73"I'll go to Daddy later to talk to him," I said while still sleepy as I entered the kitchen. Mula kasi sa sala ay nakakarinig ako ng ingay sa kusina kaya agad na akong nagsalita kahit papasok pa lang ako sa kusina at hindi ko pa nakikita si Ivo.Wala naman si manang at ang yaya nila Zally kaya alam kong si Ivo ang nasa kusina ngayon, pero halos mapako ang paa ko nang makita ko ang likod ng taong iyon.His back was familiar, and his scent already covered my nose. Napasinghab ako.Kahit likod lang ay alam kung hindi na si Ivo iyon. This guy was wearing a white shirt and may suot din na apron. Nakatalikod siya sa akin habang hinahalo ang niluluto niya. “Anong oras ang pasok nila?” Saka lang ako natauhan nang marinig ko siyang nagsalita at tanungin iyon sa akin, pero kahit na tinanong niya iyon, nananatili pa rin siyang nakaharap sa niluluto niya at hindi man lang ako sinulyapan habang tinatanong iyon.Hindi ako nakasagot agad dahilan kaya sinulyapan niya ako ng mabilis at tinaasan p
74“Mommy, Kuya was telling nonsense thing,” pagpasok pa lang namin sa condo ay agad ng nagsalita si Zally. Umuwi nga kami kahit na hindi pa namin nalalaman ang punot dulo ng nangyare at kahit na hindi pa kami nakakausap ng Principal. Zally was just continuing to cry in the car a while ago. We tried to ask her what really happened, but she didn't answer me, while Rony stopped crying and just remained silent, but I still heard his sobbing dahil nga sa galing ito sa pag iyak.Pareho kaming napasulyap ni Ivo kay Zally nang magsalita na siya."He is telling us that Papa Ninong of Vanie is our father. T-That's nonsense, right?” she said and asked while sobbing. I gasped. Ivo and I looked at each other. We also looked at Rony after that, and we saw him going straight to their room even though he heard what Zally said.I want to talk to Zally first, but I think I need to talk to Rony first. I want to ask him why he is suddenly doing that to Yrony because we already talked last night. I wan
75"I'm sorry," was all I said nang tuluyan ko siyang maabutan sa paglalakad. He stopped walking after hearing that from me. I bit my lower lip as I bent my head down.I am too shy around him right now because I know that I am the reason why the twins are like that. If I hadn't kept it a secret for years and if I just let the twins and Yrony know about each other, it wouldn't have happened like this. Kung hindi ko sana hinayaang kainin ako ng galit ko noon sana hindi naging ganito. Hindi sana naging ganito kahirap ang lahat para sa kambal at para kay Yrony. Wala sanang nasasaktan ng ganito ngayon. If I can just hurt myself right now, ginawa ko na because I know that all of this was my fault.Kung bubulyawan niya ako ngayon, hindi ako sasagot. Hahayaan ko siyang bulyawan ako hanggang sa mailabas niya ang galit niya. Tatanggapin ko lang lahat ng mga masasakit na salita niya. What he felt right now was too much dahil wala naman siyang kasalanan. Una pa lang, wala naman siyang kasalanan.
