CHAPTER 2— To Ignore Them

Rain’s Point of View

WHILE we were eating, I was silent. My parents constantly talk to Auntie Merceditas. They were busy talking about business and the Villa. I suddenly stopped eating when I heard laughter and footsteps approaching the dining area. I was stunned and turned towards the newcomers.

“Hi, Mommy! Hello, Uncle Elmer!” said a brunet woman. She is tall and looks like a model. Her face shows that she is really happy because her eyes are also smiling.

“Azariah, come and I will introduce you to your auntie and uncle,” said Auntie Merceditas to her daughter and Azariah’s companions. “Catherine, this is my daughter, Azariah Ara Gustaves. These are our nephew and niece, Apollo Kayson and Aliona Krysleigh. They are Eliseo’s children. They’re twins.”

“Great, you are so beautiful. It seems like a long time ago when I last saw you,” exclaimed my father. I simply raised my eyebrows because daddy was referring to the last time they saw each other when we were kicked out of this Villa. I don’t understand why the terrible things that happened before seem to be gone? Have they moved on? That fast?

“Thanks, Auntie Cathy. I’ll just call you Auntie Cathy to make you look younger,” Azariah said kindly.

They kissed my parents. I was just watching and I couldn’t help but feel bad for them.

“Oh, it’s okay whatever you call me,” mommy said, laughing.

“It’s good that you were wi…” Apollo couldn’t finish what he had to say when our eyes met. “Hi!” he greets me. Just like before, my emotionless look at them remained.

“She’s my daughter. She’s Rain Ember,” said mommy while holding my hand.

I don’t understand why it’s so easy to give mommy’s smile to others when they have a dark past and it’s a big sin to us, especially to her. They did something bad to my mom!

I looked at them one by one. Apollo is also a brunette like Azariah, but Aliona is not. It is white even though it is quite small. Not like Azariah. The twins are also not identical, so it is not obvious that they are siblings.

“Hello, cousin. Welcome here to our Villa Floris! I hope you enjoy it,” said Azariah, who moved to my side and pulled out a chair. She sat down while facing me. Even though I was starting to feel irritated, I tried to calm myself down. “By the way, I’m Azariah. You are Rain, right?” She extended her right hand to shake my hand, but I just looked at it then turned my attention back to the plate.

“Ember,” I managed to introduce myself. I know that even if I didn’t look, she might have raised an eyebrow at me because I was a snob.

Apollo whistled from the side, and Aliona laughed. Azariah was shocked at my behavior. I heard that my daddy spoke and apologized to his nephew and nieces because of my behavior.

“Ember, please. Be nice to your cousins. They’re kind, aren’t they?” my mommy whispered.

I just took one bite and quickly reached for the glass of water. I gulped it down and wiped my mouth afterwards. “Thank you for this food. May I know where my room is? I need to take some rest.” My eyes were on the plate while talking.

“Ember…“

“Elmer, let your daughter go. Maybe she’s just tired from the flight and that’s why she’s in that mood.” Auntie Merceditas interrupted my daddy’s speech.

I just stood up and quickly put the earplugs in both ears. But since there was no sound on my cell phone, I could hear my cousins talking behind me.

“I’m embarrassed, Aliona!” Azariah spoke weakly.

I glanced at her and caught her crying while reporting to the cousin. Apollo was rubbing its back for comfort. Something poked at my conscience, but it also disappeared quickly.

“Just let it slide. Stop crying. You’re a big girl, but you’re going to cry!”

“I guess she doesn’t like us, huh?” Azariah’s voice was tinged with sullenness as she snorted.

“Let’s let her rest first. They came from far away.”

“Come on, Ember. I’ll take you to your room,” said Auntie Merceditas to me.

The evil look that my daddy directed in my direction did not escape, but I just remained calm outside. My anger for him was bubbling up inside me.

It was around noon when I woke up. When I glanced at the screen of my cellphone, it was half-past five. I lost sleep because I was so tired. I got up after a few moments and was slightly surprised to find that I was not in my own room right then.

The room is spacious and the walls are pink and the furnishings look antique, as the furniture is bronze, lilac and gold. The bed is enormous. There is a pole at each corner of it and it looks like there is a big curtain that hangs and hangs down. They painted the walls and ceiling pink. The air conditioner was blowing hard, so I lay down again and felt good about myself.

‘Where is Mommy? Could Granny be there?’

My chest ached again when I remembered my grandmother. Because the two of us are very close and this is the only person who did not mistreat us when we lived here. I breathed deeply. I quickly got up and went to the bathroom. When I remembered that I didn’t have any clothes on, I immediately went out. I was just as surprised to see my bag and suitcase on the side of the bed. I didn’t notice that before.

“It’s good that my stuff is all here,” I just said and started to get something to wear. I want to take a bath to refresh myself. I would also like to take a walk around when I finish taking a shower.

I decided to take a shower and while I was in the bathroom, I couldn’t help but think of the man who came from the park earlier. I didn’t want to think about him, but suddenly his handsome face entered my mind.