Russia Ocampo and her choice

Chapter 6

After eating, Mom and Dad called me to socialize with their business partners and friends in the corporate world. Kuya had already met them when I was still in Negros. That’s why it’s just me who my parents are introducing.

My jaw was starting to ache from non-stop smiling. Daddy said that the next one would be the last. It’s a couple that I think are in their late 40s or early 50s. Beside the couple is Tristan, who’s standing still like a good son. I want to laugh at him, you’d really think that he's the most decent person with his demeanor right now.

I was right, they are his parents. It’s also his parents that Dad had a meeting with last time, when we first met at Teuf. I learned that they are the owners of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the country.

Rich kid and a flirt.

“You're such a beautiful young lady. And I heard you're super smart as well. Your future boyfriend will be so lucky, or is there one already?”

I accepted his father’s hand to shake hands.

“Uhm, I don’t have a boyfriend. I have lots of gatekeepers.”

His father laughed at what I said. I also greeted his mother. His Mom is so beautiful, no exaggeration. His parents then introduced him to my parents. He shook Dad’s hand and greeted my Mom as well.

Pretending to be a well-behaved person, huh?

“You’re so handsome, Iho. You got your Mom’s appearance.”

Mom said to Tristan. True, he looks like his Mom. Our parents were about to introduce us to each other, but I told them that I already knew Tristan.

“How did you know each other, Iha?”

“He’s Kuya Paxton’s teammate, Tito. Paxton is one of my cousins.”

“So you’re playing basketball, Iho?”

Dad asked Tristan. I really want to laugh at Tristan for his acting right now.

“Yes Tito, but I’m not as good as Paxton.”

In my peripheral vision, I saw Asia waving at me to come to her. I excused myself to go to Asia because I saw that she was kind of panicking.

“What’s wrong?”

I asked as soon as I got near her.

“Trouble. The Santos brothers are here.”

“Where’s Kuya Arzt and Kuya Neel?”

“That’s the problem, they are fighting outside.”

The Santos family are one of Granddad’s business partners. The brothers, Leo and Lay, are the grandsons of that partner. Leo, the older one, used to be Kuya Neel’s classmate and friend, while Lay is Kuya Arzt's rival in high school or that's what he’s been telling people. He's not even smart to begin with.

“Do you need help?”

I didn't know Tristan went after me.

“Yes, can you ask Kuya Paxton to tell the rest of our cousins to go outside? Just tell him Santos, Kuya Arzt and Kuya Neel. He’ll know what I mean. Thank you.”

After I said that to Tristan, I pulled Asia outside so we could go where Kuya Arzt and Kuya Neel are. We saw them as soon as we got out of the party. The four men are still exchanging punches.

This is bad, so bad.

Before I could even walk to stop them, Kuya Arzt threw another punch at Lay.

That looks freaking painful.

I heard the footsteps of others. My other male cousins are the ones who stopped the brawl. And I stood between the two groups. I faced the Santos brothers.

“I need you to leave.”

I told them firmly. My face is void of emotions.

“And why would we do that? You are being rude to us, we are your grandfather’s guests.”

Leo responded while seething with anger. He’s trying to free himself from Kuya Paxton’s firm grip on him.

“And this is my parent’s party. I don’t care who’s guests are you but I need you to leave while I’m still asking nicely. And don’t try to act like your usual troublemaker selves in front of me if you can’t even make Paxton let go.”

This time I let my face show him how mad I am. I smirked at him and I put my face closer to his and whispered.

“You know, Paxton is way weaker than me and the triplets. If you want proof, I can give it to you.”

I took steps backward, removed my heels and held the hem of my dress. I signaled Paxton to let Leo go. I then kicked him in the forehead. If Paxton had not been standing behind him maybe he had fallen down. I had hardly kicked him.

“Now, will you leave or do you want a broken rib?”

I feel like I have a murderous aura right now. I’m always like this if I’m super mad, even Kuya Arzt or any of my cousins are terrified of me if I’m like this. They hurriedly walked away from us. I took a deep breath then wore my heels again. When I was done, I faced the other two.

“Please tell me you're wearing shorts under your dress.”

Kuya Arzt also took a deep breath.

“Yes, I’m wearing shorts. Now, tell me why the two of you resorted to violence?”

He looked away. He keeps his mouth shut.

“I’m sorry, Princess. I’m too mad to say it. I need to cool myself down.”

“Okay fine, before you leave, tell our parents that you’re leaving so they won’t worry, and I’m sure they’ll eventually learn what happened tonight.”

He nodded, he kissed my head, then went back inside to do what I told him.

I redirected my attention to Kuya Neel. His back is facing me. I see how he’s breathing in and out deeply. It’s his way of stopping himself from punching anyone else. Is he that mad?

