Chapter 21: Carrie's Anatomy (Part 2).

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“I so hate you, Phoe,” I mumbled through gritted teeth as we made our way inside the fancy Italian restaurant.


The maître d’ immediately approached us when he caught sight of my sister. “Bonjour, mademoiselle. You’re parents are already here. I got you the best table in the house,” he happily informed us in an authentic Italian drawl ― only he sounded like a bee (‘I gut you zee bez table in zee hauz’).


“Merci, Antoine,” my sister smiled at him and he ushered us to the table.


“It would’ve been more productive for my part if I was watching House or Grey’s Anatomy re-runs at the condo instead,” I groused at her side.


“Cacai, you just have to endure it for an hour; two hours tops.”


“Oh, screw you,” I hissed, which made Antoine to turn his head and have a quick look, but I went on. “If you weren’t out to make those rounds, I wouldn’t have had to answer that stupid phone of yours in your office.”


“If my secretary was around that time, you didn’t have to pick up that phone; but then maybe it’s fate,” she countered jokingly.


I wanted to shout back at her that fate is nothing but a facsimile of a sham but she’s already walking up to our parents and giving them both a peck on the cheek.


“I told you I can convince Cacai to come,” she chirped as I joined them. In the back of my mind, I was cursing my sister with all the unkind words I can come up with.


If she didn’t blackmail me in the first place ― saying that she will return all my current purchases from Nine West and Gucci ― I wouldn’t even agree on coming to this lame family dinner. Well, I didn’t exactly have a choice to decline since she’s the one paying my rent and other expenditures, especially my shopping expenses.


Mom stood up and pulled me in to a tight hug. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re here, honey,” she sighed. 


Unlike my mother’s warm welcome, Dad just glanced at me uninterestedly and sipped his coffee soundlessly. Even for a man, my father still knows how to carry himself with poise. I just wished he didn’t have to be so meticulous when it comes to my choice of style ― he has always loathed my fashion sense.


Antoine helped us with our chairs as my sister parked herself beside Dad and I took a seat in front of him.“Shall I take you orders, monsieur? Madame?” Antoine inquired when we’re finally settled.


Mom took the liberty of selecting our course of meal for the night, from the appetizers down to the desserts (good thing she didn’t order any of those cinnamon-sprinkled sweets; she knows how much I hate those).


After my father drank down the last drop of his coffee, he put his cup down and turned to me. “You look thin,”he said. “Have you been eating well?” His statement ending up sounding condemnatory and his voice lacking the sound of genuine concern didn’t actually surprise me. He has been emotionally-detached to us ever since that horrible accident years ago.


I was about to say something cynical in return but my sister had already predicted that so she decided to change the subject. “Mom, remember Dr. Santiago from our conference in Baguio last year? She’s one of Carrie’s professors this semester. Right, Cai?”


“Yeah,” I nodded halfheartedly.


“Really? I thought she’s in Davao. I should pay her a visit then.”


Good Lord, this is going to be a looooonnnnggg night.




So far, I’ve survived the hors d’oeuvres of crabe au citron canapé, entrée of soupe à l’oignon gratinée, and main course of beef bourguignon and chicken parmigiana. The only thing left on the list is the dessert and I’m free to go.


Jeez, I can’t believe the great deal of food my mother has ordered. I think my stomach is going to blow any minute now!


“I heard you’re in the top four of your batch, sweetheart. Congratulations,” Mom said and raised her wine glass half-filled with the straw-colored Chardonnay.


“Thanks, Mom, but the list just covers the midterm. It’ll still change by the end of the semester.”


“Still, top four, that’s very commendable especially when you have a very tight competition at R. E. Jacobs. Don’t you think so, Ruel?” she turned to my Dad, who had just finished off his second glass of Merlot, the single wine that suits his predilection.


“Hmm,” he scoffed. “So who’s on the top spot then?”


I ignored his grunt of mockery and carried on to answer him, “A friend of mine, Xyrene Recto.”


“Then you should stop partying so much and start concentrating on your studies. That would be a fair compensation for your sister after all the trouble you brought her, don’t you think?” I knew this dinner wouldn’t end without any malevolent remarks coming from him.


“Daddy, please,” Ate Phoebe sighed and gently placed her hand over his arm. “This is the only time that we’re together again as a family. Why can’t we just enjoy our dinner?”


“Stop being so modest about your generosity to your sister, Phoebe. I know you’re the one paying for all of her spending, but she won’t understand the real meaning of independence if you’re always coming to her rescue.”


“Ruel, there are more appropriate places where we can talk about this and that’s not here.”


“No, Lillian. Your prodigal daughter here asked for autonomy and we gave it to her even if it was against our will. As far as my definition for independence goes, I don’t think Carina fits the category of fending for oneself when her sister provides everything for her.”


