Lost Stars

Chapter 11 | The Art Of Faking It

Chapter 11 | The Art Of Faking It

"It's funny how I got just exactly what I want
I'll try to have fun some other time
I thought money was enough, It's just a temporary rush
I'll try to go find some other high."
-Charlie Puth, Losing My Mind

•••

Liam's Pov

Palabas na sana ako ng mansyon, para pumasok sa school nang tawagin ako ng kuya kong magaling---note the sarcasm, na si Clyde. Pero honestly talking magaling naman talaga siya sa lahat ng bagay, kumpara sa akin, kaya nga paborito siya ng magulang namin.

Nilingon ko siya, to gave him a 'what' look.

"Umuwi ka daw mamayang tanghali, na ipaalam ka na ni Dad sa principal niyo." Sagot niya, habang tinitiklop 'yung sleeve ng polo na suot niya.

"At bakit?" Kunot noo ko na tanong.

"May magazine company na pupunta dito, we'll gonna have a photoshoot, 'cause our family will be featured again." Paliwanag niya in a casual tone.

"Oh, family pala tayo?" Sarkastiko kong sabi. Napa iling na lang si Clyde, pursing his lips.

"Hindi na lang ako papasok." Sabi ko. Placing my bag pack na bitbit ko sa tiles, I removed my uniform vest and neck tie, forming it into a ball.

"Ikaw bahala." Sabi ni Clyde, shrugging his shoulders, making his way inside. Kinuha ko 'yung bag ko at pumasok na din sa loob, deretso pa balik sa kwarto ko.

Pag pasok ko, I throw my vest and neck tie somewhere in my room then flop in my bed. Atleast I now have an excuse para hindi pumasok sa letseng school na 'yun.

Every now and then, our family get featured in top magazines, online articles, news papers, tabloids---if it still exist, because of our family's wealth. My dad's wealth to be exact. Tristan Breeze was an American business man who owns a chain of malls all around the globe. Fifty branches here in the Philippines, thirty three in Dubai, twenty something in Singapore, ten in Japan and America, seven in London and Italy, five in Mexico and two in Russia. At sampu or lima pa lang yata na pupuntahan ko doon, sa buong seventeen years of existence ko.

Kaya ito na naman kami, we have to do a photo shoot for a certain famous magazine and pretend how happy and perfect our family was, when the truth we aren't.

Dahil kasi sa kayamanan na 'yan, our family became a total disaster. Dahil nga wala nang time si Daddy sa amin, ang napa galing kong nanay na si Joan---note the sarcasm again, e ayun nag hanap ng attention sa iba, by the means of spending her time in casino, having fun in bars and other things I don't give a damn what, malay ko nga baka nang lalaki na din 'yun. Bihira na din siyang na uwi, kung uuwi lasing pa, kung parehas naman silang nandito ni dad sa bahay, wala na silang ginawa kundi ang mag away.

Kaya na walan sila ng atensyon, mostly sa akin. Si dad may paki pa kay Clyde, dahil si Clyde mabait, matured, maasahan, matalino, at sa mantalang ako, mahina utak, walang kwenta.

That's why I became like this. Total wala naman akong maipag mamalaki, edi dinaan ko sa pagiging bully noong bata ako, baka sakaling makuha ko atensyon ng mga magulang ko kung sakali. Pero hindi. Because I can't find my place here in my so called "family", na tagpuan ko sarili ko sa "wrong crowd" na sinasabi ng karamihan. Sa gang na binuo namin ng best friend ko na si Sandrew.

Sa pagiging "pariwara" ko, nakuha ko nga atensyon ng mga magulang ko, hindi para itama ako or what, but to point out my flaws instead. Nang makaraan, wala na din naman silang na gawa sa akin, as they carry on with their own lives again, not giving a damn about me and sometimes pati kay Clyde, lalo si Joan.