Prologue

Marriage

I was so happy to finally graduate from college!

Since I was only a girl I already dreamed of becoming a CEO as well just like my dad. Daddy works as the chief executive officer of a real estate company. At ang trabaho niya ang rason kung bakit komportable niya kaming nabuhay dalawa ni Mommy.

I'm an only child. At dahil siguro wala nang ibang pinagkakagastusan na anak, kaya naman naging medyo waldas din si Mommy sa pera... While Dad had to work extra to give and provide for all of our needs and even our wants. At hindi madali ang pagiging CEO. I've seen my dad get stressed with his work, too.

Bata pa lang ako ay minsan dinadala na rin ako ni daddy sa office nila. So I've seen how the employees work. At sa bahay naman ay madalas ko rin puntahan si daddy sa office study niya. And my dad won't get annoyed by his little girl disturbing his work, instead he would show it to me and even explain how he does his job.

And that's how I became interested in his job.

Kaya siguro naging pangarap ko na rin ang maging kagaya sa kay daddy.

I know that leading a company is a big responsibility. Sabi nga ni daddy sa akin na kailangan mong ayusin ang trabaho mo so that masiguro mo rin na walang magugutom sa pamilya ng ibang mga empleyado na nagtatrabaho rin sa company at hindi sila mawawalan ng trabaho kapag napabayaan ang kompanya. You have to take care of the company and maintain it. And it's not easy to lead and maintain a company with hundreds or thousands of employees and their families to feed. Daddy told me that even the future of their family is in his hands as the company's leader. So he must manage the business well.

At hindi lang basta sa kung kanino napupunta ang responsibility ng pagiging isang CEO.

Daddy wasn't born rich. Nagsimula lang din siya noon bilang isang simpleng empleyado. Until his boss noticed him and his talents in business that brought him to a great success of becoming the CEO of one of his boss's group of companies. And that boss, that person was the founder of the Villarama Group of Companies.

"Congratulations, Hasmine!" Nagpasabog pa ng confetti sina Mommy.

Ngumiti na lang ako at na appreciate din ang hinanda para sa akin ng parents ko for my graduation.

I didn't want any grand celebration for my graduation. Even if I graduated with the Latin honor I just want to celebrate at home with my parents. At pinagbigyan naman nila ako.

"We're so proud of you, Karla Hasmine." Daddy said.

I smiled. Sa kanila ni Mommy ko lang din madalas na naririnig ang second name ko na Hasmine. Most of my classmates and friends just calls me by my first name Karla or sometimes it's Karlee, too. It's like my little nickname to them.

"Yes, hija! We're so proud of you!"

Bumaling din ako kay Mommy at ngumiti rin. "Thank you, Mommy. Thank you, Daddy." And I kissed their cheeks.

I'm grateful for my parents. I have a complete family and a good life because of them. And I will do everything for them as well...

"Hija, ano ang gusto mong gift galing sa amin ng daddy mo?" Tanong sa akin ni Mommy.

I looked at Dad who's also waiting for my answer. "How about a car? Would you let me drive on my own now, Dad?" I asked. I was hopeful. Hanggang college ko kasi ay hatid-sundo pa rin ako. Minsan ng parents ko o ni daddy. At madalas din na ang driver na kinuha namin ang naghahatid-sundo sa akin sa school.

I wanna try driving my own car, too!

"Perfect!" Nag-agree naman sa akin si Mommy.

While dad's forehead creased. "But you have a driver. You don't have to drive on your own..." He said.

I sighed.

Nakita kong bahagya naman siyang siniko ni Mommy sa gilid. "What are you saying? Pagbigyan mo na ang anak mo. She's old enough to drive. And it's only right for Hasmine to have her own car now. Hindi ba't bibigyan mo siya ng graduation gift mo para sa kaniya?"

Tumingin si daddy kay mommy at nagkatinginan silang dalawa. In the end daddy just sighed.

And I just smiled to my parents.

After that binilhan na nga ako ni Daddy ng bagong sarili ko nang kotse. I will use this when I go to work or whenever I go somewhere.

