3: Elise

I FIRST met Brandon at one of Gian’s cousins’ parties.

He made it obvious he liked me from the very beginning. He made sure he was at every other party I would be at since that first meeting, would stay next to me, and wouldn’t go away as much as was possible.

As I’d said, Gian was generally tolerant of him. In my book, that meant he was okay.

Handsome, smart, and charming, he tickled my heart.

He got my phone number, and we started chatting even when we were not together in my free time.

We started dating, and he was very gentlemanly.

He was smart and we could talk for hours. I was never bored when we were together.

He was boyfriend material. My mom already advised me that I could start dating, but to make sure I do it properly and not rush things or be impulsive like the rest of the young people had, she’d said.

She reminded me I and Anna were raised better than that.

Yes, we were not allowed to date when still in school.

Yes, even when I was in college. Finishing college first before anything else was one of the very few serious requests our parents asked of Anna and me.

And we understand why. We were okay with it. We’ve got so many things going on in our family, anyway. Aside from the resort, we spend as much quality time with family as possible.

We went on vacations, camps, and private family-only parties, and our weekends were always rewarding.

To me and my sister, disrupting the peace and our relationship with our parents because of a boy wasn’t worth it.

But we were not actually forbidden from accepting suitor visits, not because they wanted to, but because it would be rude to turn away the mayor’s son, for example.

But they had their ways of making sure it was understood that it was going to be just one visit.

Daddy Jess once offered to cook food so the guests could stay for dinner and made a noisy mess of prepping the live native chicken that was to be cooked for Tinola in the kitchen.

We had our own livestock on a farm near the resort.

Most of the food served in our hotel restaurant comes from our farm.

Very rarely did I get any suitors to visit after that.

I’d graduated from college two years ago, so I was allowed to date since then.

I just wasn’t that keen and was also too busy until Brandon showed interest a year later, since I came here.

When Brandon and I started our relationship, I brought him home to Puerto Galera to meet my family. He charmed them easily. They didn’t need to treat him like they used to treat my old suitors.

I was an adult and I chose. They were very hospitable.

But that was about the only part of the fairy tale.

After that, his parents started bringing him on business trips abroad.

That was about four months ago.

Last month, we were able to go out three times, that was it.

I hadn’t even seen him this month and we were almost in the middle of February.

No, I hadn’t come near to sleeping with him yet. We’d made out a few times. He’s a handsome, virile man, and though he excited me, I also felt overwhelmed.

I was grateful there was no attempt to rush me.

What was saddening to me was on our last dates, it was like I was getting to know him again.

I sometimes thought his being constantly absent played a part in us not breaking up yet.

How could I just break up with someone over the phone? It felt wrong.

But I’d started to feel like I didn’t have a boyfriend, anyway.

This morning, I sent Valentine’s Day e-cards to people on Messenger.

Before I went to work, I’d sent them to all three of my family members, one to Gian and Madam Soniah, before I realized I hadn’t even thought about my boyfriend.

He hadn’t sent anything to me either.

Not today, or last night.

He’d probably going to say he’s in a remote place and couldn’t get a signal because that happened before.

But me forgetting him in the morning when I was supposed to think of the love of my life first before anyone else?

And that sucked.

It was the most terrible feeling in the world.

“You really like that dress?” Gian suddenly asked, but in a soft voice.

And I looked at him. I had spaced out and I didn’t even realize it until he spoke to me.

“I didn’t wear this because I’m looking to hook up,” I told him, feeling drained.

I really didn’t want to fight with him anymore. Maybe she could just go home and not attend the party.

“I just really like this dress.”

“It clings to you like plastic wrap,” he retorted.

“There’ll be a lot more clingy and sexier dresses than this when we get there,” I protested. Why wasn’t he letting up?

“They are not you.”

I know exactly what he meant. He meant, not my father’s daughter. Not a Von Schiller.

But I chose to misunderstand. It’s past working hours, dammit.

“Why? Don’t I look good on it?”

He looked at me again like he was trying very hard not to retort something mean.

But I knew that I looked great, so I also knew it was a bitter taste in the mouth for him to admit the truth.

“It's too revealing,” he finally said instead.

I tried to hide my snort but I couldn’t.

I was getting pissed off again.

“It’s supposed to be revealing. And I want to wear it. It makes me feel sexy,” I said through gritted teeth. I could see that his eyebrows were about to start World War III. For once, I didn’t care.

“Sexy. You’re not— supposed to look. Sexy. Tonight.”

I glared at him.

“Not that you weren’t, Elise. More like…”

My eyes narrowed.

His tone became brisk. “Elise, don’t forget that I am your guardian. You wear that tonight and I’d have to focus on protecting you instead of talking business with my guests.”

I’d had it. “How I dress is not included in your list of duties. If you have a complaint, go to your mother! “

We stared each other down. He looked down first, his mouth hardened.

No, he couldn’t go to his mother.

Of course.

She’d say he’s being silly and over-protective. She’d say if he was too bothered, then he should marry me himself.

Yes, she’d said that before. That’s Madam Soniah.

So, of course, he’d never go to his mother to complain about a dress that’s going to endear me to eligible friends' sons tonight, which was exactly her goal.

Not that I was on the same page as his mother.

I just really liked the dress so much.

“Should I still go?”

“Elise…”

“Should I change? What will you tell your mom when we get there and I’m wearing what I had the whole day? If she asks me, I will not lie. “

He looked stonily across the room. “I'm gonna be busy the whole night fending admirers off of you.”

“No. I’ll just stay next to you. If they just see, they won't come any closer.“

“Don't do that,” he said.

“Do what?” I asked innocently.

“Act as if I’ve wronged you. Your stepfather would not approve of that dress. He just didn’t want to upset your mother.”

“Like you wouldn’t your mother,” I pointed out. But I looked down. My eyes were getting hot.

What about me? Did it always have to be about others expecting me to act a certain important way?

Jesus. I’m not crying for a piece of a beautiful dress. What is wrong with these stupid men?!

“You are not stepping away from my side during the party, you understand?” he said abruptly. “I don't know what's going on with you and Brandon, but you still have a boyfriend.”

“Whatever. They’re all more afraid of you than him, anyway,” I muttered back. But I was relieved.

“You can party with the other girls, but not so far that I wouldn’t be able to see you.”

He meant his female cousins. “They can’t make it. Their flight from New York was delayed due to bad weather.”

“Well, I don't know of anyone anymore whom you can—”

“Your mother,” I replied in a sweet voice.

His mouth opened, but all that came out was: “Don't leave my side.”

I didn’t mask my snort this time. His mother would introduce me to any eligible bachelor whom she thinks should ask me out on a date, even if, officially, I still had a boyfriend.

“Not that I don’t want you to have a good time—”

“I know—I know. Can’t we please go now?! My gosh! Please, don’t you dare change your mind!”

He patiently took my bag that was lying on the surface of my clean desk and turned towards the direction of the private elevators. I quickly followed him.

But I was going back to our conversation when he’d said I still have a boyfriend.

Still.

Like Brandon was about to go poof soon.

It seemed everyone knew my relationship with Brandon was about to end.