VOTE & COMMENT!

ACT 1

HEAVY IS THE HEAD WHO WEARS THE CROWN

"Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it."
― Salvador Dali

Every year there was a period of time before the start of July when Talia Padilla-Hu (Kadamskiynova), Jadore Weng who attended school in Singapore where her mother could keep a close eye on her and gave her more time with her grandmother, and Anette Soeryadjaya who was shipped off to some girls boarding school in Switzerland by her mother who had connections with a board member from her time there in finishing school. Their breaks had all overlapped, forcibly driving them all back home to Singapore.

They would spend on a wanted basis a week, giving enough time for all of their 'aunties' enough time to pick-nick and compare their child's latest accomplishments. However, it was ever so most looked forward to seeing the return of the dubbed 'favourite grandchild' of the family, for aunties to gossip about the framed future of Talia. A simple excuse for the passive rapacious females of the South Asian Elite to get a closer insight into the hidden riches of Europe's most hidden dynasties.

To describe Talia's opulent family -everyone within the milieu was family one way or another- in a few words were loud-, boisterously loud, warm, cunning, backstabbing gossip (nothing was ever normal for a good few years, especially when it came to inheritances. You're worst enemy could become your best friends in a matter of minutes), and passive aggressiveness on a whole new level. 

Giving a turn to private land into the 'heart' of the country, she feels the car roll onto gravel from the road. Buildings had become towering plants, hiding any glimpses of the sacrilegious estate from the public eye. It is a five-minute drive to reach the manor, fifteen by foot if one could ever get past the deadly line of Gurkhas patrolling every bit of jungle and least expected entrance or exit. Talia feels the car halt, getting up from her head resting against the car window as she watches the guards inspect the car. Talia quotidianly pulls down her window feeling the prickle of heat slip through the window, as the officer in charge immediately salutes at her with perfect precision holding his bayonet firmly.

"Morning Aran," she says softly, her eyes still heavy from the jet lag.

"Madam," he nods in acknowledgement as he returns to his post and signals for the gate to open. Talia satisfied, pulls up her window as the car begins to move as they pass the gates.

What seems like a jungle soon fades into a small nostalgic vision peeped over the trimmed hedges of pristine rolling plains and the main lake embedded in the cushioned grass. As the car pulls up higher as the hedges grow smaller a smile creeps warmingly onto Talia's face seeing the lake/pond. Large properties were a scarcity and rare in Singapore, but the Hu's estate was the nation's best-kept secret. It was a walking paradise on earth, that even the Singaporean gardens took inspiration from.

The colonial manor stood proudly on the highest of the flat peak of the estate, overlooking the large body of water that was connected to an ever-stretching four-tiered layer of the flat waterfall that surrounded the front side of the building. Both exotic and native flowers were weaved beautifully on the side with lights hidden that glowed only at night, as moonlight would trickle elegantly as lanterns and water lotuses danced slowly on the water.

As much beauty there was at night and Talia's favourite time to walk, the day offered no less to the title of a living paradise. The moment you would set foot you would be drenched by the overwhelming euphoric scent of bougainvillaeas on the east side as they spiralled around the arches to the garden house. But it was the jasmines that were planted unexpectedly everywhere that had given the aura of the estate if you weren't already entranced by the garden's beauty.

As the chauffeur opened the door for her as she elegantly got out. The second Talia stepped out of the car she was met by the familiar kiss of her childhood's home heat. Despite it being a familiar welcome of her childhood home's heat, starkly different to the chilly months of Europe. The heat had seemed to prick her skin. In a way, it was happy being home with your nagging mother way.

Yet despite the summer temperature, there were still the breezes that you could catch, cold if you were luckier. A small one seemed to billow Talia's fabric of the nude skirt that was a shade slightly lighter than her own. It had given an old glimpse of the old Talia, one that clashed with her current one and her old one. It was still in its own way incredibly chic, but subtle. Despite, however being laid back with the background setting and the lighting that flexed a reflection of her skin that made it look like honey gold and her eyes sparkled as the way wind had danced weaving like patterns it made her look like a goddess.

