Pagkababa ko ng sasakyan, nagbigay ako ng isang malalim na buntong-hininga at sinabing, "Kuya Lord, please... whoever I come in contact with today, let her be the one." I heard this trend of people wishing things like this and I wanted to try it, wala naman mawawala diba? I'm so excited na magsimula ng bagong chapter sa uni na 'to, kaya't kahit medyo corny ang joke, hindi ko maalis ang excitement ko.
Maybe... just maybe... they would finally acknowledge me, and that alone made me smile.
Andito lang naman ako dahil sa kanila. It's all for my family.
I'm just here to prove to them that I'm worth paying attention to—that I can handle the company, especially now that ate is gone.
As the second daughter, I expected na sa akin agad mapupunta ang responsibilidad, kaya agad-agad akong nag-enroll dito sa Altiora University. This is where all Esquivels come to study, except for me—hindi ko nga alam, pero never ako in-enroll dito kahit lahat ng kapatid ko dito nag-aaral.
Kaya kahit walang paalam, pinilit kong mag-transfer dito to prepare myself for all the responsibilities. I even ran away from home for this. I don't know, dati ko pa rin naman pinipilit sina Mama na i-transfer ako dito. Call it rebellion, pero para rin naman sa future ng family namin 'to.
Back then I did not ask questions kasi when ate was still here, none of us were trained or prepared to handle the company. Expected na talaga kasi na siya ang magmamana nito, and we did not have a problem with that. She's the firstborn eh.
Sino ba naman kami, diba? Joke, charot. Hindi naman ako nagseselos kay ate noon, slight lang.
Pero bago ko pa man matapos ang pagbibiro ko sa sarili, agad kong natanaw ang isang babae na tila may anghel na aura. Her eyes reflected her kindhearted nature; I suddenly felt na parang kinakalma ako ng presence niya. Naisip ko, 'Kuya Lord, ganoon ba 'ko kalakas sayo?'
But before I could even make a move, may biglaang sumalubong sa akin.
Binangga ako?! Aray?
Nabigla ako nang magbanggaan kami, napaupo ako at agad naman nagkalat ang mga papers ko matapos niyang masagi ito.
Hindi pa man nag-sorry, sumigaw na siya, "Are you blind?!" Habang iniwasan ako at lumayo nang may irap at galit sa mukha. She even let out a scoff as she walked away.
Natameme ako. I sat there in shock.
Siya yung bumangga sa akin, bat siya yung galit?
With a sigh, agad akong bumalik sa katinuan ng pag-iisip ko at sinimulan ang pagpupulot.
And then... I saw a hand helping me. It's her.
"I'm really sorry about that," sabi niya habang tinutulungan akong pulutin ang mga papeles. "It's my fault rin, I was nagging her."
"Please, okay lang. Thanks," sagot ko habang pinipilit kong bawiin ang mga papers.
"Are you a freshie?" She asked with a smile on her face.
"Oh, I'm flattered," I chuckled, "Third year, transferee." I extended my hand, "Elriya Esquivel."
Kitang-kita sa mukha niya ang pagka-gulat but she quickly collected herself and bowed slightly, placing a hand on their chest—a gesture I was all too familiar with. It was how people were taught to greet an Esquivel, a sign of respect for our family's influence.
"Sorry for reacting, I've never talked to an Esquivel sa buong buhay ko dito sa Altiora," sabi niya habang iniaabot ang kamay. "Yvon Belyaevich."
"Nice to meet you, Yvon." I gave her a wink, which made her chuckle in return.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Dreamer (GxG)
General Fiction[ESQUIVEL SERIES I] Elriya Kahel Esquivel has spent her life hidden away by her powerful family, the Esquivels. But in her third year of college, she rebels and secretly transfers to a prestigious university, Altiora University, known for its inten...
