“I remember how mom helped you hide them. I miss her dad. How I wish we could go back to that time. I was your little princess, even if I was a brat. And mommy was your queen.”
Cassie arrived home from school and greeted her parents. Neil had Cassie’s donation box which she would be gathering things to be given to the kids at Novatas. Cassie asked her parents if she could put a donation box in their office like she had done the year before. Unlike before, both parents answered her differently and Cassie glanced at them, sensing tension between them.
“Let your uncle Neil help you. Am going upstairs.” Mina walked away.
Cassie turned to stare at her father. Robert told her that he had a meeting to attend. He left Neil and Esther in charge of the house before leaving, banging the door loudly on his way out.
“Nanny, do mama and daddy have a problem?” Cassie asked.
“You also noticed?” Esther said. “They’ve been like that since they arrived. They’ve been ignoring each other and I don’t really know why.”
“They’re fighting that’s why they asked me to pick up Cassie,” Neil said.
“But why?” Esther wondered out loud. “Ever since Daniela left this house, I’ve noticed that things have changed between them.”
“Maybe it’s because of what Daniela is accusing my sister of.”
“Is it about mama and Carlos?” Cassie asked.
Esther glanced at Neil and told him to stop insinuating things. She took Cassie upstairs so she could get changed.
At the Bartolome residence, Daniela told Marga that she wouldn’t be going to the school event since she wasn’t the lead character.
Marga looked appalled. “But mommy, all the other families would be there.”
“Exactly. And so will your grandpa and Romina. You want me to lose face in front of them? Marga, I want you to do everything that you can to get that role. Make me proud.”
“Yes, mommy.”
Carlos came back from work and Daniela asked him to join them for dinner.
“I’m going to bed,” Carlos announced.
“You’re not joining us for dinner?”
“Am tired. I need to rest for a while.”
“A rest from what? From us?”
Carlos dumped his bag away in frustration. “Come on, Daniela, please don’t start with me.”
“I just asked you a question. What’s so difficult about answering it? We’ve been waiting here for you. Just tell me where you’ve been.”
“Work of course,” Carlos snapped.
“What? Are you working with Romina again?”
“Not this again. I already told you there’s nothing going on between me and Romina.”
“I highly doubt that. Especially when she’s giving your mother money.”
Carlos was taken by surprise. “What?”
“Why? Is she the new daughter-in-law?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking. Why do you keep putting malice into it?”
“Because malice is her last name. She does everything with malice.”
“Stop it, Daniela. Am getting tired of you!”
“Daddy that’s enough,” Marga cut in.
Carlos turned back at Marga in surprise. He asked her to go to her room but Marga strongly refused, saying that she wouldn’t let him hurt her mother again. “You’re always fighting with her. You don’t lövê us anymore, do you?”
Carlos went over to her, placing a hand on her m. “Marga, that’s not true.”
Marga threw his hand away. “I hate you!” she hissed. “I hate you so much!” She added before storming off.
“Marga. Marga get back here.”
“Great,” Carlos mumbled, going after her.
Danny girl rolled her eyes.
Marga went into her room and started crying. Carlos entered. “Don’t turn your back on me, Marga. I was still talking to you. Or have you lost all respect for me now? Is that what they teach you in school? To disrespect your parents?”
“It’s because you’re always fighting with mommy,” Marga cried. “I’m just protecting her from you. She’s done nothing wrong. She even cooked dinner to make it up to you but you still fought with her.”
“You don’t understand. This is between I and your mother.”
“Am not a kid anymore,” Marga wailed. “Instead of fixing things, you’re only making it worse. I thought we were starting over.”
“We are! That’s why am working to the bone for you and your mom. So we can have our old life back. But how can I do that when your mom keeps throwing accusations at me? If you want our family to be whole again, then help me. Don’t add to the problem your mom is causing.”
Robert met up with Bernard. Bernard didn’t understand why he was mad about Mina helping out Carlos’ mother.
