Tale of Arcillana

Chapter 8

Cam’s Point of View:

Yesterday's been a tiring day. From a long trip up to the party. And I've been loaded of so much information. I think I am lucky because my head didn't explode despite having so much of it.

Today is another day. It is already eleven in the morning yet I don't have the plan to pull myself up from my bed. I need more time to rest. Even if I force myself to get up, seems like something is pulling me back to my bed.

I got one of my long pillows and hugged it tight. I loved being surrounded of soft and fluffy pillows. I can't sleep if I only have one or two. I always have five of it or more.

The party didn't last that late. I wasn't able to get back on the backyard immediately where the party was because my stomach aches. I stayed inside the comfort room for how many minutes and I am sweating even if the whole house have an aircon. I don't know what did I eat last night to cause my stomach ache. Or maybe because my stomach's been empty for how many hours so it aches when it was fed. I don't know, some would say that kind of explanation especially oldies.

After I get back to the venue last night, my grandfather is already giving his speech as a closing remarks. I wasn't able to hear everything he have said.

Right after the party ended, the first thing I did last night is to ask for my own phone. Gladly, dad gave me mine. I was so excited because I have the chance to update my friends in Manila.

I used the cellphone given to me by my father. Maybe I am not a genius or I don't have the skill and talent does my parents have when it comes to technologies but I am knowledgeable enough to check the specs of a cellphone.

The cellphone looks like an ordinary phone. But instead of an ordinary finger prints, passcodes and patterns, it has iris scanner used to unlock. My siblings who got the phone earlier than I do, this kind of unlocking was installed only in our devices while others have a regular ways of unlocking. Our parents wants us to be safe all the time that even our phones have to be secured. That's natural to parents to keep their children safe but given the setting we have, a concealed island and knowing our status in this island, from what I have observed last night, Montidalgo's are respected, who would dare to do things on us?

I'm a little bit disappointed last night in this phone. It doesn't have applications that I usually use like f*******:, Messenger, IG and etcera. However, it has an application that once again, only accessible to the people of Arcillana, the SoLife.

My brother, Vonn explained to me last night that this app is just like a combination of sss, Messenger and IG. I can post pictures, videos and status. They helped me in creating my account. My brother posted our family picture last night and tagged us all. After a while, I received notification of follows and hearts. I also explored the features of the app and it is very nice. It is a user friendly application.

I slept like three in the morning because after exploring the application and the phone itself, I dialed my friends number and we did call conference. Thanks God and it worked already. I don't know what to do anymore if I could not still reach them. The island has a lot of restriction from the outside. Aren't they feel being controlled or limited in this kind of situation?

My friends were very hesitant to answer the call last night. According to them, restricted number was appearing on their screen. Hannah is about to call her father because she's getting worry. That was the first time she received a restricted number as a caller. But when she answered the call, the tension she felt subsided and scream in the most annoying manner. They all did that and their voices really maximized the whole room. And because of their scream, I threw my phone on the matress. If I didn't do that, maybe I already have broken eardrums.

The three kept on talking in unison so I wasn't able to hear and understand them clearly. But one thing they had in common was that, they are all worried because I wasn't able to update where I was and what happened already. I wasn't able to called or even texted them. They are all worried because I didn't even gone online.

I told them the reason. I started to talk about Arcillana. I talked about the feeling of being touched by an invisible barrier. I talked about how beautiful Arcillana is when the night comes, how the place looks like so they can picture out since I am not allowed to send them pictures and I don't have the means. I also talked about the agreement, how the barrier blocked the signal from the outside, the party and everything but they didn't believe me. They even said that I could be a storyteller. But I wasn't kidding nor making up stories. What they knew that exists in the world of imagination is what they are hearing from me. But I let them remembered the topic we had during our last meet up. Eventually, they believed me.

And because I had a lot of things that I told them, we weren't able to notice that it's getting late already. Like super duper late. We slept at three o'clock in the morning. That is also why I woke up late today.

I automatically pulled myself up and turned towards the door when I felt a not soft but not so hard pillow at my back.

"Get up. It's late. It's already pass eleven Cam." I gave my brother a sharp look. I didn't noticed he already entered my room. I picked up the pillow my brother used on me and threw it to him but he just catches the pillow using his right hand.

"I'm still sleepy so please leave my room. I will sleep." I said and laid my back again.

"Aaaahhhhhhh... VONN ANDREW MONTIDALGO WHAT. THE. HELL. ARE. YOU. DOING?!!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs when he suddenly pulled my feet and dragged me down my bed. My brother never failed to annoy me.

"I told you to get up, didn't I?" He asked playfully. I gave him again another sharp look. I gathered my strength and kicked him hard with my right foot but he just dodged my attack by simply turning away from me.

