CHAPTER 24
"MA'AM, tumatawag na naman ang papa niyo. Ilang ulit na to ngayong araw"
I stressfully scratch my eyebrows and squeezed my eyes tightly as I calm myself. I was stress and pissed at the same time, ang dami dami na ngang trabaho na ginagawa tapos isasabay pa ang kakulitan ng pamilya ko.
I don't want to talk to them yet, but they're so persistent to talk to me and ask me for money. Parang gusto kong masuka sa ginagawa nila but I think I shouldn't.
"Okay... pass me the call" I said in a low voice and lean on my swivel chair.
When the telephone rang I answered it directly.
"If you're asking for money again, please don't fucking talk to me" Sabi ko kaagad.
I heard someone sighed deeply in the other line. [It's me anak]
I felt relieved when I heard dad's voice. Ayoko munang marinig ang boses ni Charmee, I felt like I wanted to grab her hair and pull it with so much force whenever I heard her asking for money.
"What is it? I'm busy dad"
Kahit galit ako sa papa ko, ama ko padin naman siya. Kailangan ko parin siyang irespeto.
[Can you come over?]
Gustuhin ko mang humindi sa sinabi niya parang may tumutulak sa aking pumunta sa kaniya. Iba ang tono ng boses niya, tired and lost.
Worries consumed me, nilapag ko ang ballpen na hawak ko sa mesa saka tumayo.
"Ano bang nangyayari? What's happening to the company? As far as I know maayos pa yan ng umalis ako, huwag niyong sabihin ganun kalaki ang kawalan ng kumpanya ng nawala ako?" I said sarcastically.
[T-that... was true]
Nagulat ako sa inani niya, I was just joking but it really does? Napangisi ako, I'm that important to the company huh? Oh well... sa totoo lang naman ay mas magaling ako kapag nasa kumpanya ako ni dad, I can't handle the works inside my mom's office. Nakaka-stress masyado.
"Well... what do you need father? Bakit ako ang inaabala niyo, alam niyo namang busy din ako sa sariling trabaho ko. You should've call Charlene or Chad. Because I know Charmee is useless"
I heard my dad sighed in the other line. [She's not useless Nicole, watch your words. She's still your sister]
I almost rolled my eyes when he said that. "Sister huh? Kaya pala nang-aagaw ng boyfriend" I paused. "Wala din naman na akong pake-alam... just don't let me see her face and hear her voice and we're good. I'll help you"
[Thanks anak... but I think you would see Charmee. She's the current CEO of the company now... I hope you understand]
Kaagad umasim ang mukha ko, hindi naman sa hate ko siya. Talagang ayoko lang na marinig at makita siya, I felt like I wanted to punch her face. Naiirita ako masyado sa kaniya kahit wala namang nakakairita.
"Then don't ask for my help, I'll visit there later. At kapag nakita ko si Charmee diyan... I'm really really sorry dad I can't help you" I said before ending the line.
I get my loptop before placing down the table, I get the pile of papers in my table and also place it down. I sat on the floor and started to work this pile of papers.
Sa sobrang busy ko ni hindi ko matawagan si Sky, I don't have time to eat and rest. Tambak ang trabaho ko dahil sa dami ng gagawin this months, kapag gabi lang talaga kami nagkaka-bebe time ni Sky.
Minsan hindi pa dahil pagod ako o may tinatapos ako.
When it's 11AM already, I readied myself to go to dad's company.
When I entered the building the guards and employees greeted me, looking shock for my sudden appearance.
Good thing Charmee's face didn't showed up, I might leave the company right away. Baka pina-alis ng daddy dahil kailangan niya ako.
That would felt be so little.
Hindi ko na pinansin pa ang mga iniisip ko at dumeretso na lang sa opisina ni dad, I opened the door without knocking. Lagi ko namang ginagawa yun, buti na nga lang at laging wala rito si Tita Cristy. That would be so embarrassing.
Kita ko kaagad ang gulat sa mukha ni dad ng makarating ako, he look so worned out. His hair is messy, ni hindi naka-ayos ang tie niya. Nakabukas ang ibang butones, madami pang kalat na baso sa paligid at pagkain. What a total mess really.
