Guess What Happened...?

My palms began to sweat as I saw all of my family members entering the house and heading straight to the living room and kitchen. In a few more minutes, the house would become chaotic and everyone would ask for me. 

As usual, I would be cooped up in my room, praying that mom wouldn’t call me from downstairs or force me to meet everyone. I enjoy living in solitude and watching Netflix instead of smiling all the time at my family or glancing at them. It’s just plain awkward and I just hate being in the spotlight.

But today was different. Today, I knew that I had to go downstairs and stand in the middle of the living room because I wasn’t the little Joey anymore. I was a grown-up man who was handling my father’s business. I could excuse myself by saying that I’m showering or on a call but it won’t be long until mom would come up and tell me to keep my business aside and meet the family once.

I inhaled deeply and hoped that they would accept the decision I was going to share with them tonight. I looked down at my fashion portfolio and smiled a little. My life wasn’t in my father’s wood business, it was in fashion and I wanted to pursue a career where people appreciated me and not just looked at me as a woodcutter or wood tarnisher. 

I eventually opened the door with trembling hands and went downstairs as slowly as a sloth. I could hear my family members chattering and laughing. It somehow made me even more anxious than I already was.

I stopped at the end of the stairs and looked in the living room. Everyone was seated with a glass full of wine or whiskey. I adjusted my sleeves and collar and approached them. At once, mom spotted me (just like she always does) and dragged me further into the middle of the room. (as if I was going to run away or something). She must have thought that I would run away which is why she kept me close to her and kept on whispering, ‘smile.’ 

I tried to smile but I could feel it myself that it was fake. It’s not that I don’t appreciate my family being here, I just can’t show fake happiness. Anyway, I greeted everyone, smiled at them, and shook the men’s hands. My aunts just hugged me without my permission and kissed me on my cheeks all the while saying how handsome I was. I was a bit embarrassed but I felt good knowing that I at least had good looks because these good looks could actually save me from getting banished from my house once I tell everyone my decision of leaving our family business.

I sat between Uncle Jordan and Aunt Love and boy am I glad I did because they were the quietest couple in the room. Just like me, they were busy listening to others’ and nodding their heads whenever someone looked at them. 

Then came the dinner, more talks, more laughs, more wine and whiskey, and then came the time whenever was bit silent and tired. They were still talking but not with much enthusiasm. I could tell from mom’s expression that she wanted them to go away now. She had to cook and set everything in the house since morning so I can’t imagine how tired she must be.

I decided to give mom some rest from all the talks. So, I stood up from my place and everyone turned to glance at me. It was either because I was too tall or because I made a lot of noise while getting up just like grandpa Ian…

I smiled hesitantly and some of them smiled back too but the others were serious which made me even more nervous. The only thing that ran in my mind was where do I run away and how. Everyone waited for me to speak and it was getting awkwarder by the minute until my cousin, Sophia spoke up.

“Bro, what’s wrong?” 

“Nothing…” I cleared my throat and glanced at my parents who continued to look at me confusedly.

“Joey, is there something you would like to share with us?” My father asked and I knew now that if I said no now, I would regret it later...so, I nodded.

“Yes.”

“What is it, son?” My mom asked. She usually doesn’t call me, ‘son’ but when things get serious, she tends to use it.

“I have something to say to you all…” 

Once more everyone got alert. Even the kids who were busy playing on their phones. The pressure was real guys. 

“Will you say it tomorrow?” Sophia joked. I chuckled and I felt a bit more at ease when everyone else laughed as well.

“No, actually...I wanted to tell you all that I…”

My gaze shifted to everyone in the room.

“That I…”

“That you’ll marry your sixth-grade crush?” Sophia joked again but I knew that she just pushing me to say the right thing even though she herself didn’t know what I was about to say.

“That I won’t take on the family business…”

Everyone went silent as if someone died in the room. Their smiles faded a little as well and I could feel the tension rising in the air. I didn’t know what to do, so I just stood where I was like a kid who got a punishment from his teacher.

However, my focus wasn’t on everyone else but on my parents. They were the base of the family business and I broke their heart...My father looked at my mother and my mother glanced at everyone’s reactions instead of consoling my father.

It was a strange moment actually. I was happy but I was also sad and felt guilty for not being the son they thought I would be. My mind and heart played so many emotions that I began to feel slightly dizzy. 

I slowly sat between Uncle Jordan and Aunt Love and fidgeted with my fingers.

“Uh...so?” My brother, Ronald said. “Is that all?”

I frowned because this wasn’t just a ‘is that all?’ situation at all. It was supposed to be a moment where everyone would either yell at me or throw me out of the house. A moment where my mom would cry and beg me to stay and a moment where my father would act as if he was getting a heart attack when eventually, it was just gas from all the fried food he ate.

But no...this wasn’t what I expected. I looked at Uncle Jordan and he simply smiled as if everyone knew what my decision would be and what I would say. 

“Joey, we know that you don’t want to take up the family business,” Mom said casually. 

“Yeah, you’re more into fashion, aren’t you?” Sophia said and winked at me.

Why do I have the feeling that she did something for all the cards to turn out like this?

“Y-yeah…” I answered quickly before anyone could change their mind about my decision and manipulate me to take over the family business just for the sake of keeping it as an inheritance.

“I’m interested in fashion.”

Everyone suddenly smiled and somehow told me that I worked hard and that I was a grown-up man to decide whatever I wanted. I didn’t like this scenario because unlike other guys, I do love a little drama and spice in my life but this right here was the most boring and dull moment I had ever experienced.

“Come here, son.” My father called me and I hoped he would yell at me or smack my cheeks. He’s a good boxer and his punch could mean that everyone would gasp and my dad would leave the room.

But guess what happened?

He smiled at me and told me, “we respect your decision kid, go and live your life the way you want to. Whatever makes you happy.”

I seriously thought that he was reading those quotes from a magazine or something but no...it was his personal words and he wasn’t mad at me at all...everyone respected my decision and I got nervous for no reason at all…

I still wish there was some kind of a drama that took place because I wanted to be in the spotlight for like an hour or so but instead, I was only the talk of the town for merely ten minutes, and poof, everyone began to talk about their favorite recipes and what they had done last Sunday and the Sunday before that.

Guess I will just go back in my room and watch Netflix until mom would call me to see them all off.