Rebel Hearts

Three: Replacement

Three: Replacement

Looking at the calendar above my table, it was my brother’s hospital admission monthsary. He was in there for three months now. I heard there was no improvement recorded after our visit last month. He remained in deep sleep.

I sighed as stress started building up once again. My parents are coming home today. My grandmother is coming with them. The house is being prepared for their arrival. My grandmother’s presence makes everyone anxious including me. No one is comfortable around her.

Alicia Dy or ahma is my paternal grandmother. Alicia is known for her incredible business management skills. Both of my grandparents have incredible prowess when it comes to business managing. It was a skill inherited by my father and his siblings.

Both of them reside in Singapore but Ahma likes to frequently visit the Philippines because of her children and grandchildren. While ahma is busy traveling to and fro, ang kong rarely visits us. He was busy handling the remaining business in Singapore and China.

I breathed deeply and gazed at the pieces of jewelry laid on the table in front of me. Earrings and rings laid perfectly in front of me.

My schedules were pushed back because of familial engagement. I had Carla inside my room to help me get ready for lunch. I was told they would arrive sooner or later at lunch.

“These rose gold pearls look pretty on you,” Carla smiled while pointing at the rose gold pearl earrings.

“I feel sick. Can I skip lunch?” I groaned and massaged my forehead.

Ever since yesterday, my head has been acting up. The headaches were bearable but uncomfortable. I had our family doctor visit yesterday and she said proper rest is all I need.

“You know you can’t,” Carla sighed and started picking up the rose gold earrings. She helped me put them on. I looked in the mirror and saw the classic beauty adorning my ears.

In our family, it was a long-lived tradition to put on earrings every day. I honestly think it was all just a status symbol but ahma wanted all females to follow that certain tradition. We don’t have a choice but to follow her wants.

Carla pulled out a beige dress from the walk-in closet. I picked pure white flats to go with the dress. She had my hair in a loose braid hanging down my back.

“Your aunties and uncles are also invited,” she said while fixing the few strands of hair around my face.

“I see,” I nodded gently. I expected that to happen. I already have an idea what the agenda is for lunch.

A knock sounded on the door followed by a tiny whisper of a maid telling us to come down the living room immediately. We went outside to greet them. I stood quietly in the living room as I wait for them to come inside.

When I saw my parents and uncles, I flashed them a sweet smile. They nodded at me and quickly proceeded to the dining hall. My parents went straight to me. They smiled gently before hugging me.

“How is your flight?” I asked.

“It’s fine,” dad said. “Your cousins are here also. We should go to the dining hall. Mama will arrive soon.”

I nodded obediently. I followed them and sat between my parents. My younger brother was called and they made him sat beside me.

My eyes wandered and saw the maid accompanying my cousins to the dining hall. They sat beside their parents and quietly talked to them. No one bothered to talk loudly around the table.

Our eyes fled to the door as two maids opened it. My father immediately stood from his seat and accompanied my grandmother to her seat. The silence grew more. The kids remained quiet while the adults talked in hush tones.

My stomach couldn’t bear the acid-forming inside. In addition, my head is aching too much. The intensity around the table is enough to give me another headache. I kept my eyes low and weary especially when ahma is roaming her eyes as if she was checking our faces one by one.

“It’s good to have all of you here,” she started.

I wished ang kong came with her. I missed him so much. I couldn’t visit him in Singapore due to my classes and extra lessons.

“We should eat now,” as if magic, the food started appearing in front of us.

The food was kept simple yet appetizing. I could have recognized a few Chinese cuisines on the table but the majority were Filipino dishes.

I was halfway through my food when ahma picked up her glass. She coughed and talked to my uncles while I remained quiet in my seat. I munched on my food silently. Our favorites were served so I took it as a chance to eat more.

“It’s good to see all of my children here,” she said but I kept on munching my food. “I also missed my grandchildren more than ever. It felt like decades since I saw them all together.”

Yeah, but you saw us last month. You even scolded my father and sleeping brother.

“I am happy to see all of you well and healthy,” she chuckled. “Soraia is eating a lot these days.”

Oh, no.

I almost spat my food out. Luckily, I was able to gulp all of it down in time. My confused and shocked face fled to my grandmother’s wrinkled face. Her smile widened as she met my eyes. The slit-eyes I feared the most met my chinky ones.

“It’s fine, dear. All of you should eat a lot,” she chuckled gracefully.

My appetite was nowhere to be found after her mention of my name. I quietly put down my utensils and drunk water to calm myself. I glanced beside me and saw my father’s worried face.

“I heard Soraia is getting better and better in piano,” ahma turned in my direction once again.

“Yes, ahma,” I whispered and looked down on my lap. I don’t want to be the center of attraction in family lunches.

I wished for her to stop picking on me.

