You Needed Me

Chapter 3 - Outfit

Jazz's POV:

"Anong oras ka pupunta ng school, apo?" Tanong ni lolo sa akin, para basagin ang katahimikan sa gitna ng aming agahan.

"10 am lolo." Puno ng pasyensya kong hinawakan kutsara ko nang sagutin ko ang tanong nya. My god, Jealena who is seating beside me eats like a pig. Ang ingay nyang nginunguya ang pagkain nya. When she's only eating bacon and egg, i feel like she's eating a whole damn pig.

And I thought my only pet peeve is when people in the mall do not know the proper way of using the escalator, now she's making me peeved her noisy eating as well.

"Diba masyado na yang tanghali?" tanong ni Selena. "Love, alas 9 kasi ang start ng klasi nina Silvia." She sweetly told father.

I had an intrusive thought na saksakin siya ng metal straw na nasa cucumber juice ko.

The audacity of her to call father, love, na para bang wala si mommy sa same table. I looked at my mom, and she just smiled at me, yet her eyes is full of fire, as if telling me not to be affected by them.

"Your Tita is right, Jazz. Masyado ng tanghali ang 10 am, why don't you go to school at 8:30 with your sisters para ma tour mo sila sa SDA." my father told me.

"What? Their transferring to SDA?" I never knew they were transferring to SDA. Yes I know, father wants to give them the wealthy life. But transferring in SDA? As much as I know, SDA do not allow transferee as our educational program do not follow the regular syllabus offered in other schools in the Philippines.

"Their not transferring. They will start as 1st year college students like you. They will be taking up Business Management." he said.

"It's still the first day of school so classes are not regular yet. It will just be meet and greet and tour for new students, so I do not really need to go there on time." paliwanag ko sa kanya. And what is it to me, kung 9 ang start ng klasi nila. We do not share the same course anyway.

"Exactly my point." He was seeping the coffee made by his wife, it made me feel sad inside. Once I remember mommy trying to make him coffee, he spit it out in an instant kasi mapait daw, And told her not to do that again. We are paying maids to serve as food. And yet, here he is, eating his breakfast whole heartedly. "You can accompany your sisters and introduce them to your friends as well."

I could not believe what I am hearing.

Is his goal to kick me out of high society and let these two take my spot? It already started here at home. The maids will sometime take for granted what I tell them to do, specially when my father is around, kapag may pinakiusap sila. And it always happen every time I ask the maid to do something for me. It's a good thing, that I have Nana. She will always prioritize me and mommy. Wala naman silang magawa, since Nana is not a Casanova help. She's mommy nanny as well from the Toheyama family. Hindi siya pa sweldo ni daddy. But still.

And now, the school. Where the creme de la creme of high society's children are studying.

"Jaime, huwag mong ipilit kay Jazz na ipakilala ang mga anak mo sa mga kaibigan nya. I'm sure your other daughters will not have a hard time finding their own set of friends." mommy said full of conviction. I know, even she thinks the same way I think.

Why not? Kulang na lang magpa-party si dad, para ipakilala sina Silvia at Jealena sa high society, formally. And tell the whole world that I am his illegitimate child. The only thing stopping him, is mom's warning na gagawin nya lahat para i-pullout ang investments ng Toheyama sa Casanova Corp, pag ginawa nya yun.

I know, mommy will not really do that. Despite my father's cold treatment towards us, she loves him. She will always be the one to explain to me kung bakit hindi nagpunta si dad sa mga school plays ko, recitals and even awards ceremony. She would always tell me, that daddy is working very hard to give us the life we deserve. Also, she loves grandpa and grandma like her own parents. They will surely be affected if the Casanova Corp falls into ruin.

"Are you saying, that my daughters do not deserve to have friends?" Nakakunot ang noong tanong ni dad kay mom.

The way he says daughters make me think na hindi ako kabilang doon.

"Don't put words in my mouth. I meant what I said and said what I meant." bahagyang tumaas ang boses ni mommy. "Let your two other daughters find their own set of friends, and not intrude my daughters circle kung ayaw nya. How dare you try to ruin my daughter's safe haven."

She sounds so angry. I never see her angry before. She has always been calm and collected.