“That son-in-law you’re talking about…is my wife’s ex” Robert pointed out.
“So what?” Bernard said. “You both have your own families now. Carlos is your daughter’s husband now.”
“Assuming, let’s say yes, but was it wrong? Let’s say you were in my position now. What would you do? Am not upset about Romina helping Carlos’ mother. It’s okay with me.”
“You’re jealous because Carlos and Romina might rekindle what they had before.”
“I just don’t want Romina to be put in that kind of situation. Okay, let’s say I am jealous, but can you blame me? I can’t ignore the fact that they had a relationship before.”
“You sound like you don’t trust your wife,” Bernard pointed out.
“I trust Romina, but not Carlos. And I don’t want to give any meaning to Romina helping Carlos’ mom.”
“Point taken. But think about it, Robert. You have a wonderful wife, and a wonderful family. Don’t ruin that because you don’t trust your son-in-law. Protect your wife, but don’t ruin the entire family.”
Robert then had a phone call from Marga, and he answered it. “Don’t worry. I’ll be there.”
Robert arrived at the Bartolome house. He told Carlos that Marga had called him earlier and he was there to see her.
“What did she tell you?” Carlos asked.
“Carlos, am just here to check on her, okay? Where’s Marga?”
“There’s no problem with Marga. Am just trying to discipline my daughter. It won’t help if you cuddle her everytime she cries to you.”
“I just want to talk to her,” Robert insisted.
Marga came into the living room and hugged her grandpa, glad to see him there.
“Marga, go back to your room,” Carlos commanded.
Robert asked to talk to her granddaughter for a while and Carlos told him to stay out of it. Daniela arrived on the scene and told Carlos to allow her father talk to Marga. They left to talk in Marga’s room.
Carlos was upset. “Daniela…”
“What’s wrong with you, Carlos?” Danny girl asked. “You’re not mad at my dad, right? He was the one who bought this house for us in the first place.”
Cassie sat in bed with her mother. She finished her glass of milk and noticed that her mother had zoned out, lost deep in her thoughts.
“Mama.”
Mina snapped out of it. “Yes?”
“Am done now.”
“Ah.” Mina took the cup from her. “It’s good. Go to sleep now. Goodnight.”
“Mama, are you and daddy fighting?” Cassie asked. “I noticed you were avoiding each other earlier.”
“We’re not fighting, dear,” Mina replied. “We just have disagreements on something.”
“Is it because of what Daniela has been saying? I thought you were on good terms now.”
“I thought so too. But I promise, there’s no truth in all of it.”
“I believe you, mama.”
Mina smiled. “Thank you, Cassie.”
“But I hope you reconcile. I have a gift giving event in the community, and we’re always together as a family when we do that.”
“I promise that nothing will change, Cassie. We will settle this.”
In Marga’s room, Robert told her that she shouldn’t have talked back to her father the way she had, even if she thought she was right.
“Grandpa I can’t stand it anymore,” Marga cried. “They are always fighting.”
Carlos stood outside Marga’s door, listening.
“Daddy doesn’t even apologize,” Marga went on. “It’s like he doesn’t want to patch things up.”
“Marga, problems need more than a day to solve. It takes time.”
“But what about me?” Marga cried. “All I want is a peaceful family. I want a happy family. They should be thinking about me because am their daughter, right?”
“Hush now, it’s okay. Don’t worry. When I get the chance, I’ll talk to them. But you have to understand; this isn’t a problem you’re meant to fix. This isn’t your responsibility.”
Carlos was still standing behind the door, eavesdropping on them.
“If you need anything or if you have a problem, am just a text away,” Robert added. “Just let me know. And Cassie’s there, if you need to talk to her in school. When you and Cassie are no longer busy with school work, let’s go out. Let’s have fun. Okay?”
Marga nodded and Robert wiped her tears away with his finger. “Thank you, grandpa.”
