FATED BOND

Daisy’s POV

Nina already informed me that there was going to be a dinner party organized by the firm that night. The previous day was a book festival day that took place in Manilla city where I met a lot of young authors and poets.

At first, I thought I was going to be the youngest at 20 but I was wrong. There was a particular boy that caught my attention. He was brown-skinned and had black shiny hair with an American accent. He was a poet and when he was asked for his age, he said he was 10. I couldn’t believe it. His looks and appearance as well as his words were too mature for a boy of 10.

I was already dressed in my room with Ellah so I picked her up, my purse, and phone before walking over to Nina’s room which was opposite mine. She got out of the room all dressed too before I got to her door.

“You look good, Daisy”, she complimented me. “And you too, my baby.”

“Thank you, granny”, Ellah’s little voice muttered.

“You look good too, mom”, I said and stared at her overflowing dinner gown with shiny floral designs. I was dressed in a lavender off-shoulder gown with a slit, with matching stiletto heels. Ellah was on a white dress with whitish ribbons all over the shoulder and matching black heels too.

“Thank you. Let’s go”, she nudged me and we went out together, with Ellah asking several questions.

When we arrived at the dinner party, Nina introduced me to a few acquaintances and old friends of her father, as well as some prominent writers too who gave a few words of encouragement to me after Nina informed them of my book.

I wondered what Nina would say when they asked her if I was her daughter, probably in my absence.

“What genres do you write, dear?” One of the men asked. He had pecked Nina on both cheeks and hugged her immediately he saw us. I wondered about the relationship between them.

“Teen fiction and romance”, I replied.

His face broke into a smile. “Writing romance? I see you took after Nina.”

“Nina is an all-rounder. She doesn’t write only romance”, another man countered. He was seated next to the old man with a smug smile on his face. I didn’t notice him until he spoke up.

“Yes. She is a great writer”, the old man uttered, looking over at Nina with eyes full of adoration and admiration.

Nina smiled at him but when the other man said something again, Nina’s smile vanished and turned to a glare.

“I hope your daughter will make a good writer too someday”, he said.

I was watching them and silently observing their reactions, expressions, and movements.

“You don’t need to hope for anything, Auguste. She is a great writer already”, Nina retorted.

“I agree with Nina. VP publishing wouldn’t have accepted her book if she wasn’t good. I would love to read her book someday and compare it to that of Nina’s”, the old man shook his head as he spoke.

I liked him instantly.

His words were sincere and the looks Nina was throwing at Auguste made me find him unlikeable. The wicked smile on his face added to my dislike.

“Pa Angelo”, he called the old man who sipped his wine silently before turning to look at him.

“Nina is the best seller in America, how sure are we that she didn’t pull some strings just so her daughter can get accepted and she can take up her legacy when she stops writing?”

“What?” Nina exclaimed. I could see her chest heaving up and down in distress. Pa Angelo touched her hand and smiled at her. The look he gave her was the look of ‘don’t mind him or ‘don’t answer him.’

“Auguste, I am sure you know that the VP publishing firm is based in the Philippines, not America. Nina is the best seller in America, not the Phillipines. Besides, I think time will tell whether our dear daughter, Daisy”, he smiled at me and continued. “would be able to take up Nina’s legacy. You don’t need to be faster than your shadow”, the old man smirked but the mischievous smile on Auguste’s face didn’t waver as he looked from me to Nina, before excusing himself.

“Where do you know him from?” I questioned Nina in a whisper.

Nina sighed. “He is the man my father wanted me to marry.”

“Oh!” I muttered.

Nina stood up. “We need to go now, Pa Angelo. I will come to visit you in the house before we leave for America.”

“Make sure to come with Daisy. I would be glad to host you too”, he beamed. I smiled at him when he looked my way. The man never seemed to stop smiling with his little mouth and eyes.

“Of course”, Nina responded and hugged him.