Talia's eyes settling from the glare, finally rested at the entrance where a smaller line of servants dressed impeccably in the livery had awaited her arrival. The most confident of the lot and who had carried herself the best stepped away from the side and made her way down the middle towards her.

"Miss-," 

Before she could even speak a loud squawk was accompanied by a frightful sight that had caught everyone off guard. Talia, jerking a bit to the side had only morphed into an expression of laughter as she watched one of the native peacocks that had inhabited the estate strut contemptuously towards her. 

"Is that-, is that Jerry?!" Talia burst into laughter kneeling down as the colourful bird began to squawk loudly at her. "Oh my God I thought he had moved to the Singapore zoo!" she exclaimed as she carefully patted the back of the peacock, gently patting its feathers. Her grandmother had thrown herself into zoology and had a fondness for animals. She had dedicated her early life to trying to repopulate endangered birds and other species in South East Asia. The moment she had married Talia's grandfather she had made use of the estate to rehabilitate endangered water birds catching the whole staff off guard.

"Mr uh- Jerry was quite aggressive to the staff who'd tried to relocate him to the Singapore Zoo. They came to the conclusion that they'd just let Mr Jerry stay here and check on him every now and then," the head maid, Feng Feng informed in Cantonese watching Talia get up.

"I see," Talia chuckled genuinely. "Well, Jerry I better get going," she spoke to the bird as it squawked back as she made her past the small military lines of maids in their livery as she entered the house.

"Hello~?" she crooned craning her neck around to see if she saw anyone familiar.

"Your father will be here soon, and your mother is in Manila, she'll be home tomorrow," Feng Feng informed as she sighed. Ever since the whole debacle or spectacle of her mother and her aunt Izzy, she had taken the liberty to make smart appearances but throw herself into her work to avoid the circle run by Aunt Izzy. No matter how much she proved herself, or even was married to Talia's father and was the true lady of the house Izzy had fought for the spot with a blood thirst.

Even though Angelina was still from a pedigree family from both sides, she was an outsider. No matter who sided with her or how long she had given birth and how old they were or valued they were, she was an outsider. 

"Tala!" a voice called out in an excited manner as Talia's eyes looked up to the steps that descended from the second floor to see none other than her cousin Jadore, clad in flannel pants and an oversized shirt, looking as if she had just woke up (which she did).

"Hey dumbass," Talia teased as her cousin waltzed down the stairs and made her way to Talia. Although Jadore had looked like her mother; with her round elegant face, soft dimples, her grandfather's almond protruding eyes, and ebony brown hair she had acted more of her father than she admitted. 

"How was the flight?" she quipped.

"Dead as always, what about you? Although you didn't fly you look like you have just woken up," Talia said.

"Well I did, school's an ass and more cram schools than I can count," Jadore carped. "My mother made me watch one of my father's surgery operations with other kids from my cram school so I can take notes.

"Again?" Talia emphasised, "And you actually wrote notes?"

"The first page I did, but after that, I just ended up doodling," she shrugged.

"Well great to know that if I get operated on by you, I'm in safe hands," Talia teased.

"Yh, I'll doodle your way to recovery-, of course, I'm not going to do that," Jadore chuckled. 

"Have you told her yet?" Talia asked in a serious manner.

"No, I'm not going to be a doctor Talia. You know that, but if I actually tell her that I'll get disowned," Jadore effused.

"You can come live with me," Talia swung an arm around her as they began to walk upstairs to hang in her bedroom. "We can be disappointments together."

"And third wheel with you and your fiancee? I'm good, I don't want to hear moaning when I'm trying to study," she joked as Talia flapped her shoulder hard making her groan. "Ow!"

"Jay, that's disgusting," Talia scrunched her nose up making Jadore smirk.

"Oh come on, like you guys don't have-,"

Before she could even finish her sentence they could hear loud long groans coming from Talia's bedroom making the two girls halt in their tracks as they exchanged concerned looks at each other.

"What the actual fuck?" Talia whispered. "Who else is here?!"

"Timothy, but I saw him helping his mum. Owen's with my mum, Anette's not here yet-," Jadore's eyes widen, "But I know Toni is here with David," Jadore exchanged looks with Talia watching her face turn into pure disgust.