"Dad, when will I start working at the company?" I excitedly asked him. It's been a few weeks since my graduation. And I'm just waiting for daddy's next step for me.

I can also start at the lowest like he did back then. Sabi kasi ni daddy para mas maintindihan ko raw ang business.

But then one day, instead of making me start working in the company, my father just told me to transfer to Cebu and meet my fiance there...

Umawang ang labi ko at nalaglag na yata ang panga ko sa narinig kong sinabi sa akin ngayon ni Daddy. At baka nabingi lang din yata ako na namali rin ng dinig sa sinabi niya. Or maybe he's just joking. But then he looked so serious. That my eyes widened... No...

"Is this for real, Dad? Is this serious? Ano po ang sinabi n'yo?" Naguguluhan ako. Biglaan ito...at bakit? Bakit ito ginagawa ni Daddy...

Tiningnan ko siya.

Nakatingin din siya sa akin at nagbuntong-hininga. "I'm sorry, Hasmine... But we have to do this. Please understand..."

"What, Dad? Hindi ko po kayo gaanong maintindihan. Please explain it to me."

We were inside his office study here in our home and we heard Mommy entering the study, too. Lumapit na rin siya agad sa aming dalawa ni daddy.

And then daddy proceeded to explaining to me the whole situation...

Apparently, someone's parents died in an accident—na pinagdududahan din na hindi talaga isang aksidente kundi murder... Sinadyang patayin ang mag-asawa in the guise of a car accident.

At ngayon ay naiwang wala nang mga magulang ang kanilang dalawang anak na lalaki. An 18-year-old guy and his younger brother, just a five-year-old boy...

And daddy reminded me of Villarama Senior. He's the owner and founder of Villarama Group of Companies. He was also the one who helped daddy back then when he was young and was still building his career. And Villarama Senior was already an old man at that time when he met my father.

I can also remember that we attended his funeral back when I was little. I was around 8 years old when he passed away.

And since then it was Madam Villarama who managed the family business who's also close to my father. Dad was actually an orphan, and both Villarama Senior and Madam Villarama were like parents to him since they met him in his early twenties at that time. At pinagkakatiwalaan ng mag-asawa si daddy lalo na at ni minsan ay hindi napabayaan ni daddy ang business.

And the couple have two children. A son and a daughter. And some other relatives. The old Villarama couple were generous to their families and relatives, and even to other people. They are good people. Kaya hindi ko gaanong maisip na may magtatraydor pa sa kanila.

"The eldest son was the one who sadly passed away..." Nalulungkot din na sinabi ni daddy. "I didn't get a lot of chances to meet him again and talk to him. Minsan lang kaming nagkita at nagkausap noon ng tungkol sa business. And the last time I saw him was on his father's funeral..." Nagyuko ng ulo si daddy.

Nagkatinginan naman kami ni Mommy. And then she went to comfort Daddy.

So after the Senior Villarama's passing, their family moved to Cebu and the hometown of Madam Villarama. Kasama niya roon nanirahan ang panganay niyang anak na lalaki at ang asawa nito—who both unfortunately died in the accident...

At doon na rin sa Cebu pinalaki ang dalawang anak ng mag-asawa na dalawang batang lalaki. And they were managing their hotels and resorts in Cebu.

And currently it's the second daughter who's taking care of the Villarama Group of Companies. At nandito rin sila sa Manila. The daughter has two older sons as well and a youngest daughter na halos kaedad lang din ng bunsong anak na lalaki ng kuya niya.

I sighed after thinking about it all...

Kinatok ako ni Mommy sa kwarto ko. She smiled when she entered my room. "I brought tea." She brought it after dinner.

Si daddy naman ay busy pa at may ginagawa pa sa office niya rito sa bahay after ng dinner namin. Naghahanda na rin siya para sa pagpunta ng pamilya namin sa Cebu sa susunod na araw para makiramay sa pamilya ng namatayan...

