Isabella's parents gathered around her, wishing her a happy birthday. Although the celebration was simple, with only a few dishes on the table, Isabella appreciated the effort her parents had put into making her day special.
"Thank you, Mom and Dad! Come on, let's all eat, for sure all of the food are delicious!" Isabella exclaimed with excitement as she grabbed a plate and offered it to her parents."No, you go ahead, Isabella. And Nerissa, why don't you join us too?" her mother suggested gently, Isabella's reaching out to hand Nerissa a plate.But Nerissa seemed disinterested, she then averted her gazed from them."No thanks, I'm still full. If only Dad hadn't woken me up to surprise you, I wouldn't be so sleepy right now."Isabella's mother approached Nerissa, concern is now showing on her face. She couldn't help but wonder if Nerissa's lack of enthusiasm stemmed from the memory of her own birthday just a month ago, when there had been no special food or celebration due to their family's sudden financial difficulties."Nerissa... It's your sister's birthday. Aren't you going to join us to celebrate this?" she tried to ask softly. Nerissa just sighed and shrugged her shoulder as she turned her back at the dining table."I'm still want to take some nap. Just a happy birthday to you, Isabella," she whispered in an annoyed voice as she closed her bedroom door with a slam.With a quiet sigh, Isabella's mother hesitated for a moment, before deciding to let Nerissa be, thinking that maybe, later Nerissa will also join them. And so, the celebration continued, leaving the worried they have because of how Nerissa act towards them.~"Psh! How unfair, they want me to feel happy for that celebration of their daughter's birthday while they didn't even bothered preparing like that for my birthday last month?" she muttered.Isabella's mother is about to follow Nerissa but Isabella stopped her by putting her hand's on her mother's shoulder."Mom, just let her. Maybe Nerissa's just tired and really want to take some nap, after all we did gardening earlier." Her mother looked at her Dad worriedly."Hun, Isabella's right. Nerissa must be tired. For sure later, she'll also join us here." He reassured his wife. She just nods and continue their celebration. But then Nerissa didn't really show up again, until now that they are already cleaning the dishes."Darling, can you go at your room and talk to Nerissa? I am just worried that she might feel bad or upset," her mother asked with worry in her eyes. Isabella nodded and headed towards her room but as she opened the door she saw Nerissa started packing her things. She immediately closed the door behind her afraid that her parents might see it and worried more for Nerissa."What are you doing, Nerissa? Why are you packing your things?" she asked softly as she took a sit beside her."Why you are even pretending that you are concerned? Maybe you are even going to celebrate more when I am not here anymore?" Isabella's surprised face was enough proof that she didn't expect that from Nerissa. It's been a year since she came into her family, since that day, she never treated Nerissa like other people, she always act as if she has known her forever and treat her so nicely, because Nerissa also made her dream to have a sibling came true."What? Why are you thinking like that, Nerissa?" Isabella's voice trembled a little."You are important to me, to us. You are like my own sister. I am not even thinking that you came from an orphanage, that you are just my parents' adopted child."Nerissa's gaze wavered, her hands momentarily freezing in the midst of packing. She turned to face Isabella."Really? But do I need to say sorry if I tell you that I feel like an outcast in this family? Isabella, even if you tried to deny, there's an unfairness happening here. You are their real child, and I'm just a random adopted girl."Isabella's heart clenched at Nerissa's words. She couldn't think how her sister had come to believe such painful thoughts. She placed her arm around Nerissa's shoulders, pulling her closer. Instead of getting mad at Nerissa for what she's saying, she chose to understand her again."Of course not, Nerissa! Mom and Dad love you genuinely. Please, don't think like that," Isabella pointed out."Actually... I have a surprise for you too." Nerissa's eyes change into curiosity."A surprise? For me?" Isabella nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips."Yes, for you. But before that, I want you to know that I never, for a second, considered you anything less than my sister. To me, blood does not define family. So, whatever you are planning just don't go for it, alright?" Nerissa just simply stared at her.."Now, about the surprise. Close your eyes first."Nerissa hesitated for a moment before closing her eyes. She could hear Isabella moving around the room, the rustle of paper, and