IV - The Museum (Part 2)

The crowd soon quiets down after the special guests were introduced, but the camera clicks, and flashes won't stop, blurring the sights of an anxious celebrity. The world fogs and feels like it's swirling around.

The noises are slowly muffled into the background, slowly deafening Naria with constant ringing in her ears. Fazed by her hazy vision, she sweats from the overwhelming pressure.

Suddenly, a voice echoes through her mind, "Miss?" It sounds familiar. Could it be someone from the past life? A lost lover? Maybe, just maybe, someone she meant to see someone?

The voice appears to be in a clean outfit, timeless and simple, set in a place made of cement and marble when she turns to find who was talking, the world is still a blur and feels like everything moves in slow motion.

"Miss?"

"Miss Naria?"

Nevermind...

No, it's just the tour guide, breaking through the barrier of her dissociation. She caught his attention on time as she was almost lost in a dizzying trance. She plasters a fake smile once again, "Oh, yes?"

"What do you say about your family's 100th Anniversary today?"

It isn't so blurry anymore and she can see their faces clearly, everyone is looking. It's all back to normal. They watch her every move she makes, and her eyes shaken to notice that people have increased arriving at the place more than she expected. People await her response.

"It's great, a big surprise really, lovely to see a lot of people enjoying their visit here in the museum. Everyone is included, and I wonder how it gets so packed compared to the event years ago." Naria takes a sharp yet relieving intake of breath when she's able to answer his question on the spot, thankfully nobody seems to mind that she wasn't feeling well. Neither seems people pay much attention to her.

"The Internet is truly full of wonders." replies the tour guide "The event recently came trending all over the social media after the commemoration was publicly announced. Piquing interests by all ages, especially the youth, discovering about your family heroine."

She couldn't believe it after hearing such news, which genuinely warms her fake smile. "This isn't so bad after all." Naria thought to herself. Hoping that this day might cheer her up.

The glimpse of Naria's delight satisfied the aunt, putting her at ease as she sighs the heavy feeling out of her chest, tired of dealing with her niece's unchanged moodiness every day.

Her aunt steps in and answers the question as well, "You see my niece just came back from Miami, you have no idea how much she puts into her work to be the best successor for the family, and we'd like to celebrate her return along with the anniversary." Her aunt gestures to present her niece she's proud of, showering both rich attention of cameras and eyes pinned on them "We thank people for putting in the spotlight to this wonderful celebration, if anyone has any questions we'd gladly answer, but first let's give it a round of applause."

Naria didn't expect this day to go well so far, the museum is blessed with the noise of people applauding for their achievements. This time she progressively isn't struggling with pressure from the crowd. She casts a truer smile and mouths her thanks to her aunt while joining in with the applause. The aunt does it too back to her, completely relieved of the outcome.

During the bestowal of these two wealthy guests, a grand preparation of the event is held near the museum. Some onlookers were so thrilled to join, that they left the museum and waited outside until it was ready. But the majority remain in to meet the guests and wish to greet them with questions. "Alright, who'd like to volunteer first and give our guests some questions?" The crowd almost went wild raising their hands before the tour guide could exclaim what he wanted to say.

"Are you single?" Questioned by a boy high schooler towards the tall girl, bringing laughter out of everyone.

"How old are you and Mrs. Amber?" As asked by an elementary student, "Was school hard?" so did another.

"Can I get an autograph?" until more questions overlapped inaudibly from every rowdy individual. The tour guide nervously shakes his head and sways his hands around trying to calm them down "One by one please!"

Naria, not being affected by the crowd, just chuckles "Please do follow the tour guide." and immediately answers the question she remembers "Indeed I'm still single, my aunt is 43 and I'm 22 years old. School is, without a doubt, difficult too, but trust yourself and study well so you'd live through it easier. Rather focus on your goals."

The crowd is still boisterous as ever, excitingly to be picked. Out of all of them, the tour guide picked the younger student, who's least likely standing out among them for she struggles to show her hand that has been up for a while because of her height. "My goodness, you little warrior, thought I wouldn't see your determination. Well, here's your chance and give it a go!"

The kindergarten student puts up a big smile on her face when she's picked, she gives her mom beside her that proud look before questioning them finally. "I've heard people say you went sick, are you feeling okay now, Mrs. Amber?"

The aunt's jaw would go slack and placed her hands on her chest in shock as the wholesome question was given by the child, "Aww! First of all, thank you so much. I appreciate your concern, little one." the kid blushes pink, fidgeting in joy knowing she pleased her.

"Yes, I'm doing fine, but I think you're referring to the Main owner herself, Mrs. Historia, my niece's grandmother. As much as I'd like to be the main owner, let's respect the amount of effort she's taken to preserve her heirlooms and legendary artifacts. I only took care of the relics on her behalf while she was sick."

"I think you did a great job too." the kid sneakily makes an uplifting reply, causing everyone to share a hearty ambiance in awe. Naria however, as profusely she wants to keep that genuine smile and feel the wholesomeness, couldn't move on hearing her aunt mention her desire to be the main owner.

While people aren't looking, Naria immovably darts her eyes full of skepticism at her aunt.

The tour guide claps "Wow! I'm loving the vibes we share around here, folks. Does anyone want to ask another question?" Merely people once again raise their hands now after the kid's heartwarming questioning was done. The tour guide looks around as he notices an older student in a pink dainty outfit calmly raising her hand. "A well-behaved pretty girl over there, we'd like to hear your question please."

Everyone turns to her. The hazel-haired girl widens her eyes to see the tour guide picking one of the girls who made fun of Denise. "Her?" She scoffs, "You call that thing well behaved?" Isaac choked in his laughter from her complaint.

"I don't just have a pretty face, I'm a beauty with brains." The 'pretty girl' joked with her friends and humored everyone too but Denise crinkles her nose cringing. "I don't exactly have a question but let me introduce myself. My name is Cheska Flores, I came from a prominent family as well who supported hand in hand with the Arcangel's. I know you might not have recognized me since I'm not very well involved yet with our family business but let me just tell you I'm a big fan of both of your works."

While they listen, Isaac slowly leans closer to Denise and whispers "Didn't she say before she was ALWAYS involved with the family business?" Denise didn't react at all, she just sighs.

The prideful girl keeps boasting,

"You inspired me through and through, so I picked law and studied a lot to follow my father's legacy. I can proudly say according to my studies, that Mrs. Amber has a possibility to be the main owner and I support that, condolences to Mrs. Historia of course-"

"Pardon?" Naria immediately cuts her off.

Confused, assuming that Naria didn't hear her well, Cheska just repeated what she said, "Your grandmother, she may rest in peace."

"She died? Since when?"

"You... Don't know?"

The absolute horror in Naria's eyes as she says, "Nobody does."