I WAS AN HOUR LATE. Sigurado akong hindi na ako hinintay ni Damon. Malapit lang ang restaurant sa spa kaya hindi niya kakayaning paghintayin ang parents ko - not because of his loyalty and respect, but probably because he wanted them to trust him for his deceit.Pumasok ako sa private room kung saan naroon na siMama, Papa, at si Damon. Si Damon ang una kong nakita.Madilim ang titig niya sa akin nang pumasok ako. I looked away but confidently strutted towards my parents for a kiss."Sorry, I'm late. Natagalan ang spa appointment ko..." sabay halik kay Mama galing kay Papa.There was a feast, judging on the table of this private room. Pero nang natahimik ako, agad kong napuna ang ere doon. It was thick and tensed."Kumain ka muna, hija..." Mama offered.I really didn't have an appetite but I didn't want to give it away. I smiled at my mother. Naupo sa tabi ni Damon at tiningnan na ang pagkain sa aking pinggan.Napatingin ako kay Damon. He looked at me sharply. I smiled at him sweetly.
"YSABELLE.""I wanna be alone, Mama," tanging nasabi ko nang nakauwi na kami at dumiretso na ako sa kuwarto.I sighed and didn't even care to turn the lights on. The comfort of my dark room calmed me. Tinapon ko ang bag ko sa side table at naupo muna saglit, tulala at gusto lang mapag-isa.Agad natapos ang dinner. Ayaw ko nang humaba pa iyon. Ang marinig na umalis si Damon bukas, sapat na sa akin. I want to file the divorce but I am outnumbered. A part of me also knew that they may be right. If he leaves tomorrow, the media will speculate. Some might even check for any divorce records.I'm not even dramatic about his departure. Ang tumatak lang sa akin sa araw na ito ay ang sinabi ni Fiona Suarez.Pababagsakin si Papa? It was like a slip of the tongue. I shivered when I thought about Damon being part of it. No., Dati pa naman, alam kong hindi siya santo. He could even be the mastermind and his side kick slash lover, Fiona Suarez, slipped.I gritted my teeth. I should talk to my father
HUMIGA AKO SA KAMA. Inatake agad ako ng amoy niya. I cleared my throat and put the duvet on me. The picture is almost all sheets, my face and a bit of my strap was only a fourth of the whole picture. My eye is seen, sleepy, and with defined eyelashes. My brown hair is slightly exploding on the pillow. Nagtipa agad ako ng caption. "First night without my husband. I miss you already." While tagging him. I smirked and posted it. Pagkatapos ay umirap ako at tumayo na. I need to order my dinner or I'll starve to death Tapos na akong magdinner at marami nang nakakita at naka-heart sa p-in-ost ko. Damon hasn't hearted it. Hindi niya pa siguro nakikita? O baka hindi niya talaga gagawin? Besides, hindi naman ako nag-heart sa kanya. Pakialam ko rin naman. I rolled my eyes at it. Eventually, I dozed off to sleep. Kinabukasan, pababa ako nang natantong wala nga pala si Damon at walang magluluto. I sighed. Buti at maaga naman talaga akong bumababa kaya may oras pa akong mag breakfast. May sa
I ROLLED my eyes when I received a message from Damon later that night. Tapos na akong maghapunan at umuwi naman agad.Damon:I'm glad you went home.Mariin akong nagtipa ng sagot.Ako:Stalking is not okay.Damon:I am not stalking. I'm just checking if you're safe.Umirap ako at imbes na makipagtalo ay binalewala ko na lang iyonThe next days I continued with my research about my father's detractors. These could be foreign syndicates who are eager to bring the company down, right?There was nothing weird about the CEO or the other board members of IHG. Businessman lang, tulad ni Papa na malamang ay gusto nga'ng pabagsakin ang kompanya.Nakatingin si Papa sa akin. He tried to give me time despite his hectic schedule."That's ridiculous, Ysa," he said when I brought up the topic.Sinabi ko na baka marami sa mga kalaban niya sa negosyo ang gustong pabagsakin ang kompanya. Inalala ko ang sinabi ni Fiona Suarez. Maaring hindi siya o si Damon ang gustong magpabagsak, maybe they are just t