the faint sound of something being set down on the bed."Okay, you can open your eyes now," Isabella announced. Nerissa slowly opened her eyes and saw a box covered with aesthetic paper."And what's that?" she asked as she reached for the gift."Open it," Isabella replied with a smirk.Nerissa did so, unfolding the paper to reveal the present. Inside is a brand new phone she always wanted to buy, but failed to."I know that you want to buy that phone. So, I bought it for you. Like what I promised you last month, I'll still follow my gift for you." Nerissa blinked her eyes in disbelief, she didn't expect Isabella to do this."Thank you!" Nerissa said, and Isabella can't help but smile, but it also slowly faded because of what Nerissa say next."Even though... it's not surprising. Mom and Dad gives you money, so you can really have any thing you ever want or wish. She then stood up and not continue packing her things."Mm, are you still gonna say something Isabella? I still want to take a nap." She yawned while she sat on the edge of her bed, staring lazily at Isabella, whom stand immediately."Oh, o-okay! I am glad that you didn't continue what you are planning. F-For sure, if you do, Mom and Dad will be so upset and sad." Nerissa just nodded without saying anything. After Isabella left her bedroom, she went downstairs where her father and mother are, still cleaning some remaining dishes."Did you talk to her? What did she said?" her mother asked curiously as she finished washing the last dish. Isabella can't looked directly at her parents' eyes. She knows that they really treat Nerissa as their own, and if they figure out what Nerissa did planned lately, for sure they will get her."Ahm, nothing Mom! She said her apologies, because she's just really feel tired and can't join us." she lied.Since that day happened Isabella tried her best to make things mostly in favor with Nerissa, so she can't think to leave again. She mostly the one to do the house work, while Nerissa would rest inside her room doing what makes her happy. Isabella did everything that might not let Nerissa feel too neglected and unhappy, because she doesn't want her parents' also to worried more for Nerissa. She can't just afford to see her parents hurting when Nerissa leave them, and she herself also get attached to Nerissa, so she wants to avoid that from happening."Nerissa?" She put the plastic bags of freshly cooked spaghetti in the kitchen cupboard and walked upstairs. She just came at the store to buy it."I'm at our room, Isabella!" She heard Nerissa answered in the distance. She peeked through the gap at her sister, who is lying comfortably on the bed, taking some selfie. "Here, I bought it. Let's eat!" Nerissa immediately put down her phone and sat upright. "Wow! It's that spaghetti? Oh, I l
The aroma of Isabella's mother freshly cooked rice hung in the table, with the savory scent of of their favorite dish, as Isabella decided to finally tell what's in her mind this past few days. "Mom, Dad... I just thought, what if I help you with your work?" Isabella said."After all, I believe that I am old enough already, so I can do a lot of things instead of just staying at home. And besides, it would also help with Nerissa's education". Her mother's hand, previously moving rhythmically as she chewed her rice, paused mid-air. It was already evening, and now they were facing each other at the dining table."You better to that," Nerissa whispered but not too loud to made that audible. Her mother looked up from her plate, surprise. Across the table, her father had also stopped eating, his gaze now locked on Isabella. "Help us with our work?" Her father said, and Isabella quickly nodded."Yes, Dad! I've been thinking about this for the past few days. I hope that you will consider my
It's been a month since the accident happened. Flores' home suddenly feels an empty place now. Isabella can't still totally move on from the fact that her parents died, yet another big problem added to her pile. After the burial of her parents', she needs to set aside her grieving so she can find a way to find a solution to their problem. There's no even a little money that's left over by her parents' except the savings that she managed to keep, but it's not even enough to sustain someone's life in a year. Beside that she tried her best to find a job, she even begged to some business persons to accept her no matter how small the salary is, to support Nerissa's education and also for them to survive on their own, since they doesn't have any relatives to help them at all. But there are none that will take a person without any qualifications."Oh my gosh, Isabella! We don't have anything to eat again?" "What should we do now? Look, I am studying. I am walking kilometres away here beca
