Break me, Break me not

 “Miguela, green or magenta?” Eve delightfully made me choose from the two shoals that are on her both hands. She obviously wants me to choose magenta because her eyes are telling me to. “Why am I even asking you this? Anything looks good on you, right?” And as I expected, she wore me the magenta and fixed my hair. Ever since I was born, Eve has always been there by my side. She took care of me, loved me, and cared for me even more than my mother did. And now, as I face the next pages of my life, her engraved words in my mind will always be with me wherever I go. “Thank you so much, Eve.” She caressed my cheeks with her palm and gave me her sweet smile.  “Gracias, Miguela. I will always be here for you.” With a knock on my door, Dad came in as he fakes his coughing.  “Uhm,… I would like to prevent you two from crying again.” The three of us laughed and it helped me stop my tears from falling down. Oh papa, always a savior. He stood in front of me wearing his navy blue tuxedo as he scans my dress with arms crossed. I see something forming from his eyes and I know it’s the same thing I’ve been trying to stop from falling. “Oh papa, you just prevented me and Eve from crying. Stop it.” He chuckled and turned his back from me. There I heard him sob continuously. Eve gave him tissues to wipe his tears and all I could do was to watch him from behind then smile. He’s been through a lot and finally, I could just return the favor to him. “Papa…” I called him softly. “I’m sorry, darling. You just look beautiful like your mom.” “And I look very handsome just like you…”  My brother, Isaac, then entered my room and shouldered my Dad to comfort him. “But I don’t cry like that.” And my room was filled with laughter again, but louder this time. We all looked at each other and felt the joy that this night is giving us. I see Eve’s joy, Dad’s love and Isaac’s pride on me. How I wish a night like this would never end. But don’t worry, it still haven’t started yet. There is more to celebrate for this night and I can’t wait to do it. So the three of us went down stairs to celebrate the main event of this evening and that is my Congratulatory –slash- Graduation party. Too much for that? Nah. Nothing’s too much for me; not if it’s from my family. I went straight to my friends Kyle, Zaffiel, and Vanessa who seems to be already enjoying the night without me. If I were a business minded person like my parents, I’d be seeing these three as my billionaire partners. But unlike my parents, I value friendship more. “Uhuh, here she comes!” Vanessa gave me very tight hug, not minding the vodka she’s holding. I hugged her back and laughed. “You know, I ranked higher than you but I didn’t get anything like this.” Zaffiel scoffed as he came up with his drama again. Kyle, Vanessa and I, looked at him drastically to let him know how awful sounded. “Well, said this millions of times but, uhm, congratulations. You did it Miggy, or shall I say we all did it?” As he uses his favorite nickname for me, Kyle offered a toast and the rest of us did it. There’s nothing much I could wish for for this night except an ending. How I wish this goes for eternity, but no. It won’t. The lights deemed and there entered the MC for tonight, Leah. With her stunning dress, she took away the crowd and held the microphone confidently. Everyone is so focused at her but I know not for long. The star of the night will then be introduced by Leah and she knows exactly how. “Good evening everyone. I am Leah and I will be your host for this wonderful night. We are here gathered to celebrate an achievement by one of Alpha Co.’s treasures, the daughter of Roman and Ysabelle Cohen, the ACE of Starling High and the star of the night, let’s give it up for Miguela Irene T. Cohen!” The crowd applauds looking at me and so I lifted my wine glass then smiled. I placed down my glass and faced my friends. “Nah-ah. You don’t need to ask what you look like. Just go and rule the night…” Said Vanessa then the four of us smiled at each other as I made my way towards the stage. My success is theirs as well and I know they’ve got my back wherever I go. As I reached the stage and the spotlight is running up and down through my face, I took a deep breath and held the microphone in front of me. There, I saw dozens of people looking at me, whispering, talking, smiling, and of course, judging me. But this night is all about me, not them. I cleared my throat and the background music stopped. “I’d like to greet a pleasant evening to everyone who came to celebrate this night with me and my loved ones. This night is as precious as my mom’s dress, who by the way, flew to France just to get that gown.” Finally got the crowd laughing instead of murmuring. “I am very much thankful to everyone who has been an eye witness to all of my sacrifices, pain, passion, happiness and everything that this success is made of. Not to mention my friends who’s been there since the beginning of everything in my life. My parents who stood as my mentors, giving me the knowledge that I need and deserve, I love you. And of course, to my dear brother Isaac, I love you so much and thank you for surviving the storms that I’ve caused.” Now, I just said something that made the crowd go awe. But now, it’s time to break their smiles.  