Home Celebration

* Barbie *

"Welcome back sweetie!"

Don Enrique Dela Vega, riding in his wheelchair happily gazes at both of us when we get down the car after the tireless ride from the local airport. Mama Irma is behind him pushing the wheelchair gently.

"Papa! You look good, I've missed you!"

Erich happily walks over to hug him down on the chair while I am following her. Rafael was the last one to get down from the car and he was also happy to be back.

"Thank you, sweetheart! Your school days are finally over, congratulations dear!"

She bestowed a kiss on his forehead. Don Enrique has changed a lot after his stroke, the once strong man the first time I arrived at the mansion is now a weak and pale old man. But still, I could see the shine in his eyes as he was happy seeing us.

"Yes, Papa! And also Barbie is here!"

Erich smiled at me and encouraged me to walk near them. I did not hesitate to bow and took Don Enrique's right hand to press it on my forehead as a sign of respect.

"Nice to see you again Papa Enrique."

The smile on his lips widened as he looked at me. "Oh! Look at you Barbie, you've grown so beautiful my dear. The kind of beauty that I'm sure many men would be eager to drop on their knees for you."

"Thank you, Papa Enrique, that's too much to say when I still do not have a boyfriend."

The old man chuckled and so is Rafael who followed us.

"Papa Enrique, I am back for a few days."

"Rafael, thank God that you are here as well! Only Tommy is late, I am not sure if he will make it today. If not then tomorrow morning, since we have a big celebration in the evening."

Mama Irma hugged Erich and me, then I moved to hug her also but the information alerted me. I didn't know that Tom was coming and there is a big celebration tomorrow evening. My eyes move to Erich asking but she just shrugs her shoulders.

"Wow, a party again?"

Rafael casually laughed and then helped the maid bring out the things that we had brought. I walked towards him and took my luggage. Erich was the one who brought so many things and a lot of food from Manila.

"We have to celebrate since I was not there when the girls received their diplomas."

Don Enrique is looking proud while in the wheelchair. Erich hugged him and they engaged in a casual conversation while I took my luggage up to the room which I occupied in the Villa.

"Do you need help with your things Miss Barbie?"

Maria asks the question looking at me from the open door of my bedroom. She was bringing the luggage of Erich to her room which is just next to the room after mine.

"No Maria, I got it. Thank you so much for helping."

"You're welcome Miss Barbie, if you need my help please just call me. You were not around for a long time. We we're wondering if you would still come back, it's good to see you again."

"Nice to see you too Maria, I will be here for a few months now until I get a job in the city."

The maid nodded, they were all very friendly and happy serving the Dela Vega family. Maria and her mother together with his father who works as the driver for Don Enrique is serving the family for as long as they could remember according to Erich who introduced all of them to me.

I opened my luagage and then slowly put the things I need to wear inside the closet. I still have my clothes hanged in the big cabinet too. I wonder what to wear for the event tomorrow, i did not expect that and I am not used to buying party clothes. The one I wore yesterday for the celebration in the hotel was new but it would not be looking well if I wear it again.

"Barbie? Can I come in?"

I look up and saw Erich leaning against the door of my bedroom a look of something unreadable on her face. It is not her usual approach to me so I stopped what I was doing and then walk towards her.

"Of course my dear, and what's up with your face? Did something happened?"

I remember to have left him downstairs with Don Enrique and Mama Irma it was not something like they were having an argument. In fact, it looked as if they had a family conversation which I felt too shy to meddle even when they were treating me like a family.

She close the door and pulled my arm gently to walk inside the bedroom. "I asked Papa Enrique regarding the gathering tomorrow because I noticed that from today the maids are already cleaning the garden and a lot of chairs has been ordered."

"Oh! Seems like a big event then, too bad I have no clue what to wear. All the dresses that I have is not suitable for a big occasion."

Her face turned bright as she look at me up and down, the mood she had when entering my room suddenly brightened it's like I had said something that changed her mind.

"That is not a problem Barb. I brought a lot of new dresses and we are not that different in sizes, you are only a few inches taller than me but I now you can wear any dress I have in the closet and most of them would look better in you than on me."

I shook my head shyly. "Are you sure about that? I mean I could wear the clothes I had from last time."

Her eyes widened. "No! You are not wearing rubbish, I will make sure that you would look the prettiest girl tomorrow evening that no man can ever resist."

She was exaggerating but it made me smile. Erich is just like a real sister to me and I love how she treats me and I treat her well too.

"By the way, I came to warn you about something."

"Oh, what is it?"

The laughter on my face faded. She cleared her throat and then she look deep in my eyes. "My father said that Tom is coming tomorrow and he asked for permission to bring somebody."

I furrowed my brows. "And? Of course you guys can bring anyone here. What's wrong with that?"

Erich shakes her head. "Nothing is wrong Barb but Papa Enrique is bragging that it was a woman he's bringing and this is the first time my brother asked his permission to bring a woman."

I felt the cold run through my veins even when it was in the afternoon and the windows are open. The wind is fresh in the province but not too cold for me to become pale.

"It's just a friend maybe or if it's something serious then we have to congratulate him. Your brother deserves a good woman for him."

I almost choke after saying the words that I just said. Erich looked at me with a deep sympathy on her eyes.

"Oh! Barbie, I know how you feel. It might be too early to assume that he is serious with this woman but I promise you that he will soon get tired of her."

I fake a smile on my lips. "Come on Erich, I am not jealous or anything. I promise that I will be happy for him."

My eyes got misty and I fought so hard not to let the tears fell down in front of her. Erich could read me and she knows exactly what I was feeling when she pulled me close for a tight hug.