Isabella slowly opened her eyes, her sight blurry. She looked around to try to clear her vision, but it's unfamiliar, until she heard Nerissa's voice. "N-Nerissa, where are we?" Isabella slowly blinked her eyes a few times to regain her focus. "We are at the hospital, you passed out a while ago. According to doctors it's because of dehydration and starvation," Nerissa explained. Isabella quickly sat up despite feeling weak. "We should go now, we doesn't have anything to pay here!" she stated urgently. "But Isabella —""Listen to me, Nerissa. If we stay here more, we can't afford the bills and for sure if we failed to pay this hospital we will put in jail!" "Isabella, we don't need to—" Isabella still ignored Nerissa's words and started to remove the IV needle from her arm, but before she could get out from bed totally a woman appeared in front of her."Dear, you shouldn't move! Your body needs proper rest," the woman spoke softly. "Madam, I told her that, but Isabella's really s
"Welcome to Villanueva's mansion, Isabella and Nerissa," Ms. Cynthia said, smiling sweetly. "Come in," Mateo gestured towards the mansion. Isabella nodded. She's actually really hesitated to accept the suggestion of Mateo. She's really ashamed, but she knows that they will need every kind of help now. "Isabella? Why are you still standing there? Come on! It's the start of our new life, I am so excited!" Nerissa grabbed Isabella's hand. "Nerissa, we are going to work here as maid. We shouldn't take advantage of their kindness." But Nerissa wasn't listening at all, instead she also followed inside without even helping Isabella to carry their luggage."Wow! That's really huge!" The mansion was enormous; it looked like a palace. The floors were shiny white marble, the stairs curved up with intricate designs carved into them, and the chandeliers seemed endless. Before the grand staircase, there are two people wearing maid's uniform."Good morning, Ma'am and Sir!" They greeted politely.
"It's all you fault, Isabella. I shouldn't cleaning here now if only you didn't push your idea to Mateo's mother to be one of their maids," Nerissa sighed as she swept the floor in the kitchen, while Isabella is preparing herself to do some of the work at the mansion's garden. "I can't avoid thinking now, if you really want me to suffer from the life that we have." Isabella feel guilty. "Nerissa, I am sorry. But we can't just live here like a princess. We owe Villanueva family big time. Besides, I still want to continue finding a job, so soon enough we can also stand by our own feet.""And until when before someone hire you, knowing that you didn't even graduate at any degree?" No matter what Isabella said, it was impossible for her sister not to think that way. "If you already feel tired you can just leave that work there and I will just do it later, okay?" "Really?!" A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Well, as you wish! Then, I'll just familiarize myself more in this m
"Hey, Isabella…" His soft and husky voice made her blush even harder. She could only stare at him, as she tried to control her heartbeat and breathing."Sorry, Mateo." She turned her gazed at something. She really doesn't expect that as the door he will see him still not putting any clothes on the top of his body. She feel so embarrassed now, that it feels like she wants to be swallowed by the ground. "But Aunt Cynthia just asked me to check on you. She says that I should also remind you about the meetings in your company. She also goes first. She thinks that you might be sleeping until now because you seems exhausted the other night." Isabella's heart skipped a beat."Oh, yeah. Well I'm sorry for taking up all your time, Isabella. But thanks for informing me." Isabella's now at the kitchen, helping Rose and Dalia to fix some things there, while Nerissa's watching a television at the living room, while her hand's lazily wiping the top of the table in front of her. "You seems quite,
"Really? Then, grab it already, Isabella," Rose exclaimed cheerfully behind her, while she's putting the groceries inside the fridge and freezer. Nerissa's who's just got from her room after changing her clothes heard all what they're talking about. "What? Mateo's asking you do be his secretary, Isabella?" She walked towards them, with Dalia close behind her. "Yes, Nerissa. Sir. Mateo offered that to your sister. I think, he doesn't want Isabella to get tired finding a job," Dalia replied and then turned to look at Nerissa who's controlling her brows not to draw together. "But who knows, Sir. Mateo's still have more reasons than that," Rose said meaningfully. "What do you mean?" Nerissa asked. Rose, smirked. She can sense from Nerissa's tone that she doesn't like what she's hearing. She can't even forget how many tantrums did Nerissa said while they're at the market a while ago. "Nerissa, we've been living here with Sir. Mateo for so long. We knew him very much. He really seems i