What an asshole.

"I told you too! I am going to sleep more." I said. The scenario always goes like this when he is forcing me to get up especially that I still need to have some sleep.

"But it is lunch time already and we are going somewhere." I turned my head right away to my brother when I heard him saying that we are going somewhere.

"Where?" I said while raising my right eyebrow.

"Get up and fix yourself already so you will know. They are preparing the food, we are going to wait for you. Don't be late." He said and throws another throw pillow he got from my sofa.

I helped myself up right after my brother went out of my room. I used the shower and let myself under the pouring water for how many minutes before washing my body thoroughly.

I stayed in the bathroom for almost one hour. I just love the feeling of being touched by the water. It is refreshing. It makes me feel better and recharged.

I am walking around my walk in closet. I can't decide what I am going to wear today. I have here Dior, Channel, Celine, Gucci, Prada and other signature brands. I pulled one of the dresses and placed it in front of me and looked myself in the mirror. It is a long sleeved A line dress with a color combination of white and purple. I shook my head and returned it to where did I get it. I pulled another one and shook my head again. I pulled another one, and another one but ended up shaking my head. I almost throw the last one I pulled in frustration. Choosing what to wear sometimes really frustrates me especially if I don't know if it suits the place or occasion I am going to.

Before I could throw tantrums because I can't decide what to wear, I dialed my brother's number.

"Hey, aren't you going with us?" Bungad nito sakin.

"I will. I took a bath already. It was just I am having a hard time choosing what to wear so I called to ask you where are we going?" I asked and I just heard soft laughter.

"Very typical of you, my dear sister." He commented. I just rolled my eyes.

"Just spill it." I demanded.

"Nothing in particular. We are just going to stroll around the island." He said. I said okay and dropped the call.

I pulled what I think will suit for today's strolling and get changed. I went in front of the mirror. I got to see myself wearing black top, buttoned burgundy buttoned A-line skirt, ankle boots. Better.

When I get down, they are all in the dining area. We have here a 12 seater royal table where every utensil placed were made of gold. I think just plated.

"Are you planning to kill us for emptying our stomach?" My brother asked when I came near the dining table. I didn't know they are waiting. They can just eat if they want to.

"It is very important to eat together as a family, my dear. Some people out there doesn't have the chance to eat together with their whole family because they have to work so they can provide for their family's needs. They wanted to eat together but they are incomplete. We are given a chance to have our meals as a family so let us not disregard it." My grandfather lectured.

I lowered my head because I feel ashamed. I let them wait. I let the food wait. I asked for forgiveness and promised not to be late again. Back in Manila we don't usually eat together, as a family. The table always feel empty. It's always been I and the twins. Maybe sometimes when all of us finds our time and more on in special occasions. When there is no class, I woke up late and I am not eating breakfast with them. I always eat late. My brother is busy most of the time because of his work. Maybe he have a lock in taping or he goes home at dawn. And our parents, they are always busy with the business. There's a lot of business trip, seminars, gathering, visiting charity groups and many more.

"I'm sorry grandpa, I will be on time next time." I promised. He smiled at me and nodded his head. My grandmother leads the prayer before we could finally have our food.

While having our lunch, we have this little catch up. My brother talked about us and his career, letting our grandparents know. Every movies of him can be seen in here, he said. I just know that. But our grandparents doesn't have the chance to watch it because they are always busy. At their age, they are still working. They worked as part of the governing body of Arcillana, the Council of Arcillana. I am not surprised in this information because of the party. I can see it through how the guests looked up them, they were respected. The guests are also not your ordinary citizen of Arcillana. I bet some of them are also part of the governing body of the island.

"When are you planning to quit your job?" My grandfather asked. "We talked about it already." He reminded before he put the spoon in his mouth.

"Of course. I could still remember it and I am going to, not just today. I want to enjoy everything before I get busy with serious stuff. I might get older if I'd start today." My brother answered while chuckling. I suddenly become interested on what their conversation might be.

"I'm satisfied to hear that. I just want to remind you that me and your grandmother are not getting any younger. In any moment we are going to step down. Your parents can't quit their job just to be part of the council Vonn. What they are doing right now is very important to the island, to secure that Arcillana will still have more generations to witness. They are working not just for the four of you but for the future of every Arcillanian." My grandfather said. I stared him long after hearing him said that.

“The four of you,” he continued as he looked at us one by one. I swallowed my saliva because I am getting nervous. “Arcillana needs you more that anyone out there. You should devote yourselves to the island because this is where you come from. Aside from the hardwork of our family, the island gave you the chance of living your life right now.” He said.

I cannot help myself from staring at my grandfather after hearing those words while thinking, what can I do for Arcillana and its people?