Chapter 5. Her Profound Feeling

* Barbie *

Time passed by so fast and then I am already in my last year of college. I have gotten used to living and studying at the college school in UP Manila, then here I am today about to receive my degree in journalism. It's not a course I have planned to take but I end up finishing it in four years. Erich and I took up the same course as we have been together since the beginning of our college years.

"I'm so excited Barb, finally I will be able to get out of the Philippines and pursue my career abroad."

I look at her with wide eyes as she fixes herself beside me. We are sitting together with the rest of the students from the same college, everyone is excited and all eyes are on the big front stage where our graduation takes place. Our families are behind us and I just saw and greeted Mama Irma with Rafael. Don Enrique is not in the right condition to be out of the province while Tom said that he will be late.

"Why are you going to work outside our country Erich, there are opportunities already waiting for us here."

She shrugged her shoulders. "For you, there is a lot Barb given how many advertising agencies here in Manila want you to sign with them, but for me, I have already preferred to apply for Hongkong or Japan. If I get lucky I could be in the US!"

I would have said something about but the announcement started which made the crowd go silent and then the graduation march song played in the air. I am going to take my diploma first before Erich in Alphabetical order or our surnames.

"Anderson, Barbie !"

My name is announced loudly. The audience claps their hands especially the male schoolmates who have known me for many years in the same College. I am used to them calling me an idol or crush and the attention I get whenever and wherever I go becomes normal.

"Congratulations Barbie!"

The school dean and the college professor in charge shake my hands as I accepted my diploma. When I turn around Rafel is already beside me, I haven't noticed him walking up the stage together with Mama Irma, Erich signal us to pose for a good photo and so we did. But my eyes scan the crowd expecting to see someone, they said he would come.

"Congratulations! I am so proud of you Barb! Finally, you graduated. You and Erich have kept us all in line waiting for you both to get a degree and grow up."

"Thank you, big bro! I am so glad, thanks to you and Mama Irma for being here with us today."

Mama Irma smiled with her eyes dancing in delight. "Of course Barb, just like Erich you are my daughter too! Come on let's celebrate after Erich received her diploma, Tommy made a reservation at Okada."

We walk down the stage together and waited a few minutes until Erich is the one being called to go up the stage and take her diploma. Mama Irma and Rafael go up and march behind her as I took a photo of them together from my phone. She thanked our professor and let me take a good picture of her as well.

"Congratulations to you both."

A deep and full voice from someone beside me made me turn my face to my right side and then my eyes are blessed with a genuinely happy smile coming from the man who doesn't know I waited for him. His perfect set of pearly white teeth flashes toward me. At my height, he still stood towering at more than six feet tall. He is only an inch shorter than Rafael but his aura of confidence made him stand as tall as him.

"Tom! Oh, I thought you would not come."

His gorgeous look in a dashing thin stripe long sleeve polo shirt tucked in navy blue slacks almost blinded my eyes and I have to blink a couple of times to assure myself that it is him. His chin darkened by stubble but only added to his magnetic masculine appeal.

The smile on my lips suddenly turned brighter as I took a step closer and hear his voice once more.

"Who told you that? I remember telling Mama Irma that I will be late but would not miss this graduation. My two sisters are finally finished with their degrees so I have to come. More importantly, Papa Enrique is not coming so I have to be here at least. Well, there's Rafael but I wanted to see you ladies too and then take a photo."

Two sisters. To another woman perhaps being called his sister is a privilege, however, for me, my feelings for him have fully bloomed just like a flower and it is far from being a sister. Now that I turned older it just multiplied unlike before. But I have to keep it in the deepest part of my heart because we are considering ourselves as one family. I am a member of the Dela Vega family, it is how they treat me and it is how I should react as well.

"Come here, lady!"

Before I could say something to thank him, he pulled me closer against his hard chest. I felt the warmth of his strong and steely arms wrapped around me tight. I held my breath inhaling his musky scent that I always love. Oh, how it felt so right that my heartbeat is getting fast.

"Not so tight." I pretend to whisper but he held me tighter, to my surprise.

"Why are you complaining now? Is it because you have a boyfriend watching nearby?"

His full voice teased as he release me only to help me on both my shoulders and then his eyes scan around but he only sees my female classmates who are beginning to swoon over him.

"No, I don't have a boyfriend yet. I am not interested in anyone from here."

His one brow lifted as he look deep into my orbs, with his dark eyes that could read my very soul. My only fear is for him to learn of my true feelings which I hide deep inside me. I never told anyone about how I am fantasizing about Tom. Not even Erich or my brother Rafael. His eyes turned a shade brighter studying my face.

"Good, because I need to meet the person you wanted to date first. I have a very strong judge of character Barb, remember when I told Erich to stop dating that guy in Harley."

I nodded at him, it makes me feel nice that he does not want me to date anyone yet. Erich is a different story, she is also popular with guys around and she would date someone she likes in secret. Even without her family's approval.

"You and Rafael stay the same, you know Erich and I are both too old to be handling our own especially too old to date our kind of men."

He groaned a kind of sound that when he does I wish we are in a room together. A dark room without our clothes on and he makes the same noise. Now, where do these stupid thoughts come from? I wanted to kick myself when finally Erich and the rest of the family saw us.

"Tom!?"

She runs towards him as he opens his arms to hug her. "Hey kiddo, how are you? Congratulations on finishing your college degree now. We are so proud of you and Barbie."

He kisses her cheeks while I stay still looking at him wondering why he did not give me the kiss that I usually get from him and Rafael.

"Glad you made it Tom, I am excited about the reservation at Okada."

Rafael tap his shoulder and mention the celebration that we would get tonight. Mama Irma will join us but she already said that she will fly the next morning and Tom reserved for three days.

"Oh, right! We are all set to go, I will have a brief meeting with a client and a friend but after that, I will join you at dinner at seven pm sharp."

Rafel chuckles and his eyes squinted before asking Tom a question that I want to ask him myself.

"Is this friend of yours a girl or a boy?"

Mama Irma and Erich who look like they were discussing something but I did not understand it because I am looking at him, both stay still and our eyes watch Tom. We all wanted to hear if he brought a date to this celebration, he's been seeing different women before and I heard all about them but none of them is introduced to the family so I feel at ease.

However, I have a bad feeling base on how he said the word friend. Then I couldn't remember the rest of the conversation until we get in the car and take the ride to Okada Hotel.