"My client Lola Victoria Quezon wants everyone to come back to her home and remain so until she is buried." The attorney reads from the paper. "You mean everyone? Even my older brother?" my mother asked. The attorney emphasized that everyone including herself must be there in order for them to get her fortune. She laughed, "My brother would never step foot on that island. Let alone the house." Though my mother is quite tipsy to even take anything seriously, those words she said about my uncle were true as diamonds.

    I remember that time in the summer, I think I was about 9 or 8 years old. My brother and I were playing hide and seek. Having a small figure, it was easy for me to hide in one of the hardest places my brother to squeeze into. I kept my hand on my mouth to make sure I didn't utter a sound. There were heavy footsteps that passed by me, I thought it was my brother because he himself had heavy feet. "What?!" my uncle yells, I knew it was him from his sharp tone.

My uncle was never very good at hiding his anger. He always uses that high pitched timber of his voice that you could hear from a mile away. "What do you mean I won't get the money? Aren't I the firstborn? I should have it. It's in my birthright!" he kept going on and on for a while. "Why would that old man leave that much to her?" he grunts, "Yes. I get it. She won't live long enough," he said before he turns the phone off. I kept quiet while he lit up his cigar until the smoke fumed in the air. I was hidden and safe in that small corner until my brother caught me, "Got you! Laury, you always hide in the hardest places but I got you this time!" he danced happily. I would've too but my uncle's eyes, his deadly eyes said he knew I listened.

    Mother brushed off the idea of even considering herself as one of the Quezon children. She said, "Laury will take my place. She will care for her." as she stood from her seat. By the way, Attorney Ramoz looked, he knew he shouldn't disagree with the wife of a wealthy man or he will pay a price. Thus, I packed my bags and went with him at sunrise. To Lola's provincial home.

TO BE CONTINUED…