DIANA DANE'S POV
I walked quickly while looking at my clock. I am late at our family dinner. We all have our own accommodations, so since we have a family dinner at the mansion every week, everyone should be there. Daddy doesn't want anyone to be late. He was strict when it came to time. Why was I stuck in traffic earlier?
I arrived at the mansion at precisely 6 o'clock in the evening. I arrived at the dining area at 6:05, so I was in a rush and didn't pay attention to those there.
"Sorry, I'm late." I apologize for being five minutes late. My father sighed and said, "Sit," which I overheard.
"You're not," Dave replied, the second one. When I looked at the chair next to him where he and Dale were seated, in between Dylan was still not there.
"Ow." I smiled inwardly because it appears that later, Dylan will draw my father's attention away from me.
"Dad, shall we eat?" Daze, our youngest child, questioned the person who was currently seated to my right. Our position is like this. On her right side, mom, me, and Daze are seated, and on her left, Dave, Dylan, and Dale are. Dad is seated on the head.
Dad gave the reply, "Not until your brother gets here."
What time is it? Perhaps he hasn't left his condominium yet. Dylan and Daze are the two who give the other four of us the most trouble, and they are the only two who can easily answer to Daddy.
"I'll call him," I said.
"No need, he's here," Dave said.
"Yow, wazzup, Dy Familia."
"You're taking too long," Daze complained.
He responded, "I'm sorry, Dandelion Daze; you know that your older brother is very handsome so the babes don't want to let go," and then sat down.
When Daddy uttered the words "Let's eat," Dylan and Daze were on their way to obtaining some food. "Lead the prayers, Damon."
"Huh?" Dylan asked as he immediately lowered the spoon.
"You're late, so lead the prayers." I kicked Daze when she giggled at my side. We held hands while everyone closed their eyes.
Dylan responded when his father abruptly spoke, "Dear God, thank you for the food, amen."
"And?"
"And I hope we're full. Amen again."
"Dylan," Daddy scourged.
"What's next, Dale?" He whispered to Dale, but we heard him.
"Uhm, I hope the food will give strength and energy to our bodies," Dale whispered to him.
"Too long ---- I hope the food has more energy for more happiness. Amen."
"Dwayne Dale, lead the prayer," Daddy commanded and looked badly at Dylan.
"That's already nice."
"You're really minus point in heaven," Daze said.
"Dear God, thank you for the food that you serve to us. We praise you and offer you this food. Please bless this food that'll fill our empty stomachs. We prayed that this food will give us good health, and the energy that our body needs. Amen."
"Amen," we at once answer.
"How's everything, Diane Dane?" dad started to ask when we started eating. He was just calm but there was still the authority in his voice.
"It's okay, dad, though I'm busy I can still manage," I replied.
Dustine Dave: "You should; it's your responsibility, and you. When are you going to give us a grandchild, and why didn't you bring Lileth?"
"She's not feeling well, and Lileth is still not yet ready to have kids, after what happened to the first, dad."
"I heard a lot of negative issues, Dustine Dave, make sure that's untrue."
"What issue?" Dylan asked.
"That he hurt his wife, physically."
"You're stupid! You're doing that, Dave?" I even looked at Dave because of what daddy said.
Dave is serious amongst us. He married first last year and also found out that Lileth was pregnant when they got married. But she lost the baby.
"Am I that stupid to disgrace our name?" he asked Dylan quietly but still calmly. "It wasn't true, dad," he calmly replied to daddy.
"Make sure --- and you, Damon, when do you become straight?" Dylan stopped eating because of Daddy's question and looked at mommy.
"Am I not straight, mom?"
"Son, what your daddy is referring to is your constant drinking, drug use, and going with a woman. As parents, we have nothing to say to you other than your bad habit."
"There is nothing wrong with what I am doing. I have not been aggrieved," he complained. "I didn't hurt my neighbor."
"There are Damon, those girls. Don't you think you have a sister?" mom added and Dylan looked at us and Daze.
"It wasn't fault if you guys sleep with a man," he complained again. "It is your choice and not mine."
"It's not like that, son, what we mean is ----"
"Why wasn't I informed that I will be the topic?" Mommy didn't finish what she was going to say when Dylan cut it off and lowered the spoon. "I thought it was a family dinner and then there were more questions for me."
"Dwayne Dale, have you decided on my offer yet?" Daddy asked Dale and ignored Dylan. Dylan winked at me and resumed eating. The madman won again.
"Yes, dad."
"And?"
"I agreed, dad."
"About what?" Daze asked.
"Dwayne Dale will marry Lauren Del Fuego."
"What?" we asked.
"That's a joke, Dale? Did you agree to get married?" Dylan asked.
"Not a joke' bro, I agreed with daddy's decision."
