Chapter 14

“Congratulations!”

Isang ngiti ang gumuhit sa kanyang labi nang maputol ang ribbon. Inangat niya ito at agad na tumingin sa camera. Ganoon din naman si Yuen na may malawak na ngiti sa labi. And at this moment, wala siyang ibang maramdaman kundi satisfaction habang nakatingin sa mga taong pumapalakpak para sa kanya.

So this is what success feels like. The applause from people she doesn’t know but willing to clap for her is making her feel so happy. Hindi niya maiwasang humugot ng malalim na hininga at tumingin kay Yuen.

“Thank you,” she said. “For helping me.”

Humarap ito sa kanya at tinapik ang kanyang pisngi. “You should thank yourself, not anyone else. It’s not my doing. It’s yours.”

“Pouvons-nous poser des questions, Mlle Sandoval?” tanong ng isang reporter dahilan para roon mabaling ang kanyang atensyon. [translation: Can we ask some questions, Miss Sandoval?]

She nodded her head without hesitation. “Go on.”

“Devons-nous nous attendre à votre prochain mariage avec M. Yuen Fortun?”