Leah left the stage as I gave her the look that she understands. The crowd gave me more attention than a while ago and so I decided to give them something more. “But I’d like to break it for you. I am not standing here to confirm my position in our company, if that’s what you’re all waiting for. I am not to take any position from our company and my father is to stay as the CEO of it. That’s all, enjoy!” With my bitter sweet smile, I left the stage with the audience’s glaring eyes focused on me. I immediately went to my parents and there I saw the proudness in their eyes. I know they’re happy for what I’ve said and done even if there’s a horde of protestors trying to storm in inside our venue. Dad stroked down his hands on my hair and mom caressed my cheeks with hers. I won’t do any harm to my family, never. I kissed them both on their cheeks and went back to my friends. “Now now, Ms. Revealer-of-it-all, I thought that was to be announced on your birthday?” I raised my eyebrows at Zaffiel. “Since when did I not like to surprise?” Kyle chuckled with my response and he gave me a glass of vodka. The four of us had a toast and talked like never before. The number of visitors started to grow bigger. A lot more are entering the hall; some are VIPs and some are family friends. What I don’t get is why my father seems to be talking with a family that doesn’t really look familiar to me. And if he was to meet new business partners, we’d be meeting them every dinner at the headquarters. But now, these people seem to be new in this place and in this industry. And based on my mom’s face, they are not that pleasant enough. Should I barge in? Cut their conversation and bring her to her friends? Because I see that dad is making his way to feel comfortable with this people, unlike mom. So, should I? “No, No, No. Don’t even think about it.” Kyle looked at me with a full focus on his eyes. I shrugged, “What?” He sighed and stood beside me. “Your mom is doing okay. Just stay here and watch them kick it. Besides, what makes you think that those people are not going to burn you down with their hot questions? After what you said up there, everyone is going after you.” I thought about what he said and did realize that I might make the crowd go wild. So I should just have fun and stick with my friends, unless my dad calls me to be with him. But I hope not. It started to feel cold inside the venue but people still aren’t leaving or what. I don’t know what else is going to happen aside from continuous interviews with me and my brother. I probably think they want my brother because he’s freaking attractive or maybe it’s me that they want because I made another controversy. I don’t know but Kyle’s family will surely take care of it so it doesn’t really bother me at all. What bothers me is that my dad is still talking to those people while my mom seemed to have had enough with those unfamiliar faces. Dad has my uncle with him, talking along with those people and I still can’t understand what’s with their conversation. “Miggy, c’mon. There’s a little fun out there.” Kyle took my vodka and gave it to the waiter. The four of us saw our batch mates that we invited for tonight, half of it are not invited though. Most of them brought some good-looking strangers—I mean their boyfriends wearing good-looking clothes. Hypocrites, I gotta say. Yet some of them are descent enough to bring their parents who sold partnership with our company. Now these are the people that I invited. “Irene, what a dazzling night you got here. I am very thankful that you invited us.” Mrs. Philip had a cheek-to-cheek kiss with me and her daughter gave me her sweet smile. Reese, the Oh-so-obsessive fan of Kyle. No wonder she wore the same color of my dress. “Reese…” “Irene…” It wasn’t only me who noticed the awkwardness and silence that we had. Kyle moved a muscle, Zaffiel faked a cough and Vanessa flipped her hair. Everyone knew what was going on which has actually been the biggest drama ever in my high school life. I really have no time to tell you how it all happened but I’m guessing that Reese is still not over it especially that I’m killing her every time I’m with Kyle. Don’t get me wrong, I have no feelings for Kyle. We’ve been together longer than any other stupid relationships that these hypocrites had and I am not into any competitions. Besides, Reese already lost since the day we were born. “Uhm, girls? Let’s try to meet Irene’s mom, okay? Come one, let’s get inside” Oh how is this girl so messed up when her mom is such an art? She’s just so sweet unlike Reese who’s face is as bitter as her life. I went on trying to please Mrs. Philip while I imagine stabbing her daughter in the back. Don’t worry, I’m no murderer. So we all went inside, with the hypocrites of course, and I had no choice but to introduce them to mom. Like I have a choice? My image is the only reputation that matter in my family right now. I gotta look good, nice, kind, which I actually am so I am not bothered at all. “Mom, meet our batch mates and their parents.” Mom gave them that sarcastic smile that only I could see. I see how her eyes flinched when one of the hypocrites shook hands with her and I know how much she hates it right now. She’s my mom and I’m not her