"They better not be watching p0rn or I swear to God that-," Talia stops mid-sentence opening her bedroom doors with such force you could fill the wind sweeping against you from it swinging. Jadore and Talia's eyes widen as their jaws drop to find Toni on the bed face-planted deep in the bed and his mum, Evangeline pressing her elbow deep into the side of her son's spine.

"Mum! Why did you stop?!" Toni whined, his face still in the bed.

"A-aunt Evy?" Talia barely expressed herself.

"Lah! Tala!" Evangeline immediately walked over to her 'niece' with open eyes as she inspected her from head to toe, forgetting about her son who was still face-planted on her bed. Those damn fucking genes Evangeline swore to herself looking at Talia who looked like a chic goddess in such a simplistic dress, "You look so pretty! I swear you get prettier every time I see you!" she eulogized as she turned to Jadore with a hesitant hug.

"And Jadore..." she feigned a smile, "You've gotten... taller."

Such a shame she doesn't look like her dad, she looks too much like Izzy Evangeline thought.

"Thanks," Jadore muttered, mentally rolling her eyes. "What are you doing in Tala's bedroom?" she questioned.

This kid and her questions, no respect whatsoever Evangeline admonished. 

"I was just giving my poor Toni a massage, his back has been acting up again and he doesn't have physio till next week. He was really hurting-, I hope you don't mind Tala, do you?" she cunningly questioned.

"No, it's alright," Talia hid her bitterness well. "But if it's alright, I would like you to use my bedroom now." This isn't a fucking massage place.

"Of course, come, Toni," Evangeline called out as the boy sluggishly rolled off the bed and made his way with his mother. 

"Hey Jay, Hi Tala," he greeted tiredly.

"Hey," they both said as they watch the two walk out. The moment they are far enough, Talia shuts the door and the two just laugh.

"You don't mind Tala, do you?" Talia mocks her aunt, making Jadore snort. "He better not have saliva on my bed," she begins to walk over to her bed and inspects the covers.

"Did you see the way she looked at me?" Jadore says, "I thought she was about to strangle me. Poor Toni, my poor Toni" she tags along and flops on the bed next to Talia.

"We probably should go down soon," Talia mumbles putting her arms over her eyes.

"Yeah, give me a minute," she mutters back, "How's school?" she turns her head as Talia chuckles.

"You sound like a mum," she flops her arm on her eyes to the side. "You don't want to know."

"You never spill," Jadore rest on her side.

"Ugh, if I told you wouldn't believe me. I hate them, everyone," Talia effuses. 

"Well, I'm sure they can't hate you."

"Well, they can't. I'm future Mrs Kadamskiynova," she effuses. "Sometimes I don't know who to trust anymore at this point. I'm losing it."

"You have Mikhail," Jadore offered.

"That's not helping," Talia turned her head.

"Boy trouble?" 

"Not exactly, just backstabbing cunts. I have to keep my fucking composure," Talia vented.

"Well, being Mrs Perfect is being better than Miss imperfect," her cousin remarked. Talia chose to keep her mouth shut and stared back up at the ceiling.

---

After Talia and Jadore had gone downstairs to the foyer to see Anette coming back fresh from Switzerland with a heavy-eyed expression from jet lag they were all methodically seated at the dining table. From what Talia could remember the dining room was kept the same, and the colonial structure of the house fused eruditely with South East Asian and Chinese aspects. On one side it shared the ethereal soft glow of the arch windows with intricate patterns engraved that dated back to when the house was first built and the other side was matched with the hand-stitched dark emerald green pattern wallpaper that spread vauntingly across the wall.

Talia, by herself, with her mother choosing to not make an appearance and her father seemingly absent had followed Jadore and her aunt as Aunt Izzy had the temerity to grip the head of the chair that sat next adjacent to Ah ma's seat at the head of the table. Her aunt gave a sweet-sickening smile at her niece.

"Owen is sitting here," Aunt Izzy raised her head slightly, staring straight at Talia who remained composure. The rest seem to exchange looks at the small feud taking place as Talia's nonchalant expression morphs into a gentle smile.

"I didn't know seating arrangements changed," she said. "Must've been away too long."

"Must've," Isabella reiterates, deepening her smile. Owen mouths a 'sorry' to her as they cross seats. The ebony-haired female sits as she keeps her eyes poised ignoring her aunts' exchange of words. 

