Chapter 2

(XAVIEN'S POV)

-NEXT DAY-

"Let's welcome, Mr. Xavien Kainoa Dawson. A round of applause please." Pakilala ng emcee sa akin.

Kasalukuyan akong nandito ngayon sa Quest Academy, opening of classes ng school na ito ngayon at isa ako sa mga guest nila, not mentioning that I am also one of the shareholder in this private academy. My very owned Dawson Foundation owns manufacturing businesses, I have a furniture and appliances company and I am the one who's been providing this school a quality chairs, tables, and equipments such as TVs, broadcasting sets, DSLR/cameras, audio speakers, microphones, computers for their laboratories, and the every smart appliances they have.

Matapos ang opening speech ko, I encourage some of the student to ask me a question, a boy raise a hand so I encourage him to speak,

"Hello, Mr. Dawson. Why did you think of venturing into a manufacturing business?"

"Next question please?" tanong ko.

One girl wearing glasses raises her hand and she stands up,

"Sir, why Dawson keeps on developing a new model of smart gadgets? Aren't you tired of coping with new and unique ideas every time?" tanong nito sa akin.

I smiled, "Of course, I'm tired, in fact I'm sick of it." natatawa kong sagot.

"But why are you keep on doing it?" tanong ng student.

"To make money." tipid kong sagot.

Natigilan yung studyante at natawa sa sinabi ko,

"Why? Is that funny to you?" I asked.

"It's not like that, sir. I was hoping you would give us an in depth explanation to motivate us to strive harder to be like you in the future. You're a smart guy Mr. Dawson, but you said you're just doing it for money. It's quite disappointing." Sagot ng babaeng highschooler sa paningin ko. Hmm this student seems to be a smart one.

I smirk,

"What's your name, young lady?" tanong ko.

"A-Anna po." sagot niya.

"Anna, I have a question for you too. Have you ever experienced starving because you have no money?" tanong ko.

"N-No." She answered with a hesitate tone.

"Well, as for me, I starved for almost half of my life, from being born until I turned 10 years old. You all know my past, don't you? I'm just a street children not until Madame Dawson adopted me. Does anyone here experienced eating trash? Eating left-over and spoiled food from a garbage bag?" tanong ko, umiling naman halos ng mga studyante. Of course, lahat ng studyante sa Quest, puro anak ng mayayaman.

"My dad left and killed himself because we were poor, and my mom got sick and she cannot afford to get a proper treatment, and I... During that time, a seven years old boy have nothing to do but to watch my mother died in pain. So tell me? Why do you think I am desperate to make money? Because I don't want to die in vain because of poverty." paliwanag ko.

Tumango tango naman sila, at yung babaeng studyante ay umupo na, batid ko sa mukha niya ang konsensya.

"Sa tingin niyo students, may tao bang gustong maging mahirap? Wala naman sigurong may gustong ipanganak sa hirap kahit na iyon talaga ang nakatadhana sa kanila. But everyone had given a chance to change their lives and that is to study hard.

Here in Quest Academy, you all are given a bright future ahead of you and you should not waste it, always strive hard to build your dreams. Because not everyone have given an opportunity like you in here. Some are just lucky like me, but some were also unlucky living their lives in pain. Regrets? Nasa huli na lagi iyon. So be mindful to every decisions you make in the future, students so don't end up regretting anything soon. Okay?" pahayag ko sa kanila.

Nagsi-palakpakan naman ang lahat, and I just smiled. Napaikot naman ang paningin ko sa paligid, at sa may entrance, nakita ko ang isang pamilyar na mukha. Bakit may Mavros dito?

"Wow that's a very overwhelming speech, Mr. Dawson, thank you for sharing your life with us. Your story is so beautiful and warm in our hearts." saad ng emcee.

"So now students, are you ready for our grand surprise to all of you?" dagdag ng emcee at tumabi na rin ako sa gilid.

"YESSSS~" sagot ng mga binata't dalaga.

"Let's all welcome, a special fan signing of the dream girl of all, Ms. Zara Hadleigh Mavros!" pakilala ng emcee, agad nag lingunan ang lahat sa gawi nung Zara at nagsi-tilian.

Senenyasan ako ng isang staff na bumaba na sa stage at inalalayan din ako ng secretary kong si Jared.

Pababa ako ng stage habang paakyat naman yung Zara, our eyes met, and I saw her blank expression face looking at me. I was about to greet her but she immediately glanced on the other side and didn't even bother to say hi to me.

Lol, totoo nga siguro ang sabi sabi, she's arrogant just like Zaino pft. Tuluyan na sana akong aalis pero nang saktong lalagpasan na naming dalawa ang isa't isa, a handkerchief fell off her pants pocket. She's wearing a trouser pants and a crop top kasi.

I stopped and pick up the handkerchief.

"Ms. Mavros." panimula ko na siyang nakapagpatahimik sa lahat. Lumingon ako at nakitang napahinto din yung babae. She turn around and look at me,

"Yes?" Simpleng tanong niya half smiling, halatang palabas lang at fake smile ito.

I walk towards her and stretched my arms to hand her over the handkerchief,

Sabay ng pagbigay ko, I lean over my head to her face which became the reason why her eyes widened, narinig ko naman ang mabibilis na flash ng camera at hiyawan ng mga studyante,

I smirk and whispered something in her ears, "Take care of your belongings."

She look at me with a 'what the hell' look, and said,

"Thanks." I just shrug at tuluyan na siyang tinalikuran.

"Mr. Dawson, mag kaibigan din ba kayo ni Zara Mavros? Gaano kayo ka-close ni Miss Zee? Possible bang may namamagitan sa inyo?" rinig kong tanong ng mga reporters sa paligid pero hindi ko iyon pinansin dahil hinarangan na sila ng mga bodyguards.

