I stared at my plane ticket in my hand, pati na rin si Brianna ay nakatitig rin rito sa tabi ko.
“Will you be with me at Kuya Pierce concert, Ate?” Nalulungkot at kurioso nitong tanong.
I smiled at her and patted her head. “Oo, masasamahan pa kita. Don’t worry.”
Nagliwanag ang mukha niya at ngumiti rin siya pabalik sa sagot ko. “Will he be fine na nasa abroad ka na, Ate? Won’t he be sad?”
Napababa ako ng tingin. “He will be fine, Brianna…he will be fine.”
I'm just hoping now that he will. Pero siguradong masasaktan ko siya.
My flight would be the day after his concert, kasama ko si Sir Ejay sa training sa U.S at kumpleto na lahat ng papeles namin. Mom didn't lie when she said she will prepare everything, ako na lang ang kulang.
And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get rid of me. Masakit isipin pero totoo.
I sighed heavily and looked at the luggages and clothes scattered in my bed. Maghahanda na ako dahil sa makalawa na iyon. Hindi ko mapigil na mapangiti ng mapait, I just felt so weak and helpless with my situation.
“Don’t worry, Ate, Mama will be with me. At tatawag ka naman po lagi sa akin.”
But I am doing it all for my sister. Siya na lang ang naiwan sa akin na tunay na kapamilya, I can't afford to lose her, I needed to be strong for the both us. Hindi ko kayang pati siya ay mawala sa akin.
She helped me pack my clothes. Somehow, she is still clearly sad and she would often cry in her sleep. She’s acting so tough but I know that she is still broken inside. Kailangan niya pa ako, at ito lang ang paraan na alam ko para maprotektahan siya.
Bukas naman ay maglilipat na siya ng gamit sa bahay nina Mama. She is excited and I am just glad that Mama is treating her better than me. Sapat na sa akin iyon.
“Handa ka ba?” Sir Ejay asked as we sat in a coffee shop.
I bit my lips and nodded. Hindi ko pa rin talaga alam kung tama ba ang desisyon kung sunduin si Mama, o kung mas kabubuti ko ba ito. Everything is unsure and I'm just doing it all for my sister.
“It would be a three year training, Liberty. Well, this would benefit you a lot.” He concluded.
Tumango ako muli. Hindi naman lingid iyon sa akin, the training will give me more advantage and advice skills in my field. Matagal ko na rin gustong mag train pero na kuntento na ako sa akong ano meron dito. Hindi ko kayang iwan si Papa at Brianna, pero ngayon ay iba na. Papa is gone and Brianna needs me.
“Let’s just see each other at the airport tomorrow? Five in the morning.”
“Yes, Sir. Thank you.”
Nagkahiwalay kami at tinungo ko ang bahay nina Mama. I’ve been here twice and it wasn't a good experience, kaya hindi na nasundan pa.
It was located in a private subdivision at ng makarating ako rito ay bumungad sa akin ang renovated nilang mansion. It was a modern house with four floors and Brianna will be living here with her.
Tumuloy ako sa loob at saktong nakita ko si Brianna na pababa ng hagdan.
“Ate!” She exclaimed and hugged me right away.
Niyakap ko naman siya pabalik na siya ring pagkakita ko kay Mama na pababa ng hagdan. She is holding an envelope in her hands.
“Wala na po si Ate Andra, ngayon po concert ni Kuya Pierce eh! Magkasama po sila sa stage mamaya.”
I forced a smile and looked up to Mom as she took the last step.
“Brianna, mag uusap muna kami ng Ate mo.”
“Yes, Mama.” She let go of me and went up stairs again.
Pinanood ko siyang umakyat pagkatapos ay tumingin kay Mama na seryoso ng nakatingin sa akin.
“In the library, Liberty.”
