I hummed a random song that came into my mind as I skipped along the corridors of our home. Various original paintings of famous artists hanged on the walls that gave life to the seemingly endless space that led to other rooms of the mansion. While wandering mindlessly with my artwork on hand, I was stopped by Francine, my favorite maid. She was carrying a basket with a smile plastered on her face as she closed the door of our library.
"Good morning, Fleur..." She greeted when she saw me. Her ruby lipstick outlined the arch of her lips perfectly, as if the product was truly meant for her. I immediately ran towards Francine and showed her my paper that had a sketch of my design. It was red cocktail dress that had a lot of pleats, laces, and ribbons.
"Good morning, Francine! Where are my mom and dad? Look at my art! That's me!" I smiled proudly as I saw her eyes take interest in the picture I drew.
"They're downstairs, sweetie... having breakfast. C'est une belle robe! I'm sure they'll love that!" I curled my toes out of happiness as she pat my head gently.
"Merci!" I hurriedly ran down the stairs and went to the dining table. The smell of coffee while I was on my way that delighted my senses meant that my parents were already having breakfast.
"Ma-Mademoiselle Fleur, please be careful!" I heard one of our maids, Agape call out of concern when I almost bumped into her. She was carrying a pile of clean chinaware and I had to apologize for my clumsiness.
The first scene that registered on my mind as I entered the room was my father in front of the table and my mother at the corner, arranging freshly-picked white roses in a porcelain vase.
"Good morning, Adora..." Una kong nilapitan si dad na abala sa pagbabasa ng newspaper.
"Daddy, look! I guhit a la...larawan?" I felt my tongue move differently as I spoke a foreign language. Tinawanan lang niya ako habang inaayos ang buhok kong magulo dahil kakagising ko lang.
"Yes, larawan. Very good! I see you're learning Filipino pretty fast! That's nice..." He pinched my cheek and gestured me to sit on the chair which I followed without hesitation. "Look, Margaux... I think our little Fleur Adora is gonna be like you!"
Mother's attention was finally caught as she glanced towards us. The rays of the sun that lit up the place radiated her angelic features elegantly. Dressed in a white, flowy dress while holding a bouquet of white roses made her look like a happy bride. I felt my cheeks heat out of delight because of my father's comment.
"Oh my! What a wonderful design..." Mommy took the paper, examined it, and kissed my cheek right after. "Good morning, Fleur... Ma cheri... as-tu bien dormi ?"
"Oui! I dreamt that I was kissing a stranger, though! Yuck!" I exclaimed out of disgust and the sound of their laughter conquered the room. I took a bite on a freshly-baked baguette with a strawberry jam spread on it, like I was pissed.
"Oh, Fleur... you must've dreamt of your soul mate!"
"Margaux, our child is too young to think about things like that." Daddy heaved a sigh and held my mother's hand to caress it with his thumb. They exchanged adoring glances at each other as if they were the only people in that table, making me feel out of place. "Axel—"
"Yuck! Stop disrespecting to the food!" I squirmed and drank my warm milk. I heard them snicker and whisper things to each other as they continue eating their food like nothing happened.
I picked the petals of a pink rose and placed them in my basket. I was playing with flowers in our garden out of boredom on a Sunday afternoon.
Walking daintily to the grand entrance of our house while tossing the petals in the air like a flower girl, my eyes caught the sight of huge cars parked outside. Blinking my eyes twice, I saw a huge old man get out of one of the cars together with other men. He looked a bit older than my father and he definitely looked scary with his build and a scar near his left brow. His brows furrowed as he glared at me, sending shivers down my spine.
He looks like a monster! What is he doing here? An intruder? I have to tell daddy to shoot him!
I hurriedly ran towards our house but I was greeted by my parents at the living room, dressed formally as if they were going to a party.
"Sioux is getting quite stubborn lately..." I heard Mommy spoke as she was fixing the necktie of my father.
"Hasn't he learned enough? His company is in debt already and he hasn't paid us yet." Their tone was always serious when it came to business as compared to when they speak to me.
My mother stepped aside right after dusting off my father's shoulders and took her purse. "Maybe we should pay them a visit after we meet with boss—"
"Daddy! There's a scary man outside! Please shoot him!" I jumped out of excitement as I will finally be able to see my father in action! I heard from Agape and the other maids gossiping about him hiding guns in his library but I was never permitted to go inside that room so I couldn't confirm it. I think my father is also a police or a secret agent? Hmmmm... a spy? Cool!
Both of them looked at each other, confused before glancing back at me. "What do you mean?"
"Monsieur, Madame, Ainsworth's men have arrived." Francine informed my parents. Mom and dad nodded at her so she took my hand and gestured me to come with her but I let go and hugged my mother as protest.
"There's a stranger in front of our house. You have to shoot him!"
"Oh no, he's... a family friend, Fleur. You don't shoot at friends." She pat my head gently.
So I won't get to see my father in action? Sad...
"Saan kayo punta?" It took me a while to say those words because I wasn't sure if they'd translate well.
"We're going to a party, darling..." She kneeled down to meet my gaze because of her height. I pouted. Why are they always like this? Why are they always busy? They rarely come home already! I wish they didn't have to work all time!
"Can I come too? I want to visit LEFEBVRE!" I suggested but she shook her head in disagreement.
"Maybe next time, ma cheri... Kids... are not allowed there." She reassured me while tucking loose strands of my black hair on my face at the back of my ear.
"But I'll be 10 in a week! I'm almost a teenager!" I stomped in disagreement but my mother just chuckled as if she was amused.