"Hello, Quest Academy!" rinig kong bati nung Zara na nasa harap na ng stage.

Akmang lalabas na talaga ako sa exit ng biglang may nakaagaw sa atensyon kong studyanteng nakaupo sa likod,

"Omg guys look! Zaino Mavros got into an accident, ngayon lang!" hiyaw nito, nagsi tunugan naman ang mga smartphones ng mga students at nag notify ang balita about sa Mavros. Nag simulang mag bulong-bulungan ang paligid.

"What's happening?" tanong ko kay Jared. Nilabas ni Jared ang phone niya at hinanap ang article na pinagkakaguluhan. Kinuha ko ang phone niya at nakita ang article na naaksidente nga si Zaino Mavros.

I glance at the stage, looking at that Zara's expression kung totoo nga at baka fake news lang. Suddenly a man went near to the actress and whispered something to her, napatayo naman siya bigla sa kinauupuan niya at parang gulat sa narinig. So it's confirm, something really happened to Zaino.

~

(ZARA'S P.O.V)

Nag paalam ang manager ko sa president ng Quest Academy to cancel the exclusive fan signing, because I have to see my brother. I check my phone and see Dad's message, pinapapunta niya ako sa ospital kung saan dinala si Zaino.

What the heck is happening? Is he drunk or something kaya naaksidente siya?! Tse ilang beses na siyang pinagsabihan ni Dad na huwag mag drive ng lasing, tsaka napaka liwanag ng araw for pete's sake.

Nang makabalik na ako sa van, I immediately check my ipad to see the news, at napatakip ako sa bibig sa nakitang mga pictures ng accident scene. According to it, nahulog sa bangin ang kotseng sinasakyan ni Zaino, nagka ingkwentro sila sa isang malaking truck na lasing ang driver.

Kinabahan naman ako sa narinig, "Mang Lando, drive faster!" sigaw ko sa driver ko...

Kahit na hindi kami magkasundo ng h*******k na iyon, he's still my brother, I don't want something bad happening to him.

-HOSPITAL-

Agad akong tumakbo papuntang Operating Room, dahil nandoon daw ngayon si Zaino. Maraming mga reporters sa labas ng ospital at ang dami ring bodyguards na pinapunta si dad para harangan ang lahat ng sulok sa private hospital na ito.

"Dad.." panimula ko ng makita ko silang dalawa ni Mom sa labas ng O.R. Humahagulgol ng iyak si Mom.

"You're here, Zara." baling ni Dad na napatingin sa akin saglit habang yakap si Mom.

"How's Zaino dad--" tanong ko pa sana pero hindi ko naituloy ng lumabas ang mga doctor mula sa loob. Agad kaming lumapit.

"H-How's my son, doc? Zaino.. Is he okay now?" panic na tanong ni Mom.

Matagal bago nakaimik ang mga doktor, para itong nanginginig sa takot na ipaalam ang kalagayan ng Kuya ko.

"Doc, ano ba?! Answer my wife's question. How's our son?!" sigaw ni Dad.

"W-We're sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Mavros, we've done our best to save him, but w-wala na itong buhay ng dumating siya sa ospital... H-He's gone, sir..." natatakot na sagot ng doctor at yumuko.

Gulat at hindi ako makagalaw sa kinatatayuan ko sa narinig. Si Dad din ay parang natulala at hindi makapaniwala, while Mom burst into tears and slap the doctor.

Kwenelyuhan ni Mom ang doctor,

"YOU USELESS PATHETIC LOWLIVES! HOW DARE YOU MOCK WITH US THAT MY SON IS DEAD?! NO! ZAINO IS ALIVE! F*CK YOU HAVE TO MAKE MY SON ALIVE OR ELSE I'M GONNA MAKE SURE TO DESTROY THIS HOSPITAL!" sigaw ni Mom habang umiiyak, Dad just let him dahil parang nawalan din siya ng lakas na pigilan pa si Mom.

A tear fell down from my eyes, sh*t parang kahapon lang nagkasagutan pa kami ni Zaino... And now, he's gone.

Tahimik lang si Dad at akmang lalakad sa kinaroonan ni Mom na kasalukuyang nag wawala ng bigla siyang natumba,

"Dad!" nilapitan ko siya para alalayan.

"Y-Your brother's gone, Zara... Tell me, they're just lying right? My son..." Mahinang saad ni Dad, naawa naman ako sa inakto nito kaya I hug him as I cried too. I remained silenced as I heard little sobs from Dad.

Zaino... What the hell are you thinking? Why did you leave so soon?

~

Limang oras na ang lumipas at inasikaso na nila Dad ang funeral para kay Zaino, si Mom naman ay pinagpahinga muna sa isang private room dahil nahimatay ito sa gulat kanina, nakabuntot lang ako kay Dad the whole time since he doesn't want me to leave dahil napapalibutan kami ng maraming reporters, paparazzi, at mga news anchors.

Dad glanced at me, and when I look at him, he's staring at me seriously.

"It seems like you did to have an early retirement as an actress, Zara." panimula ni Dad.

Kumunot ang noo ko, "W-What? Dad what are you talking about--"

Nagulat ako ng hinawakan ng mahigpit ni Dad ang magkabilang balikat ko.

"Listen to me, Zara. Zaino's gone now. You're my only child left and I can't let your uncle's son taking over Mavros Group. You have to replace your brother's responsibility, sweetie." Seryosong saad nito.

"D-Dad, I'm---" Pinutol niya ulit ang sasabihin ko, at mas nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa kasunod na salitang binitawan niya.

"From now on Zara, you will be my successor... You're now the heiress of Mavros."

~