Yellow Ribbon

Chapter Sixteenth

Puno man ng pagtataka ay nakinig ang mga magulang ko sa paliwanag ni ate Jan. Ang kanyang ama ay nasa tabi niya nakaupo. Hinatid na namin kanina sina ate Rheena at ate Athena sa kanilang bahay dahil sabi ni Tito Alvaro ay mahaba-habang usapan ang mangyayari sa bahay.

Tito Alvaro took us in a restaurant to eat before letting the two girls go home. Wala naman akong sagot doon dahil panay lamang ang kain ko ng halo-halo na take out niya para sa akin.

When we arrived, my father was surprised seeing the man I’m with. Afterwards, he frowned before hugging the man beside me which only chuckled. The latter hugged him too. A brother’s hug, I must say.

“After how many years, you visited!” Papa commented. Ngumiti lamang si Tito sa kanya,seryoso iyon kaya natahimik lamang si Papa at sinulyapan ako.

Lumapit siya sa akin at inakbayan ako. Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa, nangungusap ang kanyang mga mata, umiling lamang ako dahil wala naman akong sasabihin.

“Pasok na kayo.” aya ni Mama sa amin. We all obliged.

Then, this happened. Ate Jan explaining what happened to the meeting in detailed, and the words used were very careful not to offend my parents or to make them worry.

“Hindi ba nilalagay niyo lang ang anak ko sa kapahamakan?” Mama questioned.

“Not at all, Tita. The identities of the family were hidden. Except if you’re an employee of the company. Kasama iyon sa kontrata, hindi pwedeng ikalat ang mga identity ng higher up.The family’s safety always the first priority.”

“The Castellana consists of real estate company, hoteliers, a fishing corporation, construction company, trading company, dairy farm company and lastly, mining company.”

Isa-isa niyang binanggit iyon, ako naman ay palaki ng palaki ang mga mata dahil sa dami nito. Kumpanya iyon, syempre meron pang naka-paloob doon. Isa lamang akong hamak na inosenteng mamamayan tapos matatanggap ko iyan? Ano bang ginawa ko sa pamilya ni ate Jan para ibigay nila sa akin ang Castellana? Halos itulak pa nga nila ito sa akin.

I understand now why Joji's grandfather was furious. But, I also don't understand his reaction for having me as the Castellana Heiress. Ganoon ba talaga kababa ang tingin niya sa akin? Ano bang ginawa ko sa kanya?

“Are you really giving it to her, Murphy? The Castellana was almost consists of your family’s sources. Hindi ba ay parang tinatapon niyo lang ito?”

Kumunot ang noo ni ate Jan, habang ako naman ay naka-awang pa rin ang bibig, hindi makapaniwala sa lahat ng ito. Like, yeah, right, father, ask them that too.

“What are you saying, Rodrick? That your daughter’s a trash?” Tito Alvaro asked in sarcasm, Papa rolled his eyes om Tito who only laughed. Ate Jan shook her head. 

“I’m saying-” Tito Alvaro interjected.

“I know what you mean, brother.” he grinned.

“Hindi namin siya tinatapon,” Tito exclaimed, and inhaled deeply, “be careful of using words, Rodrick. We’re giving it to Dennise as a thank you gift, she’ll know why when she remembers. She’s still nineteen, for now, my assigned CEO manages the Castellana, until she come of age.” nilingon niya ako.

“Dennise, don’t be afraid of any of this. Dapat nga ay hindi ito ang panahon na malaman mo ito. But, my daughter was so desperate to save your problem, instead of letting it go, she intervened.” nakita ko ang pagngiwi ni ate Jan sa kinauupuan niya.

Kumuha na lamang siya ng juice at ininom ito para maiwasan ang titig naming lahat sa kanya. Halatang pinagsisihan niya ang ginawa niyang panghihimasok. Naintindihan ko na kung bakit siya nagpapalambing kay Tito Alvaro kanina. Umiling na lamang ako.