Chapter 6

Graduation

Time flies fast. Castiel's graduation is approaching. Nag-iisip na rin ako ng pwede kong ipanregalo sa kaniya. He bothered me about it, too.

"What's your graduation gift for me?" He asked me one time when I was just preparing to go to work that day. Siya naman ay papasok din sa university kaya nagsabay na lang din kaming umalis ng bahay nang araw na iyon.

Bumaling naman ako sa kaniya. "I'll think about it..." I answered. "And why are you asking me, anyway? Hindi na surprise kapag sasabihin ko sa 'yo kung ano ang magiging gift ko for your graduation. Hindi ko na lang din ipapa-wrapped pa kung ganoon." sabi ko habang papasok na kami sa sasakyan at nasa unahan na rin ang driver na handa nang umalis kami.

Nahagip ng mga mata ko ang pagngiti ni Castiel na pumasok na rin sa loob ng sasakyan kasunod ko. "All right. I'll look forward to it." He said.

And I just sighed. I don't know why he seemed excited. Palagi ko siyang binibigyan ng gift kapag may celebration like his birthday. Nasanay na rin siguro siya.

Also, the date of our wedding day was already set. It would be shortly just after Castiel's graduation.

"After your wedding, you two can move to Manila. And Castiel's training in leading the Villarama Group will start with the help of your father and you, hija." This was what Madam Villarama told me.

While Mommy will be here in Cebu earlier than Daddy.

"Nandito na po kayo next week, Mommy?" I asked over the phone.

"Yes, hija. I will help with the wedding preparations. Ang sabi ni Madam ay may nakuha na raw kayong mga wedding coordinators and planners. But I still want to be there and help with all the details. I want to know, hija. And see what I can do also. It's your wedding day. And I want to be involved. It's still a special day for you, Hasmine."

"Okay, Mommy."

"Alright, hija. Wait for me there. Susunod na lang ang Daddy mo dahil alam mo na naman na busy pa siya sa work niya."

"Okay po, Mom."

After that we ended the call.

I'm really getting married now in just a few months. And this was the original plan. First was to announce our engagement on Castiel's birthday and just shortly after we two met. And then next our is wedding after he graduate from college. And I just needed to be here in Cebu to help prepare him for his responsibilities... Kaya kahit medyo matagal pa naman talaga ang kasal namin ay kailangan ko nang manatili rito sa kanila.

Pero mauuna pa ang graduation ni Castiel. So we're preparing for the wedding and we're also preparing for a party to celebrate his graduation from college.

I don't know yet if this is just really okay for Castiel...

Wala naman siyang sinasabi sa akin. But what about Erica?

Hindi ko alam kung ano ba talaga ang namamagitan sa kanilang dalawa...

But we're doing this for the business...

"Hija!"

Dumating na rin si Mommy muli sa Cebu galing ng Manila. Nauna nga siyang pumunta rito kay Daddy. Ngumiti naman ako at agad ko na rin siyang nilapitan at niyakap nang makita.

"How have you been? I've missed you, Hasmine." Mommy hugged me in a motherly way.

"I've been doing well here, Mommy. Kayo po ni Dad sa Manila?" Tinanong ko rin siya nang kumalas kami sa yakap.

"We're also fine, hija."

Pagkatapos ay bumaling din si Mommy kanila Madam para bumati rin.

"How was your flight, Keira?"

"It was fine, Madam." Ngumiti si Mommy kay madam at kinumusta na rin ito.

Bumati rin sina Castiel sa kay Mommy. "Good morning, po." Castiel politely greeted my mother.

Bumaling din naman si Mommy sa kaniya. "Good morning, hijo." Mommy smiled at him, too.

Pagkatapos ay nagkayayaan na rin na pumunta na muna sa dining room na may hinandang breakfast ang mga maids para sa amin. Early rin kasi ang naging flight ni Mommy at maaga rin siyang dumating ng Cebu.

Nag-usap sina Mommy at Madam habang nasa mesa kami for breakfast. Napag-usapan na rin nila ang magiging kasal namin ni Castiel.

And then after breakfast, nagpaalam na muna kami sa isa't isa. And I brought my mom to her room here in the Villarama mansion. And this has been my home for three years now.

"I miss you, hija." Mommy said it again when we're inside the room.

Kanina pa ay inakyat na rin dito sa kwarto ng mga katulong ang mga gamit ni Mommy.

I smiled. "I miss you too, Mommy."

And then I helped her unpack some of her things. Medyo magtatagal din siya rito hanggang sa matapos ang kasal ko kaya naman ang dami niya rin dala na gamit niya dito sa Cebu.

"You know what, hija. I really want to explore Cebu, too! Especially the islands and resorts here. Ang Daddy mo lang ang walang time palagi." Mommy pouted a bit.

"Huwag na po kayo magtampo kay Daddy, Mom. Alam mo naman po na he's just busy dealing with the business now. But I promise you, Mommy. Once Daddy retires at sa akin na niya pinagkatiwala ang company pwede na po kayong mag-relax na lang at magbakasyon sa kahit na saan n'yo pa po gusto." I smiled to my mom.

Ngumiti rin naman sa akin si Mommy. "Thank you, hija. But now you should focus first with your coming wedding."

Tumango naman ako sa sinabi ni Mommy.

And later on I also started asking her about something that I just thought about. "Mommy, si Daddy po ang mag-g-guide kay Castiel sa kompanya, hindi po ba?" I asked.