“Grandpa will always be here for you.” Robert hugged her and consoled her some more.
Jessa went to Kulas’ house and startled Myrna by popping a balloon. She had brought along some boxes. Myrna scolded her and Jessa said she was just messing with her. She asked if Kulas was home and Myrna asked why she was looking for him. Kulas came in with Gino and Jude and Jessa told him that she had brought him the decorations he would be using tomorrow.
“Are we having a kiddie party?” Gino asked.
“No, silly,” Jessa admonished. “Your dad is a bit worried about the car shop, so I thought we could come up with something fun.”
Kulas laughed. “I thought you were just kidding.”
Jude asked what his father would do with the decorations.
“I was actually thinking of something fun,” Jessa began. “Let’s say a bunch of customers would come here to get a carwash or whatever, then they would pop balloons, and there will be freebies inside – they could get coupons for a free carwash or something.”
“Amazing,” Kulas commented.
“I know. And the grand prize is…” Myrna took a drawing of herself from the box.
“That’s you. It’s nice.”
“Not really,” Gino cut in. “Who did your makeup? I notice that the makeup on your left eye is way too much.”
Later that night, Robert went into his daughter’s room and watched while she slept. He had a flashback of the conversation he had had with Marga earlier.
“Mommy and daddy are always fighting. All I want is a peaceful family…a happy family. They should be thinking about me since am their daughter.” Robert looked troubled.
Cassie suddenly woke up and noticed her father standing there. “Daddy?” She put her glasses back on. “Where have you been?”
Robert sat by her. “Sorry for waking you up. I went to see Marga. She needed someone to talk to.”
“Is she alright?”
“I hope so. What about you? Are you alright? I know that you noticed something was off a while ago.”
“I spoke to mama earlier,” Cassie revealed. “She’s sad because you have a misunderstanding.”
“Me too, but… I will fix this. I won’t let things continue like this.”
“Daddy…what really happened to mama and Carlos?”
Robert shook his head. “It’s all in the past. What’s important is that your mama and I lövê each other. Don’t worry, I’ll do everything to patch things up with her.”
Cassie leaned into her father happily. And then she broke away. “Daddy, I’ve got an idea for how you can win mama over.” Cassie spoke into her father’s ears and sat back, smiling. “Approved?”
Robert smiled back. “Approved.”
At the Tejada residence, Kristoff counted the money he had made from his part-time job at the cafe. It still wasn’t enough to buy the tickets he wanted. He put the money back in the envelope and typed away on his laptop at an online ticket site. Bernard barged into his room and noticed it.
“Dad, I can explain,” Kristoff said.
“You better tell me where that money came from,” Bernard demanded.
“Uh…I saved it. From my allowance.”
“Kristoff, please. Don’t start with me right now. Even if you still hadn’t spent any of the allowance I gave you, it still wouldn’t be enough to buy a plane ticket from Los Angeles to the Philippines. Now answer my question. Where did you get that money?”
“Dad…”
“Kristoff, am asking you!”
“I have a part-time job,” Kristoff admitted. “That’s where I got some of the money.”
“Part-time job? Without my knowledge? How did you get a part-time without a parent’s consent? Kristoff!”
“I faked it, okay?! I forged your signature. I knew you wouldn’t allow me anyway. Especially since am doing it for mommy’s plane ticket.”
“And you didn’t even think about the repercussions of what you did?”
“Dad, what’s so wrong about it?”
“The fact that you’re buying her a plane ticket gives me more reason not to allow it! She didn’t even think about how that part-time job could affect your studies?!”
“Dad, mommy doesn’t know that am working to buy her a plane ticket.”
“Well now, she will!”
“Dad, please.”
“You’re quitting that job, right now!”
“You can’t stop me.”
“Well then choose. You’ll quit that job now or I’ll sue the entire establishment.”
