(English) Under His Spell

“Congrats, Lucey!” She happily went down the stage and hugged her friend Mauve Steffi or Mafi. She was still shocked upon receiving the award for the essay writing competition she had won in school. It was totally unexpected because she didn’t know much about the topic. The issue of politics bored her to death but she wanted to give it a try since their Political Science professor obliged the whole class to know if they learned anything from his class. She was taking up Integrated Marketing Communications in Miriam College. She was on her second year. Recieving awards were nothing new to her. She had been an achiever since she was a kid. She loved challenges and competition. After all, she would be the heiress to (Surname) Advertising Agency founded by her father (Name). “I want a hug, too,” Francesca said with a glee and completed their group hug. They’ve been friends since preschool and they were inseperable since. They also live in the same village in Marikina Heights. They’ve been together thought thick and thin. Mafi was a mind reader. She knew whatever’s going through her head even if she was not even conscious about it herself. Francesca is their clown and probably a bit weird. She wanted to be a fiction writer someday and make people laugh with her stories. She was a bit shy with other people. She only opened up to her close friends and family. While she was the brain of the group. She was the logical one who rarely used her emotion. That was why their group was balanced. Each one has their won strengths and compliment each other. “I am sure Uncle Fermin would be proud. You got another award,” Francesca said. The smile was lost on her lips. She averted her eyes and looked at the awardees of art competition being called on stage. She was allergic when it comes to topic about her Dad. Fermin (surname) was a workaholic who didn’t care much about his daughter. She thought he didn’t love her, even hated her for killing her mother when she gave birth to Lucy. Sure, he sent her to the best schools and she can buy whatever she wishes but his work was his life. Maybe he was doing his duty as his father because he had an image to protect. He was a public personality of a top ad agency after all. Lucy tried her best to be a good daughter. She did her best to be on top of her academics to please him but it seems that nothing could please him where she’s concerned. She didn’t know what else to do to make him happy. She was thinking of chugging some gasoline and breathing fire to impressed her father. She even considered walking over hot coals. “Look what you’ve done!” Mafi blamed Francesca and tapped her other friend’s forearm. Francesca covered her mouth with her hand when she realized her mistake. “I’m sorry, Lucey. That was thoughtless of me.” Lucey smiled sadly. “That’s okay. I know that Papa doesn’t care whether I win or lose. I am just doing it for myself, anyway.” Mafi anchored her arm on her. “Enough of the drama. We should celebrate our victory. How about cakes, cakes, and cakes?” Francesca shouted and pumped her hand. “Yes! I will finally get free food from you two.” Lucy got cash prize for winning the essay writing competition. Mafi won the Science Quiz Bee and got money from it as well. “We got you for now,” says Mafi. “But once you win best actress for playing Sisa, have to treat us as well.” Francesca was part of the school’s film festival where she would play Sisa, a mother who was a character on the classic novel Noli Me Trangere by Filipino nationla hero Dr. Jose Rizal. Sisa went crazy after her sons were killed by the head sacristan of the church and were nowhere to be found. “No way. I promised Ron that I would treat him out,” she said with a pout. There were two things important to her - food and her bestfriend Ron whom she had a huge crush on. Ron was older than them for a couple of years. “Fine. Then ask Ron to treat you out since he is your only best friend. Come on, Lucey. Let’s enjoy our victory,” Mafi said then made a face to Francesca after tugging her hand. “Just the two of us.” “Wait.” Lucey pulled her hand away. “Melvin will fetch me today. I will just text him.” Then she took her cellphone out of her bag. She was excited to inform herboyfriend about the news. Mafi’s eyebrow lefted at the mention of her boyfriend. “Don’t tell me that he will join us? You know that I don’t like your friend.” She sighed and stopped texting She didn’t know why Mafi doesn’t like her boyfriend. Melvin was the ideal oone. And he was the first guy who took an interest on her even if she was not the beauty queen or cheerleader type. He liked her for being the nerdy girl that she was, thick eyeglasses and all. Melvin (surname) was the son of her father’s best friend. He grew up in Australia but his parents went back to the Philippines. Melvin’s dad was her father’s partner. Melvin was four years older than her. He was tall and a bit lanky at first but he was starting to shape up. He had chinky eyes that always smile and made his face more welcoming. As if there was always sunshine even if it was rainy and gloomy. He was a good conversationalist and he listened to her ideas. He never thought she was petty and was hardly intimidated by her achievements. After all, he was an intelligent man and an achiever himself. He was a graduate of (Marketing) in Melbourn University. His degree didn’t deter him to rise among the ranks despite their fathers business partnership. He had proven his worth in such amount of time and he worked hard. For a year, she only admired him from afar. After all, she was just a teen nerd compared to the glamorous girls who went on a date with him. They became closer when she worked with him during her summer training. He was helpful and he listened to her ideas. He even incorporated her ideas in his proposals and she got a much deserved credit for it. He made her feel important and recognized, And she found someone who was not intimidated by her intellect. He asked her out on a date the moment she turned eighteen and her father gave his blessings. He made her feel beautiful and normal. He brought her to an amusement park on their first date. She never thought that she would enjoy the experience. In between cotton candies and pizza, he made her laugh so hard. It was her first date and it was perfect. Maybe it was his company that made her feel good. She got his full attention and his eyes never strayed to other girls. On their next date, he joined her in an author’s meet and greet. He didn’t mind if they had to be there before the mall opens. He even brought food for them so they could stay longer on the line. He let her sleep with her head on his shoulder while they were slumped on the floor, waiting for the gates for the event to open. She didn’t know that he read the book while she slept and had a book discussion with her while they waited for their turn. When Melvin became her boyfriend, her father approved. As if it was her first decision that made her father happy and made him smile. Well, there was nothing he could do about it even if he complained. She loved Melviin anyway. He became her world. He made her happy. “Don’t mind Mafi,” Francesca adviced Lucey. “She’s just jealous that you have a caring and handsome boyfriend while she had none.” Then Francesca stuck out her tounge like a kid. “I am not that shallow. Melvin is a friendship wrecker. Lucey don’t have much time for us anymore. It is always about Melvin this and Melvin that. When Melvin is around, they act like love birds and it makes us feel out of place,” Mafi explained. “Wait ‘til you have your own boyfriend and he becomes your world,” Lucey uttered and clasped her hands. Mafi’s forehead crinkled. “I don’t know, Lucey. I have nothing against your boyfriend but there is something off with him. He used to date a lot in Australia…” “So what? He is a changed man now. He is in love with me. His eyes never strayed to another girl when we are together. Please don’t judge a person’s past. You are the one who taught me that. He loves me and that’s what matter. If there is something you don’t like about him, make sure that your arguments are valid. Don’t give me that women’s intuition reasoning.” She was afraid of Mafi most of the time. Her women’s intuition and hunches were efective most of the time. As if her friend had a radar that detects a person’s secret personality or agenda. There wasn’t much explanation until it happens. Mafi rubbed her arms as if she had goosebumps. “I don’t know, Mafi. I hope I am wrong this time because I want you to be happy. Maybe I am just hungry. I didn’t mean to ruin everyone’s mood.” She forced a smile. “Just be nice to Melvin and we’ll be fine. Give him a chance.” “I will try,” Mafi answered then shrugged her shoulders. “Cool. Where do you want to eat so I can ask Melvin to follow us?” Lucey asked her friends. The wind blew strongly as they stepped out of the auditorium where the ceremony was conducted. Goosebumps formed on her skin. It was like something ominous was about to happen. She shook her head. No. She won’t ruin her happy day with some of Mafi’s silly intuition. Melvin loves her. And that was a fact.