I’ve always wondered what an ordinary day would be like if I change everything that is planned for me. Like going rollerblading or play tennis rather than spending the next few hours doing homework and studying. Or like hang out at the malls with friends and watch a movie rather than drinking tea with my papa’s friends and their daughters. How I hate this kind of lifestyle. I sighed and took notes as my professor in history began writing on the board about the history of Japan. I knew that after my classes, I have to face the one event that I dreaded all my life. Then the bell rang, signaling that the class is over. Students began gathering their things and started to leave.

"Make sure you read chapters two to four for your recitation on Monday," the professor announced as his students began to exit the room without a care in the world. They’re just glad that the school week is finally over. I gathered my things and placed them in my backpack and slung it over my shoulder. I stood up and joined my classmates to their freedom for the coming weekend. How could I explain to them that life isn’t all that simple when it comes to family matters? I asked myself, as I looked around and saw how happy they were to be reunited with their friends. I made my way towards the stairs and when I reached its bottom, I saw the smiling faces of my close friends.

"Hey, Clio! How’s history?," Jewel asked as she brushed a strand of mahogany hair out of her dark brown eyes. I sighed.

"Nothing new," I replied flatly. Mia whistled.

"Something’s up. Want to talk about it?," Mia asked in concern as she placed an arm over my shoulder for comfort. We began to walk towards the front gate.

"I don’t think I need you guys on this one,". Mia let her arm dropped to her side.

"You sure? Have you talked to Arden about this?," she asked persistently. I shook my head.

"Don’t you think it’s about time you tell him? After all, he deserves to know about it," Jewel said.

"I’m too afraid to even try, Jewel. It might scare him away. I don’t think I’m ready to give him up. Not yet. He’s too dear to me…,".

"I’m sure he feels the same way as you do, Clio. Besides, if he isn’t serious about you, he shouldn’t have planned your future already," Mia assured me. Then just as we arrived at the front gate, I saw my family’s car parked a few feet away. Mia adjusted her chin-length raven hair as a gust of wind flew past us.

"Whew! That wind came out of nowhere!," Jewel commented as she straightened her white, short sleeved blouse and khaki colored pants. She switched her black shoulder bag from the right to the left. Then we heard a loud honking of a horn from a car. Mia turned in annoyance.

"There goes your annoying chauffeur. Always the impatient one," she said. Her red, striped navy blue shirt matched her emerald eyes as she dusted her jeans.

"You’d better go, Clio. Time’s a wasting," Jewel said. I nodded as I started to leave.

"Hey, Clio!," Mia called out. I turned just before I reached the passenger door of our dodge caravan.

"Don’t forget what we told you! Everything’s going to be okay! I can feel it!," she added.

"Don’t forget to call!," Jewel reminded me. They’re making a big deal out of this reunion.

"Don’t worry! I will!," I answered with a wave of my hand as I went inside the car.

"Home, James," I ordered as I closed the door. James started the car and went off, leaving my friends behind. I don’t think I can put up with this.

When I arrived home, I noticed how empty the house was than the usual. James came in behind me.

"Clio, darling! You’re home at last!," greeted by a female voice. My vision cleared as I stopped on my tracks and turned. I shook my head to clear it and found my Aunt Vivian in her early thirties wearing a light brown long sleeve knitted sweater, dark brown slacks and a pair of light brown casual shoes. Her long wavy chestnut colored hair was tied up in a ponytail that matched her sea-green eyes. I sighed in relief.

"Hey, Auntie. What’s going on? Why is everybody gone?," I asked in confusion as I approached her. She smiled.

"Everybody’s outside. Doing the preparations for the reunion," she replied.

"But why do we have to hold it here? Why not at Aunt Selma’s house or at our vacation house in Austria?," I protested. She laughed as she placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Our vacation house in Austria is much too far and besides it’s near the mountains. Not much civilizations. And Aunt Selma’s house is too small to hold the annual reunion,".

"I still think it’s inappropriate," I muttered.

"You’d better get ready, dear. If you want your boyfriend to be proud of you," she teased. I glanced down at my outfit and found nothing to be embarrassed about. I wore my favorite navy blue white striped round neck blouse and a black blazer, a pair of cream colored slacks and light gray colored low cut boots.

"What’s wrong with it?,".

