She arrived at a fancy restaurant where the dinner was called, she parked her car, the parking lot was in another building, as she started to walk towards the restaurant again, she looked around as her breathing shortens, her heart palpitates, her breath starts to go out of control, her body shakes.
I need to go back to the car, I need to take my pills. I need...
She looked around, she was so far from her truck that it was invisible from her sight. At the corner of her eyes, there was a convenience store, it was next to the building, the store was far but not as far as her truck.
She slowly walked her way to the store, step by step, she reached the store, she opened the glass doors and she was greeted by the cashier. The store was empty, and she greeted him back with a smile.
She recognized the cashier, he was one of her classmates, "Guess you got punished, again." Her voice shakes, as she forces herself a smile.
"Yeah," his voice was deep and a rasp was heard, maybe because he hasn't talked much. Hinaya chuckles, it was short but it sure did make the corners of his lips lift.
He had a hat covering his raven hair, his eyes were black, his nose was tall, and his lips were like the color of peach.
"I'm gonna look around." She turned her head and was still shaking, with the sudden panic attack she felt like drowning, she felt like there was not enough air coming through her. She shakes her hands and thinks of something, God dayum, he's fucking gorgeous. As always.
She looked around in the drinking section, quietly. Trying to calm herself, still.
"Where are you going?" The voice was from her back.
She turned to look and he was in the section beside her stocking some crisps. "Oh, just family dinner."
"Family dinner?"
"Yeah, does it look too much?" Her trembling hand clutches the water bottle she had gotten from the fridge.
"No, you look good."
"Just good?" She breathed a laugh and soon she heaved air, he made eye contact with her. Not stepping towards her.
"Then amazing? Gorgeous? Perfect? Flawless?" Don't look away, Naya. I know you won't like any physical contact, so please don't look away and be distracted by our conversation.
She laughs and he does the same but it was short-lived. "Can I get all of the above?" She laughed again, and he smiled.
"How are you feeling? I heard you just got out of the hospital." He finished stocking and put down the container he was carrying.
"I'm good, oh and I almost forgot. How's school?"
"It's been good, stressful as usual and it's back to normal now. Have you been vaccinated?"
"Yeah, while I was in the hospital they gave me the vaccine."
"Oh, that's good." Good. She's not trembling anymore, this attack is shorter than her usual one.
"Mmmm, yeah." She replies and exhales.
"Have you calmed down now?"
"What?" She asked surprised, He was paying attention?
"You entered the store with your hands shaking, you were heaving for air, and I figured you were having one of your attacks again."
"Yes,'- a pause as a small chuckle left her- "thank you."
Silence fell to the store as they looked at each other with their eyes.
His eyes there's something in them, soft, gentle, calm, and adoring. I could look into his eyes every day and I wouldn't get tired of it.
Someone entered the door, both of them looked at who it was, it was his best friend. "Ethan, are you still alive?" His best friend said as he eyed the store.
His best friend caught Hinaya's figure, he smiled, "Hey, Naya." He waved.
"Hey." She smiled back.
"What are you doing here?" Ethan's voice hinted at being annoyed with his friend's presence- though his expression says the opposite, there was a smile curved across his lips.
Hinaya laughed, "Ethan, I'm gonna take this water."
He turned around, "Oh, yes."
They walked towards the counter, "Where are you going, Naya?" His best friend asked.
"Family dinner. Ugh." She groaned, making her eyes roll.
"That sucks." He turned to look at Ethan and wiggled his eyebrows, Ethan ignored him and continued to do his work.
"Oh you don't need to put it in a plastic bag, I can carry it." She grabbed the water bottle and opened it. She took multiple gulps. After, she sighs. "Oh here." She took her card from her wallet.
"No, it's okay. I can cover for it." Ethan said, slowly shaking his hand, putting on a polite smile.
"No, here." She tried to swipe her card to the cash register but he gently grabbed her hand and said, "Look at what time it is, you're going to be late."
She looked at her watch and it was 9:32 pm, "Oh shit." She quickly walked out, while walking out she looked back and said, "Is it really okay?"
"Yes." He softly smiled and nodded, this brought a smile to Hinaya's face.
She turns around and marches out cursing, "Oh shit, shit, shit, shit."
Inside the store where both Ethan and his best friend left, his best friend bumps his shoulders to Ethan. "No wonder, you were not answering your dad's or my calls."
