The Opposite of Hate (Upper Crust #1)

Chapter 35

Chapter 35
"Cardinal"

"What do we do about it?" malumanay na sabi ni Mama habang marahang hinahaplos ang buhok ko. Bakas pa rin ang kalituhan sa mga mata niya.

I looked at Papa. Hindi ko alam kung galit siya o nag-iisip lang. He didn't say a word.

"Let me be with him, Pa. We aren't siblings. I never consider him as my brother. Please, Pa."

"Ludwig," marahang tawag ni Mama sa kanya nang wala pa rin siyang kibo.

I know that it is difficult for him. He considers Aris as his own. I respect and accept what they had. At siguro iniisip niya rin ang buong pamilya, ang sasabihin ng ibang tao, and of course, Aris, kung gusto niya ba ako.

"But, Laviña, we don't know where Aris is," ani Mama.

"He has returned."

"Let's talk more about this some other time. You sleep now, Laviña. It's late and you must be tired from the gala," finally, Papa speaks.

I don't know how to explain it to them. Kung paano naging ganoon. But maybe they don't need me to explain. I am not good at putting my feelings into words.

I said to myself that I will only fight for what I feel sa oras na naitayo ko na ang sarili kong pangalan. I have established what I can call mine, from my sweat and blood. So I have something to show my parents and our whole clan. Para kung tumutol man sila may ipagmamalaki na ako.

Pero palagi, kapag si Aris ang usapan, I could not stick to the plan. My patience always snaps when it comes to him. Pero hindi ko rin kayang tuluyang pangatawanan. I have reservations. I have fears and doubts.

Ngayon ay wala pa rin akong nararating at napapatunayan. I am still under the shadow of my family name. Kung hihintayin ko pang magawa ko ang lahat ng iyon, then maybe I will be too late. Sinabi ni Mama na if it's meant for you it will come back, no matter how long it will take, how many seasons will pass, how many turn of the year there is... but I can no longer wait. I think waiting will eventually cost me to lose my mind.

Aris could be with someone else now. Si Viviana Boero. I know I said that I only want to talk to him para humingi ng tawad, but the moment it completely sinks in me that he can love again, that he can love someone else bigger and greater than what he had with me, I couldn't take it. Pero kung totoo nga na may iba na, then I shouldn't interfere with them, right? Hindi tamang makasira ng relasyon.

He gave me his everything, bare his soul and gave all his love... but I couldn't give him anything. At sigurado, kayang tapatan iyon ng iba. Kayang ibigay lahat sa kanya. Ng mas higit pa.

But I could not just let it be... Hindi hanggang siya mismo ang magtulak sa akin. Ang magsabing wala na akong babalikan at makukuha pa.

I handed my resignation to our Chief Operating Officer. She glanced at it.

"Isn't it too soon?" aniya, seryoso ang mga tingin. "Does your father know?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

Tumango-tango siya. "Then there's nothing for me to do but accept this."

"Thank you, Ma'am."

After finishing all the work that needs to be done, nagkita naman kami nina Terrie. Mabuti at hindi sa club ang punta namin. I don't think I can resist alcohol. Well, we are having wine now. At least not a hardcore.

Tahimik ako at walang balak ipaalam sa kanila ang pag-alis ko sa Ricaforte Liquors.

"Nakakaloka, our batchmates are getting married every now and then," ani Yancy. Hindi mabitawan ang phone sa kaka-post.