CHAPTER FOUR: Kidding

Lola Valderrama

I opened my eyes because of the sunlight striking my face. I immediately rise from my bed and go to the sink once then I wash my face. As I'm finished, I get outside of my room to go there to the dining area to have some breakfast.

While going downstairs, I already saw mom and dad sitting at the dining table.

"Good morning!" I both kissed them on the cheeks.

"Good morning also sweetie.." mom said and I immediately sat on the left side, facing mom and dad.

I drank the fresh milk and at the same time, I took toast bread and chewed it.

"It looks like you’re happy today. Isn’t it?" I stopped chewing for a moment when dad talked to me and as I looked at him. Then I resumed chewing my food.

Of a sudden, I just looked at dad and then mom with curiosity. 

Do I really look happy? Oh, is it now a big deal to them? Am I not allowed to smile even if the reason is I just want to smile? My goodness.

"Maybe, it's because of last night.." mom's cut the silence as they thought what they are saying now was the reason behind my smile as I was stuck for a while. 

I saw her grin when I tilted my head to her while busy eating and looking back and forth at me.

"W-we've just talked about our businesses. That’s i-" Laurene cut me off when she came in.

This woman is really stubborn! She just suddenly interrupts the conversation even though she just came suddenly. I mumbled to myself and I sighed.

"Really, huh?" I stared at her with a fierce look and she just rolled her eyes at me. 

She's really my damn crazy friend. I want to slap her on the forehead now.

The three of us looked at her before she greeted mom and dad, then she sat down next to me at the same time.

"What is it, dear?" mom suddenly asked an intriguing question instead of greeting my parents about their lives, that kind of useless thing is what she prioritizes first.

"You know, aunt and uncle, if I were just Lola, she would have accepted Heaven’s offer but she did not.” she shrugged after and I noticed that she widened her smile on her face.

I don’t know what Laurene wants to say. But if it was about having dinner with Heaven as she offered to me last night, I am not really interested. 

"We understand you, sweetie. But we know that we need a person in our lives that we can live forever…" 

Speaking of what dad said, it makes me suddenly dumbfounded when there’s something that pops up in my head. 

Yes, dad is right. He is right for what he said. Pointing about the relationship-I know that’s what he wanted to say, is I really don’t want to try and I don’t really want to. 

I admit. I am afraid. I am afraid of entering that situation that makes me traumatized for almost 2 years-it is because Kade try to rape me. He was drunk that night. As I tried to get rid go away from him-unfortunately Sofia saw us in that awkward and unacceptable position that made her angered me for years and up to now. 

Yes, my cousin, Sofia Adler Montenegro doesn't want to talk with me anymore because of her pride, jealousy, and hatred, and she really hates me just because of what she saw to me and Kade, saying that I betrayed her and I took Kade to her and that I lied to her.

Wait, are they playing with me?

I looked at Laurene who just giggled. And even mom who looked even more excited about what dad said.

The heck! They really want to do that!

"Whatever you said dad, I am not really interested. You know me dad, even you mom, and Laurene!" I said with emphasis. 

Why do they have the guts to say that? Do they think I’m happy with what they’re doing?

"You know, sweetie. We still have not forgotten your wounds from the past. It’s hard to recover  but we are just cheering you up for what it causes." 

Speaking about that-they know about me and Kade. My parents believed me as they found in the CCTV but Sofia did not as we’ve tried to fix that thing but she just only said to me that she does not want to talk to me anymore because of what happened. She doesn’t forgive me but Kade was. I tell everything if what’s the truth and Kade also, but I don’t get why Sofia still keeps hating and avoiding me until now. 

Yes, Sofia is my close cousin. She’s the daughter of mr. Diego Valderrama who is my dad’s sibling and mrs. Lea Adler Valderrama, who is his wife. Sofia actually has a sibling which is Kleo, who is younger than her. And unfortunately, Kleo already passed away when he was two years old because of pneumonia. That’s why, after this saddest story of Sofia’s life, she almost treats me like her sibling-like Kleo. She became close to me not just as a cousin but rather as her friend also. 

But suddenly, all of this is gone after seeing me and Kade on that balcony. I know why Sofia likes that because she cannot move on from Kleo's death and it is something that reflects Kade-reminiscing Kleo that she is afraid that Kade will be gone and will not be with her anymore. 

Yes, she truly loves Kade.

Throwing my thoughts, I looked again at Laurene who now just raised her eyebrows, and at the same time, I also glanced at mom and dad who had stopped eating for a while.

Silence enveloped no one of them. 

“Are you okay, Lola? Looks like there’s something bothering you?” I heard Laurene ask me. She’s just still staring at me while waiting for my response. I noticed mom and dad are also waiting for what I will say.

“Nothing. I just mind about my paintings..” I said then I put my attention somewhere. 

I actually don’t want to open up to them about what was running in my head as I know it would be a long story for us to open up a conversation about it. 

Looking back at Laurene as I tilted my head to them, they just continued eating and also Laurene after she shrugged about what I said.

"By the way aunt. I have to go now because I have some photo shoots to attend. Can I?" Laurene broke the silence for a second. I turned to look at her when she said that.

"Oh, good luck." dad uttered. 

“Anyway, just come back here again, dear. We wish we can have dinner with you again..” mom said before Laurene was still in front of them.

I feel pretty relieved as it is a good thing that she didn't gossip about it. 

Yeah, she should! 

I feel comfortable now.

"By the way dear, we wish you’ll bring Kevin here and will introduce him. Can you?" 

Really, they want to meet Kevin!? Well, it's good also to meet him so we will know more about Kevin.

"O-of course aunt and uncle, I'll bring him here so you can see him in person as well as Lola.." she said playfully. I just rolled my eyes for that girl.

Well, speaking of them-I'm actually happy for them and I hope their relationship will last long.

"Uh-oh. And, I'll wait for it." mom said gladly even though dad is smiling when they look at each other for a while.

I tried to cough so therefore they may cut their conversation now. I know Laurene cannot go to her appointment if my parents would ask her more. 

“I’ll accompany you outside..” I excused myself to mom and to my dad as I stood up. But before we left them there, I noticed mom and dad were all dressed up and it looked like they were going somewhere. I shrugged. Maybe. 

Afterward, Laurene said goodbyes to them afterward we got outside in that dinner area. 

"What location does your photo shoot in?" I asked as she sat on the couch first while she folded her knees.

“In Laguna. And I will also be there in Manila in the afternoon..” she replied. I just nodded.

“Anyway, will your exhibit be held on Friday?” I sat next to her first before I spoke.

“Yeah. Just for another achievement again..” 

“Oh, congrats again! We should celebrate after that!” as she said that, we just both chuckled. 

“Anyway, I have to go now. Just update me if you have something you know. Especially about what Heaven and you talked about last night.” she stood up now after uttering those words. She arranged her stuff and she even checked her face also. 

“Okay. Good luck.” I said and I winked at her. 

I accompany her outside until she gets inside her car. Before her car ran, she told me that we will be having a celebration after my exhibit and she said that she will be the one to be in charge of it. I just chuckled. 

Afterward, her car ran until it had already passed through the gate’s house.