Taming The Beast (Ruthless Series #1)

Kabanata 23

Sa byahe ay tinawagan ko si Dad. And he answered the phone after three rings. I clenched my jaw the moment that I heard his voice. This voice, is the voice of the man I loved.

I close my eyes, forbidding my self to cry.

"Hello, Leviathan?" You called? Something's wrong? I'm sorry I havent talked to you in a while. I was so busy with so many cases and you're mom helps me managing the firm. I'm sorry we became too busy."

Hmmm. Napangisi ako sa narinig at napatawa ng mapakla. Ramdam ko ang pagkatigil ni Dadd sa kabilang linya.

"Leviathan?" He called. I smirked. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa manibela bago sumagot.

"Yes dad, busy with what?Hmmm" I paused.

"Firm and cases of course, hija Ano pa ba naman ang ibang pagkakaabalahan ko?" he said awkwardly laughing.

"Maybe your another daughter? Hmm." Natahmik ang nasa kabilang linya. Naoangisi na lang ako at mas hinigpitan pa ang hawak sa manibela habang madilim na nakatingin sa daan.

"W-what are you talking about, Leviathan? Other daughter? Is this joke time, hija? Haha" he said still laughing awkwardly... and I can sense the panic in his voice.

Pinunasan ko ang luhang lumabas sa aking pisngi. Hindi ko kailanman naisip na magiging ganito kagulo ang perpekto kong pamilya. Ang pamilyang akala ko'y perpekto.

"What do you think I'm talking about dad?" tiim bagang kong tanong sa kanya.

Tumikhim si Daddy, bagkus ko'y may kutob na sya na alam ko ang tungkol sa anak nya sa labas.

"Stop saying non-sense,Leviathan. You know that you are my only daughter-" Hindi ko na sya pinatapos at makakas na pinukpok ang amnibela.

"FVCK IT DAD! " Mura ko at sunod sunod na pinindot ang busina ng makita ang sasakyan na nakaharang sa daan.

"Watch your mouth, Leviathan. Hindi kita pinalaking ganyan." May pagbabanta at pangangaral sa tono nya.

Umirap lang ako at sumadal sa upuan. Natawa akong muli ng mapakla.

Puros mapapaklang tawa at ngiti na nag napapakawalan ko ngayong araw haha. Bahagya akong natawa dhil sa naisip ko

Who would thought that behind those smile and happy moments there is a rain hiding.

"Ylena Cinstantino Rivas..." I paused. Rinig ko mula sa kabilang linya ang malalalim na paghinga ng aking ama. Napangisi na lamang ao habang nagpapatakan ang mga luha.

I swipped my tears and continue. "...she is my sister right?"

Hindi sya agad sumagad aya nagpatukoy ako. ' All this time I thought I am the only one dad. I thought that I am the only princess of this perfect family but I'm not. I'm wrong wth the two that I've mention. I'm not the only princess and this is not a perfect family. It is a family of lie.—" He cut me off.

"Leviathan. Listen to—" I cutted him of too. Nagtukoy ako sa oagsasalita hindi na alintana ang mga luha na nagbabagsakan mula sa aking mata dahil sa sakit. Sakit ng auit –ulit na naloko, magmukhang tanga at naniwala sa bagay na wala namang katotohanan.

" No, dad. Listen to me. She maybe my sister because of your blood but I will never acknowledge her as my sister. I will never accept her dad." Mahinahon ngunit matalim kong sabi.

Tahimik lamang ang nasa kabilang linya. Nanginginig ang mga labi ko na nagpauloy habang tumutulo ang mga luha.

"Sana dad, naisip mo ang mararamdaman namin ni mommy dahil sa paglilihim mo sa amin. Your secret can destroy our family. And look now it will be probably destroyed." Madiin kong sabi.

Mula sa telepeno'y rinig ko ang pagsinghot ni dad.

Pain stabbed my chest. Parang nilalatigo ang puso ko habang binibitiwan ang mga salitang iyon. I love my dad. I love him so much, but I can't accept the fact that even the man that I first love will betray me.