76I will be happy, pero hindi ibig sabihin non ay hindi na ako masasaktan. If that will be really happened, alam kung masasaktan ako. I want to ask Anna about it, kasi baka may nasabi si Kyle sa kanya, pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko.“Come on, Affeya. Don't stay in this marriage just because you feel pity for me. I'm fine to be alone,” biglang mahinahong sambit niya sa akin.“You already do everything for me, Ivo,” that's the only thing I said and smiled at him.Nanatili siya sa tabi ko ng ilang taon kahit na pwedeng pwede niya akong bitawan, ngayon ako naman ang mananatili sa tabi niya. Si Ivo ang naghatid sa kambal sa skwelahan, habang ako naman ay dumeretso sa opisina. I already got my own car, lalo na at minsan ay kailangan kong umalis at pumunta sa site para tignan ang mga ginagawa nila.Pagkatapos ko sa opisina ko, agad akong nagtungo sa site. Medyo malayo rin kasi ang site sa opisina kaya talagang kailangan na kailangan na ang kotse.Isang oras ang byahe papunta roon, and wh
77After work hours, agad na akong nag ayos para pumunta roon. Sa buong byahe ay ilang beses akong bumuntong hininga. Pati nang nasa harap na ako ng bahay nila Garvi ay bumuntong hininga ulit ako.Sa labas pa lang ay rinig na rinig ko na ang malakas na tugtog sa loob. At marami na ring nakaparadang kotse, I even saw the familiar car of Yrony. Gabing gabi na ng makarating ako at kung hindi ako nagkakamali, sigurong kanina pa ang ilan sa kanila dito.Nanatili ako sa kotse ko at kung wala pang kumatok sa bintana ay baka hindi pa ako lalabas.Garvi was there with his black t-shirt. He looks so clean right now—not that I am saying that he was dirty before, pero mas maayos na kasi ngayon ang pananamit niya.“Mabuti naman, Ma'am, at nakarating kayo ng ligtas,” nakangiting ani niya nang bumaba na ako sa kotse ko.“Happy birthday,” agad na bati ko at inabot ang binili ko kaninang regalo para sa kanya. Nakakahiya naman kasi kung wala akong bitbit para sa kanya.Bumaba ang tingin niya sa hawak k
78Napasulyap ako sa mga Engineer at Architect na kasama ko sa lamesa, and I saw them looking at us, pero agad din naman silang nag iwas at muling nagpatuloy sa kung ano man ang pinag uusapan nila. That's my cue to suddenly stand up.Naunang naglakad si Yrony at sumunod ako. Pati ang paglalakad niya ay ramdam na ramdam ang pagkainis niya.I don't know how to talk to him after what happened. Kung paano ko siya pakikitunguan pagkatapos nang mga nangyare, hindi ko talaga alam. Napatitig ako sa likod niya habang naglalakad kami.He is wearing a black t-shirt and pants, but even though it's just simple clothes, he still looks so good-looking that I know that many people still fall for him. I can't help but remember that there is a woman who has plans for him, iyong nilagyan pa niya ng kung ano ang iinomin niya. That was so desperate.Nilibot ko ang tingin ko sa paligid nang medyo lumayo na kami sa bahay nila Garvi at napunta na sa medyo madilim na parte. May mga maliliit na bahay sa paligi
79I immediately came to my senses when a light from a car focused on where we were. Sinubukan kong itago ang buong katawan ko sa katawan ni Yrony, and I know that he noticed what I did because I heard his irritated whispered."Kinakahiya mo ba akong kasama?" Iritang tanong na niya na hindi ko naman na sinagot.Baliw ba siya? Hindi ba niya naiisip ang sitwasyon namin? I'm a married woman tapos nandito kami sa gilid at madilim na lugar na 'to? Ayos lang sana kung nag uusap lang kami, but he is kissing me! I was afraid that they may see me like this and that someone saw us doing that thing, but it looks like that car just passed by and it wasn't one of our acquaintances, so I breathed a sigh of relief.He should know how dangerous what we are doing is if someone sees us! Paano kung isa sa mga engineer? Maliit ang mundo namin, and if Daddy knows this, malaking gulo iyon.I immediately pushed him after I gained strength. I noticed that he let me push him. Nagpatulak siya, pero nanatili s
80After hearing that, ni maligo ay hindi ko na nagawa sa pagmamadaling pumunta sa office at malaman kung ano ba talaga ang nangyayare. Agad akong nagpalit at binilin ang kambal kay Anna. What the hell was really happening right now? Bakit may pag pull-out na nangyayare.Kung maraming nagsialisang investors at nag pull out ng mga shares, isa lang ang paghahantungan ng kompanya. Everything that lolo builds will end up being nothing, and I won't let that happen.Kahit na hindi buong puso ang kagustuhan kong hawakan ang kompanyang ito, alam ko na subrang importante ng kompanyang ito kay lolo. Kahit na hindi kami maayos sa lahat ng nangyare at ginawa niya, I know that this will upset lolo, and I don't want that. Kahit balikbaliktarin ko naman, lolo ko pa rin siya.“Ma'am, hinihintay ka ni Sir Ivo kasama si—” Hindi niya natuloy ang sasabihin nang agad agad akong pumasok sa opisina ko. I already want to ask Ivo about this.I saw Ivo talking to Daddy, who was now sitting in my swivel chair.
