Torment

INNER TEARS

Reader, you might have imagined that after the dance the party was all over, but as Johannes Brahm's Hungraian Dance No 5 played, it still went on. The moment Homer left Rosalie at the middle of the dance floor, together with his daughter, the Santiago family immediately approached them. "Oh well, well, Mister El Salvador what a pleasure!" Gerardo Santiago with his wife greeted them willingly. The man even shook Homer's hand quite tighter than usual. "And is she your daughter?" Jane forced a smile but he could sense that she was not happy to meet these people. "Yes."

"What a beauty. I'm Theresa and here's Gerard, my husband. You are?" Homer glanced at his daughter and said, "Auburn." Jane immediately took Mrs Santiago's hand. "Just call me Burns."

"What a unique name you have." Theresa Santiago remarked. "We never thought that your father actually owns one of the biggest haciendas here. We never thought that he came from this town. Quite a small world isn't it? Leonora and I have been friends since God knows when and look, destiny itself has brought us all together. Wonderful to meet you Burns. It's good that the two of you also know the Ramos family." Homer got another glass of wine from the waiter who passed by and sipped his drink but his eyes caught his daughter's expression turned sour. "Well, they never thought we existed either." Jane sarcastically said. "I'm sorry?" Mr Santiago asked, as if he did not hear what his daughter had told them.

"My daughter just means that it is indeed, a remarkable celebration. It's good to see you again Mr and Mrs Santiago." Homer calmly replied. "I hope the Spolarium Prize Award went well."

"Oh Mister El Salvador it is our pleasure to see you again! And of course you just made the Spolarium Prize Award so, so much better. Have you received our email? I sent you an article just yesterday, which embodies a variety of critical reviews that are exceptionally outstanding. A lot of people liked this year's judgement of the winners."

"I'm afraid to say that due to my busy schedule I have not checked all of my mails. But all in all, I'm glad to hear that." He felt his daughter sighed next to him rather feeling jaded and annoyed. Homer was aware of the fact that Jane never liked dinner parties especially that tonight's event was way more different than the others. "It's okay we truly understand. Don't make any fuss, take your time." He nodded and smiled faintly. Homer was also aware of these people trying so hard to be close to him because he was wealthy and powerful. If not for his fortune and his ability to run various investments all over Europe, these people would never be this close to him. "Maiba naman tayo, how about your daughter? Is it her first time here in Santa Lucia?" Mr Santiago asked.

"Yes." Jane politely uttered. "How are you liking it so far?"

"I think that it is reasonable to say that Santa Lucia is-"

"Mister El Salvador." Deep, almost haunting voice suddenly echoed from behind and so they were all compelled to turn around. Homer found Don Sebastian next to Madam Ingrid and Serena Realonda standing sophisticatedly in front of them. He held his head proudly up high and raised his glass towards Don Sebastian Realonda. "Don Sebastian." Homer saw how the Santiagos suddenly became even more conscious about themselves and his daughter who had gone more curious about him.

"Homer." Serena Realonda said with a voluptuous grin. For a while they only stared at one another until Gerardo Santiago greeted, "Madame Ingrid and Don Sebastian! Welcome! Welcome! For the first time, what a surprise!"

Ingrid Realonda, whose eyes were old but experienced and judgemental, could only smile next to her husband. There was no denying that the Realondas had more wealth than the Santiagos and the Ramos family. Homer was for certain that the Realonda family, whom he had met years ago, only choose people who they thought were deserving of their friendship. They were not very congenial sort of people. In fact, he was able to classify both families, the Ramos and the Santiagos as people who only wanted the Realonda family's acknowledgement because they were wealthier and more powerful, hoping that this family would soon invite them to be part of the hierarchy.