Dulling Glisters of the Diamond (Casa Fuego Series #5)

Chapter 6

Flirt 

Grandoisity is not grand. It is merely a facade to a very broken system of our family's tradition. A tradition that represses women, hinders family members to freely chase their ambitions, and a chain of defensive actions to prevent forseeable downfall.

My family's traditions failed to evolve along with time. And while our businesses advanced and became even more established and expanded through Asia and some parts of Europe, so little changes happened within the four walls of our mansion. Hindi kami nakisama sa agos ng panahon. Hanggang ngayon, ang kompetensiya, paglalarawan sa mga kababaihan, at patuloy na panggigipit sa mga pangarap.

Hindi na kami natuto. My grandmother had her fair share of repression when she married my 26 year old grandfather when she was Nineteen. I thought she would learn about fixed marriages, but she still supports my mother's desire to marry me off.

O baka si Mama lang ang napag-iwanan. Baka siya lang ang hindi pa makatanggap na napangasawa niya ang pangalawang anak. And her bitterness boiled down to me.

Our family didn't evolve with time. At kasama ako roon. Dahil kung talagang nakisama ako sa panahon, kayang-kaya kong ipaglaban ang mga pangarap ko. Ang sarili ko. But still, I am a puppet princess.

Nakadungaw ako sa bintana habang hinihintay ang pagbalik ni Lourdes. My parents will be going out for an errand and I asked them if I can stay in the hacienda instead. I like the serenity in that place. Unlike this mansion, it feels less suffocating.

Muling bumukas ang pinto ko. Napalingon ako agad at hinintay ang sasabihin ni Lourdes. May ngiti sa kanyang labi nang tumango kaya napahinga ako nang malalim.

"Pwede raw po kayong sa hacienda manatili. Pero maghintay daw po kayo ng mga trenta minutos. Pagkatapos ay pumunta sa opisina ni Donya."

"Why the need to wait for thirty minutes?"

"Hindi po sinabi, Senyorita. Basta pumunta raw po kayo sa opisina makalipas ang trenta minutos."

I sighed and just nodded. Mahirap na kung aangal pa ako. Baka hindi pa nila ako pagbigyan kaya susunod na lang ako. Nakabihis na ako at handa nang umalis. I am wearing a simple white maxi dress and beige sandals. My hair is up in a tight mid-parted updo styled with my small diamond earrings.

Nakatanaw na lang ako sa labas habang naghihintay sa aking mga magulang. Kaya naman nang lumipas ang trenta minutos ay agad na akong lumabas sa aking kwarto. I went straight ahead to our huge office. I thought my parents were alone but I was shocked when I saw who was with them.

Natigilan ako habang nakakapit pa sa pinto. Papa smiled and Mama tilted her head. Dumulas ang mga mata ko sa lalaking nasa tabi nila.

"Good morning, Grace," Julius smirked.

I blinked twice. Sinarado ko ang pinto at unti-unting naglakad palapit sa aking mga magulang. Nakatayo si Julius habang pinapanuoran ang mga kilos ko.

"What are you doing here again?" I fired.

"Grace," Mama warned.

"He will be accompanying you to the hacienda, hija. Pasensya ka na at hinintay pa namin siyang dumating bago ka payagan-"

"Papa, sa hacienda lang ako pupunta. Why the need for Julius?" bumaling ako kay Julius. "Aren't you busy-"

"He's not busy today, hija, so he can come with you. Hindi ba't pinag-usapan na kapag hindi siya abala, siya ang sasama sa 'yo. He's staying in Casa Fuego for two weeks because he needs to do something in Cebu," Papa explained.

I scoffed. Tinaasan ako ng dalawang kilay ni Julius.

"I am free today, Grace. And since I have nothing to do in our mansion, and I can't last a day with my cousin's brattiness, might as well just accompany you to the hacienda," nahimigan ko ang kapilyuhan sa boses niya.