Diecisiete (Elizalde-Araneta)

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Gia's point of view

We're here sa Manila Polo Club, Dad and his amigos are playing golf while tita Irene is with her amigas chit chatting.

"So hija, how's working in your dad's company?" Tita Maricris asked.

"It's good, very comfortable naman po since im working with dad and kuya" sabi ko at ngumiti.

"That's good to hear!" She said.

I excused myself to go to dad who's talking to his amigos.

"Dad?" I asked.

"Yes sweetheart? You need anything?" He asked.

"Wala naman po, having fun?" I asked.

"Yes of course you wanna golf?" He asked.

"Kayo nalang muna po" sabi ko at nginitian ito.

"Oh my Gia!? It's been- I don't even remember!" Tito Jaime said in excitement.

"Hi tito, musta?" I asked and kissed his cheeks.

"Well life's good, sorry we weren't able to attend your mom's funeral" he said and held my hand.

"It's fine po, mom would understand naman" sabi ko.

"Hmm, have you seen Mariana and Danel already? As what I know they're just around the corner!" He said.

"Hmm ok tito, it's been years nadin since last kami nagkita kita" sabi ko.

"Omg! Ate Gia!" Someone called my name.

And of course it would be my dear Rocio Zobel.

"Hiiiii" I said and hugged her tightly.

"How have you been?" I asked.

"Im good, nga pala this is my boyfriend Marty Romualdez" she introduced.

"Of course" I said na shook his hand.

Fast forward

I'm in the restroom washing my hands when suddenly a lady who's in her mid 50's approached me.

"Hija, alam mo ba kung nasaan ang coffee shop dito? Dun kasi ako pinapupunta ng amo ko eh" she said.

"Uhm, sige po samahan ko na kayo" sabi ko at sinamahan ito.

"Mukhang mayaman ka hija, sino ang mga magulang mo? Baka kilala ko" tanong ng babae.

"A-ah si Nadia Elizalde po, pati si Greggy Araneta" sabi ko at nginitian ang babae.

"N-Nadia Elizalde? Hindi ba't namatay-" sabi ng babae.

"A-ah opo, wala na si momm-" sabi ko.

"H-hindi Hija, nagt-trabaho ako noon sa hospital na pinag anakan ni Nadia Elizalde, at usap-usapang namatay ang anak nya" sabi nito.

"Eh imposible po yun kasi, andito po ako oh!" Sabi ko.

Tumingin lang saakin ng deresto ang babae

"May problema po ba?" Tanong ko.

"Wala hija, salamat sa pagsama mo saakin dito, sana makita kitang muli!" Masayang sabi ng babae at ngumiti saakin.

Umalis na ang babae, at naiwan ako sa labas ng coffee shop, ano yung sinasabi ng babae?

I don't know why, I mean mamaya tsismis lang pero I wanna know about it more, I better ask abuelo Hugo about this, baka kay alam sya.

Bumalik ako kayla daddy and they're now with their wives, I sat beside tita Irene and placed my head in her shoulder

"You ok?" She asked.

"Yes, medyo napapaisip lang" sabi ko.

"Oh? About what?" She ask.

I removed my head from her shoulder and looked at her.

"Tita a lady that I talked to earlier asked me who are my parents and when I said mommy, she said it's impossible kasi n-namatay daw yung anak ni mommy?" I asked.

"What?" She asked.

"I dont know, I mean that's clearly not true im here oh" I said.

"I don't know either dear, maybe it's just a chismis?" She said.

"Yeah, but I'll ask lolo Hugo about it too" I said.

"Up to you dear, let's just enjoy the afternoon" she said and smiled.

I nodded

Fast forward

It's 9: 30 in the evening and im in the Elizalde residences to visit  my grandparents.

"Abuela!" I said in unison.

"Oh my dearest apo" lola Helena said and approached to hug me.

"Where's lolo?" I asked.

"Oh im sure pababa na" she said and smiled.

"Oh, you're here? Hindi ba't kasama mo na ang tatay mo? Ano pang ginawa mo dito?" Tanong saakin ni tito Javier.

Yes, it's always been like this na parang sinusuka nila ang pagkatao ko at kung sino ako.

"Javier! Kung hindi mo kayang tratuhin ng maayos ni Gia lumayas ka nalang sa pamamahay ko!" Sigaw ni lola Helena.

"What's with the commotion?" Abuelo Hugo asked.

"Ewan ko ba Hugo, kung ano ang masamang napakain natin dyan sa anak mo at naging ganyan kay Gia" sabi ni Lola.

"It's fine po, aalis nalang ako" sabi ko.

"Buti naman" sabi pa ni tito Hugo at hindi na ako nakapag pigil.

"Wala naman akong pinakitang masamang ugali sainyo o minsang pinagtaasan kayo ng boses, pero dahil wala nadin naman si mommy p-pwede nakong lumaban, dati lagi akong nagtataka kasi lagi mo akong pinag iinitan, akala ko dati dahil lang bunga ako ng sinasabi nyong kasalanan ni mommy, pero hindi eh, yung totoo natatakot ka, natatakot ka kasi ayaw mong mawalan sila Emily! Ayaw mong maagawan sila! Even though they never felt like naaagawan sila. Kasi yung totoo IKAW YUN, YOU'RE THREATENED NA SAAKIN IBIBIGAY NI LOLO HUGO LAHAT! And you know what? YOU SHOULD BE! Dahil tatanggapin ko yun! I shouldn't even be scared at you! Because I am not an ELIZALDE- ARANETA for nothing! And to add?
Insecure ka! INSECURE KA KASI YOU'LL NEVER BE AS GREAT AS MY DAD IN BUSINESS! IN EVERYTHING, KASI YOUR ONE AVARICIOUS AND WORTHLESS PERSON BECAUSE OF HOW IMMORAL YOU ARE!" Sabi ko making everyone stay in silent.

"Non sense! Walang ka-inggit inggit sa kung ano at sino ngayon si Greggy dahil lahat ng meron sya ay dahil sa pamilya ng asawa nyang magnanakaw!" Sigaw nito saakin.

"Hindi sila magnanakaw! And if may magnanakaw man ikaw yun! Javier Elizalde, the COO of Elizalde corp. who pocketed  250 million pesos na company fund na inivest ng Ayala corp" sabi ko that made everyone shock.

"What?" Abuelo Hugo asked.

"Yes abuelo! Yang magaling nyong anak ang dahilan kung bakit bigla bigla nawala yung 250 million pesos na investment ng Ayala corp." sabi ko.

"Bastarda! Wala kang alam dahil hindi mo ka naman nag ta-trabaho sa Elizalde corp. Papa, wag mong paniwalaan yang magaling na anak ni Nadia dahil nagsisinungalin lang sya" sabi pa ni tito Javier.

"At bakit sya mag sisinungaling!? Sagutin mo ako Javier!" Sigaw ni lola Helena.

"Abuela tama na, I'll just go" sabi ko at umalis na.

I went to my car and went inside, then there my tears burst.

Oh Lord, what did I do for my own uncle to treat me like this?

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