1 Prologue

My life is not as perfect compared to those disney movies you have watched. I am a shameful kid in our family. Whenever reunion day comes I always hide inside my room and wait until no one is at home. I rarely see my parents since both of them are busy with their businesses. But it doesn't hurt me because I know they love me for real, they need to work and it's natural. 

Here is the most boring yet full of ups and down story of mine. I am Adora Amirecan born to be different. Mom give birth of a healthy child so they never expected that they will just found out about my condition. It was when I was 6 years old when they found out about it, it was disappointing knowing how famous our family and born to have almost perfect ladies who can step in pageant industries. But I never felt being an outcast in our home, I can feel love and care from them.

My mom was born to be a Queen well, her name is really Queenie. She was the 1988 Miss Universe winner and she is really adorable, but not me. Who is a total opposite of my mom.

"You are gorgeous," 

That thing! Yeah, I always heard her saying that to me but whenever I faced the mirror I became confused of her own definition of gorgeous. Like hey? Mom are you blind? Or maybe she's saying that because I am her child. The only child.

"Prepare the elegant chandelier, that one is too old." Mom ordered those gigantic men upstairs who slowly removed the old chandelier.

Well, we are currently setting up for a reunion dinner for the whole clan. From Amirecan and Sephrin. The moment of hiding, this happens annually. I always think of an excuse not to attend the dinner, tummy-ache, dizziness, whatsoever lies I can utter.

"Not that Meriya! It was used last year, put that one."

Mom is referring to the beautiful monte cassino aster flower. Meriya removed the old flower on a vase and replaced it with the aster. Flowers are seen everywhere making the whole place dazzling beautiful. 

In my position I could see the beautiful green garden outside the window, the windows were covered by a creamy translucent curtain and besides it was a beautiful vase with an aster.

I am just tailing mom waiting for the chance to ask to have a talk with her. This time I'll use the headache excuse. As I am tailing her I acted as if I am about to collapse, since I am good at acting. 

"No,no,no careful!" Jaun the maid almost  slipped her hand to glasses on the tables, gladly mom noticed it before she could break them.

"That's perfect!"

The decorations are almost done and she never even glanced at me like she's ignoring me the whole time. This 12 years old girl just wanted her mom to at least look at her. My mom is wearing a beautiful classy gown while I am wearing just an ordinary outfit. If you were to look at us, you would definitely think I am not her child. Just see the big difference. Well, maybe I copied her eyes, nose and shape of her face , but we are really different.

"Good Job! It's time to prepare the food!"

While tailing mom at last she stopped and turned her eyes on me. I gave her my beautiful smile and saw her frown after seeing my outfit. 

"I thought you were already dressed up? Meriya!" 

Dressed up? Meriya immediately approached us. Meriya is wearing a maid uniform, a navy blue and white uniform. She's the head maid in our house.

 "I already told you to dress Adora. Make her beautiful tonight."

"Mom! I cannot join the dinner, I am tired." I never wanted to be at the table with the other families. I don't want to make them laugh at us, or our family

"Yes Adora! You're going to be with us tonight. That excuse is too old. So go up and dress! Meriya!" 

"Yes ma'am!"

I frowned at her but she responded with a smile and continued what she was doing. I turn my back with disappointment. Nah! Dressing up? Did she think I would really look good with that dress she picked? Yeah, it was really beautiful but it doesn't deserve me. I am a total mess. A total opposite of my mother.

Meriya accompanied me in my room. The dress is already ready and so are the make-ups and accessories on my elegant vanity table. I glanced at Meriya and she gave me the dress which I accepted. Meriya has been working with us since my birth and even when mom was young. She has a daughter who is the same age as my age. 

"You are pretty, are you confident with that?" Meriya is smiling at me so I just respond with a half smile.

I looked at myself in the mirror putting my dress in front of me imagining how I would look if I wore this dress. I never tried wearing such classy dress, I had no party to attend and I don't have friends to hang out with. What I always did in my whole life and in summer was staying at home, roaming in our farm, riding our horse all around our huge lot. 