"N-nicole"
I shot my brow and sat on the visitors chair. "Pumunta ako dito para tulungan ka" I sighed and looked at him. "Ama pa rin naman kita, I felt betrayed but how can I get mad at you that long? Hindi ko kayang magalit ng matagal sayo dad"
His eyes soften and reddened, he even sniffed.
"T-thanks anak... paano ba ako nagka-anak na kasing bait mo?"
I almost rolled my eyes. "Dad it's disgusting! Hindi ako sanay!"
He chuckled and that makes me smile. Mukhang hindi ko naman na kailangan pang ipagsisiksikan ang sarili ko sa kaniya, he loves me unconditionally.
Sumeryoso ang mukha ko ng maalala ang nangyari. "What happened to the company? I thought it was doing good?"
His face become serious too. "Nagpapasok ako ng traidor anak. It was the daughter of Parrocha's"
Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya, hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko sa narinig ko sa kaniya. Does Siya knew about this?
Doubt and fear consumed me.
Pero hindi ko hinayaang ang mga pagdududa ko ang pumasok sa utak ko. It was sincere, I know.
"What about them?" I asked him calmly.
"Bellatrix Luna the eldest daughter of Parrocha's was hitting on us. Gusto niyang kunin ang kumpanya ko, she persistent. Ginagawa niya lahat para lang makuha to"
I sighed and my mind traveled again. Is that the woman who I've encountered inside the restroom? Is she the one who was looking at me when the company is on fire? Is she connected to Sky? If she is... does Sky know about this? That her sister was destroying my father?
And... what's did my father do to her to make him suffer?
Nalilito ako. Hindi ko alam ang iisipin ko, I don't want to untrust my boyfriend but I can't help it. I need to talk to him.
Bellatrix Luna... I hope you're not going to be the reason to break my heart.
"Ano nang estado ng kumpanya ngayon?"
He sighed and paused a bit. "All the investors back out... lahat sila. Pati ang board gusto ng umalis, even our company lawyer was stress because of Parrocha's. Nailalabas na din ang mga nagawang mali ng kumpanya. I need a lot of money to pay my debt in the bank"
Nagulat man ay wala na akong masabi pa. Hindi ko alam na ganito na pala kalala ang nangyari rito, noong una sunog lang. Hindi ko naman alam na ganito pala yun kalaki.
I sighed and typed on my phone. "I'll send you fifteen million in my bank account dad... hindi na kita bibigyan pa kaya dapat ayusin mo ang paggamit niyan. I'll help you with the investors too, even the board. I'll handle all of them"
I stood up and stand straight. "I need to go, busy pa ako. Call Chad and Charlene, I need their help. Hindi ko hahayaang lumaki pa to"
Dad smiled at me in relief. "I know you'll help me... thanks anak"
Ngumiti lang din ako bago lumabas, I really need to go back to my company. I still need to sign a tons of papers.
I left the building with a heavy chest, I still can't believe what I just hear. I don't want to jump into conclusions but I just can't.
Nagmamadali akong pumasok sa kotse ko at pinaandar. Gusto kong matapos ang trabaho ko ng maaga, gusto kong umuwi ng walang inaalala at walang mag-iistorbo. I what to talk to Sky about this, I want to know all of this.
"April... can you gave me a coffee?"
I scratched my temple and leaned on the chair. I squeezed my eyes shut and rested my head, masyado akong maraming iniisip.
I wanted to focus on my works but my mind is wondering, buti nga at malapit ng matapos.
"Here ma'am"
I said thanks to April before starting to work again. This was my nth cup of coffee? I guess? Sa sobrang dami ng ginagawa ko ginawa ko ng tubig ang kape. My stomach was aching but I can't gave an attention in that. I'm busy and I have to finish all of this ASAP.
Nang makitang naubos muli ang kape ko ng hindi namamalayan ay nag-utos ulit ako kay April.
"Ma'am hindi na po kita bibigyan, ang dami mo ng ininom. Baka magkasakit kayo"
I sighed and massage my temple. "I need it April, I really need it"
Wala na lang siyang nagawa kundi ng sundin ang utos ko.
