Chapter 2 Fainting heart

It was past six o'clock and the sound of music permeated through the windows and door leading to the staircase downward while Mara sat down humming the song she heard faintly as she applied make ups on her face to compliment her dress. For a moment, she was catching the fun coming in from the music she kept listening to when abruptly her phone started ringing out so loud it caught her off excitement.

"Hello"

"Hello is this Mara..."

"Anderson! Yeah, yeah, who is this please?"

"Ah, miss Mara Anderson am calling to inform you about a thought tragic incident, hope you don't mind?"

"No, no, go on!" she said, trying to get hold of herself, taking away the complicating looks off her face as she listened carefully to the unknown voice that contacted her.

"Ma'am, your entire family just had an accident an hour ago on a highway going home from Luzon and were confirmed dead minutes later excluding one little girl about fifteen of age but she seem to be in coma as we speak. Am sorry ma'am, just an eye witness."

[Inhale a deep breath]

"No am not that Anderson, never! Who gave you my number?"

"Am sorry miss, I happen to get your contact from your little sisters' phone lying on the back seat. We helped called the ambulance that took it from here and I felt it was my responsibility to contact whoever is related to them."

Mara remained speechless as he talked, not knowing whether to cry or scream or wail; for a moment she kept saying to herself it's all a dream and after the nights party she was going to wake up.

"...hello miss are you there?"

"Oh, yes, yes, thank you for contacting me" she said softly as she dropped the phone on the table and went blank: not a word, not a smile, no not an emotional feeling at all.

Mara slowly turned herself away from the mirror leaving the makeup tools from the box all scattered on the table top. She arose motionlessly and put on her hill shoe as if she was going to go insane, she shambled out heading downstairs on a pale look.

Before her stood a waiter by name Rashad, holding up a tray containing sets of wine glasses half filled with wine who happens to be the chief servant of the Martins family night party and a native of an African American community in New York contracted for the job tonight. He appears to be a good fellow around the Martins family for years and whenever there is a need for support, he was always available, though he was always paid huge and in full. He was the first to fix his gaze on Mara as she came walking down the staircase sluggishly though unnoticeably except one takes a closer look.

"Good evening your royalty!" he exclaimed purposefully to put smiles on her weird look before she came out the spotlight.

"Good evening manginoo!" She said in a whispering vocal tune giving him a brief dim smile as she approached him. [Manginoo a Philippians dialect meaning Gentleman in English]

"What makes your countenance fail you tonight? Is his majesties abundance presumed insufficient?" He asked rhetorically as he took a bow, stretching his left arm towards her so she could grab herself a glass of wine.

"Thank you Mr. Rashad for your service and yes I am doing just fine"

"I will take your words to be faithful and more so, you look beautiful on this gown!" he responded enthusiastically, making an adjustment on his collar with his right hand as he tilted ninety degrees paving the way for her to walk on.

"Thanks for the care"

"Anytime, my lady you please, anytime. Don't forget to smile, it's a lovely night!" he clamored so she could hear him amidst the sound of the ongoing music.

Mara nodded in response to the voice of Rashad as she moved towards the auditorium without looking back. The moment she passed the threshold, the audience before her was three times the one she encountered in the living room where she had dialogued with Rashad and the lights hovered around the building with diverse color effect.

At first she was never aware of her environment until her friend from high school days approached her feeling so excited to finally meet her after a whole year now. She consciously rectified the blurry view she retained on her retina for about five minutes all the while she had occupied her mind in thoughts earlier in other to see Jain clearly.

"...how are you doing Mara?"

"Oh, am fine. It's been a long while!"

"Yes, so are you coming or what?"

"Coming?" Then paused for a moment and continued "where are we going?"

"You mean you haven't been listening to me all along?"

"Am sorry, I was lost in thought"

"The round table over there girl, come on!"

Before Mara could blink, Jain had already grabbed her by the hand, heading for a table situated at the mid left corner of the auditorium. As they sat around the table with two other ladies – friends with Jain – they kept talking about high school days. Their experiences marveled them like never before, having each one let out secrets she never told the other on matters centered on relationship never disclosed until now.

As they talked, Mara's attention remained unsteady as she continuously thought about the information she received, while trying to pull herself together to ensure no one else notice it till she figure out what to do concerning her families death awareness.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen!" a voice echoed from the speakers. It was Henry, holding the microphone full of courageous fascinating words coming forth out of him as he gave a remarkable speech to arouse a great applaud from the audience.

"...tonight I want my fiancée to stand by me, a woman who has touched my life in every way a man had wished for and more than that, a woman worth more than any money or possession I may have in a life time. Ladies and gentlemen, help me make welcome my one and only beautiful Mara Anderson!"