Chapter 3
1581 Words
Camille’s Point of View
I sat quietly at the far end of the long dining table in the mansion’s hall. Everything was in place—from the silverware to the white-flowered centerpiece. Mama and Papa were throwing a welcome dinner for Grandma and Grandpa, who just came home from Europe.
Everyone was here. Aunts, uncles, cousins—all dressed in formal wear, each lost in their own stories and conversations. But me? I stayed quiet.
“Camille,” Grandma called while scooping pancit onto her plate. “You’re twenty-six now, right, dear?”
I looked at her and gave a small smile.
“Hmm,” she added, “When are you getting married? Do you have someone to introduce to us?”
The whole table turned to look at me. I felt the pressure settle on my chest. As much as I wanted to tell them the truth, I couldn’t say it now. Not in front of them. Not in a setting like this.
I didn’t answer. I just took a piece of lumpiang shanghai and emptied my glass of water.
“Maybe Camille is prioritizing her career right now,” Papa chimed in. “She’s doing great at the university.”
“That’s right,” Mama agreed. “There’s no rush. Maybe she’s just hiding someone.”
They all laughed. Me? I just smiled.
While they kept laughing and chatting about business—real estate, hotels, new investments—I quietly slipped my hand under the table, pulled my phone out of my slacks pocket, and unlocked it.
I smiled when I saw her name in my recent chats. Eli.
I typed quickly:
“I miss you. What are you up to?”
It took her only a few seconds to reply. There was a picture—she was soaking wet, wearing an oversized shirt, holding the hose while bathing our golden retriever, Mochi.
“It’s bath time for Oreo! He’s being playful, but he’s sweet.”
Then another message followed:
“Who are you with there? Are your judgmental aunties bothering you again?”
I chuckled. Just the perfect thing to lift the weight off my chest.
I quickly covered my mouth to keep them from hearing me laugh. They were still deep in conversation about a new hotel investment in Tagaytay.
They had no idea that while they were seriously planning my future—marriage, business—I was happily staring at a picture of the woman I truly loved, playing with a wet dog on our lawn.
I held my phone, but it was my heart that felt heavier to hold.
If only they knew… that she was the answer to Grandma’s question.
I looked at Eli’s message again:
“Who are you with there? Are your judgmental aunties bothering you again?”
I smiled and replied while still staring down at my phone:
“Yeah, Grandma and Grandpa too. They want me to get married already. Save me.”
I added a laughing emoji, even though the stress felt all too real.
Just as I was about to take a bite, Grandpa suddenly spoke.
“Camille,” he said in a voice loud enough to silence the entire table. “Do you remember Mr. Navarro’s son? The lawyer? Polite, smart. I think you should get to know him.”
My hand froze midair. I couldn’t bring myself to take that bite.
All eyes were on me, waiting for a reaction.
I slowly set down my utensils and looked Grandpa straight in the eye.
“With all due respect, Grandpa,” I said in a calm but firm voice, “I’m not interested.”
Silence.
He raised an eyebrow at me, clearly displeased.
“Why not?” he asked directly. “Don’t you want a decent, respectable man?”
My hands clenched under the table. I knew they were waiting for an answer. But how could I tell them I wasn’t looking for a man?
I stayed quiet. I drank some water to mask the weight pressing against my chest.
Mama looked at me nervously. Papa tried to smile, but he clearly sensed the tension.
“It’s not that, Grandpa,” I said while playing with the food on my plate. “I’m still young. I want to enjoy life.”
The whole table stayed silent after Grandpa’s question. It was like everyone was holding their breath, waiting for what I would say next—but I had no strength left to speak. I just wanted to finish my food and leave.
Suddenly, someone shattered the silence.
“If she’s not interested, then drop it,” said a firm voice from the far end of the table.
Everyone turned. So did I.
It was Rae—two years older than me. She wore a black blazer, her hair was shorter than before, and it was clear she didn’t care about anyone’s judgment in this room.
“Why force her if she doesn’t want to? Just because she’s a woman doesn’t mean she has to want a man,” she added, looking directly at Grandpa.
Grandma’s face froze. Grandpa cleared his throat, clearly trying to contain his anger.
“You’re the rebellious one, Rae,” Grandma said coldly. “No respect for this family. That’s why you turned out the way you did.”
“Enough, Rae,” her mom—my aunt—cut in, pulling her back. “Don’t start again.”
But Rae didn’t back down. She stood up slightly, one hand resting on the table.
“You already took everything from me. The business. The name. The inheritance. All because I didn’t follow your idea of the ‘perfect daughter.’ Just because I fell in love with a woman.”
Silence filled the room.
I looked at her. Truth is, I’ve long wanted to speak out like she just did—but I didn’t have the same courage she had at this moment.
“If Camille’s not ready, respect that. Not everyone has the privilege to be true to themselves without losing everything.”
She walked away, leaving behind the cold and tense dining hall.
Grandpa and I made eye contact. He said nothing more. And me, I didn’t touch my food again.
But deep down, I smiled a little. Because somehow, someone stood up for me.
“Don’t disappoint me like she did, Camille. You know how I punish people,” Grandpa said coldly.
I nodded and gave a bitter smile.
After dinner, I didn’t say goodbye to anyone. I left quietly, carrying the weight in my chest. In the car, Grandpa’s question—and the cold look he gave me—played over and over in my mind.
“Why?”
I didn’t know if it was fear, guilt, or anger—but one thing was clear: I just wanted to go home. To Eli.
When I arrived home, it was already dark. I was welcomed by the sound of laughter—quiet, but full of joy.
As I opened the gate, my heart slowed at the sight before me: Eli, wearing just an oversized shirt, her hair still wet, laughing while our dog Oreo chased her across the garden.
“Oreo! Don’t bite me!” she yelled between laughs as she kneeled down to wipe the wet fur.
I stopped by the door. I didn’t say a word. I just watched them—watched the simple joy. The sound of laughter. The light on Eli’s face, unaware of how heavy my day had been.
I clutched the strap of my bag and swallowed hard. I felt a tear fall from my eye—but I quickly wiped it away.
“Why can’t it just be like this?” I whispered to myself. “Why do I have to choose between love and expectations?”
I slowly walked closer. Oreo noticed me and ran up right away, with Eli following.
“Oh! You’re home already, Mommy Camille!” she grinned, holding the towel she used to dry Oreo. She came close and kissed me on the forehead.
I gave her a small smile.
“You two look so happy,” I whispered, petting Oreo.
“Wanna join us?” she asked, still holding the towel, smiling like all she ever wanted was to make me happy.
I looked at her. And it hit me… while my family kept trying to force me into a world that wasn’t mine, Eli—at any hour, on any day—was the home I chose for myself.
“Are you okay, baby?” she asked gently.
I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tightly. I felt her hands wrap around my waist.
“What happened, Cam? Did they hurt you?” she asked tenderly.
I could feel her lips pressing softly on my forehead again and again. It felt so good—like all the pain from earlier just melted away.
“I just missed you,” I whispered.
“Well, I didn’t. Because every time I see Oreo, I’m reminded of you,” she teased.
I pulled away from the hug and pretended to punch her. “That hurts—”
Before I could finish, she was already running, and Oreo chased after her.
“Don’t even think about sleeping on the bed tonight, Janaya!” I yelled after her.
“What? But it’s Eli—”
“Well, I like calling you Janaya. Got a problem with that?” I shouted.
- Writer