Nang marinig ko ang pinto na bumukas ay napabuntong hininga ulit ako. "Thanks April, last na to promise"
"Hindi ka na uulit pa, tama na"
Nagulat ako ng marinig ang boses ni Angela. I saw her resting her head on the wall while looking at me boredly.
"You look like shit, you good?"
I shook my head and motion a pile of papers. "Too much work isn't it?"
She chuckled and sat in the sofa. "Oh well, buti na lang talaga at aalis na ako sa trabaho ko at itotodo na lang ang café at bar ko. Feel free and no more stresses"
"Buti ka pa, ako kasi magdadagdag pa"
She drink a coffee that supposed to be mine and asked. "Nadagdagan? Ano namang problema? Love life?"
I nodded and she shockingly looked at me. "That's impossible! Oh gosh!"
"Hindi naman kami nag break... ang totoo niyan ay wala pa siyang alam na may problema kami. Ako lang talaga yung nag-iisip ng hindi maganda, I wanted to ask him but I'm still scared. Ayokong mahiwalay kami, so... maybe the best thing to do right now is to talk to him right?"
Angela nodded and sipped at her coffee again. "Ano ba yang problema mo sa kanya?"
"Her sister Luna... was hitting on my father's company. I don't know what is she up to but I just can't help but to doubt about Sky. You know... the possibilities"
"Hitting at your fathers company!?" She asked in a shock voice so I nodded. "Goodness... iniisip mo ngayon na kaya nakipag-relasyon si Sky sayo dahil gusto niyang makuha ang company ng daddy mo?"
I nodded and lowered my head. Yun ang kinakatakot ko, I don't want to hear some lies again. I want to end all the deceptions I've heard in my life, ayoko ng dagdagan pa. It was too much when Andrew and Charmee hid something to me, pati pamilya ko nadamay. I don't want to think about it. Ayokong maniwala.
"Huwag kang padalos dalos sa galaw mo Nicole, baka naman totoo talaga ang motibo niya sayo. Hindi niya lang alam na may ginagawa na pala ang kapatid niya, somehow he showed you how he love you"
I sighed and massage my temple again. "It's not just somehow, he showed me and he let me feel how he love me. Pero... nang malaman kong may kapatid pa pala siya na iba ay nalilito na ako. Ang sabi niya sa akin si Raine lang ang kapatid niya, wala na siyang ibang kapatid pa dahil silang dalawa lang naman talaga. Now I'm confuse bae... fucking confused"
Napasabunot ako sa sariling buhok at napayuko na lang.
"Talk to him, that was the best thing to do. Para naman hindi ka magmukhang baliw diyan na sabunot ng sabunot sa sariling buhok"
Inikot ko ang mga mata ko bago siya tinapunan ng libro na nasa harapan ko.
"I know, I know. Now get out, inaabala mo ang trabaho ko"
Tumatawa siyang parang baliw habang lumalabas ng opisina ko. I can't help but to laugh too.
Siguro nga kailangan kong kausapin si Sky para hindi ako masyadong nag-iisip. Isa pa naman ako sa tipo na ayaw na ayaw mag-isip ng kung ano ano, pero ng dumating si Sky umiba na naman ang ugali ko.
Ng sa wakas ay natapos ko na ang trabaho ko ay pinalinis ko na lang kay April ang kalat ko. Nagmamadali akong umuwi at naligo, I was sure Sky would go here in my house.
Lagi naman kasi siyang pumupunta dito sa bahay ko, he always wanted to sleep with and so am I. Hindi na nga ata siya umuuwi sa bahay niya, may dala na din siyang mga damit dito sa bahay ko para sa trabaho niya kung sakaling late man kami magising.
After taking a shower I went out in my room and went to the kitchen. I cooked him his favorite... menudo.
Pagkatapos kong magluto ay inayos ko ang mesa at saka nakangiting naghintay sa kaniya.
But hours and hours later he still didn't come. Walang Sky na nagpakita sa akin. Wala Sky na humalik sa akin. Walang Sky na kakain ng luto ko.
Instead of getting mad at him I felt so worried. Hindi naman siya ganito gusto kong magalit ay magtampo dahil hindi siya nagpunta dito sa bahay at kainin ang luto ko pero hindi ko magawa. I'm worried about him, hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari sa kaniya kaya dapat lang na mag-alala ako.
What happened to him?