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"JIANNE are you ready?" Tawag ng Mama niya mula sa labas ng kanyang kwarto. Kanina pa siya nakaharap sa salamin, and she can't believe na napapayag na naman siya ng Mama niya na mag-suot ng ganito.
She scanned herself in the mirror. She's wearing long sleeves skin-toned body-hugging dress. It is above her knee at gusto niyang ibaba pa ito, ngunit wala nang pagbabaan iyon dahil ang dibdib naman niya ang makikita kung sakaling hilahin niya pababa iyon. She's not as white as before but she likes her morena like skin now. In this way mas hindi siya nag-standout sa iba lalo na sa trabaho niyang ang alam ng lahat ay pangkaraniwan lang siya.
"Almost done Mama. Lalabas na po ako." She put a light make up just like what her Mama told her. Sinuklayan ang natural na wavy niyang buhok na ngayon at malayang nakalugay. Lumabas siya ng kwarto at nakaabang agad ang kanyang ina na nakapusturang babaeng-babae. Kung titignan nga ay hindi halatang nasa 50's na ito. She can looks 10 years younger at her aged. Well, she is Janine Lopez-Castroverde isang beauty queen noong kapanahunan nito.
"You're so pretty! Manang mana ka talaga sa akin anak. Just behave like a woman later okay?" Paalala ng Mama niya na ikinairap na lang niya at hindi na nakipagtalo pa.
Umalis na sila ng bahay at nagtungo sa meeting place. The hotel was partly their own. Pagmamay-ari lang naman ito ng kanilang pamilya. It should be the hotel that she needs to manage but she refused because she wants to travel, so it was passed to his cousin. Her mother walks confidently and she just followed her. She hates being like this. Grabbing everyone's attention. Pinagtitinginan at hinahangaan dahil sa kagandahan at karangyaan.
Ngunit paano pag naghirap na? Wala nalang? Lalayuan at pagtatawanan na? Mahirap humanap ng mga totong kaibigan sa mundong ginagalawan niya. Countless times she was betrayed by people whom she considered her friends but hid alter motives from her. They just want the influence, popularity, and wealth she had. That's the reason why she hides from the title of being the princess of Castroverde Group of Companies. Being the only girl, she was kind of spoiled by her brothers and cousins. Kaya nai-lift sa kanya ang responsibility ng company because they covered her up.
But to her confusion, everyone agreed to this arranged marriage. Protective ang mga lalaking kapatid at pinsan niya sa kanya, so why they agree to marry the son of Mr. De Vera. She knows him, but not personally because she refused to get along with him since she knew about the arranged marriage. They enter a VIP room in their restaurant and saw an aged man sitting alone looking like he was waiting for them.
"I apologized for making you wait Henry." Bungad dito ng kanyang ina. Mabait naman itong ngumiti sa kanila.
"No, just in time... Still, looking good huh? Looks like you didn't age at all!"
"You still know how to compliment a woman huh? Thank you, Henry, by the way, this is my daughter Jianne Alistine Castroverde."
"What a gorgeous fine lady, may pinagmanahan talaga." Bati ni Mr. De Vera sa kanya.
"Of course, and Jianne this is your Tito Henry De Vera." She smiled and gets his hand and put it on her forehead. Mas nakasanayan kasi niya ang pagmamano sa nakatatanda, kaysa ang makipagbeso sa mga ito. Mukhang nagulat naman ang ginoo sa ginawa niya ngunit natawa rin ito ng huli.
"Nice to meet you po Mr. De Vera." she politely says.
"Napakagalang naman nitong bata. I don't remember when was the last time someone who blesses me. It so refreshing to recall our old culture." Natutuwang sabi nito sa kanya. Doon naman dumating din ang isa pang lalaking kasama nito. Daryll Yvan De Vera, she knows his name at kaibigan din ito ng kambal niyang kapatid.
"Nandito ka na pala. Just in time son, this is Daryll Yvan De Vera, my son." Pagpapakilala nito sa anak at itinuro naman sila at ipinakilala din dito.
"Nice to meet you Mrs. Castroverde and Ms. Castroverde." Pormal nitong pagbati. Matapos ang pagpapakilala ay naupo na rin sila. Magkatapat sila ng binata at pormal na nakaupo lamang at tila nag aabang ng susunod na dapat gawin.
"As I was saying anak, kanina nag-bless si Jianne sa akin and it is refreshing to see that again right?" Pagkukwento ulit ni Mr. De Vera sa anak nito.
Tumango ito bilang tugon sa ama at tipid na ngumiti bago tumingin sa kanya. Instead of looking away ay nakipagtitigan siya dito. Hanggang ang binata mismo ang mag iwas na ng tingin. She just mentally smirk.
"Well, it's Jianne who patronized our country. Pinag-aaral nga namin siya before to overseas but she refused and took a course at UP instead." Komento ng kanyang ina.
"Its good university too. Iilan na lang ang kagaya niyang malaki ang pagmamahal sa bansa kahit puro kapalpakan ang nangyayare sa gobyerno natin."
"I agreed po. Nakuha ko po iyong ganitong trait hindi lang sa school, but on community also. Ang dami pong maipagmamalaki sa Pilipinas. Filipino's are amazing and our culture is one of a kind." Nakangiting pagbabahagi niya.
"You can be a politician with that passion you have for our country. Do you have any plan in joining?" Halatang nakuha niya ang topic na gusto ng ginoo kung kaya't panay ang tanong pa nito sa kanya.
"Hindi po mangyayari iyon. I can still help others with my own ways even without any government position," She answers confidently which amused Daryll on the side.
"Now, I really like you to be my daughter too! I'm glad Austin proposed this marriage." Natahimik na lang siya at hindi nagkomento.
She did not do it too impress them! Ang bibig talaga niya ay hindi mapigil when she was talking about her ideals.
Nag-usap pa ang dalawang matanda habang kumakain sila. Si Jianne naman ay itinuon na lang ang pansin sa pagkain at nakikipagbuno sa steak na inihanda sa kanya. Then all of a sudden the man in front of her help her cut the meat into a bite size.
"Why did you became silent all of a sudden?" sambit ng ni Daryll ng matapos ito. She just looked at him and shrugged bago ipinagpatuloy ang pagkain na hiniwa nito. Hanggang sa natapos silang kumain ay tahimik lang siya. Paano ay puro ang Mama niya ang nagkukwento sa buhay niya.
"I think we must give them time to get to know each other, mukhang naiilang silang mag-usap kaharap tayo." Sabi ni Mr. De Vera at sinang- ayunan ng Mama niya.
No! Masakit na ang paa ko at parang mapupunit ang damit nya sa sobrang sikip matapos niyang kumain, reklamo ni Alistine sa isip niya. Saka feeling niya ay magpapanisan sila ng laway nito dahil walang kikibo sa kanila.
"Ahhm. Tito Henry can do it some other time. I have a conference to cover po sa Palawan bukas. And I think I we can set it up some other time. Pasensya na po." Naglakas loob na siyang magsabi upang tanggihan ang gusto nitong mangyari. Mainam na rin at kaharap ang Mama niya ng hindi ito ang magpumilit ng araw kung kailan.
"Ganun ba Iha? Parehas pala kayo ni Daryll, may conference din siyang pupuntahan sa Palawan bukas." Napatingin naman ako sa lalaki na nakatingin rin sa akin. Natapos ang dinner at napakagat ng labi na lang siya sa pagpipigil mainis ng malaman niyang same conference din pala iyong pupuntahan nila.
What a coincidence. Right?
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© Miss Elie
- Writer