daughter for anything. I think I got that from her though. “It’s really nice to meet the people that made my daughter and her friends’ high school very memorable.” Mom said. “Oh that’s nothing Mrs. Cohe---“ “But I’m pretty sure you’re not invited.” Casey, our student body president, was cut off with her words by my mom. She stared at her like a suspect pleading guilty. All that I and Vanessa could do was to secretly smirk and pretend like we were also surprised. Casey, for all I know, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Yang, the ones who betrayed our company 5 years ago. Now look at where she is. Standing in front of her really makes me, my mom and my friends, sick. But I gotta say that our plan worked. She really thought that our family’s feud is already over but not really. And inviting her here was the whole plan. “Irene, what is th---“ “I never said you were invited; I just asked you if you want to go. And you know that’s not how I invite people.” I see how Kyle started to react again. He just so hates how I make things awkward but he also knows that I hate it when he hates it. So, there’s nothing for him to actually do but sigh and sigh for a couple of times. “I am not so interested in your family’s life but I wish you success. My parents may be the traitors here, but you are the villains. I just hope that people would find out.” Mom got up from her feet after Casey’s statement and nothing else were to fill the place but awkwardness and tension. I felt how like my mom would get out of control so instead of enjoying how badass she is, I stood beside her and held her hand. Casey smirked as she saw me worrying how other visitors would see this scene. But my friends aren’t as lazy as hers. “I’d be going now if I were you, Casey…”  With Vanessa whispering to her ear, Casey took a step back then started to walk away. Some of the visitors got their attention on us but mom is professional enough to handle it and went straight to them. She acted like nothing happened at all with her smile so freaking big. Boy, how I wish to be like her one day. “You do know you almost lost a party?” “Casey’s got like 2 million followers on i********: I think?” “Her mom will surely know about this---“ I coughed so loud that the four of them forgot their grace. Not that I’m mad or anything, but I actually see them siding with Casey this time and it’s annoying me a lot. “Ire…what’s wrong?” I rolled my eyes and went back to our table that is now full of flowers. Did I.…die or something? There roses, sunflowers, daisies, and other flowers who seem to be fragrant, yeah. But I have no plans of taking them because who knows? There might be some secret cameras or hidden bombs in it. That’s how dedicated our haters are so I am not risking my time with these flowers. I signaled a waiter to get the flowers and throw them into the trash. Vanessa stopped the waiter and took one of the daisies with her; it’s her favorite flower, that’s why. “I threw it away for my safety and you took one of ‘em?” “I love daisies…” Zaffiel took the daisies and examined it like he’s some kind of detector but Vanessa grabbed it back. The night is starting to bore me but Zaffiel isn’t running out of energy. After dancing at the dance floor, he took a wine from the bar, flirted with the VIPs and of course, he went outside to drive the press crazy. My father ordered his guards to take Zaffiel inside the hotel and gave me this look of terror. It’s not like I can control Zaffiel the way I control my dogs. “So he’s not going home again?” Vanessa looked at me from her phone and then at Kyle. We just both shrugged. “You know him. NOT going home is his hobby.” Kyle sipped his wine. The lights dimmed and the host came running to the stage. With fear on her face, she held the microphone and shocked the entire venue. “Uhm…to our dear guests, we really need your cooperation to evacuate the venue as soon as possible. No questions will be answered for now but it would be best for us to just evacuate first and the rest will be announced. Okay?”   Our guards immediately took us from our seat and even before I could realize, I am already inside my van with them. Kyle was on his phone talking to his mom while Vanessa was talking with her sister. Well, do I also need to talk to someone? My parents aren’t here, my siblings aren’t here so who do I talk to? Nah, no one I guess. “Are we ready to go, kids?” “Bob, Zaffiel is still inside. If this is something to worry about we need to get him.” Without looking at us, Bob said “He’s good. This is nothing to worry about; I just think the hotel has a situation here.” Kyle sighed. We all know how reckless Zaffiel could be and him staying alone in hotel that’s got a situation is something just messier. After a trip back to our house, I fell asleep on Vanessa’s shoulders while she got her head leaning on the window. I sat straight and realized that Kyle did not fall asleep. He’s back again to scrolling up and down with his phone and all I could do was stare at the window on his side. Rain drops are pouring and the street lights are making me want to sleep again. I leaned back my head on Vanessa’s shoulders. “Was I evil?” Kyle stopped from scrolling but he did not look at me. I continued to talk because I know he’d listen. “She