CHAPTER 6

one year later...

"May I call, Miss Ceriya Dwayne Fountes for her speech! Let's give her a round of applause!" My supervisor called me.

"Good day everyone! I'm Ceriya Dwayne Fountes, a grade six student from the higher section." I started my speech and I gave them my genuine smile.

"I would like to thank our principal, our teachers, staff, and my family for always being there to guide and support me, especially to our God Almighty. I dedicate this to my parents, they gave me strength and they still guide me. I'm so blessed that before I leave this school, I got these awards! To my fellow students let's treasure and keep the memories we've shared. I'm so thankful and blessed because I learned a lot here. Once again, thank you very much for the love, patience, effort, and sacrifices that I felt for this school! Once again, this is Ceriya Dwayne Fountes the valedictorian for this school year. Thank you and to God be all the Glory." My speech.

I bowed for the last time and I immediately go down from the stage, and everyone is clapping their hands for me! I appreciate it a lot.

"Congrats Iya!" Auntie Pianne congratulated me. It's my graduation day. It means, that this coming school year I'm in junior high school!

"Congrats, niece!" Uncle Tonio congratulated me and then he hugged me.

"So where do you want to go in high school?" Uncle asked.

"Maybe...in London!" I suggested.

"Good choice. Okay, then." He said while nodding.

"How about you, Welia?" Auntie Pianne asked her niece.

"I'll stay here in the Philippines." She said.

"You don't want to come with me, Welia?" I asked with curiosity.

"Ceriya, it's so expensive! And I don't want to leave my country. Ahm, just for vacation and nothing else!" She said.

"Woah! You're a true Filipino! I love it!" I said and then we laughed.

"So just like what you've requested a year ago, we'll go back to Canada!" Uncle Tonio announced.

"Thank you, Uncle!" I said then I hugged him after that I jumped many times to show my happiness and excitement.

"Ops! There's a girl who wants to see her crush, that's why." Welia said and our Uncle and Auntie are now curious.

Oh yes, it's Ezykier! I can't wait to see him and tell him that I'm the valedictorian for this school year! And also I want to have more time with him. I missed him so so much!

"Tss. Deny! Deny!" Welia teased me.

"Haha! Stop it, girls, let's go! We'll have dinner tonight in your main hotel Iya." Uncle stopped us but Welia is still teasing me but I just rolled my eyes at her.

We are now in the restaurant of the hotel and many guests, and businessmen are also there! And some of our relatives too, many more.

"Let's all welcome our next CEO of Fountes Gold Hotel throughout Asia. Ceriya Dwayne Fountes!" The emcee announced and I enter the main door of the restaurant, everyone is clapping their hands.

"Let's all raise our glass to congratulate Miss Ceriya for graduating from Elementary! And let's enjoy this dinner and celebration tonight!" The emcee said again and everyone raise their glasses and they cheered their wines.

"Miss Ceriya, do want to say anything?" The emcee whispered.

"Do I need it?" I asked.

"Yes. So that our new partners may know you." The emcee said.

"Okay, then. Just give me five minutes." I requested.

I took a deep breath and I slowly walked into the middle of the restaurant and everybody is looking at me! I feel so nervous, also pressure! These people are so elegant, they are embraced with honor and respect! I can't believe it.

"Good evening Everyone!" I started and I gave my perfect smile to them.

"Well some of you, already know me but I'll still introduce myself," I said. "I'm Ceriya Dwayne Fountes the one and only daughter of the CEO of this Hotel and to other hotels in Asia." I introduced.

"I just want to give my gratitude, my appreciation to those people who prepared this celebration for me. Thank you very much! Also, I want to say thank you to my Uncle Tonio and to those people who handled my parent's work. After my schooling, I'll promise that I'll help everyone to handle the hotels that my parents work hard for it! That's all, let's enjoy our dinner tonight! Have a blessed night!" I closed my very short speech.

That's enough because I don't know what to say in front of those people! I can't imagine myself after ten years! Are they still the same people that I'm going to face? Or their next generation? Whatever!

The waiters served our food and it was delicious! The food gives me hungriness! They hired musicians to play some instruments while we were eating and it gives me a chill and relaxation I like it!

"Please excuse me." Uncle Tonio excuses himself.

Out of curiosity, I followed him. I feel nervous, I feel something fishy. He answered the phone call and I ready my ears to hear everything.

"Hello!" Uncle Tonio started to talk on the phone but with anger.

A few seconds later, he talked again. "I said! I'll never go back to that group! I regret everything!" He said.

"After my sister died, I left that group! Yes, I'm the one who planned it but I told you that I will never do it! And you're the one who does it! So you're the one who killed them!" He continued.

"Douglas! Stop! Don't you dare to touch my niece!" He said full of hatred and anger.

"Yes, you're right I want to have the company, the name, the fame! Everything but not from this shit!" He said again and my mind is still confused.

"Stop it, Douglas! I'm living in peaceful life right now! I'm happy living with my niece and Pianne." He said but in a calm voice.

My knees are shaking, my tears are starting to fall. Is this true? Does that Uncle Tonio know who killed my parents? Why did he keep that from me? Do I don't have the right to know the truth? I'm the child! I deserve to know the truth! I hate this!

I immediately go to the comfort room and I bring out all the pain that I felt for a year. Now, that Uncle Tonio is also part of my parent's death, and he keeps this from me. I can't accept it! So it's true that after happiness you will feel there's a sudden exchange.

Okay, then. I'll let you be the King and be the most powerful person for now. Wait for my turn Tonio.