LOVE ALWAYS WINS

CHAPTER 5: Kleio’s 18th Birthday

March 18, 2015. Wednesday. It was by far the best day in Kleio Murillo’s life. It was her 18th birthday. Her day started with her father, Kristof Murillo, a family medicine doctor at the UF – Vienburg Health Service, woke her up for a hearty breakfast. Her father prepared her favorite whole wheat waffles topped with banana slices, strawberries, blueberries and drizzled with pure maple syrup. Her birthday had always started like that since her first birthday. She might not have a clear memory of those birthdays she had in the first few years of her life but there were instant film photos of them through the years to back them up.

Her father woke her up, slightly tapping her upper arm while seated on her bed in the two-bedroom assisted housing unit in UF – Vienburg Faculty Village, “Sunshine…wake up now. You have an 8 AM class today.”

She answered sleepily, “Yes, Paps.” She stretched her arms and opened her eyes.

As she opened her eyes, she saw her birthday waffles pegged with 18 lighted slim multicolored birthday candles while her father sang, “Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, sweet Kleio. Happy birthday to you…”

Almost tearful, she said, “Thanks, Paps,” hugged her father and gave him a quick peck on his cheek.

Her father then reminded her, “Well, make your silent birthday wish and then blow the candles, sunshine.”

She did.

Her father then said, “Wash up first then let’s have breakfast before you take a shower and prepare for school.”

She washed her face, did her warm salt water morning gargling, and then followed her father at the dining table.

She chomped on her birthday waffles heartily.

Her father asked, “Do you have birthday plans with your mother today, sunshine?”

Her mother wanted a grand 18th birthday celebration for her like other debutantes but she declined on having one. Her mother, Lirio Luna, a multi-awarded internationally acclaimed film and TV actress, had separated from her father since she was four. After the annulment a year thereafter the separation, her mother married her rich widower lover, Franco Vega, a screenwriter, director, producer, and founder/owner of Vega Entertainment Inc. Through her mother, Kleio had a half-brother named Liam, six years younger than her. Lirio just used to be playing bit roles but as she started her relationship with her widower lover 15 years older than her, her career as a character actress soared.

Kleio answered her father, “Ate Mina, her personal assistant, will fetch me at around 11 AM after my class, then we will have lunch together.” She was already in her last year in senior high school. Her classes were scheduled like that of a college student already, so she had free time after her classes.

“I see,” her father also reminded her, “Anyway, this afternoon is your appointment for your professional driver’s license. Did you prepare all the requirements already?”

She answered, “I already had them prepared last night, Paps. Ma promised to drop me off to the licensing office after our lunch.”

Then her father reminded her about the results of the NCAT, “By the way, have you already decided where to pursue your collegiate education? You qualified here at UF – Vienburg for the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics as well as Bachelor of Science in Food Technology. You might have not qualified at UF’s accelerated seven-year medical program but you qualified for its equivalent at STU.”

She said, “STU is a privately-owned university and travel will not be short if I decided to pursue medicine there. We have to pay for expensive school fees whereas if I qualified for the accelerated medical program here at UF, the fees would just be less. I am also having second thoughts whether or not to pursue medicine because I am not as smart you are, Paps. You qualified at the accelerated medical program of UF, got into the top ranks of Physician Licensure Examination, and finished your family medicine residency before even reaching thirty.”

“You are smart too, sunshine.” Kristof then told her daughter, “Anyway, I have saved all the monthly child support that your mother had paid. You can use the money for your school fees if you decided to pursue medicine at STU. Whatever your decision might be, I will support you.”

She responded with, “Will you not feel sad if I don’t become a doctor like you, Paps?”

Papa Kristof replied with, “I won’t feel sad. You should pursue a degree that you truly love. Being happy in one’s career choice will give you the greatest sense of self-fulfillment in the long run. You are already eighteen years old, sunshine. You should be able to make your own decision and be responsible for its consequences. Your mother and I would not always be around.”

She reacted, “Don’t say that, Paps! You and Mama will still be able to live until I have my own family. You are still both healthy and young.”

As they already finished having breakfast, she washed the dishes while her father took a shower. When they were already prepared to go to the campus, Kleio’s father allowed her to drive their old sedan going to the UF – Vienburg Health Service (UFVHS) and UF – Vienburg Integrated School (UFVIS) for K-12 students. The two units are just next to each other.

In the UFVIS compound, Kleio was greeted by all of her classmates. She also received gifts from her closest friends. From her admirers, she received chocolates, stuffed toys, and roses. She had brought cookies, muffins, and brownies as her treat to all of them. She baked and packed them all the previous day.

At exactly 11 AM, Mina, aboard her mother’s SUV, was already at the parking area of the UFVIS Compound waiting for her. As she boarded the SUV, Mina already drove the vehicle to their lunch destination. Kleio was surprised when Mina entered the basement parking lot of Elysium Tower, a high-rise condominium building near UF – Vienburg Campus.

