9 - Parade of Suitors

The news that the elusive Caress Aragon finally accepts suitors spread far and wide. It excited several prominent families who dream of having the most beautiful maiden as their daughter-in-law. The day after the rumor was leaked, the Aragon mansion turned into a garden in an instant while in-house telephones won't stop ringing. Different flower bouquets were sent tucked with love letters.

The man of the house, Arnaldo Aragon, cannot sit still. He walked back and forth, grumpily speaking to the other line. Veins protruded from his forehead as his nostrils almost flared fire. Helena was rather lively compared to him. She stayed glued on the phone, accepting date invitations and even implicated the idea of matrimony either because she is delighted for her daughter's unexpected change of heart or she wishes to kick her out of the house. The latter seemed to be more probable.

Care couldn't care less about the fuss. She was sitting cross-legged on the Persian carpet engrossed by the variety of flowers surrounding her. Her expression was animated, her smile as bright as the afternoon sun and her eyes twinkled akin to stars. She indulged her sense of smell with the scents of red roses, tulips, carnations, camellias, lilacs, blue iris, sunflowers and the long list goes on. 

"What are these adorable shaped buttercups called?" she probed. 

Their gardener stood by her side, because the lady particularly demanded his presence. 

"Ranunculus, mademoiselle. It's a symbol of admiration for your beauty." He replied.

"Aww, really?" she said, unable to react elated. 

She peeked at the sender. 

Roux Gilmour 

"Why would I be flattered? These delicately arranged flowers are handpicked by those bastards' parents, not them." She criticized inwardly

A maid entered the living room bringing another batch of bouquets. Each looks hella expensive except for one: the lush baby's breaths tied together by a white ribbon. It seems picked recently from the meadows rather than sold from notable flower shops. This caught her attention thus she immediately blocked the servant then snatched away the baby's breaths. She sniffs them eagerly searching for the card pronto. To her delight, there was none! 

There could solely be one person, she speculated.

"How about this?" She turned to the gardener. 

"Oh, the gypsophila! It expresses everlasting love, mademoiselle." He replied curtly, quite shocked by her enthusiasm. 

"Really?!" she exclaimed, giggling like a mad freak. 

Everyone in the room diverted their eyes at her. She abruptly reverted to her poised self, biting her lower lip to conceal her grin. Her heart fluttered so bad, she worried she might burst in different bright colors. 

"Daddy, I'm going to my room! Keep receiving invites and---" 

"Isn't it too much for you to accept so much, sweetpea?! I suggest you take it easy. Three at best, alright?" Arnaldo appealed. 

"No! I'll accept as many as I can. Please, don't fret, Daddy! I'm not in search of a man to marry. Besides, I'll only allow them for a single hour at most, alright?" Care offered as a compromise using her sweetest pitch. 

"It isn't okay! Caress, come back here!" he yelled but the brat was already gone and had no intention to listen. 

"Let me put that to the vase, Milady." a housemaid declared, tailing behind her. 

Her grip on her baby's breaths tightened. 

"Thanks but it's fine. I will put them on myself!" she dismissively said. 

Teddy and Harris stationed themselves at the opposite side of her room's door. Upon sighting them, she hid the baby's breaths behind her back and charged fast inside her quarters. However, she left the door ajar, one of Arnaldo’s impositions citing security purposes. She just obliged instead of being disturbed by her paranoid father knocking and opening the door every damn minute!

With finesse, she arranged the stalks of baby's breaths on her Chinese porcelain vase bought from an auction overseas. The housemaid who retrieved back the tulips that were earlier on it, eyed her with scrutiny. 

How could the mademoiselle prefer those cheap flowers, she inwardly revolted. 

The young lady was oblivious of her disapproving expression, too overwhelmed of joy. She even hummed a lullaby, never minding if the bodyguards overhears. She was positive they did not know the reason for her spirited mood... unfortunately, she guessed wrong! 

Teddy and Harris kept exchanging goofy smiles and knowing looks outside. Words were needless to say because both understood what was happening. Indeed, they remembered! They escorted her when she brought the same kind of flowers to the only hospital room she visited. 

Whose room? Of course, Eliseo Manaloto. 

Late afternoon, a deluxe black van arrived to get Care ready to go in a baby blue sundress. Her silky, smooth hair flowing freely on her back, no makeup look and cherry red manicured nails made her the classic example of a living supermodel. Upon spotting Aster on the backseat, she jumped on her and they embraced with ardent longing. When they let go, she could see fragility in her friend's eyes. She reached for her hand then squeezed her palm. 

"I regretted that I let it happen to you. Sorry, Care." Aster muttered in a brittle tone. 

She shook her head strongly. 

"Sorry, my ass! How was that your fault? Your... visions are vague. It's hard to change what's meant to happen so why would I blame you?" Care spoke in a whispery voice. 

"Still, she should've tried harder! What’s the value of her gift if she can't use it?" Marigold interjected. 

Care just noticed that the bitch was on board in the front seat. 

"Stop condemning Aster every single time you have the chance. Your tongue is as sly as ever!" she berated her and turned to Aster, "Is she really your sister?" 

Aster simply smiled tight lipped yet her eyes were woeful. 

Over the years, Marigold never ran out of snide remarks. Apparently, she loathed Aster. She has been blaming her for their father's death for a decade and counting. Her resentment only grew deep-seated as they slept in the same room, lived under the same roof, ate the same food, and interacted with the same people. 

"Why is she here, anyway?" Care asked, referring to Marigold.

 Marigold chuckled, amused by her hostility rather than be upset about it.

