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

Chapter 17

Birthday Gift

Time flies when you're happy. Although I was pressured the few months for my birthday party's preparation, it couldn't seem to beat the happiness I am feeling. I realized how this arrangement has lifted me in so many ways I ever expected. Pati ang pananaw ko sa trabaho ay gumaan. Hindi pa rin ako sang-ayon sa mga plano ni Mama, pero natutuwa ako kapag nagiging abala sa trabaho, isang bagay na hindi ko akalaing mararamdaman ko.

That same realization also scares me. When I realized that this arrangement has changed me, the questions about why, how, and because of who... came after.

Anong mayroon sa set up naming dalawa ni Julius para magbago ako ng ganito? Para makaramdam ako ng ganito? Kung may dapat man akong maramdaman sa kung ano man ang mayroon sa aming dalawa, iyon ay ang libog lamang. Pero bakit may pilit umuutlaw sa aking puso? However much I try to bury it deep down my heart, it resurface like it was fated to do as such.

Gaano pa man ako kalito sa sariling nararamdaman, at kahit may hinala na kung ano iyon, pinili ko na lang maging bulag at magpakasaya habang narito pa. Nothing is permanent is this world except change. Things change its course right before you know it, so it's better to enjoy while it lasts. Even if you know pain as great as how you became so happy awaits after.

"I am very excited for this birthday celebration. We couldn't hold as big partis as this when you were in college," magiliw si Lola nang pumasok na sa mansion.

Sunod sa kanya ay ang mga tauhan na may dalang maleta. Manang Cora was walking beside her, all smiles. Nauna nang dumating si Mama at Papa at pareho silang tulog sa itaas. They came here straight from the US so they decided to take a rest first. Si Conor, kagaya ng madalas, ay nasa library.

"Are you excited for your birthday party, hija?"

"Yes, Lola. Thank you for working hard to make this possible."

"Oh!" she laughed heartily and held my elbow.

Her hair is up in her signature bouffant hairstyle. She's wearing a red dress and her red fan on her hand, with a black handbag hanging on the same arm. She was wearing her favorite diamond parure. She looked glamarous even on simple days. She really is my mentor.

I remember her telling me to always dress up. At kailangan palaging angat sa lahat ng bagay. You'd be doing something anyway, so make sure you do it extraordinarily. She told me clothes have the power to conceal emotions so other people won't see right through you. And I think it was true enough.

My grandmother is feared because she's an alpha woman back in her days, and until now. She's a woman straight from hell but she's an angel with her family. She never tolerated Tito Salvador's affair. She loved and cared for her grandchildren so much that I know if somebody touches us, she would raise hell.

"Magulo pa rito, Senyora, dahil nagsisimula na ang pagdedekorasyon. Bakit hindi muna kayo magpahinga?"

"Oh, where's my grandson?"

"He's in the library, Lola..."

Lola chuckled. "Oh, right. Bakit ko pa nga ba tinanong kung nasaan siya?"

Ngumiti ako at lumingon sa paligid. Maraming hagdan ang nakakalat dahil sa taas at lawak ng ballroom ay mahirap takidan ng dekorasyon. It was a busy ballroom, but it'd be the most extravagant one tonight.

"Oh, by the way..." si Lola nang nasa may hagdan na kami.

Napalingon ako sa kanya. She held my elbow.

"I went to Australia last week because I missed your brother. He's doing well abroad, hija. I guess so..."

"Hmm," sarcasm and bitterness dripped on my voice.