Orchids and Old Wood

After breakfast the next day, Madam told the butler not to bring guests into the family residence again. She kept sighing. At the very least, Claude should approve them first. She apologized to Iyana and commended her being patient with Alexa.

"I'll be frank," Madam paused.

They were in the den.

"The Coquia Clan has wanted to make an alliance with us—especially through marriage. But Gosuico has veered away from those arrangements over the years. We don't need them. Dear, Claude may never tell you this, to protect you. But this is all part of it. You have to know."

Iyana nodded faintly. 

Her existence would always be a thorn, whether in the Bloc or Magnolia Ridge.

"Yes," she said. "Thanks for telling me, Ma."

Madam smiled. "You're a clever child. You'll adapt."

Iyana's gaze drifted. 

It was her first day back, and already, another clan's shadow had crossed her path.

Another day passed. It was time for Claude and Iyana to leave Magnolia Ridge. They traveled to Ruby Park, a high-end subdivision. The Rover drove them for half an hour. They arrived at the façade of a Mediterranean-style villa. Palm trees lined the cobbled road that wound up to a circular driveway, a stone fountain at its center.

Six servants greeted them in the front yard and began unloading their bags. As they did, Claude said he had to return to his office—he had a scheduled meeting that morning. He mentioned that the park was much closer to Gosuico Tower—just a few minutes away. Mrs. Din, the head househelp, would assist her with anything she needed in the house. Then he left.

Iyana learned most of their belongings had already been sent to the villa two days before. Everything was already in place. With nothing left to arrange, she spent half the day wandering the house. What caught her the most was the library. It was huge, quiet, filled with tall shelves. And the courtyard. There, a tall pine stood at the center, surrounded by orchids.

"Master said you like orchids," said Mrs. Din, one of the househelps.

"Thank you," Iyana replied softly. "I'll take care of them." 

She looked at them. There were purple, pale pink, and blue. All in pots.

It wasn't her who liked orchids. It was her mother.

She suddenly thought of Aunt Gina.

Hours later, an Audi drove through the campus.

Iyana watched through the car window the wide field and the imposing main building of National University from the distance. Her lips briefly curved. My whole life, then. Her car pulled into the school parking area. She checked her phone, then walked past small clusters of students into the open space leading up to the building of Science and Engineering. Nearby students kept looking her way. 

She entered the department office. An old woman noticed her first, then smiled. It was Prof. Gina Acun. The college dean. Also her aunt. She strode toward her niece and embraced her tightly.

"Oh, I miss you so," Gina said.

Iyana also greeted the other professor.

Students in the office stared, transfixed by Iyana's face. 

"There's a picture of you on the bulletin board here," Prof. Ong said, pointing. "When you won the national chemistry contest. And that scholarship grant too. But there's a bigger one on the archives wall."

Iyana laughed. "I'm really an archive now."

Prof. Ping Yu chuckled. "Your batch was truly something." He turned to the students. "Miss Jiran scored a 98 on the entrance exam. Very rare. She graduated with the highest honors, of course."

"Thanks to your teaching, Prof," she replied, then looked at the students. "Just listen to him." She smiled. "Even his strangest jokes make sense to me now."

Prof.Yu laughed. "You hear that?"

There was laughter.

Then, Gina and Iyana headed to the dean's office.

Gina pinched her face.

Then they sat down. 

"Tsk, you've gotten thinner," Gina said. "Your boyfriend wasn't taking care of you."

"Finishing that master's degree is hard," Iyana replied. "And he nags like you, too."

"You need a man who nags you, anyway." Gina snorted. "You're too quiet. Always off in your own world. Someone's got to snap you out of it," she paused, pinching her Iyana's cheek. "Ah, my girl, I'm so happy you're back."

Iyana smiled.

"I didn't bring gifts. I'll have them on my next visit—with him."

"He's busy?"

"Today, very," she said. "He's meeting some people."

"Are you living with him?"

"We're getting married."

"Ah." Gina nodded, eyes wide. "Well… with your looks, your brains, and that strange little personality, you'll catch a man who won't let you go."

"That only means he's strange too."

"Well, well, two strange people make a world only they understand."

Iyana smiled.

She hoped it wouldn't be a beautiful disaster.

Then, she explained the plan: the wedding would be in three months. She and Claude would visit her in person one of these days. Gina nodded through it all, saying she'd send her free dates for the next month. She was fine with whatever schedule they chose for the wedding though.

"Is he really from Gosuico?"

"Yes, the eldest."

Gina crossed her arms.

"You're marrying a very powerful man."

Iyana breathed. "I know, aunt."

"And he's a busy man."

"It's not like I won't be."

"Oh? What are your other plans?"

"2D materials."

"The trend now in computer chips. Why don't you apply to the National Research Institute?"

"I already did," Iyana paused, smiling. "I was accepted."

Gina's eyes widened.

"Ah, this girl," she said, laughing. "So you applied while you were abroad. Good, very good. The state is very supportive now. It's good to come back. When did you apply?"

"Months ago," Iyana said. "I always want to come back."

Gina stood.

She picked up a large sheet from the desk, and handed it to her. Iyana unfolded it. A sketch of the ship's frame covered most of the page. At the bottom—an overhead shot of the site.

"Have you heard about the massive ship unearthed in Butan City?" Gina asked. "The state's working with the Institute."

"I read about it," Iyana replied.

It was that ship discovered fifteen years ago. 

"Any ideas?" Gina asked.

Iyana tapped the hull. "Real trouble starts once it hits the air."

Gina raised a brow. "Because of exposure?"

"Yes," Iyana said. "Old wood breaks fast once it's dry."

"Wouldn't you want to join?" Gina said. "The Institute and M.U are working together for this. And we need another materials science engineer. Since you're already at the Institute, you can easily put in a request."

Iyana looked up and met her aunt's gaze.

"I made a request to start work after the wedding," Iyana said. "I got it approved last week. But I can visit the office now and then."

"Right," Gina said. "You'd be busy." She smiled. "Just give me a call, alright?"

Iyana nodded once. "Sure."

An hour later, she strolled the familiar hallways of the Science and Technology building. She remembered the long hours in the lab. Sleeplessnights. The day her team won the Chemistry contest. The day… she got the scholarship.

Her mind went blank.

A summer orchard.

Her mother, picking apples, laying them gently in a basket.

She had just come home from school.

Her skirt was dirty.

Her mother just smiled.

Mom...

The phone buzzed, breaking the stillness.

Solen Jenna Chuan had messaged: We're in Sikap Hot Pot.

Iyana turned and walked out.

She didn't look back.