Chapter 5 5

Three days have passed since I arrived and settled in the Falcon mansion. It means three days of pretending to get along with the people here. Just kidding. I engage in friendliness with them, you know, when I feel like it. But most of the time, I'm just being deadpan because, well, I can be a bit snobbish in person.

Joking aside, I do talk to them every day. You know, people from the province are friendly. We believe in the saying, "Friendliness is next to unfriendliness," and "Someone who doesn't look back to where they came from is likely to get lost."

I don't want to get lost, so I try to be friendly all the time, even though I can be a bit snobbish in person.

But you know what? Most of the time, people in this mansion don't talk to me. They're always focused on their work and busy with their own worlds. They don't want me to help them with their tasks because their boss will get mad. Also, they all address me as "ma'am." I didn't realize I had so many students in this mansion.

So, my usual conversation partner is my student who still calls me "ma'am." I might use this against her in class when I'm in a bad mood, or maybe I'll make her clean the entire mansion alone just to stop her constant "ma'am-ing."

Honestly, I feel lonely in this mansion. I thought living here in Manila would be enjoyable. I thought having a bigger house would mean a happier life. That's what I saw in movies when I was still in the province. It seemed so joyful and wonderful when the house was big. But now that I'm in a mansion, I realize that the bigger the house, the more loneliness you can feel.

I don't feel love in this house. They're wealthy, and they get what they want without much effort, but because of that, the sense of family is lost. I don't know if they've always been like this, or if they became this way after a tragedy when Erwin, the handsome one, passed away.

Yesterday, I saw the twins arguing. When I passed by Klyde's room because, once again, I got lost, I saw him shouting at Klode-his twin who was using fabric softener for a single rinse because it's too soft. He was really angry. He even called Klode "disgusting" and said he would prefer to be an only child than have a twin like Klode.

I was hurt by what Klyde said, even though he wasn't talking to me. I wanted to comfort Klode, assure him that I'm not disgusted by using fabric softener for a single rinse since I used to do that when I did laundry in the province. But before I could hug him, he disappeared from my sight.

I wanted to find him, but again, I got lost in the mansion because it's too big. I didn't get to hug Klode, and I lost myself. I really can't do anything right in my life, to be honest.

"Student, tell me more about the twins," I said while sitting by the fountain, thinking it was designed like an angel or tilapia, but it turns out it's a seahorse. Why is the snout so short? In our province, seahorses have long snouts.

It's morning now, and my student is feeding Chris breakfast. Chris still hasn't spoken to me. Not a word. When I talk to him, he just looks at me or ignores me. I threatened him that if he doesn't talk to me, I'll drown him in the swimming pool. Just kidding.

"Which twins, ma'am?" my student asked. "Sir Klyde and sir Klode?"

I shook my head. "No, not them. Sir Fernando and Lolo Andres."

"They're not twins, ma'am."

"Oh, right. They're not twins. So, I'm probably talking about Klyde and Klode. You're lucky, student, that I tolerate talking to you. Otherwise, I'd be a snob to you."

My student giggled, "What do you want to know about the twins, ma'am?"

"I want to know why Klyde seems mad at Klode. Yesterday, I overheard Klyde saying Klode is disgusting and that he'd prefer to be an only child. Did they have a fight?"

My student shrugged, "I don't know, ma'am. Actually, ever since I got here, sir Klyde has been harsh with his twin. But it wasn't this bad because usually, sir Erwin would tell sir Klyde that he should love sir Klode the most because they were together in their mother's womb."

"Does he listen?"

"Yes, ma'am. When sir Erwin speaks, everyone obeys."

"Do they obey out of fear?"

"No, ma'am. They obey because sir Erwin is a kind brother. He's good at decision-making. Everything depends on him. He gives advice on everything."

"Because they're scared?"

"No, ma'am. They follow him because sir Erwin is a good person. The mansion used to be so happy when sir Erwin was here. He was talkative and always smiling. He talked to all of us and checked on us. He didn't treat us like servants. His treatment was like we were equals."

I nodded along with my student's story about Erwin handsome. Even though I haven't met him in person, I feel like I already know him. Suddenly, I developed a crush on him because he seems too perfect-kind, respectful, handsome, and rich. He's like a fictional character from the comics I used to read in the province. It's just sad what happened to him. But I'm confident he's still alive. I'll shave my head if he's not found. I suddenly thought, would a bald look suit me, or should I go for a mohawk? Shaved sides and the remaining hair in the middle.

"What about San Goku?" I asked again. "What fake story are you going to tell me about him?"

"Huh?" my student was surprised. "I'm not fake, ma'am."

"I know, right! I'm the only fake one between us," I quickly replied. "Tell me about San Goku's personality."

"Um," my student pondered, even putting her index finger on her chin as if she were seriously thinking. It didn't look good on her, "I don't have much to say about sir Elton. He's just quiet and not talkative."

"Oh, come on. You're useless, student. I can't rely on you for a good conversation," I candidly replied. My student just giggled, thinking I was joking, but who knows if what I said is true.

I first informed my classmate that I needed to go inside the mansion after our insincere conversation. I told him I would just get something from my room and return to continue our small talk. However, once inside the mansion, I got lost again, wandering around the huge house.

As I reached the staircase, I saw Elton descending, dressed in a business suit with a black leather bag hanging on his shoulder. He looked handsome, but I didn't pay much attention because I tend to be aloof in person. I didn't want Goku to think I had a crush on him – eww!

