V - Realidad

The museum went unbearably silent, the sweet ambience that was built earlier has completely faded away. Everyone's ears are perked up, even more phones are held very still in their hands pointed at the questioner, desperate to hear more answers, they won't leave as much as the college girl wishes to.

The only sound emitting through were continuous mutters and mumbles, for confused children in lower grade school to older students and adults quietly circulating rumors.

Naria is confused as everyone, but she won't let the audience in disarray spread like wildfire.

"I'm.." She gulps that invisible slump stuck in her throat as she fixates her smile, forcibly improvising Cheska's probably 'dark humor' about her grandmother's death, "..Not quite aware, if you want to initiate a prank you better make it funny."

Thankfully, her plan worked. The audience slightly gave out a nervous laugh during this puzzling moment.

But as she carefully observes the girl, the way how quiet she went as she looked around the laughing crowd, Naria thought Cheska suspiciously looks convinced of her statement.

"Where did you get such information?" However, the aunt quickly took over, her sugar coated tone was out of use as she asked so sternly.

"I heard it from-.."

"From your family? We have 'marites' here, people!" Even Cheska's friends couldn't get closer just before the agitated aunt insultingly called her a 'Karen', but as a Filipino version of an old nosy hag who does nothing but gossip for life.

Naria doesn't approve this another turn of events, she exhausts of keeping the smile plastered on her face full of makeup. "What are you doing?" she prefers to follow her plan, which is moving on.

But the aunt seems a little too carried away.

"Where are your manners, young lady? We don't inspire people who pursue a goal with an attitude like that. In due respect please we're here to celebrate, and do I have to repeat that my niece had just moved in."

Her face went red scolding, the first time everyone had seen this image of a tactical businesswoman, loud but straightforward that none would like to interrupt the upsetting guest.

"And yet here you are, what's your name again? Ms. Cheska Flores ruined her day. This may mean nothing to anyone but it's rude to say so simply like that, especially the fact no one knows it yet, you're gonna make a big fuss out of here and at least give everyone an appropriate time to figure things out." She aggressively points her finger as she emphasizes such veracious words, leaving a deep humiliating wound on the memories of a trembling girl.

The audience, clueless about the alleged death of Naria's grandmother, yet has a sense of respect, they did nothing but nod their heads in agreement. However some, of course, have mixed feelings.

"Tita, that's enough..!" The betrayal of an only stranger knowing the death of her loved one more than Naria herself gave her a perturbed look, pale and defeated to keep the act as she hissed quietly calling towards her aunt.

"You're a celebrity, Naria." The aunt snapped and almost as if she growled under her breath, grabbing her niece's arm tight so neither would go.

But as the aunt briefly studied Naria's expression, losing the light in her eyes and no more smile to be forced, she slowly loosened her grip. "You know that, don't you? Please just for me, the show must go on."

Unfortunately, her aunt's softened tone won't work on her anymore. Naria pulled her arm back to her, instantly making the aunt let go "Stop it, I can't take it anymore."

She was stiff, statue-like speechless that she almost stumbled down on her feet. She picked up her long fitted skirt and stormed off. One of her bodyguards instinctively followed suit, blocking the audience, while the others stayed with the aunt who still couldn't move on.

The bodyguards showed her the way out from everyone, it's still an open area but no one was advised to come there for now, except for the authorities.

When they arrived, she carefully scooted closer onto the corner, she went slant when she had to drop her aching upper body onto the wall. Her head tilted forward and her arm lazily risen upwards, gently massaging her temples.

"Can you please leave me alone just for a sec?" She's drained, without hesitation, the bodyguards left her there where she rests so still, her arm falls back down and lay uncomfortably motionless onto the wall. It felt like time had frozen, losing track of time, everything seemed to move so slowly.

Just like earlier, even the entrance of her aunt approaching her closely moves like a slow motion. That 'feeling' returns.

The aunt fans herself, she was fuming and released so much energy on the college girl, "Phew!" she exhales, "This celebration did not go well. But don't worry, sweetheart, I got it covered for you."

Motionless and emotionless, her face contorts wishing not to response.

But she's tired of being quiet.

"That girl wasn't lying, you knew it all along, didn't you?"