Evanesce

Chapter 7

"What is this, Arieto?" gulantang na sigaw ni Mommy nang mabasa niya ang gustong mangyari ni Daddy sa last will and testament niya.

A month before my eighteenth birthday, my Dad decided to have a family meeting in the library. May mahalaga raw na pag-uusapan kaya hindi na ako masyadong nagtanong pa. Knowing Dad, hindi siya basta-basta magpapatawag ng meeting if it's not that important.

"I will not allow this! Aislinn is the heiress so she will be the one inheriting your legacy! Jaslynn never deserve any of it!"

Hindi yata magawang kumalma ni Mom ngayon. What's the big deal about it? My sister also deserves to have a part on Dad's will. Bakit halatang ayaw na ayaw ni Mom na makihati pa roon si Ate? She despises her own daughter because of one mistake– that is to have her own family too. That's not even a mistake to be called of. It just happened.

"We're talking about my money here, Kaith. My money and not yours. So, I will be the one to decide on who to give it." Pansin ko ang inis kay Dad pero halatang pinipigilan niya ito.

"We will decide-"

"You are just my wife. Hindi kailangang palagi ka na lang nakikisama sa mga desisyon ko sa buhay."

"Masasayang lang ang pera mo kapag napunta ito kay Jaslynn! She will not invest it to any of our assets!" giit ni Mom. Kanina pa nagugusot ang papel na hawak niya kung saan nakasulat ang will ni Dad dahil sa lakas ng pagkakakuyom niya.

"Why are you so worried about it? You have enough money so why worry about mine?"

"My God, Arieto! Why are you making this hard for me? For us?"

Naglakad si Mom palayo kay Dad at pabalik ulit. She's caught up in hysteria because of Dad's will. Besides, draft palang naman iyon. It's not yet finalize because Dad's still have a lot roads to take.

Bumaling ang tingin ko kay Mr. Whelan, ang lawyer ni Dad, na halos katabi ko lang sa upuan. Binigyan ko siya ng ilang na ngiti.

"Pasensiya na po," mahinang sambit ko.

Inilapit niya naman ang mukha niya sa akin saka bahagyang yumuko. "It's okay. They are always like this," mahinang sabi niya habang tumatango-tango.

"Po?" I almost stammered when I heard it from him. Sasagot na sana siya nang maagaw ulit ni Mom ang atensyon namin.

"This is not happening, Arieto! Hindi ako papayag!" sigaw niya na halatang napupuwersa na ang boses.

"I don't care, Kaith. Hindi ko naman hinihingi ang opinyon o kahit na anong suhestiyon mo tungkol dito. I just want this to be done as soon as possible."

"So, wala na akong karapatan ganoon? What am I to you, Arieto?"

"Oh please, don't make this one about you again. I'm so tired of your complaints and laments."

"Everything about in this family matters to me as much as my role to your life!" Mom wailed.

"This is not about the papers anymore." Napailing-iling si Dad saka sinubukang lumayo kay Mom. Marahas naman na hinila ni Mom ang tela ng damit ni Dad sa likod. Walang nagawa si Dad kundi ang harapin ulit si Mom.

"I'm not letting that disgraceful daughter of yours to be part of anything in this legacy! I swear to God, Arieto!"

Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang punutin ni Mom ang papel sa mismong harapan ni Dad. Gulat man ay binaling ko agad ang tingin kay Dad. Wala siyang ginawa. He just stared at Mom with a straight face while tearing those papers. Pagkatapos ay marahas na itinapon ang papel sa sahig. Sabagay, hindi pa naman iyon ang totoong papel.