Every Bad Thing

Chapter Twenty-Six

"Laurene!" galit na tawag ng kapatid ko. "Nakakahiya ka!"

Umayos ako ng upo at tumawa. Hindi ko inintindi ang pandidiri ng kapatid ko. May ilang bulong na pinakawalan si Zeno bago padabog na tumayo sa stool at lumabas na ng studio. Naiwan kaming dalawa ni Silas. Ubos na ang tawa ko pero naiwan ang malaking ngiti sa aking mukha.

Silas cleared his throat. He awkwardly brought his eyes back to me. He put his hand forward. My attention transferred to it. I saw him holding a bottle of mineral water. I warmly smiled at him and took it from his hand.

"Merci, mon coeur." I sweetly said, with the proper French accent and all.

Pumikit ako at ininom ng deretso ang tubig. I feel completely satisfied after drinking. Ibinaba ko ang bote at nang tumingala para tingnan si Silas ay nakita ko na bahagyang namumula ulit ang mukha niya. Umangat ang isang kilay ko.

He licked his lips, his cheeks still flushed. "A-Are you done?"

I bit my lip to hide my smile. I think I have a clue... Naughty.

I nodded. "Yup."

The next days were filled with Silas, academics, and debut preparations. Ilang araw na lang ang bibilangin ay birthday bash na namin ni Hadeon, kaya mas naging busy. Sa debut party ko ay mga family friends, important business affiliates, at mga close friends ko lang ang imbitado, which is not really many if you'll exclude Hadeon's friends. And can someone actually believe that these close friends include Vance?

Sa party ni Hadeon sa club ay doon imbitado ang mga nasa broader circle at acquaintances ang inimbitahan niya. The more, the merrier.

The venue of my debut is in a garden. My father thought it would be easiest to host it in our grandest hotel, but I wanted something special. My mother suggested garden as a venue, that it would look great in the photos, I immediately agreed.

Eula, my event planner from Glamur Ad, went to several events venue before finding the perfect one. The place was big and it has stairs that I could do my grand entrance, too! She drew me the perfect layout for the venue. Flowers, white fairy lights, white clothe, glittery gold. Doon umikot ang design ng venue, but it looked perfect.

The venue was bright and deep colors were given emphasis. From the place itself to the table setting, down to the smallest details. Sinadya iyon para mas lalo akong magstand out sa napili kong gown.

It'sa gray ball gown with flowing trail. I wanted it pure white originally, but I'd look like a bride more than a debutant. Ngayon ay mukhang dirty-white lang. The upper part of the gown is a see through corset with deep sweetheart neck, heavily filled with silver and white pearls.

May rooms sa venue kaya roon na ako inayusan. Limang tao ang nagtulong sa pag-aayos sa akin. Isang hair stylist, dalawang make-up artist, at ang dalawa naman ay fashion stylist. Isang oras pa bago ang event ay nakaayos na ako. Pati ang aking ball gown ay suot ko na. That's because we'll be having a shoot.

Maliban sa mga artists at stylists ay crew lang ng photographer at videographer ang nasa venue ng ganitong kaaga. Even my parents aren't here. I didn't wanna spoil their reactions as I make my grand entrance.

Kabang-kaba ako sa loob ng kwarto habang mag-isang naghihintay ng pagsimula ng event. The party will be starting on time kaya hindi naman extended ang kaba ko kahit papaano. I still haven't seen family or Silas. I've been texting Silas. Hindi kasi mawala ang kaba ko. At least talking to him calms me somehow.

Silas:
We're here.

Napasingap ako sa text niya. We're. Plural.

He came with his family. Of course, we invited them. It's only right to invite my boyfriend's family, even when they weren't warm to me when we first and last met. I can still remember how his father looked at me with complete disinterest and disapproval, his stepmother with a bit of hesitation, and his siblings couldn't care less.