"Wear it," I exhaled and took off my clothes not minding Meriya's existence. She helped me to wear my dress which I struggled to do.

After I finished wearing it Meriya's eyes were shining as if she saw a very beautiful young lady which is definitely a fantasy. How would I possibly turn to a beautiful Princess when I am bald. 

"You're stunning, come on look at yourself." Meriya is very happy to see me wearing the gown. Well, everyone wanted me to at least wear everything because when I got old I could never experience such luxury. 

I slowly turned my back at the mirror and saw a beautiful, beautiful gown worn by not a typical princess. "My head is stunning,"

I laughed and made a joke. Meriya laughed together with me, I usually gave a joke about my head to make myself feel better. "Yes indeed, but you also are stunning and shining. Come on sit. I'll now do your make-up and make you the most beautiful princess ever."

We just laughed together and I sitted on my chair letting Meriya do my make-up. In front of me is a black curly hair wig. When I was young I had that very shiny, long, healthy black straight hair and when I turned 6 my hairs started to fall and then ended to disappear in my head completely. It makes me anxious and sad. But nothing I could do to return back my hair. 

I was crying the whole time seeing myself in a mirror, the thing that I always ignored. But the people around me, in this house never makes me feel unloved but instead they bless me with so much love and care. They are those people I wanna treasure the most. The people I don't wanna lose. And if that happened, I couldn't imagine living.

It took Meriya an hour to finish my make-up. It was just simple but elegant. After that she puts something plastic on my scalp that perfectly fits it. Later she added the wig on my head. 

I smiled at the glance of my hair. As if it was really real. I always wear a wig everytime I go out but it doesn't make me feel fully confident. There are still kids who bullied me all the way but all I did is to ignore them. But I couldn't stop myself crying every time I heard them gossip about me. School. I wished that never existed. 

"You are truly beautiful Adora!"

Meriya hugs me from the back and kisses my hair. "Are you confident?" Meriya asked. 

I am never that confident but I can be confident for myself. If I will, I will really be confident.

"Are you confident?" She asked twice and I slowly curved my lips into a smile.

"I am," I saw Meriya tapping my back and smiling at me in her reflection.

"Let's head out?" I nodded. 

I can't help but to fill unease. I am just going to meet my relatives for once in my life and I am afraid to make any mistakes and troubles. I am very nervous. I could feel my palm sweating and cooling.

Meriya followed me until we reached the upstairs. Everyone downstairs looked up when they saw me coming. I smiled awkwardly and met the smile of mom. Forming 'gorgeous' on her mouth. 

"Let's go down?" I nodded. My gown is not that big so it is not that hard for me to walk down the stairs.

Mom approaches me as I am already down the stairs. "My Princess,"

Mom gives me hugs and kisses on my forehead. Everything is already ready one thing is not, myself.

When mom noticed me being uneasy and uncomfortable. She held my hands and looked at me.

"You are beautiful. Just smile at them and be confident. You can do it? Right?" I nodded and breathed deeply. I can do it. Of course, I am an Amirecan. And we are confident and brave.

We heard cars coming and that means they are already here. I can't  help but to get nervous but mom just held my hands tight and smiled at me telling me not to worry because she is with me.

"You should greet them, always remember to smile."

I nodded in response and heard the main door opens. Beautiful men and women were coming inside our house, and I also saw two young ladies and a boy who I guess the same at my age. There were also two beautiful ladies and three men I think are 18 or older. And they are all beautiful, having real and healthy hair which I am insecure with.

I wear my smile pretending not to look nervous. Together with mom I greeted my cousins and titas and titos. I give them a kiss on their cheeks and confidently wear my smile.

"Your daughter is beautiful. Glad she's confident to face us now." A lady older than mom said. 

"Of course,"

As the last guest arrived mom pulled me in front of- grandpa. I was shocked and excited since I never ever had a chance to meet him personally. Just what my mom did, I hug grandpa and kiss him.