deserved it, you know. If you only saw how my mom cried for what her parents did, you could’ve done the same thing.” My eyes are struggling from holding my tears but I couldn’t stop it anymore, especially after what Kyle replied. “She’s the child, Miggy. You know as much as I do that she’s innocent unlike her parents.” My tears overflowed and my eyes closed. I was innocent too; raised and born to be an heir. But why is her life different than mine? “Miggy—“ “I am also just the child of my parents, Kyle. Like Casey, I was innocent but not like Casey people hate me. And you know as much as I do how my life is different than hers.” I sniffed and controlled my sob before I wake Vanessa up. I don’t know how Kyle reacted but I want to make him hate his self for siding Casey instead of me. For all I know, he’s been trying to be her friend since elementary. “We’re here.” Bob stopped the car and opened the door for us. I woke Vanessa up while Kyle waited for outside. “We’re here? Am I home?” Vanessa woke up like a baby looking for a mommy. I gave her water and handed her phone. “You’re going home tomorrow. I called auntie and she told me you should stay here first.” I went outside and wiped a tear left on my cheek. Kyle stood in front me trying to help me stand. I moved away. “Help Vanessa out, she feels dizzy.” I left him and went straight to the garden. I need air. I wouldn’t want my parents to see me crying after an event for me. They’d definitely think I’m pretty much absurd for crying after all of these things for me. That’s just so pathetic of me. I took off my shoes, my accessories and lie down on one of the benches. You did good today, Miguela Irene. YOU. DID. GOOD. “You did good today, Miggy.” I sighed for what Kyle said. He does know I don’t want my drama being interrupted. “Go away.” “I can’t.” I stood up and saw him walking towards me with my favorite ice cream. If he were a stranger, I could have yelled. “Vans is sleeping, she’s just too tired. Then I saw this ice cream in your fridge.” He opened the cap and started eating. He looked at me and tried to feed me with his spoon but I lied back down. “Miggy, I’m sorry okay? I---I just feel sorry for her. You know…she’s Casey, that lonely smart shy Casey.” I still did not speak and I’m not planning to. I want him to feel guilty from his bones to his soul because he needs to be! “But you’re Miguela Irene, that strong, confident, smart, brave and everything Miguela Irene. No Casey should ever make you feel that way.” Well, that’s relaxing because for the first time tonight, I feel like smiling. And just as I was about to smile, he already had the spoon on my lips. I got no choice but to eat the ice cream that covered my wonderful lips. What a jerk. “I think this ice cream just saved me…” I chuckled with what he said then I replied back. “Miggy is okay when it’s from you. Others calling me Miggy? Nah-uh.” I then ate the ice cream on his spoon and went back on lying down. “Don’t worry, Miggy is only for me.” I don’t want to be pathetic and think that it has a different meaning. He’s Kyle, I’m Irene. For us, there’s always no meaning in everything. I closed my eyes to feel the cold and relaxing breeze of the night. The sound of the leaves falling sounded even better when Kyle started to sing out of nowhere. “I’d spend 10,000 hours and 10,000 more oh, if that’s what it takes to learn that sweet heart of yours. And I might never get there but I’m gonna try. If it’s 10,000 hours or the rest of my life, I’m gonna love y---“ “Irene!” WOW. What a great timing, people. I stood up to see who interrupted Kyle’s relaxing voice and there I saw my dad. Do I yell and everything or do I just stand up and walk to him? Yeah….that’s right. Stand up and walk to him, Irene. I wouldn’t want to destroy my night that just got fixed. “You should at least let me finish…” Kyle whispered and followed me as I walk to the kitchen’s glass door. He took my shoes that I left on the floor and my accessories as well while I walked straight to dad but to my surprise, he’s standing with somebody else. “Uhm…Dad?” Dad chuckled and tapped the shoulder of the guy beside him. He looked surprised but smiled when we saw each other’s eyes. Well I gotta say, those are one dazzling eyes but not as good as mine but what the heck?! Why am I judging some stranger’s eyes? “Dad, who is thi---“ “Honey, I want you to meet Lucas Rey. The son of Riley and Jane, remember? The one they’ve been talking about?” I examined the guy’s face and based on what I see, he’s much more interested in our house than me. Kyle stood beside me and smiled at Dad who’s got an unsatisfied look when he saw him. “Kyle, I’m expecting you to go home toni---“ “This must be very important, Dad? You brought a guy in our house this late?” I cut him off with his words for I know that he’d be ordering Kyle to go home. He does this whenever there’s something to talk about, something to worry about and something to…announce. Well right now, I’m in no condition to mind those things of his. I want to sleep and none of my friends are leaving. “I’ll go check Vans…” Kyle was about to leave and I was too but Dad goes again with his fake cough so I stopped from leaving. “He is, Irene.” I was confused. What’s he talking about? He is what? “He is….important.”