***Icey's POV***
"I WILL not be the team leader of that project and that is final." Icey said in with her cold voice. Nasa sala siya ng mansion nina Andrew. Nakaupo ang mga ito at nagti-tea nang madatnan niya.
"But all is set. Mr. Meyer wants you there. Besides you are the Head Engineer of the company. SMCC expects nothing but the best." Pangungumbinsi ng daddy ni Andrew. "You are the best. Kaya dapat lang na ikaw ang pumunta."
"Flattery won't get you anywhere. I have my decision. And that is final." she said saka tumalikod.
Sumabat naman si Andrew. "Why won't you give it a try Icey? It's time bumalik ka ng Pilipinas. you know, marami na ang nagbago simu-"
Nagpanting naman ang tenga ni Icey sa narinig at hindi na niya ito pinatapos pa. "I don't care kung marami ang nagbago Andrew because the thing is, I'm not part of it." Malamig ngunit may diin niyang sabi. "Just the same as you shouldn't care about my life because you're not part of it."
Paalis na siya ng.. "Anak please. Why don't you listen first." That was her mom, I mean Adrew's mom. hinarap niya ito and gave her a freezing look using her oh-so-cold eyes.
"Cut the "anak thingy" please. Una, Nakakarinding pakinggan. Pangalawa, hindi ako sanay. At pangatlo... wala akong nanay."
Isang malakas na sampal naman ang dumapo sa pisngi ni Icey dahilan para maibaling niya ang mukha sa kabilang side. "You don't disrespect my mother in front of me in my house!" si Andrew pala. Ang magaling na anak at only child amg sumampal sa kanya.
"Rein Andrew!" sigaw ng papa nito.
She heard her mom gasped at napatayo naman ang dad ni Andrew. Naramdaman niya ang paghapdi at pag-init ang pisngi niya. Based sa reaction nila, she knew bumakat ang kamay nito. She could even taste blood in her mouth at parang may tumulo pa sa labi niya.
Aquea, her mom ran towards her and tried to wipe the blood off her lip but she loathe her touch. She stepped back para maiwasan ang hawak na iyon. Knowing how angry she is right now, baka makalimot siya't ito ang mabalingan.
"Bakit mo siya pinagtatanggol Ma?! Hindi ka niya tinuring na nanay!?" He asked his crying mom.
"Tama na Rein. Don't talk to your sister like that." Umiiiyak na sagot ng babae. Rein's expression softened at what her mom said pero bumalik ang galit nito when he looked at Icey.
"Wala kang karapatang magsalita ng ganyan lalo pa't nasa teritoryo kita Deniece." Nanlilisik na sabi ni Rein. "Anong ipinagmamalaki mo? Ang kayamanan mo? Huh! Kung hindi dahil sa amin, nasa kalsada ka parin! Tandaan mo, isa ka lang bastarda and you are nothing!"
Hinila naman ni Andrew si Aquea palayo sa kanya. Icey regained her composure and began to release a cold and angry aura na kinatatakutan ng lahat.
Andrew, on the other hand, felt scared looking at Icey's. bigla tuloy siyang nakaramdam ng pagsisisi sa mga sinabi niya. Hindi naman niya ito sinasadya. He would rather see her cry than see her expressionless, emotionless. He's not afraid of her, except when she's like this.
He loves Icey. Kahit noong buntis pa ang mama nila sa kanya minahalna niya ito.. But he could never understands why she's like that. she's too much to handle. She's so cold kahit gaano pa sila kabait sa rito. She treats them like they're not family, like they're just someone she doesn't know personally.
Kumirot naman ang dibdib ni Icey hearing those words. She felt her body shake with anger because of what he said. Wala siyang alam!
Yes, she's just a girl his mom brought up to this world. Yes she's the product of some sinful act. Painful but true. Pero pinagbayaran na niya ang kasalanan ng mga magulang niya. Sobra-sobra pa.
Pinahid ni Icey ang dugo sa kanyang labi. "Oh sorry, my bad. I didn't know you guys got offended with what I said. Don't worry I'll be extra careful with my words next time we meet, Mr. Concuerra." She calmly said. But her voice was ice cold.
"Ang galing mong magsalita, Andrew! Grabe. Muntik na akong mapaluha sa galing!" she gave him some slow claps as she walk pass them, papalait sa isang mesang kinahihimlayan ng ilang pictures ng pamilya.
Aquea started sobbing while Bench, Adrew's dad walked towards his wife and hugged her. Tiningnan niya ang mga pictures na nandoon at lalo pang nagngitngit ang kalooban niya.
Pinulot niya ang larawan niya. "Wala kayong alam sa pinagdaanan ko kaya wag na wag niyo akong pagsasabihan ngayon." saka ito binagsak sa harap niya. tahimik lang sila. She picked another one picture. This time, yung silang dalawa ni Andrew.
Natawa siya. Sa picture, parang ang close nila. Parang perfect sibling. Total opposite of what they are.
Hinarap niya ang mga ito habang nakatingin parin sa larawan. "You depreciate me too much, Andrew. But the thing is, do you know the whole story?! Do you know what I've been through all my life?" her tone was calm but her voice was so cold. Nakangiting binagsak niya ang larawan na nagpasinghap sa kanilang tatlo.
He started it, and I intend to finish it. Her mind said.