Neil asked Bonita to help him find another job. Bonita told him that he wouldn’t earn much from the jobs she knew of. They both joined Mina at her table and she assured her brother that she would inform him as soon as she found a part-time job for him.
Bonita then asked how things were between her and her husband since Neil had mentioned earlier that they seemed to be in a ‘cold war’. Neil made a face at Bonita.
“We’re still ignoring each other,” Mina said. “But I hope we get to talk to each other soon. I admit that am partly to be blamed for what happened. I should have thought about how Robert would feel before helping Carlos’ mother.”
“So what now?” Bonita asked. “Maybe you should come up with a plan to make it up to him.”
Mina smiled. She seemed to be considering the idea.
Kristoff sat dejectedly at the school theater. Marga came in and mentioned that he was early and Kristoff told her he didn’t have anything else to do anyway.
“Hey, are you okay?” Marga asked. “Is something wrong? What happened?”
“My dad found out about my part-time job,” Kristoff revealed. “And even about my plan to buy my mom a plane ticket. I just don’t get it. What’s so wrong with wanting to have a complete family?”
Marga sat by his side. “Am sorry. I know how it feels. I feel like my family could fall apart any moment now. Mommy and daddy keep fighting, and there’s nothing I can do but watch.”
“Thank you, Marga.”
“For?”
“For listening. Am happy to have someone I can tell these things to. Someone who understands me.”
“Because we’re in the same boat. Everything in my life started to change when Cassie transfered to this school. Even her parents are to blame for the fights mommy and daddy are having. I’m losing everything because of her.”
“It can’t always be Cassie’s fault,” Kristoff pointed out. “Anyway, I know how it feels to lose all your friends. It happened to me when we moved from Los Angeles. So am just here for you. You said so yourself, right? We can just be friends.”
“Thanks, Kristoff.”
After rehearsal, Miss Alfonso dismissed everyone to go home and rest since they would also be rehearsing on the day of the play.
“The Power-Pout Girls will all be back soon,” Fatima revealed. “And now, they’re going against each other.”
LJ was thrilled. “Really?”
“Geez, where have you been, LJ? The whole campus has been talking about it. Are you really a Maxwell student, LJ?”
LJ laughed. “I wonder who will win at the end. What do you think, Cassie?”
“Let them fight each other,” Cassie said. “As long as they stay away from me, I am good with that.”
“But what about Marga’s accusation against your mom?” Fatima asked.
“I know it’s not true,” Cassie declared. “So I should not let her get to me. And if she tries again, I’ll definitely defend mama. And I also have more important things to think about.”
Cassie then asked them to help her with her charity event for the kids at Novatas.
“I’m in,” LJ said excitedly.
“Me too,” Fatima added.
Cassie was excited. “That’s great. We’ll be needing a lot of toys and clothes.”
LJ said she didn’t have a lot of good clothes after what Marga had done to her. “I’ll still be able to help though,” she stated.
Fatima said she had a lot of clothes, joking that they might be too big for the kids. She suggested that they ask the entire school to donate as well and Cassie was good with the idea. Kristoff came over.
“Cassie.”
“Tope. Are you helping too?”
“Sure.”
“Great. The more people, the better.”
Romina had a meeting with her group at Camila. Daniela came in and asked if it was true that she had moved up the deadline for the product line.
“Yes,” Mina said. “The earlier we finish, the better. We shouldn’t wait till next year to close this, that’s why we need to reschedule.”
“Really? So we’re not adjusting for your personal convenience?”
“Daniela…”
“And you really expect me to adjust to what you want.”
“Just tell us if you’re not ready. You can choose not to present.”
“Oh, am always ready, Romina. I just don’t like having to adjust.”
“Then don’t. I don’t have any problems with that.” Mina then dismissed her group members to go home.
Walking down the hallway, Bonita told Robert that she was adjusting Romina’s schedule to make sure that Mina gets to Novatas after Cassie’s program. Robert asked her to inform him if anything came up. Daniela stood behind the wall, listening.
