Song: o ninanais - Arthur Nery

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"Ma'am, stand by po. Kayo na po ang next." Iyon ang sabi ng coordinator sa akin nang magsimula ang event.

I don't even know why we have to have a grand entrance when it's Papa who's supposed to have that. I'm sure everyone they invited knows something about us so this is not necessary.

But...oh well, I'm next now. I don't really have the time to whine about it.

Iginiya ako ng coordinator patungo roon sa entrada na papasukan namin. It was indeed a grand birthday celebration for my father. No wonder why the hacienda has been so busy for the past few days because a big event like this is bound to happen.

'Di mo aakalain na birthday party lang pala ito.

The coordinator motioned me to enter when the emcee called my name. Agad na nagsipalakpakan ang mga bisita. I was immediately welcomed by everyone's warm smiles and greetings. Kasabay pa noon ay ang sunod-sunod na click ng camera.

I tried to smile as much as possible. I made it quick because I don't really like the attention on me. Unlike Catalina who's now posing in front of the camera to reveal the low backless cut of her gown.

Tumalikod niya at saka lumingon sa camera. It was captured and the guests gawked at her. She smirked. She's truly a beauty and she knows how to capture people's charm. She must've loved the attention.

Tumabi siya sa akin. I shake my head when I saw her proud smile.

"Did I do good?" She asked.

"Yes," I answered simply. She giggled.

Nakita ko naman siyang napabaling ang tingin sa katabi kong si Ali. Kahit na hindi naman nakatingin sa kanya, mas lumapad pa rin ang ngisi niya. She then focused on Adela's entrance now.

Our youngest sweetly smiled and waved at everyone when she was introduced. I couldn't help but smile as I watch her. I didn't even realize that she's grown up now. Though she's still very young, I can say how much she's matured over the past years.

Nakahilera na kami ngayon at ang entranda na lang nila Mama at Papa ang hinihintay namin. Everyone's looking forward to it since it's never a grand party for the Elizondo's if my parents won't have a grand entrance.

Umugong ang buong hacienda sa malakas na palakpakan nang pumasok na sila Papa. He waved at everyone and greeted those tables who are near the entrance. I clapped along with everyone. I can see how much they admired my father. I can see how much they respect him.

I wish...to build this kind of reputation once he gets down from his position. My Papa is already great at doing this on his own terms. But I aspire to be better and wiser than him.

I want to show them that even though this empire was built by a man, a woman can definitely run it better.

That is why if I want that to happen, I have to work my ass off. There is no stopping for me. I have to prove myself. I have to show them that Papa molded me for this job and I can do it.

After that grand entrance, we then settled down at our seat. Kahit na nasa harap na ang dapat pagtuunan ng pansin, madami pa rin ang lumalapit kay Catalina upang bumati.

Ilang buwan na simula nang bumalik siya rito pero ngayon ko lang siya ulit nakitang ngumiti nang ganito. Being surrounded by a lot of people really does make her happy. No wonder she has a big social circle.

Si Adela naman ay tahimik na nanonood lang ng programa. I noticed the orchestra playing in the background. Ang mga waiter naman ay abala sa pag-serve ng inumin sa mga bisita.

Agad na napukaw ng pansin ko ang grupo na mukhang kararating lang. My mouth parted in amusement when I realized that they are our workers!

They are all dressed up properly and they looked good! Halata na nahihiya pa silang makisalo kaya nagtutulakan pa sila. No one wanted to enter first and everyone is hesistating! I scoffed.

Mamaya-maya pa ay may hinila si Mang Rowell mula sa likuran at halos mapatinaod si Primo nang mapunta siya sa unahan. He tried to move back again but they already pushed him as if he's going to be the one to lead them inside.

Primo gulped and fixed his suit. Nanatili ang tingin ko sa kanya. This is the first time I've seen him all dressed up. Kahit simple lang naman ang kanyang pananamit kumpara sa iba pang dumalo, he still managed to carry himself well.

He looks...good.

I mean he must've experienced these kind of things before his family's business went bankrupt. Sigurado rin akong marunong siyang makisama sa mga ganitong klaseng okasyon kaya siguro siya ang hinila ni Mang Rowell upang manguna sa kanila.

I almost shrieked when Catalina spoke behind me. Turns out I wasn't the only one watching their group.

"Oh! He looks good." She said. Sinundan ko naman ang mga mata niya at napansing nakatuon iyon kay Primo.

Umayos ako ng upo at itinuon na lang ang atensyon sa harap. From the corner of my eye, I saw Catalina watching my reaction while smirking.

What? What does she expect me to do? I agree with her but I'm not going to blurt it out, especially in front of her! She wanted me to agree with her so badly that she's still smirking at me.

"What?" I snapped at her.

She shrugged her shoulders. A ghost smile is still lingering on her lips.

"Hmm. Nothing."