"Tell me Andrew, ano ang basihan sa pagiging mabuting ina?" she asked him. Andrew just stared at him with a guilty face. "Answer me. masasagot mo yan, I know." Nakangiting udyok niya. but Andrew remained silent.
Mas lumakas naman ang hikbi ni Aquea. "Enough Deniece." Awat ni Bench. Nginitian lang ito ni Icey at kumuha pa ng isang picture.
This time, it's her, Aquea and Andrew on the picture. Nakaupo ang ina sa gitna habang nakatayo sila sa likod nito. Both are smiling sweetly, except her.
"Is it enough that she carried you for 9 months? Or that she let you live and see the world?" Naiinis siya sa larawang ito. Naiinis siya sa kasinungalingang hatid nito. "Then is it okay na iwan ang mga anak nila after they gave birth to them and go on with they're life? You know, be a saint again like nothing happened."
This is one of the photos which came out on Times this year. to others, it is a photo of a successful and happy family. But in reality, its a reminder to her how nobody she is. It reminds her she's an outcast to this family. That she doesn't belong here. That she's nothing but an intruder.
"Kung ganyan ang batayan ng pagiging mabuting ina, no wonder maraming ulila." Kagaya ng mga nauna, binasag niya iyon sa sahig.
"Naranasan mo na bang maulila Andrew? You know, your mom left you and your dad, the only one you have, repudiates you? I guess not. All your life your parents had been there for you.
Have you tried being beaten by a scary and vicious stepmother till you can feel no more? until you cant even lift even your finger? But have to act like you're not in pain afterwards? I guess not. You have your body guards to protect you." she felt the twinge as she continues.
"Have you tried being led astray and lost yourself somewhere you don't know? With absolutely nothing? Well, mayaman ka nga pala. At marami kang ATM anf credit cards.
Have you tried sleeping on the hard cement of the streets, hungry, cold and afraid? Not eat and take a bath for almost a week? I guess not. You have a big mansion anywhere in the world to accommodate you."
She smiled bitterly as tears stroll down her cheeks. Reminiscing that part of her life opens all the scars in her heart. Kasabay ng pagbabalik ng sakit sa puso ay para ring nagbabalik ang sakit ng katawan sa experience niyang yun.
May nadaanang larawan ang kanyang mga kamay. Family picture. Nakaupo sila ni Aquea while the boys are standing gorgeously behind them.
"I'm sorry Icey... dahil-dahil sakin kaya mo naranasan yun. I'm sorry.. I'm sorry..." paulit-ulit na sambit ni Aquea. Nginitian lang niya ito ng mapakla.
Nilabas niya ang litrato mula sa frame at tiningnan itong mabuti. "Well I guess wala pang nakakaranas nun sa inyo." Nilapitan niya si Andrew na malapit sa mga magulang nito. "Let me tell you this, you don't know anything about me. you only know the Demoniece Concuerra you've created. But you never had a glimpse of who Winter Schatrice Tzu is." saka pinunit ang bahagi nga mukha niya sa larawan
She crumpled her image she tore from the picture and threw it on the floor. Binalik naman niya sa frame ang picture. saka hinarap ang mag-anak. "Kaya wala kahit sino sa inyo ang may karapatang kwestyonin ang pagkatao ko. I'm not as pusillaminous as you think I am."
She stared at them intently, never breaking down. "And for the record, mayaman na ako bago niyo paman ako makuha. Kilala niyo naman siguro kung sino ang tatay ko hindi ba? I was, back then, broken hearted but wasn't broken at all."
Pinahid niya ang mga traydor niyang luha. "I had been depositing all the income of the engineering and construction company sa isang bank account. As well as the resorts and hotels." kinuha niya ang bag niyang nahulog kanina.
Hinalungkat niya ang kanyang bag at may kinuhang mga cards sa kanyang wallet. She looks at them icily. "Here are the cards to the accounts. You'll receive the details of the bank accounts tomorrow. It was a nice offer but no thank you. I will not go to the Philippines unless MY COMPANY badly needs me. But it's your company, so take responsibility." Tinalikuran niya ang mga ito and readied herself to go. "Good bye Mr. and Mrs. Concuerra. And see you around... Sir Andrew."
"But that's your company too, hija. I gave it to you on your graduation?! These are your income."
"Yes, you gave it to me. Ang tanong... tinanggap ko ba?" She decided to let go of everything. Cut all ties and just be happy having her own companies. "Along the details of the accounts, you'll also receive my resignation letter. Which will take effect as soon as it reaches your offices." Then she walked out the door as she walk out of their lives.
The moment her car was out of theire mansion, her tears started to fall. "Damn that family for bringing out the weaker me!" Sigaw niya sabay hampas sa manibela habang nagda-drive. "Too bad she got controlled by the evil me. And they would never see her cry. Never again.."
She could feel the sting on her cheeks but that's nothing compared to the pang on her heart. She let out a deep sigh and wiped her tears.
Hindi sila karapat-dapat na iyakan. I am Winter Schatrice Tzu. I may not be as evil as the Demoniece in me but I am still her. I am the Demon in Ice... and nobody could ever break me... again...
I think I have evinced who I really am now.
~~~☆~~~~☆~~~~☆~~~~☆~~~
A/N:
Madaliang update.. nai-edit ko na ba to? hehehe.. hindi ko alam!
lasing na kasi ako sa lahat ng mga school works namin. bangag araw-araw. wooooooh buhay nga naman..
anyways, enjoy reading people..
-LadyHestia