Usually, people assume the Nguyen triplets are her BFFs. Just to be clear, aside from Aster, she won't recognize them as allies! Ivy is a rival while Marigold is the disloyal tattletale. 

Who else would have spread the rumor that she was accepting suitors that fast? 

As much as she hoped they begone from existence, they are Aster's family so meeting them often was inevitable. No shock why a day won't pass dull in her life. Whenever one of the devils is around, they cause a bloody mess. 

"Don't be like that, Mama Hen! Come on, that isn't befitting to a goddess. I was grounded but permitted to go if I tagged along with Miss Prim and Proper therefore here I am!" she explained in a cutesy tone. 

Care scoffed but did not give a snide comment. Aster and her just endured the 15-minute ride to the mega mall. They almost leap in joy when they arrive. However, instead of the valet opening the door, a man dashing in his casual grey polo did the honors. His eyes landed first on Marigold checking her from head to toe. 

"Babe!" she squealed. 

She went out first then spun around to brag her burgundy halter jumpshort to him. 

"Good lord, you're hot!" he complimented. 

She jumped to his firm chest wrapping her slender arms around his neck in the process. Aster, and Care abruptly looked away: their action driven by instinct. They pretty much predicted what was coming and believed they were better off not witnessing it. 

Alas, they were right! 

The lovers smooched each other's lips in broad daylight! They saved themselves from the horror. Though, it was unfortunate for the bystanders who stood nearby. Their eyes nearly bulged out while their jaws totally dropped. 

When the couple was done, neither of them acted shy or bothered. In the circle of Alta Sociedad, both are tagged as "Queen & King of PDA" so the second the girls heard they were officially a thing yesterday, it was the worst news ever. The man, Roux Gilmour, is by far the most terrible flavor of the month for Marigold... if it sure does last a month! 

"Hi lovely ladies!" He greeted them. 

"Took you long enough. I almost thought we were non-existent." Care replied.

 One glance at his smiling face, an evil idea popped in her mind. 

"By the way, Roux, I received your bouquet this morning. Thanks, charmer! 'Twas lovely." she implied. 

The bubbly grin on Marigold was instantly wiped off. 

"I did?" he repeated. The knots on his forehead became quite visible. 

"You sent her flowers? Why?! Despite the fact that you are dating me, you will line up to court her!?" she threw one question after another, her pitchy voice raised beyond her normal tone.

Uh-oh! 

Sweating Roux was unable to answer in a heartbeat due to a slight moment of hesitation. It angered Marigold more. 

"You shameless jerk!" Marigold whined, hitting the shoulder of the guy she was just kissing earlier. 

Care resembled the eyes of a naughty kid. Aster could only shake her head yet her lopsided smile showed. When Roux diverted his suspecting eyes to them, they quickly stood stiff. He tried next to gently caress Marigold's waist. However, she distanced herself as if treating him as a contagious plague. 

"Chill, babe. Hold off your schemes, Care! You probably realize by that time it's Mom's doing." He reasoned. 

Care burst into a fit of laughter, failing to hold it for too long. 

"Of course, of course! Nevermind that. Isn't it amusing to see the comical expression on your gf?" she teased. 

Before Marigold retorts back, Care clings to Aster's arm then off they go.

 "UGH! Care, you scheming fox!" Marigold yelled. 

Care merely waved her hand before they got going. She cannot help but smile hearing her grumble of protests from afar although faint till they were out from earshot. The privacy was cut off shortly after noticing two figures tailing behind them. Before even looking, she knew they were Teddy and Harris. They convoyed earlier riding her pink Porsche. They are here as per her father’s command.

"I don't want you following me like dogs while we stroll. Now, don't stress me out and wait in the parking lot." she ordered. 

"Can't do, Milady. But so that you feel better, we'll do covert surveillance. You won't see us yet, we will be there." Teddy proposed. 

"Do what you want!" She exclaimed, slightly annoyed. 

Walking around boutiques, several onlookers gaped at her particularly. As much as she loves to be the center of attention, their stares are quite extreme. Now, she pondered if they should have the common practice of the ever privy Aragon family: closing establishments so they could shop in peace and avoid nuisances. The problem is, she is tired of living a sheltered life. There was no other way of getting used to going to public places without going there herself.

On their way to another designer brand shop, Aster requested to stop at a flower shop. She asked the florist for a bouquet of blue orchids. While waiting, Care cannot suppress her curiosity. 

"Another bouquet? That's becoming a daily habit." she remarked.

Aster shrugged, hinting it was nothing. Her face lit up implied an opposite meaning, though. Suspicious, Care noted, raising an eyebrow. 

"Umm..." a male voice interrupted. 

She turned to see the stranger who picked his phone from his pocket. 

"Can I ask for a picture, Lady Caress?" he asked, blushing like a 12-year-old boy.

"Sure!" She beamed. 

Aster had "Do I need to be your photographer for life?" look on her face before she took three photo shots of her and the nameless man. 

For formality's sake, they shook hands longer because of her inner motive. She subtly counted thirty seconds before letting his hand go. 

"That was weird. I thought you're disgusted of physical contact with the opposite sex?" Aster whispered in her ear that she responded with a vengeful shrug. 

Aster raised one brow but lost interest to interrogate when the florist handed her bouquet. And she probably concluded there was no way Care would kiss and tell. 

They exited the shop. And to their utmost horror, men were swarming the area. All of them seemed ready to pounce on Care at once! 

Now that she rethinks her decisions, a sheltered life might be really destined for her!