WakasYrony's POVMabilis ang paghawak ko kay Zay nang muntik na siyang matumba pagkatapos niyang sagutin ang tawag mula sa Doctor ng Lolo niya.“S-Si lolo. Yrony, si L-Lolo,” nanghihinang sambit niya habang sabay sabay na tumulo ang luha sa mga mata niya.She tried to hold me tight, pero talagang nanghihina siya. It's been an hour since our simple wedding was held. I was so happy that, finally, I can already really call her mine without thinking anything. She is really mine. She is already Delazardo; at last, for many years, she can still be ended up as Delazardo, but now, how can I be happy when she is in too much pain right now?I pulled her closer to hug her tight. Wala akong magawa para pawiin ang sakit na nararamdaman niya ngayon pagkatapos niyang marinig ang balitang iyon.Don Alvarez. Napapikit ako ng mariin.“I-I know that I don't have any r-right to ask a favour to y-you after what I did to you, but please, can y-you please make my granddaughter happy? I-I want to see her hap
94It was so fast, or maybe that's just what I think? After we finished eating, we immediately went to the building where the Delazardos' company is located. Gagamitin namin ang Chopper nila papunta sa ibang bansa.Sa mismong kompanya ng pamilya nila, and I can't help but reminisce about the time when I first came here and let my life change into the life that I didn't expect that I would become.Subrang tagal na non, pero nananatili pa rin iyon sa isip ko.They are really serious. Akala ko ay makakausap ko pa sila at sasabihin na huwag silang padalos dalos, pero they are both serious.“You own this?” Napasulyap ako kay Rony nang casual niyang tinanong ang ama niya.We are already on the chopper. Gulat na gulat pa nga sila Tita and I am sure na pagbalik namin, kalat na panigurado ang tungkol sa kambal. Ipagsigawan ba naman ni Yrony ang salitang mga anak sa harap ng mga empleyado niya, kaya paniguradong malalaman ma ng mga nakakakilala sa amin.“You also want to own something like this?
93Affeya/Azaylie's POVIsang malakas na kalabog ang nagpagising sa akin at halos umawang ang labi ko nang makitang nasa baba na si Yrony habang nakahawak sa likod niya at nakangiwi.“Rony!” Hindi makapaniwalang sambit ko nang makita ang ayos ni Rony. Sa pwesto niya ngayon ay mukhang tinadyakan niya si Yrony kaya siya nahulog mula sa kama.Zally was just staring at Yrony while Rony was so angry. Parehas na silang gising.“Leave!” Bulyaw nito sa ama niya habang nakaturo sa pinto. “Son—” Yrony tried to talk to him, pero agad ulit siyang binulyawan ni Rony.“Don't call me that!”“Rony!” Saway ko ulit. He looked at me."If you don't want to leave, then I am going to be the one who leaves!" My lips parted at what he said.Before I could stop him, he was already out.Zally immediately followed his older brother, so Yrony and I were left behind. Napahilot ako sa sintido ko.“Sorry. Kakausapin ko sila ngayon—”“I-It's fine,” sambit ni Yrony kaya tinignan ko siya. Kumunot ang noo ko at napasi
92I stared at my son, my daughter and my Fiance.Fiance.I kissed Zay's hand that I have been holding until now, even though he is fast asleep next to our children. It's already 5 a.m. in the morning. I can hardly sleep. I can't sleep because I'm scared to wake up, and suddenly all of those become dreams. I don't want to go to sleep. I just want to sit here and stare at them.Napapikit ako ng mariin at agad na pinunasan ang luha ko nang agad na tumulo iyon galing sa mata ko.I'm crying. I am fvcking crying because of the happiness that I feel right now. She said she loved me. She said that there's nothing between her and Ivo. Wala naman akong pakealam kung may namagitan sa kanina, yes, it's hurt, but even if there's something on them, if she said that she loves me, wala na akong pakealam sa iba.This is the scenario that I've been dreaming of all these years, which I thought would never happen. I'm very tired. I was already told that word after all the desperate things I did. I was a
91I tried to remain cool while texting my team to investigate and to start finding Zally. Fvck! I shouldn't be overacting. It's normal to worry, but fvck! What I am feeling right now was not normal. If only I could have stood up and led the investigation right now, I would have done sa subrang pag-aalala ko ngayon kay Zally.Hindi ko naman anak ang kinidnap, pero halos pagpawisan na ako sa pag-aalala nang marinig kong nawawala si Zally at may kumidnap. I just arrived, and that's when the news came to me right away. It's their birthday. It wasn't in my plan to go here and see how happy they are while I was away watching them, but the courage to see Zay and give Zally and her brother my gift was the reason why I still go here.Ang kaso, wala akong lakas para bitbitin iyon kaya iniwan ko kuna sa kotse ko. I am planning to talk Zay, but I don't know how.Napasulyap ako sa batang nakamaskara. That must be Zally's brother. Hindi ko pa siya nakikita kahit isang beses. All I always see was
