Chapter 3
1935 Words
“So how's your first day, Princess?”
Dad asked. Curiosity was visible in his face. My parents are home today. They have free time for the time being. We're currently having dinner.
“You know what Dad, she's busy avoiding us. She ate at The Subsistence with her new-found friends. She didn't even say hi to us.”
Kuya Arzt is talkative to us, family. The Subsistence is the name of Tito Joseph's restaurant.
“You did that, Russia?”
Mom is dumbfounded. She knows that I’m everyone's youngest and I really love all of my cousins even though at times they're jerks.
“Mom, I just don't want people to meddle in my affairs. I know for sure that if others learn that I’m an Ocampo, they would use me as a leverage to be close to Kuya or my cousins. Because who wouldn't want to be close to Arzt, the genius future doctor? To the triplets, the young entrepreneurs in the field of food and beverage. To Paxton, the basketball team captain. And let's not forget Asia, who does modeling while a consistent top student in high school. Asia is even the most famous student now of the Fashion Designing Department of Secta. I’m really thankful that Kuya Neel and Ate Europe have already graduated or else I would be on more edge. Mom, it's hard to be associated with over-achievers.”
Kuya Neel is the triplet's older brother, the oldest of us all. He is an Electrical Engineer. We both had the same interest. We both got it from our Granddad, Dad’s father. When Kuya Neel was still a student, he was the captain of the soccer team. While Ate Europe is a Corporate Lawyer, she's Paxton and Asia’s older sister. She's the second oldest of us all. She was a Student Council President during her Political Science days. Then she became the unbeatable debate champion when she entered law school.
I told you my family would bring me unnecessary attention. Imagine being the youngest of them all, imagine being me.
“Says someone who ranks first out of all first-year students this year.”
Kuya won't really let me through easily.
“As if you didn't rank first as well seven years ago.”
The nerve of him to make it a big deal when he did it as well.
“But I didn't get a full scholarship.”
He nonchalantly says.
“And so?”
“Really? So? Dad, can you make her remember how big of a deal it is to be a full scholar at Secta?”
Dad laughed at me and Kuya. He shakes his head at our banter.
“Your Kuya is right, Russia. Since the foundation of Secta, you're the third person to be able to get a full scholarship.”
Fine, it is a big deal. I just don't want to be reminded.
I don't want to feel pressured, okay?
The very first person to be able to get a full scholarship is Lala, Dad’s mom. We call her Lala because once upon a time, when Kuya Neel had just learned to talk, he couldn't say the whole word Lola. Just the La and he would repeat it. And him being the firstborn, Lala then decided that she wanted her next grandchild to call her that.
Moving on, the second person to get a full scholarship is Tito Jovan. Tito Jovan is the father of Ate Europe, Kuya Paxton and Asia. He is a Software Engineer. Funny, right? All of us who got full scholarships are all Ocampo. It’s like every generation of our family, a scholar is produced.
“Fine! I shouldn’t exclude myself, as if my achievements are nothing. But others won’t know that I’m a full scholar until I graduate.”
It is our school’s tradition that on the day of graduation is the day that they’ll give an award to students who excelled.
“Who was at The Subsistence earlier?”
Dad asked.
“It’s Kuya with a date, the triplets and Kuya Paxton with his teammates.”
I winked at Kuya when I said that he was on a date. Hahaha, he frowned.
“I’m not on a date, okay? That’s just Nicole, my group mate in our research paper.”
“That’s all, Kuya? Nothing more? As if you were bringing someone who's just a group mate to The Subsistence.”
Mom and Dad are also looking at Kuya with teasing smiles.
“She is also a friend, but nothing more. Are we good, Princess? Did I already answer your question correctly?”
“You're such a buzzkill, Kuya. That Nicole is really beautiful, and she looks intelligent enough to me that she wouldn’t bore you for the rest of your life if you end up together.”
“Yeah, she’s pretty and smart. But she’s not my type. She’s really just a friend, okay?”
“Let’s not take a lead in your Kuya’s love life, okay? Give him that decision. By the way, your Dad and I are going to be celebrating our silver wedding anniversary in two months' time.”
“Yeah, it’s already August. What’s your plan Dad?”
Dad is always the one who plans their wedding anniversary celebration. He always surprises Mom every year, as hopelessly romantic as he is.
“Nah, we decided that this time both of us are going to plan for the celebration, since you know, it’s silver.”
“So Mom, what do you have in mind?”
All of us looked at Mom.
“I’m thinking of having a big party. It will also be a thanksgiving for all the blessings that our family received. We didn’t have a celebration party when the hospital was awarded.”
“Yeah, your Mom and I got quite busy after that to be able to throw a party. I think we should really have a big party this time. Are you the one going to look for an organizer, Love?”