I saw his mouth moving to her ears and he whispered. “I’m glad you didn’t marry him”, Nina nodded and pecked his cheeks before he came to me.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

I passed the sleeping Ellah to Nina before he engulfed me into his big arms. I found the hug comforting and it reminded me of my dad. We disengaged and bade each other goodbye.

“I like him”, I told Nina as we walked towards the door.

She nodded. “He was my father’s friend. He used to write too.”

“Waw! I’m sure he is a great fan of yours ”

“Yes”, she answered.

I took Ellah from her and she opened her eyes and called mommy.

“Hello, baby”, I smiled at her.

“Are we going home?” She asked me and I nodded with a smile. I felt there was no need to explain to her that we were going to our home there in the Philippines and not the home in America.

She nodded and rested her head back on my chest as if to continue her sleep. I was about to ask her if she was hungry as I peered to take a look at her face when I bumped into someone.

She was carrying a big bag and the content fell to the ground. The sound caught the attendtion of Nina who was ahead and she walked back to where I squatted to help the woman with her bag. I dropped Ellah so I could pack the things on the floor.

“I’m sorry, ma’am”, I apologized but there was no response.

I looked up at her in surprise but her face was expressionless as she stared at me without a word. I thought she was angry with me, so I picked the last content on the floor with trembling hands. I stood back up with guilt.

“She’s so sorry, ma’am”, Nina said on my behalf. But the woman was still silently watching me. I stretched the bag at her but she didn’t blink. I looked over to Nina for help and she shrugged before stretching to take the bag from me.

“Daisy”, the woman said and raised her hand to touch my face.

I was dumbstruck at her behavior and surprised that she called me by my name. I searched her face to see if she was familiar but there was no flash of familiarity. Her clothes were shabby with an apron tied above her shoulder. I guessed she was one of the caterers of the event.

“Ma’am, do you know me?” I questioned as she retrieved her hand, looking down at her feet.

“Grandma, I can’t find Fred”, another lady said, coming towards us, interrupting the awkward silence between us. I looked at Nina and saw her with the same confused look. The bag was still with her and Ellah was already in her arms.

“He is eating in the kitchen. I told him to wait for you there”, the woman turned to the younger woman. I gasped when I saw the other woman’s face.

“Aunt Vanessa”, I called and she looked up at me.

“Oh My God, Daisy!” She called and embraced me tightly.

“What are you doing here?”

“Where have you been?” We both asked at the same time.

“Aunt, where have you been?” I release myself from the hug, trying so hard to stop myself from crying. She didn’t answer.

“You know each other?” The older woman questioned.

“Yes”, Aunt Vanessa answered. “She is my niece.”

“Niece? Daisy is your niece?” Her body shook. I saw fear in her eyes.

“You know Daisy?” Aunt Vanessa demanded.

She nodded and a tear dropped from her eyes. She shook her head. “Don’t tell me Vera is your sister, Vanessa.”

“Vera is my twin sister”, Aunt Vanessa responded. “and she is Daisy’s mother.”

“Oh, My God!” She covered her mouth.

“What happened?” Aunt Vanessa held her, stopping her from slumping to the ground.

“James”, she only said and my heart began to pound.

“James? You know James too? James is Vera’s husband.”

“You don’t look alike, Vanessa. How come I didn’t know Vera to be your sister?”

“She is dead.”

“I know”, the woman answered. I was watching the drama between them silently and in confusion.

“You know?” Aunt asked and she nodded.

The old woman looked up at me again.

“I’m sorry, Daisy”, she pulled me in an embrace. “I’m sorry.”

Aunt Vanessa was also looking confused. I threw her a questioning look of where the hell do you know this woman from? But she didn’t seem to get me as she kept looking at me.

The woman eventually pulled away, soaking my dress with her tears.

“James is my son”, she blurted out. I couldn’t process what she meant at first and when I got the information, I moved away and Aunt Vanessa exclaimed in shock.