"WHY ARE YOU HERE?" he asked curiously.Natatawa siya pero mukhang marami ring gustong sabihin. Hindi naman ako makasagot ng diretso dahil pakiramdam ko marami kaming dapat na pag-usapan tungkol sa nangyari noon."Anyway, I'm sorry about what happened last time."I'm so glad he brought it up."I'm sorry, too.""You're sorry?" medyo nagulat siya."I mean. I'm not sorry about my decision. I just think it was a bad parting for us."Tumango siya at ilang sandali kaming natahimik. May kung ano sa relasyon namin ngayon. Maybe because I've changed or something but I don't think I could still treat him the same way."Kumusta ka na? I only... uh.. have news about you through the media.""Ah. Ayos lang ako.""Are you alone? Where's your husband?" nagtaas siya ng kilay.Alam kong alam niya na hindi totoo ang relasyon namin ni Damon. Hindi ko man sinabi sa kanya noon, masyado kaming malapit sa isa't-isa para hindi niya malaman na hindi ko naman talaga kilala si Damon bago kami nagpakasal."He's i
DETERMINED to be a pain in the ass, I know what I should do when he called. I know what pisses him off. Nagdidilim ang paningin ko sa lahat ng naiisip kanina at ngayong nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon na gawin iyon."Yes," I answered cooly."What are you talking about? Are you home?"I narrowed my eyes and slowly a smirk crept on my lips."Yeah."He paused. "What are you doing?"I chuckled sensually. "Nagpapahinga na ako, Damon. Ikaw ba? Are you also home?" I asked even when I'm not even a bit curious.Umirap ako."Yes."I thought he's still wherever he was, drinking with a random colleague or something. lyon ang nasa comment section ng post niya.I smirked more when my plans are realized. Tumayo ako at hinawakan ang leeg habang umaakyat."What were you doing in that club? You didn't tell me you'll drink tonight.""Oh.. Do I need to tell you where I've been now?" I chuckled.Nakahawak na ako sa door handle ng kuwarto ko nang nagpasya na sa kuwarto niya na lang ulit matulog. It was more c
HINDI PA NGA ako nakakapagtipa ng sagot, tumunog na ang cellphone ko sa tawag."What are you doing?"I sighed and turned off the lights. "Checking my messages. Why?""Messages from who?"My heart slightly jumped. Iniisip ko pa kung kasali ba ito sa plano nila ni Fiona? He already has the position. The only thing he should do now is to rat my father's plans out and stop talking to me but there isn't a sign he would."From... people.""From your ex?""Puwede ba, Damon. He's blocked here and I am not stupid. I don't want to be associated with him again. If I'll do that, marrying you was for nothing.""Then messages from who, Ysa?""From people. Hello? I'm pretty and I have a social life despite the last months that I was isolated. Siyempre may mag me-message sa akin.""So you're not sleeping yet, huh? You're still entertaining the messages?""Nope, since someone is hogging my phone activity right now.""Bakit mo pa re-reply-an ang mga mag me-message sa'yo. You're exhausted and you're pro
HINDI AKO MAPAKALI sa mga sumunod na araw. Kahit sa iilang meeting at iilang projects na h-in-andle ko, bumagabag sa isipan ko ang nalaman.I don't want to see Papa, too. Tuwing nagkakasalubong kami sa lobby, pilit akong umiiwas.There is something about what I've learned that made me a bit distant to him. Alam kong hindi ko pa naman nakukumpirma iyon. I don't know if Fiona is even my halfsister and a part of me doesn't believe it but it's hard to take it off my head now, after all of that.I've been looking forward for this day because I will meet the investigator. Sa isang malapit na hotel restaurant sa office kami magmi-meet at dahil sa kaba ko, medyo maaga akong dumating.I was about to enter the area when from afar, I saw Lavender Soledad. Nakatayo siya at palapit sa isang lamesa. Wearing her all black suit and slacks, her her up in a high ponytail, she then stopped on a table. I gritted my teeth. Didiretso na sana ako papasok nang natanaw ko kung sino ang kikitain niya. In fron
NANG nasa tamang palapag na, nasa pintuan niya na agad ako. I clicked the door bell and waited for his door to open. He opened it after seconds. His eyes darkened when he saw me standing outside. Nagtaas din ang kilay niya at isang beses na marahang pumikit. "Why are you here?" he asked, a ghost of a smile is hiding on his lips. "Ayaw mo ba ako rito?" sagot ko, nanatili sa labas ng pintuan niya. He then crossed his arms. Hindi niya ako pinapapasok. Nanatili ang tingin niya sa akin. "Nagpaalam ka ba?" I rolled my eyes. "Hindi na ako bata, Damon. I can do whatever I want whenever I want. My father is just being overprotective but it's already out of place. I'm not a teenager." He nodded and swallowed hard. "Hindi na kita ginising kanina. Your father also told me to just go home so..." Umiling ako sa inaasal ni Papa. "Yup. I got tired of waiting and I was exhausted so..." Nagtagal ang tingin naming dalawa bago siya tumango, para bang natauhan. "Hinatid ko Sina Tiya sa bahay kani
