Bab 24: HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE: HAPPINESS? 2

That night in Ji's estate, the family had their usual elegant and formal dinner. The conversation was a tad casual with Madame Lila initiating it. Joe's answers to her questions were just short ones and they dismissed any ideas of further explanation. Kenji answers Madame in artistry, always using his charm. He was serious at times too, depending on the question asked. Then, it was David's turn.

"So…" the Madame began. "When are you going to formally introduce Christine Wei to the family?" she asked.

Kenji made a quick glance to his right where Joe was quietly eating her dinner. He saw how for a moment, she became uncomfortable. David, on the other hand, was unaware of the glance that he gave his best friend before answering the question. He looked at his mother, "You were busy for a while but, as soon as possible."

The Madame smirked, "Well, as soon as possible indeed. Tomorrow night then?" she pointed out. It did sound as a request but all three knew that it was a command.

"Hold on…" David tried to reason out.

Madame looked at her son with a gaze that prohibits objections, "Would you really want me to reconsider, hmmm?"

David sighed. He knew he could not win this argument with his mother. "Very well then. Who am I to object with the Madame? My point is, I do not want the dinner to become a surprise to Christine," he said, hoping that his mother will consider it.

Madame Lila sipped her red wine before replying, "You are David Ji," she stressed. "She should have expected this the moment she dated you."

'What the Madame wants, the Madame gets.' "All right. I rest my case," David answered.

At that interim, Joe looked up and gave a small smile, "May I be excused early tonight?" she asked.

Kenji turned to her with worry clothed in his eyes, "Are you okay?"

Joe flashed a BIG smile to everyone, "I have some designs to finish for class," she lied.

The Madame gave her a studying gaze. She knows what Joe said was just an excuse but she believed it was inappropriate to ask, "I will excuse you this one last time. You know it is rude to leave the table while the rest of the family is here."

"I do not mind at all, Madame," Kenji took Joe's side and smiled at her.

Joe smiled back and mouthed 'Thanks.'

David looked at Joe wanting the latter to look at him. But, she did not. "I do not mind either," he uttered.

Joe controlled herself from getting too excited after hearing David's voice. She also calmed down so Madame Lila will not notice anything.

"Well… I believe you are excused."

Joe gave Madame a small smile. She stood up and excused herself. 'Even listening hurts.'

Tuesday/Dinner with Christine

After David told Christine about the Madame's unusual request, Christine accepted it with grace as if she was expecting it. When evening came, she went with David wearing a simple lilac halter top dress with a golden butterfly brooch. Her dress complimented her hair which she curled.

After seeing her, Joe could not help but to be insecure. She could not appear as glamorous as Christine. She made a promise not to appear as ladylike as possible and she intends to keep it. Even though at present, she and David are having a silent war.

After a short introduction, they headed to the dining hall. The cook prepared a festive meal for the five of them. The dinner was quiet at first. Kenji was giving Joe discreet glances to assess how she would cope with the situation. Joe focused on eating, trying to keep her mind away from what is going on. David was preparing to help Christine in case the Madame's interrogation began. Christine minded her manners and patiently waited. As usual, it was the Madame who broke the silence.

"How is the family business, Christine?" she asked.

The Madame knew the Wei family to be in the sales industry. Aside from owning several malls through Wei Malls Building Corp. located in different areas of the country, Christine's father was also the president and major stockholder of Solid Gold International, a company that imports different goods.

Christine gave the Madame a smile before answering. "I believe it is fine," she answered gracefully.

The Madame is also aware that Christine was not interested in her family's business. She furthered, "How are you preparing for the business? It was quite competitive as of now," she challenged.

Christine wanted to impress the Madame. However, she does not want to lie, either. So she replied with, "As tempting as our company could be, I couldn't find myself being involved with it."

Madame Lila smirked, "Why not?"

"It is not what I want to do in life," Christine answered politely.

"How so?" Madame Lila's real interrogation began.

"I could not bring myself to be interested in it," Christine answered honestly again.

Madame Lila's brow arched, "Could not or would not?"

Christine was caught off guard. She could not answer for a while. "What do you mean, Madame?" she asked instead.

"My dear, young people of today often use 'could not' as a mere excuse. As a matter of fact, it is not true that they 'could not'. It's just that they preferred not. So give me a proper excuse, Christine," the Madame challenged.

Christine closed her eyes and took a deep breath. David was about to say something but Christine was prepared to answer such questions truthfully, "I do not want being a Wei to define who I am. I am Christine first and foremost."

Joe chewed her food quietly and thought about Christine's answer, 'That was a great answer.' She looked at her and felt insecure again. 'I could never be like that.'

Madame Lila nodded, "Very well-spoken…" she said. Christine smiled at the response but the Madame gave her another challenging look, "But too proud, don't you think so too, Josephine?" she turned to Joe who only wished that the dinner would be soon over.

David worriedly looked at Joe and then, his mother. 'What are you up to, Mother?' he thought.

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