-to be two-faced.

10

I still have the same expression when I asked my parents where we're going—an idiotic look with eyes staring at nowhere and lips smiling blandly. From the moment I'm standing in front of them, to the carriage sitting in front of them, to the dining chair, sitting beside them.

The same idiotic look, just different settings.

Eh? What?-

"How's the business going?" Narinig ko ang boses ng ama ko.

Doon ako natuhan at napatingin ako sa paligid ko. Hind ko napansin na nandito na 'ko, nakaupo sa harap ng lamesa kasama nila.

As if my face took a screen shot, the colors turned black and white—the shadows are toned and sharpened.

What. . . the actual fork.

A long table where the two Lords are both at each ends. My mother at my side, facing Lord Byron's wife and me, facing. . . Felix.

I want to puke right now, can't imagine what's happening. I don't know how to face him after what I learned earlier!

"It's going well, Lord Ruelio's shops are increasing, so as the demands of goods. Our factories are getting busy," masayang sagot ng ama ni Felix.

Pasimple akong napatingin sa kaniya. Nakatingin siya at nakikipag-usap sa ama ko.

Lord Byron, Felix' father. I don't remember his name quite well, but I've seen his illustrations a few times before. Though, since he's just an extra, I didn't give much attention to him. But seeing him in person, he really looks like an intimidating man.

His face is almost the same as Felix, but older. And his eyes are dark brown.

"Thank you for inviting us, this is a lovely home," my mother started a conversation with Lord Byron's wife.

She smiled. "Thank you for the compliment madam." She looked at the decorations here in the dining area. It's filled with paintings, vases, and flowers. "I picked the decorations, and I also grew the flowers myself."

"You really love plants," my mother gently answered.

"Yes, it's a hobby of mine."

The two Lords and their wives are having conversation. The maids are serving our foods. . . and there are freaking dozens of butlers surrounding us.

Patago kong nililibot ang tingin ko. Kada sulok ay may nakikita akong butler. I know they're rich and has many enemies, but isn't this too much?!

"Please, don't mind them too much," biglaang sambit ng babaeng nasa harap ko.

Natauhan ako sa sinabi niya at napatingin ako sa kaniya. Napansin niyang nakatingin ako sa mga butler sa paligid namin.

She showed a soft smile. "I apologize for making you uncomfortable, but Lord Byron is just being cautious, we had a history of thieves on our house. Even some of the maids," she explained.

Our eyes met. She's the wife of Lord Byron. Wearing an elegant navy blue dress. Apple cut hair, colored black. Graceful and elegant, she looks so young. But still, Harlotte's, my and Hilian's mother is more beautiful than her.

"Oh, Harlotte's just used to few people, since we only have a few on our home," my mother jokingly said.

Felix' mom chuckled. "But you have trusted ones in your home. I envy the Adelaides' to have people like that."

"Please don't, it's still nice to have many butlers for safety purposes. . . " Mother's expression changed. Nabigla ang asawa ni Lord Byron, agad niyang nabasa ang ekspresyon na meron ang ina ko.

"I-I'm sorry, Madam Hefina, I-I didn't mean to bring that up-"

"No, Lady Stella," pagtawag sa kaniya ni ina. My expression softened when I saw a tear escape from her eyes. "I-I'm just being too sensitive."

"Oh, dear, what happened?" pagsali ni Lord Byron nang mapansin ang pagtahimik ng ina ko.

Lady Stella, his wife, looks so worried. "I didn't mean to bring up that topic, we're supposed to have this dinner to lighten up our worries for a while. . ." She looked at my mother. "I apologize, Madam Hefina."

"Please, please, I don't want to ruin everyone's evening." Mother tried to smile. "I don't want to waste the Byron's effort in this dinner."

Father sighed. "Darling, if you're not feeling well, you can say it to me." He looked at my mother with a worried expression.

"Yes, Madam Hefina, please don't worry about this dinner, we can always have one again some other time," Lord Byron added. He's drinking wine.

My mother showed a cheerful expression. "Really, please, don't mind me. I just remembered my poor baby. I should've focused more on my daughters." She glanced at me.

"Oh, darling, please don't blame yourself. We're both doing our roles we have in this country, you needed to leave to do your responsibility," my father said.

Lady Stella reached out for my mother's hands. "Lord Howard is right, Madam Hefina, please don't be hard on yourself," pagpapagaan niya ng loob sa ina ko. "I've seen you a couple of times in public. I've always admired your elegance and knowledge."

