Episode 5
1185 Words
Matteo's POV:
"I was eating when my dad suddenly appeared without warning, interrupting my meal with his demands,"
"Son, you must prepare a room for Aurora as she'll be moving in before we leave next week. Please make the room suitable for a teenager's taste. Seek your mom's help if necessary," Dad ordered as he suddenly appeared without warning.
"Dad, you can't just barge into my house and dictate what I should do. I'm not a kid anymore." I complained in frustration while eating.
"I don't care. Why are we not allowed to enter your Mansion freely? Why do we need to make an appointment just to see you?!" he angrily retorted.
"That's not what I meant, Dad. Oh God, never mind. Have you eaten? Come, join me for a meal. Mrs Jane, please bring some food and drinks for Dad," I instructed the maid.
"Nevermind, I'm already full. Just bring me some coffee," he said.
"I want Aurora to have a good impression of the welcome she receives here. Salvatore's daughter was not used to anything less than being beautiful. So, change your boring room into something vibrant that she'll like. Replace all the bedding and furniture if necessary. Repaint if needed. Give her a big and beautiful room," he said in a long speech.
"Are you kidding me, Dad? You want me to redo my room just for her?! Don't you forget that she's only staying here temporarily, not permanently?" I sighed, trying to control my irritation.
"Matteo! Don't be rude! We're talking about my friend's daughter here, not just any girl. Do as I say if you don't want me to report you to your mother!" he threatened.
"Oh, come on, Dad! You had to bring Mom into this again. And besides, she should be the one adjusting since she's just staying here with me!" I argued.
"You know, Matteo? You can't have a decent relationship because of your attitude. You don't know how to care for a woman," he said.
"And how did my personal life get dragged into this conversation, Dad? It has nothing to do with her," I complained.
As the conversation continued, my frustration with my father's demands and intrusion into his personal life became evident.
I couldn't understand why my father was so insistent on making everything perfect for Aurora, the daughter of his friend Salvatore.
He prioritized Aurora's comfort over his own, which seemed unfair.
I had always been an index person, and having my father suddenly come and dictate how I should arrange my room felt like a breach of my autonomy.
I wanted to be treated like an adult, capable of making decisions without my father's constant interference.
Moreover, during our argument, I couldn't comprehend why my father brought up my relationship history.
It seemed like a low blow, and I felt hurt by the accusation that my supposed inability to care for a woman was the reason for my unsuccessful relationships.
Throughout the conversation, it was clear that my father and I had different perspectives and clashed on various issues.
I valued my personal space and independence, while my father seemed more concerned about impressing their friend's daughter, Aurora, and maintaining appearances.
As the tension escalated, I tried to defend my position, emphasizing that Aurora's stay was temporary and, therefore, not worth rearranging his entire room.
I wanted my father to understand my point of view and respect my boundaries.
The conversation ended with unresolved tension between us, leaving both of us feeling frustrated and hurt by the exchange of words.
It remained to be seen how the situation would unfold as the story continued.
I had no choice but just to follow his wishes. I called my secretary to have the interior designer come and create designs for the bedroom.
After talking to my secretary, I took a deep breath and learned that the designer would be coming today. I didn't plan on going out anyway because I lost my appetite, so I continued eating while waiting.
As I sat alone at the dining table, I couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and resignation. I knew that arguing further with my father would only lead to more conflicts, so I decided to acquiesce to my father's demands and bring in the interior designer to revamp the room for Aurora.
The silence in the Mansion felt suffocating, and I found myself lost in my thoughts.
I remember how I enjoyed family gatherings and get-togethers, but everything has changed lately.
The tension between me and my father had been building up over time, and now it had reached a breaking point.
As I continued eating, my mind wandered back to my childhood memories.
I recalled how my parents used to be so loving and supportive, and I wondered where it all went wrong.
I longed for the days when we could talk openly and share our thoughts without arguments erupting.
While waiting for the designer to arrive, my mind was filled with conflicting emotions.
On the one hand, I wanted to assert my independence and have control over my own space.
On the other hand, I didn't want to disappoint my father or his family friend, Salvatore, by appearing inhospitable to Aurora.
As the interior designer finally arrived, I forced a smile and welcomed the person inside.
"So, nagustuhan mo ba ang ginawa ko?" the designer, Leyla, asked with an apparent attempt to be charming.
"Yes, it looks great. I'm planning to renovate the other rooms, or maybe even the whole house, if you're not too busy. And you can just call me Matteo, 'Sir' sounds too formal," I said with a smile.
"Sure, Matteo! Thank you so much for trusting me. I'm happy that you were so hands-on with the renovation. Who will be using this room? Your sister?" she inquired while patting my shoulder playfully.
"Yeah, my sister," I lied.
"I bet maganda sya tulad ng kapatid nya?," she said with a flirtatious grin.
"Do you want to have dinner here?" I invited her.
"Is that okay? Won't it be awkward?" she asked, still smiling.
"You deserve it. Mrs Jane, please prepare dinner by the poolside. We'll grill some meat there. Is the grill okay with you?" I asked Leyla.
"Of course! Anything is fine. It sounds delicious. It's a shame I don't have a swimsuit with me, or I'd love to go swimming," she said.
"Oh, don't worry. We have plenty here. My mother loves swimming, so she has a collection of swimsuits in one of the rooms, all brand new and unused. It became her hobby to buy many of them, just to look good for my father," I said with a hint of amusement.
"Really? So, you mean I'll look good in your eyes if I wear one of her swimsuits?" she joked.
"Hahaha, you are funny. But yes, you'll look even more beautiful if you wear Mama's swimsuit," I replied, playing with her banter.
Alam ko na may gusto sa akin si Leyla at hinayaan ko lang sya para ma divert ang atensyon ko sa iba.
- Writer