"I have something for you in your room. Perfect for the evening. I’m sure you’re going to love it," she said as she left me in confusion. That’s my Aunt Vivian. She always wanted to impress the guests even if it isn’t necessary. I sighed and started to climb the stairs to my room. Suddenly I heard the doorbell rang.

"I’ll get it!," I sang out as I climbed the few steps down towards the front door. After all, everybody’s busy. I might as well make myself useful. I turned the knob and opened the door. I was surprise to see…

"Arden? You’re here early," I said. He laughed.

"Is that any way to greet someone you love?," he joked as he kissed me on the forehead. I shook my head.

"Sorry. I just didn’t know what got into me," I apologize as I took a step back for him to come in. He pulled out from behind his back a bouquet of blue roses, my favorite.

"This should cheer you up," he said as he handed it to me. I smiled as I took it.

"Thanks. You really are something,". I gave him a kiss on the cheek in gratitude. He took my hand and led me towards the living room.

"I knew something was up. That’s why I came by earlier than the others. And besides, with the number of people coming for this reunion, I should do something to cheer you up,".

"Thanks again. I guess I’m not really good at hiding my depression,".

We sat side by side by the living room couch. I know that I shouldn’t hide what’s bothering me because if I do, it’ll greatly affect my relationship with him and with everybody else. He has to know. After all, I can trust him… with all my heart and soul. He brushed back his light reddish-brown bangs that kept flopping on his slate colored eyes. He looked cute in a long sleeve, white polo shirt with a black vest on it, and a pair of black slacks and black leather shoes.

"Your Aunt Vivian told me that for the past few days, you’re always upset and didn’t want to talk about it. What’s going on? Is it about this reunion?," he asked in concern as he took my hand in his. I sighed.

"Arden, there’s something you should know about me… about this reunion. Something that’s been bothering me for the past two years…,". He gave my hand a gentle squeeze to encourage me to go on.

"You know you can always count on me," he reassured me. I took a deep breath.

"Two years ago, when I arrived home from school, I noticed something different. That day was our annual reunion and I knew that maybe they’re just in the backyard, preparing for it. But somehow, that didn’t make me feel better. I felt nervous and afraid at the sight of my empty house. I began looking around and calling for my parents to appear and welcome me home. Nothing… Nobody welcomed me home. I ran towards the backyard and found the servants gone. I thought to myself that it shouldn’t be for after all, what’s without servants if there’s a party going to happen later that evening. I went to my parent’s room and found them…,". I stopped recounting those horrible memories. I closed my eyes tight and found out that I was crying already. He took me in his arms in comfort while I blocked my eyes with my hands and cried openly.

"Clio, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have pressured you to tell me all of this," he said apologetically.

"It hurts just to see them lying there… in cold blood… How could anyone do this to me? Why? Why does it have to be me?,".

"Did the intruders take anything?," he asked. I shook my head as I dropped my hands to my lap.

"That too bothered me. I mean, why would they do that if they didn’t take the money nor the jewels nor any valuables inside the house? Even the investigators couldn’t come up with a perfectly good explanation," I replied. I slowly opened my eyes and found his soulful eyes gazing back at me. He brushed my tears away with his hands.

"I know this may sound crazy but there’s a curse, passed on from my ancestors until to the present, that my family has only a limited life in every family reunion," I said.

"That’s superstitious nonsense," he answered.

"That’s why I’ve been dreading to attend this reunion. It brings so much memories. I know that I couldn’t stop this tradition for they don’t believe that so-called curse. I couldn’t help thinking of me being the next one to…,". He placed his finger on my lips to stop me from saying the word.

"I’ll be here to make sure that won’t happen. With only a few months for us to graduate and a few more months for us to get married, I’m sure I’ll tempt fate and chance just to let us live happily ever after," he reassured me as he kissed me on the cheek. I leaned my head on his shoulder in comfort.

"Arden… you forget… Fairytales usually start and end with ‘once upon a time’ … and ‘they lived happily ever after’… but in real life, it’s actually ‘they lived happily ever after, once upon a time’…,".

"I’ll take the risk… just to let you live… ‘Til death do us apart…,".

After that long talk with Arden, I went to my room to change for the reunion. I saw what my Aunt Vivian bought me lying on my bed. It’s a white vertical striped, long sleeved turtleneck shirt, black short skirt jumper made of cotton, a pair of black tight pants and black leather boots that reaches until my knees. Why do I still have that strange feeling that I’m next? I sighed and shook my head to clear it. Might as well get ready for the big event. After I showered and dressed, I sat on my vanity chair and began to blow dry my long, black, wavy hair with light brown streaks on it and let it loose around my shoulders. I could see the worry in my dark, gray eyes. I’d better pull myself together. Even with all the techniques I know on eye make-up, I still couldn’t hide that something bothers me. I took a deep breath and stood up.

