CHAPTER 22
She now seriously eyed her mother. "Ma, it's none of my business. It's his love life."
"Wala namang nabanggit sina Martin at Cora. Malamang wala yan. (Martin and Cora didn't say anything. Certainly, there's none.)" Her mother stated.
"At paano kung meron pero hindi lang sinasabi? (And what if there is, but he's not just telling it?)" Fudge. Aurora wanted to smack herself. It just came out automatically from her mouth.
She noticed her parents exchanged looks at one another, and they also stopped eating.
Adolfo put down his utensils and placed both elbows on the table. He clasped both hands and eyed her solemnly.
"As long as hindi pinankilala sa magulang (wasn't introduced to the parents), it's not valid then. And why keep it a secret? It only means that he knew his parents wouldn't accept his lover. And did you know what happens if they are not accepted in the family? They get rid of it. As simple as that." He paused and continued, eyes narrowed into slits. "That goes to you too, Aurora." He held the utensils again and resumed eating.
"Of course, Papa. I know that." That's why she hadn't had any boyfriends yet. She did have some flings before, though, so that she wouldn't be naïve when it comes to the boys.
"It doesn't matter if Max has a girlfriend. His parent would take care of it."
Why is it that they were too interested in Max now?
"Why are we talking about Max's relationship, anyway?" She asked.
"Max is our godson. Of course, we're concerned about him." Her father answered.
"Okay." She merely stated. Shrugging it off.
"May bago ka na bang mga kaibigan?" (Do you have new friends already?)
Her mood instantly changed as she shared excitedly. "I met someone from the elite circle." The maid she asked earlier finally came back with her plate of peeled shrimp. She thanked her, and the maid got back to her standing position earlier.
"One of your classmates?" Asked Sofia, sipping her wine.
"No. One of Max's friends."
"Who from the circle?" Adolfo asked curiously, picking at his salad.
"A Ferucci."
"Really?" Sofia was bewildered.
"Yes, Ma."
Adolfo scrunched his brows. "The Feruccis are very private people. Their heirs never attended any balls. Not until a business branch or a change of role is announced. I don't know how they run their business despite being aloof in socializing. But that's one of the reasons why I'm amazed with them. They're at the top of what they're doing." Her father's explanation.
"So, I guess you met a Ferucci heir?" Her mother asked again.
"Si. (Yes.)"
"How do you find him?"
"What do you mean?"
"Is he attractive too, like Max?" There goes her mother again.
"Yes." She answered. She doesn't know where this is going.
"Who's more handsome? Is it him or Max?"
"Ma!" She snapped at her finally. She had been doing it since earlier.
"I'm just curious about what you're thinking." Sofia reasoned.
Aurora wanted to roll her eyes, but she knew that her father would reprimand her about it. "They're both handsome in their own ways." She raised her plate in front of her, and automatically, a maid approached to get it from her and brought it to the food cart beside all the maids at the back.
She reached for the mango float. One of her favorite desserts aside from cocktail salad. She started to dig in, almost moaning in having it again. She'd tell Ade to make her favorite desserts when they got back to their dorm.
"Anak, ward off your suitors in the university; unless he's from the circle, then we can negotiate." Her father warned her.
No one dared yet, but she already knew it. "Of course." She grumbled.
"Unless it's Max, then we don't mind." Her mother teased.
"Ma, we're not even that close." She opposed her.
Her mother raised a brow at her. "Not in the moment. That's why there's a future ahead of you."
She did not just say those. She almost got choked as she was eating her dessert. She coughed instead and reached for her pineapple juice. No doubt, she got her wittiness from her mother. It sounded almost the same as what she said to Paula before.
"Are you matching me with Max?" Her direct question to her parents. That was the only thought she had of why they were acting like this. Especially her mother.
"Why not? You two grew up together." Her dad replied.
"He's a good guy. All the girls that could ask for their prince charming." Her mother added.
She got it right indeed. She shook her head. They hadn't even denied it. It was normal to the family of elites. "No. It's too soon for that." She shrugged off their thoughts. What was she saying? Even the other families had already been engaged before they were born to the other family within the circle.
She doesn't want to think about it for now.
"Only too soon, but Max is fine?" Her mother pressed.
Her patience was running thin. She heaved a deep breath to control herself. She was currently in front of the dining room and her father. "I don't like him." Really? Fuck, even her own mind was questioning her. "In that way." She added. She reached for more cocktail salad.
Though she was already full, she still wanted to eat because of irritation. Sweet food could help her calm down a little. She turned her attention to the food instead.
"Enough for now, hon." Her father said to his wife.
Sofia nodded.
"I'm going out after this." She announced out of the blue.
"Where?" Adolfo asked instantly.
"With Ade." She answered.
"Fine."
Simple as that. When they knew that she was with Ade, no questions needed. Her parents trusted Ade more than her. But she hadn't told Ade about her plan of going out. Her friend never said 'no' to her. But still, she knew Ade had her own life. She would call her when she got upstairs to her room.
"Be back by midnight." Sofia reminded her.
"I'm not Cinderella." She retorted without thinking.
Sofia smiled at her. She swallowed. Oh, no. Here it comes.
"No, you're not." Sofia emphasized. "You're the Sleeping Beauty. So, why don't you go to your room and be asleep already? Hmm?" She even raised a brow her way.
Then she and her mother looked at the head of their family. His booming laughter echoed in the dining hall.
"You should know better, anak." He was shaking his head while wiping the tears at the side of his eyes. "You're indeed a mother and daughter."
Right. She should had known better. She was her mother after all. Who else did she take after anyway? Her teeth gritted in irritation.
Finally, their dinner ended and she directly went to her room to call Ade and change quickly. Her friend agreed and she would come to get her in the mansion.