Curiously, Kleio asked her mother’s assistant, “Does Mama have a film shooting here, Ate Mina?”

Mina just replied with, “You will know once we reach our destination.”

So she just followed her mother assistant until they reached the 18th floor and they stopped by in front of the door of corner unit. Mina pressed the doorbell then her half-brother, Liam, opened the door and led her inside the great room (combined living area, dining area, and kitchen) with an open floor plan, after exchanging a quick hug and double cheek kiss with her.

She first saw the living area (with L-shaped off white sectional sofa adored with different patterned and colored throw pillows, glass coffee table with driftwood base, and the butcher block entertainment rack having a 55 inch smart LED TV centered among the upper shelves, side shelves and lower cabinetry) had purple and white balloons decoration.

Kleio then exchanged a quick hug and double cheek kiss with her mother as the latter put her favorite her favorite gluten-free and sugar-free chocolate cake at the center of the live edge rectangular butcher block dining table (with cast iron vestal base along with two cast-iron vestal based two-seater benches, and two other same themed dining chairs) set with a sumptuous lunch feast.

But what captured her interest the most was the state-of-the art L-shaped kitchen with white veins black quartz countertop-island having a 4-zone electric infrared cooktop with electric oven below on the side and white cabinetry under. On the background of the island were the two-door black French door refrigerator along black upper and lower cabinetry, centering the black veins white quartz countertop for other kitchen appliances (another electric oven, microwave oven and others that can still be added) with the backsplash was similar to the white quartz countertop. To the other side of the island the continuation of the L-shaped white quartz countertop with black quartz kitchen sink, having upper butcher block floating shelves along the centered window and lower black cabinetry with a dishwashing machine under just beside the kitchen sink area. The island had four scooped butcher block rotating bar stools with black cast-iron back and base frame. So far, she noticed that the flooring was all dark-colored hardwood except for the balcony which seemed to be porcelain patterned black and white floor tiles

Mama Lirio then suddenly asked her, “Do you like it?”

As Kleio sat down, her response was, “Yes, Ma,” and then asked “Does Tito Franc lease this unit for another film project?” She referred to her mother’s second husband Franco as Tito Franc.

Lirio answered, “No,” as she started serving her and her half-brother with soup while Mina served herself, and then added, “I started paying for this condominium unit when you were still in junior high school. This is my birthday present for you, ‘shine.”

Her eyes widened surprisingly, and then after sometime said, “I cannot accept it, Ma. This is too much for a birthday present. Besides, I live with Papa.”

Lirio then responded while putting more food on her daughter’s plate, “I am not asking you to move out from your father. But you can stay here over the weekends. Liam and I will just visit you here. That way, you won’t feel awkward around Francis and Fiona whenever you visit our residence. As for the other kitchen appliances, just tell Mina what else you need to make this your dream kitchen. Mina will be staying here to keep you company whenever she does not have work to do for me.”

Kleio insisted, “I am not earning yet, Ma. How can I even pay for the utility bills of this residence?”

Lirio answered, “You have nothing to worry about it. Mina will be in charge of settling all the bills on my behalf. I just want to provide you with a much more comfortable alternate residence. Just focus on your studies. And should you be ready to have your own V+ Tube Channel for your food vlogs then I will ask Franc for the best camcorders to be installed in this kitchen. You have already been doing food blogs on your own website, and you have millions of followers already within less than a year. The web hosting firm had contacted me. They advised that you set up your own PayPal account already as you turned 18 years old. After securing your professional driver’s license, Mina will accompany you to the web hosting firm. You also need to provide them with your contact details, so they can contact you on which display advertising you would approve or disapprove. They might also advise you set up an online store to sell your products or join in some possible affiliate marketing programs. You will know more of these once you went to their office. It will all be up to you to decide on these matters. I told them that you are still studying and will still pursue your collegiate education. That is why you only do weekly food blogs.”

Kleio said, “Ma, I really appreciate all your support in my journey as a food enthusiast but let us eat first. We can talk more about this later on.”

Liam then spoke, “By the way, Ate Klei, later after lunch, I will help you and Ate Mina to enter your biometrics for the door security access. You also need to enter your own pass code individually. Mom and I had already entered ours.”

Kleio praised her half-brother, “That is so smart of you, Liam.”

Liam gave back the praise, “I am just like you, Ate. You even qualified for the accelerated medical program of STU.”

Mina then curiously asked, “So, will you be taking medicine, Klei?”

Kleio answered, “I am still undecided, Ate Mina. If I qualified for the accelerated medical program of UF – Vienburg then it will have been a done deal. I don’t want to burden Paps and Mama paying for my medical degree in a privately-owned university.”

