MVGS01: LOST

Chapter 4: Monte Verde

"Are you ready. sweetheart?" Dad asked the moment he enter in my room. Tonight is the night that daddy will introduce me to everyone as a Monte Verde. I told daddy that it's not necessary, but he said a Monte Verde always need a recognition kaya wala na din akong nagawa kundi ang pumayag sa party na ito.

"Yes Dad, I'm ready." I answered even though I'm so nervous inside. 

"Good, babalikan na lang kita in few minutes okay. The party will about to start." Dad respond. "Ohh, by the way here." Daddy said, sabay abot ng isang maliit na kahon. "It's suppose to be for your mom, nung mga panahong magkasama pa kami, but I didn't give a chance to give it to her. Kaya para sa iyo nalang. I know your mom will not mind if ibigay ko ito sa anak namin diba?" Dad continue bago ito muling lumabas ng silid. 

Out of curiosity I open the small box and there I saw a white gold necklace. It has two stars that are connected to each other as a pendant. 

Agad ko naman itong kinuha mula sa kahon at maingat na ineksamina. It instantly reminded me about my mom. Mahilig kasi talaga si Mama sa mga bituin and seeing this beautifull necklace remind me of her, lalo na at para pala talaga ito kay Mama. 

When I looked at the back part of the pendant there I notice the initial that are engrave their, it's 'R&A' the initial of my parents first name. Napaisip tuloy ako, what if hindi lumayo si Mama that time magiging masaya kaya kami? Or what if hindi parte ni dad ng isang kilalang pamilya, magiging normal kaya ang buhay namin? Theres a lot of what if in my mind pero alam kong kahit anong isip ang gawin ko hindi ko na maibabalik ang nakaraan. 

Naputol ang aking pag-iisip ng biglang mag-ring ang cellphone ko. It was Jairus whos calling, one of my few friend in Manila. I met him in my preview part time job. Like me he is also a scholar kaya naman agad kaming nagkasundo. The last time that we met is during my mother last funeral night. Nabanggit ko na din sa kanya na sasama na ako sa totoong daddy ko at aalis na ng Manila. Even though nandito na ako sa Bukidnon we still sometime exchange messages lalo na pag may mga bagong kwento ito tungkol sa girlfriend niya.

"Jai, napatawag ka?" Bungad ko sa kanya pagkasagot ko ng tawag. 

"Zup, kamusta?" Ani naman nito imbis na sagutin ang tanong ko. 

"Okay lang." Maikling sagot ko naman dito habang isinusuot ang kwintas na bigay ni daddy. "Pero bakit ka nga napatawag?" Muling pangungulit ko naman dito. 

Isang buntong hininga lang naman ang isinagot nito sa akin. "Ang lalim naman niyan. " Biro ko pa sa kanya.

"Si Ava kasi, remember her, my girlfriend?" Panimula nito. 

"Yah, I know her. Nagkita na din kami once bakit?" Muling usyoso ko sa kanya. 

"We had a small misunderstanding yesterday. She need to go back on her province, family reunion ata. I told her that I will accompany her but she declined. Pakiramdam ko kasi kinakahiya niya ako." Kwento pa nito. 

"Hindi naman siguro. I met her once mukhang mabait naman. Maybe she just protecting you. Intindihin mo nalang, anak mayaman eh." Tanging tugon ko nalang.

We just talk a little bit more hanggang sa muli akong sunduin ni Daddy upang sabay na kaming pumunta sa garden ng mansion kung saan nagaganap ang party. I just said a quick goodbye to him and promise him to call again early tomorrow para mas maikwento niya ng detalyado ang nangyari sa kanila ni Ava. 

Habang naglalakad kami palapit sa garden at palakas naman ng palakas ang kaba na aking nararamdaman. Daddy said that the other Monte Verde are here also and he make sure that they will all accepted me as part of their clan, pero hindi ko pa rin maiwasan ang kabahan lalo na sa tingin na ipinupukol sa akin ng ibang mga bisita.