Ruthless Beauty

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

When I first saw Valerie, I was worried about my father. And my family. She's the type of woman that my father should avoid. But I don't want to rip him the benefit of doubt that he will always love my Mama no matter what. They've been through a lot, been married for several decades, and they have me. Siguro naman ay hindi ito basta-basta nalang itatapon ni Papa dahil lang sa babaeng halos sampung taon ang pagitan ng edad sa kaniya?

My worries started to dissipate into thin air when Mama's birthday started to approach. She's celebrating her 38th birthday and everyone in town is invited. Most of her amigas are bringing their daughters and sons. It has been a tradition of our family to include our hacienda workers and almost everyone in town, even if they don't know them, to my mother's birthday party.

More than a birthday party, it was a social event where my father gets to thank everyone who supported him from the very start, and a chance to meet new investors for the hacienda. Suppliers, farmers, and hacienderos from nearby towns also come to visit for the infamous birthday celebration of the La Union darling, Anastasia De la Rua.

"I heard classmates daw kayo ng anak ni Valerie," biglang wika ni Papa, dalawang araw bago ang birthday ni Mama, at habang kumakain kami ng agahan.

I stopped peeling my orange and turned to look at him. He had a kind smile on his face right now. Pati ang Mama ko ay banayad na nakangiti sa akin.

"Opo..." sagot ko sa mahinang boses.

"And how is she?"

Inipit ko ang pang-ibabang labi at hinayaan ang sariling lunukin muna ang mga salitang bunga ng masamang loob ko sa kaniya. I know he is the one who gave Samantha the Jimmy Choo bracelet and the YSL backpack. Hindi ko alam kung anong ibinigay niya kay Steve but I'm sure nakatanggap din siya mula kay Papa.

The thought that he can spoil the children of his mistress makes me sick. If he can buy those designer stuff to them, then what more to Valerie? She doesn't look a woman who'd wear fast-fashion brands like Zara and Brandy Melville. She's more of an Is-It-Prada-Or-I'm-Not-Wearing-It type of a woman.

"Ayos lang naman po siya..." hindi ako makatingin ng diretso kay Papa habang sumasagot. I still don't know if Valerie and her children are invited to my mother's birthday celebration. Sana hindi. I don't want to spoil my mother's biggest day with their negativity.

"I'm sure the two of you will become close friends, hija. She's interested in fashion, just like her mother. She mentioned once that she wanted to become a fashion designer someday..."

Hilaw na ngiti ang ibinalik ko kay Papa. It hurts me to see how he spoke enthusiastically of Samantha, as if she's his real daughter. And I could hear how proud he is of her based on his voice.

Ikaw din Papa, proud sa akin at sa mga nagawa ko?

Defeated by the sad thoughts in my head, I finished my breakfast early and announced that I'm going to school. Mama is feeling good today, and I don't want to ruin her good mood. Nag-uusap pa silang dalawa ni Papa nang magpaalam ako at lumabas ng mansion.

"Anna, may sakit ang tatay ngayon kaya hindi ka niya mahahatid sa eskwelahan." Salubong ni Baste sa akin habang isinusuot ko ang sapatos.

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko. Manong Dante is doing fine the other day. Paano siya nagkasakit bigla?

"Ah, okay. Uhm... mag-taxi nalang ako! Uwi ka muna sa inyo, Baste, tapos alagaan mo ang tatay mo."

Nagkamot ng batok si Baste, at dahan-dahang tumango na para bang nahihiya. He's towering over me now, which didn't happen until he turned 14 and his body decided to hit the full-blown puberty. Mas matangkad ako sa kaniya noong bata pa siya, but now I look like a kid next to him. Blake has always been tall ever since I first met him. He just got leaner and taller and more handsome as the years went by.