Chapter 56

Third-Person POV 24th of December, almost midnight. Four big speakers that Elyana's father had taken from their entertainment room blasted loud music throughout the Begum mansion. In addition, they brought out a pair of microphones for the servants to have karaoke on the gigantic big-screen television they put up outside. All the servants lined up to sing their all-time favorites, and cash prizes were awarded to the ones who scored perfectly. Everyone was having fun; it could be seen on their faces that they were truly having a good time. With no guests to assist and the food being catered by a catering service, the servants did not have to worry as much throughout the night, and all they would only worry about was the lack of sleep and exhaustion the next day. But no one cares. No one dared to go to sleep. They stayed up until midnight to wish everyone as they looked forward to the much-anticipated gift-giving moment that their bosses had prepared. And because all the servants, including the guards, were there, no one opened up the gate for Quintin when he came. He was honking in front of the gate, but nobody could hear him because of the loud music. He had been there for nearly five minutes before deciding to call Elyana's number, which she left inside her room and had been ringing non-stop until Quintin quit. He attempted to call the landline number at the mansion right after, and luckily, Daldalita was in the kitchen near the wireless phone, talking to her parents. She immediately answered the call, and when she learned who it was on the other line, she immediately ran outside to inform Elyana that Quintin was outside. "Let him in," Elyana ordered one of the guards and later turned to her parents. "Wait, Mom and Dad, I will just get my gift for him," she excused herself with a smile. The two gave their daughter a confused look. They both hadn't met Quintin, and how Elyana smiled when she found out who was outside made them feel suspicious about who that man was. She immediately returned to where she left her parents after taking the gift under their gigantic white Christmas tree. She was about to sit down on the chair when her mother asked, "Who is this Quintin coming in?" When Elyana turned her head towards her, the smile on her lips faded when she saw how serious she was looking at her. "He's a friend, Mom. I met him because of Felicity. He set me on a date with him once, and that's when our friendship started. He's a businessman, handling their family's real estate business for more than ten years now," she answered, which shocked her mother quite a bit. Elyana intentionally added more details, for she knew she would also ask those things anyway. "I see. What is his surname? Do I know his parents?" Marietta asked next, and it continued spilling more while she looked intently at her daughter. The curious mother asked. "His surname is Generoso, Mom. I'm not sure if you know his father, though," she answered confidently. "How about his mom?" Elyana went silent for a second, trying to think if Quintin had mentioned to him his mother's name, but she couldn't remember anything about her aside from a few stories. "That's something I don't know. Quintin doesn't talk so much about her," she replied. Marietta was disappointed and, at the same time, sad to hear about the young man's loss. "So, he's into real estate?" She changed the topic instead. "Yes, they are," Elyana answered "I just hope he's not—acquaintance," Marietta replied, intentionally taking a post not to mention the name she was referring to at that moment. Elyana looked away. She suddenly felt her mother's observing eyes going through her. "That field is huge; they may have already met somewhere before," Elyana replied, giving her mother a little chuckle to show her how silly her question was. At that moment, she was so nervous already that they would ask Quintin about it too, and knowing Quintin, he could spill something unaware if ever. Marietta found it too strange. Elyana's voice was shaking while she gave her answer, but he acted like she believed her daughter's words. "I see, interesting," Marietta briefly commented, but he had thought of interrogating Quintin already once he came close to them. Elyana felt that. She knew her mother was brewing something in her head as she looked at her. While Cihan was quietly sitting next to her mom, Elyana knew he was listening to them. Elyana couldn't help but get worried. "Why does it seem like it's taking him so long?" she uttered while looking in the direction where she expected Quintin to appear anytime. "I think I should meet him at the gate," she added, trying to use it as an excuse so that whatever her mother was planning wouldn't happen. "Let us wait for him here," Cihan said, stopping Elyana before she could completely stand. Right in time for Quintin to show up from a distance. "F-finally, he's here!" she exclaimed, pretending she didn't hear her father. She intentionally left the gift on the center table. Elyana stood and welcomed Quintin. She walked closer to him and unexpectedly hugged him. "H-he..." Quintin's greeting was interrupted when Elyana wrapped him in her arms, making him stunned. The young man smiled mischievously and was about to tease Elyana when she suddenly spoke while loosening the hug. "Don't think I missed you, silly. I want you to act right and don't ever dare to tell about something my parents would never like," she