Chasing the Void (Magnates Series #3)

Kabanata 2

Kabanata 2

I only have myself. I have no one but myself. Iyon ang ilang ulit kong sinabi sa sarili ko.

Ortega family was the one who took me in when I fainted on the road. They were a family of journalists with their own publishing company, Starlight Publishing. Ang babaeng nakita ko bago ako nawalan ng malay ang tumulong sa akin, si Chelsea. 

Hindi nila ako pinilit isiwalat ang lahat ng pangyayari. They still took me in but I wasn't opening myself up to them and they were fine with that. Doubts filled my system thinking if I trust someone, they would end up ruining me. And that's what I'm afraid the most. 

"Wayne Ortega," iyon ang pagpapakilala sa akin ng matandang lalaki. "Ang anak ko na ang bahala sa'yo." 

He is a widowed man with a daughter. Si Chelsea ang palaging naiiwan kasama ko at ang iilan nilang mga kasambahay. She is very talkative, siguro ay nagamit niya ang pagiging kuryoso dahil journalist siya. 

Even though I was quiet and I only reply with few words, it didn't stop her to interact with me. Mas lalo pa nga siyang dumadaldal sa tuwing tahimik ako. She was very observant and curious, like she wants to read my thoughts by talking more. 

Months passed and I started to get used to it. I suddenly found myself opening up a little. I still built a wall around me, something no one could enter but myself. Bumalik ako sa dati habang unti-unting kinikilala ang mga taong kumupkop sa akin.

"Alam mo sobrang curious talaga ako sa mga malalaking kompanya at sa mga bahong itinatago nila." ani Chelsea habang nasa loob siya ng kwarto ko. "What makes them successful? Obviously it's not only through good deeds. Hindi sa lahat ng oras ay sa mabuting paraan lang ang daan para umangat." 

"Is it why you became a journalist?" 

"Oo, dahil pakialamera ako." humalakhak siya. "Kaya nga mas pipiliin kong magsulat na puro sensitibo ang laman." 

I chuckled with what she said.

Her articles were known with sensitive contents that's why she kept her identity hidden under the influence of her father. Maraming kompanya na ang halos bumagsak o 'di kaya nagsara dahil sa mga isinulat niyang akda. 

Media really is a scary platform. It can easily affect someone's image or reputation no matter what their status is. Nakasalalay lang iyon kung gaano kalawak ang unawa ng tao. 

Pero siyempre, kapag may kapangyarihan ka, madali lamang masuhulan iyon. Patunay iyon dahil nasaksihan ko mismo sa paninirahan sa pamilyang ito.

Some famous and wealthy tycoons tried to pay them money to untaint their reputation. Pero may isang salita si Tito Wayne at hindi iyon nababayaran kahit kailanman ng pera. 

"You're the only one who survived in your family when that yacht exploded." 

I felt my heart beating so fast. She was looking at me after saying that statement, analyzing my reaction.

"Azriella Dominique Laurel," hearing my full name sent shiver to my spine. "Gusto mong malaman kung paano ko nalaman?" 

Hindi ako kumibo kaya napangiti siya sa'kin. For some reason, I was nervous in thinking about what happened in the past. Pero imbes na takot ay kampante akong pakinggan ang sasabihin niya. 

"The Velarde's paid a huge amount of money to remove everything concerning to that incident, including my Dad's company." pagpapaliwanag niya. "Reason? Obviously to avoid tainting their reputation, as expected for some huge-ass company. It was easy for them to manipulate the media."