Forbidden Desire

Chapter 16

Stupid me. He won't marry my mother if he didn't love her. Kasi kung tutuosin, na sa kanya na ang lahat. Pera, kapangyarihan, at pagiging sikat. He loves my mother and not me. Those three words he spit was a lie.

Keep convincing yourself, Keith. Diyan ka naman magaling, e.

I took a deep breath as lone tear escape from my left eye. Hindi ko ito pinahiran. Hinayaan ko na lang itong tumulo dahil wala akong lakas para punasan pa ito.

A sob escape my lips as I whispered, "Daddy, I hope you're here."

--

"Are you sure you're okay?" uncle Baron asked for the nth time.

He's been asking me that questions for a couple of time now. Kanina niya pa akong umaga kinukulit.

"I'm fine, uncle," I responded to his question.

"Did something happen in your vacation?" tanong ulit nito at umupo sa vistor's chair sa harap ng mesa ko. "You didn't even take a quick break. Nag-lunch ka ba?"

Binaba ko ang ballpen at nag-angat sa kanya ng tingin. I forced a smile and nodded my head. "Ayos lang naman ako, uncle. I'm just a little bit sleepy. I didn't have a proper sleep last night."

"Why?"

Nakagat ko ang aking ibabang labi at napayuko. Sorry, daddy. "Na-miss ko lang si daddy. I remembered that every vacation, he would take me to Bali and let me enjoy my life to the fullest."

Tumango-tango na naman ito na parang kumbinsido. "Alright. Anyway, your new secretary would be here for your personal interview."

Nginitian ko lang ito at tinanguhan muli akong nagpatuloy sa pagbabasa ng mga dokumento na kinakailangan kong permahan at intindihin.

"Kieth, someone wants to talk to you," saad ni uncle.

"Who? I'm busy at the moment," I replied; not bothering to look at him.

"Keith," pagtawag ng isang pamilyar na boses.

Doon ko na inangat ang tingin ko at bumungad sa 'kin si Marco na nakangiti at may dalang bulaklak ng tulips na kulay lila. Uncle excused himself and walked out of the room, leaving me alone with Marco.

"Oh, Marco. Napadalaw ka." Tumayo ako at iminuwestra ang sofa dito sa loob ang aking opisina.

"Stop faking your smile. Hindi nababagay sa 'yo." He handed me the bouqet of violet tulips. "Here, accept my love."

Natawa ako sa sinabi nito. Umupo ako sa mahabang sofa at tumabi naman ito sa 'kin. "Seryoso, alam kong may rason kung bakit ka nandito. Ano 'yun?"

Ang nakangiting mukha nito ay napalitan ng pagkaseryoso. "Kiara called me last night, saying you're wasted and crying. I asked her the reason and she told me to ask you personally because it's not her story to tell. Care to share it with me? Sinong nagpaiyak sa 'yo?"

Parang otomatikong bumuka ang bibig ko ang sinatinig ang pangalang kinamumuhian ko, "Leslie."

I saw how Marco's jaw clenched. He ran his fingers through his hair and looked at me. "What did he do to you this time?"

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko at tuluyan nang umiyak. The last string that controlled my tears was gone. I burst out crying like a baby in front of Marco.

"I fell in love with him," I confessed. "T-tapos sabi niya na laro lang daw lahat. Na pag-uutos lamang daw 'yun ni mommy at—"

He pulled my hand and wrapped his arms around me for a warm embrace. Mas lalo pa yata akong naiiyak dahil sa pag-aalo niya.