warned him. Quintin's mischievous smile slowly faded when he discovered two people looking straight at him. "You didn't tell me your parents would be here," Quintin whispered, smiling uncomfortably at Elyana's parents from a short distance. "You didn't tell me you'd be coming too, mister. That's not my fault," Elyana murmured. "Behave, Quintin," was her last warning as she gestured her hand so that her parents would think she was inviting Quintin to come with her to meet them. As they came closer, Quintin examined Elyana's parents, looking at their physical features and figuring out who among them had features similar to Elyana, only to discover they were mostly from her father. "Good evening, ma'am and sir," Quintin cheerfully greeted them. He even showed his beautiful white teeth and sweet smile. He also made sure he would sound polite with the way he spoke so that the couple's first impression of him would be good. "So…you are Quintin," Marietta replied, examining Quintin from head to toe before showing a smile. She was quite amazed at the high charisma Quintin carried, and she couldn't stop comparing it to Elyana's ex-husband the first time she met him. "I—" Quintin was about to answer when Elyana spoke, in an attempt to shift the what-to-be supposed interrogation. "I thought you wouldn't make it home this Christmas Eve!" "Who wouldn't if he was told his gift would be given to someone else?" Quintin answered, grinning. "Just kidding! I just want to give this gift I bought you," he continued. "For real? I thought you already gave me just like what you said." Quintin raised the orange medium-sized paper bag at Elyana's face level. "Yeah, I bought something else, and I'm sure you don't have any complaints about this," he replied to her while stretching his arm and holding the gift. Elyana instantly saw the brand of what was inside. "You didn't even bother to wrap?" she complained. It was too obvious what was inside because the brand was known for selling expensive kinds of bags. "Wait, give it back, and I'll go back to Spain to ask them to wrap it up." His voice got a little louder, and Marietta heard what he said. "No, this is mine now. Thank you!" she said, snatching it from his hand. Marietta moved into her seat. She kept observing them and secretly admiring Quintin's physique. "Wait! I have your gift here!" Elyana sprinted to where she left the gift he had wrapped for him, and that was the time Marietta found a chance to speak. "Why don't you ask him to have a seat here, Elyana? It seems that he has come a long way… from what I heard." They both fell silent when the lady spoke from behind. Elyana slightly moved her head towards Quintin. She widened her eyes as a warning that he shouldn't agree to her mom's offer. Luckily, Quintin understood exactly what she meant, but he didn't want to look rude in front of Elyana's parents. He immediately thought of an excuse that they would easily believe, and the first reason that came to mind was to use his father, whom he knew by that time, all alone at their house at that time. "Thank you, Mrs. Begum, but I have to leave now too. My dad is alone at home because all our servants went on vacation. I don't want him to be all alone this Christmas Eve," he politely refused. Marietta couldn't hide her amusement. She smiled at what she heard. "I understand, but if you have time—any day this week—please come back so we can have a chat," she replied. "I will, ma'am." It could be seen on Elyana's face how relieved she was because her mom didn't insist Quintin stay. "Don't call me ma'am; call me aunt; and my husband, call him uncle," Marietta told him, whose smile became wider for him. Elyana felt that the conversation would go on for a long time. She had to get the young man out as soon as possible. She gave him a weak nudge on the arm. It was such a simple gesture that it seemed she only lifted the gift Quintin gave her. Quintin turned his head towards her, and Elyana tilted her head to the side as a reminder that it was time to go. "Okay, Aunt. I'll be going now. Merry Christmas to everyone," he said and glanced at Cihan, who was still seriously staring at him. "I will bring a gift in case I can return it; if not, I will get it delivered. "Oh, don't bother. Meeting you is already a pleasure. Merry Christmas to you, and send our regards to your father as well," Marietta replied. "I will, Aunt," Quintin answered politely before leaving them completely. "Take care, Sir Quintin! Merry Christmas!" one of the maids shouted into the microphone she was holding. The other servants waved their hands goodbye to him as well, followed by greetings. Marietta's smile vanished as soon as the young man was no longer in their sights. When Elyana looked into her eyes, she became terrified of what was going on inside her mother's mind. "Is he truly just a friend?" Marietta questioned, hoping in the back of her head that Elyana would say no, but she received the opposite. "Yes, Mom. He is just a friend, so stop whatever you are thinking because we are not compatible, and besides, I have already learned my lesson: if I get another man, he will not be like Quintin," she explained. "I-I didn't say anything like that. It's just that—" "Leave your daughter alone, darling." Cihan interrupted her, putting Elyana's mind immediately at ease. His mommy couldn't do anything but keep quiet. 'Thanks, Dad!' Elyana murmured. He saved their evening from being ruined.