How Sky Embraces the Star (High School Series #2)

Chapter 39

Her POV

It's been almost two years since I left Lucena. And many things changed in those two years. I encountered many new people. I met new friends. I have lived and adjusted to a new atmosphere. And I can say, I became more independent.

Pero sa unang mga araw ko sa Manila, aaminin kong hindi naging madali iyon para sa akin. I've often felt being homesick, and that longingness always filled my heart. Not to mention the guilt I felt whenever I remember how I left him there. 

Sinubukan kong libangin ang sarili ko sa pamamagitan ng pagfo-focus sa panibagong kanabata ng buhay ko sa panibagong syudad. Dad enrolled me at one of the prestigious schools in Manila, University of Santo Tomas.  Doon rin ako nagtapos ng Senior High. I took the STEM strand in line with the course I will take in college which is Architecture.

Well, I thought were only gonna be in Manila for one year pero nang simulang hawakan ni Papa ang VDM Corp na kumpanya ng kaniyang ama, nahirapan na siyang iwanan iyon. He boosted the company making it back to it's orignal even better condition. 

Hindi naman nakakalimutang tumawag sa amin nila Mama. I remembered our last Christmas celebration in the first year living here in Manila. Lumuwas sila Mama at Jillean at dito nag-celebrate ng pasko kasama namin ni Papa. Zyke didn't come. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. Ang sabi ni Jillean ay hindi siya makakasama dahil right after the Christmas day ay may importante siyang gagawin. I wonder if that's the real reason.

Simula noong umalis ako, hindi na kami nagka-usap. Even though Mama always video calls me, hindi ko siya nakikita o naabutang nasa bahay. Or maybe he really doesn't want to see or talk to me.

I tried to forget the last time we talked. How he pleased me not to go. How he stared at me with those cold eyes. How pain struck in his face after I said those last words to him before I left. At first, I thought I made a regretful decision, but I had always reminded myself that it was for the best of us.

Napapikit ako ng mariin at pilit na itinuon ang atensyon sa makakapal na ulap na sumasabay sa eroplanong sinasakyan namin.

"Are you okay, anak?"

Napalingon ako kay Papa na nasa tabi ko.

Ngumiti ako at tumango. "Opo. Inaantok lang po."

"You can take sleep. Dalawang oras pa naman bago mag-land ang eroplano," mahinahong saad niya.

Tumango ako at ngumiti bago isandal ang ulo at muling pinagmasdan ang mga ulap.

Today, we're off to Korea. This is one of Papa's graduation gifts for me. Nangako kasi siyang maga-out of the country trip kami. And aside from that, he will be going to meet one of Lolo's important business partners there. They are the ones who helped Papa when the company was at risk.

Isang taong minanage ni Papa ang kumpanya hanggang sa manumbalik ito sa dati, but Lolo Visenzo was still in not good condition kaya naman ay hindi agad kami nakabalik sa Lucena. Hindi naman niya pwedeng iwanan at hayaan nalang basta ang kumpanya kaya habang nagpapagaling pa si Lolo, ipinagpatuloy niya ang pagha-handle sa nito. Iyon na rin ang dahilan kung bakit kami natagalan pa ng isang taon sa Manila.

Well, Lolo is not that old since he's only in his early 60s. The only reason why he needed hospitalization is because of his heart condition. Nang umayos na ang kalagayan niya, he immediately took control of the company.

Ngunit hindi agad kami naka-uwi ni Papa dahil nasa kasagsagan na ako ng last semester namin bilang isang Grade 12 student kaya kailangan ko munang tapusin iyon bago kami makabalik.

And that day quickly came. I graduated from UST and thankfully, I finished my senior high years as one of the achievers. All the hardship I've had was worth it. Akala ko ay makakapag-change strand ako dahil sa hirap, but I'm glad it didn't happened. Ayokong talikuran ang pagkahilig ko sa pagguhit.