Chapter 19

Chapter 19 Family

"Harmonious family brings happiness to everybody."

-UnleashingDesire

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They are talking and laughing happily in the living room. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin makapaniwala sa mga nayayari si Sam. It feels fast yet good, especially ang makitang masaya at tumatawa si Celindra kasama ang pamilya niya. Now, hindi na siya kakabahan pa.

Sam's family treated his last girlfriend worst, making him hesitate to call his mother's help that morning. But he gained his confidence, knowing Celindra is who he wanted to be with when he grow old. He didn't want to give up the chance he have. Kaya naman gusto niya na umpisa pa lang ng relation nila ay maging legal na. Marriage can wait a bit. At hindi na siya mahihirapan dun lalo na ng malaman niyang magkakilala ang kanilang pamilya. He grinned with that thought.

"I heard my sister is here, seems like it's true." A voice suddenly made them stop. The butler who is guiding the guest,went away.

"Brother?" Celindra stood up. Nagulat siya sa pagdating ng kuya niya. Nasa ibang bansa kasi ito kasama ang mga magulang nila. Duon din sila nagtratrabaho.

"There you are little sis. I just came back and heard from your friend Linda that someone called Sam got you hooked." The young man handsomely smiled. His eyes contains full of love towards her sister. Not forgetting the person who owns the house, he smiled at them and greet. "Uncle Soleman, Aunt Chesca how are you?" Soleman only nodded at him with smile as a greeting. Alam naman ni Clide na isa si Soleman sa mga lalakeng hindi mahilig magsalita pero may isang salita.

"Ah! Clide! We are fine! Very fine! How about you? When did you come back?" Chesca stood up with his husband and walk toward Clide, Celindra's brother. Halata sa mukha ni Chesca na excited siya na makita si Clide dahil ang ibig sabihin nito ay nandito rin ang kaniyang kaibigan. Hindi kasi umaalis si Clide ng wala ang kaniyang ina. Si Clide ang panganay at ang pinakamalapit sa kanilang ina.

"I'm doing good aunt. We just came back an hour ago. Mother ordered me to fetch my little sister. She also told me that to say hi and tell aunt that she will call you tomorrow to reminisce." They talk for a while and Clide look at Sam who is holding his sister's hand. Nakuha naman agad ni Clide kung anong ibig sabihin nito. At hindi niya mapigilan na isipin ang kanilang lolo.

"Seems like I need to hurry and find wife as my little sister already found hers." he said. Sam grinned when he heard that. Sam and Clide are business partners and friends.

"Yes ah. Grandad will surely make you go on blind date by then." Sam teased Clide. Clide who remembered the time his grandfather made him date countless of ladies, shivers.

"Well.. Uncle, Aunt, Can I take my little sister home?" Clide smile apologetically.

"Ah, yes. Yes. Go on. Make sure to keep safe." Chesca shooed them away. Dahil sa biglaang pangyayari hindi makasunod si Celindra. Nasa kotse na sila nung nakapagsalita ulit siya.

"How did you know him? You look so close with him... At bakit napa-umuwi kayo sa Pinas? May nangyari ba? Hindi ka ata busy ngayon? You even came to fetch me... Business problems? No.. It can't be. Hindi niyo naman ako kailangan dun... So, Family problem? Is there--." Clide chuckled at the continues question that Celindra has and shook his head.

"Business and family matters, but it's not a problem at all. Father intended to expand business here. Since we are pure Pilipino, we might as well help the economy. And you lived here for almost all your life. Father wanted you to take over after stabilizing the business here but we rejected." Clide explained. When Celindra heard the last sentence she couldn't help but muttered: 'Thank god.' Kontento na si Celindra sa kung anong meron siya. Ayaw niyang pumasok pa sa 'business world' na yan. It's too complicated.

"So... Brother took the responsibility in handling the business here since he didn't really have any interest 'till now." Clide shrugged after he said that. Nanlaki naman ang mata ni Celindra sa narinig niya.

"Brother Clarence? Why? Akala ko ba maghahakot pa siya ng graduation certificates? What made him do that?"

"He came here half year ago to be an exchange student. After that we noticed his changes. Getting daze all suddenly and painting some sort of portrait of someone. He might be in love. That's the family matter." Nagulat naman si Celindra sa narinig niya.

Mas matanda si Clarence sa kaniya ng isang taon. Siya rin ang pinaka matalino sa magkakapatid. Pero siya lang ang hindi pa alam kung anong gustong gawin sa kaniyang buhay.

Si Clide, dahil siya ang panganay ay nasa isip niya na ang magmanage ng business nila. Samantalang si Celindra ay nag-umpisa siya mangarap na maging isang manunulat nuong kakatapos niya lang sa secondarya.

Si Clarence naman ay maagang nakapag-tapos dahil sa pagkuha niya ng iba't ibang test at na-ipasa niya ito. Dahil dun ay naghanap pa siya ng possible niyang gustong gawin, katulad ng; photography, painting, music, accounting, marketing, science at medic. Pero kahit isa ay wala siyang nagustuhan. Ipinasa niya lang ang lahat ng kurso niya at grumadwate ng hindi nahahanap kung para saan ba talaga siya.

But now... Seems like what he is missing is not that kind of passion but other kind of passion.

"Then, why did mother came here too? It's not that I don't want it... It's just so.. Suspicious.." Clide instantly laugh when he heard Celindra.

"I thought so too! But then when she told me to fetch you, my suspicious grew. Then, I saw you with Sam, holding hands.." he said with teasing tone and his eyebrows wiggling.

"Don't tell me, naghire na naman siya ng stalker." Celindra puffed her cheeks.

"She does that because she's worried. Since you came here at the age of eight you never live with us. She misses you, we do." Celindra looks at the window.

"You know, I miss you all too. It's just that... I feel perfectly good here in the Philipines. I can't leave here.. I won't." Celindra said. She heard her brother sighed. Masaya siya sa kung na saan siya ngayon. She can feel freedom. Kahit wala siyang kaibigan na matuturing na pamilya nung mga araw na hindi pa dumadating si Linda, she feels complete. Ayos na sa kaniya yun.

"We know.. That's why we never force you to come back. We knew how you are pressured in America. Every eye is waiting for you to make mistakes. You forced yourself to learn everything, that made you burst and ran away. Celindra... Remember.. You’re not alone. We are always here for you." Napapikit na lang si Celindra at hindi kinibo ang kaniyang kapatid. Mabigat pa rin sa pakiramdam niya ang mga nangyari sa nakaraan. The way she felt chained and restricted made her restless. She didn't want that to happen again. Never.