"Lah, mama! Careful!" Aunt Isabella rushes over down the room as her Ah Ma enters with her a few of her maids watching her carefully like a porcelain doll about to break. 

"Izzy, hush, I'm only turned seventy-two for crying out loud. I can walk!" Talia and the rest of the room stand up immediately upon hearing the woman scolding her daughter in Cantonese. "Lah! Everyone sit! It's just me!" her grandmother laughs as everyone smiles and takes their seats.

"Tala! Why are you sitting over there? Quickly, change seats so you can come to sit next to me!" she squanders as Talia gets up with a nervous expression and Jadore mirrors it too. Aunt Izzy's expression was only baffled by those words as she takes her mother's elbows in support of her to walk. 

"Mama, Owen always sits next to you when we are here, she misses you so much and they're already seated-,"

"Nonsense," she interjects dismissively untangling her arms from her daughter's. "You bring Jadore and Owen over non-stop and I have no choice but for her to sit next to me because she's the only grandchildren that visit that often. Tala hasn't been here in so long."

Isabella doesn't say anything and signals with her eyes to her son to switch positions with Talia as they do. Satisfied, Ah Ma gracefully takes her seat at the head of the table with her husband absent with business. 

Dishes are pulled with the room being euphorically drenched with Talia's home-sweet dishes that are mouth-wateringly good with proof as Timothy eyes the food being put onto the table like a hawk. The usual conversation begins to go into full swing, to what the kids had called the 'Bragging Games' of their mothers bragging about their ability about their child's latest achievements. Talia looks slowly to the archway but with none of her parents to be seen. She looks back at the table with an estranged look in her eyes as she watches her cousins sit uncomfortably at each other and exchange looks as their mothers begin to vaunt.

 She had always felt out of place, in fact sometimes as painful it was for her to say, being back with Mikhail's family and the other European elite was more inviting than her childhood home. Before Talia fully devoted herself to being groomed to fulfil her title as a future lady of the Kadamskiynov house she wasn't the 'typical' child that her group of Tiger Aunts wanted every child to be. She wasn't gifted, she didn't get math as fast as Anette even with the amount of tutoring she had received, she wasn't a prodigy at swimming or any other sports, or she wasn't as interested in any sciences as her parents were so praised within their respective professions. 

She wasn't dumb, and she wasn't a prodigy. Her mother didn't make that many appearances if Isabelle's clique of mothers were the only ones present, unintentionally leaving her child. Her father made his appearances but had always come at the wrong time when Talia needed him most. Then, after she had come back from her studies in Europe she felt even more out of place as she was flung back into the Asian elite. She couldn't relate at all to any of the conversations, even with her closest cousins.

No one had understood Talia's situation except Mikhail. They were raised and groomed in such a certain way-, but Mikhail had never had to switch crowds or could simply charm his way in. Talia, for the most at least would try but could never do it as easily as he could. As much as she loved escaping the suffocating, cut-throat life back in Alderbridge and the European milieu she felt more European than Asian sometimes whenever she set foot back on home soil.

'She's become too good for us' they would remark.

"Tala," Talia had jerked craning her neck immediately to her Ah ma who had put her hand on hers. "You haven't touched anything, there's even Tutu Kueh," she spoke in Cantonese.

"Ah, sorry. I spaced out," she sheepishly chuckled and instantly grabbed the pastry.

---

The female is found sprawled on the couch found in the mini loungeroom on the first floor near the entrance to the gardens. Changed into a more casual attire of light-linen pyjama pants and a t-shirt, Talia's face was half lit by the creeping colours of the sun's setting rays pouring softly onto the left side of her body and as the shadows fell onto her right, the light from her phone had illuminated her face as she waited for her mother to reply to her text.

Sorry Anak for not being able to be there, got caught up with my director's report she had texted back. Make sure your dad stays away from the oily seafood stuff for dinner, he's going to complain to me when I see him tomorrow when we have brunch. Make sure Calix stays with you.

I will, Calix is just changing upstairs, I'll video call you later when Calix and I aren't near the Witches she replied with a smirk.

Hehe, love you.

