Montecillo Series - Therese Montecillo ( Completed )

You say what?

Therese POV

Kalahati na ng buwan ng school term, I was very excited kasi may dadaluhan kaming party from school. Syempre ang inutusan ni Daddy na date ko is Kuya, which is okay lang naman sa kanya kasi wala daw siyang matipuhan idate sa school.

Nagtataka na ako sa kanya, siguro wala sa school yung babaeng kinakatagpo niya. He is always going out once each month. Ang sinasabi niya lang, he goes to his condo and stays there the whole day para palinisan then comes home the day after.

I bet dinadala niya doon yung babae niya, but that’s okay. Priority pa din naman ni kuya na makatapos, just like us. Yes, may sari sarili kaming condo na ipapangalan lang samin once we turned 18. Dad said he understands that we need our own privacy, pero as long as di pa kami kasal, we still have to live under their roof.

Or pag hindi pa kami 20 something. Ewan ko sa rules ni Dad, basta kahit may mga condo na kami, he doesn’t want na aalis kami, well, not yet. Ayaw niyang malungkot si Mommy.

Anyway, pumayag si Daddy na maka attend kami ng party ngayong gabi and I am excited. Talagang nagpagawa pa ako ng gown for this night. It’s an annual ball for the school, they were celebrating the years it has been built.

Lolo will also be there. Daddy sana will go there kaya lang may lakad ito abroad, Mommy doesn’t want to go without him so kami ni kuya lang at si Lolo ang present dito. Cristoff couldn’t make it too because he was studying for his exams for next week.

Seryoso na ito sa studies niya. He was really determined na makuha yng position as the president sa Mall. Although it was assigned to him, Dad said na he will not be qualified unless he proves something.

Also, si Kuya Alex will be helping him sa Mall. He was initially assigned to be a general manager sa Hotel, but Dad had other plans. So ayun, he will start there as Cristoff will. Mom got all mad when she heard na kailangan pa naming iprove sarili namin para lang kami na mag manage nang negosyo. I laughed at Dad’s face nung time nayon.

I am wearing Tita Grace’s gown. Magaganda yung mga gown niya na ginawa, she was even now trying to venture on designs aside sa pagiging party organizer.

And I have to say, the gown can be compared to other branded designs. Bumaba na ako sa hagdan and saw Kuya waiting. He glanced the wristwatch niya at sumimangot.

“Tagal makapag bihis ah, Kanina pa ako tinawagan ni Lolo. Papunta na daw siya.” He said and I chuckled.

“Kuya, excited lang si lolo kaya nauna siya doon. It’s just 7 and the party doesn’t start at 8.” I said, while gracefully climbing down the stairs.

“Anong 8 ka jan, anong akala mo sa traffic?” sagot nito na kinatawa ko. Kuya is being outspoken na pero di ko ito binabara, I was liking how free and comfortable he gets with us already.

“Edi, paliparin mo sasakyan, cmon kuya, you always do that.” Sabi ko saka ito umirap saka na lumabas, saktong nasa baba na ako at sumunod na sa kanya.

“Kuya, intay!” sigaw ko. Nakita ko si Mom sa pintuan, inaayos yung kurbata ni kuya.

“See, di ka pa nga handa eh. Tignan mo, di pa ayos yang kurbata mo.” I said, halting to a stop.

“Therese naman kasi, kanina pa siya tinawagan ng lolo niyo. Magmamadali siya sa tono ng lolo mo.” Saway ni Mommy.

“Eh kasi, chineck ko pa make up ko.” I said, umirap naman si Kuya.

“Kanina ka pang 4pm naghahanda, ilang oras ba kailangan mo?” ngumiti lang ako.

“A girl needs time, Kuya!” sabi ko.

Umiling nalang ito saka nagpasalamat kay Mommy nang maayos nito ang kurbata niya.

“Bye Mom, See you later!” I said saka hinagkan na siya at sumunod kay Kuya.

We were driving silently sa Hotel namin kung saan gaganapin yung party. Dad managed to make room for the school to have the party doon sa pinakamalaking Venue hall sa Hotel.

Dad said may special announcement si Lolo on that party. Nakarating kami sa hotel at pinark kaagad yung kotse sa basement. From there, nag elevator na kami papunta sa Hall.

Puno ng tao sa may pintuan kung kaya’t medyo nahirapan kami sa pagpasok. Buti nalang may security. May mga media din kasi doon, ang sabi may artista daw silang kinuha to perform.

We made our way to the front kasi andun si lolo, he told us na magkakasama kami sa isang table sa front. Nakita namin siya kaagad talking to the owber of the school.

“Lolo!” sigaw ko nan aka agaw ng atensyon.

“O, eto na pala mga apo ko. Gabe, this is Therese and Alex, mga anak ni Stephen. You know, my only son,” pakilala niya sa amin.

“Eto na pala sila?” sabi ni Sir Gabriel saka nakipagkamay saming dalawa.

“Yes, malalaki na. And they go to your school too.” Lolo said na kinamangha naman ni Sir Gabriel.

“Is that so? Well, at least they know pano na ito palakarin.” He said na ikinataka namin ni kuya.

“Yes, it will not be that hard for her.”lolo said, but I furrowed my brows as I looked at him.

What are they talking about? Nagtinginan naman kami ni Kuya and excused ourselves para maupo.

