Rule #3: Changing The Rules

[48]

Chapter 48

Ang hirap tanggapin ng totoo. Para akong pinatay ng paulit-ulit sa sunod-sunod na pangyayari sa buhay ko.

I always treasured my name because of our prestigious background. Anak ako ni Mommy na isang Buenavista at ni Daddy na isang Gallego. One of the richest families in the Philippines who holds a lot of power in the country due to their wealth.

It's not any different from the Iñarez because they hold the same power. The Iñarez family owns the biggest convenience stores in the country and abroad. They are as wealthy and as powerful as us, walang pinagkaiba sa pamilyang kinalakihan ko.

But it's not the case here. Isang taon ang agwat namin ni Janelle. May kapatid din siyang mas matanda sa kanya at ganoon din ako. If I'm Tito Vance's daughter... then that means that I'm a child out of an affair?

Hindi ako makagalaw sa kinauupuan ko. The thought of being an illegitimate child infruriated me. I may be Mommy's legitimate daughter by paper, pero anak naman niya ako sa labas at ganon din ang totoo kong ama.

The thing I hate the most is cheating... pero ako rin pala mismo ang bunga ng kasalanan na iyon.

Is that it, then? Kaya ba ako naloloko ng ganito dahil ako ang nagbabayad sa kasalanan na ginawa ng mga magulang ko?

Was I meant to exist only to suffer the consequences of their actions?

I'm disgusted with my own existence. Anak ako ng dalawang taong nagtaksil sa mga asawa nila. Hindi ko alam kung paano pa ba ako mamumuhay ng maayos matapos malaman ang masakit na katotohanan.

"This does not change anything, Elisse. Anak kita. He's your father by blood, but I am the father that you know. I am your only father." mariin na sabi ni Daddy.

My tongue tied while aggressively playing with my hands. Isang malalim na paghinga ang pinakawalan ko, pilit pinapakalma ang sarili.

"Does he know?" my fists clenched as I closed my eyes in pain.

I heard Daddy's deep sigh.

"He knows..."

Binuksan ko ang mga mata ko at pinilit na hindi maging apektado sa nalaman.

He sighed. "That's why I wanted you to be away from him. Anak kita, Elisse. You're not his. Siya man ang tunay mong ama pero ako ang kinalakihan mo."

"But I thought you had me tested? There has to be some mistake, Daddy! You told me that I am your daughter! You assured me that!" mariin kong bigkas.

"I did... but I hid the truth from your mother. Vance knew about it because he wanted to know the truth too. He secretly conducted a DNA test because he believes that you are his daughter," pumikit ng mariin si Daddy. He messed up his hair in frustration. "Nakiusap ako sa kanya. I told him not to tell Elizia for the sake of our family's peace. May asawa't mga anak din siya na ayaw niyang masaktan. We agreed to live like that for years..."

"Elizia wasn't sure of your father's identity. Hindi niya alam kung ako o si Vance ba ang ama. I don't know if she eventually knew who it was but I told her that I am your father when the results came."

Hindi ako makasalita. Wala akong masabi dahil sa mga sunod-sunod na bagay na pumapasok sa isip ko.

"I did that because I love your mother, Elisse... tiniis ko lahat para sa kanya." he smiled sadly.

"And now that I am here and I'm about to be convicted... kaya kong tanggapin kung magiging masaya na silang dalawa. Pero ikaw... their one and only daughter. I want to claim you as mine. Kahit ikaw nalang at ang kuya mo ang matira sa akin."