Chapter 5

“Bye po!” Sabi ko sa parents nina Ashley at Anthony.

“Kita nalang tayo sa school Shang” paalam naman ni Ashley sa akin.

“Yup, sa school na lang” sagot ko nan. Hindi ko maiwasang mapatingin kay Anthony na nakatingin rin pala sa akin sa mga oras na iyon.

“See you at school” sambit niya sa akin.

 Napatingin nam an ako.

“See you” hiHindi ko siya masyadong matignan kaya inilipat ko nalang ang tingin ko kay Klein.

“Bye” sabi niya sa akin.

“Bye Klein” sagot ko dito.

“Bye!” Sigaw ko ulit habang kumakaway at nakatanaw sa papalayo ng van. Pagtalikod ko palang, papasok na sana ako sa bahay dala ang mga maleta ko ng kinuha na iyon ng mga helpers sa bahay. Nagpasalamat nalang ako at binaybay na ang daan patungo sa bahay namin. Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit nauso na malayo pa ang gate mula sa mismong bahay. Nakakatamad kayang maglakad. Mabuti na lang sa tapat ng bahay nila ako hinatid.

On the entrance of our house I was greeted by the aligned house staffs.

“Welcome back, young miss” sabay sabay nilang bati at yumuko bilang paggalang.

“Thank you, anyway, where’s Nanay?” tanong ko sa kanila.

“Nasa loob po ng kusina, ipinagluto kayo ng paborito ninyo” sabi ng isang katulong. Kahit kumain naman kami sa byahe papunta rito kanina ay nagutom nalang ako bigla.

Dali-dali akong nagpunta sa kusina para matikman ang luto ni nanay. Minsan lang ako lutuan ni Nanay dahil kadalasan ang personal chef ko ang nagluluto. Kaya talagang espesyal para sa akin pag-ipinagluluto ako ni nanay. Masarap din kasi siyang magluto.

“Nanay, I miss you!” malakas na bati ko sa kanya dahilan para magulat siya. Nakatalikod kasi siya sa akin kanina kaya hindi niya napansin na nandito na ako.

“Natasha! Ikaw talagang bata ka, ginulat mo naman ako.” Napahawak pa sa dibdib na aniya ni Nanay. I chuckled and gave her a tight hug.

“I miss you po!”

“I miss you too, sige na, pumunta ka na sa dining at nang makakain ka na”sabi ni nanay habang inihahanda ang mga iniluto niya.

“Opo!” masayang sagot ko dito. Naaamoy ko na ang sinigang at humba ni Nanay, shet!halos mapalaway na pala ako.

“Thank you” sabi ko sa mga katulong habang inilapag nila sa lamesa ang mga pagkain.

“You’re welcome, young miss” magalang naman nilang sagot at umalis na.

“Oh, ano masarap ba?” tanong ni nanay sa akin.

Napatingin siya sa lalagyan ng kanin na hindi ko namalayang halos maubos ko na pala. At sa sinigang na nangangalahati na sa bowl. Pati na rin sa humba na kaunti nalang ang natira.

Napatiim naman ang tingin niya sa akin. Para bang anytime eh, lalamunin na niya ako. Shota! Nangangamoy sermon!

“Hindi ka ba pinapakain nila Ma’am Criselle? Bakit kung kumain ka parang isang Linggo kang walang kain ah?”

“Namiss ko lang ang luto ninyo Nay, ano ba naman kayo. Ako na nga lang ang nakaka-appreciate ng luto ninyo pinagdadamutan niyo pa ako” nakangisi na parang batang sagot ko. Napatawa nalang at napailing si nanay. Aba’y kasalanan ko ba kung nasarapan ako masyado sa ulam? Hindi naman talaga ako matakaw. Sadyang masarap lang talaga ang ulam.

“Young miss, your parents are here and they want to talk to you.” One of the house staff informed me.

Mom and dad is here? Himala, sunod sunod yata ang dalaw nila ah?

“Ok, where are they?” tanong ko sa babaeng hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin itinataas ang ulo. I really don’t understand their way of respect. It’s too much, way too much.

“They are at their office miss” sagot naman niya.

“Ok ,thanks you can go now” I said, dismissing her.

When the house maid left. I faced Nanay. As the asking for the reason why they are here. But she shook her head telling that she don’t know either.

“Una po muna ako Nay” sabi ko sa kanya.

“Sige sige” nodding her head.

I knocked on the office’s door.

“Come in”

"Good afternoon, mom, dad" bati ko sa kanilang dalawa. Dad was reading papers when I came on while my mom is just calling someone on the phone. My dad put down the papers as well as his spectacles.

"Good afternoon, take a seat we want to talk to you" My dad said with authority.

I looked at my mom, she too, looked serious. I don't know what are we going to talk about. As far as i know I've done nothing wrong.

"Well, are you friends with Hansel Veloso?" My dad asked. So what about it?

"Yes, why?" Looking at them both, I can feel that there is something wrong.

"Stay away from her" my mom said coldly.

