TLH2: Royal Comeback (Completed) #Wattys2016

TLH2: Chapter 13

Ivan's POV

I sighed when I closed the door of Eunica's office. A smile curved on my lips. The way she turns red and they way she stared at me, it's the same expression she used to give me before everything turns upside down. Alam ko, deep down Eunica still has feelings for me. Hindi man niya ipakita, but her actions are denying from what she's been avoiding. But I don't want to be confident and rely on it.

Hindi naman por'que ganu'n, wala na akong gagawin. I know kahit hindi sabihin sa akin ni Eunica lahat, ramdam ko kung gaano siya nasaktan noon. At kasalanan ko iyon. Kung hindi ko siya iniwan, hindi mangyayari ito. My smile disappeared when I remembered how she cried the other day and how horror scattered all over her face.

This is all my fault. And I'll do everything to take all the pain away from Eunica. Kung kailangan maranasan ko lahat ng naranasan niya, gagawin ko.

I was about to take a step inside the elevator when I saw the man version of Eunica. He really looks like her. Parang nadagdagan lang ng manly features at height si Eunica kung titigan mo nang maigi si Ethan. Bakit hindi ko napansin agad 'yun ng minsang magkita kami nito? It was only an accident that we bumped into each other in New York two years ago. I was there for a business meeting. Hindi ko namukhaan agad si Ethan dahil sa suot nitong sumbrero noon but one thing that I was familiar with are his eyes. Si Eunica agad ang pumasok sa isip ko and when I was about to look again, his back was the only thing that I saw. Inisip ko na baka nag-hahallucinate nanaman ako tungkol kay Eunica na kahit sa lalaki ay nakikita ko siya. That's why I just shrugged it off.

Pero ngayon, hindi ko na kailangan pa tumingin muli because one look and I know who am I looking at.

"Don't you know that it's rude to stare?" Straight face na sabi nito.

Nagbalik lang ako ng magsalita ito. Pumasok naman agad ako sa elevator. I smirked. "Kuya."

Kita ko naman ang pag-ngiwi ng mukha nito. "Kuya your ass. Hindi kita kapatid."

"For now. But soon."

He scoffed. "Kung papasa ka ulit sa kapatid ko."

Tinignan ko ito sa mga mata. "I'm serious about your sister. And I'll do whatever it takes to bring her back to me."

We stared at each other before he smirked at me. "We'll see."

Nagulat ako dito ng bigla nitong pinindot ang button paakyat sa office nito. Ilang minuto lang at narating na namin ang floor kung nasaan ang office niya. Nauna itong lumabas at naiwan ako sa loob. He turned his back at me at seryosong nakatingin ito.

"We need to talk."

Tumango ako dito at sumunod naman sa kanya. We we're welcomed by his secretary. Pagkatapos ay pumasok na kami sa loob ng opisina nito. His office was larger than Eunica's. I can still remember the day when the three of us were inside this place. And when the partnership and our annulment were signed. I almost forgot about our annulment. I wish I could just turn back time at huwag pirmahan ang annulment papers namin but I have no choice. It's the only way that I could think of.

"So, how's your mother?"

My eyes darted at him. Yes, he knows about the condition of my mother. And that's the reason why he accepted my partnership kapalit ng annulment namin ni Eunica.

"She's doing fine. Her body is responding quickly to the treatments and medicines."

Nakita kong tumango-tango ito. Ethan may look intimidating but deep down, he's just like his sister who has a good heart. I may sound gay, but it's the truth.

"Glad to hear that. Any way, I suppose you already know about my niece."

Kumunot ang noo ko. Trying ko sink in what he's saying and then Bella came into my mind.

"Yes."

Just by thinking about Bella makes me want to punch myself. Masakit para sa isang ama ang hindi man lang nahagkan ang anak niya. Hindi ko man lang siya naipagtanggol, napatawa, at naiparamdam kung gaano ko siya kamahal. I should have been there for my princess. But I was not. At buong buhay ko yung pagsisisihan.

"Bukod dun, may sinabi pa ba si Erin sa'yo?"

I don't see where he's going. "Wala na. Bakit?"

Napatango-tango ito at parang nag-iisip pa. What does he mean? "Oh, nothing. Siguro hanggang du'n lang muna ang kailangan mo malaman."

"What do you mean?"

Ethan smirked at me. And when he's about to speak, a boomed at the door surrounds the room. Our heads turned and saw a woman panting.

"ETHAN!"

She stood up when she saw us staring at her and my eyes widened when I saw who it was. The woman paled when our eyes met. Naglipat-lipat ang tingin ko kay Ethan at sa kanya. Confusion was written all over my face for a while. Agad nagdilim ang mukha ko when an idea popped inside my head. I looked at Ethan and the jerk was just wearing a straight face. What an asshole.

"I-Ivan?"

"Yanna."

The woman who rushed inside this room was my cousin, Yanna. Walang sabing hinawakan ko ito sa braso at dinala sa labas. She was trying to escape when I looked at her, natahimik naman ito. I released her when we're outside.

"What the hell are you doing in here?! At paano mo nakilala si Ethan? What's with the two of you? Answer me, Dilyanna!"

Nag-iwas lang ito ng tingin. "N-Nothing, Kuya."

"Yeah right, then why are you rushing inside?" Sarkastikong sinabi ko dito. She's obviously lying.

"It's none of your business, Ivan." Yanna rolled her eyes.

Lalong nagdilim ang mukha ko. There's something going on between these two. I know Yanna. She'll not run into some guy unless he's into him. Hard.

"Go home, Yanna." Sabi ko pagkatapos ay tumalikod na ako. Yanna is old enough to think about herself.

"I still need to talk to him."

Napailing nalang ako dito at hindi na nilingon pa. Like I said, she's old enough to handle herself. After all, it's none of my business like what she said. Saktong bumukas na ang elevator and I went inside. I pushed a button.

It's been five years. Madami na talaga ang nagbago. I know Yanna is not a kid anymore. Hindi lang ako makapaniwala na of all the people, kay Ethan pa siya mapupunta. 

Just a few minutes and I'm at the floor where I was earlier. Agad naman akong lumabas. I stopped by at Danni. She smiled at me.

"Hi, Sir. What can I help you with?" 

"I'm just gonna talk to Ms. Sanders."

"I'm sorry, Sir but Ms. Sanders is not available today."

That's odd. I was with Eunica earlier. I asked Danni why.

"Maaga po siyang umuwi. Actually, kakaalis niya lang po."

Nangunot ang noo ko sa nalaman ko. There's this unknown feeling inside me why Eunica came home early. I know her, hindi siya uuwi kung walang emergency or kung wala siyang sakit. Unless... I hope I got the wrong idea.

Agad naman akong sumakay ng kotse ko. I've been contacting Eunica from her phone but the voicemail was always answering me. Napasuntok ako sa manibela ko. Why isn't she answering? I was about to start the engine and decided to go at their house nang biglang tumunog ang phone ko.

"Dad."