Chapter 2 Two

ELARA'S DESIRE TO STUDY architecture and become a successful architect like her father and some of her siblings eventually made Elara decide to apply to a college with the best architecture department in Manhattan.

Putting aside her dislike for the step-uncle she desperately wants to avoid, Elara also accepts her mother's condition to live with her step-grandmother, Granny Ada.

Granny Adaline or as Elara calls her Granny Ada and her husband Grandpa Altezza, are not related to Elara and her family. Granny Ada's husband has a cousin named Antony Quirino. The Italian-American man married Elara's mother's aunt Claire Hampton. And from that marriage they became a family.

Elara's family and Altezza-Adaline's family are very close because when Elara was young, the couple used to live in the same town as Elara's family. In fact, it can be said that little Elara grew up in the care of the Altezza-Adaline couple.

The question is, if Elara and Altezza-Adaline's family are close, why is Elara reluctant to stay with them?

The problem was with the couple's youngest son. Rayyan Quirino. The man Elara hated so much. A nosy, arrogant man who had branded himself a playboy. The man who was seven years older than Elara always provoked Elara's anger. Meeting him was tantamount to the loss of peace within Elara.

"Did you agree with my terms?" Abigail asked Elara one afternoon.

Elara looked at her mother with a frown, but then nodded her head. "I registered with the college online yesterday. I just need to wait for the notification." She said with a frown on her face.

It's not like Abigail didn't know what made her eldest daughter upset about the conditions she put forward. But she had no choice.

Elara was his eldest daughter. The daughter she loved and also looked after. During this time, Abigail never let go of monitoring her and letting her live alone in the big city, it made her feel scared on her own.

It wasn't that Abigail didn't trust her eldest daughter. But she didn't trust the environment around her.

Abigail's aunt - Elara's grandmother - had offered Elara a place to stay. But Abigail was forced to refuse because she didn't want to add to her aunt's mental burden because the middle-aged woman was currently having a lot of problems at home.

As a result, the only family she could trust was her aunt's brother-in-law. The couple Altezza and Adaline because the rest of Abigail's family-or her husband's family-didn't live in Manhattan.

"When are you going to Manhattan?" Abigail asked again.

Elara mentioned a date to which Abigail nodded her head. She would later inform the Altezza-Adaline couple of that date.

Of course, the Altezza-Adaline couple were delighted to hear that Elara would be living with them in Manhattan. In their old age, Altezza and Adaline felt lonely because their children no longer lived with them. Even though they are not far apart, their home still feels lonely because of the children's chatter.

And with Elara's presence in their home, they hoped that there would be a crowd again in the magnificent Quirino palace. At least they had a friend to talk to during breakfast or dinner because Elara was basically a cheerful and talkative child.

Elara is also a sociable person so you can be sure that she will bring her friends to the Altezza-Adaline residence to liven things up.

A few weeks had passed. Elara, her parents and her two younger siblings are already on their way to Manhattan.

Ela-Elara's nickname-had asked her parents and sister not to drive her because her trip this time would not take long. The girl had promised her parents that she would return in two or three days after completing the administration at her new college. But her parents insisted on dropping her off on ethical grounds.

Elara could only comply although again the girl could only scowl in annoyance.

The car they were using was now in front of a house that had a four-meter-high gate. A scanning camera greeted them on the right and left of the gate. Knowing who was coming, the large gate opened and the guard inside gave them a respectful greeting.

Elara's father was not poor-let's just say they come from the middle to upper economic class-but their wealth could not match that of the Quirino family. In fact, it's not even a tenth of the family's wealth. Even Quirino's land and house-which Elara called a palace-were not comparable to the Fulton family's residence.

Most people with a wealthy status like the Quirino family are usually arrogant and proud, but not Altezza and Adaline or the rest of the Quirino family.

Their family is so simple. When welcoming guests, they always have a friendly smile and their treatment is always warm. It makes anyone who knows them feel comfortable and respectful.

Also, the Quirino family never hesitates to lend a hand to those who need help.

Besides her grandmother, Claire. In her mother's family there was another person who married into the Quirino family. He was Elara's grandfather, the twin brother of Claire herself who, uniquely, was married to Elara grandmother's stepdaughter Flavia Quirino.

And yes, like most Quirinos, Granny Flavia is also a humble and loving woman. In fact, she currently runs an orphanage and her husband is also the retired director of a hospital that was also built and funded by the Quirino family.

Looking at the whole family through Elara's eyes, it was indeed devastating.

But alas, nothing is perfect in this world. Because behind all the positive things about the Quirino family, there is one negative thing that has been created and that is Rayyan and Meizar Quirino.

