Serenade in the Daylight (Old Money #1)

PROLOGUE

SITD - Future Mr. and Mrs. Ferreira

"Miss Restrivera? How is your second name pronounced?"

I sighed after hearing the exact same question every year. I'm tired of it but I am quite patient with people though, and it wasn't their fault that they didn't know how to say my name because it wasn't written with diacritics, or in easy terms, accents. 

"Similar to the word 'fiancée' po." I flashed a smile towards the outgoing student government president, Chloe.

"Oh, e-le-gan-sey. Seraphina Elegancée Restrivera. Ang expensive ah," she teased which I laughed at.

Ang bait at friendly. No wonder why she won the votes of the students during the election last year.

Inabutan ako ni Chloe ng nakatuping papel after niya ibigay ang aking certificate of candidacy sa ibang members ng student government. "The left side contains the time table, para sa mga activities na magaganap during campaign period. Then the right side, do's and don't's sa campaigning. Friday night, magkakaroon na ng group chats ang bawat party list, doon mo pa lang malalaman kung sinu-sino ang mga makakasama mo. Good luck!"

I thanked her and immediately walked out of the organization's office to give space and way for others who were also waiting. The sun is almost down and alam kong gusto na rin makaalis ng iba rito. Had I known sooner na mas marami pala ang nagpapasa ng COC kung kailan last day na, sana pala ipinasa ko na kaagad ang akin noong Lunes o Martes.

Just as I handed my transportation fee to the jeepney driver, my phone rang. It was my mother.

["Seraphina, where on earth are you?! We have visitors coming for dinner, baka mauna pa ang mga 'yon sa iyo, nakakahiya!"]

Jeez, mas nakakahiya rito sa katabi ko na naririnig ang pambubunganga sa akin ni mommy. Ang tagal naman kasi dumating ng inorder kong earphones, I need to replace my old ones!

"Pauwi na po. Nagtagal lang ako sa univ dahil nagpasa akong COC para sa election, last day na po ngayon so hindi ko na p'wede ipagpabukas. Sorry. I'm almost home naman na po, nagpapa-gas lang 'yung jeep," I answered calmly. Thank God there isn't any traffic, I'll be home in less than ten minutes.

["Jeep? Oh my, Sea! Bakit hindi ka na lang nag-taxi o kaya nagpasundo sa driver? Alam mo namang may bagyo, paano kung bigla kang ulanin pagbaba? Hindi bale sana kung hindi ka tamad magdala ng payong—"]

"Mommy, dead batt na po ako," I cut her off and bid goodbye to end the call. I'm not this disrespectful but it's really embarrassing on my part that the people sitting beside me were hearing the conversation. Siksikan kaya kahit isagad ko pa sa pinakamahina ang volume, maririnig at maririnig ang pinag-uusapan namin. 'Yung isa nga, ramdam ko na ang paghagikhik.

No rain came to pour when I was dropped off, lucky me. I ran towards the house and was surprised to see how my parents really prepared for the dinner with our visitors. Aside from the porcelain dinnerware we regularly use, wine glasses were also present on the dining table along with an ice bucket containing the bottle of wine that my father bought in Poland three years ago. Scented candles were also lit up, and then I saw the housemaid just took out a huge tray of back ribs from the oven.

"Ate, get dressed now!" Shane, my little sister, approached me. She looked cute with her magenta dress paired with powder pink bunny slippers and two powder pink bows. "Baka mapangitan sa 'yo future asawa mo. Lagot ka!" she threatened.