Merry Christmas guys! 10 Chapters left na lang tayo! Enjoy reading!

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Chapter 25

I wore a plain white dress for tonight's event. Hindi naman gano'n ka-pormal but enough to look decent. Nauna naman ako sa sasakyan habang hinihintay ang dalawa kong kapatid. Kung sino pa 'yong hindi kailangan mag-ayos ng mabusisi sila pa 'tong matagal kumilos ngayon.

I only had my purse tonight at ang laman no'n ay ang phone ko. I've never turned it on for a week na at mukhang wala akong balak buksan. Dinala ko lang in case there's an emergency. But I don't I wouldn't even need it. Nandiyan naman sina Kuya Nico at Kuya Wel.

Mga ilang minuto rin ay dumating na silang dalawa. Kuya Nico seated next to me and Kuya Wel on his other side. Nakasakay kami sa van na magdadala sa amin sa event venue. Ngayon pa lang ay nababagot na ako. Gusto ko na lang itulog ang oras na 'to kaysa naman makisalamuha sa ibang tao.

Kuya Nico nudged his elbow to me kaya nilingon ko naman siya na purong iritado ang mukha ko.

"What?" I muttered.

"Fredrick called earlier."

Tumaas naman ang kilay ko. "So? Anong gagawin ko? Share mo lang kuya?"

"No," aniya. "He wants to talk with you 'cause he felt like he was the reason you're back here."

"He was part of the problem," I mentioned.

"You won't still forgive us, would you?"

I shrugged off. "I don't know. Talk that when I'm still in Japan but nope."

He heaved out a deep sighed. "Don't worry, Seila. You'll get over it. But good thing, walang ibang ginawa sa 'yo and maybe your outburst did a thing, too. But thank you for sharing what you feel to us. Alam na namin kung saan kami lulugar ngayon."

Dumungaw naman si Kuya Wel para tingnan ako. "Yup, and we're still sorry for doing that. Hindi rin naman namin alam na nag-ta-trabaho ka ro'n."

"You don't even asked." I countered.

"Yeah, it's clearly our fault," dagdag ni Kuya Wel. "But we'll always be here, Seila. Kuya mo pa rin naman kami. We'll still be by your side kahit ano man ang mangyari."

Hindi na lang din naman ako nagsalita at inihilig ko na lamang ang paningin ko sa gilid sa may bintana upang aliwin ko ang sarili ko.

It's been nine days since I went back home, but it feels like a year for me. I still remembered when Trent and I going at night and walked in the streets of Tokyo. Hindi man madalas mangyari 'yon pero hindi ko nakakalimutan 'yon. I miss catching him naked. I miss greeting him every morning and late in the afternoon when he came home from work. I miss cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner for him. Sa isang buwan na nanatili ako kasama siya, it felt like I was ripped apart at kahit anong isipin ko, hindi na ulit mangyayari ko.

If I could just go back there, I can see him again but I have no courage to face him.

"I wanna ask." I turned to face my brothers. Lumipad naman ang tingin nila sa akin. "I never had the chance to know when and how did Fredrick told you about seeing me in Japan? Would you please tell it to me so I'll forgive you then."

Siniko naman ni Kuya Wel si Kuya Nico para siya na ang magsalita. Siniko niya rin naman ito pabalik. Wala namang ibang choice si kuya kung hindi ang sagutin ang tanong ko.

"It was a few weeks ago when he came back from Japan," kuya started. "Then a few days later, naalala niyang nakita ka niya sa Tokyo. He told us that kasi inakala niyang kasama mo kami and you were on a vacation. We actually didn't believe him until we checked our resthouse in Tagaytay and our resort in Laguna."

"And we actually asked ourselves why would you be there alone kung kagagaling lang natin ng London just a month ago," pagsingit ni Kuya Wel.

"He's right," dagdag ni Kuya Nico. "We were about to let it go kasi nasa bakasyon ka lang naman pala until we asked our parents kung alam nilang nasaan ka. They haven't seen you around thought you were just living somewhere in Tagaytay or Laguna. Doon na kami nag-alala ni Welbourne na puntahan ka sa Tokyo as soon as possible."

"For what reason?" I questioned. "Bakit bigla kayong nag-alala sa akin? You don't even care for me before, right?"

