Mnemosyne's Youth

Chapter 6

We arrived at the party on time, my parents became busy interacting.
Hindi nila ako pinapakilala talaga, sa mga nagtatanong lang.
I like it that way, they bought me here for solely have my presence  seen by the high society.

Naka sunod lang ako kina Papa, pero nang masyado ng marami ang lumapit sakanila, binulungan ako ni Mommy.

"You can go, search for your cousins." She said and I nodded.

Tahimik akong umalis, linibot ko ang paningin ko sa hall, searching for Ate Elle, yun ay kung nandito nga sya.

Nong hindi ko sya mahagilap, napag desisyonan kong lumabas nalang. I went to the back garden , hindi ko alam anong party ba 'tong pinuntahan ko. Probably a birthday of the wife of one of our company's business partner, it doesn't matter tho, wala rin naman akong papapelan.

Sa kamalas malasan, syang pagka upo ko ay sya namang pagdating ng ibang tao.

When I look back, I saw Augustous. He's holding a 4 year old kid, probably his son, in his arms.

My heart swelled. Nakita nya ako, nagkasalubong ang mata naming dalawa. I smiled at him and he smiled back.

Lumapit sya at umupo sa tabi ko.
I look at the little boy and  greeted him.

"Daddy." He called his father, ignoring me.

Augustous sighed.

"Find your Tita Sunshine, go." and his daughter followed his words.

"Is that okay? He might get lost." I said.

"He'll be fine, nasa bungad lang si Athena."

Athena, Like Athenaelle... Ate Elle is here? But I couldn't find her.

"Ngayon ko lang sya nakita sa personal." Turan ko, sa social media  ko lang nakikita ang baby nya.

"Kuya forced me to attend this party, walang representative ang company kung wala ako."

Tahimik naman akong tumango.
"Who's with you?" I asked.

"Athena and my son, obviously." he answered as a matter of fact.

I guess the rumour is true, he likes my cousin and he calls her Sunshine. Just like how our Aunties call Ate Elle.

My heart hurt with that thought, suminghap ako at pilit na binalewala iyon.

Katahimikan ang namagitan sa aming dalawa bago ulit sya nagsalita.

" You know I like you, 'diba?" Wala sa loob kong turan, alam naman nya, matagal na.

Hindi lang nya ako pinapansin, at hindi lang nya tinatanggap ang feelings ko.

"I cannot offer you commitment Mnemosyne, you know what I like." He drop it like a bomb. Like he knew what I was thinking.

Kinuyom ko ang kamao ko, nagpipigil.

He look directly in my eyes.
"And I don't plan going to jail." he laugh sarcastically.

My eyes swelled and brim with tears. What's wrong on being, me?

"I can't fuck the daughter of Winter Elizeo, can I?"

Para akong nainsulto. No,
I was really insulted.

I know he's just trying to be mean so I can stop with this delusions, but it hurt.

"I'm not telling you to fuck me." mariin kong sabi. Naiinis, nagagalit.

"Yes, but I don't offer commitment. I only offer sex." He said those words like it's just nothing.