"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
"IS IT YOUR EX AGAIN?" he asked coldly. Umatras ako pero sa huli, tumigil. He stopped walking. We are very close now. Nakadungaw siya sa akin samantalang matalim ko siyang tinitingala, may ngisi sa labi. "Stop making fun of this. I am doing this for you. I don't want your name on fire again. Sabihin mo sa akin ang totoo at tigilan mo na ang pagsisinungaling-" I can very well take care of myself, Damon. Kaya nga sinabi ko sa'yo na wala namang tsismis tungkol sa akin, 'di ba?" "Really? Wala pa sa ngayon. But if you keep this up, you really think the people who saw you will not talk?" Iritado, lumayo ako at nilagpasan siya para magkaroon muli ng distansiya sa amin. Sinundan niya ako ng tingin. "At ano 'tong sinabi ni Fiona sa akin? Why did you hurt her?" Umirap ako at naging agresibo nang nasali si Fiona sa usapan namin. Nilingon ko si Damon, naalala ko ulit ang lahat ng nangyari kagabi. "Hindi ba close kayo? Ba't 'di mo siya tanungin kung anong problema?!" Ako naman ngayon ang
IT WAS AWKWARD at home. Kung kailan mas makakatulong sana kung may katawagan siya o may ibang ginagawa, saka naman wala. We were both silent as we stayed in the dining area of the condo. Binaba niya ang hinanda niyang pagkain para sundan ako. Wala nga lang akong ganang kumain kaya gumawa lang ng kape at tinitingnan sa harap ko ang hinanda niyang breakfast. Damon remained silent. Nakatanaw sa akin, busangot ang mukha, at medyo namumula ang mga mata sa galit. He glanced at the food he prepared. I'm waiting for my mother's reply. She asked me to come back last night. But this time, I had to inform her that I'm going with Damon. Tumunog ang cellphone ko dahilan ng sabay naming pagbaling doon. Alam niyang hinihintay namin ang reply ni Mama pero imbes na reply ni Mama ang bumungad, isang text galing kay Mr. Vera iyon. "What's the reply?" his voice was hoarse. Umiling ako habang nagtitipa ng reply para kay Mr. Vera. Gusto niyang makipagkita para sa mga bagong naimbesitgahan pero tumangg
LALO LANG nagbadya ang pagbuhos ng luha ko. Siguro dahil sa lakas ng sigaw niya at sa kaba ko sa sinabi niya."Hindi ko anak si Fiona Suarez. We'll talk about this again once the DNA test comes out! I no longer have the patience to listen to you accusing me of having another daughter!""Nikolo..." pigil ni Mama.Nagmartsa si Papa papunta sa kanyang lamesa. He rummaged on his files. Nakabawi na ako ng kaunti sa gulat sa sigaw niya kaya nagsalita ulit ako."Then I want out of this stupid thing! Attorney Suarez has prepared our papers. We can just use it to make everything fast."Sa gilid ng mga mata ko, kitang kita ko ang pagbaling ni Damon sa akin.Padabog na binaba ni Papa ang mga dokumento sa kanyang lamesa. Bumaba ang mata ko roon pero dahil medyo may distansya, hindi ko nakita ng husto iyon"And no need for a divorce. Your marriage was a lie. I didn't file it in the end."My lips parted. Matagal bago ako nakabawi sa sinabi ni Papa. Pakiramdam ko nga hindi ko narinig iyon.Tumingin