Mama Lirio commented, “She is already very independent-minded, Mina. Her father and I have both been saving for her collegiate fund and yet she has her own views.”

Kleio then reacted, “You just purchased this unit, Ma. That must be a large amount. Aside from the large school fees at STU, studying there will also mean increased travel expenses even if it is just the adjacent city. I am also not sure if I will be able to survive the medical school. Just thinking of all the medical terminologies that I have to memorize makes me feel anxious already.”

Mama Lirio said, “Money won’t be a problem, ‘shine. Financially supporting your every passion is the least that I can do for not being around often.”

Mina then asked another question, “Will your father not be sad if you don’t pursue medicine just like him?”

Kleio’s answered, “I also asked Paps about it this morning. He said that whichever career decision I make, he will support me.”

Mama Lirio then asked, “So will it be food technology or nutrition & dietetics?”

Kleio responded, “It is much correct to ask if medicine or nutrition & dietetics, Ma.”

Liam then commented, “You should choose the one that you really want and love, Ate. Me, I am already decided to take up a double degree in computer science and business administration.”

Kleio replied, “It is nice to know that you are already decisive on which career path to pursue, Liam.”

After the lunch, Mina put all the dishes at the dishwashing machine while Lirio and Liam toured Kleio around the entire residence. Liam oriented Kleio regarding how the security lock system of the main door works as well as all the switches to all the smart appliances (refrigerator, HVAC, washing machine, dryer, dishwashing machine, electric range, robot vacuum cleaner, and TV), and how they functioned. He also gave his half-sister the telephone number at the residence as well as the Wi-Fi passcode. The flooring of the bedrooms were also dark colored hardwood. The bathrooms were both black white and butcher block theme as well as the laundry area.

Kleio decided to have the bedroom along the corridor and behind the entertainment rack of the living room as hers for more privacy, while the other one beside the kitchen as the guest bedroom. There were still no beds and other furniture on the bedrooms. Lirio instructed Mina to inform the interior designer to put a queen-size bed on Kleio’s chosen bedroom, and two twin size beds on the guest bedroom. Both the bedroom had its own en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet, but the guest bedroom’s en-suite bathroom had another door for visitor’s access.

In her bedroom, Kleio had also changed her school uniform with a much casual and comfortable outfit that she packed on her bag. She also flossed, brushed her teeth and use mouthwash last. Her hygiene kit (which also included organic facial wash, organic cur defining cream, hand & body lotion, deodorant, comb, lip balm, face cloth, bandages, one-shot EpiPen, antihistamine pills, hand sanitizer, tissues, nail clippers, hair ties, feminine wash, and sanitary pads) had always been packed on her bag. It was a practice her father taught her.

When Mina was already done with her biometrics and passcode, Kleio already left with her. Kleio’s mother and half-brother were also fetched by their family driver at the same time. Kleio’s next stop was for her professional driver’s license. After an hour, she already had her professional driver’s license. Mina had allowed her to drive upon her request and their next stop was the office of the international web hosting company that her mother’s second husband had recommended for her website.

Kleio was able to set up her PayPal account with their assistance. All the means of earning from her food blogs were also explained. She was surprised to know that the food establishments (restaurants, cafés, organic farms, food markets, seafood markets, and others) she mentioned on food review page were interested to have display advertising on her food blog entries. Local and international kitchen equipment, kitchen tools, kitchen appliances, and food companies were also interested for her to promote their products on her recipe page. She felt overwhelmed with all the attention her website, kleio.com, was getting. She just started it a few months ago with the encouragement of her mother and her stepfather, which was also supported by her father. She agreed on the display advertising but she told the personnel who attended to her that she would have to decide on the other promotions once she decided to have her own food vlog at her website and at other video sharing and social media platform. As for the online store, she said that she was not ready for it yet.

Kleio’s first priority had always been her studies. Writing food reviews and sharing her own healthy recipes, along with the photos she personally took and short video clips she personally took and edited, were just hobbies.

After her meeting, Mina had also reminded her to secure her own tax identification number because she would already be earning money as a food blogger, and so she secured one the nearest internal revenue office with Mina’s assistance. She already got her social security number and the accompanying card when she reached twelve as assisted by her father.

When everything was already done and accomplished, Mina had already driven Kleio home at UF – Vienburg Faculty Village. Her father was still not around when she arrived. She opened the main door with her keys and then called her father up.

Her father answered after three rings – Yes, sunshine. Are you already home?

Kleio responded – Yes, Paps. Where are you? Why are you not yet home?

Papa Kristof answered – I had a patient to attend so I am just leaving right now.

The she did not hear anything more from her father, even if the audio call had not ended yet. She just heard some commotion.

She was getting nervous already. The audio call suddenly ended. When she tried to call again the audio response stated that the number she dialed was out of service.