With a long sigh, Talia slumped further into her position as the loud laughter being heard from the dining room had given her the reminder that she had escaped the suffocating room of tigers. 

"Oi!" Anette had leaned her head over Talia with her hair dangling like a willow tree with both her and Jadore's arms pressed on top of the sofa back. 

"What?" Talia said in her poshest English accent.

"Wanna sneak out?"

"Where?"

"I dunno a convenience store or something? The one we use to go to in primary school, and I'm craving Chai Time. We'll be back before dinner."

"You're only asking me because I'm the only one with a driver's license?" 

"That's exactly why we're asking you," Anette smirks.

"Also because if we get caught you're Ah ma's favourite and your dad frankly doesn't give two fucks," Jadore adds. 

"Sure, but we're bringing my brother because I need to keep an eye on him."

"Fine, we'll meet you in the garage, we'll take the back way," Jadore informs.

---

"(Calix, move your fat arse)!" Talia groaned in Cantonese, shifting her position as her younger brother stuck out his tongue. 

"(Oi! be careful, you might accidentally sit on the food on your fat arse!)" Jadore admonishes the two siblings, pushing the trolley into the sweets aisle of NTUC FairPrice and FairPrice Finest food. Anette walks in front rolling her sipping on her strawberry green tea, scanning through the rows of chocolates for the most decent price.

"(Hey, should I get the five-pack or just the singular one?)" Anette calls out at the kerfuffle the trio had brewed behind her. She deadpans at the three and just grabs the singular packet. Those fuckers can just have to deal with me not sharing.

Halfway down the chips aisle, Talia is found scrolling through her phone at the news. Huxley's Plummet and Fall Grace: American Royalty in Ruins.

Anette seems to steal a glance at the headline of the article her cousin is reading. "(Oh wow that's still going on)," she says catching the attention of Jadore, back with the limited edition chip packet she had craving for. She sticks her head in and looks at Talia's phone as well.

"(Of course the media is dragging it on. Besides elections and politician shit, they've had nothing this big. I mean isn't it a bit of a coincidence that all of her group as well are going broke or whatever?)" Jadore theorized. 

"(Well I mean almost every in America company are somehow tied with them. I mean whatever happened it took out the stock market's three biggest pillars. I mean haven't you seen the crowds in front of wall street and stuff? People are saying if it continues America might go through another national depression)" Anette refutes.

"(Yeah, but still it seems so odd)" Jadore added.

"(Our families have done it before)" Talia butts in. "(Well, I mean Ah ma and her generation. They used to do it when Ah ma's father-in-law passed away and the will had mysteriously disappeared.)"

"lah! Can't we get away from this depressing topic?" Anette exclaims switching to English, sneakily slipping the packet of m&ms into the trolley-

"Oi! You have one of those!" Talia smacks her hand and throws it back to the wrong shelf making Jadore frown profusely as she puts them back properly.

"I don't want to share with you walruses!"

"What type of insult is that?!" she fires.

"Your face looks like a walrus," Calix turns to his sister as she irks at her younger sibling.

"And your face is no different from a blobfish!" 

"I'm telling older goh goh* Misha!" Calix crooned mockingly making Talia roll her eyes. The last thing she wanted to think about was him. Especially with her birthday coming up arranged proposal everyone was so eager for (everyone wanted to know what rock she was getting). It wasn't even about her turning eighteen and the usual pathway to adulthood, it was the seal of her freedom being thrown out the window and her life turned upside down. 

*note, I don't know what to call a Cantonese an older brother so correct me if I'm wrong!

"How is Mikhail?" Anette quips. 

"Fine I guess," she responds with an annoyed tone blanketed firmly underneath. Anette knew well enough of her cousin's eyes that something was off, that they were tired-, exhausted. Like a soldier returning from war.

"Is everything going alright with you and Mikhail?" Annette approaches cautiously.

"Why wouldn't they be okay? Miss and Mr Perfect," Jadore scoffs unaware of Talia. Anette jabs a light elbow to her cousin who exchanges an annoyed 'what?' expression. Her cousin gestures with her head to Talia, making her cousin take a closer observation. She had caught on too.

