PAGKATAPOS naming pag-usapan ang iba pang detalye at ang constant meetings namin, agad na rin naman kaming natapos. Hindi naman ganoon ka hectic iyong meeting kaya hindi ko alam kung bakit matindi ang pagod ko.Maybe it was emotional stress but I was really so tired. Nasa kama na agad ako pagkatapos kong maligo at magbihis ng pambahay. It's still seven in the evening. I hung around my mother's phone number for a while. Siguro sa pag-aalala. Siguro gusto ko ring malaman niya ang alam ko. Pero alam kong hindi dapat ako nagpapadalos dalos, kahit ano pa man ang nararamdaman ko.A tear fell as I remember what I saw a while ago. Sa itsura ni Papa at base na rin sa pagkikita nila ni Fiona noon, mukha namang hindi niya ito kilala. Kung totoo nga iyon, siguro hindi niya nga alarm. Bakit kaya sila nagkita kanina? Ano ang sinabi ni Fiona? At unang pagkikita ba nila 'to na sila lang dalawa? Mukhang seryoso pa ang pinag-usapan nila.Pumikit ako nang na-dial ang numero ni Mama. Wala akong sasabihin
I FELT the worst every after my meetings with Mr. Vera. Madalas kaming mag meet, Ialo na sa unang isang linggo dahil madali raw makuha ang mga impormasyon at pareparehong importante iyon.I looked at a picture of my father when he was younger, and Ashley Ortega, my mother's half sister."So Miss Ashley is already abroad for years now..." si Mr. Vera.Tumango ako. Alam ko iyon. She had a mental illness. Alam kong ipinasok siya sa isang mental institution to cope up with it. She got better years after I was born. Kaunti lang ang alaala ko sa kanya dahil bukod sa mukhang isang beses ko lang siyang na-meet, agad din siyang umalis ng bansa nang naka recover.The next photograph is of Ashley Ortega and a child in her checkered powder blue jumper."This is La Fiona Suarez" si Mr. Vera at nagpakita pa ng ibang pictures ni Fiona na parehong itsura at suot sa batang nakahawak kamay ni Ashley Ortega."This photo was taken at Sunrise Children's Home and Orphanage."I swallowed hard and looked at
WHILE DRIVING, I thought of many bitter things. I thought of my father giving Fiona a sportscar. Ano ang gagawin ko kung malaman ni Mr. Vera na galing nga kay Papa iyon?What was that for, anyway? Pantapal sa ilang taong wala siya sa buhay ni Fiona? He'll give her grand gifts?Knowing my father, and how he spoils me rotten, I don't think the sportscar is the last thing he'll give her.What am I thinking about? Stupid, Ysa. If she was his daughter, then he must shower her with those gifts. She deserves it. She even deserved to be spoiled more than you, Ysa. Kasi ilang taon siyang naghirap ng wala si Papa. Pambawi na lang sa lahat ng taong iyon.I don't know why but even when it was reasonable, even when it was what he should do, it hurt me so much. I feel like everything would never be the same again.Is he proud that even without our family name and riches, she built her own name and became a lawyer? I swallowed hard and realized that I lived a lavish life, as a Montero's princess. An
"So, ilang beses ka nang nakapunta sa Carlzon Morata Rome?" I asked casually, trying not to sound like I'm dishing something else."More or less ten times, Ysa. You want to visit?""Nah. Nagustuhan ko nga lang ang interiors ng lobby kaya napaisip ako. lyon kasi ang kokopyahin ko for the next project. Hmm. All the times you visit, you were alone?""Yeah. And for work."I sighed and realized that he won't tell me anything. Iniisip kong imposible na hayaan niya si Fiona na bumisita sa Italy na mag-isa, at sa hotel pa na pinagtatrabahuhan niya. For sure there are things that he can't tell me. And this is one of it.Parang lason na kumalat ang pait sa sikmura ko nang natanto iyon. Even if he's physically attracted with me, he would never reveal his secret. It's more important to him. He's helping La Fiona Suarez so why will he drop her that way?"Talaga, kahit kailan... wala kang kasamang pumunta roon?"He paused for a while before he answered. "Yes, Ysa. Is there a problem?""l was just c
