Chapter 2: The Frentones

YEAR 2015

‎"Juana, malapit na ang birthday mo. Imbitahan mo naman kami sa inyo! Malaki naman bahay niyo eh! Alam mo na, tiba-tiba.." Kantyaw ng isa kong k-klase.

"Hoy, mahiya ka nga, Tope! Akala mo naman i-imbitahan ka talaga ni Juana, eh dinaig mo pa mga gatecrasher." Mataray na sagot ni Rowena.

‎Bahagya naman akong natawa. "Ano ba kayo? Of course you're all invitedㅡ" Naputol ang dapat na sasabihin ko nang may sumabat.

"If that's the case, then sorry, but I decline your offer. Pupunta ako sa party nila Izo, I got invited eh." Maarteng sabat ni Mila.

Damn, if I were to play the good girl in this school, she'd definitely be the bully. All she does is act like an antagonist in my everyday life. Kahit pa kating-kati na akong murahin siya, I kept a composed smile on my face.

‎"Sure, Mila. You may go to Izo's party, I don't mind." Kasi wala naman akong pake! Mas mabuti pa ngang huwag ka pumunta, sisirain mo lang ang araw ko. If I know, she's a creep being head over heels to the heir of that well-known family here in the province.

Ewan ko ba, these people are so obsessed with people who are obviously way out of their league.

‎"Guys! Guys! May balita ako!" Hinihingal na sigaw ng k-klase kong kaka-pasok lang at pawis na pawis pa. ‎"Invited daw tayo sa grand ceremony ng mga Frentones!"

Umugong ang sabay sabay na bulungan sa classroom. These people must be confused about which party they should attend. I mean, if two socialite families were to invite you on the same day, anong karapatan ang mayroon ka para tanggihan ang isa sa kanila?

‎I motioned my hand in the air, getting everyone's attention. As I always do, I plastered a sweet smile on my face. "Everyone, I can adjust the time of my party. It's fine, our family's well acquainted with the Frentones, it's no big deal."

Totoo naman iyon, the Escarzega Corporation and the Frentones Holdings are business partners. Our family’s been operating for a long time. Sa politika, the Frentones are known as the majority of them are polished Lawyers in the country. In the industry of Marketing and the likes, our family takes over.

‎Bakas sa mukha nila Mila ang pagka-irita. She probably expected me to be mad because she thinks that no one will choose to attend an Escarzega heiress' birthday party over the Frentone's grand ceremony.

I wonder who's the star of their night, I haven't heard anything from their family ever since that scandal occurred.

‎The Frentones were the most, if not, one of the most influential families in the country. Well, iyon ay bago mangaliwa si Micunda Zhang sa kaniyang asawa, the famous Izo Eloje Frentones Sr. Nasa gradeschool ako when that scandal bombarded the televisions, radios, and newspapers.

It was hell of a ruckus!

Even after years, nanahimik ang pamilya nila at nanatiling walang komento sa isyu.

Talagang magugulantang ang lahat kung sa tinatagal-tagal ay mag paparamdam na uli sila. ‎Also, for the record, hindi pa 'yon doon nagtatapos.

There was this rumour that Izo Frentones Jr., is a child of Micunda with her affair. Despite being an elitist, Izo Eloje Sr. was said to be crazy over Micunda to the point where he decided to adopt the child of his wife’s affair. In conclusion, ang nag-iisang taga-pagmana ng mga Frentones ay sinasabing..

Ampon.

‎Funny, right? These people, despite all the fortune and money they have, can't seem to be content. Perhaps, it's human nature to not be satisfied kahit pa limpak-limpak ang salaping nasa pangalan mo. Fame, legacy, fortune.

All of that, but no glory in their tainted name.

"Juana.. Anong oras mo naman balak i-adjust ang party mo?"

‎"Oh, it'll be short. All of you can have lunch in our house, I will be waiting in the Hacienda. The gates are open for all of you.” I positively answered. ‎"Also, there's no theme or any required attire, you're free to wear anything you want."

Tumayo na ako at nag paalam. It's my habit to roam around the campus instead of eating during recess. The bustling noise of people chatting makes me irritated, but this way, I can avoid the gaze of people.

Dahil abala ang mga tao sa campus sa sari-sariling buhay, nagka-karoon ako ng oras na mag libot at tanggalin ang ngiti sa mukha ko. People may think that I'm doing this pretending-thing for the sake of my family's image. Partly true, but no. I love to preserve people's trust to my advantage.

‎I can see the excitement of the people for the upcoming ceremony. The last time they held their grand ceremony was when Izo Frentones Sr. was announced as the successor of his father. I can guess what they're aiming to do now, probably to introduce the new heir of the Frentones Clan.

‎ I know him, Izo Eloje Frentones Jr.

Despite the open secret of their clan, there are still people who believed that Izo Eloje Jr. wasn't a child of his mother’s affair. Thus, that makes him a legal heir of the clan.

The first time I saw him was at his father's press conference when the issue blew up. I remember his father consistently avoiding questions but never confirmed nor declined the allegations, making the prescon entirely useless.

Waste of money.

‎But there, I saw Izo Eloje the third. Looking proud, arrogant and silent. He was oozing his grandmother's aura. Hindi bago sa akin ang mga elitista sa mga pamilyang mula sa yaman. Baka nga lahat ay ganoon.

However, there was something different about him. He was proud, he was arrogant, but I never sensed any danger in him.

‎His arrogance appears to be a positive trait in my eyes. Para bang dapat lang na ganoon siya, para bang dapat lang na alam niya ang halaga niya, simply because it was him. He was a damn proud child, carrying the Frentones' legacy.

Unfazed by the flashes, he didn't even flinch when a reporter asked if he was an illegitimate grandchild, that's how proud he is.

‎Up to this moment, that was my core memory of Izo Eloje. The proud heir of the Frentones. ‎