Perennial Blooms (Ciudad de Escalante #2)

Phase 50

"Yes, po. Judge. Don't worry, Mom likes Gaviaja ever since," paninigurado ni Cassiel kay Daddy.

"I'm sorry, Demetriv if our families are not yet on good terms. We support both of you, but it is not the right time to wrap these things. Maybe at your wedding instead? I think everything will be settled by then," si Mama at yinakap si Cassiel.

"It's okay, Attorney. Your support for us is already enough," Cassiel replied politely.

Nasa bahay kami ngayon para ipaalam ng opisyal kina Daddy at Mama na kami na. They are happy for us even Cassiel is a Saldivar. They said, my happiness is more important than those family issues. They know how much Cassiel means to me from the start.

Hindi pa rin maayos ang relasyon ng mga Saldivar at Salcedo pero hindi kami tinutulan ng parents ko para dito. Hindi naman siya kasama sa kasalanan ni Arissiel sa amin, sa akin. Nadamay siya dahil sa apelyido at biktima lang din ako.

It is weird, but our relationship is not that shallow to separate because of that reason. I will not let him be apart from me again.

"Hindi ba magagalit si Tita Ruth kapag nagdala ka ng babae?" I asked, a little bit nervous. Ngayon ko na lang muli sila makakausap pagkatapos ng nangyari.

Cassiel looked at me while starting to manipulate the car's engine. Ngayon ay pupunta naman kami sa kanila para ipaalam ang pagsasama namin. I remember before that Thalia and Xanthe said that Tita Ruth will be furious if Cassiel brought a girl.

"Magagalit syempre." He smiled.

Huminga ako ng malalim at natahimik. Bakit naman magagalit? Dahil ayaw pa niya na magka-girlfriend si Cassiel?

"Magagalit kapag yung babae hindi ikaw," dugtong niya at hinawakan ang kamay ko at pinatakan ng halik.

"She likes me for you?" masaya kong tanong dahil sa kanyang sinabi. Tita Ruth will get mad if he brought a girl that isn't me?

"Ako ang gusto niya para sa'yo. Mom also likes you. Kapag nasa bahay ka noong bata pa tayo, nawiwili sa kakapanood sa'yo kahit nagbabasa ka lang naman," he stated and my face flushed.

Tita Ruth likes me even I'm snobbish before? Kasi noong bata ako, maging ang mga nakatatanda noon hindi ko kinakausap. Kaya nga inis na inis sa akin si Nana Isabela.

I busied myself in retouching my makeup and fixing my hair. I need to create a good impression. I need to show them that I am not the Gaea like before. What if Quinssiel will still find me annoying? Siguro hindi naman. I mentally counted her age. She's already thirteen!

"How's Quinnsiel pala? Is she's in high school?"

"Yup. First-year. Makulit pa rin at madaldal. Last time, I went to her school. She's the most talkative in class." Cassiel shook his head. Quin is still naughty.

Hindi nagtagal ang biyahe papunta sa kanila. Habang papasok sa village, namumuo na naman ang kaba sa dibdib ko. Darn, I'm not nervous in recitations and exams but my hands are trembling because I'm meeting Cassiel's parents.

"Kalmahan mo lang. Baka maihi ka," Cassiel teased when he noticed that I'm tense.

"Ganito ka rin ba kanina?" kinakabahan kong tanong. I glared at him when he nodded.

What? Kinakabahan pa siya sa lagay na iyon? Mukha ngang close na sila ni Daddy. Nagtatawanan sila kanina dahil may usapang lalaki na hindi namin gets ni Mama. Minsan kasama niya ring maglaro ng golf.

"Didn't you notice my hand? It's all cold and sweaty. Nasanay na lamang ako kaya mukha akong kalmado kanina," aniya at pumasok na sa gate nila na binubuksan ng mga guards.