Bumaling at tumango naman sa akin si Mommy. "Yes, hija. That's what they talked about and agreed on. Silang dalawa ng Daddy mo at si Madam ang nag-usap tungkol d'yan."

I nodded at my mom.

"Mom, uh, how about the current Chairman?"

Nagkatinginan kami ni Mommy. "I mean, she's also Castiel's aunt, right?"

Nanatiling nakatingin sa akin si Mommy. Pagkatapos ay tinigil niya ang ginagawa niya na pag-check sa mga gamit niya ngayong nandoon na sa may walk-in closet ng kwarto na hinanda para sa kaniya rito sa mansyon.

She sighed. "Hasmine," And then she held my hand. "Your father told me not to tell you about it... But I think you must still know. Malaki ka na naman ngayon at may sarili na rin pag-iisip. At ngayon ko nga lang din talagang nalaman ang tungkol sa bagay na ito. Although may duda na sila noon tungkol sa pagkamatay ng parents ni Castiel... Pero wala silang matibay na ebidensya, and I also thought na baka naman talagang aksidente lang din iyong nangyari..."

Seryosong tumingin sa akin si Mommy bago siya nagpatuloy. "But then your father and Madam Villarama have discovered something." Muli pang nagbuntong-hininga si Mommy. "Sa totoo lang ay natatakot din ako lalo na para sa 'yo nang malaman ko rin ang tungkol sa bagay na ito. I asked your Dad if it's just really okay especially for your own safety. Halos awayin ko pa nga siya nito lang. But he promised me that he will protect you no matter what. And I'm just trusting your Dad. But if anything doesn't go well... I might just take you away from here. And let's just go to somewhere and maybe abroad. I will also make you safe by my own ways and means. You're my only daughter, at talagang baka iwan ko pa ang Daddy mo kapag may nangyari sa 'yong hindi maganda, Hasmine."

Kumunot na ang noo ko sa sinasabi sa akin ngayon ni Mommy. "But, why, Mommy? What's it all about? Is something happening?" I asked her.

She sighed. "Hazel Villarama, the current Chairman of the Villarama Group, siya ang pinagdududahan na may gawa sa nangyaring pagkamatay ng parents nila ni Castiel at Haniel, hija..."

My eyes widened a fraction at what my mother just revealed to me. "Po? How... But, why? Isn't she Castiel's father's younger sister?"

Mommy just sighed again. Pagkatapos ay napailing na lang siya.

And we realized na medyo magulo na rin pala ang pamilya nina Castiel ngayon. And Mommy even thought na ilayo na lang ako ngayon sa mga Villarama at umatras pa sa kasal. Pero tumatanaw din siya ng utang na loob sa mga Villarama para kay Daddy. And she also trusts my dad.

Naabutan ko sa living room na naglalaro sina Castiel at Haniel. It's a board game and Castiel accompanied his brother. Lumapit ako sa kanila. Mommy was busy with the wedding preparations and the madam as usual attended to their business. While she's given me some free time now to spend it with my mom who's currently here in Cebu and for the wedding preparations as well.

Halos wala na rin pasok sa school sina Castiel at naghihintay na lang din siya sa graduation day nila. Sa susunod na araw na rin kasi and tapos na rin sila mag-practice for it. Hinihintay na lang talaga nila ang araw ng graduation nila sa ngayon.

Nakita na rin nila ako at tinanong ako ni Castiel. "Would you like to join us?"

Umiling ako. "No. I'll just watch you two play. Galing din akong kitchen ngayon lang at nagpahanda na ako ng snacks for you and Haniel sa cook." sabi ko.

Tumango naman si Castiel sa akin at nagpatuloy sila ni Haniel sa paglalaro ng Chess. And Haniel was also learning from his brother.

And watching the two brothers now. Sa totoo lang ay nakakaramdam din ako ng awa para sa kanila ni Castiel at Haniel. Kahit matalino rin naman si Castiel and he's also talented. I still think na bata pa siya. Although I'm not that old yet. And I myself also have to learn a lot of things still. Pero ang iniisip ko kasi na bata pa rin si Castiel and he's just finishing college at mas bata pa si Haniel. And they only have their grandma now. If they can't also trust their other family member left, their own aunt...

At nandito rin naman ako para sa kanila ni Haniel, but what will happen if I'll leave now like what was my mom's thought?

Umiling ako para sa sarili ko. I can't do it. At least not now... Because I'm still needed here.

And on the day of Castiel's graduation I got him a wristwatch. It wasn't something so special. Basta binilhan ko siya ng gift na magagamit din niya. And I bought it with my own money galing sa sinisweldo sa akin ni Madam sa pagtulong ko sa business nila at pagtatrabaho ko na rin sa group of hotels and resorts nila rito sa Cebu.

"Thank you, Hasmine..." Castiel said after he saw my grad gift for him.

Ngumiti ako sa kaniya. "You're welcome."

Pagkatapos ay nagpatuloy na ang paghahanda pa sa wedding namin. At halos tapos na rin naman na naghihintay na lang din kami ni Castiel sa araw ng kasal namin. At pupunta si Daddy, na makakasabay niya rin sa pagdating dito sa Cebu sa araw ng kasal namin ang kasalukuyang Chairman ng Villarama Group at ang pamilya nito. They will also attend our wedding...