"You don't have to worry that much," muling ani Lord Byron. Uminom siya mula sa wine glass niya. "Detective Sherlock Holmes is the one handling the case, before you know it, Lady Hilian is already in front of you."

My father gently smiled, still looking at my mother. He gave her a reassurring look. My mother nodded.

"Thank you for your kind words, Lord Byron and Lady Stella."

The Byrons' smiled in response.

"Oh, speaking of Detective Sherlock," Lord Byron changed the subject. "I've heard what happened at the ball last night."

Nahinto ako sa sinabi niya. Nalipat ang tingin niya sa 'kin na kinabago ng ekspresyon ko.

He raised his wine glass as he chuckles. "What happened to Madam Elen was unfortunate, but luckily she's fine now. What surprised me more was your daughter's big words."

He's looking at me with a curved lips. The bigger his smile gets, the smaller I feel at myself.

"Father. . ." Felix tried to call him, but it looks like he can't hear him.

Hinarap sa 'kin ni Lord Byron ang wine glass. "I admire your courage, young lady. Talking to the great Detective like that, what a strong will!" He doesn't sound sarcastic, but his words are. "You'll be a great wife someday, you can serve your husband well."

"You can make your husband happy, and be useful to him. If you want, I can help you find a good one!"

"If I'd only knew you have this side, I would've told Felix to marry you instead," he jokingly said. "Either way, our families would still be one!"

"Dear. . ." Lady Stella let out an awkward chuckle. "I think you had enough wine."

Felix is not reacting at all. After hearing nice words just a second ago from him, my mother is now has a serious look on her face. Father remained quiet, he then took a glass of wine.

Napayuko ako. I feel so ridiculed. I thought I'm used to this, because I always experience this with my bosses before. But now. . . I really feel offended. I'm having trouble breathing, my eyes are getting teary.

But I don't want to say anything, I want to swallow my pride. Because I'm acting right now, I want to know about Felix and his secret meeting with my sister, I don't want to disrespect my father, and I don't want to turnish our family's name in this table.

So for now, just for now. . . I need to act.

But I'm having trouble swallowing, because I'm stopping myself from crying. I. . . I can't-

"You're right," my father said. He's also drinking his wine with a smile on his face, looking at Lord Byron.

Hindi makapaniwalang napatingin sa kaniya ang ina ko.

Lord Byron laughed. "You agreed! We really get along. Do you want me make arrangements? I will definitely find her a good husband."

"My daughter has always been a bright child, it's a shame that she wasn't be able to be a part of your family like you've said."

"Oh please, don't sweat it. Your other daughter will still marry my kid, and we'll be officially a one family!"

My father softly chuckled. Nanatili akong nakayuko, unti-unting sumara nang mahigpit ang kamao ko. Nabigla na lang ako nang may kamay na humawak dito.

Natigilan ako at napatingin ako sa katabi ko. My mother is still looking at my father, but she's holding my hand.

"But don't you think it's a little unfair?" pag-iiba ng ama ko.

Lord Byron's forehead furrowed, but still smiling. "Why?"

"If my daughter, Harlotte gets married to your family, rather than her being a Byron, I think you'll be an Adelaide instead." He laughed. But the opposite of his reaction, Lord Byron's smile faded.

My father continued. "It will be too unfair for your name if my daughter takes all the spotlight."

Tuluyang naglaho ang masayang ekspresyon na meron ang kausap ng ama ko. Bagkus, naging seryoso na siya. "What are you saying, Lord Howard?"

My father continued drinking. "I'm saying that with my daughter accomplishing her achievements, she'll outshine your whole family."

"Her achievement is her husband's achievement. She's her husband's property, he own her rights-"

Biglang bumagsak ang basong iniinuman ng ama ko. Pare-pareho kaming nabigla.

"She's not a property. I don't even own my daughter, how can a foolish husband own her?"

Mas lalong humigpit ang pagkakasara ng kamao ko, nagtutubig ang mga matang nakatingin sa lalaking nagtatanggol sa 'kin.

While looking at him, I saw my real father in my eyes.

"Mag-aaral ka pa ba? May magagawa ba 'yan? Mag-asawa ka na lang ng mayaman, may matulong ka pa sa pamilya mo."

"Kung lalaki lang talaga naging anak ko, 'di siguro ganito buhay ko ngayon. Babae na nga, tatanga-tanga pa."

I heard his words from before. The words he told me, his child—his daughter.

Now is the first time I heard a parent say those words to me.

