"Are you ok?" Mom asked after i handed her the bouquet. I nod and saw lola already sitting at the dining talking with her amigas. She saw me and gesture to come there. I sigh and go there. I'm sure she'll brag me again to her amigas.

"Oh, meet my granddaughter. She's a straight valedictorian since elementary and now she's at her senior year. And guess what? She's still running for vali. I'm so proud of you, Grace." Wow haha thanks. Hindi naman ako tumatakbong vali, kayo lang. I smiled and saw my other cousins looking at me. Agh! Trust me, hindi masaya ang ganito.

"Oh, wow! Congratulations! What program are you gonna take, hija?" I was about to answer but lola talked first.

"I told her to take MBA 'cause she's the one who'll manage our company in the future. But," lola stand up and hugged me. "Whatever you will get, Grace, lola will support you." She said with a sweet tone and her amigas are so touched. Haha. Lola best actress.

"Aww, Grace you're so blessed for having a lola like Cora."

"Yes po. Sobra." I hugged my lola and akala ko tapos na. Pero nagsalita ang isa pa niyang amiga.

"How about boyfriend? You're pretty, polite, and smart, hija. Sure akong maraming nagkaka gusto sa'yo." Agad akong umiling at tinignan si lola.

"Oh, Amy, she's still young, she told me that she will not have any boyfriend habang nag-aaral pa siya, at gusto daw niyang mas focus muna sa studies niya, right, Grace?" Ha? Tinanong pa ako siya din pala ang sasagot. Mapait akong ngumiti. "And, no need to rush. There are plenty more fish in the sea and i want her to have the best one, more than her lola, right? I treated her more like a princess, her future needs to be more than that."

Nakakaubos na. Napapagod na ako, para akong may maskara na hindi maalis dahil nabuhay akong may ganon na. I grew up being controlled by my lola. Yes, lola. Not even my parents but my lola. My parents can't fight for me. And that's the saddest part. They let me be the puppet of my lola.

"Bianca? How's your study?" Lola asked. Mag d-dinner na kame at umalis na ang mga amiga niya. Nasa gilid ako ni lola kaya sobrang 'di ako komportableng gumalaw.

"O-ok naman po-"

"Ok? Bianca that's not good. It should be 'it's very good, lola' and not 'ok naman' you're the panganay na apo, Bianca. Dapat nag s-simula sayo at hindi sa pangalawa na si Grace." Oh god. Ako nanaman. My cousins hate me, sobra. They're mad and jealous at the same time dahil nasa akin ang buong attention ni lola. Pero ako? Ang pinapangarap ko ay mawala ang atensiyon ni lola saaken. Lagi siyang saaken nag e-expect at laging nasa akin ang tingin. Kaya kailan kong gawin ang gusto niya. "Grace grew up being on top. How about you? Lagi-"

"Grace. Grace. Grace. Lagi nalang siya?! Paano naman kame?! Apo mo din kame at hindi lang siya!" Ate Bianca rushed inside and lola stay calm but i can feel her aura. It's bad.

"Such a disappointment." F*ck. Three words. Ayaw kong marinig 'yon mula kay lola at kahit kanino.

After that scene ay tumahimik ulit. Tomorrow is my flight back to Philippines. Miss ko na Eliah ko. After our dinner ay nagusap lang ang ibang matatanda at bumalik na sa kanya-kanyang silid.

I did my routine and lay on the floor. Eliah's the one who said that if I'm sad just lay down on the floor and feel the coldness of it. Kahit sumakit pa raw sumakit ang likod ko ay ok lang at least mawawala naman ang iba. Ang funny niya don pero naka help nga.

Eliah thought me how to be myself when I'm with him. He doesn't invalidate my feelings, he stay by my side when i need him, he's my human bear when i need a hug, he's my everything. Sobrang suwerte ko dahil nanjaan siya. He's my escape.