"I'm sorry, Leviathan." Nanginginig ang boses na sabi nya.

Kusang tumigil sa patulo ang luha ko. KAsabay ng pananatili kong tahimik. Hinayaan ko syang magsalita.

"I know my mistake, Leviathan. I'm sorry. I'll ready know about her, it's been two months I guess since she told me that she is my daughter. At first ayaw kong maniwala, Leviathan.She come to me crying gulat na gulat ako. She is crying begging for my acknowledgement, Leviathan."

"And after knowing it, you didn't even bother to tell it to me and mom." Matigas kong sabi.

"I can't take not giving her my acknowledgement after knowing that she is my daughter. She is your sister---"

"She is not my sister dad, she will never be."

"She is, Leviathan. She is. She is your sister." Basag ang boses na sabi ni dad.

Parang may punyal na tumarak sa puso ko ng marinig ang basag nyang boses. The fist man that I loved is talking to me with a broken voice.

Muli nanaman tumulo ang mga luha na akala ko ay ubos na.

" Do you know that it can broke my mom, dad? What if she'll know about Ylena who is years older done me? It means that the day that you maried my mom, she's already alive. You know kung gaan kabait si mom,dad. She is willing to sacrifice her self for others. And if mom will know it. Kapag nalaman nya na ang isang musmos na bata ay tingakalan nya ng karapatan na magkaroon ng isa ng masaya at buong pamilya habang sya ay masaya. Shewil be furious dad. Ayaw nya ng may natatapakang tao." I said at pinunasan ang luhang tumulo.

"Hindi ko alam nak. Hindi ko alam na nagkaanak ako sa nanay nya. I did not know about her nalaman ko lang –"

"Hindi mo alam? If you know about her, are you still going to marry my mom?" matapang kong pagputol sa kanya kahit labis labis ang takot ko na marinig ang sagot nya.

" I never—"

"May balak kabang sabihin samin to dad o wala? O you just plan to leave me and mom for her? Kasi naealize mo na hindi dapat ako at s mommy ang naging pamilya mo kasi mas may nauna sa amin. AMs may nauna kay mommy--" sabi ko.

"I'm going to tell it to you and your mom, Lev. Sasabihin ko, humahanap lang ako ng tyempo kasi ayoko na masira angpamilya natin anak –"

"Well sorry to say dad. But you already destroy our family. I will be leaving the country dad. Don't worry I'll let you to tell it to mom. It's up to you if you're going to tell her—"

"I'll tell her—"

"Take care of mom. I will be leaving this country. Hindi ko kayang magtiis na nalalanghap ko ang hangin na nilalahngap nyong dalawa ng anak mo sa labas. Good bye dad."

"Anak no. I'm sorry, Leviathan . I'm sorry please hija—"

I eneded the call. Tuloy tuloy sa pag-agos ang luha ko habang ngmamaneho. Hindi ko na halos makita ang daan ko. Nanlalabo ang mata ko.

I love you dad, I love you so much. I love you and mom. But I can't forgive you yet, dad. Not now. Not now na hindi ko pa alam kung anong paniniwalaan ko.

For years. I thought that I'm lucky to have a family like this. Nag-iisa ako pero nagmamahalan kami. I'm not mad because I will not be the only princess of dad. I don't care about any title. But I can't accept the fact that the man that I first love will just be like the othe men. Hindi ko kailan man naisip na lolokohin ako ng lalakng una kong minahal.

Kailan man ay hindi ko naisip na magkakaroon ako ng kapatid sa labas gaya g napapanuod ko sa telebsyon, nababasa o narirnig ko. Cause I thought that this family is perfect. But know, may lihim din pa lang nakatgo sa akala ko ay isang perpektong pamilya. I guess the saying is right, nobody is perfect, nothing is perfect. 'Cause even the family that I thought, isn't perfect.

I'm sorry, dad.maybe soon I will be able to forgive you. Hini ngayon na balot ng puot at sakit ang puso ko dad. I was betrayed by you and the man that I love because of one girl. Not now dad. Not now, but soon.