Tangled In The Red String; Stay In The Red Zone

Chapter Five (The Relatives)

They might think that everything has to be perfect. Well, I don't blame them if they think that. Because it's true that everything should be perfect when it comes to my family.

Sometimes, it's hard to reach those standards. But when we arrived at the venue, they were amazed by the orderliness and grandeur of the surroundings. Everyone there was dressed formally; it was obvious that they had prepared in advance for this gathering.

It only meant one thing: my family had gained the respect that they've been working hard to achieve for years. It was a beautiful sight to see.

Neri's gaze met mine in alarm. I looked at her, and my lips parted when I saw her hand shaking.

It was the first time I had ever seen her tremble. Because even at our gigs, even unexpected ones, she doesn't get nervous. Just now, napapalunok niya na akong tiningnan. "Okay lang ba talaga suot namin? Baka out of place kami," nerbyos na tanong niya. Napakunot-noo ako at malamang pinasadahan siya ng tingin.

She was wearing a dark velvet corset dress with high-knee boots and carrying her guitar bag. I bit my lower lip and slowly nodded. Okay naman yung makeup niya. "You look good, Neri." I smiled at her. She didn't look so convinced, though.

With a deep sigh, she looked at the two boys who were busy looking at the entrance instead of worrying about their outfits or their appearance.

"I told you, bro, you should just dat—ughm, para naman makapasok ka sa family. Instant billionaire ka na." I heard Leon tell Marlon, who immediately shot him a glare.

Good thing they weren't nervous... well, except for Neri.

Should I have told her what the theme was? But I told them what kind of event this was, and I think her outfit is okay with me.

We were almost at the Red Carpet Entrance, but I still thought about Neri. I wanted to tell her that the dress she was wearing was really and totally splendid, the same as her makeup, but I couldn't. Maybe if I told her, she'd just get more nervous and wouldn't be able to perform well.

As I expected, there were already many reporters, journalists, and others who are in business with my family. On the red carpet, there were many camera flashes that were aimed at us.

I really tried to smile as much as I could so as not to look away from the cameras, while secretly keeping my eyes on my clubmates. I didn't want them to feel like they didn't belong here.

As much as I wanted to stay close to them, I couldn't.

Because once I was inside the venue, the first person to greet me was none other than my older sister Windy, who looked absolutely beautiful in her off-shoulder dress in rosy gold, her blonde hair falling loose.

Unang kita ko sa kanya nakaraan ay nakablack hair siya.

Pinaghandaan niya talaga ito. Sa likod niya naman ang isang matangkad na lalaki, mukhang striktong gwapo. That's Kuya Alucard, my Ate's boyfriend s***h fiancé for thirteen years; they'll be married this year. There is no specific time yet; I don't know why, but I didn't ask because it's for them to talk about. She immediately greeted me with a wide smile, causing me to flinch slightly before wrapping my arms around her.

"You're looking great! I'm glad you came; you haven't called me for weeks. Kailangan ako pa ang magchat sayo para magreply ka," she said the moment she finally let go of me, her voice laced with a softly scolding tone of voice.

I smiled slightly. "I'm sorry... I was busy with schoolwork and my music," I uttered, trying to make her understand, and yet I didn't find any other words to say. Ate Windy's eyebrows crossed with each other a little as she tilted her head a bit. And finally, she let out a deep sigh and nodded.

A small smile appeared on her lips as her hand raised a little to gently caress the top of my hair. "Fine. I'll let it slide. But remember, you still have to chat with me or update me on what you're doing, okay? Or kung hindi..." She gave me teasing eyes that made me giggle a little.

"I know, you're going to hire a spy to watch over me," I finished.

Tumango-tango siya. "Goods. At least you already know. Have you met your Ate Narrah?" she asked. Mabilis naman akong umiling at sekretong tumingin sa likod ko where my club mates were.

"Uhm, Ate." I cleared my throat a little and finally turned around to make her see my club mates. "They are my clubmates; this is Leon." I gestured at Leon with my hand, and that boy immediately smiled at my ate with an awed look on his face.

"Hello po, good evening." He took a step back, reaching out for my Ate's hand. My eyes widened a little in surprise. Is he planning to do a Mano? I bit my lower lip firmly, and yet before I could speak, Kuya Alucard was the one who received his hand and took it for a handshake.

"We're not that old. A handshake will be nice," Kuya Alucard said in a simple, neutral, flat tone where nothing could be traced in his voice.

Leon smiled embarrassingly as he slowly withdrew his hand.

"Oy, ano ka ba? Ka-club yan ng kapatid ko. Fix your tone." Inis na siniko naman ni Ate Windy si Kuya Alucard na napangiwi.

With a slight scowl on his face, he looked back at Leon. "My bad. Well... nice to meet you. And..." He looked at the others, waiting, so I immediately tried to find my voice.

"And this is Marlon, the second lead vocalist, and the guitarist is Neri... they're like my... friends in the Music Club, Kuya, Ate," I said, my voice slightly weakening at the word "friends."

"Friends?" Ate Windy looked incredibly pleased.

"Umm..." I looked at the three. Should I say yes or no? Or maybe I was just... well, assuming?

Neri didn't say a word because she was busy trying to look presentable secretly. The two boys immediately nodded. "Ay, opo! Mabait nga itong kaibigan si Divionna. Siya nga po nagturo sa akin mag-piano." Kumunot ang noo ko sa pagtataka. I taught him how to play the piano? I didn't remember any of it.

I gasped in realization. "Oh, it's a performance task... for PE..."

He smirked. "Yeah, but still you gave an effort to actually help me. Now, I'm familiar with it. Thanks to you."

I smiled a little. I am not the leader of the music club; it was the other students in Section A. I was presented to be the leader, but actually, I am not interested in becoming a leader. My only interest is really just to join the music club to be in a healthy music community.

Even though I wanted to join my club mates, I couldn't. Because when Ate Narrah arrived with her husband, I couldn't say no. Sister Narrah, who seems to never age, still looks like a goddess. She was wearing a white crystal dress; she looked so exquisitely beautiful with her smooth wavy black hair down. Beside her was her husband in a dark tailored suit with matching black trousers perfectly fitted to him. It was no other than Chase Dairon Sinclair with his hand wrapped around his wife's waist.

"I... I'll be singing on the stage with my club mates later," I said and pointed out the stage in the center.