"Thanks, Mom." sabi ko at kinuha na iyong isang cup ng tea at dinala na ito palapit sa bibig ko. We usually like to have chamomile tea like this. Maganda rin kasi ang benefits nito.

Naupo rin si Mommy sa tabi ko. I have a wide terrace connected to my bedroom. Dito muna ako tumambay at sinamahan na rin ako rito ni Mommy while we have our tea.

"Napag-isipan mo na ba iyong sinabi sa 'yo ng Daddy mo?"

Bumaling ako kay Mommy at nagbuntong-hininga. "Why does it have to be me?"

"And who else, hija?"

Muli na lang akong nagbuntong-hininga at sinandal muli ang likod ko sa upuan.

I heard Mommy sighing as well. "Karla Hasmine... I know that you grew up strong. Kasi ganoon ka naman namin pinalaki ng Daddy mo. And unlike me who spends money a little too much... Just a little bit." Ngumiti siya sa akin.

I pouted a bit. At ngumiti na lang din ako kay Mommy pagkatapos. At lumapit na rin ako sa kaniya para yumakap sa tabi niya. Niyakap din naman ako ni Mommy.

"You are different, hija. You are special. You spend wisely, at alam ko na mas nagmana ka naman talaga sa Daddy mo." She sighed after saying it.

Napangiti na lang muli ako.

"Alam ko na alam mo na ang ginagawa mo, Hasmine. You're an intelligent child. Lahat talaga ay namana mo sa Daddy mo dahil kung sa akin ka pa nagmana ay pareho lang tayong dalawa na magiging gastador at sakit lang ng ulo sa daddy mo."

I chuckled this time. Alam kong nangingiti na rin si Mommy sa sinasabi niya ngayon sa akin.

"So, I know that whatever comes your way, you'll figure it out and you can do it."

"Mommy, do you think it's just right for me to marry now...?" I looked at my mom.

"Well, to be honest, I'm still a romantic person and I married your Dad because I love him. Bonus na lang talaga na mapera rin siya." She said and we both laughed.

And then Mommy sighed. "At gusto ko na sana ay ganoon din para sa iyo. But we just really have a different situation right now..."

Nagkatinginan kami muli ni Mommy. "Nag-usap na ang Daddy mo at si Madam Villarama. Ikaw ang napili nila dahil alam nila that you will be of great help to her grandson. Lalo na at bata pa ito, and you can guide him."

"Eh, wala pa naman po talaga akong experience sa pagmamanage ng business. At isa pa po 'yan, Mommy. He's just 18 years old?"

"Kung magsalita ka naman ay parang ang tanda mo na talaga. You just turned 21 this year, Hasmine. And Castiel Villarama is also turning 19 soon. Kaya halos magdadawalang taon lang din ang pagitan ninyong dalawa sa isa't isa. Halos magkasing-edad pa rin naman kayo, so you'll just probably understand each other."

I looked at my mom. And couldn't add to what she said so I just sighed...

Castiel Villarama. That's his name. Ang pangalan ng mapapangasawa ko.

And so the plan was to go to Cebu now and attend the funeral service of his parents.... After that ay mananatili pa kami ng family ko sa Cebu to announce our engagement. Hindi pa naman yata kami agad na ikakasal... Basta kailangan ko lang munang manatili sa tabi niya...

And I also have to remind myself to be good to him. Kasi kakamatay lang ng parents niya. And I couldn't imagine myself without my mom and dad. At hindi niya rin sariling kagustuhan na maging fiancée ako at magpakasal kami... I'm sure he sees this as a business marriage as well. Kasi gamoon na rin ang tingin ko rito.

Malaki ang utang na loob ni Daddy sa mga Villarama. At gusto ko rin siyang matulungan na makapagbayad ng utang na loob sa pamilya nila. Kahit na hindi naman talaga nila kami sinisingil sa kahit na ano. But because they were good to us ay gusto ko rin na maging mabuti sa kanila. Lalo na ngayon sa oras na kailangan nila ang tulong namin...

And so we went to Cebu City that week. I was about to meet my fiancé...and I can only hope that things will be better...

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