THE NEXT WEEK CAME. Imbes na sa restaurant kami magkita ni CJ Vera, minabuti kong sa isang tahimik na bar na lang. Bukod sa madilim at hindi kami mabilis makita ng kahit Sino, imposible pang makita namin si Papa o kahit si Fiona doon.Restaurants slightly made me uncomfortable. Sa ilang beses ko silang nahuli tuwing pumupunta sa restaurant, pakiramdam ko tuwing nasa isang restaurant ako, makikita ko sila."The sportscar is a new one under the name of your father,"Tinitigan ko ang nilapag ni Mr. Vera na mga dokumento."Makes sense. He can't buy one and name it to someone else. I-alo na kung tinatago niya kay Mama. My mom looks at all our finances," I said. I can't find any paternity test under their name anywhere so they haven't done the DNA testing yet."Namimilog ang mga mata kong nag-angat ng tingin kay Mr. Vera."Anywhere? All labs?""Yes. I do cases like these all the time so I have the connection to each laboratory that does the DNA testing. These are also very private files, b
THESE PAST few months, I've learned that decisions made due to impulsiveness in the past were usually mistakes. Kaya nga iniiwasan kong magdesisyon agad-agad. Pero inaamin ko na hindi ako perpekto, at hindi ko kayang panatilihin palagi ang pagbabago na gusto ko para sa sarili ko.My anger got into my head, especially after the next words she said."Really? Or is that part of your delusions now?" I smiled insultingly, gustong gustong maka panakit din dahil sa tindi ng galit.She smirked too. "You wish.""My father is an honorable man. He's have his fair share of mistakes in the past, but I am sure you're not one of them," I said mercilessly.Napawi ang ngisi niya sa sinabi ko. She looked pissed and I have nothing but pleasure when I saw her fail to control her real emotions."Kaya kung ano man 'yang paninira na pinaplano n'yo ni Damon, para sa pamilya ko o sa kompanya, hindi kayo magtatagumpay. You reek of desperation and it's what's going to make you fail..."I said and tried to walk
HINDI KO ALAM kung masyado na ba akong kabado at masyadong galit pero hindi ko na narinig ang bilis ng pintig ng puso ko. It was like a moment of peace and silence before I'd explode into a much explosive anger."Calm down, Ysa-""What is it, Pa?! Tell me the truth?!" I shouted at my father, ignoring my mother."l will tell you if you calm down," he said properly."I will calm down if you cut the bullshit!" malutong kong sinabi.He sighed defeatedly. Alam kong sa ibang pagkakataon, baka tinakwil na nila ako sa mga sigaw at walang respeto kong sinabi pero sa nararamdaman ko ngayon, wala na akong pakialam. I want the truth so bad and my father knows that I'm going to raise hell if he stops talking."She isn't my daughter-""Really?" nangingilid na naman ang mga Iuha ko at sumulyap kay Mama. "Bakit? Natatakot ka na iwan ka ni Mama? At na magalit ako? Kami?""Ysa, calm down," ulit ni Mama. "Walang anak sa labas ang Papa mo.""Then do you know how he sees her regularly, then, Mama?!"Nilin
HINDI AKO nagdalawang-isip na umuwi kahit pa ilang beses akong sinubukang kumbinsihin ni Mama na doon na sa bahay matulog. It was already late and I've had a few drinks, but I'm definitely not drunk. Nahimasmasan pa nga yata ako dahil sa nangyari buong gabi."Ysay, huwag ganito. I've done things like these in my younger years and it was painful to just wait for the explanation. It hurt me so much. It gave me scars. I don't want it to happen to you so please stay and let's talk about it properly," si Mama na sinundan pa ako sa sasakyan. I can't stand it here.""Because of your father? Because you think your father betrayed you?""Because I think he betrayed us!" sabay baling ko kay Mama."He would never do such a thing. Lalo na sa'yo...""Really, Mama? Ano pa bang hindi niya kayang gawin? Ipinakasal nga niya ako sa Ialaking hindi ko naman gusto para lang malinis ang pangalan ko? That was a life changing choice that he did for me. Kaya ano pa ang hindi magagawa ni Papa?""Then what is