The CEO's Wife

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Special

"It's our deepest condolences, Madam..." Hinawakan ni Mommy ang kamay ng ginang.

Humawak din ito sa kamay ni Mommy. Pagkatapos ay bumaling din ito sa akin. "Is this your daughter? She's grown to be a fine young lady. Bata ka pa noong huli kitang nakita, hija." Ngumiti sa akin si Madam Villarama.

Tumango rin si Mommy sa kaniya at ngumiti. "Yes, Madam. This is my daughter, Karla Hasmine Montes."

Nakangiti pa rin sa akin si Madam at tumango.

I also greeted her politely.

Kahit mayaman ang mga Villarama, but they're also known to be humble people. Ganoon din kasi mula kay Senior Villarama.

Nakarating na nga kami ng pamilya ko sa Cebu at nakiramay din muna sa pamilya ng namatayan. Hindi pa muna pinag-usapan iyong kasal dahil nagluluksa pa. Hanggang sa mailibing na ang mag-asawa. That's when I was properly introduced to the two brothers, Castiel Villarama and Haniel Villarama who's only five years old.

"Nice to meet you." Naglahad sa akin ng kamay si Castiel Villarama. And on our first meeting I thought he was polite.

Tinanggap ko ang nakalahad niyang kamay at nakipagkamay. "Karla Hasmine Montes. Nice meeting you, too." I said.

We saw my parents and his grandmother smiling to us.

May yumakap naman sa mga binti ko. Pagtingin ko sa baba, I saw little Haniel hugging my legs while looking up at me. "Are you going to be my sister, Miss?" The little boy asked me.

Umawang naman ang labi ko habang nakatingin sa kaniya. Pagkatapos ay tumingin ako sa mga kasama namin sa room. I saw my mom nodding at me and encouraged me to respond to the kid.

Tumingin muli ako kay Haniel. "Uh, I think... I mean, yes..." Huminga ako at napatingin na rin sa kuya niya na nasa harapan ko. I saw Castiel smiling at me, too. Bahagya na rin akong napangiti. And I just feel a little awkward.

Nang muli ko namang tingnan si Haniel ay nakangiti na rin siya sa'kin. He looked happy. Napangiti na rin ako sa bata.

Bago pa lang kasi kaya siguro hindi pa ako masyadong komportable. But later on I got used to the life with them especially after my parents already left me in Cebu...

Tinawagan ko si Mommy. At medyo matagal pa bago niya sinagot. "Mommy! Thank goodness you finally answered! What were you doing? Bakit ang tagal mo po na sagutin ang phone mo."

"Oh. I'm sorry, hija. I was with some of my amigas. We were shopping and treating ourselves to the salon and spa. Why? What is it?"

I sighed. I remember what my mother told me before I went here in Cebu. She's told me that I was special. That I can do things...but now I feel like I just want to go home!

I didn't know that the two brothers could be a real pain in the ass, too. Para akong nag-aalaga ng dalawang makukulit na bata rito sa mansyon ng mga Villarama sa Cebu. And living with them wasn't all okay.

"Mommy, I want to go back to Manila now. I want to go home." I said over the phone.

"What? Why, hija? May nangyari ba d'yan?" Mommy asked in a relaxed tone.

"Mommy, para lang po akong nag-aalaga ng dalwang makulit na bata rito. I won't be able to do this for a long time..." I said. My face crumpled while talking to my mom on the phone.

I heard Mommy sighing a bit on the other line, too. "Karla Hasmine, intindihin mo na lang. Ikaw na nga rin ang nagsabi, 'di ba? You're a little older than the two brothers. Kaya ikaw na lang muna ang umintindi sa kanila, hija. Isa pa, you're there to guide them as well, right? At alam mo naman na kakamatay pa lang ng parents nila. They need your company there, Hasmine. Pagbigyan mo na muna ang magkapatid."