“Leave it to me sir,” Bonita assured. “Just do your best. I really hope your plan will help you reconcile with Romina.”
“Wish me luck.”
“Good luck, sir.”
“Thank you.”
Danny girl came out as soon as they walked away. “You might want to change your plan, dad,” she thought to herself. “Because I won’t let that woman põisoñ your mind any longer.”
Marga walked around campus with her new squad. She was staring at the donation boxes Cassie and her friends had set up, unimpressed. The girls went to kick the boxes and Marga asked why they had done that.
“We saw you sneering at the boxes, so we did it for you,” the leader said.
“Do you want us to do anything else for you, Marga-dragon?” another asked.
Marga turned to see the Mean Squad approaching. “Well, well, well. Looks like your suspension’s finally done.”
” Fortunately,” Nadya shot back.
Nica laughed, noticing the immature girls standing by. “New squad, Marga?”
“Why do you care? Don’t tell me you’re jealous,” Marga teased.
“Jealous?” Nadya scoffed. “Never. I just can’t believe you’d stoop so low just to replace us.”
“We aren’t even on the same level,” Nica mocked.
“At least they’re loyal,” Marga shot back.
“Which they shouldn’t be,” Nadya jibed. “Seeing how you’re still a pathetic loser right now.”
“What did you say?”
“You see, we were asked to participate in the play, and guess what we heard. You aren’t the lead. It’s Cassie. I guess it’s clear which Mondragon we should befriend now. And it’s not you.”
Nica laughed. “Wait, Nadya, she isn’t even a Mondragon in the first place. She’s a Bartolome.”
Nadya and Nica walked away, still laughing. Maureen stayed behind to apologize to Marga for stealing the test paper and asked if they were still friends.
“I don’t know if I can trust you,” Marga said. “You’ll have to earn back my trust.”
“Of course. I’ll do anything.”
Marga glanced at Cassie’s donation boxes, a mischievous look on her face.
Robert was preparing to leave the office when Daniela walked in.
“So… you’re going to Novatas?” Danny girl asked.
“Yes, it’s kind of a tradition.”
“Does it mean you’ve forgiven Romina? You know, she and Carlos…”
“Come on, Daniela. There is nothing going on between Romina and Carlos.”
“For a businessman daddy, I didn’t know you were that naive.”
“Daniela, can you go straight to the point?”
“Dad, don’t just believe what you’re told. Carlos has been cold to me lately. Very distant, always tired. He often comes home late, and it can’t be just about work, right? The funny thing is that it all started after he and Romina got trapped inside the freezer.”
“Is that so?” Robert asked. “Then… you really have to worry. As for me, I have nothing to worry about. Your stepmother is the same as she used to be.”
“But dad…”
“Daniela, if you have nothing nice to say, then let’s end this conversation.”
Robert grabbed his coat and told Danny girl to set aside whatever grudge she had against Mina. He invited her and her family to join them for Christmas dinner, and Daniela said she would think about it.
Cassie, LJ and Fatima were glad that a lot of people had donated. Marga came up to them, Maureen following close behind.
“Hi, Cassie,” Marga said. “I want to help. These are somethings I haven’t used before.” She showed her the bag she was carrying.
“And why would you want to help?”
“We all wish for world peace. And that’s what I can give.”
“Marga, after everything that’s happened, do you really think I trust you? You don’t even know how to apologize for what you did.”
“Then don’t trust me. But these are for the kids at Novatas, not for you.”
Kristoff came along with a fully filled donation box.
“If you want to help, no one’s stopping you,” Cassie said.
“Great.” Marga dumped her bag into the donation box. “So, are we also coming to the gift giving? Everyone’s invited, right?”
“If you want to go, no one’s stopping you. You said so yourself, it’s for the kids.”
After Marga had left with Maureen, Fatima asked Cassie why she had allowed Marga to help.