"Shut up," Ethan was still eyeing outside and looking at her figure that's walking fast, slowly fading.
-
Hinaya opened the restaurant's door, and upon entering she was greeted with bows, she collected her breath and walked with fierce and powerful eyes.
She had been known in the restaurant since she's a big deal, she and Freya have been here ever since they were kids, at least most of the staff knows her. The restaurant is a fancy diner where it can give people privacy as each table is separated by walls, this place is often a place where business partners gather.
"Room 24," She looked at the number of the doors, the room was right in the corners of her eyes, she again collected herself and walked towards the big door.
Two doors open as she pushes right in the middle, a sudden flashback plays in her mind.
"Mom?" She asked as her voice shakes. Her mom was there on the floor crying curled up her head between her legs. "What happened?" Her heels clicked against the floor as she rushed to her mom. Her small shoe prints covered her trail with mud. 7-year-old Hinaya witnessed something she shouldn't have, something that will stick out to her until she grows up.
Her mom looks up at her, she wipes her tears and says, "Nothing, baby. How was school?" Her voice was gentle.
"Mom..." She breaks into tears, Hinaya had seen it. She had seen it. The bruises her father left on her mom's body. "Mom..."
I need to be strong for mom, her life didn't have a good ending because of me. Because of that jerk. Because of that bitch. Because of that... She let out a sigh, come on Naya... you came here because you don't want your brother to experience the same thing. Don't blame it on the kid. Blame it on them. Blame them. Not the kid. They did it, not the kid.
Coming back to the present, everyone from the table looked at her. Her grandpa was in the head chair, her father took the right side from the head, her stepmother was right beside that monster, her father. Her grandma took the left side beside her grandpa.
"Sorry po, late ako, ulit." She grinned, this grin curved the lips of her grandparents.
Translation: I'm late, again.
Her grandpa lifted himself from his chair and said to Hinaya, "Take the seat from the other side, Iha."
Her grandpa was pointing in front of him, her grandma smiled and gave her a welcoming smile. The seat that's in front of the head of the house is important as it also says a lot about one's status in the house.
"Father, why wasn't I able to take the other side table? A little kid like her is not fit for that seat." Rodrigo said.
"Maybe stop acting like a kid, then you'll be sitting at the grown-up table." She mockingly said to him.
It's done, I've put him into my trap. One more word to push him to the edge. That won't be hard since he's stupid. One word and he would go into an outburst. Like a child. Can't take a humbling from his daughter. Weakling. Just wait, I bet a thousand dollars he'll stand up and try to slap me or even throw that glass towards me.
Her father stands up from his chair and walks towards Hinaya. "Don't you dare say anything to a conversation you're not in, Hinaya you should know basic etiquette." He pointed his finger in front of Hinaya, this made her blood boil.
Her hands turned into a fist. Thank you for that opening. Dad, gago ka(you're stupid) Meron kaba mata o wala? (do you have eyes or no?) Nandito ako sa gitna malamang kasama ako sa pinag usapan.(I'm here in the middle, of course, I'm in the conversation.)
"Since we are talking about respect— etiquette. How about we gather examples I've learned in the house. Shall we?" One of her eyebrows went up and a mischievous smile curved. "Beating your 1st wife in front of his daughter, telling me your plan to kill and I quote "That fucking bitch, Merilyn." That doesn't sound good right? Well, guess what, I'm not done yet but I'm gonna cut it off for now. Gotta save the rest for the court." She whispers her last sentence, her smile not attached to her face as it disappears mid her words.
Hinaya shot back, one of her eyebrows raised with a mischievous smile curving through her lips. Good, Naya, keep it up.
He raised his hand about to hit Hinaya but he was stopped by the shout of her grandfather, "Looks like you forgot I was here, Rodrigo. Don't you forget that you're only a son in law not a son in blood. Even if you're my son in blood you can't get away with this. With this sight and behavior in front of me, what am I not seeing? Worry not, I'll be seeing you in court."
"What?" Rodrigo sounded speechless. But it was true, there are far more disgusting than this display of behavior. He hid it well on family occasions. "She's going to grow up without manners, have you heard what she had said to me?"
Target about to finish, much easier than in the house but this is good. Thank you, lolo.
"Maybe because I learned it in the house? Have you heard the saying 'Manners are learned in the house'?" She gasps with a surprised face, "So, I think that's why I haven't learned a single thing." Her lips curved to a smirk.