26: The Night I Wanted To Dye
Biya's POV
"Biya, why are we gathered here tonight?" Percyla asked as she wiped the sweat off from her son's forehead. Her son has been playing with Genovese and they can't be stopped. They're too adorable and energetic to stop them from playing.
"I have something to tell you." I replied.
"You have been telling me that all morning." She said and I just gave her a smile which made her squint her eyes at me in curiosity.
"Patience." I whispered before chuckling as she rolled her eyes at me.
"Your dad will be home any minute now. Can you just tell me, Biya? What is it?" Lorie spoke coming from the kitchen with a glass of water in her right hand.
"I have to wait for Paolo." I said and Lorie sat on the sofa with a huff.
"The suspense is going to kill me, my dear."
"Tell me about it, mom." Percyla added to our conversation and I laughed.
"Just wait. I want to break the news with everyone present."
"Gio is still in a meeting though." I waved at Per.
"It's okay, Per. He will know it sooner or later." Her eyes widened at my answer.
"Oh my God! Are you pregnant?!" She burst out and it caused for our mom to choke on her drink.
"What?! Biya!" Lorie shouted in surprise and I shook my head whilst trying not to laugh.
"No. Oh God! No!"
"Then what is it? Tell me!" Lorie stood up from her seat glaring at me.
"I'm home!" Paolo's voice made Lorie turn her attention to her husband.
"Paolo. Come here fast. Biya has to tell us something."
"Yes. I received her message."
"Come quick!" She demanded for her husband to come in the living room.
"What is it?" Paolo had a worried expression on his face.
"Guys. Please. You don't have to worry. I swear." I told them and they just nodded at me waiting for me to tell them what I have wanted to say to them.
"Okay. Go on. We're listening." Paolo said and gestured for us to all sit down.
"You know, I don't know anyone from my original family, right?"
"Yes." Lorie said in a whisper.
"Well, I found my brother." I brought the news to them and a big smile grew on my face. Silence fell for a second in the atmosphere and then they all cried in joy. Percyla came to me quickly enveloping me in a bone- crushing hug while squealing.
"Oh my gosh! That's great. I'm really happy for you!" She exclaimed as she pulled out. I saw Lorie and Paolo expressing their joy before they came to me. Tears filled their eyes and they looked happy for me.
"Thank goodness for that! We're so happy for you, Biya!" Lorie and Paolo came and hugged me tightly. I patted their backs before they let me go.
"Thank you!" I sniffed. I chuckled thinking how ridiculous we all looked like right now. We were happy and we were all crying. Waves of emotions came out and I felt overwhelmed and thankful that my family was happy that I have found someone who belonged to my original family.
"What is his name?"
"His name is Dante Kairis Umile. He kept the Kairis." I started the story of Nyle's life but I left his physical features out. I want to surprise them. Ah. It would be fun.
"Oh poor boy." Lorie spoke in a soft voice once I finished the story.
"Keeping his real last name was a great idea. Now, he has found his family." Paolo smiled at me.
"Yes. Dante is what his foster parents have named him but his real name is Nyle. I only remembered him when Emil mentioned that I have a brother." Emil's name made their smiles drop even Percyla.
"Emil? He found him?" She asked and I nodded.
"It was a coincidence. Dante, or Nyle which is the name I call him, is a photographer and they met on the street. When he found out he has a Kairis on his name, he asked Gabriel Montessoro to investigate him. The rest is history."
"Wow. What a small world we live in." Paolo reacted and he still can't believe Emil found my long lost brother.
"Ironic, isn't it?" Percyla told me and I gave her a tight smile.
"Well, what matters most is that Biya found her brother." Lorie chased Per's topic away.
"You are all going to meet him in two days. He will be having a gallery show."
"That's great! I can't wait to meet him." Paolo smiled.
"Me too! Oh gosh! Does he look like you?"
"You will see him for yourself. We're like opposites when it comes to appearance but we have the same mannerism."
"What?! Really? That's amazing." Per gushed and I chuckled.
"Yes."
"I am happy for you, my dear."
"Thank you, Paolo."
"We're all happy for you. Know that he is already accepted in our family."
"Thank you so much! It means so much to me. I will be meeting his family soon too. I am planning for a family gathering."
"That will be great, Biya." Lorie agreed to my suggestion.
"I will start planning right away." I beamed and they nodded with their eyes sparkling with happiness.
