Defending Mr. Billionaire (Sandoval Trilogy #1) | COMPLETED

Chapter 30

"Ma, si Yaya na d'yan!"

"Ako na, Anak. Kumain kayo ng mabuti d'yan." Tuluyan na itong umalis at iniwan kami ni Jelsey. Sumubo na lang ulit ako ng kanin samantalang si Jelsey ay tapos na pala kumain.

"Ang bilis mo ah?" Nakangiti kong sambit. Ibinaba nito ang plato sa mesa't tinitigan ako. "Oh? Gusto mo pa? Meron pa ata sa kusina."

Bahagya itong natawa at napaisip-isip. "Ang swerte mo sa mama mo 'no?"

"Tama ka d'yan." Nagawa ko pa ring ngumiti kahit may laman ang bibig ko. "Bakit? Swerte ka rin naman sa mama mo ah? May tatay ka pa nga eh."

"Matagal na akong walang nanay, Christine." Nag-iba ang timpla ng hitsura nito habang nakatingin sa kawalan.

"Meron ka, Jelsey. Pinaniniwala mo palagi ang sarili mo na wala ka nang nanay kaya 'yan na ang katotohanan para sayo. Meron kang nanay, Jelsey. Meron." Huminga ako nang malalim at tumingin sa kaniya.

"Pokpok ang nanay ko, Christine, okay? Wala akong nanay na pokpok." Inilihis nito ang tingin mula sa akin.

Tapos na rin ako kumain kaya inilapag ko na sa lamesa ang aking pinggan. Kinuha naman ni Yaya Sising ang mga pinagkainan namin at siya na ang nagdala sa kusina. Tinapik ko nang marahan ang balikat ni Jelsey at tinitigan. "Did you ever consider making it up to your mother? Like bonding or reconciliation."

Jelsey chuckled and looked at me like I told her a joke. "That will never happen."

"H'wag kang magsalita ng tapos, Jelsey." Nang sabihin ko 'yon ay napatingin ito sa akin. "I mean, you two still have a lot of time. Marami pang pwedeng mangyari habang nabubuhay tayo. May tsansa pa rin kayong magkabati ng mama mo."

She gave me a weak smile and avoided her gaze from me. Hindi ito tumugon sa aking sinabi.

"How 'bout your father?"

"He's doing well with his new family." she replied timidly. "Wala rin namang kwenta 'yon. Mukha pang pera. He even tried to sell my car without my permission! Nakakagago 'di ba?"

Bahagya akong natawa sa kaniyang tinuran. Kahit kailan talaga'y bastos ang bunganga nito. Well, parehas naman kami. Mas madalas lang ang pagmumura niya. "Tama ka naman d'yan. How was your relationship with him?"

"As usual. Bigyan ko raw siyang ten thousand kada buwan para raw 'di niya ako guluhin. Gago 'di ba? Tangina. Mas gugustuhin niya pa raw ang pera ko kaysa makasama ako."

"Gago nga." I seconded.

She laughed a bit and looked at me intently. "Salamat, Christine. Sobra. . ." Niyakap ako nito't nagsimulang humikbi.

°°°

"Let watch this next video."

We were now watching Villaluna's drafts from Sandoval's camera. Though, we already copied it to our laptops. Sa laptop lang kami ni Jelsey nanonood ngayon dahil lowbat na 'yong laptop ko. Hapon na rin, naulan pa sa labas.

Perfect weather to chill and relax, but we have to finish this first so we can proceed to our next investigation.

"Hello, amazing people! This is us again, me and my fiancé, Anthony." Charisse said while beaming at the camera. She looked at Sandoval and she was like. . . signalling him to smile or something. The latter smiled awkwardly. "What the fvck are you doing, Anthony----?"

Then the video was cut.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Jelsey kaya alam ko na kung anong ibig niyang sabihin. All of Sandoval's drafts were like. . . both of them are fighting. I mean, all of that were initiated by Charisse Villaluna. She's very agressive. Hindi ko nga alam kung pinapatulan ni Sandoval dahil naka-cut ang videos.

Anyways, we already proceed to the next video.

"We are now preparing our dinner for tonight. Hon, what's that?" Lumapit si Charisse kay Sandoval at niyakap ito habang nakatingin sa niluluto ng huli.

"Chili con carne, Hon." Sandoval replied with a noticeable fake smile.

Charisse's face got a bit angry again so she turned off her vlogging stance and looked at Sandoval straightly. "I know you're supposed to say----!" Then the video was cut again.

"Supposed to say what?" Jelsey suddenly commented. Nakatinginan kami't napakunot ang noo. "Supposed to say. . ."

Napaawang ang aking labi sa aking na-realize. "I think we should watch more."

Sabay naming pinindot ang isa pang video kasunod ng pinanood namin kanina. Ngayon ay nasa mall naman sila, nakain sa isang restaurant. They look so good and sweet together. But there's always something off and weird. Basta medyo hindi smooth pakinggan o tingnan ang mga kilos at mga sinasabi nila.

It felt like they're following a step ahead of them. Hmm.

"Kain ka, Hon, oh." Sinubuan ni Charisse si Sandoval ng french fries at ngumiti. "It tastes good, right?"

Sandoval smiled. "Yes, it is." Hinaplos nito ang mukha ni Charisse at hinalikan siya sa noo. "I love you, Hon."

Charisse smiled and said, "I love you too, Hon." She then smiled and looked at the camera.

"Oh, fvcking wait. Pause it!" I suddenly shouted while pointing my finger to the screen. Mabilis na napindot ni Jelsey ang pause button at tumingin sa akin nang nakakunot ang noo. Inilapit ko ang aking mukha sa screen at tinitigan nang maigi ang mga mata ni Charisse. "Jelsey, look at this."

I pointed Charisse's zoomed eyes on the video. Tinitigan din ito ni Jelsey nang matagal sa harap ng screen. Nang makita na niya ang gusto kong makita ay napatingin din ito sa akin nang nakakunot ang noo. "A paper?"

I nodded and looked at the screen again. "What if it's scripted? Like they're following a script while vlogging?"

"It could be the restaurant's menu, though." Jelsey second thought.

"That would be a possibility." Tumingin muli ako kay Jelsey at napakamot sa aking ulo. "But why would Charisse put the menu behind the camera?"

Jelsey was about to say something but the ringing phone hindered it. When I looked onto my phone, it was Severina Hemsworth. I immediately answered the call and placed it on my ear. Nagtanong si Jelsey kung sino raw ito. Sabi ko si Rina. Dahan-dahan lang siyang tumango at nanood na ulit ng videos.

"Hello, Rina?" I asked while yawning. Kanina pa kasi ako inaantok. Tapos wala pa ajong ukog kagabi dahil nagpuyat ako sa panonood ng videos nila Sandoval.

"I guess we already have the same theory."

Napangiti ako sa kaniyang sinabi.

"I think it's fvcking scripted."