"You can be honest with us," Anette's tone changes into a genuine honeyed tone, offering her kind eyes. Talia gives a smile as she holds her hands and arms around her curled-up legs. 

"(Can we speak French?" Talia asks pleafully.

"Hey! I can't understand you now!" Calix exclaims.

"Shut up you weasel, this is important," Talia admonishes. "(Mikhail and I, I-I don't know how to explain it. We're good most of the time, we rely on each other because we grew up together more than I grew up in my own household. But I don't know, for all I knew Mikhail and I would always get married eventually and it wouldn't seem weird for an eighteen-year-old to be engaged on her birthday even though it was planned for years. Like no thinks it weird-, I've just never got to think about a life outside of him.)"

"(Talia we all have expectations and standards that seem weird to the normal layperson)" Jadore comments a little angered. "(Everyone dotes on you, and Mikhail and you are fucking perfect-)"

"WE AREN'T PERFECT!" Talia yells tearfully catching her brother off-guard who looks at his older sibling with a concerned look. 

Jadore scoffs and looks the other way. "(You have everything. You don't know what it's like to be in your fucking shadow, Talia. Going home and your own mother obsessed with you, striving for her own daughter to be you!)"

"Jadore!" Annette pleads to look at Talia who is desperately trying to hold back her tears. 

"What?! I'm sick of her complaining about shit!"

"We all came together because we are the only ones who can talk about our problems to each other," she defends.

"Can you stop playing diplomat here, be real Anette everyone here is suffering because no one can measure up to Talia. It's all Talia this, Talia that. You can't be miss Talia and her Mr fucking perfect fiancee, and her perfect European friends-,"

"Calix, get out," Talia abruptly gets out of the trolley and then helps out her brother, having enough. Don't fight a losing battle if the otherside was never going to negotiate. 

The first time she met Mikhail she too was swept away by his natural grace and nature of being effortless at everything. How he excelled in everything he did. But she would see behind the curtains the times he would cry and comfort, not knowing why he would be ever in despair. When Talia returned from her training she was suffocated with praises raising the subtle passive aggressiveness of expectations she had to uphold. Her friends and relatives talked behind her back about how their parents doted on her and compared themselves to her. That was when she finally understood Mikhail and how he never said a word and ignored them. He said what was necessary when it was necessary and only when it was only necessary. 

The weight of a crown.

"Here's some cash," she throws the money into the trolley, grabs Calix's hand and drags him behind her as she storms down the aisle.

"How the fuck are we supposed to get home?!" Jadore yells.

"Call your fucking mum!" 

---

The drive is silent, Calix sits in the passenger seat anxiously, curling his fingers as his hands rest on his lap. Never he has seen his sister like this, in truth he had admired her. She was always there and always held composure. His relatives knew more about her than he did. How could he when his older sister was shipped off to a secluded boarding school in Britian for most of the year and barely came home. 

For the most part he liked Mikhail too, how couldn't he? He was perfect in his every right to what he appeared to be. From his eyes he and his sister got along more than anyone Talia ever was acquainted with.

But with these turn of events he didn't know where they stood anymore, he had never seen his sister so-, so hurt. 

"If you want to say something just say it," her sister snapped keeping her eyes glued to the road as she put her indicator on. 

Calix stayed silent, looking at his sister. Talia glanced momentarily at her younger sibling. "Is it about what you heard about Mikhail and I?" she inquired. Her tone gentler. Calix nodded.

"He and I are complicated," she sighs. 

"What do you mean?"

"You'll understand when you're older, someday," her voice is sorrowful. "You'll understand when you're on top but never good enough, and when people think you are they isolate you because they can't relate to you anymore. Because sometimes finding those people who are in that one per cent, you need them no matter how bad they are because they are the only ones who understand you."

"But you and Mikhail are perfect," Calix states confusingly its innocent. As much as the words hurt she knows its an accidental shot and dismisses it.

"Perfection is an ideology Calix, no one can be perfect because its like a drug. It seems like you have it when really you don't," Talia looks to him.

"But the most dangerous thing is when people believe you are perfect because you can't be anything less than it."

SOOO..... I'M ALIVE

WHAT DID YOU GUYS THINK...?

ACT 1 IS COMING TO AN END SOON....

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