PAGKATAPOS ng usapan namin sa study, Damon was also summoned. I have heard he's arrived a while ago. He's just waiting for my father's call. Kaya nang tinawag siya ni Papa at inasahan ni Papa na sila lang muna ang magkakausap, hinayaan ko na.I was also exhausted from all of what happened the whole day. Kaya sa pagod at paghihintay ko na matapos ang meeting nila, hindi ko na tuloy naabutan"Si Damon?" tanong ko nang bumaba.Natanaw kong nasa sala na si Mama at Papa. I assume that their meeting with him is done."Umuwi na," si Papa."He wanted to stay and wait for you for a while but your father here told him that you're exhausted for the day. Kaya minabuti niyang umuwi na lang para pagpahingahin ka,"Tumango ako at saglit na nag-isip. My father excused himself when his phone rang. Dumiretso naman ako sa kusina para kumuha ng tubig at saglit na magpahinga.Kalaunan, nang gumabi, I had dinner with my parents. My brothers were also invited and that was the time when my parents explained
"IT'S NEGATIVE," kuya informed me.Natigilan ako saglit. The relief came afterwards. Although I have doubts, recent events and realizations made me renew my faith towards my father. Lalo na dahil kinausap niya mismo si Ashley Ortega, at na alam ni Mama ang tungkol dito.To know that the results were really negative was such a big relief."The positive tests were not published, as instructed.""Positive tests?""The one with a different sample, Ysa. Tama nga ang sinabi mo. She probably did get some samples from you "That was a speculation but it's different to hear it that way.Hindi ako makapaniwala na umabot nga'ng talaga si Fiona doon. I hated her to the bones but now that everything is revealed, I realized there was a part of me who hoped that she was credible. Desperate but still credible. But knowing this right now, it seems like everything is crumbling.She is desperate and she is a liar. Maybe, she didn't really want to hurt me that night, she only want my sample, but it was a
AFTER what Damon has said, Papa stepped in and lorded the floor. Siya naman ngayon ang binuhusan ng tanong na kaswal niya namang sinagot. Halos paulit-ulit lang ang mga tanong ng reporters, naghihintay na magkamali sa isasagot pero dahil totoo lahat ng mga sagot ni Papa, hindi sila nakahanap ng butas.The press conference ended. Takot akong magbasa sa mga panibagong articles at tulala pa ako sa study ni Papa habang pinoproseso ang mga nasagot nila roon. Damon just revealed everything! I'm not planning to keep our relationship a secret but I was also shocked that it's that openHe wanted to protect me so he had to reveal the truth. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung paniniwalaan iyon ng mga tao but seeing that he has a good credibility from the press, they'd tone down for sure.Sa dami ng iniisip ko, hindi ko na halos namalayan ang nagdaang oras. Nagulat na lang ako nang pumasok sa study si Papa, kasunod si Mama at si Damon. Napatayo ako galing sa pagkakaupo sa swivel chair at agad na sinalub
PAGKALABAS ng sasakyan ko, natanaw nga namin na may iilang ang nag-aabang sa lobby. Iniisip ko na paniguradong mas maraming nag-aabang sa condo ni Damon ngayon. Mas interesado ang mga taong malaman ang sasabihin niya dahil mas pinagkakatiwalaan siya kumpara sa akin.Tahimik ako sa biyahe. Damon couldn't stop watching me even as he drives the car. Sinalubong ako ng iilang kasambahay namin nang nakarating. Damon made sure that I went inside our house. At ibinalita sa akin na wala si Mama at Papa roon dahil maaga sila sa opisina. My father's conference will be moved today because of the news.Binalingan ko si Damon."Hintayin na Ianq natin si Mama at Papa rito para makausap natin."Damom shook his head. "I'll talk to your parents now, Ysa.""Pero Damon, ang daming media. For sure they will want your statement.""Then I'll give my statement."Tinitigan ko siya, punong puno ng pag-aalala."Don't worry, okay?""You haven't been in an intrigue this big. The media can be harsh and they twist