Sumunod ako sa kanya at hindi ko mapigilan na mapatingin sa paligid ko. I am glad that Brianna will be living here, kompleto sa gamit at hindi siya maghihirap. She will live a comfortable life and it is enough reason for me to accept this. Hindi ako magsisisi, hindi dapat ako magsisi.
We entered an office in a library. I looked at her as she opened the envelope in front of me, pagkatapos ay binigay niya sa akin ang nilalaman nitong papeles.
“Just so you know that she is now under my name and it only means that she will get her inheritance from me, maghahati sila ni Andra basically.”
I looked at the paper and my eyes went wide when I saw what it was.
She now legally acknowledged Brianna as her daughter. Brainna’s birth certificate now is complete with details.
I bit my lips. This is what I've been waiting for ever since, but she refused to do so when she gave birth to Brianna. Kahit si Brianna na lang ay sapat na sa akin, hindi ko na hihilingin na pati iyon ay gawin niya sa akin.
Napahinga ako ng malalim. “T-thank you, Ma.”
I might sound ridiculous thanking her for officially acknowledging Brianna but it is what it is. Pati si Papa ay ito rin ang hiling at ngayon nga ay tuluyan na itong nangyari. Hindi ko pa rin maiwasang makaramdam ng saya.
“Of course, I did my part so I hope you will do your part too. Have you packed your things?”
Nabura ang maliit na ngiti sa labi ko sa klase ng tanong niya.
“Nakapaghanda na po ako kahapon…sasamahan ko na lang si Brianna mamaya at…tatapusin kong ano man ang namamagitan sa amin ni Pierce.”
Just saying it out loud caused me so much pain. Ilang araw ko rin itong pilit na hindi isipin at ngayon ay mangyayari na nga. Kung pwede lang sana…
I pinched my thighs to get a hold of myself. There is no used of having second thought in here, kailangan na itong matapos at ako ang magtatapos.
“Do I look pretty, Ate?” She turned around, showing me her fit and I smiled.
She is wearing a black leggings paired with her black skirt and her t-shirt tucked in. The shirt she’s wearing is an official merch of Pierce. I half ponytailed her hair and applied a minimal make up on her face.
Ako naman ay nakasuot rin ng black long sleeves at jeans lang. I also tucked it in and wore white converse shoes. I ponytail my hair and wear a white cap right after.
Habang papalapit ang oras ay mas lalo akong kinakabahan. My heart was pounding hard and fast not because of my excitement.
Paulit-ulit akong huminga ng malalim habang nasa byahe kami habang pakanta-kanta lang si Brianna sa tabi ko. This concert somehow diverted her attention and I am glad that she is coping up so well with the death of our father.
“Ate, lets’ go!” She dragged me and we got in an aisle for VIP’s.
The venue was already packed with people even though it was still early. He is holding his concert in the biggest arena in the country, and looking at the number of people around me right now, I realized how big he is as an artist.
HIndi ko mapigilan na mapangiti sa kabila ng pait na nararamdaman ko. Masaya ako para sa kanya.
“Ate doon tayo?” She pointed out the entrance
Ngumiti ako at ilang minuto lang rin kaming pumili para tuluyang makapasok.
We got inside and were escorted in a VIP area near the stage. May mga iilan ng nakaupo roon na fans niya na may iba’t-ibang banners at palamuti. The other floor were also occupied at sigurado akong lahat ng upuan mamaya ay mapupuno. This is a sold out concert after all.
“Ate!” Brainna shrieked as she looked at the stage which was very near to us.
Hindi ko mapigilan na mapangiti. We are near the stage, at mabuti na lang rin siya mismo nagbigay ng ticket dahil hindi ko alam kung may makukuha ba ako kapag ako pa ang bumili. The ticket selling was sold out not even an hour had passed, that’s how demanding and popular he is.
Umupo muna ako habang inoobserba ang paligid. Kada minutong lumilipas ay mas napupuno ang mga upuan pati na rin ang parte namin. I got a hold of Brianna and made her sit on a chair beside me.