"Disrespecting my family—my daughters, is disrespecting me, Lord Byron. I was waiting for you to realize what you're saying, but I think I overestimated your intelligence." Tumayo ang ama ko. "I feel sorry for your child to have a father like you, he has a great future ahead of him." He looked at Felix.

"I think you should learn a thing or two from him." He then glanced at the wine Lord Byron's drinking. "And if you can't handle your alcohol tolerance, then you should be drinking on your own. Pinahiya mo lang ang sarili mo, anak at asawa mo."

Tinalukuran niya na ang lamesa. "If this is the kind of family my daughters will go to, then they should stay under my care instead. I can give them anything they want, and they will live the way they wanted." He gave Lord Byron a side glare. "Be grateful that I still have a little bit of patience left, and as an old friend of mine. If it weren't for our children, I would've shove your face on the table."

Walang nakasagot o nakakibo. Maski ako, kung hindi lang ako mabilis na hinawakan ng ina ko sa kamay. Dinala niya 'ko sa pagtayo.

"A lovely dinner, Lady Stella," pahabol niya. "But I'm afraid that we should leave the table, if respect is no longer served."

My mother held my hand as she walked away. We left nothing but silence at the dining table.

I bit my lower lip, I felt my mother's touch get tighter.

"Never feel inferior to anyone, Harlotte. No one can belittle you or your sister, ever." I looked at my mother, she's looking in front, walking. "You're an Adelaide. You are my, and your father's daughter. No one can talk or look down on you or Hilian. As long as me and your father stands, no one can disrespect you."

Ramdam ko ang panginginig ng mga kamay ko. Ang luhang kanina ko pa pinipigilan, ay tuluyan ng tumulo. Napayuko ako at dahan-dahang tumango sa sinabi niya.

"Soon, that imbecile Lord Byron will find what he's looking for," may pagbabantang ani ng ina ko.

We went straight outside of the Byron's mansion, with my father in front. Malapit na kami sa pinto nang makarinig kami ng pagtawag sa amin. Pare-pareho kaming napahinto.

"L-Lord Howard!" I heard a familiar man said.

Sunod-sunod kaming napalingon sa lalaking humabol sa amin. Habol-habol ni Felix ang hininga niya nang makalapit sa 'min, lakas loob na hinarap ang mga magulang ko.

"I-I would like to apologize for my father's behaviour. He really has a bad alcohol tolerance. . . actually, the business is not going well and he's having a hard time," he sincerely said. "Please, please give my father a second chance."

My father just looked at him for seconds, before turning his head away. "I admire your effort and patience. But you should not waste it on a fool father like yours. I hope you become a Lord far better than him." Muli siyang naglakad. "We'll wait at the carriage, Harlotte."

My father didn't give Felix a chance to speak again and he continued walking. My mother on the other hand, gently touched his arm.

"Become a good young Lord, Felix," aniya bagong sundan ang akin ama.

Felix and I watched my parents as they go. He looks so disappointed and sad, before looking at me.

"Lottie, I'm sorry. . ."

Hindi ako nakasagot sa kaniya. Kapag nakikita ko ang mukha niya ay bumabalik ang impormasyon na nalaman ko ngayong araw.

I bit my lower lip. "Felix, do you love my sister?" I asked without thinking.

He was surprised with my sudden question, and his forehead furrowed. "Of course, I do. I wouldn't have asked her to marry me if I don't love her."

I just stared at him before slowly nodding. I really hope you do, because it's better for me to feel guilty for suspecting you than proving myself.

Hindi na ko sumagot pa at tinalikuran ko na rin siya.

"I see. . . then, have a good night. Thanks for the dinner," pamamaalam ko bago sumunod sa mga magulang ko.

I didn't look back, I dont want to see the expression Felix have. My feelings didnt change, I still suspect him. But all i need is one proof, just one proof to know he's innocent. And also, the reason why he's seeing my sister in secret.

Nakalapit ako sa karwahe kung saan naghihintay ang mga magulang ko, para lang matigilan sa sumalubong sa kin.

There are two carriages. . . the carriage in front of me opened, just for me to see my parents inside.

"Ride the other carriage, Harlotte," my father said. "Someone wants to talk to you. We'll just see you at the manor."

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya at napatingin ako sa karwaheng nasa likod nito. Someone wants to talk to me?

Kahit naguguluhan ay pumunta pa rin ako roon. I'm just in front of the door when it opened by itself, and a hand leaned in front of me to offer me help.

I slowly looked up. Like he always do, he makes my day worse.

"Sherlock."

𓉞✎🕊