I talked to Blaze about the event and he has given me a day off so I can find and prepare everything I needed. However, I will make up the hours I would miss for the show. I accepted the conditions. I have to go to work the day of Nyle's show and I will take my leave the hospital two and a half hours before the show. That night, I was looking for a dress fit for the occasion when I an idea popped inside my head. Will I look good with blonde hair like my brother? The thought made me want to dye my hair blonde and I didn't mind if I change hair color. I think it is time for a change. I called Per to ask for her opinion.
"Hello Biya."
"Hi! I want to ask something. So my brother is blonde-" I was cut off by her gasp. I was alarmed by a split of a second but then I let out breath of relief before laughing when I heard her gush over it.
"Your brother is blonde?! Oh! How adorable he must be."
"He is a handsome young man." I smiled thinking of my good- looking brother. He just needed a little boost of confidence and he could be a showstopper.
"How can I help you?"
"Well, I have been thinking about it... Uhm... I want to dye my hair blonde too."
"Oh my gosh! Really? You know that's a big change, right?"
"Yes."
"Hmmm... Blonde hair can look good on you considering your skin color and your blue eyes..." She paused before continuing.
"Does he have blue eyes?" So she's completing the puzzle even though she didn't see the complete picture.
"Yes."
"Oh cute."
"Who's cute?" I heard Gio's faint voice from the other side then a faint closing of a door.
"Welcome home, my love!" I heard Per greet her husband lovingly and I found them sweet.
"I was just talking about this cute boy Biya and I saw outside the house." I burst out laughing at Percyla's joke to her husband.
"Ha. Keyword, boy." I heard him say to Per and she chuckled.
"If it could have been a man, I have to step up my game." I have heard Gio as a man who doesn't have a weakness but what I have heard was wrong. He has a weakness. His wife. I think it's heart- melting for him to think that his wife deserves better when everyone sees him as the one who has everything.
"Don't worry. I'm still wearing your ring."
"And thank God for that!" I chuckled listening to their banter.
"Hey. I hate to interrupt your lovey- dovey thing but I have to do this stuff now or I won't have it at all." I interrupted .
"Oh! Right. Sorry. I'm going to call Frances so she can prepare everything she needs. You need to go to her salon."
"Okay."
"I'll send you the address so you can go there. Will you be there in an hour?"
"Sure. I can go there. But will it be okay with her though? I mean, she will be working late tonight." I looked at the clock and found I had enough time to watch my baby before leaving him with his grandparents again.
"Oh don't worry. I'll handle it. You just need to relax. You've been stressed enough. You need to take a break.
"Okay. I guess I need a time out."
"Great. I can't wait to see your new look." She said then we ended the call. I was about to put my phone down when my phone binged. I took a look and saw I had a text from Emil.
Emil:
I heard you're going to Dante's show.
Sensing the way he texted, I knew what he wanted to say. Nyle told me his main subject was Emil and the rest of his photos were of different people that are connected to his idea. It would be heartless of me to not attend my brother's first ever show just because of Emil. I knew the consequences of my actions and I'm still taking it for my brother. He has given his best and I knew he loved his work. I won't let his smile turn upside down because of me.
Me:
Yes, I am going and I know that you are one of his subjects.
I waited for his response and it took him two minutes to reply.
Emil:
Are you okay with it?
That's it? That's his response? He took two minutes and I expected that he had texted a long message.
Me:
Of course I am.
Of course it was a lie. I was nervous. It would be the first time people would be seeing me. I have not been getting out in the public because I was so busy at work. This would be the first time in months they have seen me. To make it a whole lot ironic, I would show up in a gallery show featuring Emilio Carini. Perhaps, it would be better to sneak in? No. You need to stand up for yourself and don't hide in the shadows. It's your time for the spotlight to shine upon you. My conscience gave me courage to face my fear.
Emil:
Okay. I hope you will have a great time there. Dante has been working so hard for this.
Me:
I'm already proud of him.
I smiled at my last text and it gave me relief that Emil and I didn't end up having a disagreement. This was a first. It wasn't awkward or tense. It was just normal and I was glad I finally was not affected by him. You're lying. Not crying doesn't mean you are not affected. Conscience would butt in whenever I felt good and it made me feel guilty. Was I lying to myself? If I was not affected by him, was that a sign that I finally moved on from our past? That would be great. I can finally forget him.
Lies.
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