“What was your dream again?” she directly asked me.

I blushed profusely when she asked me that question. The fear I have been hiding inside me is slowly being brought to light by her.

“To play in the largest recital at Austria,” I whispered weakly.

I wanted to cry. Feeling the hot seat, I wanted to bawl my eyes and ran away from them.

Really, Raya? Is that really your dream?

“That is good!” Ahma squealed in delight. “Austria is my favorite place. I love that country so much! Would you like to visit Austria with me, dear?”

I felt my hands sweat more as she put all her attention on me now. My head carefully moved up to see my cousins and they were all staring at me emotionlessly. I saw my aunties’ worried facial expression.

“Yes, ahma. Thank you,” I smiled meekly.

She laughed and drank from her glass. I breathed in relief when she had her attention to my other cousins now. I felt my mother’s hand on my wrist. My eyes caught her worried and loving ones. I mouthed why but she just kept on holding my wrist and smile.

“Ah, my beautiful family,” she sighed and looked at all of us.

I’m surprised she has not mentioned my brother until now. What had changed?

“My favorite view in the whole world is seeing my family all together,” she said and smiled.

“Now, let’s go to business,” she grinned happily. I could feel her excitement. She was beaming ear to ear as she pulled her hands together on top of the table. She had the maids remove the plate so she could comfortably put her hands on the table.

I felt my father tap my shoulder. He moved closer to my ear to whisper.

“Whatever happens, you need to trust us. Okay?” dad whispered.

What?

“I am excited to announce that Soraia will officially replace Lin as the heir to the major stocks in the conglomerate. She will now attend the meetings as early training for her,” ahma grinned.

With the united voice of disagreements from my parents and uncles, I felt my world stop spinning. The shock made my body immobile. In just a span of a minute, my ears became deaf. I couldn’t hear anything but the destructive echoes of more responsibilities.

“Mama, please! Soraia is just highs school. She had so much on her plate for her to handle such big responsibility in the office,” dad objected.

“Kyle is right, mama. Soraia shouldn’t be caged in the office. What she is doing now is enough for the moment,” tito Blaise seconded.

“Mama, please stop this nonsense. Soraia is just in high school. Her interests are not in the business,” mom pled.

They kept on pushing ahma to withdraw her announcement while I remained silent and shock. I stayed glued to my seat while gazing at my grandmother. She was sitting prettily on her seat unmoved and unbothered by her children’s voices.

My muscles turned limped as they discussed my future. The adults kept on talking while the kids remained shocked. My eyes fled to my cousins and they were all looking at me worriedly.

My usual response was nowhere to be found. The sweet smile I have mastered cannot be seen. I glanced at my little brother and saw him enjoying his food. I envied him so much. He enjoyed the food so much and didn’t bother listening to the voices rising around him.

“Stop babying your children, Kyle!” ahma screamed.

“I’m not babying her, mama. Why can’t you see it? She is just a high school student. Having many responsibilities now isn’t enough for you? My daughter is not interested in the business, mama. Why can’t you see that?” dad demanded.

“She does not have a choice, Kyle. Be reasonable!” she scoffed. “We do not know until when Lin wants to sleep. He is in a coma, Kyle. Don’t you understand? We don’t know until when! The company needs someone right now and Soraia is here for that!”

“But this is unfair for her, mama!” dad raised his voice in anger.

Tears started breaming my eyes. The pain in my head is unbearable now. The stabbing pain to my temples increased more. I looked down on my lap to focus on my breathing. The air in the dining hall is suffocating me. The scene unfolding in front of me hurts my eyes.

“Nothing is unfair for your daughter, Kyle. Soraia needs to accept her responsibilities as part of this family,” ahma gritted out.

“This is like saying my son is dead for good, mama. How ruthless are you? How could you think like that to your own grandson?” mom broke into tears.

I couldn’t reach for her because my arms were frozen from shock and fear. Deep inside, I am a trembling mess. My heart is beating erratically and I can’t control it.

“He is in a coma, Annie. What more can we do? He is asleep and immobile on his bed. The company is in chaos after his accident. We shouldn’t let our guards down!” ahma screamed angrily.

“My son is not dead!” dad furious voice sounded through the hall.

“I am saying we should lose hope for your son but we need to look for other ways to avoid problems arising. Your daughter needs to fulfill his brother’s duty now that he is in the hospital. Being unprepared now will only result in damages in the future,” ahma glared at my parents.

I couldn’t speak. My inability to speak at the moment left me in the black hole. I don’t know what is the right thing to do. I am only eighteen. I am only a senior high student. My abilities are far from my brother's. Lin is exceptionally talented and genius. Lin is gifted in the field of business.

Me?

I don’t know! I lived my whole life following their orders. I don’t even know what I really want at the moment. My dreams are their dreams for me. Everything about me is about them.