“Kuya, alam mob a pinag uusapan nila?” tanong ko kay Kuya,

“Nope,” simpleng sagot nito saka nagtingin tingin sa paligid.

“Daming tao, tiyak na mapapa headline ata ito, daming media o.” turo niya sa may pintuan.

“Oo nga noh.” I simply said saka uminom ng tubig.

Nagsimula na ang event nang tumuntong ang emcee sa stage, he congratulated the school for the years na itinagal nito and was also congratulating the people behind its success.

We clapped our hands to that and finally, the owner made his speech.

“Good evening. I am happy and very pleased to have celebrated the milestones with our school. I have witnessed how it has grown to this. I also want to thank the people behind the success, the people who made it possible for us to raise our standard and even contribute to the welfare of not jut the school but of the students. Tonight, as we celebrate for our milestone, let me also share with you the information this school holds privately.” He said and looked at lolo. Nakakunot ang noo ko nang tignan ko siya as he stood up and went to the stage.

“May I introduce to you, Mr. Montecillo. The original owner and founder of this school. He actually built this school in hopes that his future generation will be studying here. They still do, actually.” That’s when all also laughed.

“But, as the school was finished, he decided to let someone run it for him. Although he did not ask for anything from the school, just the best education anyone can get. So I accepted his offer and until now, I still run the school.” Many were saying their Aww’s but I was curious what he meant by that.

“Tonight though, let me give back the management of the school to it’s original owner.” We were all shocked, just like that? Nakita kong tumango tango naman si lolo sa likod nito.

“Let me explain. All the people who knows me know that I do not have a family.I have even made it a will na lahat ng matitira sakin will be donated to the society. But this school is not mine to give. So I will return it.”he said. Pro bagtataka pa din ako. Why? Why now?

“I know you are asking yourselves, why would I do that? Simply because I retire. I want to spend my remaining days happily without any stress. My dats are numbered and I would like to spend it peacefully. And my friend, the original owner, grantred me this. So I gave him back the school. I am merely it’s caretaker. But I am happy doing so.” Naluha ako sa sinabi niya. He is dying? But why?

“Let me hand over this microphone to your new boss.” He smiled and gave lolo the microphone.

“Thank you so much, Gabriel. Gabriel has been a friend to me ever since we were young, we even planned on marrying our daughters or sons. Unfortunately, he did not have any.” We laughed.

“But I want to thank you for taking care of the institution I built for the future generation. And since I am not that capable anymore, this managent will be lead by my first granddaughter.” He pointed at me na ikinalaki ng mata ko. Many were clapping including kuya who had his smiles.

“But we will have to wait for one more year, she still is in her junior year. And I know, she can run the school just fine like how it was run before. I will be the one managing the school for a year, after that, she will replace me.

“I have no doubts that the school will soar more. And I will see more of its achievements. –“

Hindi ko na narinig ang sinabi niya dahil mukhang pinamulahan ako sa napoagtanto ko. I will be managing the school. And how am I to do that?

Natapos ang speech ni lolo with all of us drinking wine from our goblet. We were standing and raising our glasses.

He will formal;y introduce me daw when the time comes. And that will be after a year. Oh my Gosh, eto ba ang special announcement ni lolo.

Bumaba na sila at parehong lumapit sa table namin. Waiters were serving us our dinner habang yung iba, sa buffet table kumukuha.

Lolo sat as well as Mr. Gabriel. They were talking still but started to eat, sumabay na din kami ni Kuya. Trahimik lang kaming dalawa sa table. Kuyta excused himself dahil parang may nakita daw ito na kakilala niya, I nodded and he left. He was done eating anyway.

Lolo looked my way and smiled. He scooted next to me and held my hand.

“I already asked your Dad abut this. He said yes already, so you will be the one managing the school after you graduate.”

“Was that the special announcement, lo?” I asked and he nodded and smiled.

“But—“ I was about to arue when he hld my hand tighter and chuckled.

“Don’t worry, it will be after a year after you graduate, we will take things slowly.” He said at napatango nalang ako.

Bumalik naman si Kuya after a few minutes, nakipag usap lang daw siya sa kakilala niya. I nodded saka uminom ng wine.

Kuya poked me and wiggled his brows.

“Pano ba yan, Ms. President? Nung balak mo sa school.” Asar ni kuya at uminom na din ng wine.

“Che, nag aaral pa ako no.” I said, chuckling.

“May papakilala ako sayo, trip mo?” he asked and I eyed him.

“Kuya! Shut up.” Natawa ito saka nilapit ang phone niya. I saw him on the screen, watching me.

“Oh my God, Kuya, you did not…” I said saka ito hinampas ng konti.

“Go, I know you have been missing him.” I grabbed his phone saka pumunt sa terrace ng venue, it had three actually. But I went to the one na hindi matao.

“Hi!” bati ko sa kanya once I had the chance to.

“Hey! You look gorgeous, sana nanjan ako.” He said and I laughed,

“Like papayagan ka ni Daddy na makalapit sakin.” I said and he laughed.

“Oo, nga pala no?” he said while chuckling.

We were talking like hindi siya busy, but he called to congratulate me. Apparently, nasabi nap ala ni kuya sa kanya yung nangyari. I miss him. I miss him so much!