"Tama na." My grandfather's gentle voice cut off what ever father was about to say. "Apo, can you do this for me as a favor?" Lolo ask me while gently holding my left hand. "Samahan mo na sila sa school. You know it like the back of your hand. Ihatid mo lang sila sa CBA building para hindi sila mawala. You do not need to introduce them to your friends kung ayaw mo. They will meet each other in time."

Mababaw ba ako? I do not want them to go to my school. Or meet my friends. Pakiramdam ko, my life will surely crumble the moment they step foot in SDA.

"Yes lolo." Masakit man sa loob, I agree. I could never say no to him. And I know, kahit hindi niya aminin, naiipit siya sa amin. Silvia and Jealena are his granddaughters too after all.

Since I have to go to school earlier than I planned, I left the table to start preparing. I take a very long time to finish.

It was already 8:30 nang bumaba ako sa sala. Mommy was in the sofa. Usually, umaalis siya ng bahay after I leave. Pero 7:30 pa lang ay nakabihis na siya. She doesn't mind. It has been her hobbit to see me off, instead of the other way around. According to her, she's the boss, so hawak nya ang oras nya and she can go to work whenever she wants.

"You look so dashing, baby." nakangiti nyang salubong sa akin.

I am wearing a black co-ord plaid outfit by Dolce & Gabbana. It's a super short kilts, paired it with an over-the-knee black socks in a black Christian Louboutin Miss Jane 55 Leather pumps.

"Thank you, mommy. Kanino pa ba ako magmamana." I joke lightly, na nagpatawa sa kanya.

I look around the living room for my 'sisters' but wala sila. It seems my mom understand, and told me, na hindi pa sila nakakababa.

I had no choice but to seat and wait. And here I thought sila ang nagmamadali.

"Nak, may dumating palang package para sayo." Nana Pasita, hand me a small bag. Inside it is a small BVLGARI black box. It contains a Serpenti Viper Ring in Rose Gold with three diamonds. There was also a small congratulation note in the box.

"That's gorgeous, baby."

This is no longer new to me. Although I do not represent them or sponsored by them, some famous luxury brands would send me items to wear or use. Though I grew up in luxury, hindi ako nahilig sa jewelries. Aside for the personalized necklace with my name Empress from Tiffany & Co that was a gift for my 16th birthday, wala na akong ibang sinusuot na alahas. Not even earrings. Though I use them if there are occasions or my party na kailangan puntahan.

"Mommy, is this your coffee?" I asked her. Umupo naman ako sa sofa when she nodded. I gave her my iPhone 12 promax, took the Serpenti ring out from the box and wear it in my ring finger. "Can you snap me a picture? Just my hand with holding the coffee cup."

She oblige and took the picture, showing only my dainty fingers holding the coffee cup. Agad ko naman binaba ang tasa ng kape and took the ring off my finger then put it back in the box pagkatapos. "Nana, please put this back in my room. Thank you."

Inabut naman ni Nana agad ang box at agad naglakad paakyat ng second floor patungo sa kwarto ko. When mommy gave me back my phone, I look at the picture and edit it's lighting a little then post it to my i********: account. Captioned it Coffee, a hug in a cup and mention Serpenti in it, then close my Insta app after.

The coffee smells so nice so I decided to take a sip.

"Ang ganda ganda nyo mga anak." narinig kong wika ni Selena mula sa taas ng hagdan habang pababa silang apat.

"What the f-"

"Language." Mommy cut me off when I almost said the F word.

I almost spit out the coffee. Both my sisters are wearing Plaid skirts like me and partnered it with corset tube over a long sleeve. Knee-length socks and pumps. I have no complain about the outfit being almost identical as mine. But by love of Zeus, the color combination was a disaster.

The color of both their pumps is black and white socks.

Selvia's skirt is red, her corset is green and her long sleeve is a light yellow. While Jealena on the other had has purple skirt, yellow corset and red long sleeve.

It's still June, but they look like they're ready for December already.

"Are you sure your going to wear that?" tanong ko sa kanila ng tuluyan na silang makababa.

"Let them wear whatever they want to wear, Jazz." said my father. "Isipin mo na lang na naka uniform kayo." It seems he thinks I disagree with their outfit since it was almost identical to my OOTD.

"I just don't think its the right co-"

"Stop." putol nya sa sasabihin ko. "Don't make a big deal out of this. Umalis na kayo at baka ma late pa kayo."

I look at them before looking back at my mom. Nagkibit balikat lang sya, and smiled at me as if saying, at least you tried.