What the hell happened before I arrived?

“What about you, Kuya Neel? You can’t also tell me what happened?”

I held Kuya Neel’s shoulder and turned him around forcefully so he could face me.

“I’m leaving. I also need to calm myself.”

“Look at me first.”

He still wouldn’t budge, instead he took a step forward.

“Listen to me, dammit. When I say, 'Look at me first, then look at me first.'”

My voice was louder and firmer. He realized how mad I was. That's why he finally looked at me. I looked at his eyes intently.

“What?”

He’s getting uncomfortable with my stares.

“You can now go, Kuya Neel. I just want to make sure that you’re not mad enough to cause a road rage.”

He immediately walked towards the valet and drove away when his car arrived. I took another deep breath and breathed it out before facing Asia and the rest.

“Now Asia, tell us what happened before you called me.”

All eyes are now on Asia.

“I had just finished answering a call and was about to go back inside when I saw the Santos brothers go near Kuya Neel and Kuya Arzt. Kuya Neel asks them what they want. And that stupid Leo said, ‘there’s nothing a bastard could offer to us that would satisfy us because, after all, Kuya Neel is Tito Joseph’s bastard.’”

All of us cursed at the same time. There’s a secret behind Kuya Neel’s birth. It was not Tita Angeline who gave birth to him. He was Tito Joseph’s son before he got together with Tita Angeline.

Tito Joseph had a girlfriend when he was still in college. According to our parents, they were too in love to be rational. They wanted to get married as soon as they graduated. When Tito Joseph told Lala and Granddad about their plan, Granddad firmly opposed it. Dejected, Tito Joseph went with his girlfriend’s plan. His girlfriend thought that if she got pregnant, Granddad couldn’t say no anymore. But Granddad is more stubborn than them, and still said no because he doesn’t like Tito Joseph’s girlfriend. She kinda looks like a gold-digger according to Granddad. And actually, Granddad was right, they had learned that the woman's family was in debt. We’re still kind of thankful that the woman didn’t think of aborting Kuya Neel.

Actually, Tita Angeline and Tito Joseph's marriage is an arranged one. To redeem himself to Granddad, Tito Joseph agreed to the marriage. While Tita Angeline is secretly in love with Tito Joseph. So when her parents told her that she was going to marry Tito Joseph, she immediately agreed. She even accepted and treated Kuya Neel like her own. She even registered Kuya Neel as her son. That's why other people didn't know the truth behind Kuya Neel’s identity. No one made Kuya Neel feel like he didn't belong to the family, not even the triplets. We look up to him for who he is.

“What else happened?”

Ate Europe is the one who asked Asia this time. She’s the calmest among us. Me and the guys’ hands are now formed in a fist.

“Kuya Arzt was about to react, but Kuya Neel stopped him, saying that they shouldn't stoop down to their level. And then the intellectually challenged Lay said something as well.”

“What did that monkey say?”

I feel my blood boiling. Based on Asia’s voice, what Lay said is worse than what his brother said first. Asia looked at me before answering my question.

“Actually, you can let us have a taste of Russia. We will be gentle with her so that at least someone who got your grandfather’s face won’t go to waste.”

Asia imitated Lay’s expression and way of saying it. And to be honest? The smugness is making my blood boil more.

I should have kicked Lay as well.

“When I heard what Lay said, I ran back inside to call you.”

I heard Heilmittel punch the pillar near him. Asia went to him to see if his hand was bleeding.

My mind went blank. I’m not mad because they insulted me. I'm mad because why did they say it to those two? They should have said those words to me directly. No wonder they’re that mad.

I even heard Paxton and the triplets leave to calm themselves too. They asked Ate Europe for permission to leave, and Ate Europe let them. Asia went back inside to tell our parents that the boys had left.

“Are you okay, Russia?”

Ate Europe asked me while rubbing my back. I’m hyperventilating because of holding my anger without me realizing it. I looked at her. I wasn’t able to hold it in anymore and cried to her. All I can think about is how to comfort those two older brothers of mine. I should have come with the triplets. I knew they would go shoot. That's how they calm themselves when they can’t contain their anger, when they feel like killing someone. They would go to a shooting range.

When I calmed down, I wiped my tears and composed myself.

“Ate Europe, can I ask you to prepare if ever the Santos’ would want to sue us?”

“That's what I'm here for. I won't allow any of you to have a record. Not for something that’s not even our fault. Can I leave you here for the time being? Calm yourself first before going back inside. Tito Marvin and Tita Jasmine might panic if they see you like this.”

I just nodded at her, then she went back inside. I just breathe in and out to calm myself.