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
TAHIMIK akong nakaupo na sa sala. I was pacing back and forth a while ago until I've grown tired. Dalawang oras na siguro ang lumipas sa pag-uusap ni Damon, Mama, at Papa sa study. Pinalabas nila ako dahil pag-uusapan ang leave ni Damon.I know it will the a tedious process. Hindi ordinaryong empleyado si Damon. He is an executive, and more than that, my father trusts him with many projects.Hindi siya pakakawalan ni Papa, hindi ba? Imposible 'yon. At isa pa... he climbed to where he is now. How can he just resign like that in a blink of an eye? Baka gusto pa ni Papa na pag-isipan ni Damon iyon at huwag na munang mabilis na magdesisyon?I don't know. But I guess what really bothered me is that unexpected... confession. In front of my parents. Was he for real?Ngumuso ako at pilit na iniisip na baka pakulo lang 'yon. But then he's giving up his position... pakulo pa ba 'yon? Then where will he work? IHG? Malamang. He had offers there so he must have plans to work there. Thinking about
I REALLY thought that it would be the same. Nakita ko siya sa linggong iyon na pumunta sa opisina niya, so I expected that I'll see him every now and then despite him resigning but I didn't see him the rest of the week.May mga damit at ibang gamit pa naman ako sa bahay kaya iyon ang dinala ko papuntang bagong condo ko. I am still contemplating on whether I should get my things from his condo or not. I mean, I should. Those are my things but... how?Ipapadala ko na lang ba? I should get Damon's offer. Ipapadala niya raw sa bahay. Kaya sabihin ko na lang ang address ng condo ko rito para mapadala niya rito. But then I remember I have clothes and things in his cabinet and even in the gym. Alam niya kaya? O pinalinis niya iyon sa kasambahay? I should be the one getting them since I don't think he knew where I put all of my things.Tulala akong nakatingin sa inumin habang kinikuwento ni Mr. Vera ang mga nalaman niya. It's been two weeks and this is the only time I saw him again. Naging ab
LUMIPAS ang dalawang buwan, hindi pa rin kami nagkita ni Damob. I go home and go to work like a robot the past few weeks."Pressure her!" I said annoyed at our family dinner.Kaming tatlo ni Mama at Papa ang kumakain ng hapunan sa bahay ngayon. Hindi pa rin ako gaanong kumbinsido kay Papa at bumibisita lang talaga para makibalita para sa DNA test.Naging abala si Papa sa mga kapatid ko nitong nakaraang linggo. May iilang trip din sila ni Mama sa ibang bansa, resulta ng pag-alis ni Damon sa kompanya. At nag di-dinner kami ngayon dahil aalis na naman sila bukas para roon."She's coming back next week and I won't be there, Ysa," si Papa.Aniya'y may pinuntahang trip si Fiona para sa trabaho kaya hindi pa sila nagkakausap. Hindi pa rin daw nagsasabi si Fiona kung papayag ba siya sa test at nangako siyang pag-uusapan sa susunod na pagkikita, kaya lang dahil busy na si Papa ngayon... hindi na sila makakapag-usap.I closed my eyes frustratingly when I realized that the truth is elusive."Bak
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