Bossy Bree

26 Consequences

BREE POV

Everybody were in their best suits and gowns at the prestigious event. I too, have carefully chosen what I'll wear tonight.  I made sure I look my best with my mauve colored empire-cut gown that made me look regal. My make up is on point and my hair curled to perfection. Overall, my appearance made me look grand but at the same time sultry and alluring.

Kanina pa nagsimula ang pamimigay ng award at nangawit at masakit na din ang palad ko kakapalakpak pero walang De Vega pa rin akong nasisilayan. Not that I know how he looks like, but I'm waiting for him to receive the award so that I can corner him after.

"Ward, wala pa rin ba si Mr. De Vega?" Tanong ko sa binatang katabi ko habang nililigid ko ang tingin sa paligid.

"Nope. I haven't seen him yet. Baka mamaya pa ang award ng mga bigatin o baka representative lang niya ang dadalo." Ani Howard habang halatang nag-eenjoy ng pag-inom ng wine niya.

"This is a waste of time Ward. I don't even know if he's coming. And I already accepted my award. Maybe it's time I go home?" Naiinip na ani ko.

"Your call." Sagot lang niya na para bang ayaw rin niya mag-commit at masisi ko kung sakaling nagsayang lang ako ng oras sa pagdalo.

"Ugh! But I really need to talk to De Vega! Mag-ikot-ikot kaya ako? I think I might spot him. He's in his seventies, right? I think I might have seen his face before when he visited my dad's funeral." Suhestiyon ko na ikinailing naman ni Howard.

"Did Devauer not tell you?  The old De Vega died two years ago. You should be searching for the successor of the De Vega empire." Seryosong ani Howard.

"What?! Hindi ko alam." Nagmamadaling inilabas ko ang cellphone ko at hinanap sa search engine ang tungkol doon.  "It's not even on the internet!" Dagdag reklamo ko pa.

"The De Vegas pay a lot of money to silence the media. They value their privacy way too much because of an incident that happened in the past. Hindi mo ba alam ang tungkol sa controversy noon na nakapalibot sa pamilyang De Vega?" Howard said and it made me curious as hell.

"No. What is it about?! I didn't know." Mukhang excited naman si Howard na magkwento ng dumeretso pa ito ng upo.

"You see, nakwento lang ito sa akin ng abuelo ko kaya mapapatotohanan ko ang controversy noon. Abuelo is not really my lolo pero halos sa kanya na ako lumaki kasama ng dalawang apo niya. Remember when I told you I want you to meet Vanna and Macky but you were always busy? Palagay ko magkakasundo..."

"Are we still on the same page Ward?! Akala ko ba tungkol ito sa De Vega?" Putol ko sa pagkukuwento ni Howard. Not that I'm not interested with Howard's family but I'm impatient when business is concern. And right now, De Vega is my business.

"Heto naman! Nagkukwento lang naman ako ng tungkol sa akin. Okay... heto na nga... My abuelo and the business mogul Guillermo De Vega and also Tito Edgar are good friends from way back. They kept in touch for so many years. Sabi ni Abuelo sa akin na nagkaroon daw ng illegitimate child si Guillermo De Vega. Not everybody knows about this up until now." Napatango-tango ako sa pagkukwento ni Howard.

"And then?" Pag-eengganyo ko kay Howard para magpatuloy.

"Then the girl whom Guillermo got pregnant wanted marriage. But Guillermo refused because she was poor and does not meet the standards of a wife of a prominent family. Pinaglaban ni babae na kailangan siyang pakasalan ni Guillermo dahil buntis na nga siya. She even went public about it."

"And I'm guessing that the De Vegas used their money to shut the media up?" Dugtong ko na ikinatango ni Howard.

"Imbis na paniwalaan si babae ng publiko, siya pa ang pinaratangan na sinungaling at gold digger. Crazy right?!" Naiiling na ani Howard.

"Yeah. So what happened to her?" Curious na tanong ko.

"Guillermo didn't like the idea of siring an heir from her. He wanted the child to be aborted, but the girl didn't abort the child. The girl runaway and hides from Guillermo and raise their son on her own. Hindi nagkaanak si Guillermo sa naging asawa niya kalaunan. Instant karma, right?!" Napatango tango naman ako.