He asked in English what I was doing and warned me not to act foolishly in the mansion. I faced him and requested a pen. Confused, he asked why, and I replied, "Just lend it to me. I have lots of questions. Are you a teacher?" He looked at me seriously, grabbed a pen from his bag, and questioned what I would do with it.

I retorted, "Mind your own business. Don't insult me. And excuse me, what do you think of me? Thinking of you? Seriously? Get over yourself, Goku." Disgusted, I added, "Where's the paper?" and extended my hand.

Despite his irritation, he handed me a piece of paper. I wrote my name and said, "You're lucky I'm giving this. It's my autograph for you so that next time we meet, you won't talk to me. I'm aloof in person. Bye, fan. Take care at work." I left him standing by the stairs with a disapproving look.

I only needed his "author graph" to make him quiet. People keep talking to me even though we're not close. It's tough being beautiful, right? Elton was fortunate to get my signature quickly because, in the province, I make my neighbors work for it. They have to catch a fish as big as our house.

I glanced around to find the way to my room. Right or left? Split or bend? Backward or tumble? Maybe I'll do them all at once. Oh, there it is. Why am I so silly with directions? Hehe. I continued walking.

When Grandpa Andres arrives, I'll ask him for a job in his company. It's boring in the mansion, and I don't want to grow roots here. Am I sprouting roots, like plastic?

Entering my room, it was no longer the dirty space from before; now, it was clean. The floor was so shiny it could be a mirror. I put the cardboard on the side, making one a clothes rack. Grandpa Philip's picture frame sat on another for me to see every morning.

I opened my bag and took the remaining suman. I'll give it to my classmate to taste my proudly cooked delicacy. Only two pieces left since I eat one every night while lazing around in my room.

Leaving my room, I looked around again to remember the way out. I might get lost again, and I was right. I wandered like the fool I am. It's really annoying. I felt like burning down this mansion.

As I walked, I reached the kitchen and saw Ate Betty – the mansion's cook – with her chubby back, arms, neck, waist, and thighs, doing something I couldn't understand. It seemed like she was tying up an animal that was making noise and seemed to be crying and pleading with sister Betty.

"Oink! Oink!" cried the piglet as if in distress.

"Damn you, you devil! Stay still so I can tie you properly!" shouted Ate Betty, living proof of the word 'plump.'

I approached her, saying, "Hey, Ate Betty. What are you going to do with that piglet?" I asked, looking at the small, white piglet. It looked so tiny, as if it had just come out of its mother's womb. It seemed pitiful, crying and pleading with Ate Betty not to tie it.

Ate Betty turned her chubby face towards me, "Oh, it's you, Ma'am Althea," she greeted. I told you they call me 'ma'am.' I wasn't even aware I had a chubby student.

"It's me. Is that you too, Ate Betty?" I asked in return.

"Yes, it's me."

"Ah, I see. I thought I only saw a body covered in fat." I replied. "What are you doing to the piglet? Why are you tying its head? Is it a dog?"

"Oh, ma'am, no. I'm tying it so it won't move."

"Why?" I was taken aback by what she said.

"Because I'm going to slaughter it for Rudolf," she replied. Rudolf is her husband, whose nose might not be red, but his neck is super black. "Piglet meat is delicious when cooked adobo style."

"WHAT?" I exclaimed in shock. "You're going to kill it? Aren't you even a bit sympathetic?"

"Well, ma'am, it's just a piglet. They are meant to be eaten."

"No, it's not!" I approached her and took the piglet. "You won't cook this. You shouldn't eat such a pitiful creature. Look at it, its eyes are teary. Ate Betty, you're heartless!" I scolded her. "If you want adobo, tie yourself up. I'll slaughter you for Kuya Rudolf. Cook yourself along with the unsuspecting piglet. I'll trim your fat. Tsk!"

Ate Betty couldn't do anything as I walked out, carrying the piglet in my arms. I mumbled all sorts of things out of sheer pity for the piglet.

"Your relatives are really something, piglet. They're planning something terrible for you. Luckily, I saw you in time; otherwise, you'd be adobo tomorrow," I told the piglet while untying its feet and neck. "Ate Betty is so cruel. Later tonight, I'll tie her up instead."

"Oink! Oink!" the little piglet replied to me.

"Do you like that?" I asked with a laugh. "You, piglet, that's badness!"

I returned to the garden, but my students and Chris were gone. I didn't know where they went, but I would look for them later because I was busy with my new pet. I couldn't let this piglet be slaughtered; it's too pitiful. I suddenly decided to make it my pet. I remembered that Chris has a dog. So, because I didn't want to lose, I would take care of this piglet.

"What would be a good name for you?" I asked myself while the piglet stared at me.

"Oink! Oink!"

"What, oink oink? That's a lousy idea." I replied. "Do you piglets have brains?"

"Oink! Oink!"

"I thought so, none at all. I'll be the one to think of a name for you." Then I thought, "Aha! I know. Since there's already San Goku in this mansion, I'll call you Majinbu. Both of you are chubby, and you're both pink."

"Oink! Oink!"

"Do you like that?" I asked with joy and lifted Majinbu. "Hello, Majinbu. I'm your owner. My name is Althea Josefa Marinduque. I was Best in English in elementary and also Top 2 because there were only two of us in the class," I boasted.

While carrying Majinbu in the air, I suddenly looked towards the veranda, where Klode's room was. When I looked there, I saw a person standing in a dress with long pink hair. I thought it was someone else, but I recognized them when they looked at me and quickly entered their room.

OH MY.

CONFIRM.

Klode is in just a towel.

There really is a gay member in the Falcon family.