Matawa-tawa siyang tumalikod sa akin para ituon na rin ang atensyon sa programa. Napailing na lang ako.

We all stood up when the host asked us to make a toast for Papa. Kanina pa malaki ang ngiti ni Papa at halatang tuwang-tuwa na maraming dumalo sa kanyang kaarawan.

"For Don Victor!" We all said together and raised our glasses up.

While taking a sip from mine, hindi ko naiwasang mapabaling sa table nila Primo. I saw him taking a sip of his wine while he was laughing along with his group.

There's just something about him today...Even with the baggy and dirty clothes on, I admit he looks pretty good. Kahit na nakasimpleng t-shirt lang, I still find him...pleasing. But now that he's all dressed up, he looks...so much better.

I know he has a good physique but I can't help but notice how his dress shirt hugged his body so well. The way he also styled his hair suits him so much.

Kung hindi ko lang alam na isa siya sa mga nagtatrabaho sa amin ay aakalain kong anak siya ng isa sa mga business tycoons dito.

I quickly tore my eyes away before he could even catch mine. Naabutan ko si Catalina na natatawa-tawa habang nakatingin sa akin. I acted tried to act nonchalantly.

Shit! Am I that obvious?

Napalunok ako at napaayos ng upo. Catalina glanced at me again, still smirking, before she looked away. I tried to put my attention on the event. When the food was served, I didn't give my sister the attention she desperately wants dahil alam ko na agad ang gagawin niya.

I ate my food quietly and talk casually to Adelina and Ali in between. Catalina seems bored so when the time comes for the party, she's the first one that stood up.

She immediately got lost in the crowd. Adela stayed with me but left when she found a friend. I was left alone with Ali.

"Are you enjoying?" I asked curiously when I saw him just watching the crowd.

"It's not my thing but I'm fine."

I nod my head. Ibang-iba sila ng kapatid ko. She loves things like these. She likes being surrounded by people. She likes the attention.

Catalina really seems to like him or maybe she's just bored. I'm afraid they'll only clash if she ever tries to pursue him.

Ibang-iba siya kay Ali na naririto lang at mukhang walang pakealam sa mga bisita. Mukha namang kilala siya ng ibang bisita pero mukhang wala rin siyang intensyon na makipag-usap.

What kind of businessman he is if he's like this?

Bahagya na lang akong natawa dahil sa akin pa talaga nanggaling iyan? I don't even like talking to people I'm not close with or start a conversation out of nowhere.

But because of my responsibility as the eldest daughter and the soon-to-be heir of our company, I had to do it.

Sinulyapan ko ulit si Ali at nakitang pinapanood niya si Catalina na nakikipagtawanan na sa mga nakitang kaibigan. Hindi rin naman nagtagal ang panonood niya dahil agad siyang tumayo at umalis sa tabi ko.

I was left alone.

Busy ang lahat na makipag-catch up. I was about to leave my table when Mama found me. She immediately pulled me towards the group of people they were talking with.

"Ah! I believe you already met her but I just want to introduce my eldest again!" Proud na sinabi ni Papa nang makita niya akong humalo sa kanila.

I smiled and greeted everyone. May iilan na nangumusta sa kanila at tinanong ang kasalukuyan kong ginagawa. I told them what I'm up to. Mama even bragged about all my achievements in school even if it was not necessary.

"You're so lucky to have a daughter like her, Don Victor! Iba talaga sa pakiramdam na may anak na achiever! I'm pretty sure your company will still be in good hands once she takes over."

"Of course! Of course! All my daughters have talents of their own. It's just that out of all of them, it's Theia who took after me. My wife even scolds me because she feels like I'm turning our daughter into my version."

"If that's the case then you must have a version of your own as well, Donya Cassandra!"

Mama chuckled. "And it's definitely not Catalina!"

I looked at her in disbelief. Mama noticed my reaction but she only shrugged. Their group started to laugh.

Natigil lang sila sa pagtawa nang mapansin ng isa sa kanila ang dumaan. She gasps.

"I didn't know Archibald Buenaventura's son is here!"

Mabilis na napabaling ang lahat sa gawi kung saan dumaan si Primo. My mouth parted a bit for the fact that they know him. His father's company must be very successful before they went bankrupt.

"He works here. He does a lot of jobs at our hacienda. I'm surprised he knew those things given that he came from a rich family before." Mama said.

"Oh, really?!" Another one from their group exclaimed.

"It's really unfortunate about what happened to their company. Akalain mong minana pa ni Archibald iyon pero siya rin naman pala ang magiging rason ng pagbagsak no'n! It must be such an embarrassment to their family! Kaya siguro wala nang sumusuporta sa mag-ina niya."

"Well, that's what happens in business. Hindi dahil magagaling ang nauna sa 'yo, ibig sabihin magaling ka na rin. You can learn things about business but you can't earn their greatness." Mama sipped on her wine.

