The morning before Richard's welcome party, Lucia and I went shopping. I don't know how this welcome party makes sense. He just left his hometown and continued his schooling in another city. Why would you need a party for that? My parents would've disowned me if I spent ten thousand for a party. "Sulli, what do you choose? Do you think Richard likes the silver or the gold strap?" Lucia showed me two same styles but different color signature watches. I gave her a sigh and hugged myself. The aircon in this jewelry shop was so high, it's freezing, I feel like I'm having a fever tonight. "What? You don't like the watch? How about perfume? Let's go to the perfume section." Lucia tugged me next to another shop until I felt nauseous and tired. She bought as many things as we could hold, and the next thing I knew, we were back in the studio with paper bags in both hands. "Sulli, let's both wear blush at the party." Lucia was extremely excited about the party. It was apparent and palpabl

"Last year, my adoptive parents arranged a dinner for me after I finished high school," Lucia started. Clasping her trembling hands together, I pursed my lips and acted tough. I wanted to know their story. "I never looked that much into it because they treat me as their own, brother– Trevor was in law school that time so I was expecting we're just three at the dinner table, but when I reached the fancy restaurant they booked, Trevor was waving happily at me, gave me a bouquet and congratulated me for graduating. At first, I was happy, but throughout the dinner, I became nervous, then perplexed, and then we got home." -"Thank you for this, brother," Lucia sheepishly said, sniffing the red roses. "No worries," Trevor replied, playing with his car key fob. Their parents went upstairs, and maids rushed over the huge entrance door to lock it. "Lucia," he called, turning to Lucia and shifting his weight from foot to foot. "Yes?" Lucia said, the innocent her that doesn't have a clue w

What was that? You said you won't get tired. My head was spinning on that thought the whole night. I couldn't sleep and was just pretending to so that Lucia wouldn't be disturbed. When the morning came, we were packing our bags because tomorrow would be our flight to the country that would host the World Cup this year. I'm helping Lucia in her room and was wondering why she packed a swimsuit in her luggage."Are we going swimming?" I wondered and raised the orange one-piece with Swarovski crystal on the waistline. "Oh no, that's for emergency purposes, you know, if we ever get a stop-over to a tropical country." My mouth went agape. "But Lucia, it's winter season now." Also, I thought it was just a one-way trip we were doing because, obviously, we were just getting a free ride, but maybe our definition of stop-over differs from one another. Lucia's stop-over meant intentionally riding a whole plane and getting to a tropical place for days. "What if Sulli, it's what if, don't y

I'm never really going to tell them the whole truth, I'm just going to pick some scenarios and twist and turn them until they're convinced.But I ended up saying everything and crying in front of them. I thought I was not going to be like my eldest sister who went to a room followed by my mom and aunties and said that she had not graduated college, it broke our hearts because they were already celebrating, there was cake and balloons and fried chicken only to get killed by the truth. I swore I wouldn't be like her, so I took up education, the course I thought would make me graduate and finally went to law school to appease my second sister who has hot blood whenever she sees me. "That's so unfortunate, honey. I'm sorry I'm not there to comfort you." Mom comforted me with her touch, the one I needed the most in this sad time."Mom, it's why I chose to run away and not go home, because I don't want you to worry," I replied, resting on her chest while my face was cupped by her. "So, w

"What? Why are you not saying anything? You don't want to marry my daughter?" Dad asked, in a more fatherly way as possible. It touched my heart to hear that, but it doesn't feel right. "No!" Trevor protested. "No?" My sister snapped in a higher pitch than before. "Trevor, it's okay," Mom breathed. She placed her hand on his back. "It's okay if you don't, just please be good to your son and not make him your illegitimate."Trevor looked at her with a confused look. "I meant no, ma'am, and sir, I want to marry your daughter, to have our family, you know my goal from the start, but the decision is going to be hers, don't you think?" "Right, she's the one getting married to you, after all," my sister agreed, putting her hand under her chin. "Okay," Ma said, then turned to me, "Child, don't think of this as if we're forcing you to get married to one another, we're just helping you solve your misunderstanding.""Because we surmised, that's why you're here, you get into a misunderstand