“She’s right. I can’t stop her,” Cassie said. “But I won’t let her cause any trouble.”
“I’ll be there too to keep an eye on her,” Kristoff added. “Just in case.”
Cassie turned and smiled at him. Kristoff was practicing with his guitar in his room. He then took his phone and began drawing cat whiskers on a photo of Caasie’s face. His father came in and told him to go to sleep since it was late.
Krisroff went back to his phone after Bernard had left, and sent out the photo. Cassie was studying in her room when the photo came in. She smiled and replied before going back to her book. She smiled again.
Kristoff received the photo Cassie had sent in response. Cassie had also sent a photo of Kristoff and she had also drawn all over his face, even giving him extra ears and an additional mouth. “I knew she’d get back at me,” Kristoff thought to himself, smiling.
The next morning, Romina was preparing something in the kitchen with Neil and Esther. Robert came up and asked if there was anything else she wanted him to do. Mina told him to go and get some rest.
“Okay. Has Cassie come down yet?”
“Um, not yet.” Mina stopped what she was doing. “Hold on. Let me go get her.”
“I’ll do it,” Neil declared. “I’ll go get her.” He gave his sister a look. “Stay right there. Don’t move. Don’t waste a moment.”
Neil took Esther along and Mina was left with Robert in the kitchen. Robert waved at Romina and she smiled back at him. The Mondragons and the entire Bartolome family shared a Christmas Eve dinner together. Robert made a toast to his family, saying that they were his legacy and not the company.
Everyone was happy and all smiles at the table. There was also a Christmas Eve dinner going on at the Tejada residence. Bernard had invited some family members. He asked his son to join them for dinner and Kristoff said he would rather eat later. He walked away and Bernard followed him.
“Why don’t you greet her?” Bernard said, holding out his phone to him. “Call her.”
Kristoff took the phone and thanked his father. He called his mom but it went straight to voicemail so he left a message asking her to call him back because he missed her a lot.
“Don’t worry, son,” Bernard assured. “She’ll call you when she hears your message.”
“Thanks, dad.”
Back at the mansion, Cassie gave Marga a gift she had wrapped.
Marga opened the box. It was a handmade purse. “This is nice,” she complimented.
Cassie was all smiles. “Thank you. I made it myself.”
“Thanks,” Marga said with a smile.
“You’re welcome.”
Robert gave Cassie his gift. She opened and showed it to Marga in excitement, thanking her father for getting her such beautiful shoes.
Marga had a flashback of how she had asked her father to buy her that same shoes earlier. Robert then gave Marga his gift. Carlos and Daniela came with their gifts too.
“Dad, don’t tell me you bought those shoes I liked,” Marga said excitedly, taking the box from her father.
“Open it,” Carlos said. “I hope you like it.”
Marga opened the box and some of her excitement died away. It wasn’t what she had hoped for. Still, she thanked her father and Daniela assured her that she would buy her a better gift later.
Later on, Robert gave Daniela a gift. Daniela said he didn’t have to do that and Robert told her that she would always be his daughter, no matter what. “How can I forget to give my daughter a gift?” he said.
Danny girl was crying now. “This used to be our thing. You used to give me twelve gifts. Where are the eleven other gifts, dad?” she said with an unusual smile.
Robert smiled. “And you always wanted the gifts to be more expensive than the previous one.”
“I remember how mom helped you hide them. I miss her dad,” Danny girl cried. “How I wish we could go back to that time. I was your little princess, even if I was a brat. And mommy was your queen.”
Robert wiped the tears off her cheeks. “You’re still my little princess,” he said.
Danny girl cried some more.
“And that will never change. Even if it will take forever, I won’t stop until I make up for my shortcomings. To you and Marga. If only you’ll give me a chance to do it.”
Robert hugged her while she kept crying. Romina and Esther stood some distance away, watching and smiling to themselves.