90Yrony's POV“Don't worry. I don't want your Papa Ninong to be my father. I have my own father, so I don't need yours,” Zay's daughter said in her serious voice.Sa subrang seryoso niya sa pagsabi non ay para akong dinudurog. I tried to calm myself.I don't know the exact reason why I felt a tightness in my chest when I heard that from Zay's daughter.She's right. She doesn't need me because she has her own father, but my chest tightened when I heard that. Maybe because I know that I love their mommy very much, and loving their mom was also wanting me to make them my own. Pero sabagay. Zay also have Ivo, kaya hindi niya panigurado ako kailangan."I didn't raise you like that, Vanie! Where did you get those words? Where did you learn to talk like that!” panenermon ni Venus sa anak niya habang papasok sa bahay.But Vanie didn't seem to hear anything. She just keeps going up the stairs. Pagod akong naupo sa isa sa sofa ng bahay nila at inihilamos ang palad sa mukha.“Vanie! I'm talking
89“Huh?” Gulat na tanong ko at talagang napanganga na ako sa harap niya. Muli ulit siyang lumapit sa akin at halos umawang ang labi ko nang maramdaman ko ang pagdausdos ng isang bagay sa daliri ko.“I said let's married right now. May kilala akong mayor at pwede ko siyang tawagan ngayon,” bulong nito pagkatapos niyang mailagay ang singsing sa kamay ko.Nahigit ko ang paghinga ko habang nakatingin sa daliri ko.I don't know what I am gonna say. Saan galing iyong singsing? Bakit may singsing? I bit my lower lips nang mag init ang mata ko. I felt his face on my neck, and he started kissing me there.Hindi ko maiwasang isipin kung nasa likod pa ba namin sila Janica o ano, pero wala na akong pakealam doon. I look at the ring he gave me right now. Pakiramdam ko nananaginip ako. Hindi kami nag uusap kanina, then aaway kami, tapos… tapos… may singsing.“I want us to marry, immediately,” he whispered again.Kinagat ko ang labi ko at sinubukan ang lahat para matigil ang pagtulo ng luha ko. I
88“Yrony!” Tawag ko sa kanya habang mabilis siyang naglalakad papunta sa parking lot.“Teka, Yrony!” Tawag ko pa. I wipe the tears on my eyes while chasing him. Gusto kong palakasin ang loob ko ngayon dahil alam kung iyon ang kailangan ko.Galit siya at nasampal ko siya. He said na nakakapagod na ako. Parang pinagpipirapiraso ako habang iniisip nga na titigil na siya at susuko na. Hindi pwede. Hindi siya pwedeng sumuko ngayong handa na ako. I know that I have no right to say that sa sobrang dami na niyang hirap dahil sa akin, pero ayokong tumigil siya.Hindi niya ako pinansin kahit na alam kung naririnig niya ang pagtawag ko sa kanya. Patuloy lang siya sa paglalakad paalis.Nang malapitan na niya ang kotse ay pinatunog na niya ito. He didn't even look at me kahit na naabutan ko na siya. He seriously opne the door at agad na pumasok. He is about to close the door, pero agad kong hinawakan ang pinto, rason kaya agad na naipit ang kamay ko nang isara niya ang pinto.Napamura siya at bin
87I am happy to see Anna like this. She always there when I needed her and I was really thankful that she was here. She was a best sister to me kahit na hindi naman kami magkadugo.“Kakausapin ko naman siya—” But she cut me.“Kailan? Ngayon na! Lumabas ka rito! Huwag kang babalik hanggang sa hindi kayo makapag usap. Kung nakapag usap na kayo at hindi pa rin maayos ang kung ano kayo, saka ka na maupo diyan!” Biglang bulyaw niya ulit sa akin.Bumuntong hininga ako. Inabot ko ang sinasabi ni Ivo na hard liquor at nilagyan ang baso ko. I think I need this to tell Yrony everything I want to say.Kyle and Anna let me drink that and just watch me, na para bang alam nila na kailangan ko ang alak na iyon para magkaroon ng lakas ng loob.Tumayo ako pagkatapos non, pero ilang sandali pa ay nakarinig kami ng pamilyar na sigaw mula sa ibaba. Kyle immediately stand up para pumunta sa balcony para tignan kung anong ingay iyon. Pagbalik niya ay sunod sunod ang naging mura niya habang nagmamadaling t