Red String of Fate

Chapter 3: Intertwined

"Sir Edgardo." He greeted extending his hand.  

"Atty. Jose." The older man replied as he took the hand the young lawyer extended. "Kanina ka pa ba dito?" 

"Wala pa namang isang oras." 

"Na-traffic kami kaya natagalan." 

"Ah ganun po ba?" Atty. Jose said as he glanced at the beautiful woman beside the old man. "Is she Atty. Carbonel's daughter?" He asked and Manong Edgardo beamed.  

"Si Atty. Lianna Alexa Carbonel." He introduced and Alexa smiled. 

"Good morning." She said and the young lawyer blushed as Alexa shook his hand. 

"It's great to finally meet you Atty. Carbonel, your father couldn't stop talking about you." Atty. Jose said and Alexa smiled although she felt disoriented. How could Dad not stop talking about me when I haven't seen him for a decade and a half? She thought. She looked at the other people inside the room and nearly arched her brow when the two women sitting side-by-side on the sofa frowned at her. At sino tong mga to? She murmured to herself. 

"Syanga pala Alexa, ito si Lia ang nakakatanda mong kapatid." Manong Edgardo introduced. She felt an instant dislike towards her half-sister when the older girl ran her gaze from Alexa's head down to her shoes.  

"So, you're the daughter who's a lawyer." Lia stated dryly as she remained seated.  

"And you're the daughter who's...?" Alexa let her question hang in mid-air as she returned her older sister's insolent stare. 

"Who's a singer and a model." Clarissa answered for her daughter as she regarded the younger woman haughtily. "And I'm her mother and manager."  

"Who cares?" Alexa asked arching her brow. The two women gasped in surprise and she turned her back on them. Don't you dare bitch with me! I just got off from a very tiring 17-hour flight and I'm hungry! 

"Alexa, itong napakagandang bata na to ay si Lee Ann ang bunso mong kapatid." Manong Edgardo introduced as he pulled Alexa towards the young girl who was nervously fidgeting with her bag before she stood up. 

"Good afternoon po, Tatay Edgardo. Good afternoon po, At-Atty. Carbonel." Lee Ann replied and Alexa frowned. What is wrong with this girl? She thought as Lee Ann sat back down.  

"Anak ng Daddy mo kay Francesca." Manong Edgardo explained briefly and Alexa felt a flash of irritation, which vanished completely when the young girl glanced up and she noticed that Lee Ann was nearly in tears. 

"Is it alright if I sit beside you?" Alexa asked and the young girl nodded her head. She took the seat beside Lee Ann who fiddled with her bag nervously. 

"Ilang taon ka na?" Alexa asked. 

"Fifteen po." Lee Ann replied as she scooted further away from Alexa.

"Wag kang matakot sa akin." Alexa said. "Ate mo ako." She added. She felt a certain affinity towards Lee Ann and she thought that since she'll be staying for a week,she might as well befriend one of her sisters. "Kumain ka na ba?" She asked and the young girl shook her head. "Pareho pala tayo, gutom na gutom na nga ako." 

"Meron pong canteen sa baba." 

"Mamaya samahan mo ako ha." She muttered and Lee Ann glanced at her. 

"Sige po." 

They waited in silence for the doctor's permission to see their father. What would have Mommy said had she been alive and sitting here with me? Alexa thought and she could not help the pain in her chest when she saw her mother's face in her mind. She blinked furiously as her eyes welled with unshed tears. A soft sob caught her attention and she turned to the girl beside her whose tears were falling unbidden down her face.