" He said and offered me his hand. I actually don't know him. But I don't want to be rude so I accept his hands, and I also know my mother is watching my move. 

"Yes, I'm Asher. But, don't make it serious, I actually don't know you." I said and slowly getting away from his hold. His hand flew to his mouth when I said that, like he is shocked that I don't know him. I can hear my brother's chuckled and I want to shut him up. 

"Oh right." The guy said and awkwardly laugh at me. "I'm Mikko, the son of Mario Clemente." He then introduce himself. I can feel his awkwardness now, pero nararamdaman ko pa din ang kayabangan sa kanyang pananalita, na para bang ang pangalan nya na iyon ay dapat kilala ko na. 

"Oh, so it's Mikko. It's nice to meet you, then" I uttered. I make sure my voice didn't sound sarcasm. 

"My pleasure." He replied. He started to boast their family at me and saying some things about him, and all I could do is to act like I'm interested and aggreing in him. 

The party continued until it's past 10:30 in the midnight. My father decided to leave and that's the sign for me and my brother to stand up too. We bid our goodbye to my Tita Alona and to her family and I greeted his son a happy birthday. But before we left some of the business man in our table interfere with my father. 

"Let's have a business deal some other time, Rolando." The man who I know is Mr. Clemente. 

"Let's see." My father replied. I'm behind him and my mother together with my kuya Ry when Mikko Clemente spoke just beside his father. 

"It's nice to see you here, Asher. Maybe we can meet again some other time." He said and smiled at me. And me, acting like my father, nod at him and answered politely. 

"It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Mikko Clemente." I uttered, I addressed him formally so that he can understood what I mean by that, but I bet he did not. 

"Looks like your daughter is getting along with my son, huh?" Said by Mr. Clemente. I know where this is going and I don't want that. 

"Maybe.." Father uttered and have a side glance at me, I looked up to my brother and he shookt his head at me. 

"No...no.. it's not that, Mr. Clemente." I interfere, I don't want another marriage proposal please. 

"Oh, she's being in denial, I see." That old man said. I want to punch him right to his face! 

"I'm tired already, father. Can we go now, please?" Kuya Ry said with a bit sarcasm in his voice—well maybe I'm only the one who noticed that. I thanked him mentally for that. 

"Yeah...I am too." Said by my mother, she always go with my brother's side, everything Kuya Ry opposed, our mother will granted it. 

"We got to go now, Mr. Clemente. Maybe let's talk again next time." My father said with finality in his voice. Mr. Clemente also bid his goodbye as well as Mikko, tinangka nya pang lapitan ako para sana makipag beso pero humarang sa gilid ko si kuya na syang ipinagpasalamat ko, he is indeed very protective of me. 

We left the venue and our driver picked us. My parents go in the first car with the driver, and I go with my brother to his car.

Sumakay na kami ni kuya sa sasakyan nya bago umalis ang sasakyan kung nasaan ang aming parents. I fixed the seatbelts before I nod at Kuya Ry, then he started the engine and drove off the car, behind us is the convoy of our body guards. 

We talked about the guy Mikko and I laugh at his every remarks of him. Sinabi nya na halata naman daw ang kayabangan ng isang yon gayong wala Naman itong ibubuga na syang sinang ayunan ko. And I don't forget to thank him for helping me with that guy, without him by my side earlier, I'm now having a new marriage proposal. 

We safety arrived at our house and the maids said our parents is already in their room. Hinatid ako ni kuya sa harap ng kwarto ko bago sya pumasok sa sarili nyang kwarto. 

"Good night, little sis." He said and then mess my hair with his big palms which he loves to do to me. 

"Night, kuya." I replied. He kissed my forehead before he shut my door. He was the only one in this family who makes me feel that I really belong here. I'm not his biological sister, ampon lang ako sa pamilyang ito, I got here when my parents died due to an accident, my biological father is Kuya Ry's father, younger brother. 

I spend the night watching the stars in my windows before I decided to sleep.