"Clio! Time to party, dear!," Aunt Vivian called out from the bottom of the stairs.

"Coming!," I answered as I took a last long look at my reflection. Here goes nothing.

As I introduced Arden to my relatives, I could see their familiar happy faces glad to see me settled with someone I really love. He took my hand and slung it over his arm for protection.

"Clio, darling. How long have you and Arden been going steady?," Aunt Selma asked as she took a sip of tea.

"Six months, Auntie," I answered with a smile.

"Then I take it you’re planning your wedding already," she said. Arden blushed while I laughed at his shyness.

"We’ll see, Auntie,".

"Clio! I’ve got someone here to see you," Aunt Vivian called out.

"Coming!," I answered as both Arden and I left Aunt Selma in the company of the other guests. I approached Aunt Vivian and found her talking to a distinguished gentleman in his late forties and standing beside him is his lovely wife.

"Ah, Clio. Meet your lawyer, Attorney Rowen, who will transfer all your parents properties and money when you graduate from college and when you get married," Aunt Vivian said. Attorney Rowen stretched his hand forward.

"Nice to meet you, Clio. Your father often spoke about you," he said as I shook his hand.

"Thank you for coming," I replied with a smile.

"And this gentleman must be your fiancée," Attorney Rowen commented. Arden shook hands with him.

"I hope so," Arden replied.

"By the way, Clio. Your father wanted to give you something on your twenty-fifth annual family reunion," Attorney Rowen said. He stepped aside and showed me an incoming white stallion that’s being accompanied by a raven headed trainer with dark blue eyes.

"Wow. She’s beautiful," I said in amazement. The white stallion stopped on its tracks when she reached me. I slowly smoothened its nose. Then a vision flashed before my eyes again.

"Her name is Rio. It says on the will of your parents that this white stallion should be given to you on this day as a surprise advance graduation gift," Attorney Rowen explained. I giggled as Rio nodded her head towards mine.

"She’s cute. I want to ride her right now," I said. For Corey…

"I don’t think it’s a good idea, Clio. Besides, you don’t know how to ride a horse yet," Arden said.

"I don’t care. I simply have to ride her,".

"Not to worry, young Arden. Mackie is a professional trainer. I’m sure it’ll be alright to let Clio ride Rio," Attorney Rowen said. Arden seemed reluctant at my request and at Attorney Rowen’s assurance of the trainer. He sighed.

"Okay. But just this once," Arden said. I gave him a kiss on the cheek in gratitude.

"Thanks,". I went to the side of the stallion and Mackie helped me climbed the back of the horse. As I settled myself on its back, Mackie adjusted the reins and the straps on Rio.

"Go easy on her, Rio. She’s only a beginner," Mackie said as she patted Rio’s head. I smiled.

"Just to warn her that she should take care of her new master," Mackie explained and returned my smile with one of hers. As Rio began walking, I felt light headed and happy. Nothing’s going to go wrong today. I can feel it. Just then the stallion ran like the wind. Then faster and faster…

"What’s going on?!," I demanded angrily. Rio started to run at an alarming speed. I could feel my heart hammering in my chest in fear. Please stop! Please! Help me, Corey! I prayed for this nightmare to be over. Just then Rio stopped but it wasn’t over. She galloped high in the air, causing me to fall on the ground at a great height. I landed first on my head then everything turned bleak then black. Corey…

I could hear Arden’s voice whispering to me in urgency to fight and live for him. I slowly opened my eyes and found his face, creased in concern and worry. I gave him a weak smile.

"I guess this is it," I whispered.

"Don’t say that!," he protested. I could see tears falling on his cheeks. I could feel the lightness of my body, as though I’m about to leave him towards to a place I don’t completely understand.

"Don’t forget what I promised you! Please! I won’t let fate nor chance take you away from me!," he said as he kissed me on the forehead.

"I’m sorry…,". I saw the darkness slowly approaching me… then I saw my last vision… a bouquet of blue roses… it’s petals slowly falling to the ground…

Then Attorney Rowen and Aunt Vivian shared an evil smile…