Sumalubong ang kilay ni Kuya Nico. It's like it was wrong of me to accuse him that way. "No, you're Seila. We do actually care. Every time. Kaya siguro lagi mong nararamdamang na-o-overshadow ka namin dahil hindi para alisin sa 'yo ang atensyon na dapat para sa 'yo. You deserved everything pero dahil iyon pala ang nararamdaman mo. We'll change how the way you feel."

"I agree," Kuya Wel chided in. "And when we got to Tokyo and have no idea to look for you, we just stayed around the area kung saan ka nakita ni Fredrick so it'll be easy for us to look for you and on that night, we weren't expecting to see you but we're glad we did."

I sighed, binalik ko ang tingin ko sa bintana at napangalumbaba na lamang. "I wished hindi niyo na lang ako nakita that night. I was happy that time. The person who cared for me treated me someone like a girlfriend or a special someone. But I'm working for that guy and he's been good to me since I got there. Sana hindi na lang kayo nag-alala kasi sa totoo lang, I was on a happy situation at hindi ko ipagpapalit 'yon sa kahit na ano."

Natahimik kaming tatlo at ang malalalim na paghinga lang namin ang nagiging sagutan namin.

"I'm sorry, Seila," Kuya Nico sighed. Somehow, I felt the tone of regret on it.

"Same, same," ani Kuya Welbourne. "But what if you would see him again?"

Napakibit balikat naman ako. "I'm actually not prepared to see any of them again. Wala akong mukhang ihaharap. I think it is better to stay this way na lang din. And maybe, I also had my fault there. I didn't tell you about it because I was scared one of you would stop me. Seeing that job posting online before was I know it would be my escape so I took the chance. I didn't even regret a thing."

"You must be really happy."

I smiled. "Indeed, I was."

It wasn't that long when we finally reached the private complex where the event will be held. Naunang bumaba ang dalawa kong kuya at sabay kaming tatlo tumungo para kausapin ang ilang staff. Though my brothers only do the talking habang nakikinig lang ako sa kanila. When I was ordered to meet and talk with some of the members who will join us today ay pumayag na lang din ako.

We're ahead of the guests so we waited until everyone came—though there are some who didn't go to the event. Maybe they were excused or something else. Hindi naman totally tatanggalin ang sponsorship o ang scholarship nila. This event was just a mini-gathering to meet everyone before everybody gets busy afterward.

I started talking to people there and most are students. Me and my brother's were all graduated from University of the Philippines and every one of us graduated with Latin honor.

When I went to check in some guests, they were actually excited to meet me rather than my brothers. Nagtataka naman ako but one of them actually had a picture of me with Trent. I didn't know where did she get that from pero mukhang naligaw ang photo na iyon sa social media. I never posted anything about Trent. And the photo was taken three weeks ago.

I went to see another student, her name's Kiersten.

"It's so nice to finally meet you, Seila," she said, her smile overwhelmed me. Nakakataba ng puso.

"I didn't know someone would actually want to meet me," ngiti ko pa.

"Why would you say that though? Everyone wanted to meet you. You're the one and only Seilaverne Mercondia—"

"And everyone wanted to be me," pagpapatuloy ko pa. Hindi naman niya ako sinagot kasi alam niyang iyon din ang tinutukoy niya. Ngiti na lang din ang naging tugon sa akin. And that's fine. It's mostly what I got from girls I'd talked to. "So, how do you find this event?"

Bigla naman siyang umayos ng pagkakaupo. "Oh, yes! This is great! I'm actually having fun!"

"Yes, it's fun," inikot ko ang buong paligid and everyone find something to occupy themselves. Hindi rin naman sila nababagot dahil sa eleganteng mga kagamitang nakapaligid. There were photo booths, me and my brothers life size standee. Ang chandelier naman sa gitna ang nagpapaalala sa akin ng time ko sa Tokyo. But I shook my head so I got back to my senses. "So, ano ka nga pala? Are you part of the scholarship or you applied for the sponsorship?"

"Sponsorship," ngiti pa nito sa akin. Kiersten's actually pretty. She wore a simple peplum peach dress and a three-inch nude heels. She has soft face features at namumula-mula pa ang pisngi niya. Or it must be her makeup.

"Really? So you'll be having your internship abroad?"

She nodded. "Yes!"

"Saan naman?"

"I applied a company in London and if things went good, makakalipad na ako anytime soon kapag naayos ko na rin ang mga documents ko."

