The Lost Billionaire (MBBC#9)

42

Reeve

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"Hindi mo siya anak, Reeve. That kid is not yours to begin with."

My jaw tightened, and my heart deflated.

Dammit.

"Are you sure, Mors? Did you check well? How come? Dammit." I swore in silence and turned around. I felt like everyone is playing on me, including Melissa.

"Oo, sigurado ako, Reeve. Inulit ko pa ito. Pinaulit ko sa laboratoryo. Hindi mo talaga anak ang bata. Here's the record."

"That's bullshit, Mors. Inabot mo nga, pero sinabi mo na resulta sa loob. Nasaan ba ang excitement n'yan? You are a fucking kill joy, Mors. It's written all over your forehead, dickhead!" Suntok ni Diezel ang balikat ni Morris at bahagyang natawa ito. Napatiim-bagang ako at agad na binasa ang resulta.

Tama si Morris. Hindi ko nga anak si Madison.

"And who the hell is Madison? I'm fucking sure that Melissa—oh, damn this! I don't want to accept this!" 

Inihagis ko ang papel pabalik sa mukha ni Morris at nagtagpo ang kilay niya. Natawang bahagya si Diezel.

"Stop smiling like a fucking lunatic, gorilla! It's not funny!" si Morris sa kanya.

"Where's Melissa, Reeve?" agad na tanong ni Morris at pinulot ang mga papel sa lupa.

"Nasa studio. Iniwan ko pansamantala." I sighed and looked at the time on my wristwatch. It's past three o'clock in the morning.

"I want to do another DNA test, a nd this time, it's for Melissa and Madison," I ordered and gritted my teeth.

"Are you serious, man? Ano na naman ba ang pumasok sa utak mo at sa tingin mo hindi anak ni Melissa ang bata? So kaninong anak si Madison? Anak ni Frank sa ibang babae at si Melissa ang nag-alaga ganun ba?" Diezel snorted. His ideas are flying like mine.

"Oh, well, I can do that. No worries. A maximum of three days again. You have to give me more money. I need to feed the crocodiles around. Their effing mouth is opening like fucking fountain." Morris chuckled and shook his head.

"I will. I will wire some when I get home. I have to go. Ayaw kong magising si Melissa at wala ako sa tabi niya."

"What the fuck? Are you two okay now? Did the two of you make up with bloody kisses and make-up?" Diezel smiled like an idiot.

"Isn't it obvious? Reeve smelled wonderful, like a woman's scent. Walang amoy si Reeve sa totoo lang. And that scent covering him now is Melissa's scent. They obviously. . . you know." Morris winked to Diezel, and I lost my effing temper.

"Tumahimik nga kayong dalawa! I have no time for this. I have a big fight to face after this." I composed myself, getting ready to be out again.

"Yes, I know that, Reeve. You are going to have a shit fight after tonight. Remember? Melissa is married to Frank, man, and you just fucked his wife. You will be in prison for that." Diezel warned me.

"I don't fucking care." I whirled around and stepped out. They followed me.

"Yeah, we don't fucking care, ai. Shit happens when it comes to the heart. That's why I covered mine with thorns."

"Idiota!" Sapak ni Morris sa ulo ni Diezel at napayuko ito.

"One of these days, you will eat your effing cactus heart."

Naupo na ako sa pwesto at pinaandar ko na ang sasakyan. Pero ang walanghiyang si Diesel ay sumakay lang din sa pampasaherong pwesto rito.

"I have to accompany you, Reeve. Mapupugutan ako ng ulo ni Linus kapag namatay ka. Mahirap na. Baka susulpot si Frank. Mas mabuting may kasama kang guwardiya." Kindat niya at napailing ako sa sarili.

"Take the gorilla with you, Reeve. Just shut your ears for the time being if he's too noisy."

"Me? Am I being noisy? Damn, Mors. I don't talk shit, you know. I just like to look around and eat. That's all is my service."

"Dickhead! I will see you tomorrow, Reeve." Turo nang kamay ni Morris sa akin at sinapak niya ulit si Diezel sa ulo. Hindi na nakaganti ito dahil pinatakbo ko na ang sasakyan.

I inhaled deeply while thinking of the little boy.

Damn, this. So, Madison is not my son? If so? Who's the fucking father of the boy?

Dammit.

I will never forgive Melissa if it happens that Madison is her son to Frank. I will probably commit suicide again. Shit.

"Chillax, Reeve. You are running one hundred and thirty, man. Chill and get back to a hundred. You don't want to get demerits for that."

Napamura ako nang matitigan ang speedo ng sasakyan. Hindi ko namalayan na mabilis na pala ang takbo ng kotseng ito.

Nakarating kami, at sa front guard na muna si Diezel nanatili. Kasama niya ang nag-iisang security guard sa studio na ito, si Peter.

Pumasok ako sa itaas at namasdan ko agad ang likod ni Melissa. Nagpipinta siya. Nahinto akong saglit at napakuyom kamao sa sarili.

I took a deep breath and exhaled air out heavily. She then noticed me.

"I'm sorry. I-I am finishing the painting, Reeve. Mas mabuting matapos ko na ito at nang sa ganoon ay wala na akong. . ."

Nahinto siya nang yumakap ako sa likurang bahagi niya.

I felt my blood rise the moment I know that Madison is not mine. I felt angry again. But then, after seeing her like this, I just want to keep her for myself.

Takot na ako, at hangga't maari ay ayaw ko nang bumalik si Melissa sa piling ni Frank. I wouldn't care less about Frank, but of course when it comes to the little boy, I have my consideration at heart.

"Madison? Is Madison your son?"

She swallowed hard, and it took her a while to answer me back. I rolled my tongue as I felt my heart ripping apart.

Damn this. I don't want to know the answer to this. Hindi pa ako handa na malaman ang tungkol sa bata. Ayaw kong marinig mula sa kay Melissa na anak n'ya ito, at si Frank ang ama.

"Uhm, he, he is. . ."

"It's alright, and it doesn't matter to me at all, Melissa." I cut her off and rested my chin on her shoulder. I kissed her the side of her neck and pressed her body against mine. I don't want to let go of her, and I don't want her to stress out about this matter.

"I don't fucking care anymore, Mel. Wala akong pakialam kung anak mo siya kay Frank. I will love him and make him as my own." Sinubsob ko na ang mukha ko sa gilid ng leeg niya at rinig ko ang pagbuntong-hininga niya sa sarili.

"Where is he now? Who's looking after him?"

I let go of her a little bit, and she looked me in the eyes. Halata ang pag-aalala sa mga mata niya, pero alam kong akin siya. She's mine, and I can tell that by how she looked me in the eyes.

"He is with Dianne and Montreal. Sa susunod na araw ko siya makukuha. Hindi ko naman kasi puwedeng isama siya rito. Hindi ko matatapos ang pagpipinta."

Napaigting ang panga ko at tinitigan ko ang ginawa niya. I took a step towards it and then face back at her. Nasa harap na niya ako ngayon.

"Melissa. . ." I whispered as I caressed her face, and she shut her eyes.

"Take him with you, and I will look after him. I want to know the boy. I want to get to know him." 

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