I will always feel a ‘kilig’ every time I hear my parents call each other with their endearments.
Love.
“Yeah, I’ll start looking tomorrow. Maybe I’ll ask Andrea for recommendations.”
Tita Andrea is Tito Jovan’s wife. She’s an amazing Fashion Designer, hence Asia.
“Yeah Mom, since Tita Andrea always has a successful runway show, she knows a great organizer.”
“Can we ask Tita Andrea as well Mom to design our family's clothes for that night?”
“Calm down, both of you. Tomorrow, okay? I’ll message her, and maybe she’s busy preparing for her next runway show also.”
“Okay Mom.”
Kuya and I both answered Mom. Our dinner then ended. I just went to my room after our dinner to watch the new season of Game of Thrones. I still waited for the season to be completed before I watched it.
I was in the middle of episode 1 when I received a notification on my phone's messenger app. It was Red in our group chat.
Red: I'm feeling giddy not to tell a soul today that my crush was just a table away earlier.
Me: Who?
Red: One of the triplets.
Lily: Ocampo? Girl, you got taste! Care to tell us who specifically?
Me: Why?
Red: What do you mean why? All the men from that family are dreamy. They got looks, brains and money.
I really can’t get used to people simping over my Kuyas'. They look pretty normal to me. Or maybe I just got used to their faces.
The triplets are paternal, so they can easily be distinguished. The triplets and Kuya Neel are the sons of Tito Joseph. The triplets got the interest of their parents. Their Mom is a well-known chef. And Tito Joseph’s business is within the hospitality industry. He had hotels all over the country and The Subsistence. The restaurant has 7 overall branches. I think the 8th is currently under construction. I just don’t know how many branches their hotel has.
The triplets are Jeevan, Heilmittel and Matteo. Jeevan and Heilmittel are taking a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration while Matteo is a student for a Bachelor of Science in Hospital Management majoring in Culinary Entrepreneurship. They are partners in business. Those three are very secretive with their businesses. We are only aware of Teuf. It’s a bar where most of the rich kids in Metro Manila are chilling. It’s not over-crowded as it has a limit of 50 customers to be admitted inside. It’s kind of classy even though the wildness and fun is still there. How did I know? I used the ‘cousin’ card to enter Teuf.
Red: I tried so hard not to show it earlier, but damn, I want to make weird noises from delight.
Me: You still haven't told us who is among those three?
Red: Heilmittel. His serious appearance is intimidating, but when he smiles? Oh, Lord! Take me! But guys, don't tell anyone about this.
Lily: Whatever. But I'm curious as to who paid for our lunch?
Uh oh!
Red: Doesn't matter. I saw that everyone else on those special tables was their cousins with friends. Maybe they just forgot to exclude us when they paid.
Lily: That's plausible. Knowing them, they wouldn't notice other people easily unless one of their own.
Me: Are they really that famous?
I hope they'll forgive me when they learned that I'm an Ocampo as well.
Lily: Every student at our school knows the three generations of their family. There's only one who we don't know what looks like. Arzt's younger sister. She's well hidden from the spotlight.
Me: Okay? I'll sleep first guys. I'm already sleepy. Goodnight, bitches!
Call me guilty, but it's uncomfortable to continue that conversation. So everyone knows there is me, but they don’t know it’s me. My family is not overprotective, I just choose not to be in the limelight. I dread the day Red and Lily will know who I am. I would definitely not be unscathed from their wrath.
Will I ever keep myself disconnected from my family at Secta?
If you're wondering how I kept my identity earlier, well, it’s still just familiarization, remember? Plus, we don’t wear ID’s. We still have a school ID, but we only use it for attendance. How? Every professor has attendance tracker devices. We would scan the barcode for our ID to be marked present. During quizzes, we don’t use paper. The professor would also provide a tablet where the questionnaires are. Instead of putting our name, we would enter our student number. So we won’t know our classmates' names unless they tell us. Our school is unique, right? We’re almost digital. Oh! Don’t have the wrong idea, we can’t cheat even though it’s digital.
During quizzes and exams, the only things allowed on your table are the tablet and calculator if it’s Math and Physics. Our bags will be put inside our lockers, which are stationed outside our rooms. On the tablet, you're not allowed to exit the test. Once you close it, it will be interpreted that you're done already. Even if you just minimize it, it would automatically end your test. Cool, right? Thanks to our school’s Software Engineer.
I yawned. I’m really sleepy. I didn’t finish what I was watching, dang it. My eyes are closing. Before my mind traveled to dream land, a face crossed my mind.
The guy I saw in the parking lot earlier.
Why does his face strike me?
- Writer