"Still too young~" She poked the tip of my nose. "boop!" She laughed and I pouted again.
"Lance will visit later. You can play with him for a while until we return." This time, it was my father's turn to bargain with me.
Oh, Lancelot! My playmate! Like my father, he's a Filipino too so I can learn a word or two from him!
"hmm....Okay! Just promise you'll be back earlier!"
"Do you know how to kiss, Adora?" Lance asked as I fixed my fancy hat to prevent it from being blown by the wind. We were walking at the backyard after having our afternoon tea party. We immediately got bored so he suggested that we play his games from the Philippines.
"Hmm.. no? But I've seen my parents kiss—"
"Like this!" I felt something soft pressed against the side of my lips. I was shocked for a moment but the way it felt was weird.
"Woahh! Do it again!" He willfully followed my command and kissed me again, this time, closer to my lips. It tickles! Is this why mom and dad love kissing and they always smile after doing it?
"Again—"
"Mademoiselle Fleur! qu'est-ce que tu fais?! Stop that!" I heard Sylvia's voice from afar as she caught us.
"Takbo!" Lancelot pulled my hand as we ran towards the vast fields, giggling. I felt the wind mess up my hair but I didn't care. We fell to the ground and stared at the blue skies above. The grass touching our skin felt really comfortable while watching the clouds move painfully slow.
Panting with our skin covered in sweat from that escape, I sat up and looked at Lance who was smiling like he had a taste of victory.
"What was that word you said?" I asked out of curiosity.
"Takbo."
"What's that?"
"Run!"
"Ohh... Ta...Takbo?" I tried to follow him.
"Yup!"
Nice! A new word in my vocabulary!
"hmm... Lance?"
"yeah?" He also sat up, his black eyes now meeting my gaze.
"What's the Filipino of kiss?" His cheeks became tinted with pink at my question. He looked away for a bit and cleared his throat.
"Ha..Halik."
Oh. "Okay... Halik me again, Lance!"
He immediately sat straight and looked at me attentively with wide eyes. I saw him gulp and look at my lips, like what I was requesting was his wishes too.
"There's another way to halik, actually. I saw this on TV! Come here." I nodded and moved closer to him. He cupped my cheeks and moved his face closer to mine too.
"Close your eyes." He commanded and I shot my brows up out of confusion.
"o...okay..." I shut my eyes and waited. I felt Lance's breath near me but nothing happened. I heard someone clear his throat, making me open my eyes to follow that voice. To my surprise, it was a handsome man who I think was older than us by a few years! His spectacles prevented me from taking a good view of his eyes but I could already tell that he was surely attractive. His furrowed brows reminded me of the scary man I saw earlier! Are they related?
"You kids are too young to be playing around like adults." He spoke with a deep tone and glared at me, making me feel uncomfortably ashamed of myself. We... We were just playing! Mom and dad kiss each other all the time so what's his problem?
"She's my fiancée!" Lance stood up and glared at the boy in front, like he was an alpha defending his territory from an intruder.
I blinked twice and pointed at myself. "Huh? Me? But I don't have a ring."
Lance's brows furrowed in annoyance as he looked at me. What? It's true! Mom and Francine told me that I can only be someone else's fiancée if I agreed to wear the ring!
The older guy scoffed. He stared at me then smirked. He walked towards me, ignoring Lance so I stood up but my playmate held out his arm in front of me to block the stranger from getting closer.
"Are you engaged to him?" He asked and handed in front of us my fancy hat. Oh my! I didn't know it was blown away by the wind earlier!
I gently pushed Lance's arm down to signal him that it was fine. I took the hat and thanked him. I can't help but become hypnotized with his eyes that were observing me. Too bad those glasses were on the way!
"I... I don't know...I'm only 9..." I curled my toes and felt my cheeks heat up. I heard Lance groan beside me as he muttered a foreign word I couldn't understand.
"Whatever! She's my property!"
"That's not a nice way to treat a girl, kid."
"Who are you anyway? A tourist? Move along now before I call the cops! You're trespassing on our lands!" Lance warned as he held my wrist and pulled me to hide behind him. The stranger was unfazed, still looking at me like he was amused.
"your lands?" He intrigued.
"Hell yeah!"
My gaze went back and forth as the both of them exchanged banters. Lance looked more pissed as the stranger countered his arguments like it was nothing. I looked away from them and saw Francine waving at us, calling my name before walking towards our direction. Oh no!
"Lance! Francine is coming!" I squeezed his hand to catch his attention. Both of them stopped and looked at me, then to the person coming.
"Bwisit! Mga panira! Tss..." He let go of my hand and walked back.
"H-huh? Wait for me!" I followed Lance and wore my hat.
"Lance... what did you say? Bwi...shit?"
"Wala." I cocked my head to the side. Why won't he tell me?
"Nothing?" I translated.
"oo. wala." He spoke dryly.
"Teluhgae?"
"It's Ta-la-ga. Oo. Wala. Uuwi na ako." My eyes widened. It's too early! Mom and dad are not home yet!
"Pourquoi?"
"Je suis fatigué." He groaned so I kept my mouth shut. Lance is scary when he's angry too...
"Are... Are you coming again tomorrow?" I tried to ask again while trying to keep up with his steps but he didn't answer again. I fiddled with my thumbs out of disappointment.
So he's not coming...
I looked back at the older boy and surprisingly met his gaze. He was watching me so I waved as a goodbye out of respect. The sides of his lips curved into a smile at my action as he turned around and walked to another direction... to god-knows-where.