Yes, Rayyan and Meizar Quirino-by marriage-are Elara's uncles and also the youngest of the Quirino family.

Meizar Quirino is Elara's uncle on her mother's side. He is the youngest son of Claire and Antony Quirino. Meanwhile, Rayyan-the man who makes Elara reluctant to stay at Adaline's residence-is the youngest son of Adaline and Altezza Quirino.

The two were the playboy duo of the Quirino family who were determined to date many women until they were satisfied and decided to get married. They were never indiscriminate in their search for a partner, and it made Elara feel like her ego as a woman was being touched.

Yes, both men think of women as toys, which when they get bored, they can replace with new ones.

Elara still remembered that when she was still in the second grade of junior high school, they were spending their vacation together at Claire Antony's residence in Kansas. There, the Quirino family had gathered. From the oldest to the youngest. And in the evening, her uncles were gathered at the swimming pool, enjoying the evening while talking. Meanwhile, Elara knew the wives, teenagers and children were already asleep.

Elara herself had no intention of eavesdropping. She just happened to be thirsty and wanted to get a drink, but on her way back to her room, she heard people talking and overheard.

"Stop being a playboy." The reprimanding voice Elara recognized as that of her other step-uncle, Geremia Quirino. "You're old enough, find a good woman and marry her. Don't waste your time doing useless things." The first son of the Altezza-Adaline couple continued.

In hiding, Elara saw Rayyan and Meizar shaking their heads.

"There will be a time when we will look for a future wife." Meizar answered which was then nodded by Rayyan. "Right now we intend to follow in the footsteps of the other playboys who have preceded us, don't you think?" Meizar turned to Rayyan and the man also nodded his head.

"There is a time for criminals to repent, as well as playboys." Said Rayyan-who Elara was sure was showing his usual silly grin.

Geremia shook his head. "I stopped being a playboy at your age." The man said again.

"And you got your partner in seven years after you stopped being a playboy." Meizar replied to her cousin. "I don't want to spend those seven years alone. I want to enjoy it." He said again. The man raised his fist up and again, his cousin Rayyan followed suit.

"We're not wasting time anyway, Ge. We're actually learning right now." Rayyan said with a grin.

"What are you learning?" asked Geremia in a scornful tone.

"Women and their lust for something called 'money'." Rayyan said, again with a smirk on his face.

Meizar chuckled and nodded. "Dating women makes our desire to work hard and make a lot of money even greater." Support him.

"In fact, money is the main key to attracting women." Rayyan continued. "No matter how ugly you look, if you have a lot of zeros in your account, no sensible woman will stay away."

Meizar nodded his head again. "A smart woman wouldn't want to live with a poor man. It's bullshit when they say they love us for what we are, because when there are other men whose wallets are much thicker, they will leave us." He said, followed by Rayyan's nod.

Geremia shook his head. "You are wrong. True love, regardless of your age, wealth and background.

"Real love is acceptance, really accepting you for who you are, no matter who you are, where you come from, your past.

"A real household is building everything together from scratch.

"You might think it's a cliché. But a real home is not a grand building with many doors and windows. But a real home is a person you want to go back to, feel the warmth of his embrace, get soothing from him when you're angry, sad and upset."

Hearing Geremia's answer, the two men laughed mockingly.

"There will be a time when we will bend the knee to a woman, like you, Ge." Rayyan replied, to which Meizar nodded. "But not now."

Elara was already reluctant to eavesdrop. She walked back to her room, annoyed at her two uncles.

How can any of her family members be so disrespectful to women? Aren't they afraid of real karma? What if one day their siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews and grandchildren become playboys like them?

Elara shuddered in horror at her own thoughts.

And now, years on from the last time she heard the men talk, Elara still felt the same resentment towards her two uncles.

And especially Rayyan.

Because Elara saw for herself exactly how much of a playboy he was. Rayyan was never shy about showing his girlfriend, nor did he care if the woman he was dating was single or a lover.

"Those who want to date me, those who choose to leave their boyfriend for me. I never forced them to leave their boyfriends." Rayyan said without a hint of guilt when one day Elara saw an angry man hitting Rayyan in public. When Elara asked why, the man said that Rayyan had snatched his girlfriend.

Elara didn't say much. She just looked at her uncle with an annoyed look. And her uncle, seeing Elara's annoyed face, showed a wide grin. The man who was seven years older than her was really not someone Elara could handle.

And now, Elara stood in front of the man's residence. Hoping that she would not meet that irritating figure until the end of her studies. Because Rayyan, was a blob of virus that caused anger and resentment.