Painting the Skies

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, places, events and incidents are either the product author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual person, living or dead , or actual event is purely coincidental.  

Please be advised that this story contains mature contents and strong language that are not suitable for young audiences. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

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I was rushing down the hallway when I received a text from my Mother to meet up at the nearest coffee shop near my school. Alam ko malapit na mag tampo si Fiona sa akin pero I can explain naman siguro sa kanya mamayang gabi.

Papasok na ako sa loob ng coffee shop when someone bumped in to me. "Ouch! Watch where you're going, loser."

I was carrying a lot of stuffs kaya kinuha ko isa isa ang mga nahulog kong gamit sa sahig bago ko tignan ang lalaki na bumangga sa akin. "What the hell?! Ikaw na nga itong naka bangga sa akin ikaw pa ang ganang magalit?" I was furious! My parents would be here any minute at kailangan mag mukha akong presentable kung hindi magagalit nanaman si Mommy sa akin.

I saw him rolling his eyes at lumabas sa coffee shop. Pinigilan ko ang sarili ko na hindi itapon sa kanya ang librong hawak ko. Kung hindi lang talaga ako nagmamadali baka nakipag away na ako. I checked the time and my parents will be here any minute! Dali-dali ako tumakbo papasok ng restroom. I applied light make up on my face and I sprayed a little bit of cologne para hindi ako amoy pawis. Pagka labas ko ng rest room I saw my parents coming in with 2 unfamiliar people.

"Mom, Dad," tawag ko sa kanila. My mom smiled as soon as she saw me but I saw how my dad frowned. Agad ko tinignan ang sarili ko. I was wearing a short skirt and I know my dad hates it when I'm wearing 'inappropriate' clothes. Hinayaan ko na lamang ang masasakit na tingin sa akin ng Daddy ko at lumapit pa din ako sa kanila to kiss their cheeks. 

They sat down kaya umupo na din ako, I noticed a vacant chair in front of me pero hinayaan ko nalang iyon. "Hija, this is Mrs. Heaven Legrand and Mr. Claudio Legrand," nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi ni Mommy. Legrand? As in the owners of AirFrance?

The woman looked at me and she smiled sweetly. "You can call me Tita Heaven, hija. Magiging pamilya din naman tayo in the future," I smiled at her pero I was confused. Pamilya? What does she mean by that?

The door of the coffee shop opened, nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita ko ang lalaking bumangga sa akin kanina! If my parents weren't here, baka sinigawan ko na ang lalaking iyon.

"Gabriel, hijo! You're here!" The woman stood up and hugged the guy. I saw how he went yo his mother and kissed his mother's cheek.

"I want you to meet Mrs. Ericka Del Valle and Mr. Dominique Del Valle, this is our son, Sky Gabriel Legrand," the guy bowed a bit and offered my parents for a hand shake. TInanggap naman iyon ng mga magulang ko at nakipag kamay ito sa kanya. 

"This is my second daughter, Soliel Alexis Del Valle," pag pakilala naman ng daddy ko sa akin.  I smiled a little, he looked at me and I could him smirking. He offered his hand kaya tinanggap ko ito at nakipag kamay ako sa kanya. 

"Now that the formalities are over, let us sit!" Masayang sabi ni Mrs. Legrand kaya naman umupo na kaming lahat. I'm trying my best to not react. Gulong-gulo ako sa mga nangyayari ngayon. Ang akala ko ay simpleng family lunch lang namin ito. Bakit may kasama kami? Both families were chatting for a bit. I looked at the guy in front of me. Minsan ay sumasagot din siya sa mga tanong ni Daddy tungkol sa negosyo habang ako ay tahimik lamang na nakikinig sa kanila. Hindi sumasali sa mga usapan nila dahil wala naman akong alam tungkol sa negosyo. 

Our parents ordered food for us. I was starting to impatient as to why we all gathered here. Pero I know dad will get mad at me if I talk kaya kahit atat na atat akong malaman, I stayed quiet. I could feel my phone vibrating from my pocket pero I can't take it out kasi baka pagalitan ako ni Daddy. Dad is very strict. Mataas din ang standards ni Daddy. Lalo na sa amin na mga anak niya, specifically sa akin.

Luna Alexandria Del Valle is my sister. Para kay Daddy si ate Luna ang epitome of perfection. Walang maling ginagawa si ate sa paningin ni daddy. But it all changed when ate ran away from home kasama ang boyfriend nito. Tumakas silang dalawa para mag tanan. 

My life was hell after that incident. Lahat ng ginagawa ko mali sa paningin ni daddy, I'm lucky mommy was there for me. I don't blame my sister. Hindi din ako galit sa kanya. I will never get mad at her. She just wanted to be happy. She deserves to be happy. Who am I to stop her happiness?

"Sweety, hindi mo ba gusto ang food?" Mom asked me. I looked at her and looked at my food. 

Umiling naman ako. "Gusto ko po," I smiled and started eating.

"It looks like our children are confused kung bakit natin sila pinatawag dito, hindi ba?" Tita Heaven opened up. I saw her and mom smiling at each other. Tila excited sa kanilang sasabihin. I saw tita Heaven poked her husband as if telling him na siya nalang ang mag sabi ng balita. 

"We are planning to merge both of our companies. And because of that, both of you need to get married," Mr. Legrand said. Shock was very evident in my face. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Gusto ko mag-reklamo pero pinipigilan ko ang sarili ko dahil baka pagalitan nanaman ako ni Daddy. I looked at Sky hoping to get a reaction from him but he kept a poker face. As if he knew about this arrangement.  I was quiet the whole meeting. I'm still processing everything inside my head. They were talking about business and stuff. 

"Sky, hijo. What school ka pala?" Dad asked him.

"DLSU, sir," he coldly replied.

"I-ikaw hija? What school ka? And what course?" his mom asked me, I smiled.

"Oh! So you want to be a Mechanical Engineer, hijo?" Nakangiting tanong ni Mommy sa kanya. He looked at Mom gently and shook his head.

"Pilot po, but I'll also be taking the licensure examination for Mechanical Engineer."

Oh how I wish this day would be over, I just want to get away from here, mag paint sa kwarto ko at matulog. I don't belong here.