"Good choice. London is a lovely place, you'll fall in love with the place kapag nando'n. Actually, we just went there last Christmas and then we spend our new year in the eye of London. It was quite dreamy and amazing. I'm sure you'll love it. Though don't get your hopes up na makikita mo ang royals once you get there, but there are times you will be seeing them."

"Hala ka! Mas lalo tuloy akong na-excite. Thanks for the advice though. Ngayon pa lang gusto ko nang umalis."

"Yup, you will love it."

"Can I hug you?" she asked out of nowhere. Napakunot-noo naman ako. "Gusto lang kitang yakapin. I've only been seeing you online kaya kukunin ko na ang chance na ito."

"Sure," pagpayag ko.

Lumapit naman siya sa akin at niyakap ako. We were like that for a few seconds until I excused myself from her then I find my way to the exit at hindi ko naman inaasahan na makakasalubong ko pa si Kuya Nico.

"Where are you going?" tanong nito sa akin.

"Sa restroom lang," sagot ko.

"Sure ka? Hindi ka uuwi?"

I showed a straight face. "E 'di napagalitan na naman ako. Mom and dad we're actually talking to some partners and if they knew I went home, sinong malalagot 'di ba? Hindi naman kayo."

"Oh, okay. Chill, Seila. Nagtatanong lang naman ako."

"It doesn't seem like it," sagot ko pa. "Anyway, have you seen those standees? Nakakaloka. Bakit pa kinailangang gawin 'yon? Oh, don't bother to answer. We're the face of the Mercondia kaya required 'yan."

"I bet someone will take my standee home," ngisi pa nito.

"Asa ka naman kuya," aniko. "Mas mauunang maiuwi ang kay Kuya Wel before you."

"Let's see. 5k, bet?"

"20k," I bet.

He then offered his hand. "Sure, agreed.

We shook our hands to seal the deal until my attention was finally called by my parents. Iniwan naman ako ni Kuya Nico at saka ako tumungo kung nasaan sina mom and dad. Pagkalapit ko sa kanila ay ngumiti ako. Just to please my parents.

"Seila," may bumanggit ng pangalan ko kaya nilingon ang isang babaeng business partner nila dad. Nginitian ko lamang siya until she said some words that made me remember her. "I figured I know you from the very first time I saw you in Tokyo. You were with Trent Hu at a party last time, right?"

"Yes... Miss Luzia," I muttered.

"We're so surprised that you Miss Makeron her in Tokyo, Lav," mom said. "Look how small our world is."

"It is," tawa pa ni dad.

"Is Mister Hu here?" Miss Luzia asked.

Pansin ko naman ang maiinit na tingin sa akin ng magulang ko. Napalunok na lamang ako ng laway bago ko sagutin ang tanong niya. Umiling ako. "No, ma'am. He's not here."

"So he's in Tokyo?"

Tumango ako. Hindi ko pa rin alam ang isasagot ko until mom figured out she has to change the topic of our conversation kaya nakatakas na muli ako sa kanilang lahat. All throughout the event, hindi na ako nakipag-usap sa ibang mga guests kung hindi ay nanahimik na lang din naman ako sa isang tabi. Nakinig na lang din ako habang nagsasalita si dad sa stage.

I didn't even listen, mas nakukuha pa akong ma-temp ng phone ko but then I just went some through things hangga't sa napansin ko na lamang na wala na ang standee ko sa area kung saan ito nakaposisyon.

So when we're all in the van heading back to the mansion, Kuya Nico lost his bet and transferred twenty thousand pesos on my bank account. He was actually thrilled that my standee was the first one to be gone and then Kuya Welbourne and then his standee was the last one.

But twenty thousand doesn't make me happy, Trent does.

When we finally reached home, my parents didn't talk about my conversation with Miss Luzia earlier 'cause they know I wouldn't be going back to Tokyo anymore what happened. But they somehow happy to what I did at the event and I guess that's enough for me to know that.

As I went to my room and changed my clothes, I covered myself with blanket and it slowly made me feel asleep. This day was tiring kahit wala naman ako gaanong ginawa. Mas marami pa akong ginagawa sa bahay ni Trent but that didn't made me exhausted just like tonight.

Hopefully, the next morning will get better.

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Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Let me know your thoughts! I would appreciate it so much! AGAIN, Merry Christmas!

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