His aura was like those strict grandfather on a movie, waiting for someone to inherit his position. Grandpas is not too chubby but still has the masculine and body. Besides grandpa was dad who was smiling at me complimenting me on his eyes.

"Food's already ready," 

Everyone was already sitting behind a grand wide table. I look at my dad and hold his arm. 

"You're beautiful sweetie,"

"You and mom always said that, I cannot say if it is a lie or a compliment." Dad and I just laughed and sitted already. 

Grandpa is on the end of the table. Besides him is dad, me and mom and rest are followed. Before we could eat our dinner mom started with a prayer. And as the prayer ended everyone was so excited to eat already.

"I am glad Minesa came," 

Mom was referring to the woman who complimented me earlier. Which is the wife of mom's older brother Simon who already passed away. Even though I never saw them since then I happened to know them from mom telling me their history since I always hide every year but now formally I am meeting them.

"Of course, Adora was here  and I am very glad to come here and so as Dad."

I glance at grandpa who is eating his meal right now. I smiled secretly, I couldn't believe they were excited to meet me. The whole family knows about my condition already so there's nothing to hide from them.

"That's a good thing to hear."

While eating I notice the girl in front me who's insulting me with her stares. Besides her is her mom who's the same as strict as her face. If I am to describe them, maybe they are those irritating mom and daughter of a disney movie.

"I heard so much feedback about your company Queen. I am very proud you successfully built your business and also your husband."

Mom is selling beauty products, the Sephrin which is famous around the country. Separately dad is managing our farm.

"Thank you. Anyway, Mendra congratulations with your business opening."

Mom smiled at tita Mendra which is just in front of us. She smiled back and then continued eating. As what I heard from mom, maybe you will see Mendra strictly but she is really a kindhearted person which I doubted. I hate the atmosphere with her.

"I built it on my own without asking anyone's money and luckily I successfully opened my business. Thanks to my hard work." I secretly smirked, too proud.

"Yeah," 

"You were a Miss Universe 1988 Quennie. Is it bad to cut the history? Adora should also be trained in pageant since she has the looks and the height. She is grown already."

Everyone was silent when tita Mendra opened up the topic. I saw mom smile but I can totally feel the sadness in her. Mom's mom was also a miss universe, it's history. But I cannot do pageant. Pageant is not my thing, I do music. I play piano, I paint, but not on pageant that is never my thing.

"Not her hair," 

The place went silent as Mendra's daughter said it. It wasn't that loud but enough for everyone to hear. I was stunned and almost got emotional but I hold myself.

When Mendra notices the gaze of others she laughs sarcastically to break the silence and all I could hear is her laugh and it makes me more anxious. 

"It was a joke, sorry. Or perhaps you are afraid to face the public? Everyone wants an update from you Queen. Is it too harsh to throw away those reporters? If you cannot continue the history then let everyone know why."

Dad couldn't hold out his anger and harshly slapped the table, making everyone in shock. Mom tries to calm dad. And all I did is to look down trying to hold my cry.

"Please,"

"Let's just finish our food," Mom said to ignore what happened.

"Your voice has a big impact on the public Queen. If you wont allow Adora to step on pageant industries then let my baby gain the respect. It will be very helpful for her to gain trust from others, your words are enough."

"Mendra, it is not time to talk about this. Let's just finish our food."

"Why? Are you afraid that Adora might humiliate and ruin your career?"

"No, It's just, just respect my--"

"Out!" A loud baritone voice stops mom from talking. I thought grandpa was referring to my mom but as I looked up I saw him staring intensely at Tita Mendra.

"Dad," she utters.

"I said out! If you are just going to ruin the mood of everyone here, we're not allowing your presence in this table!"

"Was it because I am being honest with Adora's condition? When it is all for real. I am just saving this family."

I couldn't help, I am about to sink. Without hesitation I stood up and ran away. I heard mom calling me but I ignore it and keep on running. I know it is a foolish thing to do but I am hurt.

In order to stop the problem, the cause should be gone. And that's what I am doing.