“It’s good that you have thought of coming home here, my child” Dad said in the middle of our meal.
I sliced ​​the beef steak slowly to savor its biting flavor. I then glanced at my mother who is opposite to me. Her smile lit up and I reciprocated with a smile.
He reached for my hand on the table and stroked it. "I thought you wouldn't follow me when you come home. Pixie said you're busy with your projects"
He asked me to come home a few times, but not once did it work for me.
I really plan to come home here. It was supposed to be after my tel;evision series but I had a photoshoot with a famous clothing brand owned by Pixie’s friend. So, I was no longer able to deny that.
"Actually, I have so many upcoming projects that I need to reject the others. I'm also exhausted, so I just accepted one of my movies that we will shoot after I take a vacation here," I flipped my hair and resumed eating.
Unlike before, the surroundings are noisy. Papa's bodyguards have already dismissed the protesters. That's a good thing though because I would not be bothered anymore. In case the farmers will be protesting often, I thought it would be better for me to stay at Lety’s for my vacation instead. Not that I don't like them, but I need to get some rest.
I smiled when I suddenly remembered something. I still remember how Letty and I pump water and pick up some fruits to cook for a meal. It's just that often, I would be the one to be picking those fruits that fell from the tree while Abel picks from trees - his eldest brother.
I wonder how Abel is doing?? We're not friends on FB, so I'm clueless what he looks like now. All I know is that their lives are easier now compared to then before. When I once spoke to him on Facetime it showed the whole house that hadn’t been fixed yet.
I didn't catch up with Abel at that time because he was busy.
"Mom, can I go on vacation with Letty first?" Mama let go of her fork. Dad, on the other hand, stared at me intently.
“If Evy agrees to what you want,” Dad said, but my mom drank water a few times while fanning herself.
I can see the resistance in Mama's black eyes as I made eye contact with her. That was a little sad.
"Let her go, Leonora." My father said and at the same time he held my mother's hand tightly.
Her eyes full of sadness forced a smile. His lips curved.
"Can’t you stay here for a while? Even just for a week, so we could all bond together as a family. I promise we'll eat with your Papa at an expensive restaurant. Where do you want to go?"
I love my Mama so much that even though I am not their biological daughter, she didn't deprive me of all her love but I'm closer to Papa. Since then, Papa is always spoiling me and treats me like a Princess. While Mama is the one who disciplined me, ,until she could no longer handle me. So, we went home to Laguna where my other cousins ​​were. Just in case not all of them agree with me.
I caused my mother a severe headache at various times when I was in highschool.
I am often in Manila for acting, but I also go home sometimes to Laguna. Because I live in a condo in Manila, everytime I wake up, I see tall buildings. Unlike in Laguna, what I see is the mountains when I fix the windowpane.
It's like hell for me when I got there for the first time. But over time I got used to it because I love acting. In fact, I never finished school because I became an actor first whenI I was able to get an opportunity.
I was in Manila at the time, walking with my friends at the mall. Someone scouted me because they were fascinated by my beauty. I look like a model. And yes, I started as a model and then I did a shampoo commercial. Until someone offered me to be an extra in a movie, and here it is! Viola! I'm on billboards now.
I can say that being a politician is not the only dirtiest profession, being an artist is one as well. Because I admit, only a few of my companions in the same entertainment are friends with me. All of us are all acting as friends on camera. Or, we are all just educated enough to give each other respect despite the fact that we do not like each other.
"No, Ma. I don't want to eat in an expensive restaurant. I have gotten tired of it’s taste, especially fast foods" I often come home late, so I can't cook anymore. The end I order spaghetti, burgers, pizza, and etc.
Sometimes Mama and Papa go there, but Papa is rarely able to come because he does a lot as a governor of this province. But there is no denying that even if we only meet once, they are present at the family gathering.
"You're right. I think I should cook for you," but my Papa insisted on cooking instead.
"I'll just cook if your child likes homemade," I secretly smiled at what he said, but Mama reacted differently. He raised an eyebrow at Dad.
"Are you really slapping it on my face, Don Emilio, that you cook more deliciously than me?" Dad laughed at what Mom said.
To be honest, Dad doesn't like Mom's cooking. It's because he doesn't know how to do housework, especially cooking. That is why Papa used to cook for Mama. He told me in a story before that was the reason as to why my Mama fell in love with him.
Honestly, when Papa was a young man, I could say that he was tall, dark and handsome. He's like a dark version of Kuya Tendery. Kuya Ten looks more like my father than his real father. Mama, on the other hand, was very much like meme when she was still a virgin but unlike Mama she dated many men before she met Papa. I don’t know how we became alike, but I’m thankful because it’s such a blessing.
It was also a long time before the two of them got married. Because Mama is very popular as an actress, while my Papa is running for Mayor of this town.