Because I Love You

19| Five-Year Contract

I can't wait to tell my family the good news!

"Para saan naman 'tong pa-pizza mo, Mayora?" Kuya asked while getting a slice. "May cake, manok at ice cream pa a. Birthday ba ng aso natin?"

I rolled my eyes then I sat on my seat. Umupo na rin naman si Kuya. We waited for our mother as she's getting plates from the kitchen.

"Masaya lang 'yang kapatid mo na nakabalik na si Travis. Hayaan mo na," sabi ni Mommy matapos ilapag ang mga plato sa lamesa.

"Saan na nga pala 'yon? Bakit 'di pa bumibisita dito?" tanong ni Kuya na panay kain na.

"Bakit wala ba s'yang sariling pamilya? 'Di ba pwede na umuwi na muna sa bahay nila?" nakataas ang isang kilay na balik-tanong ko.

"H'wag kayong mag-away sa harap ng pagkain," saway ni Mommy.

"Para saan nga 'to, Tia? Napakakuripot mo kaya. Kahit n'ong unang sweldo mo 'di ka naman nagpa-ganito." Patuloy ni Kuya sa pag-bash n'ya sa akin.

"I got a nice offer!" I excitedly said. "Our company offered me to study my masters abroad, and to be a pioneer on the new branch! Everything will be paid by the company. Flights, school, apartment... everything! And I still got to do my job. May sweldo pa rin ako," masayang dagdag ko. "Tatlo lang kami na binigyan ng ganitong offer. And I said yes right away. Opportunities like this shouldn't be turned down. 'Di na nga kailangang pag-isipan pa."

"Congrats! Gandang offer nga n'yan. Galing mo talaga!" Kuya said then he went to my side to hug and kiss my temple.

There were tears in my mother's eyes. "Masaya ko para sa'yo, anak. Deserve na deserve mo 'yan. Napakasipag at matalino ka talaga."

Masaya ako sa tuwa ng pamilya ko para sa akin. Maging si Daddy ay natuwa nang malaman n'ya. Kung kami lang kasi, kaya naman siguro pero mahihirapan pa rin kami sa laki ng magagastos.

"What?!" Lacey exclaimed. "You will what?!" Pinanlakihan n'ya pa ako ng mga mata at kulang na lang ay sampalin n'ya ako dahil sa violent reaction ng mukha n'ya.

"That's a great opportunity, Lace. Hindi lahat nabibigyan ng ganitong pagkakataon." I said then I sipped on my juice. "You know that I wasn't born with a silver spoon like you. Malaking bagay 'to sa mga tulad ko."

Lacey shook her head. "Nag-iisip ka ba, Hestia?" Galit na si Lacey. "Fuck! Sobrang utak nga pala ang gamit mo, right? But... naisip mo ba si Travis? Gosh, kakauwi n'ya lang tapos ikaw naman ang aalis? Akala ko ba papakasal na kayo?"

Napasimangot ako. "He dismissed the idea of marriage, Lace. Maybe we're not yet ready for that. We haven't grown enough."

"I don't know, Tia." Lacey sighed. "Their company is hitting the bottom right now. Baka pagsisihan mo kung iiwan mo s'ya sa ngayon."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Ano'ng problema nila?" Wala kasing nababanggit si Travis sa akin.

Lacey shrugged. "I heard from my father and uncles, that the Amante Group of Companies is selling stocks because few investments were unsuccessful. Nalugi nang malaki ang kompanya."

"Travis hadn't told me anything."

"And you know what desperate people do. In our circle, we marry." Lacey shrugged as if those were nothing. "Remember when I told you about Trav's father fixing marriage for his sons?"

Hindi ko alam kung paano ako napapayag ni Lacey sa kabaliwan n'ya. I found myself in a social gathering hosted by one of the richest family in the country. Sinama ako ni Lacey dito.

"Tia?" Brandon called. Halata na gulat s'ya na nandito ako. 'Di nga naman kasi ako mayaman.

"Brandon." I smiled a little.