After we finished eating, we went to the terrace of the house. It was big enough to fit a few tables. I pulled a chair for my Mama and Papa from the round table.
I then sat down next to them as Letty put a snack on the table for us. A few hours after breakfast, Papa and I played badminton, so we felt hungry. This also served as our lunch. They knew I had loved badminton before, so we took this as an opportunity to have a family bonding
"Piper, about your project that you mentioned earlier. Who is your leading man? This time I want you to date for real," Mama often teased me about this thing. She wanted to arrange me for my 'first real date'. Because the ones I dated back then were for fans. They really wanted to pair me up to others and make a ‘Love Team’ but it was all fake.
Even a mere situation where I had coffee with the guy became an issue immediately. Can't we just talk about our life without malice.
There were those who flirted with me, but I didn't feel anything. There is no 'spark'. It's lame.
My Papa's staring at me like there's no tomorrow, made me pout my lips.
I know he doesn't want to talk about this. I hate dating. I mean love is very lame. I mean those fucking cheesy lines! I'm terrified.
Like in the television series. I starred in like rags to riches? I don’t like that. Not to discriminate or something, but it's impossible for the rich to fall in love with the poor. It's hard to adjust.
"Look my princess, you have to experience those thrilling feelings. Enjoy your childhood. When you get old, you'll probably miss it" said Mama.
When she opened her fan, it made a loud sound because of the air it created.
"Look at your Mama. With the amount of men she dated, she still ended up with me. I'm the one who's flirtatious with her, who didn't leave her. You should find a man like me. The one who won't let you down no matter what happens. The one who will give you a reason to fight even when you know you're tired." I could see how Mom slapped Dad on his arm with the fan.
Even Letty, who is standing next to us, smiled because of the couple in front of me. They are still playing with each other while I'm here raising my eyebrows.
They're sweet. It hurts my eyes to look, but I want them to be like that. Rather than fight.
"Anyways, going back to my question. You haven't answered that yet, so what's the title of your movie project?" Asked Mama as she got excited about Papa's teasing.
"Paper Rings is about a rich girl who falls in love with a poor boy. My leading man in that movie is Latrelle Aurelieus"
Papa nodded while Mama's forehead wrinkled. I knew he knew Latrelle. Because Mama often reads magazines and I’m sure she saw Latrelle in one of those.
"That's a handsome man, but I don't like him as our son-in-law. You know he's a womanizer. There are many issues about him", I can't blame Mama for what she said because that one really knows his way with women. He has not yet admitted in interviews that his previous issues are true though. He always makes excuses that he is a sweet friend or that he has no comment.
He was too sweet to the point that he was kissing his friend. We are in the same entertainment, so I see him often. One time after the ball, I saw him in the parking lot. Almost all the staff and actors have gone home. I saw him kissing a woman and by the looks of it, he is having too much fun.
When he saw me he just smiled. I didn't know the woman, so I didn't smile at them both.
"Mom, you are thinking in advance. Don't compare me to those previous leading ladies he had that wanted to date him. He won’t make me fall for him by his stupid winks. I also don't want to flirt and then just be labelled as a friend or worse there is no label . It's just cheap!" I said as I drank the juice in the glass straight away. I winced at the sourness, but I also smiled.
"Are you okay, Senorita? Is my mixture too sour?" Letty asked when she approached me.
"Yes. I'm fine. Your mixture is deliciou, so don't worry about me." she nodded then returned to her position.
I don't like Letty's watching us. I don’t want her to stand there and struggle while we eat. But I will not disobey her, because this has always been her job.
"Piper, look at Letty. She has many suitors who are serious about her. Follow her. Your Aunty Evy is even making them chop wood. If you get a suitor, my only daugther, I'm sure he should experience farming our land", he said by Papa.
My family owns a lot of rice land. Others are simply converted to subdivision, especially if it is close to the city. But here in our province, very few have been converted. The others are public roads as well as to be used as leisure parks. We used to have only a few hectares of land but they have grown it. I don’t know how they did it. All I know is that diligence, perseverance and money laundering have been the key to it. That’s what Papa used to preach to me.
"Still, farming is too strict and tiring." Dad nodded then sipped his goblet. He let out a small amount of smoke from his mouth.
"Yes, so that we can find out how strong the manhood of the person who is planning to court you is"
Papa's right, so I won't say anything. I turned to Letty who was now smiling at me. I know she is also one of those people who wants to witness how and who I will love. Other than that, I don’t have that in mind yet. I don’t have a temper for such matter.
"Just make sure that the one you will like was fed with a golden spoon. You know other poor people are exploitative. They want to get rich easily which is wrong"
I looked at Letty. She turned to what Mom had said. Her eyes dimmed as she played with her own finger.
"Not everyone is like how you said it Mama. One of those who’s not like that is Letty. They struggle with the things they want to get,"I said in my defense.
It was a law in our family, but one of Dad's siblings broke it - Tito Emman. He loved Tita Ai who was not rich. He doesn't seem to have the state of life.
I remember, I asked him one time in our family gathering. He said that it's cliche but when you love someone you fight for your love. You need to sacrifice everything so that even if you suffer and are hungry, it is okay. Luxury does not carry over into the afterlife and only brings temporary pleasure. But what the person who truly loved you felt; the fun is different as if you have reached heaven.
He said, that's how Aunt Ai makes him feel, so he never once thought that she is using him for money.