She is holding her phone and she keeps on taking pictures of the surroundings. Maya-maya pa ay bigla na lang nagtilian ang mga tao ng malakas at pagtingin ko sa harap ay nakita ko si Pierce na papalabas ng stage.
Their screams were all over the place and even Brianna shouted with them. Napailing na lang ako.
“Psyche Pierce! Psyche Pierce!” They all shouted all together.
I looked at him as he made his way near the VIP area. Kita ko ang paghahanap ng mga mata niya at ng dumako ito sa parte namin ay gumihit ang ngiti sa labi niya. Muling nagtilian ang mga tao sa simpleng ginawa niya.
He is wearing his usual white shirt and jeans and just like mine, he is wearing a white cap too.
Bumaba siya ng stage at mas lalong nagtilian ang mga tao, lalo na ang mga fans niya na katabi ko lang at sa likod ko.
There is a metal barricade but he simply opened one and he got in. Kaagad na may sumunod sa kanyang security at pinalibutan kaagad siya. Dahil hindi pa naman masyadong puno ag area namin dahil VIP ay hindi siya nahirapan.
“Kuya Pierce!” I was supposed to hold Brianne but she made her way to him and hugged him right away.
He smiled at her and hugged her back too, pagkatapos ay tumingin siya sa akin at ngumiti rin at muling nagtilian ang mag fans na nakapalibot sa akin.
At ngayong palapit na siya, I realized that this is the first time that we will be seen in public together. His fans don't have an idea that he is courting someone now.
Bigla akong nakaramdam ng pagkabahala at mas inayos ang cap ko para matakpan ang mukha ko. I am glad that I am wearing a cap now.
I cleared my throat when his fans made way for him as they walked towards me while holding Brianna.
Tumigil siya sa harap ko at rinig ko pa rin ang impit na sigaw ng mga nakapaligid sa akin. He then removed his cap and I was shocked when he leaned on and kissed me on my cheek and encircled his arms on my waist at the same time, pulling me closer to him.
Rinig na rinig ko ang singhapan ng fans niya sa ginawa niya.
“I’m glad that you made it here. Are you comfortable?” He asked near my ear.
Alanganin akong tumango. I am suddenly conscious of my actions because of his fans watching us.
“Sir, balik na raw po kayo backstage.” One of his securities informed him.
He looked back at his security and when he looked at me again he sighs heavily. “Call my attention if you are in trouble.”
“S-sige.” Hindi ko maiwasang kabahan.
His arms remained on my waist when he leaned against me. Akala ko hahalik siya ulit pero pinantay niya ang pisngi niya sa akin.
“Kiss my cheeks for good luck.”
Nanlaki ang mata ko sa ginawa niya at nahihiyang tumingin sa mga fans niyang nanlalaki ang mga mata na nakatitig sa amin na para bang nasa isa kaming drama na tinatangkilik nila sa T.V.
I cleared my throat and looked at his cheek unsurely. But still, I leaned on him and kissed him on the cheeks lightly which triggered again the scream of his fans.
Ngumiti siya ng nakakaloko sa akin at tuluyan na nga siyang umalis pagkatapos. Nakahahinga ako ng maluwag ng makita na siyang papasok ng back stage pero wala pang ilang segundo ng marinig ko ang bulungan ng mg fans niya.
“Girlfriend ata! May girlfriend na si Pierce!”
These are the things that I could here, some are enthusiastic pero hindi ko rin naman maiwasang makarinig ng negatibong komento. And I guess that’s normal considering that he is in this kind of industry.
“Akala ko sila ni Andra?!" Some commented.
Nagkibit balikat na lang ako at huminga ng malalim. They don’t need to worry if I am his girlfriend or not, ramdam ko ang pait sa akin sa mga iniisip pero wala rin namang iyong saysay…dahil matatapos rin lahat ng ito mamayang gabi.
Bitterness crept inside me as I thought of my plan in my head.