"And so with all his money and no one to leave it with?! Ano sa tingin mo ang gagawin niya?"

"Of course, he'll look for his heir. Illegitimate or not." Sagot ko naman habang napapailing.

"Right! And he found him, his only heir that he was desperately trying to kill before it was even born. Ang pagkakaalam ko si Tito Edgar pa ang nakahanap ng anak ni Guillermo."

"Si daddy?!" Napadetereso ako ng upo ng mabanggit niya ang daddy ko.

"Yeah. Naikwento iyan sa akin ni Tito Edgar, binilin pa nga niya na na ipaalam ko daw kay Abuelo na nahanap na niya ang anak ni Guillermo. Two years ago Guillermo passed away and I guess the father and son reconciled. Hence, the new successor." Mahabang kwento ni Howard.

"Whoa! Your abuelo and my dad should have chosen a better friend! Paano nasikmura ni De Vega na sabihing ipa-abort ang sarili niyang anak! Good thing the girl escaped!"

"I agree." Tatango-tangong ani Howard.

Nakuha ang atensiyon ko ng presenter ng marinig ko ang pangalan na tinawag nito. Ang pangalan na kanina ko pa hinihintay na marinig at ang nagmamay-ari non.

"He's here." Ani Howard sanhi para mabilis na hanapin ng mata ko ang lalaking naglalakad papunta sa entablado. I saw his back, he's tall, lean and his wide shoulder is evident in his polish suit. He walks with confidence of a runway model. Sa itsura pa lang ng likod ng binata ay masasabing pinagpala ito sa kakisigan.

I'm almost out of my seat trying to take a peek at his face, wanting to finally see the face of the man that I've been dying to meet. The man that I have to convince to help me make my expansion to push through or else I'll be ousted in my position as president.

But when he finally turn around, I gasped. My hand shook as I cover my mouth. Pakiramdam ko nanlamig ang buong katawan ko. At mukhang tinakasan ako ng dugo dahil sandali akong nahilo.

It's him. Clyde.

He looks different and I almost didn't recognize him, but my heart does. Ramdam ko ang matinding pagtibok ng puso ko, marahil sa pinaghalong kaba at gulat. I felt breathless as I gazed at him while he talks at the stage. Hindi na pumapasok sa utak ko ang mga sinasabi niya pero mataimtim ko lang siyang tinititigan. He doesn't wear his eyeglasses anymore and his hair doesn't have any hint of gel in it but it's brushed up in a soft mound on his head. He's also wearing a suit that fits him so well, he looks more muscular and his stance screams of confidence. He is so damn handsome that I wanted to run to him and embrace him, and never let go. I missed him so much.

Marahil naramdaman niya ang paninitig ko ng mapalingon din siya sa gawi ko. I saw him stopped talking and just stared at me. Then a girl beside him, that I didn't notice because I was too focused on him, tapped his shoulder. Doon lang parang natauhan ang lalaki at nagpatuloy sa pananalita. He didn't look at me again. Hanggang sa makababa sila ng stage at naupo sa may bandang likuran.

"Why didn't you tell me?!" Namamaos na tanong ko kay Howard. My eyes never leaving Clyde's.

"Last week ko lang nalaman na siya pala ang mailap nating building owner. The illegitimate child of De Vega. Clyde Santillan De Vega." Sagot naman ni Howard.

Anak si Clyde ng bilyonaryong si Guillermo de Vega?!  Si Clyde?! Si Clyde ang sinasabi ni daddy na nahanap niyang anak ni De Vega?!

Kaya pala ganon na lang ang galit sa akin ni Clyde. He's been denied all his life! I've been opening old wounds that he have and I didn't even know it. He must have hate me.

Even if I was thinking of him when I said those insults. I thought I was saving him from Argueles. I thought I'm shielding him from their rumors and criticsm. I thought I was protecting him. But it all backfired on me. Hindi ko man sinasadya pero nasaktan ko si Clyde kagaya ng ginawa ng ama niya sa kanya. Itinanggi, ikinahiya, kinutya at hindi ipinaglaban.

If only I can turn back the time, I would have stood by him. If only...

Oh my God! What have I done?!