I chortled darkly. “So you think this is all about independence? You think I moved out of the house just because I wanted independence?”


“Well, what else is there?” he challenged. “You wanted to prove to us that you can make it on your own, that you can still live without our help. Yes, you’ve proven your point. You were able to get by without needing any cent from us, but I think this game should stop now. Phoebe is not getting married until next year and yet she’s already noshing for you.”


“Dad,” Phoebe interjected. “Cacai is not obliging me to help her; I volunteered.”


“That’s why your sister here can confidently lark around because she knows you won’t prohibit her, Phoebe. You should stop playing the role of the parent and start acting as her sister.”


“If you were playing your role as a parent, Dad, Ate Phoebe doesn’t even need to look out after me in the first place,” I retorted.


“We raised you and you’re telling us were not doing our jobs as your parents?” he barked.


“As far as I can remember, it was Mom who raised us.”


“I can’t believe this,” he muttered. “Fine, you win,” he replied acidly. “I get your point, Carina. There, I’ve said it. What else do you want to hear from me?”


I rolled my eyes and prepared to stand up. “Why is everything have to be a contest for you, Daddy?” I snapped.


“Honey, please,” Mom pleaded. “Your Dad is just tired from work. I’m sure he doesn’t mean it that way.”


I smiled at my Mom apologetically. “I’m sorry, Mom. I can tolerate sitting here with Dad and pretend that we’re all right but I honestly won’t put up with him meddling with my life. No, thank you.”


He shook his head in displeasure. “I don’t understand you anymore, Carina.”


“And you never will because you just can’t accept that Kuya Hen―”


“I don’t want to hear it,” he cut me off.


“That’s why I don’t want to live under your roof again, Dad. You’re very insular when it comes to our opinion. You think you’re the only one who has the right to make the decisions in this family.”


“That’s not true,” he disagreed. “You know how much I value―”


“Yeah, I know how much you value your only son more than Ate Phoebe and me.”


“Cacai,” Mom sighed. She remembered this was the conversation that had set Dad off and made me decide to leave the house.


“Why can’t you forgive me, Daddy?” I asked him in a voice a bit louder than a whisper, afraid that my voice would crack an octave once I speak in my normal tone again.


Everyone in our table fell silent when I brought up the most avoided topic of our family. I made use of the moment and carefully got out of my seat. I held out my hand to my sister and she handed me the car keys. “I told you I should’ve watched Grey’s instead,” I kidded.


She chuckled softly. “Drive safely, okay? Call me when you get home.”


I nodded and gave her and Mom a quick light peck. “I’m sorry this dinner didn’t end up favorably as you planned,” I said to Mom.


She smiled appreciatively and touched my cheek gently. “I’m just glad to see you again, sweetheart. I’ve missed you so much.”


“I’ve missed you, too, Mommy,” I sighed.


“Don’t you want to stay for the dessert? I’ll be served any minute now.” She knows mousse au chocolat is my favorite.


“I think I’ll pass for the time being,” I smiled timidly.


“Well, you know you can always go back home whenever you want,” she reminded me.


I nodded and headed for the exit. I really didn’t bid goodbye to my father on purpose, he wouldn’t care anyway if truth be told.















































But I hadn’t even gone far from our table when he has proven me wrong.















































“I never blamed you, Cacai. Not even for a second.”




“OH MY GOD! I’m going to sue her!” I have been screaming for the past thirty minutes since my father has shown us the newspaper article. “I can sue her, right, Kuya? Libel, ‘di ba?”


“Well…” my brother hesitated.


“Well what?!” I snapped.


“She didn’t actually say anything blasphemous or seditious to you or Gerard so I don’t think that could really count as libel,” he shrugged.


I gaped at my brother disbelievingly. “You’re supposed to be taking my side here!”


“I am, Chi, but you’re overreacting. You want to sue this Keesha-whoever just because she printed an article about you? You’re a public figure; surely people will talk, especially when it concerns love life.”


“You know how much Filipinos can’t resist chismis,” Wade added.


“Your brothers have a point, sweetheart. Gerard’s grandfather is second to Lucio Tan when it comes to assets. It’s a not surprising that their last name is becoming a household name as well.”


I slammed my hand on the dining table, which mildly shook their coffee cups. “You three are not getting it,” I whined. “What would Gerard and his family think of this? He’s now involved in a huge controversy because of me when he is not even my boyfriend,” I yelled as loudly as I possibly could.


“There’s only one solution to your problem, honey.” I noticed my father and my brothers exchanged meaningful glances with sheepish grins plastered across their faces.


I panted heavily while looking daggers at the three of them. “Whatever you three are thinking, I don’t like it,” I sizzled.


“Well, Gerard thinks otherwise,” Kuya winked at me and they all chortled with gusto.


“I think you just got yourself a boyfriend, Ate,” Wade snickered.


to be continued…


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