My jaw nearly dropped. They never came for important reason but this? They'll just barge in and tell me to stat away from my friend. Are they nuts?

"Why?"

"Oh, so you still don't know?" My mom said to me, raising her brows.

I have always been respectful towards them but I'm losing my patience.

"Can you both please get straight to the point? What do I need to know?" I asked. Now controlling my voice, restraining my irritation.

My Mom looked at me seriously, so as my Dad.

"Well, the Veloso is facing a controversy right now. Carlos is accused of Sexually abusing his secretary, because of that a lot of their investors backed out and they are in the verge of bankruptcy. If you'll continue hanging out with Hansel, your name as well as ours might be affected." I was shocked at that news. I have always known kuya Carlos, Hansel's big brother as a cassanova, yes, Carlos Veloso, is a known playboy. A walking sex machine. But he never needed to abuse anyone since it is the girls who are dying to get a chance to have him. And i know kuya as a person, he might be a playboy but he is not evil. I don't believe in this sh*t!This is a big problem.

I looked at them seriously,

"My friends are my friends. Friends don't leave one another just because one of them is facing a problem."

"Can you hear yourself? Her brother is a rapist! Aren't you afraid?" My mom said. Dad just looked at me, I can't read his thoughts.

"Mom, he is accused, it is still not proven. Stop calling him names"

"You know what? I really don't care who hang out with, only that it reflects on us and our empire. So please stop doing things that can ruin us! We've worked hard for the company and we won't take any chances for it's fall. You got that?" Eyeing me intently she said those words.

"It won't get ruined just because of this mess. You both know that. The roots of that company is buried deep. It's hard to destroy it"

"So you want us to not do anything? Huh? To just ignore it because our company is established enough? Natasha! For once think about the company and not just yourself!"

Both of you always think about the company, why would i commit my self in that too? If I would then there's no one else that would think about me?

"Mom, the company won't get affected I promise you that. I would do anything to help my friend and keep our company away from any possible destruction"

"It's good that you know you're role. You are the only heiress of our empire and it should only the empire and the empire alone that's gonna be important to you. You should think about it's status, you understand"

"Yes mom"

"And if ever Carlos will be proven guilty, you have to stay away from them, even from Hansel."

"I know him Mom, he won't do such thing, he doesn't need to anyway"

"Dear, lust is something that make you crazy,drive you crazy. That you won't know the difference between good and bad. Unless after you let that out. Right, Lester?" She said and turned to Dad. Dad was looking at her intently. Too intently at that.

"Youcan go now. Just remember never do anything that can ruin our name" Dad said coldly, dismissing me.

"Hello" I said as I answered the phone.

"Have you already heard about it?" Ashley said on the other line, her voice panicking.

"Yes, my parents told me"

"It's all over the internet! Goodness! We have to check on Hansel" She said and i can hear some noises.

"Asan ka ngayon?" I asked her.

"I'm at a bus. Nagmamadali na ako kanina no'ng malaman ko ang nangyari. Papunta ako sa inyo, sabay na tayo pumunta sa kanila Hansel"

"Nandito ang parents ko" I said. The line went silent. Maybe she is now hesitating whether to go here or not.

My Mom and Dad had always been Firm and strict. They are not the one that would call you names but would always let you feel too inferior. And my friends had already experienced that.

"Sige magkita nalang tayo sa bahay nila Hansel." Kung wala lang kaming problemang kinahaharap ngayon, tumawa na talaga ako.

"Sige" sagot ko at ibinaba na ang tawag. After changing i immediately went to our garage. Well, my garage. Since I'm a racer, I've got my own garage at home. I picked my Lamborghini Murceilago and quickly drive to Hansel's house.

I ignored the house maids that greeted me and immediately went inside. As i entered the living room i heard a slap. The slap was too strong that it made a loud impact.

"You disgust me" that was the only word their mother said to kuya Carlos and walked out.

It was a heavy atmosphere. Their dad walked out too. Leaving us, me, Hansel, Ashley, kuya Carlos, and Kian, kuya Carlos' best friend

I looked at kuya Carlos who is blankly staring at the floor. His tears flowing. But his eyes remain blank, not even blinking.

"It's not true right? Kuya, tell me it is not" Hansel begged. Crying she embraced her brother and repeatedly begged.

"Please tell me it's not"

"I-i love her" was all kuya Carlos said. It was enough for us to conclude that he is admitting it.

It wasn't long before kuya Carlos' faced other direction. He was slapped by Hansel. It was much more intense than her mother's slap. Too intense that his lips bleed.

But it still wasn't enough for Hansel, she punched him in the face, and in the gut, and slapped him again. She was punching him while tears are streaming down her face. When she was finally satisfied, she stooped and looked t her brother, anger, pain and hatred so as disppointment in the eyes.

"How can you be so evil"

Without looking at her kuya Carlos smiled sadly.

"I just loved, that's all" And with that Hansel walked out. Sinundan namin siya ni Ashley. She stopped at the garden and there she wailed. She cried so hard but we are just there. Giving her some space since that's the only way we can help. To just be there as she cries.