"I thought dad, choose the lovers you want? Why you're going to arrange a marriage for Dale?" Dylan asked annoyed. As I said, only the two of them and Daze can talk to daddy.
"I asked him, and you heard he said yes. I did not force him, it's his choice."
"Don't blame daddy, my dear siblings, it's my decision. Besides, it's Lauren Del Fuego, beautiful, sexy, resistant in form and body." Dale even flicked his finger.
"Tsk, the asshole has no own decision."
"Your words, Dylan Damon," mommy said annoyed.
"Sorry, mom."
"And you young spoiled brat, how long will you tempt Enrique Locsin?" We frowned and looked at Daze.
"Dad."
"Daze, you still following Enrique?"
Sis, do you know that since I was born I had a crush on him?"
"Daze, isn't Ervic always with you? Then why do you like Enrique?"
"Long story Dale."
"Hey, Dandelion Daze, stop following that cowboy, or I'll take your condo back from you."
"Dylan!"
"You're flirt, you haven't even finished school yet."
"And who's to blame, Dylan?"
"Why did you ask me, Dane?"
"You really spoiled Daze. You gave all the luxury and gave everything she wanted."
"Youngest, to experience what we haven't experienced," he replied and looked at daddy.
Dylan was right. Maybe others will think that we are lucky as we grow because we came from wealthy families. Yeah, we're lucky. Because we have food every day, we have a car when we leave, we have our own air-conditioned room, the school equipment is good, but as Dylan said before, that is the obligation of our parents as their children.
But when it comes to luxury, daddy is strict. You have to earn what you wanted. Because you never know the value of money and how to earn it if you're always leaning on someone. I remember when I was twelve I want to buy a piano. I haven't eaten for a month at break time just to save. Then Dave, Dylan, and Dale did the same. They helped me to save.
At the age of fifteen, daddy brings us to the company to work part-time in the company. It's automatic once you reach fifteen. When there is no school, we are there to see the hard work of the employees. When I worked part-time, I became a servant. A handler of things, file of papers.
Dave is the manager's assistant. Report typist and file also.
Dylan is a janitor. I remember back then when Dylan got his first paycheck he freed us all at the restaurant and he bought mommy a bag. Mommy cried and cried then and Dylan was very proud of his first salary. He also fed at the orphanage and bought gifts for his friends.
Dale is a bookkeeper.
Daze was the one who didn't experience what we experienced because Dylan spoiled her. When Daze was fifteen, Dylan is twenty-one years old and he was already making a lot of money. He is already a member of street fighting and he has a lot of talent that can be used to earn money. He already has a house and a car and since Daze is the youngest, we accompanied Dylan to spoil Daze.
"Before, I forgot, Diana Dane--"
"Yes, dad?" I asked and put down the spoon.
"I've noticed that since you and Cooper broke up you haven't accepted a lover. Your friends are already married and have children. Dustin Dave has preceded you, and when Lauren agrees they'll even precede you. Don't you have any plans for yourself? "
Cooper was my first boyfriend, we've been together for five years. I loved him and that was true even though I knew in myself I loved someone else. But I found out that he's gay. So I released him but we remained friends. Though he's in Canada now we still have contact.
"Yeah, Dane, you're off the calendar."
"There are three years yet, Dylan. 1095 days yet."
"February has 28 only." I stared at him for what he had said. "Ok, there's a leap year so you have another offer. No connection." I was just shaken because he only once got into what he was saying.
"Dad, Mom, and siblings, I am happy, ok?"
"Is it true Dane? I don't think so." Daze said. She's five years younger than Dwayne Dale. Means she's eight years younger than me.
"Listen, I am happy with my career, ok?"
"Your daddy and I only care about you, Diana Dane."
"Why are you forcing Dane? He's not ready yet. Marriage is not a race." I winked at Dylan for what he said.
"Diana isn't getting any younger. Like you, Damon." It was mom.
"The church isn't going to run. Why don't you get married just to keep up and then you're not ready," he added.
Mom and Dad, look at each other and both are shaking.
"Me, dad, I am ready to get married to Enrique."
"Flirtations, I will definitely take your condo away."
"Dylan is really overreacting. Afraid because he is a womanizer."
"Yes, my Dandelion, and even though I'm a womanizer, I'll stumble when one of you and Dane are hurting by your men."
"Thanks, I love you."
"Don't fool me, stop chasing that Enrique."
"Tss,"
"Whatever it is, I don't care about what makes you happy. All I want you guys are to be responsible for your action and always keep in your mind, that in every action that you will do, you have a family that will get affected. In good, or in bad. You are not alone and as long as you carry DY, we will all be together in popularity, praise, and especially in shame. Understood?" Daddy's question was authoritative.
"Yes, dad," we said at once and continued eating.