I COULDN'T believe that I had such a good night sleep despite everything that happened that day. O siguro dahil nawala ang mga mabibigat na nakadagan sa isipan ko. The DNA test was done, I had a good conversation and a more open relationship with Damon... and I think that is enough, despite the chaos.Nga lang, kadidilat pa lang ng mga mata ko kinaumagahan, nakita ko na ang abalang mga mensahe sa cellphone ko. I saw missed calls from my cousins, which was unusual.Napabalikwas ako sa kama nang natanaw na tumatawag si Nics. Sinagot ko agad iyon."What?" I said."Awake, finally? Sorry to bring bad news to your morning but...""What?" I said in anticipation."Your father is busy answering the media's questions right now. Apparently, the nature of your relationship with Damon leaked. I traced it earlier this morning, Fiona Suarez was interviewed by an insider, kaya kumalat-""What?!" Napatayo ako.Nics filled me with the details. Ni hindi pa niya alam ang buong pangyayari pero kagabi raw
HINDI KO alam kung paano ko sasabihin sa kanya iyon. I-alo na dahil pinagbigyan niya si Papa sa isang pabor na puwedeng sumira rin sa pangalan niya - ang pakasalan ako.It was as if he trusted my family so much, he dedicated his life to us. And now, when problems rise, it's my family who threw him out of the bus."I mean...""I'm not trying to change his mind about it, Ysa. Gusto ko lang din... humarap sa parents mo. Bilang... boyfriend mo."I gritted my teeth. Not because I was angry, I was trying not to feel a leap in my heart. I cleared my throat and tried to compose myself. Hinuli niya ang mga mata ko at agad akong nanlumo nang muling naalala ang problema."I'm sorry.."I'm sorry what?" he said with a low tone.Hinuli niya ang mga mata ko."Nagulat ako sa sinabi ni Papa kanina. Hindi ko alam paano sasabihin sa kanya na boyfriend kita-""That's alright. I don't mind if I have to face him to tell him that, Ysa,"Kinagat kong muli ang labi ko. "Ang totoo... sinabi niyang„, a-ayaw niy
SA TOTOO LANG, hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko pagkatapos sabihin ni Damon iyon. He looked at me intently, not sure if he's waiting for an answer or just weighing my reaction"It's your family's problem," I said as my throat run dry."It is. But I want to consult you. we both know that this is still somehow related to you... or us."Napatingin ako sa kanya at agad ko namang ibinaling sa ibang bagay ang mga mata ko."Umuwi ka na lang at kausapin mo sila. I won't mind."His brow furrowed and he remained looking at me.Napatingin din tuloy ako sa kanya, ako naman ngayon ang naninimbang. What does he want me to say? Hindi ba iyon naman ang tamang gawin niya? Ayaw kong makialam sa pag-uusapan nila dahil bago pa ako, nariyan na si Fiona. Kamag-anak niya ang Tiyo at Tiya niya. Kahit pa tingin nila'y mag-asawa kami, it's not true. I'm just his girlfriend. And even if we were indeed married, I can't just butt in on their family affairs."It's your family's problem. Oo, I may be related t
NAKIKINIG ako pero habang ganoon ay natanaw ko na nakatitig si Papa sa akin. I looked at him as well. He sighed and nodded before talking."Alam kong naipaliwanag ko na ang nangyari sa inyo ni Damon, pero gusto ko lang sabihin na nagsisisi ako sa mga naging padalos dalos kong desisyon."Both my cousins looked at me. Natahimik ako at nakinig lang kay Papa."I know I should've done this the moment I revealed that your marriage wasn't filed, but I was a coward and I still wanted my plan to work. To cover up for your pasts scandals, Ysa."He held his hand up in the air to stop me from talking.Umaamba akong magsasalita."Pagkatapos lumabas ng resulta, gusto ko nang sabihin sa media na hindi totoo ang pagpapakasal ninyo ni Damon. That I did that as a parent who tried to make wrong things right, the wrong way. It was a foolish decision and I take full responsibility over it."Nabitin sa ere ang mga sasabihin ko sa gulat sa sinabi ni papa."l don't want Damon for you..." he said.My eyes wid