Ruthless Beauty

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

I couldn't wipe the stupid grin off my face as I went home that day. It was a wonderful feeling that I haven't experienced for quite a while.

But the fleeting moment was suddenly gone as soon as I went home. Napansin ko kaagad na halos walang tao sa bahay, bukod sa mga kasambahay na halos hindi makatingin sa akin. I scanned the surroundings and saw no one. Valerie and her children. Even my father.

Just when I was about to voice out the question burning in my head, Manang Joji suddenly showed up. Her eyes were red and puffy as she snorted on her handkerchief.

"Manang Joji!"

"Anna!" she exclaimed. Mabibilis ang mga hakbang niya at kaagad akong niyakap. Humagulhol siya. Her cries were enough to sent me into a frizz. Pati ako ay kinakabahan na rin ang nakakaramdam na ng matinding panghahapdi sa dibdib.

"Ano pong nangyari? Nasan sila? Si Papa?" I queried.

She continued crying. My legs went weak when she finally managed to say, in between sobs, that my father was rushed to the hospital today. He started throwing things around and acting like a child, wandering the mansion in his undergarments. When he was confronted by the housekeepers, he got mad and ended up hurting one of them. It was so unimaginable, and I started crying as I listened to Manang Joji.

"Tatawagan ka na sana namin, Anna. Dinala na sa ospital ang Papa mo."

I wiped my tears and nodded. Hindi na ako nag-abalang magbihis pa at dumiretso kaagad sa ospital. Halos hindi ako mapakali habang nasa sasakyan ako. Moments later, my phone vibrated. I received a text message from Blake, saying how he misses me and asking if he could call.

I ignored him.

Nagpapakatatag ako habang tinatanaw ang daan hanggang sa makarating kami sa naturang ospital. I quickly climbed outside the car and headed inside the hospital. Itinanong ko sa nurse kung may nakaregister bang Simone De la Rua dito.

"Meron po. Kaano-ano kayo ng pasyente?" magalang niyang tanong.

I bit my lower lip. "A-Anak niya po ako..."

She nodded and typed something to her computer. Pagkatapos ay itinuro niya ang kaliwang corridor.

"Nasa room 54 po ang Papa niyo."

"Salamat." Imik ko at hindi na nag-aksaya pa ng oras. Kaagad kong tinungo ang room 54. I knocked twice and went inside.

Tatlong pares ng mga mata ang napatingin sa akin—kay Samantha, Steve, at Valerie. As soon as she saw me, her lips pursed in disapproval.

"Buti naman naisipan mo pang pumunta dito. Your father has been rushed to the hospital, and you're nowhere to be found! Anong klaseng anak ka?"

I ignored her and went straight to my father's bed. He's sleeping but I could see the strains of fatigue on his old face. He looked older and he's shrunk a lot, like an old little man. Parang may kumukuyumos sa puso ko habang pinagmamasdan siya.

"Kung hindi ko nakita ang Papa mo, ano nalang ang mangyayari, ha?!" galit na usal ni Valerie. "Palibhasa kasi, wala kang ibang inatupag kundi ang lalaki mo!"

I turned to her sharply, my eyes narrowing. Nagpupuyos na talaga ang puso ko dahil sa nangyari kay Papa. And if she doesn't stop nagging me, I'd probably gonna lose my head.

"Mommy, tama na po..." mahinang sambit ni Samantha. "Kararating lang po ni Anna."

"Dapat nga hindi na siya pinapasok dito, eh!"