"Archibald's son would be a great leader if only their company didn't go downhill. The man has a lot of potential. He can do anything." Si Papa.

"That's because he has to, hon!" Kontra ni Mama. "Sila na lang ng Mama niya. Hindi pupwede na kung paano sila mamuhay rati ay ganoon pa rin ngayon. They aren't rich anymore!"

I looked at Mama sharply this time. I'm not liking the direction this conversation is going. Para bang gusto niyang ipamukha sa kanila na mahirap na sila Primo ngayon at hindi na ito threat sa kani-kanilang kompanya.

I glanced at Primo who is now talking to some men who obviously know him. Nakangiti lang siya at magalang na sinasagot ang mga tanong ng mga lalaking kausap niya.

Hindi ko alam kung kailan matatapos ang usapan nila Mama tungkol sa nangyari sa pamilya ni Primo. I excused myself to go to the dessert table. Ayaw ko lang na makihalo pa sa usapan nila.

I put both of my hands behind my back as I scan through the dessert table. Natigilan lang ako sa pagtingin nang mapansin na may nasa unahan ko.

I looked up and saw Primo who just put a piece of cake on his plate. Lalakad na sana siya palayo nang mabigla siya nang makita niya ako sa harap niya.

"Oh, Theia!" Napatingin siya sa cake niya. "Gusto mo?"

Umiling ako. "I'm okay. Thanks."

Napansin kong may iilan pa siyang dessert na nakalagay sa plato niya. I don't know if he's a big eater but I don't think he's capable of finishing that!

He must've noticed me looking at his plates so he chuckled.

"Para 'to sa table namin. Nahihiya kasi silang lumapit kaya ako ang pinakuha." He said like he just read what's on my mind.

"Oh..." I pursed my lips. I didn't want to take much of his time but for some reason, I wanted to keep talking to him. "How are they liking the event so far?"

Sinabayan ko siya sa paglalakad.

"Hmm...okay naman. Masarap daw ang pagkain. Nahihiya nga at ngayon lang daw sila ulit nakapag-ayos ng ganito."

I smiled a bit. "How about you? How are you liking the event?"

Nilingon niya ako at nginisian. Saka ko lang napansin kung gaano kaayos ang itsura niya nang malapitan. It's crazy how I can't just admit to myself that I find him handsome.

Iyon naman ang totoo pero hindi ko magawang aminin sa sarili ko. It also didn't help how subtle his dimple became when he smirked.

"It's fine, I guess. It's been a while since I went to this kind of event. Ibang klaseng effort din ang binigay ni Donya para sa birthday ni Don Victor."

Tumigil siya sa isang cocktail table at saka nilapag ang kinuha niyang chocolate cake roon. I noticed that he also put down two forks along with it.

"Can you...wait for me for a while? Dalhin ko lang 'to sa mga kasama ko. I promise to be back. You can eat my cake if you want."

"Uh...okay."

He smiled and quickly went to their table. I just watch him disappear right in front of my eyes. I can just leave and mingle with other people but my mind is telling me that it's better to stay here.

Hindi rin naman nagtagal ay bumalik din agad si Primo na may malaking ngiti sa kanyang labi.

"You really waited."

"Well, I guarded your cake. Baka kunin ng waiter at isipin na wala namang kakain."

He jokingly rolled his eyes. He picked up the fork and started eating his cake. He pushed the plate towards me as if he was encouraging me to eat some.

I hesitated for a while but in the end, I also picked up the fork and ate with him.

Oh my god, Theia! What are you doing and why are you suddenly sharing a dessert with him?!

"Teka. Okay lang ba na nandito ka? I saw Catalina on my way here and she seems to be enjoying a lot with her group of friends. Ayaw mong sumali sa kanila?"

"I'm not close with them."

Tumango siya at kumuha ulit ng piraso ng cake.

"So...ibig sabihin...kaya ka nandito...ay dahil... close tayo?"

I rolled my eyes playfully. "You know what? I can just leave with you if you don't want me here."

His eyes widened. "Oh, no! I like you better here."

Primo quickly took his eyes away from me when I glanced at him. I noticed a small smile lingering on his lips. I scoffed. Tahimik naming inubos ang cake.

Nang matapos ay pinili ko na lang na tingin ang mga nagsasayang bisita. Primo remained awfully quiet as well. I can feel him looking at me from time to time but I didn't want to look back because my heart is pounding like crazy whenever our eyes met.

After a moment of silence, Primo spoke.

"I'm sure a lot of people have already told you this but...I just want to let you know..."

I was taken a backed when he leaned in closer. He held my waist to stop me from moving away from him. My heart just tripled its beat.

"You look really beautiful, Theia..."

Agad niya rin naman akong binitawan matapos iyon. My eyes widened a fraction and I could feel my face heating up as I look at him.